Finding Faith

By Claudia Terry Pemberton

Raised by devoted and loving parents, Faith Fanelli has been a devout Christian for all of her twenty-eight years. Trusting God is not only a concept for her, but also a way of life. But Faith is about to learn how profoundly life can change in the blink of an eye.

One cold January night after she is abducted by a stranger in the dark parking lot outside a hair salon, Faith is subjected to living a fifty-hour nightmare. Never has she dreamed that such evil existed in the world. Feeling utterly alone, in torturous pain, and terrified for her life, Faith’s reliance upon the God she has trusted for so many years is tested beyond the breaking point. But when her abductor finally releases her, it is then that Faith learns about the resilience of the human spirit and the unthinkable adversities it can overcome. But will she ever trust God again?

Finding Faith is a compelling Christian thriller that chronicles a young woman’s journey to the truth after she survives an unspeakable crime that tests her faith in God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663228802

Claudia Terry Pemberton

Claudia Terry Pemberton is retired from the Cabell County Public School System where she worked for thirty-eight years. The award-winning author of the novels, Love Leaves No One Behind, Love Leads the Way, Her First Breath, The Cost of Her Heart, The Butcher’s Run, Seeing with the Heart, and Come Back to Me is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America, the West Virginia Writers, Inc., and is also a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America. Claudia resides in Huntington, West Virginia.

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Copyright © 2021 Claudia Terry Pemberton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

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any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-2879-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2880-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021918907

iUniverse rev. date: 09/27/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

1     The Unthinkable

2     Where To Begin

3     Revisiting

4     Answers

5     In Search Of The Way Back

6     God’s Day

7     In Search Of A New Normal

8     Ready Or Not

9     A New Start

10   A Calling

11   Opportunities

12   Resurgence

13   The Expected And The Unexpected

14   Branded With Redemption

15   Blessings During Tribulation

16   On Her Own

17   Revelation

18   The Same But Different

Epilogue

Author’s Note

This book is dedicated to personnel in all areas of public service, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses, and the heroic military men and women who safeguard this great nation of ours. All of you have my utmost admiration, love, and respect. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your protection, healing, and service.

Anyone who knows me personally is aware of my intense dedication to and appreciation of America’s mighty military. They always have held, and always will hold, a special place in my heart. With that said, I have two more groups of awesome men and women I would like to publicly thank for the invaluable gifts they have bestowed upon me.

On March 17, 2011, I had the honor of having an American flag flown just for me over the Second Battalion, Tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne) Special Operations Task Force-Central, Radwaniyah Palace Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. The soldiers of the Tenth Special Forces Group presented this American flag to me and asked that I treasure it, protect it, and never disgrace it. With a humble heart, I will gratefully honor their request.

On July 4, 2011, an American flag was flown in my honor in the face of the enemy over Camp Dwyer in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. The marines and sailors of the Regimental Combat Team 1, Afghanistan, presented this special flag to me. Their unexpected and extraordinary gift touched me beyond words.

For as long as I live, I will proudly cherish both of these American flags and the remarkable men and women who serve, or have served, this beloved country of ours. I love all of you, and I humbly thank you for my freedom.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares

the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future."

—Jeremiah 29:11

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have two incredible people to recognize and thank for generously sharing their expertise and knowledge with me in order to make my work of fiction as realistic as possible.

I would like to thank Sgt. Richie Basford with the Charleston, West Virginia, Police Department for taking time out of his busy schedule to help me authenticate the protocols of police work as represented in my story. Thank you, Sgt. Basford, for your patience and kindness in answering my seemingly endless questions. I appreciate you very much, not only for being so helpful to me with my book but also for the job you do on a daily basis. Thank you for putting your life on the line to serve and protect the rest of us. I have great admiration in my heart for you.

I would also like to thank Rev. Greg Creasy, MDiv, BCC, for his gentle and caring spirit and for being such a godly example for all of us who are fortunate enough to know him. Thank you, Rev. Creasy, for graciously sharing your time, knowledge, and scripture expertise with me. Thank you for answering not only the faith questions my book character had but also my own. Thank you, my beloved brother in Christ. I am privileged to call you my friend.

To my editors and proofreaders—Allyson, Hannah, Karen, Keri, and Pam—thank all of you very much for your hard work on my behalf. As always, I appreciate your keen eyes and imaginative insight. You are an author’s dream team.

ONE

The Unthinkable

T wenty-eight-year-old Faith Fanelli did not want to die this day—not this way. She lay obediently still on her back on a foul-smelling mattress on the floor in a cold and drafty room. The bedding reeked of mildew and filth. Her head was covered with a coarse burlap sack, and a wide piece of tape covered her mouth. Every breath she took was a struggle. She couldn’t feel her hands; they were numb from the tight plastic bindings around her wrists. Her entire body ached from the abuse she had been subjected to but especially her chest. The burning sensation from the searing implement he had used to mark her was almost more than she could bear.

She had no idea where her abductor had taken her. She wondered if she was still in West Virginia. Wherever she was, she felt as if she had been there forever.

The man had told her ever since he kidnapped her that if she did everything he said, he would let her live. Clinging to his precarious promise, she had done every single demeaning and tormenting thing he had demanded of her.

Feeling the heavy weight of his body being lifted from hers, she held her breath, hoping desperately that he was finished with her and was going to set her free.

You did real good, the man said, sounding sadistically satisfied.

With only her hearing to apprise her of what was going on around her, she listened carefully. She heard the sounds of a zipper and belt buckle as her tormentor dressed at the side of the mattress.

She winced at the feel of cold steel as a knife was slid in between the bindings and her palms. With a sudden flick, her hands were loosed. Inspired by a tentative sense of freedom, she rubbed her sore wrists.

The man then put his hand beneath the hood over her head and ripped off the tape from her mouth, pulling with it the top layer of delicate skin around her lips. She whimpered in response.

Don’t you say a word unless I ask you something. Now, get dressed! he shouted as he threw clothing at her. And don’t do something stupid, like taking that hood off, or you’ll force me to kill you. Do you understand?

Yes. I understand, Faith replied tearfully. She was trembling all over in fear and from being chilled to the bone from the cold. Trying to ignore the agonizing pain in her body, she sat up and hurriedly put on her jeans and sweatshirt. She waited for him to throw her shoes and coat at her, but he didn’t.

Get up! he bellowed as he clamped down on her arm and yanked her to her feet.

Stumbling blindly, she had no choice but to let him lead her. The wooden floor was freezing on her bare feet. After walking across what felt like two different rooms, they stopped. She heard him open a door. A blast of frigid January winter air accosted her, causing her to shiver violently from both the temperature and the terror she felt inside. She could hear the clicking sound of her teeth chattering together.

It must have been nighttime, because there were no signs of sunlight through the fabric of the hood over her head.

The ground was frozen hard, and the gravel he dragged her across cut into her feet, but she didn’t say a word.

She heard the sound of two clicks coming from a car, which indicated the unlocking of the doors. She then heard him open the trunk lid. He grabbed her, picked her up, and flung her inside the trunk. She landed on her side in a crumpled heap against the icy, hard metal.

Keep that hood on, and stay perfectly quiet if you want to live, he said just before he slammed the lid closed.

Faith listened carefully. She heard him get into the car and start the engine. Rolling over onto her back, she felt the car speeding over a rough road, tossing her sore body around in the trunk. The car jolted her for what seemed like hours before it transitioned onto a smooth road surface.

Faith’s emotions and thoughts were all over the place. Aside from the physical anguish she was in and the agonizing fear for her life, she was bombarded with one recurring thought. After being a Christian all her life, she could not seem to understand why God had let this horrendous thing happen to her.

She tried to pray, but she couldn’t. Feeling as if God had forsaken her, she could only cling desperately to the hope that her attacker was going to set her free. She envisioned seeing her beloved parents and her best friend, Katie, again. They meant the world to her. She couldn’t have asked for a better mother and father or friend.

In the back of her mind, she could not help but wonder, even if her captor did let her go, how she was ever going to overcome what he had put her through. She was both physically and emotionally damaged. She felt shattered, possibly beyond repair. But still, she felt a burning desire to live.

Lying there in the darkness, freezing and frightened, she thought about trying to break out the car’s glowing red taillights, which shone through the fabric of the hood. She could stick her hand through, possibly alerting someone that she was there and needed help, but something inside her told her not to.

Feeling foolish for taking her persecutor at his word, she obeyed him and stayed still, hoping he would not kill her if she continued to do what he said.

As the car sped along, Faith lost track of time. She had no idea how long she had been in the truck. It seemed like hours. Her mouth was so dry that her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth, and her stomach growled loudly. Her hands and feet were numb from the cold. She felt around in the darkness for something to cover herself with, but she felt only frosty metal.

Finally, the car came to a stop, as did Faith’s heart. She held her breath as she heard the man exit the car. He opened the trunk, snatched her out, and set her down. Standing on the bone-chilling pavement, she felt him lightly caress her arms. His touch made her nauseous.

You were a good one, he whispered vilely into her ear, causing her to cringe all over. I’m tempted to keep you around. He laughed.

The thought of his keeping her for himself made Faith long for death instead.

But a promise is a promise, he said as he brutally gripped her upper arms, squeezing them in his powerful hands. Now, you listen to me, and you listen good, he said as he shook her viciously. You stand here, and you count to one hundred before you make a move. You don’t remove the hood. You do not take one step. You don’t utter one word until you reach one hundred. Do you understand?

Nodding, she replied, Yes, I understand.

He gripped her arms even tighter and shook her again. I’m not convinced that you do.

Yes! Yes, I do understand! she exclaimed. I won’t move until I’ve counted to one hundred. I promise.

She felt him slowly release her aching arms.

I believe you, he told her with a snarky chuckle. You’ve done exactly as I’ve told you since we first met, so I trust you.

Faith felt the sensation of his revolting touch once again. She could feel his face up against her ear through the hood. She felt the warmth of his rancid breath as he whispered in a low, calm voice, Hey, sweets, did you know that you’ll always be my favorite? He lifted the hood slightly and ran his rough tongue up her cheek. You were my very first virgin, he said. Feeling repulsed to the point of vomiting, she heard him chuckle again before he grabbed her by her arms. He squeezed them cruelly once again as he reverted to a sinister and threatening tone. Now, you listen to me good. When you hear my car start up, you begin slowly counting. Do you think you can do that?

Yes, I can. I will do that, she answered.

There was a moment of deadly silence following her reply. Faith stood completely still, frozen by fear. She held her breath in paralyzing anticipation of feeling the sharp blade of his knife pierce her body. Finally, she heard his sickening voice. His unpredictable attitude had evolved completely again.

Thank you, Faith, he said softly, as if they had just been out on a pleasant date. I had a wonderful time.

He laughed as she sensed him walking away. Seconds later, she heard him open and close the car door and start up the engine. Her heart began to pound furiously. She thought she heard his car driving away, but was it just a sadistic trick? She didn’t know, but she followed his instructions and began slowly counting from one to one hundred. While she counted, she waited and listened breathlessly in the dark, wondering if when she removed the hood, he would be standing there, waiting to assault her again.

After reaching one hundred, she swallowed hard and fearfully removed the hood from her head. The darkness of night, lit only by the glow of a full moon, greeted her eyes. Gripping the hood tightly in her fist, she scanned her surroundings as best as she could. There were no cars in sight. Believing she was alone—that her assailant was gone—she broke down. She dropped to her knees in tears of relief.

It took several moments before she could collect herself. Finally, she willed her pain-riddled body to her feet and surveyed her whereabouts again. Her eyes had adjusted to the environment, but her vision was blurry. She reached up and touched her right eye. It was swollen closed, but she could see well enough out of her other eye to know she was at the end of a dark dead-end alley. Looking toward the entrance of the alleyway, she could see streetlights dimly glowing off in the distance. She began walking toward them. Every step she took brought on a deeper sense of urgency. She knew that each movement forward was propelling her closer to safety. Ignoring the tremendous pain in her feet against the cracked and broken asphalt, she began to run as fast as she could. Her entire body shivered uncontrollably, but she continued running. The more she ran, the freer she felt. She felt herself being transported farther and farther away from her attacker.

Breathless, she finally reached the entrance of the alley. Her lungs burned as she gasped for air. Her eyes darted back and forth as she took stock of where she was. She had lived in Charleston all her life, but nothing around her looked familiar. She wondered if she was still in Charleston—or West Virginia, for that matter.

She didn’t know what to do. She could see a two-lane street with darkened houses on both sides. Should she knock on a stranger’s door in the middle of the night? The thought of that frightened her. Looking to her right, she could see a traffic light and street signs in the distance. She began running toward them. As she got closer, a small convenience store came into view. It was diagonally across the street and was brightly lit and obviously open for business. Feeling a sense of elation, Faith ran toward the store.

Still gripping the hood in her fist, she stepped onto the smooth surface of the parking lot. Stopping briefly, she bent over to catch her breath. With her hands resting on her knees, she gave thanks for the safe haven before her. After straightening up and feeling suddenly overpowered by a combination of relief and exhaustion, she trudged toward the entrance of the store.

A ding sounded when she opened the door, followed by the cheerful greeting of a male cashier from across the store. The warmth of the blowing heat vents overhead enveloped Faith’s freezing body. Succumbing to agony and fatigue, she stumbled a few more feet up to the counter. She must have been a sight to behold, because the cashier’s smile immediately disappeared, replaced by a look of horror.

Ma’am, what happened? Are you all right? he asked.

Faith shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. Where am I? she asked quietly. What city?

He looked at her quizzically. You’re in Charleston. Charleston, West Virginia.

Relieved slightly that she was at least still in her hometown, she slumped against the counter.

Visibly shaken, the cashier picked up his phone. I’m calling for help, he told her quietly. Just hold on.

She heard him give the person on the other end of the line pertinent information as to who he was and his whereabouts. She heard him frantically say that someone was hurt. He requested an ambulance and the police immediately.

Faith began to sob. She had made it, and help was on the way. She