Soul Search: A Restless Soul, #7

By VJ Dunn

Surviving the pirates was hard enough; but living through the worst hurricane the earth has ever seen? Impossible. But God...

Despite the lack of supplies and constant worry over the enemy, Dalton and the growing small group of believers find countless reasons to praise the Lord. After all, He keeps providing the miracles that keep them going.

While locating the supposed "paradise island" where food is plentiful and the air is fresh is proving to be about as easy a task as finding the proverbial haystack needle, Dalton and the other believers know that simply surviving the Tribulation is also impossible... yet, they're still alive and bringing more and more new converts with them every day.

It seems the Lord is still at work, even while He's destroying His creation.

The believers know they still have a few years left to survive and finding the island is their only hope for living out the earth's remaining time in any kind of peace and comfort. And it's going to take every bit of courage, perseverance, and faith they can find...

Especially when they know Satan himself is trying to stop them.

Will Dalton and the group survive the hurricane? Or will this disaster be the last they'll have to face?

Great for fans of Jamie Lee Grey, Mark Goodwin and Kyla Stone, A Restless Soul series are short stories of biblically truthful and Christian-based fiction. This is a stand-alone series, meaning each book can be read out of order, much like a television series. Due to content, not recommended for children under 13.

• Language: English
• Publisher: VJ Dunn
• Release date: Dec 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223096900

Book preview

SOUL SEARCH

Book 7 in A Restless Soul Series

By

VJ Dunn

All parts of this story were written by the author. No AI or ghostwriter were employed in the writing of this story. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental, except in the mention of public figures such as celebrities, bands, authors, et al.

© 2023 VJ Dunn, Library of Congress Registry Pending.

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away, as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise — without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

HEA Publishers

PO Box 591

Douglas, AZ 85608-0591

Or email: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 1

A Pirate’s Spots

MASSIVE WAVES SLAPPED against the sides of the research ship, knocking the rescuers back from the railing. Though the earth’s temperature had risen considerably over the past year or so to nearly intolerable levels, the water had a chill to it, causing those on deck to shiver violently.

For some reason, that seemed ominous, like a portent of some kind.

Dalton, grab that line! Al yelled. He was just ten feet away, but Dalton barely heard him over the roar of the wind.

He reached over the rail to try to snag the rope Al pointed at that was caught on something just out of reach. He nearly got knocked overboard by another huge wave that crashed into the ship, thanking God Fy had insisted they all tie themselves to the railing during their rescue mission.

Some rescue mission, Dalton thought sourly as he sputtered and swiped at the saltwater blinding him. They’d been trying for what seemed like hours to anchor the little fishing boat to the big ship so they could get everyone off the boat before it capsized, but they’d only managed to get one line attached.

I’ve had to work in some crazy weather, Al yelled, but never in a hurricane! He cursed then when a lawn chair flew up off the deck of the fishing boat and slammed into the side of the ship, just inches from Al’s hand where he held the line Dalton was supposed to free.

Dalton didn’t bother replying. It was hard enough to just breathe without sucking in rain or saltwater, much less try to talk. He dropped to his knees and flattened himself on the deck as he scooted to the edge of the ship, as close as he dared. The last thing he wanted was to be swept off, into the sea.

He thought it was ironic how just weeks before, he’d been wishing for death. But not now... especially since his wife and brand-new baby boy were below deck. The thought of Becca and baby Rudy made him smile. He hoped they were comfortable—as much as they could be in a ship rolling over towering waves—and knew Theo would use every method he had in his vast arsenal of doctoring experience to make sure they were. And safe.

Another object flew at them, and Dalton jerked his hands back just in time to avoid being hit by what looked like the lid to a cooler. Al yelled to the people on the fishing boat to stow any loose objects, but there was no way they could hear him.

Gritting his teeth and praying, asking for the Lord to help him, Dalton stretched out again, keeping an eye out for more debris heading his way.

Thankfully, the wind pushed the fishing boat closer to the big ship, but they needed to tie them together if there was to be any chance of a rescue.

Al shouted some more instructions, but Dalton couldn’t make out what he’d said. He squinted against the pounding rain and surf as he concentrated on the line just inches from the tips of his fingers, shoving himself harder against the railing in an effort to grasp it.

Lord, a little help would be good! he yelled into the squall. His words were cut off by the raging storm, but he knew he was heard when the rope suddenly lifted just enough that Dalton could grab it.

Got it! he shouted. Thank You, Jesus! He pulled the rope up and scooted away from the railing. Al was there the next moment, helping him tug the wet rope, made heavy by the soaking it had taken. The man then secured it to a cleat on the deck of the ship and helped Dalton get to his feet.

The deck was slick, and Dalton was thankful for the military-style boots Theo had found for him in one of the lockers in the Sick Bay, since he’d been barefoot ever since his escape from the Peacekeeper prison. The boots had been yet another blessing.

Dalton watched as Franco and another man he didn’t know worked to pull on another line from the center of the smaller vessel. Al hurried over to help them and Dalton followed, though he doubted they could do a better job of hauling the boat up next to the ship than the storm itself was doing. It was already banging against the side.

Not sure how we’re gonna get them over here safely, Al shouted. The waves are fighting against us!

No kidding, Dalton thought wryly. The two vessels were rubbing together and slamming against each other so violently, he was surprised the fishing boat hadn’t shattered already. At least the research ship was constructed of steel and stood a fighting chance of remaining intact. If it doesn’t sink from all the water it was taking on.

I am going over to help them, Franco announced as he climbed up on the rail. Al shouted at him to stop, but the man ignored him as he leapt, his feet slipping on the slick metal as he did. Dalton’s heart skipped when he saw Franco slam into the side of the fishing boat, sliding down into the raging sea between the two vessels. If he didn’t drown, it was likely he was going to be smashed.

Before he could blink the rain out of his eyes, Dalton nearly shouted in relief when he saw someone grab Franco’s hand. Another person joined them in reaching over the side of the small boat and in just seconds, they hauled the man up and over onto the deck, just as the ships crashed together once again.

Thank You, Father! Al shouted. The other man Dalton didn’t recognize said the same praise, though it was in another language, making him realize he still had the gift of languages. It was a welcomed gift, considering the people on the research vessel had been captured by the pirates from all areas of the globe.

That thought had him glance around, taking note for the first time since he’d gone out onto the deck in the middle of a hurricane of just who else had joined them. It was too dark to make out faces if they were farther than a few feet away, but Dalton’s eyes widened when he had a vision of human shapes lit from within.

It reminded him of a movie he’d seen once, a Christian film that he’d rolled his eyes at. But in one scene, a little girl had died, and her spirit rose from her body to face the Lord, along with a group of people standing behind Him, presumably family who’d passed before. The people