Chapter 13: Finding Hope

    Brooks and Suzie had decided to rest and hoped that Aidan and Mishka would find them if they just waited. Brooks tested the water in one of the lakes and found that it was drinkable. So he and Suzie filled up on the lukewarm water and then found a patch of soft moss to rest on.

    "Brooks," Suzie said after minutes of silence, "do you think that we will get out of here?"

    "Yes, of course we are going to get out," Brooks said immediately. 

    "But, what if we. . .what if we die?"

    This question made Brooks shiver. "We won't."

    "You don't sound sure. Brooks, do you remember the book that our parents used to read to us every night before bed?"

    "The Bible?"

    "Yeah. Remember all the stories about God and how he protected all of the people who trusted him. I remember Dad telling us how God is always with us, even when we are scared or uncertain of the future."

    "I do remember that. But weren't those just stories? I mean, God didn't stop our parents from dying."

    "I don't think that God let them die. That was Satan."

    "But he could have done something, right?"

    Suzie sighed and rolled herself up. She felt strange in her new puma body, but it was much softer. She thought, then answered, "I remember one of the stories from the Bible was about a man named Job. He was blessed and had a lot of land and money and a large family. Satan told God that Job only served him because Job prospered, and that if he lost everything then he would certainly curse God. So God allowed Satan to take away everything that Job owned and all

of his wealth. Even his children were taken from him. But Job still trusted God and prayed to him. And finally, after Satan had done everything he could, God saw that Job truly did love him, even when he had nothing. And Job was given back everything and God blessed him."

    "So you're saying that God is testing us?"

    "I think that the evil spirit called Deceiver is actually Satan. But we can still get out of here if we have trust in God. He will protect us."

    Suddenly, there was a sharp bang, and Deceiver appeared in front of them, a grin on his face.

             Chapter 14: The Devil

    They both backed up as the Deceiver started to chuckle. "I thought you'd never figure it out. Who knew that I was dealing with Believers."

    "What's that?" Suzie asked.

    "Christians. They are one of the hardest to sway. Unlike those who don't believe in the one true God."

    "Why are you here. I thought you wanted us to suffer?" questioned Brooks.

    "I do. But now that you have some renewed faith in my enemy, I will need to intervene."

    "Why?" said Suzie. "Because we are a threat now?"

    "Any Believer is a threat to me. They give hope in the world when I want people under my control. I want to watch as people suffer and laugh as they listen to what I tell them and believe it. My influence in the world is so much stronger than yours. If I tell someone that they need to be rude to be cool, then they will forget what their parents taught them and act just like everyone else. I twist their minds to make them think it is their choice. I turn families apart, I start fights, I make people post hateful and vile things on the Internet so that other young minds can be infected."

    "You are evil!" Brooks screamed and started to run toward the lake. Suzie ran after him but was unstable on her four legs.

    Deceiver grabbed her and tossed her into the lake water. Suzie disappeared in the now black water as deceiver caught up to Brooks and shoved him in as well. 

    Brooks and Suzie landed on a hard, rocky floor. Deceiver landed beside them and growled, "I will make you turn. You may try to fins hope, but you will not!"

    A bright light flashed before their eyes and Suzie was suddenly changed back into a human. Then, the 

floor opened up and they both fell down as Deceiver laughed gleefully.

    "You will either forget your God and serve me, or die!"