A Friend In Need

Adrian Brady screamed in fear, having no idea what had knocked him down, knowing only that it was on him, blowing its hot rancid breath in his face, its yellow eyes glowing in the dark. Pushing with all his strength, Adrian was able to shift the beast’s weight enough to wiggle loose only to have it grab him again, rolling him over and over on the damp forest floor. The growls of the beast were the most frightening thing he had ever heard. If there existed hounds from hell, this must indeed be one of them. Adrian knew he was a sinful man and that he had lived a sinful life. “Please God help me,” he cried. “Don’t let my life end this way.” Joseph grabbed the man’s arm in his strong jaws. As the man tried to hit him, the dog proceeded to drag the man further into the deep leaves of the forest, enjoying the smell of fear coming from the man. “Joseph, enough,” the voice boomed through Joseph’s mind. “He has called on God, you must stop now.” Easing his hold on the man’s arm, Joseph turned just enough to see the fierce angel that stood over him and the man. “He is a bad man and another angel told me to protect the children from him. I am only following orders; I haven’t even bitten him.” “Yes, my friend, you are following orders, but this man has called upon the God of the universe and He has answered. You must leave him now.” The angel then moved over the man in a protective stance. “Leave him to continue chasing the children, I think not,” Joseph growled, tightening his hold on the man’s arm. “He has forgotten about the children. In his fear he now considers his life and his sin. He seeks God and God is giving him another chance.” “Does not God love the child, Anne Marie? Can God so easily forget the fear and sorrow this man has caused her?” “God has kept her safe through this uncertain time and sent friends to help her. Who are you to question God?” “I only seek to understand him who created me, and I don’t understand his desire to forgive,” Joseph replied as the angels descended. Keep seeking,” the angel softly answered Joseph, “you will understand in time, but now you must go to the boy and the girl. In their fright, they have become lost. You must find them and lead them home.” “See, even more wrong to lay at this man’s door; I will go rescue the children.” Slowly Joseph rose, lifting his weight from the man. With one last growl he turned and ran into the woods, hot on the trail of Tristan and Anne Marie, their scent strong in his nostrils. “Oh God, oh God,” the man groans as he rolls on the ground. “Thank you for saving me, for hearing me. I meant to hurt her, you know I did and still you saved me. Forgive me, please forgive me.”