10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

-John 10:10 (NKJV)

Williowford was a normal town on the edge of Oakley Bay, a bustling city full of life. It had its typical places a town would have, and a town hub which was the big white gazebo on the right side of Williowford. Four churches lightly peppered the town. 

The people of Williowford were quite normal too, but things were changing for the worse. The thing was, almost no one realized it. 

Grace Mitchell, a woman with long blonde hair, and amber eyes drove in her Honda on the interstate. She wore a black leather jacket, white tee shirt, black jeans with a gray belt, and she wore dark leather dress boots. Grace was a good natured woman before her husband died in a car crash eight years ago, she was twenty-one then. Roth was his name, Roth was a devoted, serious, loving Christian. Grace was not a Christian, she didn't know much about Christianity and she wanted to keep it that way. Anyway, Grace heard some things from people that repelled her from Christianity. As far as she was concerned, she just wanted to live her life, and 'Get it over with'. 

Grace changed the channel on her car's radio, she couldn't seem to find anything worth listening to. Tapping her had on the wheel as she drove Grace's eyebrows rose in surprise and recall, this road was the way to her hometown. 

"I haven't been in that town in six years." Grace sighed, half angrily, and half sadly. 

The exit to her hometown was exit 40; Grace debated with her self if she should go back for a little while. See what might be different, what stayed the same, maybe visit a friend or two, and stay for a little while in a hotel. 

 "On come on Grace," she scolded herself, "Not the same town that said 'God took your husband,'" Grace then sighed, "Maybe if I avoid the subject they'll spare me from a sermon. Only if god hadn't taken him..." 

Exit 40 just appeared over the horizon, and was quickly approaching. It was either now or never to make that choice. 

A thought came to her,  'No! don't go! It won't do you any good, if you keep driving you'll never see it again.'

Well, even if this was going to be a bittersweet visit she decided to push the thought aside, and take this opportunity. 

She drove into Exit 40 into Williowford. 

John Kastner sat in the Williowford Family Restaurant by himself thinking quietly. He was a 33 year old man with a 'down to earth' attitude, and an empty feeling that he was missing something in life. He had brown hair and green eyes; John usually wore a plaid shirt, and blue jeans. John had been single his whole life, he had a few dates but never much of a relationship. He could live with out girls, but maybe... just maybe... a religion is what he needed; after all his family's atheist beliefs only made him feel like life had no meaning. 

John stirred his coffee silently frowning to himself, a friend of his had invited him to come to Williowford for a little while. His friend said that he'd be here at five but it was twelve after. 

"Eh, it don't matter." John chuckled just as a middle-aged man with black hair and gray hair on the sides of his head came in. As the man spotted John he made his way over to John. 

"Kastner I'm sorry for being late." The man said apologetically.

John looked up, "Oh hey Charles, pull up a chair. Naw, it's fine man."

"Thanks, oh, you might be wondering why I invited you. "Charles started as he ordered a coffee. 

"Spill it." John nodded.

Charles continued, "Well for one thing, it's been a while since I've seen you, and well, don't call me a fruitcake." 

John shook his head.

"I just had this feeling that I should ask you to visit for a little while on you vacation time from work." 

John raised an eyebrow, "You did?" 

Unseen by human eyes dark figures gathered in an old abandoned building. Their talking was loud, here and there an evil laugh would erupt. They were demons, and waiting for the Prince of Williowford to show up, the demon to give out orders to the others on what they were to do to which human in the town. 

The atmosphere became tense, as they could feel the comming presence of Teivel, the Prince of Williowford nearing. The room was dark but it seemed to be getting darker and darker soon a humanoid shape of a dark towering demon flew through the wall right into the room making several of the lower ranks of demons stumble or even fall back. 

"Get up!" Teivel roared, his fiery red eyes glowed mercilessly. 

The demons that fell back quickly hopped up at command mostly from fear. 

Divination, a shorter demon spoke up, "We have bad news my Ba'al."

Teivel turned to Divination, "We'll see, so say it!"

Lies, a demon with yellow eyes interrupted Divination, "Grace Mitchell is back in the region. She is a woman of much potential for good, if the new preacher of the Cornerstone Ministries church tells her about God it is likely that God will use her to save many souls." 

"Yes... before her husband died he prayed for the living God to keep her safe, it is possible that he could use her."  Teivel paced back and forth a few times before shocking the other demons by suddenly drawing his long jagged sword. 

"W-what do you think we do about her?" Anger, another demon suggested after recovering from sudden shock. 

Teivel yelled pointing his eerily glowing blade at the demon, "What we always do of course! Destroy her! She has no one to pray for her, we can take care of her soon enough." 

Deception boldly came up, "I have a plan." 

Also unseen by human eyes, three streaks of light made their way to Williowford. As they slowed down a little three tall bright winged figures showed. They were angles.

The Angel's name in the middle was Elazar he had chestnut brown hair. Elazar could wrangle about any demon with his sword.

Anath, the one on Elazar's left. The blond haired warrior; he would usually trick the demons with his elusive sword fighting.

Gavri, very skillful with the sword but also with his own hands. He often took the chance to take down demons when needed.

The three were on their way to a meeting with the other angles around the region. The meeting place was the Cornerstone Ministries church; when they made it to the church the three could see bright light from comming from the church windows. Landing softly, they walked into the sanctuary brightly lit by the other angels.

"Welcome!" An angel near the pulpit greeted.

Gavri returned the greeting, "Hello Tovia!" The others greeted each other as well.

A black haired, blue eyed, angel standing in the middle of the group nodded to every one and the three who just arrived. "Did you bring them to the region?" The angel standing in the middle asked Elazar, and Anath. This was Uriel, the captain of the angles, took down many demons with much strategy, and the help of praying saints.

Anath looked at him, "Yes Captain Uriel, John is in town."

Uriel nodded. "Good."

Elazar nodded back, "I lead Grace to the right interstate, but she was almost persuaded by a spirit not to come."

Uriel looked pleased, "Thank the Lord that demon didn't succeed. God has a plan for Grace's life he wants us to bring her here which you have done Elazar. Thank you."

Elazar smiled.

"And as for John Kastner, Anath, Thank you. God wants to use him as well. For now, John is an insignificant problem to the enemy." Uriel added.

Anath grinned.

An angel named Orel spoke up, "Of course the demons will do what they can to destroy them."

"Yes, we are to do what we can," Uriel paused, a look of concern started to show, "But even from the beginning The Lord gave Humans a free will so one of the two or both of them could stop God's plan."

Tovia looked optimistic, "Hopefully the Lord's plan will succeed."

There was a silence for a moment; then Amir, another angel sitting in a pew broke the silence. "Things could get intense because how influential they could be when or if Grace and John become saved, but sadly there isn't enough praying people. That is, if it gets intense."

Uriel put a hand on the hilt of his glowing sword, "Gather together the praying saints and rise up other saints to pray. Orel, and Amir you two will gather and rise then up."

"We will captain." Orel said while putting a hand on Amir's shoulder.

"Elazar, Grace's late husband asked for God's protection over his wife I have been ordered by the most high to appoint who I wish to guard and watch over Grace, and John. Elazar, you'll watch Grace. Anath, you'll watch John. Tovia, you will be my partner we have somethings to do." Uriel continued with a hint of a smile.

"Yes Captain!" The three angles exclaimed at once as they spread their bright white wings for flight.



"Do you have your sermon written yet?" Arleen Wilson, the pastors wife asked her tired husband.

"Almost, but I keep getting a weird feeling honey." The pastor replied.

Arleen watched her husband rub his eyes worridly, "Mark...? Is God trying to tell you something?"

Mark looked up at his beautiful auburn haired wife, "I believe so. When I prayed today I got this feeling that something is going to happen, and we need to pray about it."

"Alright dear, anything else I need to know?"

"Right now I feel we need to pray to get the region ready."



Grace sat on a bed in a suite she just rented from Holiday Inn for a few weeks, then straightened her blonde hair with brown roots out and sighed. She hadn't meet anybody she remembered... yet. Grace got up and looked out the window she had a fourth floor room, from here she could see familiar buildings. The library was over there, and to the left she saw the shell gas station. Up yonder she saw more familiar buildings memories of her and Roth came to mind, she remembered the times they would walk together down the sidewalks. As Grace looked at the barber shop she remembered Roth praying with a man for his finances, and another time at the post office telling a young girl about God's love. Love, not! What loving God would let horrible things happen to innocent people, and take her husband away?! Grace stifled tears.

Lies, a demon, spoke words to Grace's mind. "Yes... God took your dear beloved Roth, what they said eight years ago was true."

Elazar unsheathed his sword as soon as the demon came in but he knew he could do nothing to help the poor soul. As long as Grace didn't resist the thoughts or tell it to be quiet in Jesus name.

Grace sat down on the bed again and heaved a sigh.



"Can I ask you a question Charles?" John asked.

Charles chuckled a took a sip of coffee, "Go ahead."

"Well... uh I don't know how to ask this," John said slowly, "but do you think I need a religion?"

Charles thought for a moment, "Hmm... well thats up to you. I go to church every few Sundays. So I guess you could say I'm a bit of a church goer."

John's demeanor brightened a bit, "Tell me about your religion."

Charles shifted his weight, "Well... it's your normal Christian beliefs, Jesus came down to earth and stuff."

"Why did he come down to earth?" John probed.

"Ah, it's not very interesting. I forgot why anyway." Charles replied seemingly casual like.

Anath shook his head disagreeingly at Charles remark as he stood watch by the inquiring John Kastner.

Interesting or not. John thought then replied to his friend. "Let me see for my self, when do you have service?"

"Its called The Light Church," Charles paused to think for a bit "service is on Friday nights and Sunday mornings."

"I'm comming."

Oh no. Anath knew that false doctrines were taught there. "A good way to repel this searching soul from his destiny."