The evening of the Homecoming worship service arrived, filling campus with music, laughter, and bright color. Lights hung from the trees around the courtyard. Students practiced dances, choirs warmed up, and the chapel's stained glass windows glowed beautifully.
But John and Moriah felt none of the excitement.
They sat together on the chapel steps, watching others gather.
"You don't have to go," John said quietly.
Moriah shook her head. "I'm not letting Damien ruin everything I love."
Still, her hands trembled.
Inside the chapel, warm light filled the sanctuary. Voices rose in harmony as the service began. Moriah's choir stood tall in their navy robes, ready to sing—and she tried her best to disappear into the group.
John sat near the back, scanning every person who walked in.
Every door.
Every shadow.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
Halfway through the service, the lights dimmed for a dramatic musical piece.
The choir stepped forward.
Moriah took her solo mic, heart pounding.
She closed her eyes.
Sang the opening line.
Her voice floated beautifully through the room—clear, emotional, strong.
But when she opened her eyes again…
She froze.
In the very back of the sanctuary…
A figure stood.
Damien.
Her breath faltered.
Her voice cracked.
The choir glanced at her in confusion.
John shot up from his seat. "Security!" he whispered urgently to the usher beside him.
Moriah stepped back from the mic as fear swallowed her whole.
Damien didn't move. Didn't hide. Just stood there, eyes locked on her, a cruel smirk curling at the edges of his mouth.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
And suddenly
The entire chapel went dark.
Screams erupted.
Gasps.
Shuffling feet.
Someone dropped a microphone.
"Everybody stay calm!" the worship leader shouted, but panic spread like wildfire.
John pushed through the crowd, calling Moriah's name.
"MORIAH!"
He reached the stage, searching blindly.
Then he heard her voice.
"John—I'm here!"
He moved toward the sound when
A hand grabbed Moriah in the darkness.
She screamed.
John heard it—pure terror.
"Moriah!"
He lunged forward.
Sound of a struggle.
Movement.
Chairs crashing.
Someone pulled her.
John's fingers brushed her arm.
Then
Her voice vanished.
When the emergency lights finally flickered back on seconds later…
Moriah was gone.
John's heart dropped into his stomach.
Students huddled together, shaking.
Security sprinted through the aisles.
But Damien… Damien was nowhere.
John felt the world tilt beneath him.
Moriah wasn't just missing.
She had been taken.
And John knew exactly who had her.
The past hadn't come back to haunt them.
It had stolen her.
And now it was up to him to get her back.