PHOENIX: The Rise and Wrath of Abigail Begich

Erik chuckled nervously, keeping up his tough-guy image. “It’s alright, Abi. I mean, I can live with it. I’m good.” He gave her a slight smile. “Really, it’s all good.”

Abi looked him in the eyes and nodded slowly. “Alright.” She stood up, ready to leave.

“What’s gonna happen to us, Abi?” asked Erik. “I don’t wanna die…not like this.”

“I don’t know, man. But I know we’re gonna get outta here, ok? Tomorrow I want you to see something.”

After Abi left, Scott returned and asked Erik what that was about. Erik just told him not to worry about it.

The next morning, the lights came on at 6 AM sharp. The prisoners gathered outside their cells. Today, Abi was moved from Solitary to General Population. She would be put in Catherine’s cell. They both promised the prefect that they’d behave themselves and not kill each other. Later that morning, after breakfast, Abi took Catherine, Erik, and Scott to the camp’s library, which was in one of the two large wings of the building. The group sat down at one of the tables and Abi opened her Bible.

“Who among you,” she asked her friends, “has any doubt that God exists?”

Nobody said anything. Abi nodded with approval and glanced down at the pages in front of her before looking at each one of her fellow inmates.

She said, “The only way to come out of this with our souls is to give ourselves to Christ. I have been putting it off for…a very long time. I have my reasons, my excuses, but none of them are really good enough. The four of us no longer have any excuse to not believe. We have seen demons…”

“Been possessed by them,” Catherine interjected shamefully.

Abi continued with an understanding smile. “We have seen angels, and every time we get close to any truth the government’s boot comes down on us. We are alive only for the grace of God. I have chosen to give myself to Christ,