POV: Alan

"I know where Melody is."

I take off into my car and the others pile in to many other cars. I couldn't wait for them, and I think they knew the same. I had to make sure she was okay. I saw Izzy's car was gone, so Melody must've taken hers.

I drive and pray at the same time. My mind is wandering so much I'm surprised I can still drive. I need to be strong for Melody.

Everyone meets me by the entrance where I had first parked my car to take Melody to our spot. I get out, and tell Caleb to walk behind me when we reach her. Not too far, but not too close. I don't want them to scare her off again.

I am running a little bit but it's too far for me to run the whole way, so all of us slow to a walk. My mind is racing and my heart is hoping Melody is ok.

Caleb puts his arm around Joey as we are walking. Caleb then almost trips on the giant branch we had to walk over. It was a short cut I knew of that I didn't take Melody on. I wanted the walk to take as long as possible and I didn't want any obstacles she had to jump over in these woods. She had enough to jump over to get here.

We reach to the small place where I had taken Melody. She is there.

Thank you God she is alright

I motion for the others to get back a little bit. She turns around and sees me. She almost stands but I motion for her that I'm here. I slowly walk to her. Her eyes were a little red and puffy, so I can guess she has been here a little while.

"What are you doing here?" She asks me. I'm heart broken because I don't want to see her this way. "I'm useless and I can't do anything right. I can't sing and I never will do it in front of a group again. I should of stayed home today. Or even stayed home from this dumb sleepover I looked even uglier than I usually do which is hard for me. I'm fat anyway. I'm WAY bigger than any of my friends. Even if they don't care, I DO! They have also done so much for me and I try to help them, but then I HATE complaining to them. It makes me feel...." She is crying again. These were some of the things keeping her locked down inside, and now she is letting them out. God has His own timing because He isn't bound by time. He created NOW for her to be with me. I am glad God gave me to be with her.

In her lap is the same guitar that I had let her borrow before. That is what must have been the sounds Joey and Chad were hearing when she was making her "Escape" to her magical place. This was where the four of us weren't afraid to roar, and this might be her place.

I sit down next to Melody as she scoots away. I look at her and she looks back at me. I reach out to hug her as she leans in. She sets the guitar down beside us, and she leans in. I am hoping nobody would make a noise and scare Melody. They are hidden quite well. In my embrace I start to speak to her,

"You know you're not worthless. You are worth it. You are amazing! You can't think of anything less than the most beautiful most talented you that you could ever be! You can do anything if you believe it in your heart. God is working in you, and He hasn't made a mistake. You are one of the best creations that He has ever created. Everyone get's scared even I doubted myself and God at one time. I told God that I didn't care, and the devil almost took me away from everything. Everyone. I wanted to give up, but there was a little voice very extremely deep down to keep going. What do you think if I would have ignored that voice, and I let fear control my life?" I was talking for a long time I know it, but it sort of looked like it was working.

Melody shrugged her shoulders. She was deep in thought. I'm not sure about what, but I know that I have to tell her this or she might always think like this. She needs love. She needs God's love, so He is working through her friends and me to help let her know that she is loved. I know her friends are like sisters to her, just like my bros are like bros to me. There couldn't be a closer bond between us. That is why we are so close. We have God on top, under supporting, and all throughout not just our music, but everything we do. It's why we do it.

"Why me though? Alan, I just wish sometimes wish I knew that question! That is all I ask is why me? I am the WORST person I can't do any of this music stuff... I can play only a little. Some say it will get better over time, but I. Just. Can't do it in front of people! Why should I do all of this? Why did God choose the WORST person to do that with that thing? (she said pointing to the brown high strung thing next to us on the ground.) I just can't and I don't know why me? Just WHY?" Melody sits there, and she isn't as crying as before. I think this worries me even more. I know that girls cry when they are upset, and when the quiet comes, it means they are locking up all the emotions inside.

I speak again as she looks up, and I notice those deep brown hazel eyes, "You know, sometimes we just don't need to answer all of the questions we have in life, but we need to trust God and have a little faith and believe He has a plan for us." I grab the guitar and start singing (hoping she will get the idea and join in)...

It's a little bit scary
And your not sure what's up ahead
So you try to bury
All your fears

She starts singing as I nod to her. She knows the lyrics I know this, and she knows what's coming at her. I hope she feels it inside as she starts...

Lock it up tight deep inside
Out of sight out of mind

I respond with the next lyric
At least that's what you tell yourself
Doesn't really seem to help

We both continue
Don't you know that you're right at home in the unknown
I'm already there, I'm alreayd there
Don't you know that you're not alone in the unknown
I'm already there, I'm already there

I look at her right in the eye as the next lyrics come up I want her to feel the words
So you don't need to know
What tomorrow holds
When you know
The one who holds tomorrow
Understand you're just a woman
And trust me child I have a plan
God is in control
And He won't let you go

We start singing together again the chorus and then I sing her the next verse again. I can feel and hope she is starting to get it.

I want you to see
I want you to believe
That God can be
Everything you need

We finish it off for the end
Don't you know that your right at home in the unknown
I'm already there, I'm already there (X2)

I'm already there, I'm already there

I'm already there

I'm already there

I finished it off when she looked at me when I meant the last words

God is there with you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Melody that was amazing! God gave you a gift! I don't think you could use it for anything more than to let God use your voice to help others. You can enourage others just as our band has done for so many. I have heard from many fans that we have changed their lives, and I know there are many unspoken. Sometimes it's not the fans, or the money, but the fact of using what gift God gave you to give the gift back to Him. By using it for Him! I think you have a wonderful voice, and I couldn't think of a better way than to show Him! If you use what God has given you, Satan will be scared of you. Not you scared of Satan. I once was in a dark place, but God has shown me a small little light inside of me. I see the same and nothing better in you. I hope you can see it," I say as I hear a sniffle behind me.

Oh no

Joey looked up and then the others follow him. "It doesn't take much to make Joe cry," Chad teased him. "That was beautiful Melody and Alan," Joey smiled at the two of us. Melody had a scared look on her face.

The group came out from the trees and brush and stepped into the moonlight for us to see them. "H....H... How long were you guys back there?" Melody stammered.

"We are here for you, and we will always be," Beth said. "That was beautiful Melody, you have a wonderful talent," said Elisabeth. Mags was standing there smiling and looked teared up and choked up, but she got out the words, "God gave you something. I never have heard anything more beautiful."

It was hard to see what Melody was thinking. She looked hurt, almost teary, or locked up again. She didn't know what to say. She was standing on the edge where we were sitting.... a little too close.

Just as we were about to walk, she nearly backed up. "I can't go back. I know you guys are here, but if I know people are constantly watching how can I do this?" she was screeching trying to get the words out. There was a crack of thunder... we didn't know it was going to storm today. We forgot to check the weather, but I think we can figure it out now. The thunder made all of us jump. Some too close to the edge.

"MELODY WATCH OUT!!!!!" Izzy screamed as she went over to reach out to Melody who was losing her balance. The thunder made her definitely jump, but it was worse for her. Izzy ran to help reach out a hand to Melody.... her friends are willing to go to the ends of the earth to help each other, and this is one of those times.

The only thing was it took them both.... they disappeared.