He descended through the roof quickly and penetrated through the ceiling, his feet landing on the worn carpet. Tucking his wings in beside his body, he straightened, the tool in his hands heavy with purpose. With surprise and excitement, four pairs of eyes turned to take him in. Four angels stood and studied him, all of them shorter by a head.

The largest one, Tenacious was his name, stepped toward him and asked, “You’re a breaker angel, aren’t you?”

“My name is Shelah! My assignment is in response to Alina’s prayers.”

“Hah!” Tenacious looked thrilled.

The four angels in the home were Alina’s guardians and had been with her since conception. Two would always accompany her wherever she went. The other two were in charge of protecting her home but stayed close to her when she was around.

Tenacious continued, “Alina prays continually. There’s seldom an hour goes by that she doesn’t lift someone up in intercession. Which prayer has brought you?”

Shelah answered, “The one dearest to her heart.”

Another of the four angels, Constant, stepped forward. “Can it be? Is Heaven actually about to move on his behalf?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Shelah said and held up his tool; bolt cutters. “I’ve come equipped.”

Low chuckles rumbled from the four guardians and their faces lit up with joy.

Shelah continued, “I’ve come from God’s throne room. The prayers Alina has uttered, along with those of her prayer team, have filled a bowl before God’s throne and the incense has been rising. It’s been making quite a scene and has gotten a great deal of attention lately. For a while now all the angels surrounding God’s throne knew that the breakthrough was imminent.”

Noise from the kitchen drew the angels’ attention and all five turned to see Alina enter the sitting room. In her hands she held a steaming mug which she set down on the end table beside the couch. Sitting, she stared out the large window facing the front yard. The woman looked weary, like she was in the middle of fighting a battle single handedly and wasn’t sure she’d win.

Ever since she’d retired, two years ago, Alina had committed to a life of intercession, praying for whoever God would bring to her mind. Two months after that her grandson, Neil, had requested to move in with her.

Neil’s parents had been at the end of their proverbial ropes and had decided the best medicine was to force him to go it alone. They’d kicked Neil out of their home and told him to grow up. After two weeks on the streets he’d come to his grandmother’s door, begging and promising her the moon if only she’d allow him to live with her. Alina had made some stipulations, some rules she expected him to follow. Within the first month he’d broken all of them and he was no closer to rehabilitation or shaping up his act than before.

Addiction was his proclivity and he excelled at it, from consuming alcohol to experimenting with various drugs. It was seldom Neil was ever sober or without the push of drugs driving him. He’d stolen from everyone he knew and Alina and her husband, Ted, had been no exception. Neil had even stooped to taking items from their house and selling them to the local pawn shop. She knew, she’d gone to check and seen a few of her possessions sitting on their shelves with a price attached.

Nothing she’d done or said so far had pierced through the fog of his existence. Throwing him out on the street seemed too cruel and her love for her grandson kept her plodding on, his name number one on her prayer list. So she put up with his coming and going at all hours, shuffling from job to job, substance-induced states of mind, cynicism and the abuse he dished out.

Ted had threatened Neil numerous time, warned him that soon they’d send him packing if he didn’t shape up. Nothing helped break through the boy’s mental fog. Neil always promised he’d stop doing drugs, that he’d make things right and keep a job but it never lasted. He was hooked, bound by an unseen enemy.

Alina devoted her days to petition Heaven for her grandson’s freedom. She’d begged Ted to allow Neil more time to get his act together. It was because of her that Neil still lived here.

Shelah felt great compassion for the prayer warrior in the room. It was clear the woman was battle scarred and yet, here she was, picking up her Bible and turning to the promises God had given her concerning her grandson. He’d heard the reports of how consistent she was, always before God’s face about the young man.

Tenacious asked, “So how will it happen? Neil came home at three o’clock last night. He’s still recuperating. We,” he pointed to the other guardians, “haven’t seen any change in behavior, nor has he uttered any desperate cries. He seems as obstinate as ever.”

“He’s awake now,” Shelah said. “God sent me. I have no doubt about my assignment.”

“Will Neil call out for help?” asked Tenacious.

“I guess I’ll find out.” Shelah grinned big. “Where?”

Tenacious pointed down the hall. “First door on the right.”

Nodding, Shelah started for the hall, the bolt cutter clutched in his left hand and swinging back and forth at his side with every move he made.

He stopped before the closed door and began to hear commotion on the other side. Terrified screams greeted him even before he penetrated the door. The demonic horde could sense him coming and were already feeling the glory of Heaven preceding him. Shelah stepped forward, his frame passing through the barrier, a tingling sensation rushing through him as he did. The horrific groans and shrieks of terror intensified dramatically from the imps enslaving Neil.

Inside the room, Shelah turned to take in the young man he’d come to help. Neil sat on the edge of his bed, his face buried in his hands. The slightly greenish tinge on his face was telling, the result of heavy partying and not enough recuperation time. Rocking slightly back and forth, a desperate groan escaped Neil’s lips.

The evil forces that held Neil captive looked beside themselves with horror. They hadn’t expected Shelah’s visit and were caught off guard. They looked reluctant to leave but stood as far back as they could, dancing in fear, their jumpy movements revealing their extreme terror.

A thick ring of steel was wrapped around Neil’s neck with a chunky chain attached to it. A foul looking demon held the other end. Shelah knew that when the demon yanked the chain, Neil had no choice but to obey. Other chains were attached to rings of steel on both of Neil’s wrists and ankles and other demons, lower in rank, held to those, eager to dominate and oppress.

To see a potential child of God so enslaved and beggarly tore at Shelah’s resolve. Today, this would end, a captive would be set free! Alina’s tenacity in prayer and Heaven’s will had seen to it.

Shelah watched Neil and waited, the demons crying out in anguish for what they suspected would happen.

Neil slowly lowered his hands, looked up to the ceiling and moaned in pain. “I…I…I can’t do this anymore.”

The demon holding the neck chain pulled hard and wheezed, “It’s not that bad. You’re still in control.”

“No…no I’m not. I’m totally out of control,” Neil’s face looked tortured.

The same demon said, “You can quit whenever you want.”

Neil made a seething noise between his teeth.

Shelah knew Neil had no idea how bound he was nor of the demons that surrounded him. He was simply responding to the thoughts being dropped into his mind. Neither was he aware of an angel’s presence in his room. Neil was oblivious to it all. But Heaven was moving, whether he knew it or not.

“I’m going to die,” Neil said, his eyes drooping in sorrow. “I’m slowly killing myself.”

The demonic beings’ frantic and fearful movements settled some on that confession and they seemed pleased.

A single tear left Neil’s eye and trailed down his cheek. “But I don’t want to die.”

“It would be your escape,” whispered the large imp. “You would finally have peace.”

Shelah knew that Neil had been taught better than that. He’d grown up in the church and knew suicide wasn’t the answer. It just might be a quick trip to a greater Hell.

Neil sat still but shook his head. “No…no! I need help.” Looking up at the ceiling again, he started to say, “God…” But that’s all he got out.

The evil spirit on the neck chain yanked it in fury and shouted. “He’s not real! There is no God! What’s your problem! Get a grip!”

A cry escaped Neil’s parched lips and he wrapped his arms around his thin frame. “Please!” Rocking back and forth, he slowly regained some fortitude. “God help me! Please help me!” he said quickly before he was talked out of it again.

It was time. Shelah stepped forward, one hand holding the bolt cutter and his other withdrawing the sword from the scabbard strapped to his left side. The sword flashed with eye blinding light as Shelah held it toward the demons in the room. Scaly flesh was tinged instantly and gave off a sulfuric odor. Every imp writhed in agony and loosened his hold on the chains in their grasp, causing them to hang loose at Neil’s sides. The demonic spirits fled as Shelah moved toward them, screaming as they went.

Deftly, Shelah took the bolt cutter and snapped the steel rings from Neil’s neck, wrists and ankles. The chains rattled loudly as they fell off his body, disappeared through the floor and plummeted down to the caverns of Hell.

Neil looked spent at the effort it had taken to change his direction. There was suddenly a discernible peace radiating from his eyes. The tug of war was over and the absence of his oppressive overlords left an atmosphere of anticipation. Neil looked somewhat in shock. For once he wasn’t hearing voices, something he’d become accustomed to.

Shelah was already aware of what would happen. God had told him before he’d ever left Heaven, before he’d set out on this mission. Shelah turned to the door and waited. There. Someone knocked.

Neil turned to his door and said, “What?”

“It’s me, Grandma. Can I come in?”

After a deep breath and slow exhale, Neil said, “Okay.”

The door opened and Alina walked in. With compassion in her eyes, she asked, “How are you doing?”

“I want to stop this, Granny. I want to get better.”

Slowly she entered the room, sat beside him on the bed and took his hand in hers. “I know you do. Inside you’re a good boy. But without God you just can’t do it.”

Neil nodded. Although he was nineteen and more man than boy, he looked fragile, in need of parenting.

“Are you ready to let God into your life?” Alina asked.

He nodded again.

Alina’s eyes lit up. “And you’re willing to go for help, get rid of these addictions?”

“Yeah.”

“Would you pray with me, ask Jesus to come be your Lord and help you get free?”

“Yes.”

“Praise God!” Alina said, her voice choking up and tears sliding down her cheeks.

As Alina led Neil in the prayer for salvation, Shelah nodded and smiled. His mission was complete. Alina had already checked into rehabilitation clinics and knew where she’d send him if he agreed. There were steps needed to bring Neil to complete freedom but the process had begun. Alina’s seeds of prayer had been heard and she was reaping the harvest from them.

Shelah watched as four new guardians, new arrivals, descended beside Neil. He was now a child of God and the guardian angels would be with him till his dying day. With a nod in their direction, the four newcomers returning the acknowledgement with nods of their own, Shelah unfurled his wings and rose through the ceiling and on to the sky above.