Thursday, October 15, 2009

Red Light Distrist

“Take it off!” they yelled. And since Stevan was there, with his ruby handled pistol, I had no choice.

I had to obey.

Reluctantly I slipped off my tiny crimson dress and exposed my bare skin for all to see.

I fought back tears as I danced tentatively behind the red neon lights that enveloped my window. I hated Stevan. I hated him for taking me out of Russia, for bringing me to The Red Light District and for making me dance in front of all those men.

They stared up at me with hungry grins on their faces, bathed in the hellish hues of The Red Light District. They made my skin crawl. From my point of view they looked less like men and more like red-faced demons circling my glass cage waiting to grab hold of me and pull me further into hell with them. And they did, often. It was how I paid Stevan’s bills.

By the time darkness had lifted and the hell fire scarlet of The Red Light District was paled by sunlight I was alone under my crimson sheets, loathing life. Through tears I pleaded with God to pull me out of the nightmare I was forced to live in and I cried myself to sleep.

When I finally woke the sun was setting and the fiery red lights were once again winning the battle for prominence. The demonic hordes would be filling The Red Light District very soon and I wanted nothing to do with them; I wanted out of the RLD. But there was no way out.

I rolled over with a huff and faced my door. A pamphlet lay under the crack. I couldn’t read it from the vantage point on my bed but I could see the picture on its white surface; a bright red rope pulling a naked girl out of the fiery flames that licked at her feet. And right away I realized that girl was me and that pamphlet, with its scarlet rope, was my way out of hell. I got up and read it.


The Scarlet Rope
Your Lifeline out of the RLD

You are not alone.
You can make it out!
“God guards those who come to him for safety.”
Proverbs 30:5

Come to Oorbereck Church for sanctuary. We can help. Or call 87-931-46



I opened the door and peeked out. No one was there.

There were no crowds yet either, and more importantly, no Stevan – he was probably with one of his other girls. If there was ever a time for me to escape, it was now.

I threw on the only two things I owned: red dental floss that masqueraded as a pair of panties and the slinky crimson dress the demon faced crowds had forced me to take off the night before.

I stepped out the door, pamphlet in hand. A few girls were writhing in their windows already and the street was becoming more hell-like by the second as the darkness grew. The red lights were on, full force, and everywhere I looked red-faced men were filling in the street.

I walked faster. I didn’t want them to pull me back in.

My heart raced as I neared the end of Rossebuurt Ave.

“Where are you going?” My stomach dropped. It was Stevan’s voice! I didn’t dare turn around to him. Instead I broke into a full sprint, my bare feet slapping painfully against the cobblestone.

I pulled franticly at the invisible scarlet rope, hoping to scramble out far enough before the flaming lights and burning fingers caught hold of me.

“Saraia!” His angry voice was closer as he called my name. “Get back here!” He was only a few feet behind.

The church’s white lights were in the distance and I pushed myself harder, faster. My lungs burned. I could see people standing on the church steps, bathed in white. I wanted to be with them.

“HELP!” I screamed. But no sound came out.

I could hear Stevan’s footsteps right behind me. I lengthened my stride. But was it enough? Could I make it before he grabbed me?

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Skarlaken Koord (The Scarlet Cord) is a real life mission aimed at helping women out of the RLD and into the arms of God. Though I have no affiliation with them, I think their mission is honorable. If you would like to know more about them and what they do you can check them out at http://www.scharlakenkoord.nl/cms/content/view/61/89/

2 comments:

  1. Praise the Lord for organizations like this!
    Very well written. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

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  2. It's hard to believe what so many girls must go through. But, I praise God He raises up His children to reach out and be His hands and feet. Praise God for hearing us when we cry out to Him! "Bless the Lord, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliver. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in Him. He subdues the nations under me."(Psalm 144:1&2) "He loves the Godly;He is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him."(Psalm 37:39&40) Praise God for being our shield and for His Word of truth we have to cling to and gain strength from. Praise Him, for His tender, gracious and loving heart that seeks us out and chooses to love and except us right where we are; reaching out His hand to us, to pull us out of the fiery pits of death and hell!!! Praise His holy name!

    Thank you for using the gift God has granted you to uniquely touch other lives through your writings! What a blessing you are!

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