The story begins in the Dark City1 – an oppressive, inescapable place populated by slaves.  Each slave is forced to obey the Dark Ruler2, who possesses each of their souls until they eventually die in unfulfilled, eternal despair.  Introduced against this backdrop is the main character, Leah3, enslaved as a prostitute in the Dark City.  All her life she has been forced to please the cruel men4, who continually abuse her and the other slaves5 (also referred to as Leah’s sisters) without mercy.  Whenever she is approached, Leah is offered either deliverance from her plight or the pretense of a better life in exchange for her services…yet in the end, her hope is always shattered when she finds herself alone – violated and deserted.  Overwhelmed in her existence and jaded by the endless abuse, her heart is full of despair and hopelessness.One evening, Leah’s life changes forever when a new Man approaches her.  She notices immediately He is different than the others.  This Man doesn’t stare at her like an object, even though her only clothing is a seductive yet tattered, threadbare dress6.  Instead, He addresses her with true Love and warmth; she can feel it in the tone of His voice.  Never in her life has she experienced an interaction like this before; the intensity of true love and purity emanating from His presence makes her so uncomfortable she nearly runs away.  Yet captivated by His voice, Leah feels a stirring in her heart…and begins to let Him pursue her.  After some days spent pursuing her heart, He reveals His true identity and purpose: He is the Son7, the sworn enemy of the Dark Ruler of the city.  He lives in the City of Light8 with His Father, the Master9, but has come to the Dark City on a mission to offer true deliverance to every slave.  Whoever accepts His message will be given freedom, along with a new name10 and identity.  The Son tells her He must now go and proclaim His message of freedom to the other slaves (most of whom will never accept His proposal, preferring their delusion of liberty over true deliverance).  He reassures her, promising He will soon return to continue pursuing her heart.  As soon as they part, Leah finds herself alone again, assailed once more by doubting thoughts.  Almost immediately, the Dark Ruler begins speaking within her soul, seeking to dissuade her from accepting the Son’s offer of freedom.  And although full of lies, he reminds her of one inescapable truth: through her own life of faithlessness (even though it is largely facilitated through his control over her), she has incurred a Debt11…a Debt which can only be satisfied by Death, which immediately follows this life and continues forever as the punishment of everlasting flame12.  The Dark Ruler’s reminder of her Debt, combined with his simultaneous lies and control over her through the threat of everlasting punishment, is enough to break Leah down.  Furthermore, through his incessant, condescending shame, he successfully convinces her of her worthlessness.  Devastated, Leah abandons her plans to accept the Son’s offer of freedom, promptly returning to her old ways in despair and hopelessness.When the Son returns a few days later for Leah, He finds her in the very act of prostitution.  Like a veil suddenly lifted, her clarity returns, reminding her she has been deceived by the Dark Ruler once again.  A wave of panic floods over her.  Surely He will abandon His quest for my heart, now that He has walked in upon my shame and exposed faithlessness, her mind screams.  With her heart racing once more, she gets up and prepares to flee, avoiding His gaze.And then He speaks.  Utterly confused, she pauses…and finally lifts her eyes to meet His gaze.His voice is tender, His words full of forgiveness and encouragement.  Leah is shocked by His genuine, selfless love.  Filled with humble contrition, she is both devastated by her sin and yet thrilled that He would continue to pursue her.  Never in her life has she dreamed of this kind of Love…a Love, she now realizes, she cannot live without.To her further amazement and delight, He proposes13 to her.  Overjoyed, she opens her mouth to exclaim her acceptance – but sees a troubled look upon His face, and slowly turns around.  To her horror, Leah sees the Dark Ruler’s Cruel Men approaching, realizing immediately they have come to arrest Him.  Yet instead of showing fear, the Son simply asks her to stay with Him, desiring her company during His impending suffering.  Filled immediately with panic and confusion, Leah’s mind begins to race.  Why doesn’t He resist or try to escape?!  Even as the question flashes across her mind, she watches in dismay as He advances to meet them, like a defenseless lamb walking into a den of wolves.  The Cruel Men immediately subdue and bind the Son.  Filled with terror, Leah flees into the night as He is led away in chains.  Once again, she has abandoned Him…this time, in His very moment of need.  The Son is brought before the Dark Ruler, where He is questioned and mocked.  When the Dark Ruler demands to know His purposes, the Son calmly and confidently declares His intent to rescue Leah (along with every slave who will follow Him) from the Dark City into a Living Hope beyond Sheol14.  The Dark Ruler laughs, mocks Him openly, and sentences Him to death.  Watching from a distance, Leah is far too afraid to come to His defense or even comfort Him with her presence.  Before her unwilling eyes, He is led away to be tortured and killed by the Ruler’s Cruel Men.The Cruel Men mock, beat, and then hang the Son upon a Tree15 to die.  With His dying breath, He catches her eye, and Leah is immediately cut to the heart with agonizing realization.  The Debt.  This was His intention from the beginning, she suddenly realizes, accomplished for her redemption16, in spite of her having abandoned Him repeatedly.  He was dying in her place, paying the Debt of her faithlessness, her own freedom’s price…all in order to rescue her from the unyielding grip of her Debt.  As she finally realizes the depth of His Love for her, He breathes His last breath.  Leah descends into a fog of guilt and despair, and begins to wander aimlessly.Three days later, still numb with sorrow, she feels the ground shake.  Surrounded by a bright light, a surge of excitement permeates her entire being.  Leah cannot believe her ears.  Yet the voice is unmistakable……The Son, calling her name.  The Son had never been guilty of sin or faithlessness; therefore, when He died to pay the Debt of the slaves, the grave could not hold Him.  Since death and the grave only hold power over those who are guilty of sin, He was resurrected from the grave (made fully alive again) by the power of His Father, the Master.Stunned in disbelief, she runs to Him, falling at His feet in worship.  Through her tears, she finally proclaims her acceptance of His proposal, and He declares her His Bride.  Furthermore, He reveals her new identity: She is no longer Leah, the weary slave, continually abused by the Dark Ruler who formerly possessed her soul.  Her name is now Zoe17, representing her new life and identity as His Bride, made fully alive at last by virtue of His substitutional, sacrificial death and resurrection from the grave.  Elated, Zoe longs to leave the Dark City with the Son immediately.  Instead, He explains that He must first return alone to the City of Light to prepare their new, eternal home together.  In the meantime, she must stay in the Dark City a while longer, reflecting His Love and proclaiming the Word18 of freedom to those still living in bondage.  He informs her it will not be easy, even revealing she will sometimes be mocked or made to suffer.  Yet He reminds her never to despair, making her this promise19: Because she is now free, He will never leave her.  Whereas she was possessed by the spirit of the Dark Ruler before, she is now filled with the presence of the Son’s Spirit, a continual source of peace and hope to her throughout her life’s temporary journey within the Dark City.  Before He departs, the Son leaves Zoe with a final reassurance: Once their new palace is made ready in the City of Light, He will physically return to take her Home forever, straight to their Wedding Feast and everlasting reunion.Sad to part ways with her Hero, Redeemer, and True Love, Zoe is nonetheless reassured by His promises, knowing His Words are Truth.  As the seasons come and go, Zoe endures the temporary afflictions of her years of waiting in the Dark City, ever looking forward to her promised Homecoming in the future.  One day, many years later, she looks up and sees the Son approaching at last.  His beauty and glory, far greater than she remembers, awakens her heart with such joy and pleasure that she completely forgets her life’s affliction.  The fulfillment of His promises have at last ignited her hope beyond her wildest imagination.  Enraptured in the joy of His presence, she suddenly realizes she is no longer in the Dark City, but instead entering a magnificent City of Light with her Redeemer.  The radiance here is far brighter than the sun, yet somehow it doesn’t hurt her eyes.  She looks around in amazement.  After several moments lost in wonder, she feels the Son smiling at her, and turns around.  He hands her a gift, which she opens eagerly…and immediately bursts into tears.  Inside is a beautiful, flawlessly clean wedding gown20 of white linen which fits perfectly; moreover, she realizes her old, tattered clothes from the Dark City have disappeared.  It is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.  The Son gently wipes away the tears from her eyes.  Having joyfully donned her Wedding Gown, Zoe and the Son enter the City of Light together, reunited forever at last.Inside the City of Light, she sits down at the prepared wedding feast21 with her Bridegroom, referenced here as the spotless Lamb of Abraham22.  Surrounded by the sound of innumerable voices singing and rejoicing in great honor and glory of the Master and His Son, the long-awaited celebration begins at last.
Synopsis
