A shaking of the earth, a shaking of my limbs, a shaking of my soul. And then darkness. Only one person knows this. Only one. Daughter, when the earth shakes you will receive great power.

Melissa, the daughter of a Roman army officer, enjoys a wow moment when she meets Merekl, a young cloth merchant with laughter in his voice. But as she follows the path the fortune teller predicts, she plunges ever deeper into darkness and danger. Can Merekl overcome destructive powers and unscrupulous enemies to rescue Melissa?

This dramatic story for 12-14 year olds, woven around events in the Book of Acts, is set in Roman Philippi around the middle of the first century CE. The action, based on thorough research into the world of Ancient Rome, shows how the young Christian church attracted the have-nots of the ruthless Roman world and enriched their lives with a sense of belonging to a diverse, joyful community.