Melinda Bentley used to be a Global Community Morale Monitor with her best friend Felicia, Lionel Washington, and Conrad Graham. In the dramatic audio presentation of Left Behind: The Kids, she is the secondary antagonist turned anti hero in volume 4 and a supporting protagonist for the rest of the series
Melinda's mom was taken in the Rapture, leaving her with her dad. But after the disappearances, her dad started drinking to take away the pain. During school, Melinda makes a friend whose name is Felicia. Since Melinda's dad is a drinker, the two friends run away to Felicia's uncle's house. Discovering that he too was a drinker, the two run away again to the GC Morale Monitor program, wanting to forget their past. There, she meets Lionel and Conrad. After the death of her commander, Terrel Blancka, she traces down the Young Tribulation Force's whereabouts by way of a computer chip placed in Phoenix's neck. But on the way there, Felicia drinks water contaminated by Wormwood, and dies when they get to the Young Trib Force's location. The Young Trib Force is worried that if they let Melinda go, she will tell the GC their location. But Melinda ends up escaping somehow, and goes to the GC to tell the Young Trib Force's location. But the GC don't listen and believe she turned bad, so they captured her. Meanwhile Mark Eisman goes after Melinda, but hears she's been captured. He rescues her and goes back to the schoolhouse. Up until this time, Melinda was a total Carpathia follower, but in Horsemen of Terror, she finally accepts Christ.
Appearances[]
- 13. The Showdown (first appearance)
- 14. Judgment Day
- 15. Battling the Commander
- 16. Fire from Heaven
- 17. Terror in the Stadium
- 18. Darkening Skies
- 19. Attack of Apollyon
- 20. A Dangerous Plan
- 21. Secrets of New Babylon
- 22. Escape from New Babylon
- 23. Horsemen of Terror (becomes a believer)
- 24. Uplink from the Underground
- 25. Death at the Gala
- 27. Wildfire!
- 29. Breakout!
- 40. Triumphant Return
Mentions[]
Trivia[]
- In the dramatic audio presentation, Melinda is played by Marion Oberle.
- Melinda's first appearance is in book 13.
- Melinda is one of 12 Young Tribulation Force members to survive to the Glorious Appearing.
- Melinda had slapped and attacked Darrion Stahley but would later work with Darrion when she became a Young Tribulation Force member.
- Melinda claimed she personally witnessed the death of Terrel Blancka.
- Melinda is one of the few antagonists in the Left Behind franchise to be redeemed.
- Melinda is the first non-original female Young Tribulation Force member whose mother was raptured.
- Melinda's actress, Marion Oberle, also played the role of Nada Ameer.