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[18+] “Rapture” by Shiloh Skye (read by the Author, part 1 of 2)
24th November 2025 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:34:13

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[18+] When Petra, a 20 year old trans man, is baptised into the Gnostic church, the Rapture occurs, transforming him and his two lovers into beasts.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Rapture” by Shiloh Skye, writer, editor, dog. You can find more of his work, as well as book reviews, recommendations, and info about where to find more great furry fiction, on his website at ShilohSkye.com.

Read by the Author.

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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/rapture-by-shiloh-skye-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

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parts

Speaker:

of “Rapture”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Shiloh

Speaker:

Skye,

Speaker:

writer,

Speaker:

editor,

Speaker:

dog.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

work,

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as

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

book

Speaker:

reviews,

Speaker:

recommendations,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

info

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

furry

Speaker:

fiction,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

website

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

ShilohSkye.com.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Author.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Rapture”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Shiloh

Speaker:

Skye,

Speaker:

Part 1

Speaker:

of 2

On

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the

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day

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of

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my

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baptism,

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the

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priest

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lowering

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me

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into

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the

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water

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said

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the

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most

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ironic

thing:

“For

thing:

what

thing:

greater

thing:

sin

thing:

is

thing:

there

thing:

than

thing:

to

thing:

reject

thing:

the

thing:

gift

thing:

of

thing:

Gnosis?”
If

thing:

only

thing:

he

thing:

had

thing:

known

thing:

what

thing:

was

thing:

coming.
That

thing:

was

thing:

the

thing:

last

thing:

thing

thing:

I

thing:

ever

thing:

heard

thing:

the

thing:

priest

thing:

say,

thing:

in

thing:

fact.

thing:

The

thing:

rest

thing:

of

thing:

his

thing:

words

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were

thing:

muffled

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as

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lowered

thing:

me

thing:

into

thing:

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thing:

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pool

thing:

and

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thing:

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thing:

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thing:

rose

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around

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ears.

thing:

I

thing:

took

thing:

a

thing:

deep

thing:

breath,

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squeezed

thing:

my

thing:

nose

thing:

shut,

thing:

and

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summoned

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my

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determination

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as

thing:

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head

thing:

went

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fully

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In

thing:

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weightless

thing:

instant,

thing:

completely

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lost

thing:

in

thing:

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thing:

religious

thing:

bliss

thing:

of

thing:

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thing:

moment,

thing:

I

thing:

reminded

thing:

myself

thing:

why

thing:

I

thing:

was

thing:

there.
I

thing:

was

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confused

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and

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fearful

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How

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made

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on

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over

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Then

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I

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sink

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dropped

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me:

because

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wasn’t

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in

me:

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me:

baptismal

me:

pool

me:

anymore.

me:

Instead,

me:

I

me:

was

me:

drifting

me:

like

me:

a

me:

comet

me:

through

me:

a

me:

perfectly

me:

dark,

me:

empty

me:

void.

me:

A

me:

strange

me:

calm

me:

washed

me:

over

me:

me,

me:

as

me:

if

me:

my

me:

sudden

me:

displacement

me:

was

me:

no

me:

more

me:

noteworthy

me:

than

me:

falling

me:

asleep

me:

at

me:

night.

me:

With

me:

that

me:

comfortable,

me:

almost

me:

hypnotic

me:

bliss

me:

keeping

me:

me

me:

calm,

me:

my

me:

transformation

me:

began.
It

me:

started

me:

at

me:

my

me:

feet.

me:

The

me:

sensation

me:

of

me:

ghostly

me:

hands

me:

rested

me:

upon

me:

my

me:

toes,

me:

but

me:

I

me:

didn’t

me:

feel

me:

a

me:

need

me:

to

me:

draw

me:

back

me:

from

me:

their

me:

unexpected

me:

touch.

me:

My

me:

feet

me:

tingled

me:

as

me:

those

me:

invisible

me:

hands

me:

teased

me:

my

me:

nails,

me:

turning

me:

them

me:

black,

me:

thick,

me:

and

me:

curved.

me:

Fingers

me:

traced

me:

my

me:

skin,

me:

liberating

me:

deep

me:

brown

me:

fur

me:

from

me:

underneath,

me:

which

me:

swept

me:

up

me:

my

me:

foot

me:

like

me:

a

me:

field

me:

of

me:

wheat.

me:

I

me:

opened

me:

my

me:

eyes

me:

and

me:

watched

me:

in

me:

a

me:

nonchalant

me:

gaze,

me:

the

me:

void

me:

calming

me:

me

me:

until

me:

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me:

change

me:

felt

me:

as

me:

soothing

me:

as

me:

a

me:

hot

me:

bath.
Those

me:

ethereal

me:

hands

me:

pressed

me:

into

me:

the

me:

arch

me:

of

me:

my

me:

foot,

me:

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me:

it

me:

like

me:

putty.

me:

What

me:

should

me:

have

me:

been

me:

painful

me:

sent

me:

ecstasy

me:

roaring

me:

through

me:

me

me:

instead.

me:

I

me:

gasped,

me:

and

me:

my

me:

head

me:

lolled

me:

back

me:

as

me:

my

me:

heel

me:

grew

me:

upward

me:

and

me:

the

me:

front

me:

of

me:

my

me:

foot

me:

filled

me:

out.

me:

The

me:

fur

me:

swept

me:

up

me:

and

me:

under

me:

my wet

me:

baptismal

me:

robes,

me:

the

me:

agent

me:

of

me:

change,

me:

shaping

me:

everything

me:

as

me:

it

me:

coated

me:

my

me:

sensitive

me:

flesh.
The

me:

fur

me:

reached

me:

my

me:

middle.

me:

My

me:

groin

me:

surged

me:

with

me:

heat,

me:

as

me:

if

me:

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me:

clay

me:

had

me:

settled

me:

upon

me:

it

me:

and

me:

begun

me:

molding

me:

my

me:

sex

me:

anew.

me:

When

me:

the

me:

fur

me:

reached

me:

my

me:

breasts,

me:

it

me:

brought

me:

the

me:

same

me:

heat,

me:

but

me:

with

me:

a

me:

pressure

me:

like

me:

one

me:

of

me:

my

me:

chest

me:

binders.

me:

I

me:

writhed

me:

as

me:

the

me:

fur

me:

emerged

me:

from

me:

the

me:

sleeves

me:

of

me:

my

me:

robe

me:

and

me:

traced

me:

thick

me:

pads

me:

that

me:

rose

me:

like

me:

islands

me:

from

me:

my

me:

palms.
Fingertips

me:

gently

me:

fondled

me:

my

me:

chin

me:

as

me:

the

me:

fur

me:

reached

me:

my

me:

neck,

me:

my

me:

cheekbones,

me:

my

me:

lips,

me:

my

me:

nose.

me:

The

me:

transformation

me:

was

me:

like

me:

a

me:

deep

me:

kiss

me:

drawing

me:

out

me:

my

me:

face,

me:

changing

me:

the

me:

color

me:

of

me:

my

me:

eyes

me:

to

me:

gold

me:

and

me:

remolding

me:

my

me:

teeth

me:

into

me:

fangs.

me:

My

me:

nose

me:

became

me:

wet

me:

and

me:

leathery,

me:

flooding

me:

with

me:

new,

me:

invigorating

me:

scents,

me:

and

me:

every

me:

sound

me:

turned

me:

vibrant

me:

and

me:

complex

me:

as

me:

my

me:

ears

me:

grew

me:

tall,

me:

curved

me:

and

me:

pointed.
Finally,

me:

my

me:

lower

me:

back

me:

surged

me:

with

me:

heat.

me:

I

me:

panted

me:

and

me:

whimpered

me:

as

me:

pressure

me:

built

me:

up

me:

at

me:

the

me:

base

me:

of

me:

my

me:

spine,

me:

begging

me:

for

me:

release.

me:

A

me:

tail

me:

burst

me:

out

me:

from

me:

my

me:

waist

me:

and

me:

shrouded

me:

itself

me:

in

me:

fur,

me:

rocking

me:

my

me:

body

me:

in

me:

ecstasy.

me:

The

me:

release

me:

made

me:

me

me:

shake,

me:

spasm,

me:

and

me:

thrust,

me:

my

me:

back

me:

arching

me:

as

me:

I

me:

let

me:

out

me:

one

me:

climactic

me:

howl

me:

that

me:

echoed

me:

through

me:

the

me:

void.
As

me:

the

me:

pleasure

me:

faded,

me:

an

me:

afterglow

me:

settled

me:

in.

me:

My

me:

eyes

me:

fluttered,

me:

and

me:

I

me:

surrendered

me:

to

me:

the

me:

pleasant

me:

embrace

me:

of

me:

sleep.
When

me:

I

me:

woke

me:

up,

me:

water

me:

was

me:

rushing

me:

into

me:

my

me:

lungs.
Reality

me:

struck

me:

like

me:

lightning

me:

and

me:

returned

me:

me

me:

to

me:

the

me:

baptismal

me:

pool.

me:

I

me:

gasped,

me:

which

me:

only

me:

drew

me:

more

me:

holy

me:

water

me:

inside

me:

my

me:

chest,

me:

burning

me:

like

me:

magma.

me:

I

me:

was

me:

so

me:

disoriented

me:

that

me:

I

me:

couldn’t

me:

right

me:

myself.

me:

I

me:

flailed

me:

and

me:

tried

me:

to

me:

cry

me:

out

me:

for

me:

help,

me:

drowning

me:

pitifully

me:

in

me:

a

me:

shallow

me:

pool

me:

of

me:

God’s

me:

own

me:

blessed

me:

waters.
But

me:

just

me:

as

me:

my

me:

consciousness

me:

began

me:

to

me:

fade,

me:

I

me:

felt

me:

someone

me:

wrap

me:

their

me:

arms

me:

around

me:

me

me:

and

me:

pull.

me:

In

me:

one

me:

big

me:

lift,

me:

I

me:

burst

me:

through

me:

the

me:

water,

me:

choking,

me:

coughing,

me:

and

me:

retching.
“I’ve

me:

got

me:

you!

me:

Come

me:

on,

me:

Petra,

me:

cough

me:

it

me:

up.

me:

There

me:

you

me:

go.”
I

me:

coughed

me:

up

me:

the

me:

last

me:

of

me:

the

me:

holy

me:

water,

me:

returning

me:

it

me:

soiled

me:

and

me:

cloudy

me:

to

me:

the

me:

pristine

me:

pool.

me:

Weak

me:

and

me:

disoriented,

me:

I

me:

would

me:

have

me:

keeled

me:

over

me:

if

me:

not

me:

for

me:

the

me:

arms

me:

holding

me:

me

me:

steady.
“Woah,

me:

not

me:

here.

me:

Let’s

me:

get

me:

you

me:

out

me:

of

me:

the

me:

pool

me:

first,

me:

alright?”
I

me:

barely

me:

understood

me:

where

me:

I

me:

was,

me:

much

me:

less

me:

what

me:

my

me:

rescuer

me:

had

me:

just

me:

said.

me:

Heart pounding,

me:

they

me:

led

me:

me

me:

half

me:

blind

me:

up

me:

the

me:

baptismal

me:

steps.

me:

My

me:

rescuer

me:

lowered

me:

me

me:

to

me:

the

me:

church

me:

carpet

me:

to

me:

curl

me:

up

me:

on

me:

my

me:

side,

me:

a

me:

shivering

me:

mess.
“You’re

me:

going

me:

to

me:

be

me:

alright.

me:

Don’t

me:

move.

me:

Just

me:

rest,”

me:

I

me:

finally

me:

recognized

me:

the

me:

voice

me:

of

me:

my

me:

savior

me:

as

me:

they

me:

calmingly

me:

stroked

me:

my

me:

back.
“Mark?”

me:

I

me:

asked. “What…

me:

what

me:

happened?”
“Shhh.

me:

Get

me:

your

me:

bearings

me:

first.

me:

Deep

me:

breaths.”
I

me:

did

me:

as

me:

I

me:

was

me:

told,

me:

drawing

me:

in

me:

and

me:

pushing

me:

out

me:

a

me:

slow,

me:

wheezing

me:

breath

me:

as

me:

Mark

me:

spoke

me:

to

me:

someone

me:

else.
“Stay

me:

back

me:

for

me:

now.

me:

We

me:

don’t

me:

want

me:

to

me:

overwhelm

me:

him.”
“He’s

me:

okay

me:

though,

me:

right?”
I

me:

recognized

me:

that

me:

voice

me:

as

me:

well. “S-Seth?”

me:

I

me:

asked,

me:

reaching

me:

out

me:

to

me:

the

me:

blurry

me:

forms

me:

in

me:

front

me:

of

me:

me.
“I’m

me:

here,”

me:

Seth

me:

said,

me:

too

me:

concerned

me:

to

me:

heed

me:

Mark’s

me:

warning.

me:

He

me:

grabbed

me:

my

me:

hand

me:

and

me:

gave

me:

it

me:

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me:

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me:

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I

me:

smiled

me:

at

me:

him,

me:

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me:

something

me:

about

me:

the

me:

curve

me:

of

me:

my

me:

lips

me:

felt

me:

different.

me:

He

me:

gripped

me:

my

me:

hand

me:

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me:

in

me:

response,

me:

and

me:

I

me:

heard

me:

him

me:

let

me:

all

me:

his

me:

stress

me:

out

me:

in

me:

one

me:

big

me:

breath.
The

me:

last

me:

I

me:

had

me:

seen

me:

of

me:

Mark

me:

and

me:

Seth,

me:

they

me:

were

me:

standing

me:

next

me:

to

me:

my

me:

family

me:

in

me:

the

me:

front

me:

row

me:

of

me:

the

me:

congregation.

me:

No

me:

wonder

me:

the

me:

loves

me:

of

me:

my

me:

life

me:

had

me:

been

me:

so

me:

quick

me:

to

me:

jump

me:

in

me:

and

me:

save

me:

me

me:

from…

me:

whatever

me:

had

me:

just

me:

happened.

me:

There

me:

was

me:

no

me:

one

me:

I

me:

would

me:

rather

me:

have

me:

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me:

me

me:

from

me:

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me:

in

me:

a

me:

shallow

me:

pool.
It

me:

was

me:

only

me:

when

me:

I

me:

started

me:

getting

me:

my

me:

senses

me:

back

me:

that

me:

I

me:

realized

me:

Seth’s

me:

hands

me:

didn’t

me:

feel

me:

smooth

me:

and

me:

slender

me:

like

me:

before;

me:

instead

me:

they

me:

were

me:

large,

me:

rounded,

me:

with

me:

a

me:

texture

me:

that

me:

felt

me:

like…

me:

fur.

me:

My

me:

vision

me:

finally

me:

resolved.

me:

I

me:

froze,

me:

like

me:

prey

me:

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me:

the

me:

eyes

me:

of

me:

a

me:

predator.
“Petra?

me:

Are

me:

you alright?”

me:

the

me:

beast

me:

in

me:

front

me:

of

me:

me

me:

asked,

me:

its

me:

inhuman

me:

jaw

me:

somehow

me:

forming

me:

Seth’s

me:

voice.

me:

It

me:

looked

me:

like

me:

a

me:

tiger,

me:

with

me:

that

me:

familiar

me:

orange,

me:

black,

me:

and

me:

white

me:

fur,

me:

but

me:

it

me:

wore

me:

clothes

me:

on

me:

its lithe

me:

body,

me:

and

me:

it

me:

crouched

me:

on

me:

two

me:

legs

me:

that

me:

bent

me:

at

me:

odd

me:

angles.

me:

Its

me:

feline

me:

face

me:

was

me:

so

me:

expressive

me:

that

me:

I

me:

couldn’t

me:

deny

me:

it

me:

was

me:

Seth;

me:

his

me:

emerald

me:

eyes

me:

shined

me:

too

me:

bright

me:

with

me:

that

me:

familiar

me:

worry

me:

and

me:

care.
“W-what

me:

are

me:

you?”

me:

I

me:

asked.
“Petra,

me:

it’s

me:

me,”

me:

the

me:

tiger

me:

said. “I

me:

know

me:

I

me:

look

me:

different,

me:

but

me:

I

me:

promise

me:

it’s

me:

true.

me:

Please

me:

don’t

me:

freak

me:

out.”
I

me:

was

me:

certainly

me:

freaking

me:

out.

me:

How

me:

could

me:

I

me:

not?

me:

But

me:

I

me:

held

me:

the

me:

panic

me:

in

me:

somehow

me:

and

me:

just

me:

responded

me:

with

me:

a

me:

single

me:

hesitant

me:

nod.
Seth

me:

took

me:

a

me:

deep

me:

breath

me:

and

me:

looked

me:

up

me:

at

me:

something

me:

behind

me:

me. “Okay,

me:

if

me:

he

me:

can

me:

handle

me:

what

me:

I

me:

turned

me:

into,

me:

do

me:

you

me:

think

me:

he

me:

can

me:

handle

me:

you

me:

too?”
“Maybe,”

me:

came

me:

Mark’s

me:

voice. “I

me:

suppose

me:

we’d

me:

better

me:

find

me:

out.”
Mark

me:

circled

me:

around

me:

me

me:

and

me:

came

me:

into

me:

view.

me:

I

me:

saw

me:

his

me:

hand

me:

first

me:

as

me:

it

me:

landed

me:

upon

me:

Seth’s shoulder,

me:

and

me:

it

me:

was

me:

so

me:

alien

me:

that

me:

I

me:

would

me:

have

me:

scrambled

me:

back

me:

in

me:

fright

me:

if

me:

I’d

me:

had

me:

the

me:

energy.

me:

Mark’s

me:

hand

me:

was

me:

red

me:

and

me:

scaled,

me:

with

me:

jet

me:

black

me:

claws

me:

that

me:

seemed

me:

moments

me:

away

me:

from

me:

tearing

me:

into

me:

the

me:

tiger’s

me:

flesh.
My

me:

head

me:

snapped

me:

up

me:

to

me:

behold

me:

the

me:

impossible

me:

beast

me:

towering

me:

above

me:

me.

me:

At

me:

first,

me:

I

me:

thought

me:

he

me:

was

me:

some

me:

sort

me:

of

me:

lizard.

me:

That

me:

changed

me:

when

me:

I

me:

noticed

me:

the

me:

wings

me:

on

me:

his

me:

back,

me:

standing

me:

out

me:

from

me:

the

me:

tatters

me:

where

me:

they

me:

had

me:

ripped

me:

through

me:

his

me:

shirt.

me:

Just

me:

like

me:

Seth,

me:

Mark

me:

had

me:

transformed

me:

into

me:

some

me:

sort

me:

of

me:

beast,

me:

but

me:

one

me:

that

me:

was

me:

supposed

me:

to

me:

have

me:

been

me:

entirely

me:

mythical.
“Hun,

me:

it’s

me:

me,

me:

Mark.”

me:

The

me:

dragon

me:

crouched

me:

next

me:

to

me:

Seth,

me:

and

me:

his

me:

fiery-orange

me:

eyes

me:

locked

me:

with

me:

mine. “It’s

me:

been

me:

an

me:

hour

me:

since

me:

you

me:

went

me:

under.

me:

We

me:

were

me:

all

me:

taken

me:

somewhere,

me:

and

me:

in

me:

that

me:

time

me:

we’ve…

me:

well,

me:

we’re

me:

different

me:

now.”

me:

He

me:

gestured

me:

down

me:

at

me:

himself. “Do

me:

you

me:

understand

me:

you’re

me:

different

me:

too?”
I

me:

couldn’t

me:

comprehend

me:

what

me:

he

me:

meant

me:

at

me:

first,

me:

before

me:

remembering

me:

my

me:

vision.

me:

I

me:

drew

me:

my

me:

hands

me:

from

me:

Seth’s

me:

grasp

me:

and

me:

looked

me:

at

me:

them—the

me:

same

me:

paws

me:

from

me:

the

me:

void.

me:

Trembling,

me:

I

me:

brought

me:

them

me:

to

me:

my

me:

face

me:

and

me:

felt

me:

the

me:

long,

me:

thick

me:

muzzle

me:

and

me:

the

me:

pointed,

me:

furry

me:

ears

me:

atop

me:

my

me:

head.
“No

me:

way,”

me:

I

me:

muttered.

me:

I

me:

tried

me:

to

me:

sit

me:

up,

me:

as

me:

if

me:

in

me:

fight

me:

or

me:

flight

me:

against

me:

myself,

me:

but

me:

I

me:

fell

me:

right

me:

on

me:

my

me:

butt,

me:

yipping

me:

as

me:

I

me:

jammed

me:

my

me:

tail.

me:

I

me:

leaned

me:

forward

me:

and

me:

caught

me:

sight

me:

of

me:

my

me:

feet,

me:

which

me:

had

me:

transformed

me:

into

me:

the

me:

same

me:

big

me:

footpaws

me:

from

me:

the void.

me:

I

me:

scrambled

me:

over

me:

to

me:

the

me:

edge

me:

of

me:

the

me:

pool

me:

and

me:

looked

me:

into

me:

the

me:

water.

me:

There

me:

I

me:

saw

me:

the

me:

dim

me:

reflection

me:

of

me:

my

me:

new

me:

lupine

me:

face,

me:

yet

me:

to

me:

my

me:

surprise,

me:

it

me:

somehow

me:

felt

me:

less

me:

alien

me:

than

me:

the

me:

human

me:

face

me:

it

me:

had replaced.
“I… I’m a—”
“You’re a wolf!”

me:

Seth

me:

said,

me:

crawling

me:

up

me:

next

me:

to

me:

me.

me:

The

me:

sudden

me:

rise

me:

in

me:

his

me:

voice

me:

shocked

me:

my

me:

sensitive

me:

ears,

me:

which

me:

recoiled

me:

on

me:

my

me:

head. “And

me:

good

me:

news,

me:

it

me:

looks

me:

like

me:

there’s

me:

even

me:

more

me:

to

me:

it

me:

than

me:

that.”
I

me:

blinked

me:

and

me:

followed

me:

Seth’s

me:

gaze

me:

as

me:

he

me:

let

me:

me

me:

discover

me:

it

me:

for

me:

myself.

me:

First,

me:

I

me:

noticed

me:

that

me:

my

me:

sopping

me:

wet

me:

baptismal

me:

robe

me:

wasn’t

me:

clinging

me:

to

me:

my

me:

generous

me:

breasts;

me:

those

me:

had

me:

disappeared.

me:

Instead,

me:

my

me:

robe

me:

clung

me:

to

me:

a

me:

flat,

me:

firm

me:

chest,

me:

like

me:

a

me:

boy

me:

might

me:

have.

me:

I

me:

ran

me:

my

me:

new

me:

paws

me:

across

me:

it,

me:

as

me:

if

me:

searching

me:

the

me:

tight

me:

surface

me:

would

me:

uncover

me:

what

me:

had

me:

vanished.

me:

Then,

me:

a

me:

shocking

me:

question

me:

occurred

me:

to

me:

me.
Without

me:

a

me:

care

me:

for

me:

the

me:

fact

me:

that

me:

the

me:

dragon

me:

and

me:

tiger

me:

were

me:

watching,

me:

I

me:

reached

me:

down,

me:

paws

me:

shaking,

me:

and

me:

pressed

me:

them

me:

between

me:

my

me:

legs.

me:

I

me:

squeezed,

me:

gasping

me:

as

me:

I

me:

felt

me:

something

me:

that

me:

hadn’t

me:

been

me:

there

me:

before.
“No

me:

way,”

me:

I

me:

choked

me:

out,

me:

a

me:

goofy

me:

grin

me:

spreading

me:

across

me:

my

me:

muzzle.
“Congrats

me:

on

me:

being

me:

the

me:

proper

me:

sex

me:

now,”

me:

Mark

me:

said,

me:

his

me:

smile

me:

full

me:

of

me:

pointed

me:

teeth. “Though

me:

you’re

me:

probably

me:

a

me:

bit

me:

furrier

me:

than

me:

you

me:

thought

me:

you’d

me:

be.

me:

How

me:

does

me:

it

me:

feel?”
Mark’s

me:

question

me:

made

me:

me

me:

look

me:

inward,

me:

and

me:

there

me:

I

me:

found

me:

a

me:

war.

me:

Pure

me:

elation

me:

grappled

me:

with

me:

fear,

me:

but

me:

somehow

me:

elation

me:

seemed

me:

to

me:

be

me:

winning

me:

out.

me:

I

me:

was

me:

a

me:

man.

me:

I

me:

had

me:

the

me:

parts.

me:

And

me:

on

me:

top

me:

of

me:

it,

me:

the

me:

body

me:

I

me:

had

me:

always

me:

felt

me:

so

me:

misplaced

me:

within

me:

had

me:

become

me:

something

me:

utterly

me:

unique.
“How

me:

is

me:

this

me:

possible?”

me:

I

me:

asked,

me:

half-laughing.
A

me:

devilish

me:

grin

me:

stretched

me:

across

me:

Mark’s scaly

me:

face

me:

as

me:

he

me:

proclaimed,
“And

me:

when

me:

all

me:

its

me:

wardens

me:

are

me:

cast

me:

down,

me:

mankind’s

me:

prison

me:

shall

me:

fall

me:

to

me:

ruin.

me:

At

me:

last

me:

from

me:

thy

me:

flesh

me:

you

me:

shall

me:

know

me:

the

me:

bliss

me:

of

me:

freedom.”
My

me:

golden

me:

eyes

me:

went

me:

wide.

me:

Mark

me:

had

me:

drifted

me:

away

me:

from

me:

the

me:

church

me:

in

me:

the

me:

past

me:

few

me:

years,

me:

but

me:

he

me:

clearly

me:

still

me:

remembered

me:

his

me:

scripture.
“I

me:

think

me:

Sabaoth

me:

has

me:

been

me:

victorious,”

me:

he

me:

proclaimed. “The

me:

last

me:

of

me:

the

me:

fallen

me:

archons

me:

has

me:

been

me:

slain.

me:

It’s

me:

over.”
Now

me:

back

me:

then,

me:

only

me:

the

me:

Gnostics

me:

knew of

me:

Sabaoth

me:

and

me:

the archons, and

me:

what

me:

the

me:

end

me:

of

me:

their

me:

battle

me:

meant

me:

for

me:

us

me:

all.

me:

But

me:

the

me:

gist

me:

of

me:

it

me:

was

this:

this:

in

this:

the

this:

terms

this:

of

this:

Modern

this:

Gnosticism,

this:

Mark

this:

had

this:

just

this:

told

this:

me

this:

that

this:

while

this:

I

this:

was

this:

under

this:

the

this:

water,

this:

at

this:

the

this:

very

this:

moment

this:

of

this:

my

this:

baptism,

this:

the

this:

world

this:

had

this:

come

this:

to

this:

an

this:

end.
That

this:

seemed

this:

impossible—too

this:

grand

this:

and

this:

biblical

this:

an

this:

event

this:

to

this:

ever

this:

happen

this:

to

this:

us.

this:

And

this:

being

this:

turned

this:

into

this:

animal

this:

people

this:

certainly

this:

wasn’t

this:

a

this:

part

this:

of

this:

the

this:

Gnostic

this:

apocalypse

this:

story.

this:

If

this:

the

this:

end

this:

had

this:

come,

this:

we

this:

should

this:

have

this:

escaped

this:

our

this:

bodies

this:

and

this:

ascended

this:

to

this:

heaven,

this:

as

this:

was

this:

foretold.

this:

What

this:

made

this:

Mark

this:

think

this:

this

this:

was

this:

that

this:

day

this:

of

this:

judgment.
I

this:

searched

this:

for

this:

the

this:

answer,

this:

finally

this:

taking

this:

in

this:

my

this:

surroundings.

this:

To

this:

my

this:

surprise,

this:

I

this:

found

this:

myself

this:

exploring

this:

not

this:

with

this:

sight,

this:

but

this:

with

this:

smell.

this:

I

this:

closed

this:

my

this:

eyes

this:

and

this:

inhaled

this:

through

this:

my

this:

nose;

this:

it

this:

was

this:

suddenly

this:

as

this:

if

this:

the

this:

church

this:

Mark

this:

and

this:

I

this:

had

this:

grown

this:

up

this:

attending

this:

was

this:

coated

this:

in

this:

colors

this:

I

this:

had

this:

never

this:

seen.

this:

The

this:

woody

this:

aroma

this:

of

this:

the

this:

pews,

this:

the

this:

crisp

this:

freshness

this:

of

this:

the

this:

baptismal

this:

waters,

this:

and

this:

even

this:

the

this:

smell

this:

of

this:

wine

this:

on

this:

the

this:

altar

this:

whirled

this:

around

this:

me.

this:

Strongest

this:

and

this:

sweetest

this:

were

this:

the

this:

scents

this:

of

this:

the

this:

tiger

this:

and

this:

dragon

this:

patiently

this:

watching.

this:

I

this:

let

this:

those

this:

in

this:

deep,

this:

the

this:

scent

this:

of

this:

my

this:

mates

this:

flooding

this:

into

this:

my

this:

memory,

this:

sparking

this:

feelings

this:

of

this:

love

this:

and

this:

safety.
I

this:

could

this:

smell

this:

the

this:

others

this:

in

this:

the

this:

church

this:

too,

this:

but

this:

something

this:

was

this:

strange

this:

about

this:

those

this:

scents;

this:

they

this:

lacked

this:

the

this:

solidity

this:

of

this:

Mark

this:

and

this:

Seth’s.

this:

They

this:

were

this:

weak.

this:

Ethereal.

this:

Like

this:

flowers

this:

blown

this:

away

this:

by

this:

the

this:

wind,

this:

leaving

this:

only

this:

pollen

this:

behind.

this:

I

this:

opened

this:

my

this:

eyes

this:

once

this:

more

this:

and

this:

quickly

this:

learned

this:

why.
They

this:

were

this:

gone.
In

this:

place

this:

of

this:

the

this:

church

this:

congregation,

this:

vestments,

this:

robes,

this:

and

this:

dresses

this:

lay

this:

scattered

this:

across

this:

the

this:

floor,

this:

peppered

this:

with

this:

jewelry,

this:

phones,

this:

wallets,

this:

and

this:

keys.

this:

The

this:

priest’s

this:

robes

this:

floated

this:

in

this:

the

this:

baptismal,

this:

where

this:

the

this:

man

this:

had

this:

disappeared

this:

mid-rite.

this:

I

this:

searched

this:

desperately,

this:

but

this:

didn’t

this:

find

this:

anyone

this:

in

this:

the

this:

church

this:

except

this:

Mark,

this:

Seth,

this:

and

this:

myself.
Every

this:

Christian

this:

of

this:

certain

this:

denominations

this:

knew

this:

this

this:

sign,

this:

whether

this:

from

this:

eerie

this:

videos

this:

in

this:

their

this:

religious

this:

classes,

this:

or

this:

from

this:

apocalyptic

this:

fables

this:

told

this:

by

this:

parents

this:

to

this:

scare

this:

their

this:

kids

this:

straight.

this:

Few

this:

children

this:

had

this:

avoided

this:

having

this:

the

this:

nightmare

this:

of

this:

being

this:

left

this:

alone

this:

in

this:

the

this:

aftermath,

this:

doomed

this:

to

this:

wander

this:

the

this:

world

this:

and

this:

burn

this:

in

this:

whatever

this:

sins

this:

had

this:

earned

this:

them

this:

God’s

this:

abandonment.

Rapture.

“Wait,

this:

no,”

this:

I

this:

said,

this:

my

this:

voice

this:

strained

this:

as

this:

if

this:

waking

this:

up

this:

from

this:

sleep. “That’s

this:

impossible.”

this:

I

this:

tried

this:

to

this:

stand

this:

up,

this:

as

this:

if

this:

ready

this:

to

this:

chase

this:

after

this:

the

this:

souls

this:

that

this:

had

this:

departed

this:

without

this:

me,

this:

but

this:

I

this:

lost

this:

my

this:

balance,

this:

expecting

this:

to

this:

walk

this:

on

this:

human

this:

feet,

this:

not

this:

lupine

this:

paws.
Seth,

this:

with

this:

newfound

this:

reflexes,

this:

saved

this:

me

this:

from

this:

falling

this:

into

this:

the

this:

baptismal.

this:

He

this:

asked

this:

if

this:

I

this:

was

this:

alright,

this:

but

this:

I

this:

hardly

this:

heard

this:

him,

this:

because

this:

the

this:

walls

this:

of

this:

the

this:

church

this:

were

this:

rapidly

this:

closing

this:

in

this:

on

this:

me,

this:

squeezing

this:

out

this:

every

this:

bit

this:

of

this:

excitement

this:

I

this:

had

this:

about

this:

becoming

this:

a

this:

male

this:

wolf,

this:

forming

this:

a

this:

hollow

this:

space

this:

inside

this:

of

this:

me

this:

where

this:

fear

this:

crawled

this:

in

this:

and

this:

took

this:

root.

this:

My

this:

paws

this:

trembled

this:

as

this:

I

this:

clutched

this:

my

this:

scalp,

this:

crushing

this:

my

this:

big

this:

triangular

this:

ears.
“We…

this:

we

this:

got

this:

left

this:

behind?

this:

But…

this:

but

this:

that

this:

means…”
Nausea

this:

gripped

this:

my

this:

stomach

this:

and

this:

ice

this:

chilled

this:

my

this:

blood.

this:

The

this:

fur

this:

on

this:

my

this:

whole

this:

body

this:

stood

this:

on

this:

end

this:

as

this:

traumas

this:

I

this:

thought

this:

I

this:

had

this:

beaten

this:

long

this:

ago

this:

broke

this:

through

this:

their

this:

restraints.

You

this:

will

this:

burn

this:

if

this:

you

this:

don’t

this:

repent.
You

this:

are

this:

broken

this:

and

this:

must

this:

be

this:

fixed.
Only

this:

those

this:

who

this:

reject

this:

Gnosis

this:

are

this:

doomed

this:

in

this:

the

this:

eyes

this:

of

this:

God.

The

this:

priests’

this:

voices

this:

emerged

this:

from

this:

my

this:

memory,

this:

snaking

this:

through

this:

my

this:

brain

this:

and

this:

taking

this:

hold

this:

once

this:

more.
“No,

this:

I’m

this:

not

this:

broken.

this:

I’m

this:

not

this:

wrong.”

this:

I

this:

banged

this:

my

this:

head

this:

with

this:

the

this:

leathery

this:

pad

this:

of

this:

my

this:

paw.
“Petra,”

this:

said

this:

Seth. “What

this:

are

this:

you—“
“Why

this:

didn’t

this:

He

this:

take

this:

me?”

this:

I

this:

asked

this:

the

this:

tiger. “Why

this:

didn’t

this:

He

this:

take

this:

us?”

You

this:

have

this:

succumbed

this:

to

this:

evil.
You

this:

will

this:

be

this:

abandoned.
You

this:

are

this:

wrong.

Mark

this:

approached

this:

and

this:

put

this:

his

this:

hands

this:

on

this:

the

this:

sides

this:

of

this:

my

this:

face,

this:

pressing

this:

his

this:

snout

this:

against

this:

mine. “Don’t

this:

you

this:

dare,”

this:

he

this:

said. “This

this:

isn’t

this:

your

this:

fault.

this:

You

this:

have

this:

to

this:

know

this:

that.”
But

this:

I

this:

didn’t

this:

know.

this:

Not

this:

anymore.

this:

I

this:

looked

this:

down

this:

at

this:

my

this:

parents’

this:

fallen clothes

this:

and

this:

remembered

this:

them

this:

telling

this:

me

this:

this

this:

would

this:

happen,

this:

screaming

this:

at

this:

me

this:

for

this:

the

this:

crime

this:

that

this:

had

this:

now

this:

manifested

this:

between

this:

my

this:

legs.
Seth

this:

hugged

this:

me

this:

from

this:

behind

this:

while

this:

Mark

this:

held

this:

me

this:

from

this:

the

this:

front.

this:

The

this:

dragon’s

this:

wings

this:

fanned

this:

out

this:

and

this:

wrapped

this:

around

this:

us,

this:

shutting

this:

out

this:

the

this:

church.
“Shhh,”

this:

Mark

this:

hushed. “You’re

this:

safe,

this:

hun.

this:

Please

this:

don’t

this:

worry.

this:

There’s

this:

more

this:

to

this:

this

this:

than

this:

you

this:

know.”

this:

He

this:

looked

this:

up

this:

at

this:

Seth. “Can

this:

you

this:

get

this:

his

this:

clothes?

this:

We

this:

should

this:

get

this:

out

this:

of

this:

here

this:

before

this:

sundown.”
“No,”

this:

I

this:

said,

this:

shrugging

this:

them

this:

both

this:

off. “We

this:

need

this:

to

this:

stay.

this:

Maybe

this:

if

this:

we

this:

just

this:

pray

this:

to

this:

him.

this:

This

this:

is

this:

the

this:

house

this:

of

this:

God.

this:

He’ll

this:

have

this:

to

this:

hear

this:

us,

this:

won’t

this:

he?”
Mark’s slitted

this:

eyes

this:

locked

this:

with

this:

mine,

this:

staring

this:

with

this:

that

this:

knowing

this:

gaze,

this:

as

this:

if

this:

peering

this:

right

this:

into

this:

my

this:

soul.

this:

He

this:

placed

this:

his

this:

hands

this:

on

this:

my

this:

shoulders. “Look,

this:

we’ve

this:

been

this:

awake

this:

longer

this:

than

this:

you.

this:

Just

this:

listen.”
I

this:

kept

this:

talking,

this:

as

this:

if

this:

I

this:

hadn’t

this:

heard. “There

this:

has

this:

to

this:

be

this:

something

this:

we

this:

can

this:

do

this:

to

this:

repent

this:

and

this:

earn

this:

his

this:

forgiveness.

this:

Anything.

this:

If

this:

we

this:

just

this:

try

this:

to—”
I

this:

stopped

this:

mid-sentence.

this:

The

this:

familiar

this:

sensation

this:

of

this:

ripples,

this:

like

this:

those

this:

within

this:

the

this:

pool,

this:

cascaded

this:

through

this:

me

this:

again.

this:

My

this:

breath

this:

caught

this:

in

this:

my

this:

throat,

this:

my

this:

heartbeat

this:

seemed

this:

to

this:

cease,

this:

and

this:

the

this:

entire

this:

church

this:

fell

this:

out

this:

from

this:

under

this:

me.

Forest

this:

hills.

this:

Stone

this:

ruins.

this:

Dusk,

this:

then

this:

dawn.

this:

A

this:

tiger,

this:

a

this:

dragon,

this:

a

this:

wolf,

this:

sheltering

this:

together.

this:

The

this:

wolf

this:

looks

this:

at

this:

me.

this:

He

this:

smiles.

this:

Reaches

this:

out.

this:

With

this:

a

this:

flash

this:

of

this:

lightning,

this:

he’s

this:

gone.

this:

Thunder

this:

rumbles

this:

in

this:

the

this:

void.

this:

Crimson

this:

stone

this:

wings

this:

rise

this:

from

this:

the

this:

earth,

this:

and

this:

a

this:

pillar

this:

of

this:

light

this:

awaits

this:

within.

“Petra,

this:

are

this:

you

this:

alright?”

this:

Mark

this:

asked,

this:

shaking

this:

me

this:

by

this:

the

this:

shoulder,

this:

his

this:

eyes

this:

full

this:

of

this:

anticipation “Did

this:

you

this:

see

this:

it?”
I

this:

jumped,

this:

as

this:

if

this:

awakened

this:

from

this:

a

this:

deep

this:

sleep

this:

by

this:

the

this:

sound

this:

of

this:

an

this:

explosion.
“We

this:

can’t

this:

stay!”

this:

I

this:

said,

this:

nearly

this:

shouting. “I

this:

saw

this:

where

this:

He

this:

wants

this:

us

this:

to

this:

go.”
Mark

this:

nodded. “Thunder

this:

Hill,

this:

right?”
I

this:

cocked

this:

my

this:

head

this:

as

this:

he

this:

continued.
“Like

this:

I

this:

said,

this:

there’s

this:

more

this:

to

this:

this

this:

than

this:

you

this:

know.”
“We

this:

had

this:

the

this:

same

this:

vision

this:

before

this:

you

this:

reappeared,”

this:

Seth

this:

cut

this:

in. “We

this:

need

this:

to

this:

be

this:

at

this:

the

this:

hill

this:

by

this:

dawn.”
“That

this:

must

this:

be

this:

our

this:

second

this:

chance

this:

then,”

this:

I

this:

declared. “Something

this:

will

this:

come

this:

and

this:

reveal

this:

to

this:

us

this:

how

this:

we

this:

too

this:

can

this:

ascend.

this:

That

this:

must

this:

be

this:

it!”
Mark

this:

and

this:

Seth

this:

looked

this:

at

this:

each

this:

other.

this:

I

this:

watched

this:

as

this:

their

this:

confusion

this:

turned

this:

to

this:

concern.

this:

Had

this:

they

this:

come

this:

to

this:

a

this:

different

this:

conclusion

this:

than

this:

me?

this:

Through

this:

my

this:

fear,

this:

I

this:

struggled

this:

to

this:

see

this:

what

this:

else

this:

such

this:

a

this:

vision

this:

could

this:

possibly

this:

mean.
Whatever

this:

their

this:

concern,

this:

Mark

this:

didn’t

this:

give

this:

me

this:

an

this:

answer.

this:

He

this:

nodded

this:

toward

this:

the

this:

church

this:

doors

this:

instead. “Will

this:

you

this:

come

this:

with

this:

us

this:

then?

this:

We

this:

should

this:

go

this:

there

this:

together,

this:

like

this:

the

this:

vision

this:

showed.”
There

this:

were

this:

no

this:

further

this:

questions.

this:

No

this:

protests.

this:

Just

this:

a

this:

decisive

this:

understanding.

this:

I

this:

thought

this:

I

this:

knew

this:

what

this:

I

this:

had

this:

to

this:

do

this:

now,

this:

spurred

this:

on

this:

by

this:

faith,

this:

and

this:

by

this:

fear

this:

greater

this:

than

this:

I

this:

had

this:

ever

this:

known.


Our

this:

clothes

this:

didn’t

this:

fit

this:

anymore.

this:

Our

this:

footpaws

this:

forced

this:

us

this:

to

this:

leave

this:

our

this:

shoes

this:

behind,

this:

and

this:

the

this:

best

this:

we

this:

could

this:

do

this:

for

this:

our

this:

tails

this:

was

this:

to

this:

use

this:

our

this:

claws

this:

to

this:

tear

this:

holes

this:

in

this:

the

this:

backs

this:

of

this:

our

this:

pants.

this:

Mark’s

this:

wings

this:

had

this:

been

this:

impossible

this:

to

this:

work

this:

around,

this:

but

this:

he

this:

had

this:

no

this:

qualms

this:

about

this:

going

this:

shirtless,

this:

showing

this:

off

this:

the

this:

red

this:

and

this:

black

this:

markings

this:

on

this:

his

this:

broad

this:

chest,

this:

and

this:

the

this:

muscles

this:

shifting

this:

beneath

this:

the

this:

scales

this:

where

this:

his

this:

wings

this:

met

this:

his

this:

back.

this:

Seth,

this:

meanwhile,

this:

took

this:

off

this:

his

this:

church-appropriate

this:

clothing

this:

and

this:

revealed

this:

his

this:

usual

this:

ensemble

this:

of

this:

a

this:

tank

this:

top

this:

and

this:

tight

this:

shorts,

this:

which

this:

showed

this:

off

this:

even

this:

more

this:

of

this:

his

this:

stripes.
The

this:

sight

this:

of

this:

them

this:

both

this:

made

this:

my

this:

fur

this:

tingle

this:

and

this:

my

this:

tail

this:

wag.

this:

They

this:

flirted

this:

and

this:

teased

this:

each

this:

other

this:

as

this:

we

this:

prepared

this:

to

this:

leave,

this:

and

this:

I

this:

wanted

this:

so

this:

badly

this:

to

this:

join

this:

them

this:

like

this:

I

this:

usually

this:

would,

this:

but

this:

every

this:

time

this:

I

this:

willed

this:

myself

this:

to

this:

try,

this:

a

this:

priest’s

this:

words

this:

echoed

this:

in

this:

my

this:

head.

Don’t

this:

give

this:

in to

this:

temptation.
Temptation

this:

is

this:

their

this:

chain.

And

this:

so,

this:

I

this:

forced

this:

those

this:

feelings

this:

down,

this:

replacing

this:

them

this:

with

this:

silent

this:

prayers.
We

this:

found

this:

the

this:

world

this:

outside

this:

just

this:

as

this:

empty

this:

as

this:

expected.

this:

Front

this:

doors

this:

hung

this:

halfway

this:

open,

this:

garden

this:

hoses

this:

sprayed

this:

water,

this:

and

this:

bicycles

this:

lay

this:

fallen

this:

on

this:

their

this:

sides.

this:

Cars

this:

idled

this:

where

this:

they

this:

had

this:

stopped

this:

right

this:

before

this:

the

this:

Rapture

this:

took

this:

their

this:

drivers.

this:

We

this:

walked

this:

the

this:

neighborhoods

this:

we

this:

had

this:

grown

this:

up

this:

in,

this:

past

this:

our

this:

elementary

this:

school

this:

where

this:

we

this:

had

this:

first

this:

met,

this:

through

this:

the

this:

park

this:

where

this:

we

this:

played

this:

as

this:

kids,

this:

and

this:

even

this:

past

this:

Seth’s

this:

home

this:

where

this:

we

this:

spent

this:

most

this:

of

this:

our

this:

time

this:

hanging

this:

out

this:

and

this:

falling

this:

in

this:

love.

this:

All

this:

of

this:

it

this:

vacant.

this:

All

this:

of

this:

it

this:

left

this:

behind.
But

this:

the

this:

empty

this:

town

this:

didn’t

this:

feel

this:

as

this:

eerie

this:

as

this:

it

this:

could

this:

have.

this:

My

this:

canine

this:

ears

this:

picked

this:

up

this:

a

this:

chorus

this:

of

this:

sounds

this:

replacing

this:

the

this:

silence

this:

of

this:

humanity.

this:

I

this:

could

this:

hear

this:

wind

this:

chimes

this:

playing

this:

from

this:

blocks

this:

away,

this:

squirrels

this:

skittering

this:

high

this:

up

this:

in

this:

the

this:

trees,

this:

and

this:

even

this:

the

this:

drumming

this:

of

this:

both

this:

my

this:

lovers’

this:

heartbeats.

this:

And

this:

then

this:

there

this:

were

this:

the

this:

smells.

this:

The

this:

world

this:

was

this:

painted

this:

in

this:

scents

this:

beyond

this:

anything

this:

the

this:

church

this:

could

this:

have

this:

offered,

this:

and

this:

my

this:

brain

this:

struggled

this:

to

this:

sort

this:

through

this:

them

this:

all.

this:

I

this:

suddenly

this:

understood

this:

why

this:

dogs

this:

tried

this:

to

this:

stop

this:

and

this:

smell

this:

things

this:

on

this:

their

this:

walks;

this:

I

this:

had

this:

to

this:

force

this:

myself

this:

to

this:

keep

this:

moving

this:

every

this:

time

this:

my

this:

nose

this:

caught

this:

an

this:

interesting

this:

scent.
Seth

this:

was

this:

vocal

this:

about

this:

the

this:

feline

this:

experience;

this:

he

this:

tested

this:

how

this:

high

this:

he

this:

could

this:

jump,

this:

how

this:

fast

this:

he

this:

could

this:

run,

this:

and

this:

especially

this:

his

this:

control

this:

over

this:

his

this:

tail.

this:

Eventually

this:

he

this:

started

this:

asking

this:

me

this:

questions,

this:

knowing

this:

that

this:

I

this:

must

this:

be

this:

experiencing

this:

some

this:

sort

this:

of

this:

sensory

this:

overload

this:

as

this:

a

this:

wolf.

this:

I

this:

wanted

this:

to

this:

indulge

this:

his

this:

curiosity,

this:

and

this:

to

this:

share

this:

with

this:

him

this:

these

this:

beautiful

this:

new

this:

dimensions

this:

of

this:

sound

this:

and

this:

smell.

this:

Instead,

this:

I

this:

tried

this:

desperately

this:

to

this:

shut

this:

it

this:

all

this:

out.

this:

I

this:

immersed

this:

myself

this:

in

this:

silent

this:

prayer,

this:

giving

this:

Seth

this:

nothing

this:

but

this:

short

this:

answers

this:

and

this:

hints

this:

to

this:

leave

this:

me

this:

alone—hints

this:

the

this:

tiger

this:

just

this:

wouldn’t

this:

take.
It

this:

finally

this:

reached

this:

a

this:

breaking

this:

point

this:

when

this:

I

this:

felt

this:

him

this:

flicking

this:

at

this:

the

this:

end

this:

of

this:

my

this:

tail.

this:

I

this:

tried

this:

to

this:

ignore

this:

it,

this:

but

this:

the

this:

sensation

this:

was

this:

so

this:

distracting

this:

that

this:

I

this:

eventually

this:

turned

this:

and

this:

snarled,

this:

baring

this:

my

this:

fangs.
Seth

this:

held

this:

his

this:

paws

this:

up,

this:

pink

this:

pads

this:

out. “I’m

this:

sorry!

this:

I

this:

couldn’t

this:

help

this:

it.

this:

It's

this:

just

this:

too

this:

tempting.”
I

this:

stared

this:

daggers

this:

at

this:

him,

this:

which

this:

clearly

this:

wasn’t

this:

the

this:

reaction

this:

he’d

this:

expected;

this:

the

this:

big

this:

cat

this:

looked

this:

like

this:

a

this:

kicked

this:

puppy.
“I’m

this:

sorry,”

this:

I

this:

sighed. “It’s

this:

just

this:

that

this:

we

this:

shouldn’t

this:

be

this:

playing

this:

around

this:

in

this:

these

this:

bodies.”

this:

I

this:

settled

this:

into

this:

my

this:

best ‘scripture

this:

reading’

this:

voice. “And

this:

Sabaoth

proclaimed:

proclaimed:

The

proclaimed:

archons

proclaimed:

crafted

proclaimed:

thy

proclaimed:

form

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

deception,

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

indulgence

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

their

proclaimed:

lie

proclaimed:

will

proclaimed:

bind

proclaimed:

you

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

your

proclaimed:

prison.”
Seth

proclaimed:

hadn’t

proclaimed:

grown

proclaimed:

up

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

church

proclaimed:

like

proclaimed:

Mark

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

myself,

proclaimed:

so

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

soon

proclaimed:

learned

proclaimed:

what

proclaimed:

an

proclaimed:

utterly

proclaimed:

confused

proclaimed:

tiger

proclaimed:

looked

proclaimed:

like

proclaimed:

as

proclaimed:

he

proclaimed:

jogged

proclaimed:

up

proclaimed:

next

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

me.
“He’s

proclaimed:

quoting

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

Gnostic

proclaimed:

version

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

Genesis,”

proclaimed:

Mark

proclaimed:

explained,

proclaimed:

waving

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

hand. “The

proclaimed:

story’s

proclaimed:

different

proclaimed:

from

proclaimed:

how

proclaimed:

most

proclaimed:

Christians

proclaimed:

tell

proclaimed:

it.”
“What’s

proclaimed:

different

proclaimed:

about

proclaimed:

it?”

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

asked,

proclaimed:

excited

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

curious. “None

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

Adam

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

Eve

proclaimed:

stuff

proclaimed:

then?”
“That’s

proclaimed:

still

proclaimed:

there,”

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

said, “But

proclaimed:

their

proclaimed:

story’s

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

bit

proclaimed:

different

proclaimed:

too.”
The

proclaimed:

tiger

proclaimed:

waited

proclaimed:

patiently

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

hear

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

tale,

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

eventually

proclaimed:

gave

proclaimed:

in.
“Gnosticism

proclaimed:

teaches

proclaimed:

that

proclaimed:

Adam

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

Eve

proclaimed:

weren’t

proclaimed:

created

proclaimed:

by

proclaimed:

God,

proclaimed:

but

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

defiance

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

him.

proclaimed:

The

proclaimed:

archons

proclaimed:

are

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

demons

proclaimed:

who

proclaimed:

stole

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

divine

proclaimed:

spark

proclaimed:

from

proclaimed:

God,

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

created

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

human

proclaimed:

body

proclaimed:

as

proclaimed:

its

proclaimed:

prison.

proclaimed:

Only

proclaimed:

by

proclaimed:

achieving

proclaimed:

Gnosis—by

proclaimed:

fully

proclaimed:

rejecting

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

attachment

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

flesh—can

proclaimed:

we

proclaimed:

hope

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

escape

proclaimed:

it

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

ascend

proclaimed:

back

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

Lord.”
Seth

proclaimed:

tongued

proclaimed:

at

proclaimed:

one

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

fangs

proclaimed:

as

proclaimed:

he

proclaimed:

thought

proclaimed:

that

proclaimed:

over. “So

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

Rapture

proclaimed:

is

proclaimed:

like

proclaimed:

being

proclaimed:

broken

proclaimed:

out

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

prison

proclaimed:

then.

proclaimed:

By…

proclaimed:

what

proclaimed:

did

proclaimed:

you

proclaimed:

say

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

name

proclaimed:

was?”
“Sabaoth,”

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

nodded. “The

proclaimed:

chief

proclaimed:

architect

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

Adam.

proclaimed:

But

proclaimed:

he

proclaimed:

was

proclaimed:

redeemed

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

tasked

proclaimed:

with

proclaimed:

defeating

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

fellow

proclaimed:

archons.”

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

gestured

proclaimed:

around

proclaimed:

us. “What

proclaimed:

you

proclaimed:

see

proclaimed:

is

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

result,

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

guess.

proclaimed:

The

proclaimed:

archons

proclaimed:

were

proclaimed:

like

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

pillars

proclaimed:

holding

proclaimed:

up

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

prison.

proclaimed:

When

proclaimed:

Sabaoth

proclaimed:

defeated

proclaimed:

them,

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

prison

proclaimed:

fell.

proclaimed:

Now

proclaimed:

all

proclaimed:

righteous

proclaimed:

souls

proclaimed:

have

proclaimed:

escaped

proclaimed:

their

proclaimed:

bodies

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

returned

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

heaven.”

proclaimed:

My

proclaimed:

voice

proclaimed:

darkened. “And

proclaimed:

all

proclaimed:

sinful

proclaimed:

souls

proclaimed:

have

proclaimed:

been

proclaimed:

left

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

wander

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

earth.”
“Well

proclaimed:

that’s

proclaimed:

kind

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

mean,”

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

protested. “I

proclaimed:

know

proclaimed:

I’m

proclaimed:

not

proclaimed:

Gnostic,

proclaimed:

but

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

don’t

proclaimed:

think

proclaimed:

I’m

proclaimed:

worse

proclaimed:

than

proclaimed:

everyone

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

town.”
“There

proclaimed:

was

proclaimed:

more

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

it

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

ancient

proclaimed:

times,”

proclaimed:

Mark

proclaimed:

cut in. “The

proclaimed:

real

proclaimed:

religion

proclaimed:

actually

proclaimed:

died

proclaimed:

out

proclaimed:

over

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

thousand

proclaimed:

years

proclaimed:

ago.

proclaimed:

Modern

proclaimed:

Gnosticism

proclaimed:

is

proclaimed:

just

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

watered-down

proclaimed:

version

proclaimed:

that

proclaimed:

really

proclaimed:

homed

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

on

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

whole ‘the

proclaimed:

body

proclaimed:

is

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

prison’

proclaimed:

thing.”

proclaimed:

The

proclaimed:

dragon

proclaimed:

practically

proclaimed:

spat

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

explanation

proclaimed:

out. “It

proclaimed:

was

proclaimed:

never

proclaimed:

supposed

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

be

proclaimed:

that

proclaimed:

simple.”
“That

proclaimed:

part’s

proclaimed:

always

proclaimed:

been

proclaimed:

true

proclaimed:

though,”

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

insisted,

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

slight

proclaimed:

growl

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

my

proclaimed:

voice. “We

proclaimed:

must

proclaimed:

resist

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

temptations

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

bodies

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

reject

proclaimed:

them,

proclaimed:

lest

proclaimed:

we

proclaimed:

become

proclaimed:

bound

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

our

proclaimed:

flesh

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

never

proclaimed:

escape.”
Seth

proclaimed:

scratched

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

fur

proclaimed:

on

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

back

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

neck

proclaimed:

as

proclaimed:

he

proclaimed:

considered. “I

proclaimed:

don’t

proclaimed:

know.

proclaimed:

I’m

proclaimed:

kind

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

starting

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

like

proclaimed:

this

proclaimed:

body.

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

mean,

proclaimed:

I’m

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

tiger.

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

have

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

tail.

proclaimed:

It’s

proclaimed:

definitely

proclaimed:

a

proclaimed:

lot

proclaimed:

cooler

proclaimed:

than

proclaimed:

being

proclaimed:

human,

proclaimed:

right?”
He

proclaimed:

twirled

proclaimed:

ahead

proclaimed:

as

proclaimed:

he

proclaimed:

said

proclaimed:

it,

proclaimed:

showing

proclaimed:

himself

proclaimed:

off.

proclaimed:

My

proclaimed:

face

proclaimed:

warmed

proclaimed:

up

proclaimed:

at

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

sight

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

colorful

proclaimed:

stripes,

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

lithe

proclaimed:

body,

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

long

proclaimed:

tail…

proclaimed:

As

proclaimed:

if

proclaimed:

sensing

proclaimed:

my

proclaimed:

arousal,

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

tiger

proclaimed:

stepped

proclaimed:

back

proclaimed:

to

proclaimed:

my

proclaimed:

side

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

wrapped

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

arm

proclaimed:

around

proclaimed:

my

proclaimed:

waist.

proclaimed:

He

proclaimed:

leaned

proclaimed:

in

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

spoke

proclaimed:

into

proclaimed:

my

proclaimed:

tall

proclaimed:

ear. “You

proclaimed:

look

proclaimed:

really

proclaimed:

great

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resisted

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proclaimed:

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have

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what.”
Mark

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proclaimed:

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I

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proclaimed:

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my

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ears

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

to

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proclaimed:

my

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legs.
Mark

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Seth

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

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other

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

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proclaimed:

Mark

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asked,

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proclaimed:

me. “He’s

proclaimed:

not

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I

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think

proclaimed:

he

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makes

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handsome

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tiger.”
A

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him,”

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the

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archons.

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If

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him.”
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they

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voice

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us.

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image,

proclaimed:

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My

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scriptures.”
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scriptures,”

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Mark

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said

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with

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a

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archons

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help

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fallen ones.”

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you

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learn

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this?”
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sped

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would

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you

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you

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realizing

proclaimed:

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us

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proclaimed:

Mark

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asked. “Why

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you

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us

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Gnosticism

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Plus,

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of

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our

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triad.”
I

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was

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ready

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to

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dismiss

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Mark’s

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questions

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absurd,

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his

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face

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serious.

proclaimed:

I

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words

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from

proclaimed:

my

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memory. “We

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be

proclaimed:

heretics

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for

proclaimed:

being

proclaimed:

tempted

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by

proclaimed:

each

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other,

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but

proclaimed:

we

proclaimed:

can

proclaimed:

still

proclaimed:

repent

proclaimed:

and

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ascend

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as

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well.

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because

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God

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has

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bestowed

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challenges

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upon

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us.”
The

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words

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felt

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so

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very

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wrong

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slithering

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out

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of

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mouth.

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They

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own,

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but

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those

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of

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the

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priests

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who

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had

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tried

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and

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failed

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to

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me.

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was

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trauma

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doctrine.
“What

proclaimed:

about

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you?”

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

whimpered,

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piercing

proclaimed:

me

proclaimed:

through

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

heart. “What

proclaimed:

does

proclaimed:

Gnosticism

proclaimed:

say

proclaimed:

about

proclaimed:

being

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trans?”
I

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to

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a

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stop

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and

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hesitated.

proclaimed:

I

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knew

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any

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answer

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

my

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own

proclaimed:

making

proclaimed:

would

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just

proclaimed:

make

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

insist

proclaimed:

I

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didn’t

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deserve

proclaimed:

God’s

proclaimed:

wrath,

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so

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I

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quoted

proclaimed:

the

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church’s

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scripture

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instead—the

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one

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that

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priests

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had

proclaimed:

read

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to

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me

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over

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and

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over

proclaimed:

again.
“Damned

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are

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the

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traitors

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who

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would

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trade

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one

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prison

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for

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another,

proclaimed:

for

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they

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perpetuate

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

archon’s

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will

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and

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forestall

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Gnosis

proclaimed:

for

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all.”
“Petra!”

proclaimed:

Mark

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scolded. “We

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talked

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about

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this.

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That

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verse

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is

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messed

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up

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and

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you

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know

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it.”
“It

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comes

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straight

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from

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the

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scriptures.

proclaimed:

And

proclaimed:

after

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all of

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this,”

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

grabbed

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Seth’s

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tail

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and

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waved

proclaimed:

it

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around. “I’m

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not

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so

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sure

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it’s

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wrong.”
“But

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you

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want

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to

proclaimed:

be

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a

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man,

proclaimed:

right?”

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

asked,

proclaimed:

swishing

proclaimed:

his

proclaimed:

tail

proclaimed:

back. “Don’t

proclaimed:

you

proclaimed:

still

proclaimed:

feel

proclaimed:

that

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way?”
“It’s

proclaimed:

not

proclaimed:

about

proclaimed:

how

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

feel.

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It’s

proclaimed:

about

proclaimed:

what

proclaimed:

God

proclaimed:

wants.”

I

proclaimed:

thought

proclaimed:

that

proclaimed:

had

proclaimed:

finally

proclaimed:

quieted

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

Mark,

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

I

proclaimed:

nearly

proclaimed:

began

proclaimed:

walking

proclaimed:

once

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more,

proclaimed:

but

proclaimed:

both

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their

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arms

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wrapped

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around

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me

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and

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pulled

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me

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into

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a

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hug.
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don’t

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care

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what

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the

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scripture

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says.

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I

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care

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about

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what’s

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right,”

proclaimed:

said

proclaimed:

Mark. “You

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deserve

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better

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than

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whatever

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the

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church

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wants

proclaimed:

from

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you.

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you

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who

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you

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are.

proclaimed:

Not

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whatever

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church

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wants

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you

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to

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be.”
I

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didn’t

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know

proclaimed:

how

proclaimed:

to

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respond

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to

proclaimed:

that.

proclaimed:

Faith

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and

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desire

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grappled

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and

proclaimed:

left

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me

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anything

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to

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say.

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So

proclaimed:

instead,

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I

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spoke

proclaimed:

yet

proclaimed:

another

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line

proclaimed:

from

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

priests.
“What

proclaimed:

God

proclaimed:

wants

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of

proclaimed:

us

proclaimed:

is

proclaimed:

right

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

just.

proclaimed:

Nothing

proclaimed:

can

proclaimed:

change

proclaimed:

that.”


This

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was

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the

proclaimed:

first

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of

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two

proclaimed:

parts

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of “Rapture”

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by

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Shiloh

proclaimed:

Skye, read

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for

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you

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proclaimed:

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in

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next

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time

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to

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find

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out

proclaimed:

if

proclaimed:

Mark

proclaimed:

and

proclaimed:

Seth

proclaimed:

can

proclaimed:

pull

proclaimed:

Petra

proclaimed:

out

proclaimed:

of

proclaimed:

his

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religious

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spiral.

As

proclaimed:

always,

proclaimed:

you

proclaimed:

can

proclaimed:

find

proclaimed:

more

proclaimed:

stories

proclaimed:

on

proclaimed:

the

proclaimed:

web

proclaimed:

at

proclaimed:

thevoice.dog,

proclaimed:

or

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find

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the

proclaimed:

show

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wherever

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you

proclaimed:

get

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your

proclaimed:

podcasts.

proclaimed:

Thank

proclaimed:

you

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for

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

proclaimed:

of

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Dog.

Chapters

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