Skyscrapers screamed light into the sky — all glass and steel, not a tree in sight. No traditional houses, only elongated, pristine apartment complexes.

  “Heh.” Jeremiah grinned beneath his brown silk robe, the fabric cloaking him head to toe. His hidden smile twitched as he walked along the sidewalk. Electric motorcycles streaked past — luminous blurs of speed that thrilled everyone but him.

  Ahead of him was a white place of worship— it had the symbol of a cherry with the eyes crossed— Thidos’ symbol and it was short but wide, it was at the end of the road— cornered by a supermarket and liquor store, along the side were multiple buildings as the town had the same surroundings as if all the buildings were terraced, Jeremiah swayed side to side— loud funk music blasted from a casino opposite him as he jammed his head to the beat.

  It wasn’t just him as civilians were dancing as well, eagerly.

  “It is Sunday after all.” Jeremiah rested his head down, treading towards the building, slowly.

  Then a voice.

  High. Sweet.

  “Birdie.”

  Jeremiah spun around, cherry lollipop in left-hand as he faced the child below him, he was: small stature and chubby, pecan skin with wheat freckles across his cheeks. He had a frown, paired with his beady blue eyes and peanut slick backed ponytail. He was chewing, gum— it wrapped around his tongue as if it was a present, he stuck it out at Jeremiah— winking.

  “My name’s Baruch!” The boy chirped gleefully, shoving both his arms into his thighs in a superhero position, head facing the sky— eyes closed as he waited for the non existent wind to blow his fictional cape.

  Jeremiah squinted his eyes, a stone-faced expression layered across his face, he shoved the lollipop into his mouth and began to chew.

  Was this a joke? Some trap set by Thidos? A potential attacker? His smile lingered a second too long for a mortal. Perhaps it’s just overthinking, not everyone I meet has to be a cold hearted killer.

  Jeremiah looked the sky.

  The sky was blue, beautiful— clouds flied past, unbound by nature— unbound by cause. It was so beautiful, was it really real? Was it made by Ezekiel? Or Thidos? Or anyone? It’s just so beautiful, perhaps going to this holy place— the truth will be uncovered.

  “You are going to the Sumaria Chapel right? I’m on my way there too!” Baruch nodded his head eagerly, his clothes weren’t ragged but not too posh— a plain white t shirt and denim jeans— his shoes were pitch black and pointed but his physique was awfully muscular for his age.

  “You religious?” Jeremiah tilted his head, his face was covered by his hood but a sharp grin could be seen from underneath.

  “Deeply. Thidos has blessed this town! Without him, we wouldn’t be able to get through the famine.” Baruch rested his hand on his heart, nodding.

  Forgot most of these guys actually don’t see Thidos. Perhaps I overlooked his divinity due to my overexposure.

  Jeremiah cupped his chin before winking at someone, he shoved his arms into his robe and continued to walk to the Chapel.

  I lived five years in a Cathederal, what’s the holiest this could be.

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  Jeremiah silently chuckled to himself, Baruch stumbled behind.

  When Jeremiah opened the rusty door to the Chapel he saw the interior.

  Home.

  It looked as if it was a hut, it was more enclosed than it looked from the inside— the colour schemed contrasted the outside, it wasn’t immaculate white but instead a brown and ancient dry. The chairs were layered— wooden and at the podium at the head was a book— an older gentleman stood there, dozing off, looking upward.

  “It seems quite… evocative.” Jeremiah lifted his eyebrows at Baruch and forced a smile, the boy returned the smile, gleefully.

  “Yeah! This is where we all pray!” Baruch ran past Jeremiah and ran to the old man— hugging him.

  “This is my daddy!” Baruch glee, he was now carried in the gentleman’s arms as he rocked him side to side.

  The man was overwhelmed with joy— his eyes curved into smiles as his smiles curved into more smiles. He then opened his blue eyes and saw Jeremiah standing far away.

  “We don’t get allot of visitors— you here for the sermon?” The man spoke deeply but lovingly.

  Jeremiah looked to the side, a painting of pure white was there as he then looked back— nodding.

  “After Lord Ezekiel passed away— he gave his power to Lord Thidos, Lord Eliza and Lord Medea. The Lords molded the worlds from their own wounds — and their warmth still bleeds into us. Their warmth extends into us as it allows us mortals to love our neighbours. Amen.” The father was reading from an ancient book, he rose his hands as he spoke the last sentence as the people spoke.

  Jeremiah bowed his head with the crowd.

  “Amen,” they said.

  His lips didn’t move, but the voice that answered from his throat wasn’t his.

  It was far more than before— after all a couple hours passed. Beside Jeremiah was: An extremely tall man with light brown skin, Medean— he was dressed in clothes from the old world, royal regalia across his body and his clothing was linen— similar; to Lucius but more human, he had ornate jewellery: rings, bracelets, necklaces even golden grills. His hair was covered by a Nemes as parts of his linen clothing showcased leopard prints— his muscles bulging through his clothing as his grills grit.

  “You hearing this shit?” The man nudged into Jeremiah’s left arm— Jeremy was sitting at the end of the row, as beside the man was two other people.

  “I am though.” The man beside the prior spoke: He had quite tall stature— no where near the prior though, he had fair skin and golden luscious hair, hazel eyes and a halo above his head. Wings sprouted from his back, organically as he was only dressed in a fine linen, a white robe which encompassed his body.

  “Me too.” A feminine voice spoke from beside as well: It was an attractive mature lady, jumping bleached snakes on her head as her sharp teeth fanged— she was wearing biker leather clothing— a pitch black helmet tied around her neck with a loose flimsy rope.

  The seats were four per row, there were approximately four rows per side which equated to eight rows. The room wasn’t severely packed however, although Jeremiah sat on the right side— the rows were vacated in a zigzag pattern. Baruch was at the front, sitting next to an older woman— his mother.

  “Relax dude, you are getting shit all over me.” Jeremiah waved the man beside him off who simply mocked.

  “Do you know who we are? We are the…. the Rebels wanting to take down the evil government. Cassettes.” The girl leaned outward, quietly muttering at Jeremiah who then perked. She flicked a pocket knife between her hands before slowly hiding it up her sleeve.

  “Rebels?” Jeremiah beamed, “Rebels… where have I heard that. Wait like Kanae Shota?”

  “Yes… you know him?” The angelic man leaned forward covering the girl behind who began to poke at his wings— aggressively.

  Kanae Shota? The Rebels… I remember. I saw her in the news one time— regarding it. They’ve became quite a big deal.

  Jeremiah ceased his thoughts before speaking, “Do you know Dara Sepers?” He elevated his eyebrows, of course— nobody saw when he did that because of his robe so it just looked stupid.

  The trio went quiet for a moment.

  “What’s she to you?” Anubis rose his eyebrows, his hostility didn’t nerve Jeremiah.

  “A valuable friend— matter of fact, take me to your hideout— I’d love to enlist after you know, being wanted.” Jeremiah clasped his hands together.

  “Maybe we should’ve brought the Kappa along, he would’ve seen a real lunatic.” Medusa grinned.

  “No, fuck Abriam— but listen. We’ll take you— I don’t know why, but I feel a level of trust.” Lucius spoke, softly. “You must be hiding your identity for a reason so once we get to a place foreign— we’ll see who you truly are. Let’s hope we don’t got to kill you.” The balaternian inclined his head before listening to the sermon.

  “Let’s hope.” Jeremiah chuckled, before relaxing into the wooden chair and listening to the Religion of Thidos.