“Did you venture into the city?” Harrison interrupted. “Did you see any people?” Rose could sense a hint of fear in her husband’s voice, and she flicked her gaze back to where Sylous watched, motionless. At ease.

“No,” Jamie said. “But I believe we should see for ourselves.”

“Oh, son, how could you?” Julianna said, her cheeks wet with tears.

“Could it be time to leave this place?” Jamie asked, ignoring his mother. “Maybe the world’s different than we believed it would be. Maybe it wasn’t destroyed. Or maybe it’s been cleansed for us already.”

Colin Peterson, another member of their high council, stood from the pew behind Rose. “I’ve heard enough of this!” he thundered. “The Fury still haven’t attempted to penetrate our valley, which can only mean the end is not here. I won’t stand by and let you mock the faith that’s saved us from damnation!”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the auditorium.

Unmoved, Jamie looked at the taller man. “And what if our faith is only saving us from phantoms?” he said. “For that matter, what if the Fury have always only been phantoms?”

Several members gasped; others whispered hurried prayers. Still, Sylous showed no sign of concern, which stilled Rose’s heart. If he wasn’t worried, neither should she be.

“How can you even say such a thing?” someone demanded.

“I’ve been in the woods for hours at a time and the Fury aren’t there,” Jamie said. “That’s why. But you are all too full of fear to actually see for yourselves.”

“They only deceive you,” Colin snapped. “They lure you into their trap by hiding themselves. But make no mistake, they prey on a world full of sinners, offering only a painful death for all who haven’t committed their lives to righteousness. Or don’t you remember?”

“Then where is the evidence of all that death and destruction?” Jamie asked. “The town I saw showed no sign of decay.”

Beside Grace, Andrew stood and spoke. “It’s not for us to know but to believe and follow. This is the meaning of faith, boy.”

“Even if we are following blindly?” Jamie asked.

“Blindly?” Harrison challenged from the stage. “You were there when the Fury made themselves seen. Did you not see as the rest of us did?”

“Maybe what we saw wasn’t real,” Jamie said. His voice had dropped a level, as if he himself couldn’t believe he was questioning the foundations of their faith.

“He’s lying!” Andrew faced Harrison. “How could he have ventured beyond the perimeter and not been destroyed?”

“No,” Jamie said. “I’m telling the truth.”

“He wouldn’t have survived,” Andrew said. “His mind must have been poisoned, and now he’s trying to shake our faith. This is the darkness masquerading as light to deceive us all.”