Lost Gods

There will never be an end to suffering. You do what you can, only what you can. Peace comes from knowing you helped those that you could

if you wanted to rob your fellow man blind, just tell him you’re doing it for the betterment

When I started writing this novel I never stopped to consider the logistical challenges of my idea. I, like so many creatives, don’t have time for such silliness.

Choose your side wisely, because thugs and thieves hiding behind banners will be the first to taste the flame.

I spend too much time contemplating things that do not matter. Trying to find logic in a world with none." He laughed. "She said chaos is the only truth down here.

Life’s more than flesh and blood. It’s how you live. In a way, purgatory is a blessing, a second chance. I don’t intend to throw that away.

Their scriptures and verses never illuminate just how one can be in joyous rapture while their mothers, fathers, children burn for all eternity.

By believing in Christ, they give their souls to Christ, to his rules, his dogma. If in the end he judges them unfit, then he can damn them, or just deny them Heaven’s kingdom, let them drift into purgatory. The irony is, if all those souls burning in Hellfire had never believed in Christ in the first place, then they’d never have ended up in Hell.

Heaven is full of sheep. Hell is full of those who actually shaped the world. Men who carved out their own paths, the courageous, the bold, they are the ones that end up damned. It

Trish gave Rufus a pat. “You be a good boy.” Rufus wagged his tail and gave her a look that said, “I’m always a good boy.

A sly smile spread across Yevabog’s face. “Ah, Chet, you have indeed learned much. Too many Heaven-borne souls find out too late that eternal bliss comes at a price. Their scriptures and verses never illuminate just how one can be in joyous rapture while their mothers, fathers, children burn for all eternity

He patted Carlos’s shoulder. “We can give them the purpose they seek

The man’s head jerked up. He set terrified eyes on Chet. “Stay away from me!” he cried. “Stay away!” The man was obviously shouting, screaming, yet his voice sounded muffled and far away, his lips out of synch with the words.

The sounds of her chewing and sucking echoing in his head, making him want to claw out his own eardrums.

wanted to rob your fellow man blind, just tell him you’re doing it for the betterment of all.

Show her steel and teeth!” Ado cried. “Growl at the bitch!” They did, shouting, growling, and brandishing their blades. Chet joined in, howling, slashing the air. Coach too, screaming at the monster as though he’d lost his mind.

Calvary Hill?” Chet called out to them. “You know the way?” They looked up, somewhat surprised. One of them managed a smile. “You seek salvation, brother?” Chet nodded. “Of sorts.” “Well, you’re on the right path,” the man grunted. “Calvary Hill is just there, that way.” He nodded to the avenue they’d been following. “Thanks,” Chet said and started away. “Suffering is Jesus’s language, brother.” “Yeah?” Chet replied. “Seems everyone speaks it down here.

Chet swayed slightly, looked again at the wound in his chest, and tried to understand how he was alive at all. “It’ll get better with time,” she said,

All have hopes that the afterlife will somehow be an orderly place. Death is madness and chaos—a hundred gods fighting over the dead. Sense, reason, fairness . . . they’re all foreigners here.

Purgatory is a majestic and solemn place, he thought. Terrible and wonderful. A good place for a soul to find himself.

You have to move on, have to make the best of your life, because . . . because, life is precious . . . a precious fragile gift and you’ll never understand just how precious until it’s gone. So you have to live to your fullest, for me,