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    The Girl behind the Red Rope
    The Girl behind the Red Rope
    The Girl behind the Red Rope
    Ebook382 pages6 hours

    The Girl behind the Red Rope

    By Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    "In this mind-bending thriller, father-daughter writing team Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker triumph in their faultlessly structured and deconstructed world of religious extremism. . . . the book's suspenseful plot drives the story forward at a racing pace, making this a riveting novel that will long haunt readers."--Booklist, Starred Review

    Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.

    Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

    For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateSep 3, 2019
    ISBN9781493419562

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    Reviews for The Girl behind the Red Rope

    4/5

    42 ratings18 reviews

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    • 5/5
      (This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
      --
      I'm a fan of dystopian novels, so when I heard about The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker, I knew it was a book that I just had to read sooner rather than later. Everything about the synopsis was calling out my name. Luckily, this book lived up to the hype.

      As I stated previously, the synopsis of The Girl Behind the Red Rope definitely left me intrigued. Grace has seen what not following her religious community's strict rules can bring. However, when a young boy makes his way into their tight community, Grace begins to question everything she's been taught which puts her in extreme danger.

      Everything flowed so smoothly including the pacing which never let me down. I was constantly finding excuses to finish reading The Girl Behind the Red Rope since I had to know what would happen next. While I felt the plot was predictable more often than not, I still really enjoyed this book. I felt like their were no cliff hangers, and all of my questions were answered by the ending.

      As for the Christian aspect of this book, it didn't read like a Christian novel most of the way through. I'd say it was probably around the last quarter of the book where Christianity came into play. I didn't think it was overly preachy although I think that those who aren't very spiritual or who are agnostic or are atheist may feel it's a tad on the preachy side. I would say The Girl Behind the Red Rope is more anti-religion and pro-Christianity overall. That's what I took from it anyway. It does have a really good message regarding love though which I found really nice to read about.

      I very much enjoyed how every character in The Girl Behind the Red Rope was written. I felt like I was actually part of their world, stuck in the same community with them. Grace is a very likable character. I loved how the characters made her feel like a real person by giving her the conflicting thoughts as to who was to be believed throughout the novel. I enjoyed Grace's thought process about everything throughout the book. While I knew who and what she should choose, it was easy to see why she was so torn. Bobbie and Sylous were both very intriguing characters. I never trusted Sylous from the start, but Bobbie was one character that I wasn't sure if she actually had Grace's best interest at heart or if she had ulterior motives. There were times I despised Rose, not because she wasn't written poorly, in fact, she was written perfectly, but because of how much trust she put into Sylous and how overly judgmental she could be sometimes. I know that Rose was only going on what she thought to be true, but there were just so many times I wanted Rose to disappear! My favorite character was Eli. I loved his innocence and how happy go lucky he was.

      Trigger warnings for The Girl Behind the Red Rope include cult mentality, violence, and murder.

      All in all, The Girl Behind the Red Rope is such a fantastic read with such a powerful message. The characters are written beautifully, and the plot is done superbly. I would definitely recommend The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker to those aged 15 . Christians will definitely enjoy this book, but I think even non-Christians will probably love it as well.
    • 1/5
      wasn't for me. Couldn't get past the writing style :(
    • 5/5
      Grace, like the other in habitants of Haven Valley, adheres to a strict set of rules, all designed to keep her safe when a cruel punishment is unleased on the unbelieving world. Their fear of not being good enough to escape that punishment keeps them committed to following the rules as set forth by their prophetess, Rose.But, although forbidden, two have ventured outside the perimeter and not been destroyed. And two, Ben and Eli, have ventured into Haven Valley. But those living in the valley cannot accept the innocent child’s lack of fear. Their own fears keep them from seeing the love and light that fills the boy. Grace, caught up in the quintessential battle between good and evil, must overcome her own fears to find the answers. Is the child the Fury? A demon? An angel? What is true? What is deception? And who speaks the words she must believe?Strong, well-developed characters and a captivating plot filled with unexpected twists combine to create a palpable tension that radiates from the page, building suspense and keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Ominous, dark, allegorical; the telling of this tale is both uplifting and inspiring. Readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before turning the final page. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      The Girl Behind the Red Rope, written by not one, but two Dekkers, is the thrilling, chilling I hoped to find when I picked it up—and so much more.Grace lives in a cultish community, protected by the boundary of the red rope. Yet, when what she has long believed as reality comes into question, it is time for her to search out the truth. With plenty of twists, plus the supernatural elements I would expect of a Dekker, the story proceeds with poignancy about fear, security, and the freedom of God.I enjoyed the disturbing and entertaining The Girl Behind the Red Rope. I easily recommend it to interested readers and look forward to more of what this father-daughter duo has to offer.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      I’m on the fence about how I feel about this book. It was a slow build in the beginning but eventually got more compelling as it went along. In the end, it even told a valuable lesson and had a satisfying conclusion. On the other hand, instead of letting the heroine discover the lesson in an organic way, it essentially preached at her (and by extension the reader), beating us over the head with it. So, I guess I think it’s a fine story for one read-through, to glean what you can from it, but it’s not told in a very natural way.
    • 5/5
      This is a book of science fiction and a bit of fantasy and a bit of Christianity. What happens when someone is part of a religion and has visions of a savior. This person gets everyone to believe that they are all in danger unless they conform in a certain way. If they conform than they will be saved someday. This is a bit of the premise for this book. This story made me laugh and cry. There are lots of hidden meanings throughout the story. This flows very nicely. I loved the characters. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      Title: The Girl Behind the Red RopeAuthor: Ted Dekker & Rachelle DekkerPages: 336Year: 2019Publisher: RevellMy rating: 5 out of 5 stars.Whether you’re a new fan of the Dekker writings or an old hat, this novel will definitely grab your attention. One quality of the Dekker writings is the strong spiritual theme throughout the story. When I started reading the tale, I was not sure what the spiritual truth the tale would focus would on. By the end of the book I wanted to start it over again!Readers get many different perspectives from a book. For me, it was the need for spiritual eyesight to see the evil threats that were keeping the characters blinded and in bondage. One woman had the tenacity to face her fears, threats, and suffering in order to break free from the “Fury” in the Haven Valley community. Grace had to wrestle with the rules, laws and expectations that were supposed to keep the inhabitants safe from the suffering the world was undergoing.As the wife of a pastor, Rose is an interesting character. She fell victim to the temptation of the Fury. Their power scared her. However, the manifestation was not scary as he cloaked himself in light. The boy Eli is a very compelling little boy whose very presence seemed to threaten everyone who lived in the Valley, and his death was all they wanted as they believed he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.The tale, while fiction, echoes with truth and challenges for those who follow the Lord today and for them to be willing to acknowledge the wolves that are among the sheep. It’s a tale of hope and heartache; it’s very moving and thought provoking. You don’t want to miss reading this novel and sharing it with friends and family everywhere. Grab a copy and when you are done, share it or gift a copy so others can enjoy the latest work of the Dekker father and daughter team.Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
    • 4/5
      I have not completed The Girl Behind the Red Rope yet, so I’m offering my first impressions. I will update at a later date, after I’ve finished it.First and foremost, I have to mention the cover art. Wow—it certainly captures my attention, and the title draws me in quickly. Even though this isn’t the type of book I normally read, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know who the girl was, and what the rope kept out, or in, or perhaps symbolized.So far, this story is very different. That’s the best way for me to explain it. It’s Christian, it’s a thriller, kind of dystopian, and strange. It’s difficult to pigeonhole into one category. I want to mention, I’ve never read dystopian novels, and have little if any interest in them, but the eerie, spiritual essence from the first chapter of this book drew me in quickly. I’ve never read a book by these authors (father and daughter, Ted and Rachelle Dekker.) As I understand it, it’s their first collaborative book together, and that intrigues me. So far, this is a suspenseful and original story!First line: It was hot that day in the hills of Tennessee.Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. #TheGirlBehindTheRedRope
    • 5/5
      I am an avid Ted Dekker fan having read many if not most of his more than forty novels. I am also a fan of Rachelle Dekker, frequently recommending her Seer series. That said, I must admit that about halfway through The Girl Behind the Red Rope I told my husband, “This is a great story, but I know there's got to be a deeper message, and I'm missing it.” Shortly thereafter I got to chapter twenty-four and the veil was lifted. While I would love to share the insights the Dekkers so skillfully crafted into this story, I will not rob you of the pleasure and depth of discovery. I can assure you this book has life-giving treasures for those who persist. I am most grateful to have received a copy of The Girl Behind the Red Rope from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
    • 4/5
      This was a very thought provoking and gripping tale. I was drawn in early on and didn't want to put it down. I found this a perfect example of Jesus's warning to beware of "wolves in sheep's clothing". These people truly believed they were following the right path, when in reality, the devil was leading them away from Christ. If you enjoy dystopian novels, this book is perfect for you. It made me question my views on religion vs what the Bible truly says. We can only trust the message laid out for us in The Bible. *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
    • 2/5
      As a child Grace, her brother, mother and the rest of their congregation saw what can only be classified as evil. To protect themselves, they hide in a community in the Tennessee as they evil takes over the world. For ten years, the inhabitants have been protected by staying behind a red rope and not venturing out. But then Grace’s brother does and their lives are pulled apart.I enjoy reading Ted Dekker and was looking forward to this one written with his daughter. But I couldn’t get into it. I’m was hoping to see what happened to the rest of the world when they hid themselves. This was about good versus evil. God versus the devil and the reader and Grace had to figure out who was who. Didn’t intrigue me in the least. I drudged through it but didn’t care for it at all.
    • 2/5
      If you have read any of Ted Dekker's previous books, you will find nothing surprising in The Girl Behind the Red Rope. Sometimes it is comforting to read an author when you know exactly what to expect. In this case, I found the story simplistic, predictable, and one dimensional. I read it quickly in a single afternoon, hoping for some thing to grab my interest, but it was not to be. On top of the banal plot, there was very little character development so I never really cared that much about what was happening.
    • 2/5
      This is the first book I've read written by Ted Deeker, so, I wasn't sure what to expect. The fact that the book centers around a fanatical Christian cult was a turnoff to me from the start. Haven Valley is a community of the "chosen", who live in fear of the wrath of God, shown to them by a religious demon when the community was first founded.Siblings Grace and Jamie begin to question the existence of the Fury, who feed their fears and keep them on the "righteous path". Until a newcomer, shows them the light. Or, is this newcomer really a wolf in sheep's clothing as they're told by the cult's leader?I had a hard time with the community, the characters, and the whole plot, so, it was not for me, overall.
    • 3/5
      Haven Valley is a religious cult, separated from the outside world by a red rope thought to keep the evil fury out. Jamie begins to doubt that the fury exists and wonders beyond the red rope with the help of his sister Grace. Forced to be cast out or repent they must commit to their faith now more than ever, but a series of events, including two strangers entering their town causes a whirlwind of changes to Haven Valley. Without providing any spoilers, the message is paramount in today's world. However, the rough storyline has already been down by Dekker in his "Beyond the Circle" series. The idea of the light and religious cult are reused from his other works. Daughter, Rachel Dekker, provides a much needed refresh as she appears to tone down her father's fantastical genre insertions, but overall it was too similar to works he's already done. *Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      This fictional narrative about a small sect of uber-zealous Christians held my attention from the very start. Rose, the leader of the group along with her husband Harrison, instruct the others on how to live ever vigilant pure Christian lives. Rose is frequently visited by a Spirit named Sylous that gives her direction. The whole group lives under a cloud of fear, it guides every thought and deed... Until a little boy comes to them and changes everything. I don't want to spoil the story so I will just say this- the Gospel was told throughout this book without apology. I loved it.
    • 2/5
      The story of Haven Valley started 13 years ago, when the angel showed Holy Family Church what was coming, the afflictions God had in store for those not pure of heart. Now, they're waiting for the day when they can inherit the earth. But Grace, the protagonist of our story, is presented with a choice that could mean her own destruction.Ted Dekker wrote this with his daughter, Rachelle Dekker. It's overtly Christian while definitely setting itself in opposition to religion. The message of light vs. dark is good, but faith vs. religion? I don't know how well that will set with many. This book presents no challenge in the reading, going very quickly, and for the observant reader, there aren't any real twists or turns.
    • 5/5
      As always, ted and Rachel dekker deliver a stunning book filled with suspense and intrigue. A great story that captivates the reader. A great page turner.



    • 4/5
      This book is not the typical Christian fiction that I normally read! The father and daughter writing team of Ted and Rachelle Dekker have created an intriguing tale of Grace and Jamie and the thirteen years that they have lived "behind the red rope" in a secluded community in the hills of Tennessee. Grace was six when she witnessed the appearance of an angel named Sylvanus and what was the beginning of their separation from the outside world. Now, thirteen years later, her brother Jamie begins to question as he secretly begins to slip beyond the perimeter of the red rope to view the outside world. Grace fears that he will be discovered and that they both will be ejected from this place that they call home. It is only when her father and a young boy show up that Grace begins to find errors in much of what she's been told and she has her own questions that need answering!The Girl Behind the Red Rope shows how fear can control our lives and how the best intentions can be destroyed by this emotion. I found this to be a fascinating story with intriguing characters and even though I have many questions I do see that love is the central theme among the symbolism used by the authors. The members of this group were like many people: they thought that they must be perfect to earn God's love but we know that perfection isn't possible and that God loves all of us. It is His Grace and Jesus's sacrifice that makes our redemption possible.The Girl Behind the Red Rope has certainly made me think and it is a book that I want to read again, if only to gain more insight! I received a copy of this book from Revell but a positive reiew was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

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    Book preview

    The Girl behind the Red Rope - Ted Dekker

    Praise for New York Times Bestselling Author

    Ted Dekker

    Ted Dekker is a master of suspense.

    Library Journal

    An absorbing thriller that convincingly blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.

    Publishers Weekly on Red

    [Dekker’s writing] may be a genre unto itself.

    New York Times on A.D. 30

    Ted Dekker is a true master of thrillers.

    Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author, on BoneMan’s Daughters

    A daring and completely riveting thriller.

    Booklist on The Priest’s Graveyard

    Beguiling, compelling, challenging, and riveting.

    Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author, on The Priest’s Graveyard

    A tour-de-force of suspense that demands to be read in one sitting.

    James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author, on BoneMan’s Daughters

    Utterly compelling and completely original.

    Douglas Preston, co-creator of the famed Pendergast series, on The Priest’s Graveyard

    [It] will haunt you—long after you want it to.

    Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate and The Inner Circle, on The Priest’s Graveyard

    Praise for Rachelle Dekker

    Dekker’s debut is worth choosing.

    Publishers Weekly on The Choosing

    The story vacillates between the sweetness of a tender coming-of-age romance and moments that almost resemble a Dean Koontz thriller.

    Serena Chase, USA Today, on The Choosing

    A swiftly moving plot puts readers in the center of the action, and the well-described setting adds to the experience. Deeper themes of value and worth will appeal to both young adult and adult readers.

    Romantic Times on The Choosing

    Rachelle, daughter of Ted Dekker, is carving out a space of her own. Her debut novel is a rich statement about the author’s future and her impact on Christian fiction.

    Family Fiction on The Choosing

    Dekker pens another striking science fiction thriller including a well-developed dystopian society and strong depictions of good versus evil that can be easily read as a standalone.

    Publishers Weekly on The Returning

    © 2019 by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker

    Published by Revell

    a division of Baker Publishing Group

    PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

    www.revellbooks.com

    Ebook edition created 2019

    Ebook corrections 05.27.2020

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

    ISBN 978-1-4934-1956-2

    Ted Dekker is represented by Creative Trust Literary Group, LLC, 210 Jamestown Park Drive, Suite 200, Brentwood, TN 37027, www.creativetrust.com

    Rachelle Dekker is represented by The FEDD Agency, Inc.

    This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

    Contents

    Cover

    Endorsements

    Title Page

    Copyright Page

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    29

    30

    31

    32

    33

    34

    35

    Epilogue

    About the Authors

    Back Ads

    Cover Flaps

    Back Cover

    Chapter

    One

    IT WAS HOT THAT DAY IN THE HILLS OF TENNESSEE. I remember because the aged boards that made up the tiny church’s floor creaked with every step. As if to say, I’m tired of all you meat sacks treading on me. Be still.

    But we couldn’t be still. Not on that day.

    I was only a child, six years old, but my memories of what happened on that Sunday are clear. Or maybe hearing the retelling over and over has crystalized a distorted version of them in my mind. Either way, I remember.

    It was late August in Clarksville, a small town along Route 254 in the hills west of Knoxville. I was seated on the third pew next to my mother, who cradled my newborn brother, Lukas, in her arms. From the first time I laid eyes on his tiny fingers and heard his soft cooing as he stared up at me, all I dreamed about was having a baby like Lukas of my own one day.

    My older brother, Jamie, fidgeted to my left. The small, decaying building that housed Holy Family Church needed a new air-conditioning unit the congregation couldn’t afford, so the windows had been opened. But without a morning breeze, the sanctuary felt like a sauna, slowly cooking the faithful as if extracting punishment for hidden sins—a helpful reminder of the hell to come for all who did not adhere to the dictates of a holy God.

    It was the tenth Sunday since the flock of Holy Family had received the prophecy of the destruction that would soon visit the earth. We all accepted the word given to Rose Pierce as truth. She was a devout woman who loved Jesus and his church, a dedicated servant of Christianity. We had repeated the prophecy until it was etched first in our brains, then on our hearts, which is why none of us could be still that Sunday.

    In three years’ time, a great scourge would cleanse the earth.

    We were a small community of the purest faith, the bride of Christ, the elect, ever diligent to obey the teachings of righteousness from the word and always on guard against the sinful ways of the world. Only seventy-two in that day, the Holy Family was seen as radical and fringe to many in our small town. Fringe, a word I only understood because my mother had explained it to me and my brother after we’d overheard her arguing again with our father.

    Arguing because my dad didn’t buy into all the fear-mongering, as he liked to call it. Billy Carter, a redheaded boy my age, called him faithless to my face, and it was clear the whole church thought the same. Half of me thought so too. Either way, my dad had stopped attending the services, so he wasn’t there that hot August Sunday. If he had been, he would have become an instant believer in the prophecy Rose had delivered.

    Because in the space of five terrifying minutes, everything about all of our lives was forever and irreversibly changed.

    Our shepherd, Harrison Pierce, husband to Rose, had prefaced his sermon with a few remarks that I don’t recall before pausing and holding the congregation in silence, eyeing us each with care. Then, in a gentle but gripping voice, he repeated the prophecy.

    In three years’ time, because the world has turned away from holiness, the world’s sin will rise up against them in monstrous form and destroy the wicked. But those with true sight will be shown what is to come and delivered from the great fury. The chosen remnant shall seek refuge away from the world and wait until the ground has been cleansed of sin. For then those with eyes to see and vigilant of faith will be spared from destruction and inherit the earth as the pure bride under the law of a holy God. So be it.

    So be it, we all repeated.

    Each one of us believed that we were those called to receive true sight, but none of us knew what that sight would show us. We only knew that an angel named Sylous had appeared to Rose and delivered truth, so we could remain true to the end and be presented as a pure bride to Christ.

    Having spoken the prophecy, Harrison glanced at his wife, dipped his head once, and took a deep breath. He nervously scanned the flock. Today, dearly beloved, is the day we have been waiting for. Today . . . Today we will all be given eyes to see what is to come.

    I sensed Sylous before I heard the door at the back of the small sanctuary softly closing. I knew it was him before I saw him. Every hair on my body stood on end. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, much less turn to see.

    It was as if my soul knew who he was before my mind could catch up.

    I had expected an angel with wings and a choir, maybe because I was only six and naïve, but when I finally turned with the rest, Sylous was nothing like anything I had imagined.

    There, standing at the back of the room, stood a man dressed head to toe in white. Pants, suit jacket, shoes, all pristine white. His skin was tanned, tight across a chiseled jaw. Red lips and warm smile, but it was the bright blue of his eyes that has always wandered into my dreams. Beautiful and terrifying at once. Intriguing and dangerous.

    For a moment, I forgot he was an angel. Maybe he wasn’t—no one really knew, not even Rose, because according to the Bible, even angels could show up as men and you wouldn’t know the difference.

    No one moved. No one dared speak. All eyes were fixed on the man standing at the end of the center aisle.

    Rose was the first to kneel. I saw her from the corner of my eye, there on the end of the pew, sinking to the floor with head bowed in reverence. Her husband followed suit beside the podium, eyes wide, face white.

    Without further hesitation the rest of us knelt, sliding off the pews to our knees. My heart was pounding. My eyes were fixed on the angel sent to save us. Then, without warning, my excitement shifted into something else. Fear. My brother Jamie must have felt the same, because he grabbed my hand, trembling. I glanced at little Lukas, who slept soundly in my mother’s tight embrace.

    Sylous started forward, his slick shoes clicking across the creaking wood. All the way to the stage, where Harrison knelt. He stepped up to the podium and turned to face us, eyes moving slowly across the pews.

    When they met mine, I was sure he’d peeled back my skin and was seeing what hid inside me. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. None of us could.

    The purity of your hearts has been acknowledged, he began. You are ready to see what few have ever seen. His voice was gentle and kind, with unmistakable authority. Will the bride say yes to Jesus?

    Yes, Rose whispered from where she knelt.

    Then others and all: Yes.

    Then you are ready, Sylous replied.

    A long beat of silence held us on edge.

    In three years’ time, because the world has turned away from holiness, the world’s sin will rise up against them in monstrous form and destroy the wicked.

    The floor under our knees began to vibrate. The old wooden pews shook, knocking against the floorboards. I was aghast, terrified, but Sylous continued without a concern in the world.

    Today you will be shown a foretaste of the destruction to come so you might be delivered. Seeing what you see today, you will seek refuge away from the world and wait for that day of reckoning. When it comes, you will be spared in a safe haven as you wait for the world to be cleansed of sin.

    Dust fell from the ceiling onto my shoulder, and a back pew rattled loose enough to slap against the floor. A shutter to my left fell from its hinges. Hands were extended everywhere, searching for something sturdy as the building felt like it was going to collapse.

    For then those with eyes to see and vigilant of faith will be spared from destruction and inherit the earth as the pure bride under the law of a holy God.

    With the last utterance of the prophecy, the shaking stopped and, but for dust in the air, all was still again. My mother was breathing heavily beside me; Jamie’s hand was clenching mine with enough force to leave a mark. Only little Lukas remained oblivious in his deep sleep—how, I have no idea.

    Now I give you eyes to see, Sylous said.

    The sound of rushing wind filled the church. It surrounded us, behind and in front, to the right and to the left. What the rest of the world couldn’t see, we saw.

    And what we saw struck terror in our hearts.

    Screams ripped through the chapel. Cries for protection, weeping from some. All in the blink of an eye, as what couldn’t possibly be real closed in around us.

    My bones rattled and my skin went numb. No one could experience what visited us that day and remain the same.

    Through all the chaos, Sylous’s words whispered through my mind.

    Now I give you eyes to see.

    And so we saw.

    Chapter

    Two

    Thirteen Years Later

    I took a deep breath and tucked my fingers into my palms. Anxiously glanced at the thin silver watch that decorated my wrist. The hands hadn’t moved since I’d looked at it last. It felt as though time itself had slowed. Jamie should be here by now. I looked back at my watch and stared until the small hand ticked forward. Other than the simple wedding band that circled my finger, it was the only piece of jewelry I was permitted to wear.

    Both pieces were new. Both received five months earlier on my wedding day as gifts. One from Andrew Marks, the man I now called husband, the other from Rose Pierce. Receiving a gift from her had humbled me. Rose loved me and I loved her for that love.

    I often considered leaving the watch safely in my room, but I wasn’t sure what Rose might think if she saw me without it. I feared disappointing her more than harming the watch, so I wore it and made sure to protect it, as I did with everything of value. My eyes, my mind, my voice, my body, my heart, my soul.

    I was betraying all of that by being here now.

    I shuddered, closed my eyes, and wished this moment was different. Harrison Pierce’s words spoken from the pulpit filled my ears. To keep another’s transgression in the darkness, never bringing it to the light, is to participate in transgression yourself.

    It was true, yet there I stood, participating in transgression by helping my older brother venture beyond the perimeter. I hadn’t followed him past the boundary—God forbid—but I was definitely participating. So wasn’t his sin my own?

    A railway car stood against the edge of the forest fifty feet from me. We couldn’t see the town from the abandoned tracks, which is why Jamie had me wait by them. But looking at the old cars only reminded me of the danger we were both facing. Jamie had always been headstrong, but now he’d lost his mind.

    I heard a rustle to my left and turned, hoping to see Jamie. Nothing but the trees. The forest stretched for miles in every direction, protecting the valley we’d moved to after Sylous had opened our eyes to the truth.

    The perimeter was marked by a thick red rope staked six inches off the ground. Staying behind that red rope was a matter of life and death. We all knew the terrible danger of being exposed beyond that line of safety. Hell. Death. The Fury.

    We had all seen the Fury. Our eyes had all been opened thirteen years earlier on that hot Sunday, and we’d all seen exactly what the coming judgment looked like.

    The words used to describe what we’d witnessed varied, but we’d seen darkness itself in form. We referred to them collectively as the Fury, a name that felt appropriate because they were what were left when God removed his hand of protection. They were death itself, and that death could ravage not only our minds but our bodies.

    We’d all seen them, erupting from the air as if they’d been waiting for a thousand years to show themselves. No one could experience what we had and not be permanently altered.

    Even as the rest of the world remained in blindness, we had been given true sight to see the evil coming to destroy the earth, straight from hell, unstoppable and more terrifying than one could imagine.

    Three years after we’d been given sight to see the coming scourge, and only six months after Rose had led us to the safety of Haven Valley, the Fury swarmed the earth. We didn’t see them this time, but the world had gone dark and lightning had ripped jagged tears in the sky. Crackling thunder punctuated the terrible howling and screams that echoed from the hills beyond our perimeter.

    But we in Haven Valley were spared, as Sylous had promised.

    They had come alright. For sure. And even now they were out there, beyond the red rope that kept us safe, hunting and feeding on every wayward soul, and they would continue until the whole earth was cleansed of wickedness. They had been present ten years, so maybe the purging would end soon, but not yet. Not until Sylous told Rose it was time to leave the valley and inherit a new, purified earth.

    And yet Jamie had broken the law and ventured out already. And I’d helped him. What had I been thinking?

    Again I glanced at my wrist, trying to push away the frightening thoughts. More of Harrison’s wisdom echoed in my mind. To truly love someone is to hold them accountable. As God loves us with a fierce wrath, so we should love one another.

    I should have locked Jamie in his room. Or tied him to his bed. At the very least, I should have told someone. But I couldn’t betray my brother. So what was I to do?

    I turned away from the forest, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly through my nose. What should I do, Lukas? I whispered.

    Lukas had died twelve years ago, just before his first birthday, and I’d cried for days. When I spoke to him he never answered me, but sometimes I imagined he did. He was my own little angel, always there in my mind when I became confused. With so much to worry about in Haven Valley, he was a bright light of innocence that gave me comfort. If he’d lived, he would now be thirteen, but I still saw him as the adorable one-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes, a much younger version of Jamie.

    His death had crushed me. Jamie said it was why I was so obsessed with children. I was refusing to grow up, he said, clinging to fantasies of innocence. Maybe he was right, but I didn’t care.

    I’m stuck, I whispered. I think I made a terrible mistake. I think I betrayed Rose and now Jamie’s in trouble. I swallowed. What if he’s dead?

    Grace, someone whispered to my right.

    I spun around and stared at Jamie, who stood at the tree line, grinning. He wasn’t much taller than me, but his shoulders were wider. Both of us were thin, with long limbs and sharp features, as my mother would say. Our appearances favored our father, she’d told us, something we would have to take her word for since neither of us had seen him since we’d left for Haven Valley. We had no pictures of him and he wasn’t to be mentioned in the house, which was fine by me because I hardly thought of him as my father any longer.

    Jamie. I exhaled, awash with relief as he hurried up to me. I forgot the rules for a moment and rushed forward to give him a hug, then caught myself. He noticed, and for a beat we stood staring at each other. The rules of purity forbade any physical contact between males and females over the age of ten unless they were married.

    As quickly as my relief had come, it melted to anger. You’re late.

    Only by a few minutes, he said.

    Late, I snapped, tapping my watch. I was terrified!

    He hesitated, then nodded. I’m sorry.

    His shoulder-length hair was free from the usual tie that held men’s hair back at the nape of their necks. It was the same light blond color as mine, but much longer. Men were allowed to wear their hair as they pleased. Women over the age of fourteen were required to keep it very short—less than two inches in length—so as not to be unnecessarily attractive to men.

    Beauty led to lust. Lust was a sin.

    One thing was certain: if sin was allowed to enter Haven Valley, our purity would be lost and Sylous’s protection would fail us even here. We all would suffer the same fate as the rest of the world. Our objective now was to remain pure as we waited to inherit the kingdom of heaven on a new earth. Some called that coming day the new millennium.

    Jamie quickly tied his hair back with the rubber band around his wrist, glancing past me to be sure we still hadn’t been seen. My hair came loose while I was running back, he said.

    You were being chased?

    No. Though I wish I had been.

    What do you mean? You wish for death?

    I wish for certainty and clarity.

    You’ve lost your mind, Jamie. This is all a horrible mistake!

    On the contrary, like I told you earlier, I’m reclaiming my mind.

    Then you’ve lost your faith. Either way, it’s terribly dangerous.

    Five times, Grace. Five times I’ve been beyond the border, each time venturing a little farther in search of my faith. Each time encountering not a single Fury.

    Jamie, please—

    This time I made it to the end of the forest, where it breaks out into a clearing. Beyond this mountain, there’s a large town. Who knows what’s down there. People perhaps, others who weren’t destroyed.

    If they haven’t been, they will be. Never again.

    But what if I’m right, Grace? What if the time has come to claim our inheritance? What if we aren’t alone in this heaven on earth? What if it’s now! The light in Jamie’s blue eyes drew my own curiosity.

    Rose would know if it was time, I said.

    Would she? Jamie asked.

    I shook my head as outrage gathered in my chest. How can you doubt her? Doubt Sylous? You’re going to get us all killed!

    He fell silent for a moment, his eyes searching my face. There had been doubters in our community over the last ten years, but all had eventually come back to truth. Now my own brother was walking a similar path—so persuasive that I’d finally agreed to help him find out for himself. But I couldn’t do it any longer.

    Why haven’t I encountered the Fury? His voice was low, and I shifted my eyes because it was a question I had asked myself more than once.

    You doubt the guidance of our shepherd and the existence of the Fury, I leveled at him. Do you also doubt the existence of God?

    Of course not.

    Just his laws?

    They’re the laws of Sylous! he snapped.

    Sent to us by God! Isn’t it the same, brother?

    He jabbed a finger into the air. Remember who you’re speaking to! Mind your voice!

    I recoiled from his disciplinary scolding. Now Sylous’s laws mean something?

    Silence! he shouted.

    How dare he scold me after his actions? It was wrong for a woman to dishonor any man through tone or action, so he was in his rights. But who was he to leverage laws even as he was breaking them? I wanted to tell him as much, but I’d already broken too many laws to gather the courage.

    A flash of remorse crossed his face. Sorry. Just out of sorts, that’s all. He paused. I’ve been thinking . . . What if there never were any monsters?

    Don’t be ridiculous. We all saw them.

    Only that once, thirteen years ago.

    Once was enough for me, I said. And we heard them when God removed his hand of protection ten years ago. How can you doubt what’s so obvious?

    What if it’s all in our minds? he pressed. Like the make-believe stories you tell the kids all the time. Like Lukas and the imaginary world you disappear into all the time.

    Stop it—

    What if Sylous is the real monster? What if this place is our hell with all the rules and fear and there’s nothing out there but the real world? What if Sylous got us seeing something that wasn’t really there? For that matter, what if the Fury are actually good and he’s the devil?

    I felt my face flush. He was talking the kind of heresy that would get him banished! But he still wasn’t finished.

    Even if they do exist, he continued, we don’t have any evidence they’ve taken over the world like Rose insists.

    Because we’re in Haven Valley, protected by Sylous!

    Really? So where is he? No one’s seen him in ten years. At the very least we should wonder if the Fury are gone and all we have to do is go out and take what’s ours.

    The great testing hasn’t come, so we know it’s not the end. Please don’t talk like—

    Yes, the infamous great testing. A wolf will come in sheep’s clothing after all this time, because even now we still haven’t proven our purity. It’s nothing but a convenient teaching to keep us in fear, Grace! Can’t you see? If there are Fury out there, why am I safe? He spread his arms. Do I look like a ravaged soul to you? Why would I need Sylous’s protection from something that doesn’t exist? Meanwhile, we waste away in our own personal little hell. Why?

    Because there’s evil out there, I snapped, thrusting a finger at the horizon. Fear protects us. You know that as much as I do. If you didn’t fear, you would just throw yourself off a cliff, and that’s exactly what you’re doing now. Please, Jamie. I’m begging you.

    Maybe I don’t believe that anymore, he said. Maybe I just want to be free now. What if we have it all backward? And even if we don’t, there’s still the question of who the Fury are. What are they? How does something like that just pop out of nowhere and then disappear for a decade? Please tell me you’ve secretly wondered at least that much.

    I hated the thoughts his questions brought to my mind. He was playing with fire, and I’d made the terrible mistake of playing along.

    I ground my teeth, no longer willing to argue. He was too clever for me anyway. I was always the naïve one, like he said, too childlike for my own good, but that didn’t matter to me now. What mattered was that we were still out in the open. The longer we stood out here, the more danger we faced.

    Jamie opened his mouth to speak again, but I held up my hand to silence him, a gesture I wouldn’t dare with any other man.

    We need to go, I said. Without another word I turned and hurried for the eastern section, which I knew would be free of guardians at this time. Jamie followed quickly, silent for now.

    Though the perimeter wasn’t walled, Haven Valley’s guardians,

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