[ wp ] after dying god informs you that hell is a myth , and `` everyone sins , its ok '' . instead the dead are sorted into six `` houses of heaven '' based on the sins they chose .

& nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ This is a holy war, ” the tall figure repeated. He stood at the head of our group, the ends of his long, white robes caught in the wind like errant flakes of confetti. They twisted and curled amongst themselves, but always came free. I stood in the first row and looked down, my own simple white tunic and pants were stagnant. He looked at me as I raised my head once more, or I have to assume he looked at me. In place of a face, there was only white light. I could make out a jaw, a beard, and long white hair- you know, all the typical deific features. Yet there was no face, only the blinding white light. “ We are engaged in a fight for all things, for creation itself. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ You were all sinners in your own way, ” he continued, walking along the front row. “ Sinners in life, sinners that strayed from my path. ” He returned to me, paused and placed a hand on my shoulder. “ Sinners who doubted my very existence. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; At once I felt peace, a warmth that reached from the seat of my stomach to my heart and spread to every limb. Divinity, that ’ s the closest word to what I experienced. I felt my knees buckle, my heart race, and my eyes dim. It wasn ’ t a fade to black, more a blanket of light. 
 
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 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; I woke now, alone. My cohorts had vanished and I lay flat on a bed. After a failed attempt to raise myself up, I turned my head to the left and studied the place. White walls and wide windows with an assortment of beds, completely empty. I was dead, of that much I was certain. But this place, it was some kind of infirmary…was I dreaming before? 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; I frowned at my doubt and turned my head right. Beside me sat the faceless man, casually reading through some nameless text. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Good morning, child, ” he said. “ Forgiveness is a difficult process, but acceptance takes a greater toll. I have forgiven your sins, child, and now you have accepted them. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; He gave a wave of his hand my strength returned, and he…God…walked through the white doors directly opposite my bed and I followed. In lieu of a hallway, we merely left the room and arrived in another. I looked back, expecting to see the last but instead only saw a web of smoke draping the doorway. “ I…, ” I began before my voice retreated. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ You always were one to question, one to fight, ” said God. “ I liked that about you, despite your reservations about myself. ” He gestured toward a web of smoke to my right, *Luxuria* stamped across its arch in silver. “ As humans live, they sin. It is inevitable, it is natural, and it is forgivable. I only ask that you serve me, fight with me against the forces which conspire to keep you mired in your sin. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Words found me at last, “ What forces? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Mortality is only the beginning, life is a test, ” God said. “ Eternity is greater, woven in the fabric of reality and something you ’ ve scarcely imagined. I need those willing to fight, willing to defend my creations from all those who would steal it. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; I was confused now, God was real…and fighting some kind of meta-terrestrial war… “ Who are you fighting? ” I asked. “ You need soldiers, I think I understand, but who are you fighting? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Those who dare to think themselves my equal, ” God snarled. He walked into the webbed doorway and vanished. After a moment of consideration, I followed. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Lust wasn ’ t what I expected, though to be fair I wasn ’ t sure what I expected. When you hear lust, I suppose you think of an orgy. Something visceral and vivid, but not this. I found emptiness, a dark empty hall void of any manner or method. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ What do you see? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ I see nothing, ” I replied. God walked away from my side and toward the doorway. “ Wait! ” I called. “ What was I supposed to see? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Spindles of light and sound spilled from my feet and revealed the room, revealing its contents. Heaving breasts, raised phalluses, blooming roses and the heavy scent of longing…More than I ’ d imagined. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; We walked in silence for a time, down the halls and into subsequent rooms. *Gula* left me hungry, raised tables and splendid company. *Invidia* forced me to revisit old jealousies, rekindle old rivalries. Neither proved to be my aptitude. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ We will find you a place, ” said God. “ Everyone finds their home, sooner or later. Worry not, for when you are surrounded my like-minded brothers and sisters in arms all of this will be a distant memory. ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; His soldiers, his fighters, were encouraged to spend their eternity immersed in sin. Sin breeds stronger fighters than virtue, because a sinner will always fight to keep what they have. *Avaritia* clearly showed me that, for there were thousands upon thousands of hoarders gathered round great keeps of gold and stone. They hid themselves in their wealth, their precious worldly things, and waited for great battles. God gave them what they wanted, gave them a way to live without judgment. In exchange, they gave him their service. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ It seems I ’ m far from the beaten path now, ” I said. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ *Ira* or *Acedia*, ” mumbled the faceless form. “ We ’ ll find your way. ” We found me inappropriate for both. All the while, I was asking questions about his adversaries. “ They are the enemy, the enemy of this place, ” was all he said. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Now what? ” I asked as we left the dimension of *Ira. * “ What happens to those who don ’ t fit into your houses? ” As I finished the question, I recalled there was a seventh option. “ What about pride? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; The white light which hid the man ’ s face began to darken. In place of what was blank, a crooked nose and deep set eyes appeared. His brow was scarred and wrinkled, liver spots dotting his face and neck. “ You… ” he spat. “ You and your fucking will... you must believe! ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; A hand darted from the robes and caught me around the throat, nails digging deep into my skin. This hand, which once left me weak-limbed and warm was now cold and weak. I took his wrist with my left hand and began to twist, I took my right and pulled at his fingers. 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Who are you? ” I managed through gasps. I tore myself from his grasp and darted back, “ What the fuck are you? ” Then, as if by epiphany, I asked “ What the fuck am I? ” 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; “ Non-believer, ” the old man whispered. “ Enemy! ” 

