The True Believer Novels & Stories

At least I wouldn't have to witness their happy family of four and smell that nauseating mixture of scents. Memories flooded back like an uncontrolled tide. Alex and I had met when we were nobody special. I had supported him through his journey from an unknown programmer to a leading figure in the field of AI. For ten years, we had been the soulmates everyone in our circle envied. The first time, he was drugged by a business rival and slept with Brooke, who was just an intern then. He called me immediately, his voice shaking. "Em, I was set up! I swear on my integrity that this was the only time! I've handled everything cleanly. She'll never appear before us again!"

it flared hotter, more fiercely, as if her words had filled the oil to the blaze within him. "They believe," he stated, his voice rough but firm. "Though they behold only pyres and ash, though they are aware that death may come at dawn, they believe. For they remember something that you have lost sight of." His chains creaked as he tightened them, the noise echoing like storm-bells. "Belief is not the product of security. Belief is the product of decision. And they have decided." Kaelen moved forward, his massive body straining with pride. "Chosen you, brother. Chosen us. And no emaciated coward's whisper shall take that away."

That protective charm was a gift from Hanson. He never used to believe in any of that. Spirits, blessings, luck. He thought it was all nonsense. But when I was 18, I got sick. In just three days, the hospital told my family eight times that I might not make it. Every doctor they brought in shook their heads. No one knew what to do. Someone told Hanson about a cathedral up in the mountains, saying it was known for miracles. He went overnight and stayed there on his knees, praying for a full day and night.

“I am Brother Dereel, this is Brother Deneel. We are followers of the One True Faith. Allow me to—” “Wait, hold on,” I said, walking back. “One True Faith? Do you follow the One True God?” They both looked shocked and horrified by the suggestion. “No, certainly not,” said Brother Dereel. “He was a heretic who was cast out. We only believe in nonviolence and kindness to all the creatures of the gods.” For all I knew, he was Joshaya in disguise. One True God, One True Faith... it seemed too much of a coincidence to have just bumped into these guys. Perhaps these two were worth talking to, after all.

I felt that truth settle heavily in my chest. "Can your contacts help?" I asked. "I will try," he said, and when he looked at me again, I saw not the unshakable man who had trained me.....but someone who suddenly looked years older. "Be careful who you trust. True believers are the hardest to fight." The next few days passed in a haze. Sleep became optional, and caffeine was a must. I spent my time mapping networks, tracing names, and cross-referencing every piece of data Jamie found.

‘The believer still refused to accept me, so I kept on increasing to 600 thousand dollars. ‘It then became 1.2 million dollars, 2.4 million dollars. ‘When I offered to give him 4.8 million dollars, the originally devout believer finally chose to worship me instead. ‘His god had never given him a single penny, but I was going to give him 4.8 million dollars. ‘Because of this, I found out one single truth… ‘Religion is absolutely useless. These so-called believers are only being loyal because they haven’t been paid enough to betray their religion yet…’

"Because you deserve the truth. Because following someone based on a false belief is not real following. Because trusting someone based on incomplete knowledge is not real trust. Because believing in someone who hides their darkness is not real belief. You deserve to know who I really am. What I really am. How I really am. You deserve to know my flaws. My darkness. My imperfection. Then you can choose. Choose whether to still follow me. Choose whether to still trust me. Choose whether to still believe in me. But that choice must be based on truth. On complete knowledge. On full understanding. You must know who I really am. Then you choose. Choose freely. Choose honestly. Choose based on trut

One by one, her crew began to echo her rallying cry, “Our truths! Our truths!” Gabriel, surrounded by a throng of attackers, called out his truth amid the clash of metal and the chaos enveloping them. “I lost my first pack!” he shouted, a primal ferocity accompanying the admission as he continued to fend off attackers. “But I found a stronger one!” His words struck chords deep within their souls, resonating with honesty as they surged forth against the adversary.

Roose voice become low while saying all this this time she feel little bad. "This belief of yours has confused me. Seems like. This person is very close to your heart. Let's take a test of your faith. Expect the person you are talking to, this person has sold you. If you know this from somewhere, you will believe it."Christian said after seeing her blind trust.

He looked at the burning mark on his palm — now shaped like a sword. “I think we were born because of them.” Outside, voices rose in a stadium across town. A popular influencer turned evangelist led a crowd in declarations of wealth and dominance. Cameras flashed. The gospel was drowned in hashtags. But far above, in a place no drone could reach, the heavens trembled. A voice thundered across realms. “Let the false fire fall. Let the remnant rise.” The blueprint glowed. And somewhere in the dark, a hidden intercessor whispered one phrase into the night: