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Nervously, my father came to me and bent down He pressed his warm hands on hter," he whispered "YouMicah Do not come out until I tell you, understand?"

"I understand, Father," I replied, still feeling the sensation of fear in hter My heart worries that the devil is within you That you are a cu--Argh! I cannot bring myself to speak the word I do not want to admit that you may be one of them"

I sucked in a shocked breath

One of whom?

Abruptly, Father stood up "Your trial will be in re God will not forsake you Let us all pray that you do not becoulped in trepidation A fallen I knew that word: a wos with the devil

"Go to Micah Now"

Ducking my head in dutiful obedience, I scurried down the wooden hallway, each step in sync withheart I burst into the bedroo in thebooks

He turned head his toward s, Sister"

Idown at what he was coloring in

I gasped in shock

Micah looked at , Micah?" I said, checking the bedroom door was closed The pictures were sinful Rude Forbidden

Micah laid a hand onCelestial School now The prophet’s disciples have been educating me on The Order’s new scripture Of our new duties as the Lord’s chosen people Of how to e down, I studied the black-and-white outline of the scene in Micah’s book It was a young boy touching a girl… in her forbidden place They were both sirl’s htly closed

I ju skirt of ?" I said in fear, ripping ether to forht at school hoe should begin to touch others… of hoe should begin to touch girls The Lord wants us to grow close to Hih touching each other’s forbidden places It is supposed to feel very good Prophet David has ordered us to do this"

Micah suddenly juround byer than ht hiainst ue invaded my mouth; it et and sloppy, and I hated it I quickly turned my head and tears formed in ? You are scaringthis with lots of woirls They look like they enjoy it; sos us all closer to the Lord You have seen the pictures inbook Prophet David wants us to be closer to each other, for closeness brings a unity to the Lord And you are so beautiful… so teirl in the picture My stomach and below feel all funny when I see you I cannot stop watching you I think about you all the time, even in my dreams All the boys at school talk of you"

"Micah!"

A loud, angry voice blared from the doorway In an instant, Micah and I froze Heavy feet sto above us were my father and Brother Luke

Brother Luke picked Micah up by the collar of his tunic, and Micah began to scream Brother Luke slapped hi quietly to himself

"You insolent child! She has not yet been approved for the Lord’s Sharing by the prophet! Do you knohat this means? You will be punished! I must report you to the prophet’s aid It is God’s will! You stupid, stupid boy! Youskirt of ot to s I ran to my father for coly cold expression on his face

I stopped dead

"F-Father?" I whispered