New preacher came to town last Tuesday, Set up a tent in the empty lot. Said he's here to heal us... Bring salvation to the faithful, Promises of prosperity, Miracles by Sunday... I don't trust him... Half the town showed up opening night, Came back changed. Eyes bright... Speaking about revelation, About finally understanding... My brother was one of them... Won't stop talking about the preacher now. They're at that tent every night... Coming home later and later, Speaking in the same phrases, Same cadence... Like they rehearsed it. My neighbor asks if I've been yet... "You should come." "You need to hear him!" Something in her voice, Makes me uneasy... I don't trust him... Preacher's sermons getting darker, Heard it from those who went. Used to be about healing, Making things better... Now it's about enemies... About those who poison the flock... Who stand in the way of salvation... "The faithless will be cleansed!" Tom from the hardware store, He was skeptical like me. Spoke out at a town meeting, Said we should ask questions... Haven't seen him in three days... His wife says he's "getting help". Says the preacher's counseling him... I don't trust him... Tom came back yesterday, But something's wrong. Won't meet my eyes... Keeps saying he was lost... But now he sees clearly... Tells me I should talk to the preacher, "He can help you too." "Before it's too late..." More of them every day, Wearing the same expression, That calm certainty. They gather outside homes, Of anyone who hasn't converted yet. Singing hymns until they come out. Bring them to the tent... I don't trust him... My brother came by this morning, With three others from the congregation... "We're worried about you." "You're sick and don't know it." "The preacher can heal you." I tell them to leave... He looks at me with pity, "We'll pray for you." But it sounds like a threat... Tried to leave town this afternoon, They're blocking the roads. "For your own good!" "You're not well enough to drive!" "Come to the revival tonight!" "Let the preacher help you!" Everywhere I turn... More of them... Watching... Waiting... I don't trust him... Sarah and I are the only ones left, Who haven't gone to that tent. We meet in the alleys, Make plans to slip out after dark. She doesn't show up... I wait two hours... Then I see her... Walking with the congregation. I'm the last one... Everyone I know. Everyone in this, whole, damned, town! They've all been converted! And they're all coming for me... Hear them outside my house, Gathering... Footsteps on the porch... Knocking, steady... "We know you're in there!" "We're here to help!" "The preacher's waiting!" Back door... Front door... Every window... Faces I've known my whole life... My brother at the front. "You're sick!" "We can save you!" "You just have to let us in!" That fake happiness... I'd prefer anger... They're...righteous. Certain... Calm... I don't trust him... I back away from the door, But there's nowhere to go. They're breaking through... Patient... Methodical... Hands reaching for me... Voices harmonizing... "Help him!" "Save him!" "Bring him in!" My brother's hand on my shoulder, "It's going to be okay..." "You'll understand soon..." They're leading me to the tent... They're following... That calm procession... I can see it ahead... Everyone else is waiting for me... The preacher's waiting... Smiling... I don't trust him...
