Sins of the Fire: Purgatorio
Phoenix Ward
(Sins of the Fire, #2)
Publication date: December 18th 2025
Genres:
Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult
The Church of New Haven extends its reach to those in need, however there
are some lost souls that require more direct guidance, as their sins must be
met with strong redirection. Thus, Jonah was created. Originally a man named
M█████ ████, he contains over two-hundred thousand sinners. Until they
reconcile with their offense to God, they are to fast and pray for their
salvation for as long as it takes them to realize their folly, and call upon
us.
The boy will be saved from the Dragon, even if he must waste away to
understand their danger.
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EXCERPT:
This morning was a reminder that not only was sleep important, but so was
waking up before 10am.
Between the heads of bed hair, scruffy clothes and flip-flops, there were
black suits, floral dresses and sweet smelling perfume clouding the entrance
of the store. Conversations were held in front of the doorway, carts were
being pushed around like they were going out of style, and somehow that wasn’t
the thing that made us second guess our trip to getting our travel items here.
No, that all paled in comparison to the white van-bus with the words “Destiny
Baptist Church”, written in Times New Roman on the side.
It wasn’t the church we had a problem with— it was the fact that it was
Destiny, a local mega church that made their way through the doors. The same
Destiny that would play on my grandmother’s radio, from preaching almost
twelve hours of gospel to choirs capable of going seven octaves without any
pause for breath. For whatever reason, they were here. Maybe it was some
food-based event, or some donation cause, or maybe someone felt the ‘Holy
Spirit’ invade them to help out a few families with groceries— either way, it
was crowded. Worse yet, the congregants brought their kids too. One wrong turn
with a cart and we’d be anointed with oil and made to play the burning bush.
Imani and I both shared wary gazed with one another as the chatting church
folk mingled with folks that just wanted to get their groceries.
I was the first one to take the initiative, but Imani was quick to hold me
back from going too far.
“Hang on, no plan?” She asked, “We’re just going to go in?”
I shrugged, scooting aside as a family of three slipped past us. “Yeah. We
just gotta make it through the doors. We’ll probably just grab baskets and
split. When we’re done, we’ll meet right by the self-checkout, next to the
gift cards.”
Her eyebrows looked like they’d fly away. She released her gentle hold of my
arm. “I guess I shoulda known you’d know how to handle yourself, considering
the stuff you dealt with.”
“Is it weird to admit that the cult shenanigans actually wilder compared to
this?”
Imani sped ahead of me, playfully pushing me out of the way. “Just pray you
don’t get lost in here!”
“Ah, pray! Good one.”
The doors opened, our opportunity for a clear entry inside revealed itself.
With clergy folk standing by the door, we said our ‘Good mornings’ and kept it
moving. Basket procured, we both split up and went our separate ways. I
immediately made a beeline to the deli. Three pre-packaged sandwiches were
perfect carry-on for the long trip. From there, I shot for the snacks aisle.
Chips, protein bars, and those salty peanut butter cracker packages were all
loaded up in the basket with haste. I said my ‘hello’s, and my ‘excuse me’s to
any passerby, some people greet me, others regard me with a nod.
I wanted to be away from the churchgoers. They didn’t take up the store, but
they were too permeated— too mixed in.
Too indistinguishable.
I wanted to pretend that everything was back to normal. That after all of the
conflict, the fears, the crying, the fighting, things were safe again. Two
months of nothing should have been enough to convince me, but I knew better.
Every aisle I walked down, there was a body dressed in black or white—formal
clothing or just plain clothes. Without touching Mysherra, I couldn’t tell
which was a Havenite and which wasn’t. Even outside of the store, regular
people, clerks, judges, beggars, anyone could be a Remnant out to get me, or
one to watch me.
I put my hand in my pocket and stood in front of the line of power-drinks. My
fingers grazed over the surface of the pen.
The hairs on my neck stood up. Goosebumps bristled along my arms. Piercing
spheres of heat sandwiched both sides of my sides.
I didn’t dare turn my head—Peripherals attuned to the presence of two
white-robed Remnants on opposite sides of the aisle.
“Kane.”
“I know.”
Slowly, I inched my arm out of my pocket, pen wedged between my fingers. They
wouldn’t be able to fight me, not with eyes watching them from the ceiling.
They didn’t want their secret to be discovered just as I didn’t.
“Do not acknowledge their presence,” Mysherra spoke to me, “Walk with me down
the aisle.”
My legs walked me sideways. I didn’t want my back turned to either one of
these things. The power drinks transitioned to the flavored powders. Flavored
powders to sparkling sodas. Neither one of the beings made a move.
“Once you get close, fire me.”
Senses were screaming at me to run or fight the closer I got to the remnant.
My heart was thudding against my ribs.
“Just a little closer.”
Light conjured at the tip of the pen. The burning spread along my entire right
side.
“Okay, the fires should be quiet enough to—”
“Excuse me.”
Someone bumped against my back, cutting off my focus. “Ah, sorry about th—”
All I did was turn my head. I had seconds, milliseconds, microseconds to
process the burgeoning man unlatching his jaw in front of me. Ropes of saliva
separated a hollow light at the back of his throat. Flesh, wet, and acrid
already surrounded me, sounds of the outside muffled by the remnant’s mouth
closing behind me. I must have fired four times— twice to the ribcage roof of
the mouth and twice towards the light. Footing vanished, the dark closed in,
and the door to the outside slammed shut behind stone teeth.
And I fell.
---
Phoenix Ward is an indie black writer, and educator from Philadelphia. He
has worked in the field of education for over five years, teaching all
grades Mathematics and English. When he’s not writing, he is composing music
using Logic Pro X, or tutoring children on subjects they struggle in.
Currently, he lives in Philadelphia with his dog and cat.
An avid world-builder, Phoenix has created many stories from youth to
adulthood, but none have captivated him as much as his latest work Sins of the
Fire, which combines his passion for storytelling with his deep understanding
of human nature. He draws inspiration from the vibrant city life of
Philadelphia and his own experiences as an educator, infusing his narratives
with authenticity and depth.
In addition to his work as a writer and educator, Phoenix is committed to
supporting young creatives in their journeys. He actively encourages students
and adults alike to seek a way to create their own stories. Everyone has a
message to share, and doing so in story is the best way to do so.
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