Church On State -part 1- By Top Tier Story < INSTANT >

The man presses the button. A soft CHIME. He slumps, eyes glazing over.

A WOMAN in the front row sobs.

It means your pastor was a false prophet. And you listened to a liar.

You believe in God?

His COMM unit BEEPS.

Praise the sacrifice.

A decommissioned CHURCH. Stained glass windows blacked out. Candles. Rows of refugees—Marked sinners, excommunicated women, children with no baptismal records. Church On State -Part 1- By Top Tier Story

She won’t know you. That’s the mercy.

CLASSIFICATION: APOSTATE (LEVEL 5) CHARGES: Heresy, Sedition, Impersonation of Clergy, Unlicensed Miracles.

(flat, without malice) You removed the Mark of Confession. That’s a Class A heresy. Punishment: neural recoding. You’ll forget your name. Your wife. Your sins. You’ll be a ghost who pays taxes. The man presses the button

Recoding initiated. Praise the State.

A RATTLING at the door.

Dark Thriller / Dystopian / Religious Noir OPENING SCENE EXT. CHICAGO - THE SPIRE - NIGHT A WOMAN in the front row sobs