"People can find meaning just by living," Bruce agreed, then switched tracks. "But I heard Mr. Azazel gets eliminated this episode."
Pastor Ned stayed silent. He just looked at Bruce with a "kind" gaze that made him squirm.
"Mr. Azazel can't be eliminated. Even my grandma with dementia knows that," Bruce corrected himself immediately.
"I believe FOX won't go against the wishes of North American believers," Pastor Ned said, satisfied.
He wore a black robe and a neat Roman collar. He checked the wall clock. There were thirty minutes till eight.
"The first round spread the gospel, the second spread joy. I've got a feeling the third will deliver something incredible," Pastor Ned murmured.
The four hundred believers sat in perfect order. It didn't mean he was a master organizer. Compared to other pastors, he was average. If you wanted scale, Florida's Pastor Triss had him beat.
Pastor Triss had gathered more than eight hundred at the Panama City Service Center with the question, "God created all things, so what can we do for God?" He had a giant projector too. He planned to use Azazel as an example, basically, "If you believe sincerely, you'll draw near to the Lord and reach heaven." One listen to Azazel and you'd swear he was close to God. No question.
Who even remembered how Pastor Triss and Pastor Ned had jumped around denouncing the show when The Masked Singer first aired? Now they were enjoying the sweet smell.
Their mouths preached doctrine, their hearts did business.
Why were the pastors so eager? Was it to spread God's voice? Maybe a little. The rest was about "proof," as in, look, this beautiful gospel comes from sincere faith, so trust me, follow me, and believe.
They leaned on Azazel to pump up their own authority. Who knew how many sleights of hand went on behind the scenes. Old Anglos at their traditional craft.
Time: almost eight.
Place: a church in El Monte, Los Angeles County.
People: lots.
"Rayne, you finally decided to step out," Gibran said, happily.
"Gibran, I'll say it again, 'step out' doesn't describe me," Rayne corrected.
"You broke up with Aiden a year ago, and you're still hung up on him," Gibran said.
"I'm not hung up," Rayne said.
"Lord, your room hasn't changed in six months. Isn't that nostalgia?" Gibran said. "Don't fool yourself. He locked you up for months and made you suffer. Stop hurting yourself."
"I don't miss him anymore, and yes, he hurt me, but there were moments worth keeping," Rayne said. "I left the room the same because I want to remember a little longer."
Hearing that about the ex made Gibran's temper flare. He wanted to shake Rayne awake.
But Rayne looked awful. Even foundation couldn't hide it, so the anger drained away.
Rayne's mother died when he was young. Later, his stepmother abused him. He tried to get help, but his father never really listened. To be exact, Rayne never dared tell him the whole truth. He only said the stepmother treated him badly, afraid his father wouldn't believe the rest.
He couldn't stay at home, so he ran away in high school. In the real world, his first boyfriend was that same ex. There was domestic violence, and the ex gave him AIDS. When Rayne finally tried to break up, the ex imprisoned him. He almost starved.
Why treasure memories with someone that cruel? Gibran figured it out. Rayne's first half of life was so bitter that even honey on a blade still tasted like honey. That blood-mixed sweetness was one of the few weapons he had against the pain of living.
Gibran took a slow breath. "Rayne, I'm happy you came to church. May the Lord bless you. We'll listen to the angel on earth, Azazel, and I'm sure you'll feel healing."
Angel on earth, Azazel? Rayne thought of hearing The Internationale at the live show. Honestly, it had felt healing.
"My friend, you may not believe me, but I've been a believer for over ten years. I've never heard a voice this close to God's. Even the Vienna Boys' Choir falls short," Gibran added when he saw Rayne's look.
A man's voice cut in. "Before the episode even aired, I heard the Lord's will. He told me Azazel is a righteous man, and his voice brings joy and happiness."
"Pastor Bronson," Gibran stood up quickly to greet him.
"Mr. Gibran, you're looking well," Pastor Bronson said.
Yes, this was the church that stood out from the start, the evangelical pastor who chose to support the "Paradise Lost Fallen Angel," Pastor Bronson.
After the show took off, Pastor Bronson was the biggest winner. He'd been in Chicago, now he'd come to Los Angeles and found a foothold.
"God forgave my mistakes, so I feel very calm," Gibran said. "Pastor Bronson, this is my friend Rayne. It's her first time here."
"Ms. Rayne, welcome to the Lord's embrace," Pastor Bronson said with a warm smile.
The more believers gathered, the more influence he had, and the happier he got.
Ding dong. The clock struck 8:00.
Millions across North America tuned into FOX. By rough count, one in five believers in the US watched The Masked Singer.
Twenty percent was a scary number. Episode three's ratings were even hotter than episode two's. Pastors and missionaries had fanned the flames. Plenty of casuals watched too. They didn't follow variety shows, but they'd learned the name "Azazel." Once they heard he'd unmask, they all showed up.
A small detail, as FOX's broadcast started, Rayne's father called. Rayne stared at the phone for a while, hung up, and looked at the big screen.
Episode three ran in order, Red Lion, Rugby Player, Himalaya, Black Goat, Azazel.
Live beat TV by miles. Rayne had a basis for comparison. The Rugby Player's "Hey Jack" had been fire in person, but on the screen it felt weaker. No crowd, no heat.
When Black Goat's set ended, whispers buzzed around Rayne.
"The Rugby Player should go. He's gotta be Danny."
"Worst tonight is Himalaya. He mangled 'So,' a classic. I hate that arrangement."
"Guys, am I the only one who hates Black Goat? She's the one who should be out."
…
Up to that point, not a single person said Azazel deserved elimination. Even with FOX's promos, his aura as a front-runner was carved in stone.
Azazel walked on. The audience leaned forward. Rayne saw a bunch of believers focus up all at once.