Description
16-year-old Desmond "Dizzy" Bolden doesn't need any saving. He's completely fine with being the black, gay kid who can see clouds of emotions over people's heads. But after a salacious heartbreak and a disastrous apartment fire, Dizzy is open to a little redemption. His kooky step-mother, Gwen, thinks she's found just the answer: The House of the Holy Zealots. Ran by the fiery preacher, Solomon Rapp, and nestled in the arid Nevada desert, The Home promises a fresh start for Dizzy, Gwen and his older sister, Halle. At first, Dizzy has a few laughs at the Zealots' expense. Sure, the weird rules of the compound and the snake handling are a little strange, but his family is finally safe from whoever burned their apartment to the ground. When Solomon Rapp claims Halle for marriage, things quickly take a dark turn, and Dizzy's laughter turns to terror. Nobody's going anywhere because the gates are locked tight. Suddenly, Dizzy realizes that his safe refuge has turned into hell. Based upon Open Novella Contest prompts #5 and #32, They Shall Take Up Serpents tells the story of a teen trying to outrun the worst evil of them all...himself. First draft and un-edited. #1 Teen Thriller 02/25 #2 Teen Thriller 02/24
Welcome to House of the Holy Zealots
