Romeo's soft masculine voice resonated through the church as he read from the Bible, his hands gripping the sacred text with white-knuckled intensity. "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." The words hung heavy in the air.

He shifted his weight, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath him as the passage echoed in his mind. An abomination. The term reverberated like a judgment against his own secret thoughts. With visible effort, he composed himself and began explaining the text's meaning to the congregation.

"Whatever translation of the Bible you choose to read, the practice of homosexuality in the eyes of God is a sin," Romeo declared, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "It is detestable and an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. Although the Old Testament Law of Moses was given explicitly to Israel, the practice of same-sex relations remains equally abhorrent to the Lord in the New Testament."

The scent of incense hung thick in the air as he continued his sermon, the flickering candlelight casting shadows that seemed to dance along the walls. When Romeo looked up at the congregation, his gaze immediately locked with a stranger sitting in the back pew—a man whose piercing eyes seemed to see straight through him. He recognized him instantly, though he couldn't explain how. This was no ordinary parishioner. This was the devil himself, come to judge him or perhaps to claim him.