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“Okay. So how does that work?” he asked. “I had no idea anyone could go out there and join them. I thought it was super-exclusive.”

“Chastain told me they take on new members sometimes. It’s just very rare. Anyway, when I asked him to let me join, he said there’s a few stages of application. First, he and the Elders get together and discuss whether you’re even worth an interview. That’s what they’ve been doing over the last three days while I’ve been holed up in this shitty motel in Amiens.”

“What happens after that? The interview, I presume?”

“No. Before that, you have to make a non-refundable donation of two hundred and fifty grand.”

“Holy shit. I guess that’s how they weed out the non-serious applicants, right?”

“Yup.”

If someone decided to try and infiltrate a cult simply for fun, they’d never pay a quarter of a million dollars to the group with the knowledge that they’d never get it back even if they didn’t make it in. Only serious candidates would be willing to part with such a steep sum of cash.

“After the donation, you go in for an interview at the mansion. Apparently they ask hundreds of questions to try and get a feel for your character. I have no idea what they ask or what they want to hear, but I’m guessing they want to find guys just like them. So as long as I make it sound like I hate women and think they’re pathetic and inferior, I’m guessing I should have a fighting chance.”

Thad snorted. “Jesus, that’s messed up,” he muttered. “So what comes after that?”

“They ask for the candidate to return to their usual home for a couple of months while they consider the application.”

“Bet you another million bucks they send someone to spy on you during that time.”

“Agreed. They act like it’s time for you to reflect on whether you really want to join, but I suspect they have someone watching to see if you’re really who you say you are.”

“So you’ll have to start acting like you actually attend a church.”

“Among other things.”

He snickered. “I can’t wait to see that. Anyway, are you in after that?”

“Not quite. If you’re still deemed a suitable candidate after the interview and the period of reflection, you’re allowed to go and do a trial run at the commune for a couple of months. It’s so you can show them you’re really serious about your conversion to their doctrines.”

“And that’s when you’d finally see how they really live, right? Learn all their secrets and so on?”

“I assume so. Once you pass that trial, you’re officially in.”

“What if a new member doesn’t pass the conversion trial? Or what if they simply don’t like it and want to leave, even if they do pass?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I have no idea. Chastain told me all the new members they’ve taken on in the past decided to stay. None of them ever wanted to leave.”

“Guess it’s not too bad out there, then.”

I snorted derisively. “For the men, sure.”

Thad was quiet for a moment. “Just be careful with all this shit, okay? Cults can be fucking dangerous.”

“I know. I’ll be careful.”

He yawned loudly. “Sorry, man. I’ve gotta go. I’m falling asleep.”

“It’s fucking nine a.m.”

“I know. I was up all night with some chicks from the Dollhouse.”

I rolled my eyes. “Is that the new strip joint downtown?”

“Yup. Anyway, I’ll call you another time and see how things are going.”

We ended the call, and then I showered and dressed properly for the day. I was due out at the New Eden mansion at ten o’clock for my interview. I’d already made the donation Chastain asked for (instead of buying the land I initially claimed to be interested in), and he’d called me last night to inform me that the other Elders had agreed to grant me an interview.

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