1The Eternal Loop
219or judgment.
2by J. F. Barão.
220from beneath Ramon’s skin.
3Audiobook Edition ISBN: 978-1-0698702-2-3.
221and frankly, out of ideas.”
4question our existence.
222pardon?”
5the vast nothingness.
223nearby rock.
6His mom—Quarta, the Eternal, or Goddess Ash, as his dad
224air conditioning.
7more profound than words.
225Laughter.
8But the peace didn’t last.
226A beach umbrella.
9emotional support monkey?”
227hangover.
10Despite Satan’s mockery, God clung to his belief in his creation
228with a margarita in hand.
11my dad and grandfather.”
229Flashback: The Prophecy.
12“Exactly.”
230salvation—Amargosa—was just over the next dune.
13“God who?”
231mirages.
14“Yeah.”
232The caffeine hit.
15little chaos, a little order, and a whole lot of patience.”
233adrenaline-fueled mind:
16magic.”
234Satan’s Showroom.
17Or… something.”
235What a magnificent waste!”
18through the quiet like a whispered threat.
236The Aftermath.
19your so-called authority, brother.”
237Theories and Legends.
20insult. “For all the wrong reasons.”
238A Legacy Etched in Laughter.
21The tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Tertius’ gaze
239his unrelenting optimism and questionable fashion sense.
22lighter.
240The Final Joke.
23consequences.”
241W ho Was Lilly, Anyway?
24Lucy.
242Independence. Freedom. Gaston, being… well, Gaston, couldn’t
25The Aftermath.
243unintelligible.
26a nightmare.
244rib?”
27A New Beginning.
245Matilda, his loneliness lifting like a fog.
28pie?”
246Gaston, now familiar with The Devil’s antics, didn’t flinch.
29balance and purpose, of her unique role in the grand tapestry of
247like a blade.
30Gaston?”
248But the shadow of Lilly lingered—not as a dark, oppressive
31“I… uh… our situation… je… oui… maybe…?” he
249he no longer held resentment or regret.
32The sincerity in his voice—and his irresistible French accent—
250the Garden like a melody.
33day.”
251then. Feels like the first day of something… new.”
34something in Gaston—a kindness and an unspoken understanding
252Building the Future.
35softly on the lips.
253The Tangles.
36to the perfect spot for their new home.
254The Storm Within.
37lit interiors from expansive windows, and a cozy upstairs for
255A Game of Life.
38voice.
256mess it up again?”
39confession of murder.
257A Year Later.
40the tree.”
258anyway?”
41at her lips.
259intentions or thinly veiled barbs about his lack of a five-year plan.
42quiet, sincere gratitude.
260his mind: Lilly.
43the earlier events, the persimmons, and the strangeness of their
261hand in hand.
44CHAPTER 2. RELATIONSHIPS AND
262voice fraught with desperation.
45Thai place.”
263decision hung between them, unspoken but irrevocable. She
46and laundress?”
264deny.
47The Breaking Point.
265himself.
48Gaston’s Regret.
266In a moment of heartbreak-fueled brilliance—or sheer
49The Reckoning.
267himself.
50forever.
268commission, Lilly.
51a beachside restaurant.
269it with both hands.
52thoughts.
270it.
53step forward—Lucifer, his grin as sharp as his words.
271stomach.
54back—a whisper of restraint.
272hidden chapter of a long-lost mystery novel.
55that away.”
273the bus, her steps quick and purposeful.
56whole.
274know.
57her time or energy.
275The question hung in the air like a balloon, too delicate to
58rewrite of the script.
276across her face, unbidden and unstoppable.
59For about five minutes.
277feel almost effortless.
60seas.
278her tone a mix of encouragement and challenge.
61“Two hours good?”
279even Gaston’s Hawaiian shirts.”
62“Yep!”
280hair a little askew—a glorious blend of chaos and contentment.
63arms, a satisfied smirk on his face.
281gloriously average.’”
64perfect to last.
282Life Beyond the Kitchen.
65her.
283The Fumbles.
66something.”
284a smirk.
67worthy moment.
285The Grand Gesture.
68of this personal hell.
286promises.
69talk.”
287chaos.
70existence?”
288a grand romantic gesture.”
71through sheer stubbornness.
289The Rivalry Rekindled.
72fine print.”
290a slice of cake at the next anniversary party.”
73what cost?
291A Walk Under the Stars.
74Flashback: The Mountain Incident.
292grave expression.
75Christmas.
293freedom.
76weekend?”
294unmistakable smell of trash and fast food wrappers.
77wait two weeks?”
295love and loss, peace and war.
78of a man defeated—not by logic, but by sheer exhaustion from
296control.
79Back to the Present.
297But… then again, isn’t that life?
80with the weight of regret.
298more than clumsy divine foot traffic.
81In the Dream.
299lawn.
82Awake and Alone
300purpose.
83nudge.
301temple’s shadows like a cosmic specter with excellent timing. “The
84overripe fruit.
302numbers in this equation.”
85backward.
303harmony alive.”
86God.
304those hairless apes.”
87Bravo.”
305High above eternity, in the Nebula Temple, the air
88with suspicion.
306Satan’s.
89mind.
307on them yet.
90with unbidden curiosity.
308A Divine Dilemma.
91The morning air clung to the room like a shroud, thick with
309out by the silence.
92of vitality—lay limp, forever at rest.
310Humanity's Report Card.
93bear.
311mess.”
94echo in the very walls.
312A Glimmer of Hope?
95whisper.
313Somehow.”
96almost apologetic.
314understand.”
97fault?”
315precious second chance.
98tone gentle but probing.
316and wrong, often in the same breath.
99every lie and excuse.
317the hiss of a serpent.
100confession.
318thank you for it in the end.”
101In the shadows where the light couldn’t reach, the Devil
319The Devil’s Sales Pitch.
102of your sin, and the importance of love for your brothers and
320weight of eternity.
103at the doorway.
321adorable.”
104strange sense of anticipation.
322A gentle smile spread across His face, and a single tear
105hewn from the heart of a forgotten mountain. Each
323just yet.
106dodgeball—clumsy as a goat on roller skates—and the last thing
324lighter by the beauty of their surroundings and the occasional
107Meanwhile, on Earth, the man in question—oblivious to the
325Despite his flair for the dramatic—or perhaps because of it—
108seriously!”
326face the unknown.
109himself!”
327through his sincerity.
110echoed across the square:
328Gaston.
111And somewhere, in the shadow of the mountain, Tertius
329some private joke.
112head-on.
330together, hand in hand.
113hands.
331memories.
114next. Then, with an ominous raising of his hands, a resounding
332himself—walls, moats, metaphorical attack dogs—but Matilda
115so extraordinary—or so horrifying.
333mistrust and unanswered questions.
116Her words hung in the air, a strange cocktail of desperation and
334his frustration palpable.
117‘Heel!’ and ‘Stay!’ and ‘Look at that tree, isn’t it pretty?’” She
335tightening.
118walks.
336through stone.
119Conditions page.”
337wary.
120arguments.
338softening.
121over conspiracy nonsense. Predictable.
339But in the back of Gaston’s mind, a tiny voice lingered—a
122reverence, and perhaps a dash of confusion.
340Mount Nebula.
123Olympics!”
341understand him. Maybe then, the emotional chasm between them
124camaraderie.
342The Plan.
125inspire eye rolls on sight, Satan strode forward. The firelight
343“Winy Way,” Dad said proudly.
126eyes with Satan, his gaze unwavering.
344The Ask.
127soul for a pair of Italian loafers.”
345laughter.
128with a mock flourish, his voice thick with derision.
346club?”
129play on?”
347script: Enjoy It.
130spectacular downfall.
348for a fortune.”
131inheritance—generations of misguided ambition, a vision of
349CHAPTER 5. THEMES OF ABSURDITY AND
132hydrated—probably with souls or espresso.
350vehicles.
133as the stars.
351live?”
134And then, unexpectedly, a voice cut through the quiet. A
352decency of a Good morning.
135The Devil.
353hoping—praying—that something—anything—would change. It
136Not by a long shot.
354wreck!”
137excessive amounts of alcohol.
355there, frozen in humiliation.
138combat formation, just a few hundred meters away. Despite the
356that painfully clear.”
139public restroom.
357what?”
140The Patheticos, stung but undeterred, shot back:
358shattered illusions.
141their heads!
359Even the yard outside—his so-called sanctuary—was a fitting
142their limited resources with surprising efficiency. However, their
360Should Just Stay Inside.
143really.
361delirium.
144“Woo-hoo! You there!”
362always this hollow, this crumpled thing drowning in old shirts and
145great riches.”
363No. Not today. Maybe not today.
146about?”
364endured years ago on the 23rd floor of a downtown high-rise.
147weapons, ancient spells, and… inherit great wealth from a distant
365else—a small but undeniable flicker of strength. Maybe, just
148their case, their morning bucket of fermented cactus juice. In an
366But then again, didn’t everyone?
149Zumba pass.”
367off like yesterday’s trash.
150finances. Meanwhile, Sister Agnes, slightly hard of hearing, knit
368single—a rare miracle in today’s world.
151almost surreal contrast between the sacred and the profane.
369single offbeat anecdote.
152to laugh at.
370felt good.
153didn’t match.
371for full effect.
154understand?
372With one final huff of frustration, the Devil spun on his heel
155Bob himself.
373and every other sun-scorched wasteland in between
156embers from an eternal fire.
374Devil.’”
157control.”
375impressed whistle.
158a knowledge beyond comprehension.
376shoelace.”
159mix of fear and confusion.
377serious?”
160his very unprepared hands.
378Bob didn’t respond.
161Bob froze. From the distant sky, a blinding light erupted—a
379day of walking.
162slits of pure terror.
380Low. Rumbling. Too familiar.
163answer.
381group.
164Or a clue.”
382score?
165In the heart of a sun-scorched desert, a group of rugged
383and the eerie echo of his laughter.
166mystical Grand Canyon to the far-flung dunes of Saudi Arabia.
384caught in the undertow of Satan’s words.
167Bedouin traveler—a lone silhouette against the soft glow of the
385“Aliens?”
168him.
386unforgiving desert.
169stranded truck, an overheated radiator, and a desperate decision to
387Amargosa Mountains—thief, vagrant, drifter, drug dealer, candy
170children.”
388human existence: gossip hotter than the desert sun, betrayals
171ominously.
389cacti along the way.
172them.
390theatrical disdain.
173to your new home.”
391adorable.
174—a lump of gold, their last valuable possession.
392browns. The occasional splash of green from hardy desert plants
175tight.
393recklessness, and one spectacularly ill-advised poker game later, he
176desert Ubers.”
394something more sinister.
177tomorrow!”
395about?”
178same as always—a vast stretch of endless sand under an indifferent
396death.
179straight into the Devil’s playground.
397Pointless. Your possessions? Worthless. Your love affairs? Dust.
180damnation, fantastic view, really.”
398but a simple Be right back.
181particularly lucky.”
399Into the Undergrowth.
182demons?”
400Cutest Barnyard Hero.
183So, with a deep breath and a newfound spark of defiance, Bob
401of all things—a dinner table.
184unspoken yearning for something extraordinary. Some
402reenactment of Gladiator.
185like liquid diamonds under the moonlight.
403guardians.
186of Alexandria alive.”
404Moustache, older by a few wise years and infinitely more
187smoke in the air.
405a favorite corner in the living room, a safe haven from the
188It was Satan.
406A Summer Adventure.
189worth every misstep.
407Enter Zarathustra.
190Childhood friend, co-conspirator in long-forgotten
408punctuation mark.
191Amargosa didn’t exist.
409The Journey Ahead.
192Then—
410confusion.
193The voice.
411Moustache: The Legend Lives On.
194The parrot.
412A Devilish Interlude.
195And just like that—
413Genuinely, unreasonably happy.
196seriously.
414A collective murmur spread through the crowd.
197The world spun.
415unseen force:
198nearby tree.
416flammable in his clawed hand.
199And then—
417a self-help mascot!”
200Bob’s heart sank.
418“Ready… set… GO!”
201time, its voice quieter, almost… gentle.
419strong.
202change?”
420of food. Their hands brushed—not intentionally, but in a way that
203“How?”
421(usually food).
204diary entry.
422of something eternal.
205since our last little chat.”
423sheepishness and hope.
206A beat of silence.
424glare.
207organic?
425the clouds.
208syrup.
426and then.
209rules this town.”
427Without hesitation, Gus leapt in, the cold biting but cleansing.
210alien disco party without an invitation.
428He tried everything. Therapists. Support groups. Mindfulness
211Victor?
429neon lights, the camaraderie of the regulars, and the fleeting
212Chihuahua. Not just any Chihuahua—a gigantic beast with the
430This raccoon wasn’t your average garbage-digging rascal. This
213action hero.
431Ace, the cat—a mutual friend of Gus and Moustache—was
214a cluster of jagged rocks.
432Meanwhile, fate—or perhaps the universe’s dark sense of
215The surreal events at Area 51 clung to them, like the aftertaste
433In Loving Memory of Gus
216share of strange creatures—scorpions with attitudes, snakes with
434competitive streak returning.
217grimly.
435you my newest hobby.”
218indignation. “The Chihuahua.”
436apparently their next grand adventure: the depths of Hell.
