Scythe

Scythe Faraday writes in his journal that he prays every day. He doesn't know who or what he's praying to, but he asks for guidance and that he never become desensitized to gleaning. He says that he wants all of humanity to feel it when they witness death. Empathy is what will keep people human, and no god can fix it if humans lose their empathy.

Rowan finds Goddard in the chapel with just the curate alive. Goddard brightly tells Rowan that he can glean the curate. The curate spits that this massacre will help the Tonists' cause, and Rowan refuses to glean him. Rowan says that Volta self-gleaned, and Goddard knocks the curate out. Goddard says that Volta was weak and tells Rowan to take Volta's place, but Rowan refuses this offer as well. Goddard looks so deeply into Rowan's eyes that Rowan feels violated. He says that he knows Rowan loves killing and points out that scythes are called scythes because they're the weapons of mankind. He encourages Rowan to glean the curate and ignores Rowan when Rowan calls him a monster.

Rowan feels dizzy from the smell of the blood and the smoke, and he almost talks himself into gleaning the curate. He pulls out his sword, steps forward, and realizes that Goddard always had him leave one person alive in his training to prepare him for real gleaning, when he can leave nobody alive. Rowan leaps forward and stabs Goddard. He tells Goddard that Goddard made him this way and rips his ring off. Goddard tries to speak, but Rowan beheads him. He fights with Chomsky and Rand and kills them both. The curate finally stops Rowan from bludgeoning Chomsky and offers to hide him from the Scythedom, but Rowan asks the curate to find survivors and get out. Rowan starts shooting off the flamethrower.

Rowan steps outside wearing Goddard's robe and ring. He tells the assembled firefighters that the fire is scythe action. The firefighter doesn't believe this, as Rowan clearly isn't a scythe, but Rowan kicks the firefighter to the ground and shouts his command again, which convinces the firefighter that he's a scythe. After the firefighter gives the order to fall back, he kisses Rowan's ring. Rowan feels dirty in Goddard's robes and thinks that he's become a monster.