What would happen if we could peel away the shells of our worst experiences? If those experiences could manifest in ways visible and painful? Shell Heaven Hypothesis tells the story of three people living in a Chicago altered by the presence of Sins: cannibalistic monsters out of stories that arise from negative emotions. Arising to combat them in the early days of humankind were Sin Eaters: living people that perform a simple ritual to absorb a Sin. Successful enactment of the Sin Eating ritual grants a warped version of the Sin as their own power, but comes with a host of drawbacks. Sins are said to ripen around an individual's mid-20s, and although adults are equally capable of performing the ritual, it is far more common for a child to absorb a nascent Sin before it forms. Powerful Sin Eaters are reviled or feared by society: when they die, their unresolved issues and powerful negative emotions evolve into terrifying gestalt Sins called Cardinals. As a result, they often work in pairs or larger groups called Collectives, registering with the local government as part of an attempt to demystify the frightening and otherworldly nature of Sin Eaters and their abilities.

Shell Heaven Hypothesis is serialized urban fantasy, posted on Sundays, that will center around the exploration of three interconnected individuals as they attempt to survive and heal from trauma both old and new. Rox, Bodhi, and Kris are all Sin Eaters and recent transplants to the city, people who have lost family or friends as a result of their abilities

© 2021 J.P. Andreacchio