4 Meet Me Halfway

Standing in front of an abandoned property, I kicked its rusty high old door and faced the demon disguising as human as it opened. His numerous slaves holding expensive weapons stood at his back, surrounding him.

"Amber! What a pleasant surprise." Riley grinned before exhaling the “devil’s fart” from a cigarette. He was sitting comfortably on his cushioned red chair, wearing the most expensive Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition suit. “Or should I call you, Micca?”

"Did you miss me?" I smirked.

"Who wouldn't? I thought you're dead, sweetheart," he answered.

"Oh, I am humbled and touched by your kind words, you piece of junk," I said, touching my chest with fake sadness. "Let's stop this drama, Riley. Give me Human."

"Ha ha ha! Here we go again. I already told you, Human is not with me. That man you've been looking for is not in my hands, Amber."

"Just as I thought. Demons are great liars. What do I expect?"

"And fake angels are great pretenders. Look at you . . . acting like a savior of the world, yet . . . you don't even have your angel wings and powers and a sword. You always depend on your idiot of a confederate, hiding inside a 10-year-old boy's body. Come on, Amber. Have some mercy on the little boy, or shall I say . . . Gideon."

I clenched my fist in anger. Gideon, where are you?

"Did you come here to face your death, archangel Micca? I can kill you in a snap and make it easy for you. I pity this woman's body you are using. Her life on earth was wasted by a sloppy, worthless, and selfish angel like you."

Infuriated, I grabbed the piece of angel feather I kept from my back pocket which magically transformed into a pistol. I aimed it at Riley and shot him, but his men appeared before me and fired their weapons.

I was fast enough to escape from the bullets and fired back at them. How extraordinary! These demons were powerful enough to disappear into thin air. Looking for a spot to hide, I held my weapon and used my senses to feel Riley's demons. Feeling nothing, I thought of moving to another spot and stood up, stepping forward towards a series of empty halls and walls. Aiming my pistol in a firing position, I focused my eyes on every hallway.

One of Riley's men appeared and fired at me, but I dodged his attack. I climbed up the stairs leading to another floor and faced more demons who were firing endlessly at me. I continued to climb up until I finally found an elevator leading to the top of the building.

Gideon! Where are you?! I'm right here at the top of this abandoned building at 67 North Road. Come quick, or I'll end up facing the annoying Barachiel again.

Standing in the middle, Riley's men moved towards me as I slowly moved backwards.

Oh oh, Gideon? Where are you? Sh*t!

I aimed my pistol at them, ready to fire. My heartbeat was racing as I waited to pull the trigger with my eyes focused on them.

"Well, well. Today is your lucky day, Micca. Your sufferings will end here," Riley said as he came into view. "You only have two choices. To die with a failed mission or surrender yourself to my master. My master has been preparing a celebration for you. If you please, come with me."

"Shut up, Riley. Over my dead body," I said through clenched teeth, aiming my weapon at him.

"You may have escaped death when I had you killed on the streets, but this time, you have no chances. Especially that your guardian angel seemed to have abandoned you."

"I don't need anyone to save me, you idiot. Hell, I don't even need a guardian—"

"Kill her," Riley said smiling before turning his back on me.

Riley's demons fired their rifles at me. Time seemed to slow down, and out of nowhere, a cat jumped in the midst of us. My eyes went wide in surprise as it spread out its huge white wings to cover me. The demons' supernatural bullets didn't seem to get through my savior's gigantic wings as they continued to fire their weapons. In a blink of an eye, the cat's wings shone with immense radiance, blinding their eyes and making them burn into ashes; with the exception of Riley—of course—who vanished before my very eyes. I stared into the cat’s eyes and its towering wings.

"Gideon?! Seriously? A cat?" I furrowed my brows, realizing who it was.

"Meow." He grinned.

***

"Where have you been, you idiot? I was so close to—"

"Profanity! Let me remind you that the moment you opened your eyes, you shooed me away!"

"You were that cat?!" I gasped. "How disgusting! Did you really have to lick my face? Ugh!"

"Why not? I'm a cat!' he replied.

Walking on the side of the street, people were looking at me, laughing and whispering. I glared at them without realizing that Gideon hadn't changed his vessel yet. I stopped in my tracks and facepalmed.

"Could you please change your vessel? No wonder why people are looking at me like I'm some sort of crazy," I said, looking at our reflection in one of the store’s glass windows.

"The boy is gone, Micca. I can't find him."

'What do you mean you can't find him?"

"Oh, come on. Which part is it that you don't understand? I can't find him!" Gideon raised his voice.

"Wait a minute! Why are you so mad at me?"

"Because you're a traitor!"

"Excuse me? What did I do?"

"Meow." He walked ahead of me.

"Hey, stop making a fool of me. You've gotta tell me what's wrong with you because I don't know!' I said, emphasizing the last three words.

"Meow."

"Fu—Ugh! Barachiel!" I yelled at the top of my lungs with my hands and eyes up to the sky.

"Are you okay?" a stranger asked.

I looked at the stranger as an awkward silence took over. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just . . . mad at my pet." I bent down to pick up Gideon, pressed him against my chest, and caressed his fur. "We gotta go home now, Kitty."

Gideon hissed.

"Bye," I said.

The stranger gave a fake smile before walking his way.

***

I laid lazily on the bed while Gideon sat on a chair by the window. He was looking at whatever it was, and I knew for certain there was absolutely nothing beautiful to enjoy down below but an alley filled with dumpsters.

"Spill the beans, Giddy. What did I do wrong?"

"Are you sure you don't remember, Micca?" Gideon finally answered.

"I don't remember any. Believe me. Why don't you just tell me the whole story—"

"You traded me for a deal! You made a deal with Riley to turn back time and save Daniel. You betrayed me."

"Daniel? Who is he? I . . . traded you?" I scoffed. "For what?"

"Stop asking me if you don't remember anything. You wouldn't even understand!"

I stood up and faced Gideon, crossing my arms. "Then let me remember everything! Help me remember, Gideon, so I could finally lay your confused soul to rest!"

"Meow."

I grabbed and lifted him in the air. He scratched my face, making me scream in pain and drop him.

Knock! Knock!