The Game of Lies

“Who are you?” I said, looking at the stranger before me. He had a sword in his hand and was wearing a white robe. “Wait. I think I saw you before.”

“In heaven, I know,” he answered with a gorgeous smile.

“Ahm . . . I think so . . . but . . . Don’t you guys look the same in heaven? Even the man named Ba . . . Ba . . .”

“Barachiel.”

“Barachiel! Yes, that’s him. What are you doing here?”

He looked closely into my eyes. “To kill you,” he said before everything turned black.

***

Micca

I think you’ve forgotten this special vessel, Micca,” Barachiel said, showing me the little hourglass.

My eyes went wide, looking at the thing that I haven’t given much importance.

“This is the angel Time’s vessel. This is one of the most precious souls in heaven next to Human. As you can see, it’s halfway before the sand runs out, and you have wasted so much time,” he continued.

“What do you want me to do? I’m tired of all your accusations, Barachiel.” My grip on the bars tightened as I clenched my teeth.

“You are becoming rebellious, aren’t you?” Barachiel uttered as his eyes narrowed. “You will be punished.”

I scoffed. “Whoa! Isn’t torturing me in this cell enough as a punishment?”

“No. This is just a warm up.”

“You’re stupid, Barachiel.”

“What difference does it make between you and me, Micca?” He turned his back on me. “The archangel Gabriel is on his way to killing your vessel.”

“What? Wait! Don’t do this. You cannot touch her. She has done nothing wrong to you.”

“Not to me, but to the heaven’s rules.”

“Rules . . . what?”

“It seemed like you have established a connection with your vessel, Micca. A connection that means abomination.”

“You are fucking crazy, Barachiel! My vessel is innocent. What she has become is a product of her miserable past and injustice. She has questions in her heart that no one can answer.”

“And who can help her answer those questions, Micca? Tell me. Can you?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that this human being needs help.”

“And what about your mission?”

“Fuck that mission! I can’t even find that stupid soul.”

“You cannot turn away from your responsibilities, Micca. You will never be happy with the consequences.”

“Screw you! Send me back to earth.” Barachiel shook his head out of disappointment.

“What did you say? Send you back to earth? And why is that?”

“I need to save her. I don’t know. I know she is not my responsibility, and I have something I should prioritize, but you can trust me on this. Just let me help her.”

Barachiel turned to me, placing the hourglass in his pocket. “If there's someone you need to save, it's Human. Not the girl. Besides, it’s too late. Like I said, I have just sent an archangel to kill your vessel, and you will finally be back into the pure angel that you were before you were tainted.” he said before walking away.

My body froze, hearing Barachiel’s words. “No, no, no, you can’t do this. Why did you send someone to kill her, Barachiel? She is just a human being. She is harmless. You can't do this! Let me out! Let me out!” I screamed before I was given another set of torture.

***

Amber

My vision was hazy, but my eyes adjusted to the only light above me. I found myself gagged and pinned against the wall with my hands and feet tied together. As my eyes wandered around the concrete room, the door creaked and opened as a figure came into view. The space was so dark I could hardly see who it was.

Riley.

I clenched my fists and was cursing in my head. Riley took his hat off and stepped towards me. Shortly after, his demons showed up behind him.

“How are you, Amber?” Riley said after emitting smoke from his pipe. “I’ve heard you have just made some ju-ju with a random guy at a highway. Was it good?” He smirked as one of his demons removed the piece of cloth from my mouth.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I sneered. “Let me go, Riley. Or you’ll surely regret it.”

“Is that so?” he uttered before making a gesture with his fingers. Blake moved towards him.

“Oh great. Just my luck,” I muttered.

“Blake said he has just seen a new discovery in you.” He smiled and Blake nodded. “You see how special you are? You have always been my favorite pet among all of my slaves—”

“I am not and will never be your slave! You still have yet to return the favor for serving you when you took me out from the ward, even for the fact that you betrayed me!”

“Betrayed you? How could you say I betrayed you when it was you who requested to wipe the painful memories away from your head. ”

“Because you cheated, and you killed Greg!”

“He was weak. It’s his weakness that killed him.”

“Weak? You are weak! Tell me the truth. Who killed my parents?”

“I told you it was me.” He laughed.

“Liar! Who was that man in the middle of the road and crushed our car?”

“A man in the middle of the road?” He scoffed. “There was no one but me, Amber. That was me. Who do you think it was when there is no one powerful to take your life at any time but me, Amber? No one.”

“You are a freaking liar! Just tell me who it was!” I started kicking and screaming.

“Scream all you want, but nobody can hear you. I’ve heard your angel Micca is being punished in heaven.”

“I don’t know who Micca is, and I don’t care if he’s being punished or whatever hell is going on in his life. I just want you to return my memories completely!”

“’Funny. You acknowledged the poor angel when he was possessing you, and now you’re despising him. If I were you, I’d be mindful of my tongue. You’ll soon realize how much you need your possessing angel.”

“Angels don’t exist, and I was never and will never be possessed by an angel," I snapped. "Hell, you can't even possess me, can you?” I scoffed.

“Hmmm . . . Now that I think about it, do you really want the truth?”

“Stop playing games, Riley.” I shook my hands and legs in hopes to free myself.

“You are wasting your time and energy. Those handcuffs are made of unclean souls in hell. Come with me. Join me and my master, and I will tell you the truth.”

"Ptui! I’d rather die than be with your master.”

“So be it,” he said, aiming a gun at me.

My stomach felt strange again, and my heart started racing. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the gun, thinking how to escape.

Bang!

The gun fired, and it’s deafening sound roared into the air.