Amber
The strands of my hair were covering my eyes, but the man’s image was piercing through my eyes. It seemed like a connection was binding us, but nope—I didn’t recognize him.
“I don’t know anyone named Micca,” I answered with a scoff.
“Oh man, here we go again with this amnesia game,” the younger man uttered.
“Excuse me? What do you mean . . . amnesia? Right, I may have amnesia because I don’t know who killed my parents, I don’t know who I really am, and there are a lot of chapters in my life that need a lot of answers. Now, what do you need from me?” I asked, irritably.
“Come with me—”
“Don’t come near her, Micca!” the younger man suddenly screamed, stopping the man from taking my hand.
“Hey, what’s happening here?” I grunted.
‘You want answers, right?” the man said, and I responded with a nod though my mind was confused. “Come with me.”
“Are you serious?” the younger man furrowed his brows at the man who was trying to gain my trust.
“Take my hand,” the man continued.
“No, no, no!” the younger man kept on blocking the man’s way as he moved towards me. “No, Micca. Don’t do this. No, no, no!” He moved in front and pushed him away from where I was standing. "Don't . . . ever . . . do this, Micca. This is suicide!"
I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "Hey, hey! Does anyone of you dare to tell me how to get out in this desert? I still have a lot of things to do in my life, and all you're giving me is sh*t."
***
Micca
A moment of silence had passed. I was trying to get inside her as a vessel, but things turned out strange. I could no longer possess her body as if something was blocking me.
“I . . . I don’t understand,” I muttered.
“You’re alive! You’re alive!” Gideon shouted with glee, and I shot daggers at him.
“Okay,” he answered before covering his mouth with his hands.
“What do you mean you don’t understand?” Amber asked.
“Nothing. Let me take you home,” I said before grabbing her to my chest and flying into the sky.
“Hey! Wait for me!” Gideon followed.
***
Amber
“Nothing. Let me take you home,” the man said before grabbing me to his chest.
For some reason, I felt something strange in his touch as we flew up into the heavens. I clung into his arms and felt his warmth. Closing my eyes, I took in his scent as he carried me in his embrace. His scent resembled the luscious rainforest I could lose my mind. I didn’t know how to describe the feeling that I felt around him, but I knew it was something new to me.
Suddenly, my breathing struggled. I tried to free myself from his hold, but he was so strong.
“I can’t breathe,” I said.
The man who called himself Micca did not respond. Instead, he continued to pull me closer to his chest.
“Let me go, I can’t breathe!” I started to panic and tried to gather my strength, but my efforts were all in vain. He was so strong, and I was chasing my breath rapidly. I shook my body to release myself from his hold, but my head was stuck in place.
I reached out for his face for something to grab on, but he was unbelievably stiff.
“Let me go! Let me go!” I was screaming in my head.
Before I knew it, a strange fiery heat slowly crept into veins. My flesh felt like burning. I was waiting for my wings to spread out, but nothing came out. One thing was certain: He was killing me!
I kicked my legs and violently shook my body, but captivity in his arms was stronger than my fear. It was like drowning, and the horror took me back to the memories of my parents’ death. My tears fell as I pleaded.
Please, let me go. I beg you, I cried as I said the words in my head.
Immediately, I fell back down to earth. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the floor and realized I was in my apartment. Looking around, Micca was gone.
***
Micca
“What a brilliant idea!” Gideon said with wide eyes. “I thought she was going to kill you, but you were such a genius! Wait, what happened up there? Why did you let her go?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I was so close to killing her when I heard her thoughts. She was crying for . . . mercy,” I answered.
“And . . . you let go of her? Just like that?” Gideon said.
I nodded.
“Because of mercy?”
I nodded.
“Wait a minute. It is your duty to kill your vessel, but you failed to do your mission . . .”
I shook my head.
“That was your only chance, buddy! Oh no!” Gideon kicked a rock on the concrete highway but hit his foot instead. “Ouch! That hurts,” he said, limping.
I took the hourglass from my pocket and studied it.
“Wait, what!? You tricked time!” Gideon gasped, looking at the little instrument of time. “You can’t do that! Tricking time is a serious offense in heaven, buddy, you know that,” he uttered with concern.
“I just did! Come on,” I said. “I had no choice, Gideon. I can’t kill her. Aren’t we angels supposed to show mercy?”
“Mercy is for humans, Micca. Amber is not human at all! She’s a nephilim! You know what nephilims had done to heaven and earth. If not for the archangel Time, we wouldn’t be here talking.”
“Nephilim or not, she deserves mercy. I know what she has been going through. I know how painful and miserable her life has been. I know it because she is my vessel.”
“Are you serious? Why would you all of a sudden be merciful to our enemies? Heaven is in danger because of her. You need to kill her, buddy. Remember, you still have one mission waiting. You still haven’t found Human. Finish one mission, and you’re done with the other.”
“You sure about that? How can I kill a soul so precious? He is still a human being, Gideon. As angels, it is our duty to save humans.”
Gideon shook his head and sighed. “We angels are guardians, buddy. I know that. But this . . . is different. This is red-alert. Yoho! A new war is waving. We have to be on guard. One mistake can destroy the world, Micca. Just one reckless mistake.”
I looked at Gideon's eyes. "You have finally spoken something sensible, Gideon. I should treasure this day for the rest of my life," I said.