2835 Words
Point of View (Azariah)
When Abel saw the necklace, his eyes were super wide, "Woah..."
Leah turned to all of us and asked, "Should I tell my parents?" They all nodded.
"He's probably somewhere already!" someone behind us yelled.
"Who?" Jenna asked, still holding onto her little heart pendant.
"Mordecai... who else?" he asked, acting like it was all obvious or something.
"That's actually his real name?!" Jenna exclaimed, "He's not here? Where is he?"
"He is, but he won't be for very long. We need people to stay here while the others go check Earth. We don't know where he's gonna be. So, Leah, Azariah, Abel, and Jenna will go to Earth. Jenna knows where to go. The rest will wait here with me."
"That's it, we're all gonna die," Jenna commented, throwing her arms up in the air, "I've never crossed a road by myself, let alone figure out where Mordecai is!"
Abel nodded, "Ya, and I'm basically useless without Ithuriel. Please don't do this."
"Wait, I can go to Earth?" I asked, remembering that I'd been kidnapped, basically,
"Yep. You won't have to worry about seeing your family, though. You're gonna be traveling to the west this time. Very far from New York. And, Abel, you are going to have lots of fun on Earth. You remember Earth, right?" The big man asked, acting like he was all clever.
"Yes... I remember Earth... The place that I only survived because I had parents, a best friend, and a SIGNIFICANT OTHER!" Abel replied, yelling.
"But she wasn't with you when you went to Earth..."
"Wrong significant other!" he exclaimed, really mad, "I'm gonna be all alone with two children! They don't know the world and I don't either!"
"Three. Three children."
"That doesn't make it better," he said, walking over to Ithuriel. He gave her a big hug.
"Fine, whatever. You still have to go. Azariah, please make sure your father doesn't break down and die. You'll all go... now," he said, snapping his fingers. When we got there, Leah was there, too. "No time for emotional moments. Just go down the slide, it'll be better for when you realize how long you'll be there."
I turned to Leah, "We have to go get Mordecai on Earth."
Leah nodded, smiling, "Ok, let's go!" The three of us got on the slide, both of them sitting on either side of me.
As we slid down, I caught Leah up, "Abel is sad because he's not emotionally stable and he has to be in charge."
"Who else is kind of scared?" Leah asked, looking at the scenery around us. We could see squares of yellows, greens, and grays.
"Nah, I've been around here already. I can feel it. Although, Azariah, you should probably be scared because I'm pretty sure those yellow squares are farming fields. I have a question, Azariah, have you ever seen that?" Jenna asked, laughing to herself.
I fake laughed, 'That's really funny, Jenna. Ya, I'm so enclosed in my tall buildings and such that I don't know what... that... yellow stuff is... I know corn when I see it."
"This is what I mean. That is obviously wheat, Azariah!"
"You know what, that's not my fault! It's not my fault that my parents suck!" I exclaimed, folding my arms over my chest.
Then Leah interrupted us, "I can't believe you guys are already fighting! This is terrible. We won't make it a single day out here. And I hear that days here are even shorter than days in heaven."
"Nope, it's the opposite. Days in heaven are REALLY short compared to Earth days," Jenna explained.
Leah grumbled, laying down on the slide, "Whatever." Then we got to the bottom.
"Wait a freaking minute! WHAT THE HECK?! We're in the middle of nowhere?!"
"I thought you knew," I said, putting my hands on my hips, "Mrs. Know It All."
"I didn't realize that we'd ACTUALLY be in the middle of nowhere. There's a big difference between seeing a field of wheat and realizing that you're STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE!" Then Abel came sliding down, curled up into a ball.
"I'm dead inside," he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
I frowned, "We haven't been here for that long and we're already fighting! I've failed... even though I'm the obvious leader."
"So what do you suggest?" Leah asked.
"Ok, we need positions. All of them are important, mind you. Jenna will be the navigator, Leah will be the motivator, and Abel will be the optimist. I'll be the planner. I will come up with the plans and formations. Jenna, up front, you know the way I assume. Leah, right next to Abel behind Jenna," I explained, moving everyone around, "No complaining. You all agreed to this when you submitted to me being the leader."
Jenna turned around, growling, "That's not how that works, Azariah! None of us agreed to be less of a leader. I think Abel shouldn't have to depend on a kid to lead the group."
"I think Abel is too unstable. No one should have to step up to be a leader, but, I think Azariah should do it. She's decisive and she knows what to do," Leah explained, smiling.
I nodded, "Ok, let's go." And, for a while, we all walked in the exact direction Jenna wanted us to. But, after a while, we all got tired and I collapsed on the ground, "What the heck? Why am I so tired? I'm not even a baby!"
"What the heck? Azariah, your thoughts aren't making sense," Jenna said, groaning.
"Ah, I'm seeing things. Now my day is complete," I said, spreading out my arms.
"What? Ok, I think we should address the fact that you repeatedly claim that you're seeing something," Leah resolved, sitting next to me on the ground, "Why do you keep saying that?"
"Because... I just have a vivid imagination... that's all," I replied, hoping they wouldn't ask any other questions.
"Ok, well, you need to get up, Azariah."
"Go away, Vivi. Oh my goodness gracious, I need a nap. Someone, please carry me."
"Fine, I can do i-" Abel started, but then he realized Leah was already picking me up.
"Leah, how are you so strong?" I asked, Leah, slinging me over her shoulder.
She shrugged, "You're not that heavy. And, I get bored a lot."
"Can everyone just... stop coming up with strange facts about themselves? Leah, what the heck? She's taller than you! Azariah, why can't you walk?" Jenna complained, waving her arms around. But then I kind of passed out, not being able to stay awake.
I woke up, realizing I was now in Abel's arms, "Abel?"
"Oh, ya, Leah got tired of carrying you. We got a wagon now, too. Pretty random. Leah's sitting in it. I do have a question, though. Why are you acting so different?" he asked.
"I don't know. I just feel... heavier... for some reason. You can put me down now. I'd like to go back to leading." He put me down and I said, "Ok... I'll drag the wa..."
I felt the air move past me as I heard Viki say, "Oh no, Azariah... you're breaking down." Then I could feel the cement hit the side of my head and my arm. "Oh Azariah, you failed... You'll never be able to held the ones you love, let alone the ones like her. Like Camilla... Oh, poor, poor Camilla... Sleep, child, you still have time to fail."
Point of View Change (Leah)
"Oh no!" I exclaimed, struggling to get out of the wagon.
Jenna pushed me back down in the wagon, "No, Leah, Abel's got it. Azariah is fine."
"But we're on Earth, Jenna. She could die!"
She put her hands on my shoulders, "Azariah is just getting used to being on Earth. I would know. My headaches are coming back."
"Why do you have headaches?"
"It's just a side effect from not taking care of myself."
"You... you don't take care of yourself. You need to drink water," I said, grabbing a water bottle and holding it out to her, "DRINK IT RIGHT NOW."
"Fine. I'll drink water," Jenna groaned, grabbing the water bottle, "But I still make a good point. She's probably going through her usual Earth ailments. Angels may have immunity, to an extent, but when they're on Earth, that all ends."
"Or she just has a vivid imagination and she's really good at acting. What if she likes randomly falling asleep in random places?" I asked, hopeful that that could be the case.
Jenna shook her head, "I don't think so..."
"Why so negative? Why don't we just wait until we get home? Abel, can Azariah sit in the wagon with me?"
Jenna gasped, "What the heck? No way, I have to carry both of them?"
Abel stopped walking, rolling his eyes, "Fine, everyone, get in the wagon."
"Nuh-uh. No way. I'll take the wagon, Abel. You can't get in it, though, I'm not that strong," Jenna said, grinning.
"Why? I'm strong enough, now," I asked, getting out of the wagon, "I got this."
"NO, I got this, guys!" Azariah exclaimed, waking up, "I feel so strong!"
"Fine, little miss brain dead is gonna take the wagon," Jenna explained, "I'm not getting in there."
Azariah got down from Abel's arms, "Why?"
"Because someone is gonna have to carry you when you start seeing things again, Azariah. I'm not gonna lie, I think I'm kind of leader material."
Azariah shook her head, grabbing the wagon handle, "I am the leader because I am brave, loyal, and I fight for what's right. Jenna, lead the way. Leah, take a nap, you need it. Abel, keep watch. Make sure no one gets into danger." After a while, I felt at ease because Azariah hadn't passed out. So, I fell asleep and when I woke up, we were at a diner.
"Where are we?" I asked, looking around. Azariah was pacing the cement as Jenna woke me up and Abel stood around doing nothing.
"We're at this restaurant or something. We're gonna get food," Jenna replied, holding out her hand. I took it, getting out of the wagon. We walked into the place and sat down at these really tall tables with tall chairs. As soon as we sat down, Azariah faceplanted onto the table and fell asleep. Eventually, more and more people came in and sat down.
Then, a waiter came, asking, "Give me your money or I'll feed to the wolves."
"What wolves?" Azariah asked, smiling. She had barely woken up and she was wavering between snoring and struggling to stay awake, "There are WoLvEs?!"
"Oh, so that one already has too much power... Look, we live out in the country, so, everyone here is for your money, your souls, or your life. I'm the strongest, though, so I can always make them go away. However, I will require... that one," she said, pointing at Azariah, who was now snoring loudly.
"I don't think so..." Abel said slowly.
Jenna nodded, "Ya, we aren't giving her up. Especially if some idiot like you wants her so bad. We aren't dumb, lady.'
Then the lady leaned forward, "I don't care what you want. I'm taking that girl's life! I'm so sick of hope being given to that little kid."
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about, but you can't kill her," I exclaimed, pounding my fist on the table to further my point.
"Woah, pretty feisty... for a dumb blonde. How does it feel to know your brain is empty?" she asked, glaring at Leah, "You have 10 seconds."
Azariah laughed, "And 10 seconds later, they all died. Look, we don't have home-field advantage and you can take that to the grave. Big secret... all exposed!" Then Azariah balled up her fist and slammed it on the table, "Fine! We're gonna good old fashioned bar fight! Except, we're not at a bar and it'll be a little unfair." Everyone started looking every which way. Then one of them lunged towards me and I held out my arm to stop them, squinting my eyes. When nothing happened, I opened my eyes and the demon was gone. Then I could hear lightning and a loud boom as red light filled the room. All the demons suddenly collapsed and we all looked at each other in shock.
"What the heck was that, Azariah?" Jenna asked, looking over to Azariah, who was on the other side of the room. "Oh no, Azariah?!" We all rushed to Azariah, realizing she had fallen on the floor. She slowly woke up and her eyes were yellow. Then, with a blink, they went away. "Why were her eyes yellow?" Jenna asked, looking to me.
"Wait... this means I was right... YES! I mean, oh no... Azariah is down for the count. Eek," I said, trying to be respectful of the situation.
"I think I'm fine, now," Azariah said, "I don't feel so... tired anymore. I feel like I have so much energy!"
"Good, so, I won't have to drag you around in that wagon the whole time. Come on, we're done here," Jenna said, starting to walk in a random direction. A couple streets later, Jenna pointed to a two-story house, saying, "That's the place." When we finally got to the house, Azariah was getting ready to pass out. She got up to the front of the house and grabbed a small golden thing from the plant. She put it in the door knob and unlocked the door. She opened the door and she yelled, "I'm back! They kicked me out!" She laughed and then continued, "Alexa?! Kelly?!" Then this girl with green dyed hair ran down the stairs.
"Jenna!" she yelled, hugging Jenna really tight. This other girl with gray and purple hair came down and walked over to where the girl with green hair was standing. She looked kind of scared as she just stood there. Her eyes were gray and I couldn't help but stare straight into them.
Then Jenna walked over to her and hugged her really tight, "Finally. I can't believe you just now hugged me."
"Whatever. Anyway," she started, not hugging Jenna anymore, "You're probably here for the boy that showed up on our doorstep this morning."
Azariah leaned really close and said, "You like h-" I covered her mouth with my hand, leaving her to mumbling. Then Azariah fell asleep, giving out a loud thud.
Jenna rolled her eyes, "The one that just fell is Azariah. Then there's Leah and Abel is the adult." Then she pointed to the girl with green hair, "This is Kelly." Then she pointed to the girl with gray and purple hair, "This is Alexa. Ok, where's Mordecai?"
"Oh," Kelly laughed, "We kind of gave him a name. I guess Mordecai isn't a random word he made up. It's his name."
"Yep. Let's just hope it hasn't been too long," Jenna said, mumbling as she walked up the stairs. We all followed her and Kelly ushered her into a room that said, 'Kelly,' on it. Alexa sat down on this little couch attached to the wall. Alexa sat down, scooting all the way into the couch and hugging her knees. I sat down next to her.
"How's Earth so far?" she asked, smiling.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know. We've had a pretty rough experience so far. Azariah was asleep for most of it, so we've had to take turns carrying her and dragging along the wagon."
"Oh. Well, if it helps, you're probably not gonna have to walk all the way back. There's a stairway to heaven just outside town," she replied, "It's how Jenna got to heaven."
"That's good. So... what's your favorite color?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"I don't know. Purple, I guess. What's yours?"
"Yellow. So, what state is this?" I asked, scooting back so that I was right next to her.
"Nevada. I'm from Oregon, though. Where are you from?"
"I'm not sure. When I was born on Earth I was still born, but when I got to Heaven, I didn't have parents. So, Zadkiel and Domiel adopted me."
"Oh, you have two dads?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Nope. My parents are non-binary. They were born without a gender."
"That's cool..."
"So, I'm guessing you have a dark heart, too, right?"
She nodded, "Ya, why?"
"Can I see it?" I asked, holding out my hand.
"Ya," she replied, handing me her earring. "It's kind of hard to tell what color it is, but it's-"
"Purple, right? It's so pretty!"
"Yep... it's- I'm the guardian of knowledge." Then my eyesight went dark and I couldn't control what I was doing for a second. When I opened my eyes, she was shocked, "What?"
"What did I say?"
"You said her name was Jesse. Why did you say that?"