The loud sound of a siren jolts Angelo up from bed. He was once asleep but now he's awake because of that cursed siren. He sees Chris is awake and he's putting on his black shirt and his white Canva shoes. It looks like he was awake before the siren blasted.
"What the hell is going on?" Angelo asks in a panicked voice.
"They're waking everyone up to go for an early morning jog and exercise," Chris says, knotting the lace on his canvas. He doesn't even glance Angelo's way. Angelo is flabbergasted at this. Waking people up using a loud siren is abuse.
"This is like five in the morning."
"So? You don't have to join us if you don't want to. You're not a Nephilim."
You're not a Nephilim.
No, but he is an angel. And even though angels are more powerful than nephilims he still has to learn all the tough basics. He has to know how to use his abilities, he has to learn how to fight demons even if it means waking up every morning. He is not a morning person at all but it looks like he has to be if he's going to be staying here.
"Okay, wait for me let me—" Chris goes running out the door. Angelo freezes on his bed and he stares at the iron door. He should be used to this by now. His roommate is nothing but a snob. He can't believe he tried talking to him last night. If that's how he wants to behave then fine he's not going to talk to him or even glance his way. If it's silence he wants it's silence he'll get.
Someone barges into the room and it's a tall buff man with short Grey hair and a Grey beard. He's wearing a black shirt and black shorts which shows how strong his legs are. He's wearing boots and long socks. He kind of reminds Angelo of his coach, back at his old school. But this one looks so scary he could be a demon but he's not. Demons aren't allowed here. It's not just that they aren't allowed they can't get in. There's like a barrier that keeps demons away.
Angelo doesn't think demons would be dumb enough to walk into Nephilim territory. That would be like an antelope saying hi to a lion and expecting not to get devoured. This man isn't a demon just a six-foot man that looks like he's about to crush Angelo's skull.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Stand up stand up! We're going jogging." The man begins to jog on the spot and Angelo stumbles in an attempt to get off the bed. That was so embarrassing. He can't believe he just fell in front of this tough man. He probably thinks he's pathetic and is calling him a sissy in his head.
But the man jogs away as if he didn't get in here for the sole purpose of getting people to come out and he was here just to make sure Angelo doesn't go back to sleep. But he thought it was by choice not to go jogging since he's not a nephilim or did Chris set him up? Angelo won't' put it past him. He looks capable enough to do something like that.
Angelo puts on his sneakers and he rushes out of the room.
He and Jacks are on the field jogging together. As someone who hates PE and exercises, Angelo feels energetic. He didn't think he'd feel so much energy in the morning. He never does, but he's guessing the rise of this energy comes from being an angel.
Some nephilims aren't jogging but they are exercising, some are fighting themselves, well not fighting just training.
Angelo can't help but wonder if they're ever scared of the demons they face, but he doesn't think about the possibility of them being frightened by demons for long because he just wants to talk about the fact that he met Angel Gabriel, the Angel Gabriel.
The Angel Gabriel who sends messages through dreams, the Angel Gabriel who told Mary she was going to give birth to a very famous A-list celebrity.
He still can't believe it, he wants to tell Jacks about but he figures he would rather want Father Guzman to know.
Turns out, according to Jacks. The big white man with the shorts and the boots is Mr. Cornell Jackson, the head trainer. It would make a lot of sense for him to be the head trainer. He's big and he's strong. And he's one of those macho heterosexual guys that make having muscles their whole personality. But this one is quite different because although he does love his muscles he wants everyone to know that he has muscles. He did train to get them to get the demons frightened.
All the nephilims here have one goal and that's to kill demons and protect the human race. It's all part of the pact one of the first nephilims made with God.
"And he has a thing for Mother Evangeline." Jacks says as the two boys continue to jog around the field. Angelo shoots him a look. A look of shock.
"Shut up!"
"It's true. He's always gifting her things and asking her out on a date but Mother Evangeline keeps declining because she has a boyfriend already."
"Really?" Angelo is even more surprised. "Who?" Jacks gives Angelo a look and he smiles at him.
"Jesus Angelo, her boyfriend is Jesus, she's a reverend mother remember?"
"Oh." Angelo squeezes his eyes shut, he feels so stupid. He really can't believe that someone like Mr. Cornell would want anything to do with Mother Evangeline. They're two completely different people.
Mr. Cornell is all sunshine and Mother Evangeline is more composed.
But that's the thing about love, it's so blind and surprising.
Angelo looks around at the nephilims who are diligently exercising. He can't help but wonder what their backstories are. They all come from different backgrounds yet they're all here for the same goal.
Some nephilims take this more seriously than others. Chris is one of them. He's not talking to anyone, he's not even looking anyone's way. It's almost like he thinks he's the only one in the field.
Angelo watches him as he stretches. He doesn't let anyone break his focus. A bird could land on Chris' shoulder and he won't flinch or try to shoo the bird away. Angelo's not going to lie but he does admire Chris' dedication and focus. He might be a snob but he'll always be there to protect humans from supernatural danger.
"How do you feel being roommates with Christopher Benson?" Jacks asks. He's noticed Angelo staring at him.
"Uh, he's…"
"Quiet, reserved, doesn't talk much?"
"Yeah. I think he hates me."
"Nah, he doesn't hate you. He doesn't hate anyone he acts like that around everyone. The only people he attempts to make conversation with are Wendy Wang, James Jones and Father Guzman." The two stop jogging for a while and now they're both stretching.
"Why is he like that though?"
"I don't blame him for acting like that. If your parents get executed for killing humans you'd want to stay on your own too."
Angelo looks at Jacks aghast. His mouth is wide open and he did not expect to hear that at all.
"Wait, his parents did what?"
"His parents were executed for killing humans." Came another voice and it's JJ who's walking over to the two with Wendy by his side.
"Hi, Angelo." Wendy waves excitedly.
"Hey, Wendy." Angelo doesn't know if it's just him or if he saw Wendy blushing. Maybe it's just him because there's no way Wendy's blushing because of him. It has to be Jacks or JJ that caused her cheeks to go pink.
"His parents broke the number one rule of being a Nephilim. Do not kill or hurt a human. If you are caught hurting and killing a human then you'll be executed by being burned alive." Says JJ. He sucks his teeth and shakes his head. "Poor guy watched his parents die."
"Wait, they forced him to watch his parents die?"
JJ nods.
"Why?"
"It's part of the laws, Angelo," Jacks says. "It's also a part of the pact that Mahway made with God. If any Nephilim is caught killing a human they have to be executed in front of everyone and it is a must for everyone to watch."
Angelo looks at Jacks with fear-stricken on his face. He can't believe that really happened to him. It's no wonder he's like this. Chris didn't just watch his parents die, he watched his parents get tortured and executed. He was so afraid that Chris might not like him he didn't stop to think that maybe Chris might be going through something.
Maybe that's why he looks so determined and ready to fight any demon.
Angelo might be angry with his parents but he still loves them. He cannot imagine ever watching his parents get set ablaze.
"How old was he?" Chris asks.
"He was twelve," Wendy answers in a sad tone.
Damn
"That's why he's the way he is. He doesn't want to end up as a disgrace just like his parents." JJ says. "He got a hard time from the other Nephilim kids. Me and Wendy were his only friends but he still wanted to earn everyone's respect. His scimitar sword chose him at such a young age and he's one of the best nephilims right now. My boy's killing it." JJ says sounding proud of his friend.
Angelo's eyes don't leave Chris. He knows he should have been more thoughtful. He's going to respect his silence and respect his space.
Angelo's thoughts are interrupted when JJ slaps him on the back. Angelo startles and then looks at him.
"Me and Wendy are going to take you shopping. School starts soon and we have to get you the best clothes."
"Chris isn't coming?"
JJ places a hand on his chest he looks hurt.
"I'm sorry Hernandez are we not good enough for you? Should we not take you shopping or do you just want Chris?" JJ asks, feigning annoyance.
"No, no it's not that I was just curious."
"That really hurt Wendy." He pouts his lips.
"Oh stop being dramatic!" Wendy hits him slightly on the hand. "Angelo we'll be ready for you by twelve." Wendy walks away with JJ following her.
"It's gonna be fun!" JJ yells pointing at Angelo. Angelo smiles and shakes his head. He turns to his other friend.
"You comin?"
"Nah, I have books to read."
Of course, he does.