The teacher introduced the new boy to our class. He's called Alex and he transferred from Yokohama High to Tokyo High this month, I could tell he wasn't a talkative with his deep tanned skin, jet black hair and blood red eyes. I didn't really find him odd like the others did, I mean sure he didn't like talking but even the Christian students found him strange like a "He's to holy and scary to be around" He sat beside me in almost every class, it was only chemistry class that I managed to swap with Daniel. To be honest he gave me the creeps and he reminded me of witches since he really likes cats..... especially the black ones.
"Angelina, do you mind telling us a fun fact about World War 2?" My history teacher asked me. Damnit I had been spacing out again.
"Well... ummmm, Hitler wanted to go to art school." I found myself stammering while looking at Mr. Kamada, he stared at me through his thick crescent glasses showing his grey eyes. He wasn't a bad teacher but he really liked making me answer questions in class if he realises that I'm spacing out.
"That's not a strong enough point, Angelina." He stated putting his hand on my table.
"He failed art school twice and that's when he joined the military and his patriotism to Germany grew." I replied while praying that the bell would ring for free period. Luckily the bell rang and Mr. Kamada sighed and gave me a thumbs up before leaving the class.
"Remember, the presentation is next week Monday. Make you and your partners have done your research on Cults in History." Mr. Kamada said while leaving the class. Oh the project I totally forgot about, who was my partner was, wait my partner is Alex. I turned to him.
" Hey, Alex." I said to him while he stared at the board, he was touching something it was when I squinted my eyes that I realised it was a rosary he was touching. He finally looked at me.
"What?" He asked coldly. Yea, another reason I don't talk to him. He's too cold hearted for me.
"Geez, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to come to my place to do the project there." I said while giving him an irritated look. Then rolling my eyes, he just nodded before taking a book from his leather bag, it was black with a gold writing on it. It was a Bible, I was curious to see what story he was reading but the book was in a language I didn't know. I started to back away when I bumped into someone, I turned to apologize when Daniel stopped me.
"No biggie, accidents happen I was even looking for you." He said while leading me outside the classroom since it was to noisy.
" I wanted to know if you wanted to join me this Saturday for Bible studies." He asked me once we were outside the classroom. Daniel had white hair with dirt brown eyes and dark skin. Unlike most of the boys in the class he actually liked wearing the uniform according to its prescription. White shirt with a black tie, jacket and pants with any shoe of choice, he wore his with Marvel shoes. He was a Christian and really liked talking about Chirst to others like me. One issue I'm an atheist, I was born into an atheist family so it's a part of me.
"Daniel, you know that I'm an atheist right?" I asked him.
" Hear me out, you don't need to be Christian to go for it and you said you like learning about other people's religions. So take it as social experiment." He replied, I was reluctant and told him I'd think about it. So right now I'm with Alex working on our project, my parents have this rule of not inviting boys to the house but this was an exception, he brought his bible and suggested we do research on the Children of God cult and how much heresy there was in the cult. He did the talking and I did the typing but I still wanted to know what language his bible was written in.
"Hebrew." He suddenly said out of the blue.
"Pardon?" I asked in confusion.
"My bible is written in Hebrew." He said, was he reading my mind? Or he caught me glancing at his bible back in the class? I just nodded my head and we continued doing the work, we finished the typing and printing and designs I asked him to keep the project because I had a feeling that my little brother might ruin it. I escorted him out of my house, finally I could use my computer till I drop, I thought until I saw a black book on my computer's table. Alex's bible, he left it on my table how reckless can he be? It was late and tomorrow is Saturday and I have no idea where he lives so I thought okay I'll give it to him on Monday before class starts. But curiosity got the better of me to read it, I mean I have a translator so I could use that but then something strange happen, I opened the book thinking I'd see Hebrew but I saw the book written in English, perfect English. I sat on my bed and just started reading a random chapter called Genesis, it talked about how the earth was created and how sin was born. Okay not bad, I thought as I flipped through several more chapters until I reached the last chapter : Revelations. The book was a bit intense, talking about the end of the world and how the righteous would reach heaven and the wicked, well you know they go see the man below. Some pages were a scary in terms of description. They literally talked about a beast with ten horns and I don't know how that would fit on one head. I don't know how long I was reading the book but I remember blinking my eyes till I saw black. Strange enough I had a dream about the person who wrote the book, John.... That is his name right? He was recording every thing he saw and heard sadly, I didn't understand whatever language he was speaking, as if something dragged me into another room I didn't see John for a while. I walked around this huge room with golden walls and then I saw seven people, with their own unique features all holding bowls. Four out the seven bowls where empty but three were filled, infront of them was a fountain made from gold and encrusted on it were the finest diamonds to exist. It was the last angel that caught my attention, he looked alot like Alex only he was wearing white clothes but unlike like the other angels, his wings were black. I thought no one could see me but I was proven wrong real quick. The angel spotted me and gave me a "how did you get here?!" look, I didn't know what to do and freaked out I wanted to scream but my mouth was shut, I tried running but my legs wouldn't budge. Suddenly, I felt something pulling me underground I wasn't in the room again I don't even think I was in the same place again. I was in a pitch black room that the only thing that was visible was some iron bars and two hands sticking out. Suddenly I saw glowing red eyes, a sly chuckle came from that direction.
"Little kitty lost her way, I suppose?" The deep male voice asked with a manipulative tone, the voice sounded so authoritative. I shook my head but the voice let out a cold laugh.
"No human ever comes here, unless their in some sort of cult that has ancient knowledge." He explained I mustered up all my courage to speak.
"Listen sir, I have no idea where I am and I really want to go home could you please tell me where the exit is?" I asked while looking around. The voice kept quiet and I could tell from his eyes that he wasn't pleased with me.
"You're a tough cookie, thought I had my gateway to freedom but I guess I'll have to play my cards a bit better." He replied while snapping his finger, the room was suddenly vanishing.
"Pray, oh wait sorry you're atheist. Hope my legion doesn't encounter you." He said while vanishing with the room. I woke up in my room as if nothing happened excluding the fact Alex's bible was in my hand. I was really confused about my dream and decided to go ask Daniel about it which meant I'd have to go for bible study, my parents had strict rules against Christianity like they despise it with all their hearts and souls. I remember when I was fourteen and brought my first boyfriend, long story short they kicked him out because he was Christian. Cherry on top? I was forced to break up with him, so I did everything under cover that day, packed all the books I'd need in my bag changed into a hoodie and sneakers. I tiptoed to the door.
"Where you going?" I heard a squeaky and annoying brother Ezra ask, he's the golden child and a total brat, my parents hate Christians and yet have him a Christian name without teaching him the value of the name, like the kid is a thief at the beginning of his career.
"Library." I replied casually, but I really wanted to say "How on earth does that affect you, dimwit?" He just stared at me and shrugged his shoulders. I headed to my destination, I wasn't lying about it, that's where Daniel organised it. I reached the library and received two shocks, shock number one my boyfriend Tyler was there. Just like me he's an atheist so of course my parents allowed us to be together and shock number two Alex was here too, he gave me a look and then headed to an empty table.
"Angel!" I heard Tyler say while approaching me and hugging me. He had dark brown hair like me which complimented his light pink eyes. We almost looked alike we both had brown hair and light skin. The difference was eye colour, I had light blue eyes. Daniel greeted us all and thank us for coming, I sat with Tyler at the back not really paying attention to the studies, Daniel had invited Tyler to come and he wouldn't have had it not been for his aunt who has full custody of him since his parents died. After what felt like an hour, the session was over.
"Aren't you going? Let's walk home together." Tyler said while patting my head. I told him to go without me, I still had to ask Daniel about Revelations. Suddenly Alex came to me
"If I were you I'd make sure to walk home with someone, by the way you can keep the bible. I have more at home." He said before leaving, I was stunned. How did he know that I was planning to return the book to him. I went and asked Daniel about Revelations, all he could tell me that was no one knows when it would happen and when it does people would start vanishing. I thanked him and started heading home. The sky was dark as if it would rain, I bumped into an old woman who seemed to need help.
"Excuse me but do you need help?" I asked and she nodded and explained she wanted someone to escort her home, I agreed and we started walking. During the journey, I told her about my strange dream, we were at an alley. Suddenly she started twitching and laughing in this weird croaked voice.
"You met my master child?" She asked me, I nodded.
"Then, you're the threat!" She laughed and suddenly a thick black smoke engulfed her and well, she wasn't a human again. Like she was pitch black and had full out white eyes and talons as long as bamboo, it even dragged on the floor.
"Last words child?" The monster asked me.
"This is really how it ends?!". I asked, she lunged herself at me, I closed eyes and started praying to a god I was taught never existed to save me and if he did I'd stop be an atheist. I heard a painful wail and something like metal slicing flesh. The wail turned into a scream, I open my eyes and saw the monster running away from a figure. The being offered a hand to help me up, I didn't even realize that I was on the floor.
" Are you a god?" I asked in awe of how quick my prayer was answered.
"No, but I work for one." The voice replied casually, then I realized that my saviour was Alex?!.
"Alex?! What are you doing here? Nope you're not Alex and who was that?!" I exclaimed.
"One, saving you. Two that was a demon most probably sent by Lucifer. And three, you're not entirely wrong about me not being Alex." He replied. Suddenly what that voice said about a legion made sense. But Alex didn't fit in my puzzle.
"Let's go, I owe you an explanation." He said while walking away.
" Wait, I have a question!" I said. He stopped and stared at me.
"If Alex isn't your real name, may I know your real name?" I asked.
"Azrael." He replied while walking away with me following.