Rrrriiiing! The sound of a school bell filled my head,and I sat up,blinking against the harsh florescent light. I definitely wasn't' up there' anymore. But where was I? It seemed like I was in a hospital bed, with a white curtain creating a room around me.The air smelled like bleach,laundry soap, and metal. Like a typical hospital. There was a small television set up on a table in the 'front' of the room. To the side of me was a night table. Cluttered across the night table was a remote, a vase of lilies, an unlabeled red button that screamed "push me" , and a bowl of tomato soup. The soup was still steaming, and I was starving so I started to enjoy my breakfast/ lunch/ dinner. I wasn't exactly sure what time it was.
"Good morning! " chirped Eli as he walked in through a slit in the curtain. "I'm glad to see that you're finally awake."
I scowled in return. "Do you ever knock? Because most people don't appreciate it when random people barge in. And what time is it,even? "
Eli chuckled, "A ray of sunshine as always, I see. It's seven o'clock in the morning. How's your head doing? "
"I would've expected my head to be killing me right now, but I didn't feel a thing. If I didn't know better, I would've thought it all some sugar-induced nightmare. "So I take it the ape on steroids didn't gut me? "
"Nope," replied Eli. "I sliced it in half before it did any serious damage."
"Oh yeah," I replied, voice dripping with sarcasm, " Because heads are made to be smashed with iron."
"Well," joked Eli, "there isn't much in your head to damage so..."
I threw the spoon at Eli, "ha ha ha. You're soo clever." Each word was drenched in so much sarcasm that I'm surprised the room wasn't flooded with it.
Eli laughed, but quickly turned serious.
"So there's a question I need to ask you. I was hoping you'd be given more time to decide, but unfortunately, you've been unconscious the entire weekend,and we need to know before your parents arrive home tonight. "
"Uh..okay" I said. My stomach turned with apprehension.
Eli looked away, "you're never going home again,Kiara"
"What? " I squeaked out, "What do you mean? Why not? "
Eli sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "You're special. You have abilities unlike a typical human. You have these abilities because you're a descendent of the archangels. You're an earthbound angel. "
"You've made a mistake. " I began, "while I'm not a bad kid, I'm definitely not an angel."
"No. " said Eli. "I haven't. And you know it. You have abilities beyond a typical human, and furthermore I can see that your aura is colored. If you were human, I'd only be able to sense your aura, but since your a fellow Angel, I can see yours too." So that's what that brown sparkly stuff surrounding Eli was. I wondered what color mine was.
"Well I can't see my aura! " I shot back.
"That's because you can only see your own when you call it forth. "
"How do I do that? "
"That's what you'll learn at the Academy. We are an elite private school hidden from the human eye. You and all the other students here will learn to control and harness your special abilities, while learning about your origins. "
"Okay," I said, "Fine. I'm an angelic prep now. That still doesn't explain why I can't return home on the weekends or holidays. "
"Because the mortal world doesn't know about us. And they can't. If they did,there would be a huge war that would destroy the earth." Dramatic much?
"Why do we exist down here then? " I asked, "why don't we just join our ancestors in the sky and save everyone the hassle? "
"The archangels aren't the only ones who have descendents. Satan has many spawn in this world. The sole purpose of our existence is to protect the mortal world from his demons. You met one of them a few days ago. That ape-creature was summoned by one of Satan's cursed angels to kill you."
I was shocked, "why would the devil want me dead? Or does he send all of the new angels a welcome present like that? "
"One of his angels want you dead. Satan has no power in the mortal realm, which is why he acts through his cursed angels." Eli corrected me. "And no, just you. You're not only special by human standards, but also by Angel standards. You are possibly one of the most powerful beings in this world." He let his words sink in before continuing on, "However, Satan has an angle just as powerful. I don't really know much more, but I'm guessing it was that cursed angel who summoned the demon. Eliminate its competition."
I was stunned into silence. There was so much to try and take in. My mind couldn't process it all. So I decided not too. I'd just push all that information to the back of my mind until I could better cope. For now, take life one thing at a time.
"You okay? " Eli asked me.
"Yep, " I lied, "This stuff is nothing compared to what you deal with every day in high school. "
Eli looked doubtful, but then pit his hand on my shoulder, which I shrugged off, before continuing, "Now the question. Would you rather have all your family and friends forget about you, or believe that you're dead?"
"Neither! " I exclaimed immediately.
"Kiara," began Eli gently, "You have to pick one. I know it'll be hard, but it's necessary. You're a very strong girl, you can do it. I'm going to grab a cup of coffee, and I would like your decision upon my return." Eli pushed past the curtain, leaving me with the decision.
I really didn't want everyone to forget about me. My mind refused to entertain the notion. Everything I've worked for and I've achieved in these fifteen years becoming nothing. Every impact I've made on someone being erased? My life so far would mean nothing. But...would the second option really be fair? I was my parents only child. Plus we were close and loved and respected each other greatly. And the guilt would tear Carmen apart. ..if I' died' before things between us were resolved. I sat, and pondered over what each decision would mean.
Eli slid back into the room, two steaming mugs in his hands. "Ready? " he asked me.
"Not really, " I replied, "but I'm as ready as I'll ever be. " I gulped before continuing, "I want..."