A FEW YEARS {CYCLES} LATER
HEAVEN - BUILDING THREE

There wasn't really a sight to look at. It was the same old bright white light that lit up the hallway outside of the room. There wasn't much color in the building. Just different shades of white. The only difference in color was the clothing they wore. Diane's clothes were made of pure white color, whereas the Archangel's had dashes of grey and Principalities had dashes of something called 'blue-grey'. As for the rest, Diane has never seen. Any other angel that ranked above Principalities was in the other two buildings that Diane would never have access to.

"Diane!"

Diane turned to see an angel they work with daily. Laila smiled and beckoned the other angel to join them. For someone whose name means 'night,' Laila had never seen what nighttime looks like in Heaven. Only what it looked like in the mortal world through the small tiny screens they were given. Even then, they didn't understand. Neither did Diane.

But the difference was Laila had no interest in what nightlife looked like in the mortal world.

Diane did.

"Did you hear?" Laila asked.

"Let me guess, another inspection?" Diane replied.

"I hope we don't get marked off."

"It's the same one as always Laila. We have nothing to fear."

Diane was growing frustrated with the sudden rise in inspections. Diane had felt something shift in Heaven but didn't question it. Something was up, but the angel didn't know what that 'something' was.

Laila and Diane walked toward the conference room where three other angels awaited them.

"Marvel. Evangeline. John."

"Diane. Laila. You've come."

"Of course, we would Marvel, the Archangels could walk in at any moment expecting us to be doing our tasks!"

"Funny you say that since while we work away, one of us keeps our wings tucked up our—"

"John, I swea—" Diane started.

"Both of you! Cut it out!" Evangeline said. "We've been assigned a new planet and need to collect as much data as possible before the next cycle."

Diane sighed. One Heaven cycle was equivalent to three years in the mortal world. But cycles more fast so Diane wasn't too sad, but the angel wasn't thrilled either. It meant a lot of sitting and pressing buttons on their designated screen.

Then, something changed. Diane could feel it.

The Archangels arrived.

Every low-ranking angel knew better than to peek their heads out and try to catch a glimpse. It was best to let them do whatever they wanted to do. That way it was quick and over with so they might be left in peace to finish their work.

The sound of a door opening echoed through the hall and found its way into their room.

"The inspections," Laila whispered.

"I know Laila," Diane said, knowing they didn't.

When Laila had spoken of it earlier, Diane expected them to come later not now. So to get that off the angel's mind, Diane focused on collecting the data from the planet.

"What planet are we now assigned to?" Diane asked.

"Bracca," Evangeline replied.

"Bracca? The one with the ships and little workers?" Marvel said.

"There are a lot of planets with ships and little workers," Laila added.

"Of course," John muttered, obviously annoyed with what they were given.

Every angel took their seat and began working. Holographic tablets appeared from the conference table, and an image of the planet flickered in the middle.

Diane watched as each worker did their absolute best at tearing apart...whatever it was. The angel hadn't noticed that they'd stopped taking data and simply observed every mortal's character. The angel took note of one talking about their child's birthday and how they were 'saving enough' to buy them something nice. Then there was another who spoke of a 'Clone War.' Some said nothing and listened to the chatter around them. There was even one wearing plugs around their ears whilst working. Diane tried to listen to what was blasting through them but couldn't manage to get a clear—

"Diane?"

Diane looked up and saw that the rest of the angels were staring.

"Is something wrong?"

John cleared their throat.

"This is the one thousand and sixtieth time you've done this."

Diane looked around, trying to figure out what they were saying.

"I do not understand."

"You take an interest in the mortals," Evangeline said.

"Is that so wrong?"

"Yes! It is strange and thank the Lord that no one other than us has caught you staring."

Diane couldn't help but slouch a bit into their seat. The angel couldn't help it. Diane was curious to see what living amongst the mortals would be like. It's not as if angels hadn't done it before. Though nowadays uncommon, once in a thousand cycles an angel would be sent down on a mission with a higher rank.

Diane knew that they would never in a billion years ever get the chance of being able to go. The team would make sure of that. So any dreams that Diane had were crushed.

Or so the angel thought.

Every so often, the angels would get breaks. During one of the breaks, Diane overheard whispers of an opening. Diane hadn't heard of such a thing in all the time they'd been alive. This one would guarantee to be in the mortal world with powers intact. But the angel hesitated.

It couldn't be that easy, walking through a portal. Surely, they would have it guarded, right?

Unfortunately, Diane wouldn't know until they got there.

⸻╳⸻

It wasn't until the fifth break that the angel had a fully developed plan. Granted, Diane had no idea whether or not it would work, but in all honesty— it had to. If Diane was caught trying to sneak into the mortal world there would be severe consequences. If Diane managed to do this...well there'd still be consequences only worse.

But the angel would worry about that part later.

For right now Diane wanted to focus on the plan. Each planet was monitored twenty-four seven so going undetected was going to be a small second window. Diane would have to pick a planet that is unmonitored during a break. Then, the angel would have approximately ten minutes to find a vessel before anyone noticed she was missing.

There was no way in Heaven this would work well for Diane, but the angel was willing to take that risk.

And risk it, they did.

The first few steps had already been accomplished. Diane helped further the team's data collection by taking on extra tasks. Then, during the first break, Diane acted as usual as they spoke with Laila. It wasn't until things were wrapping up did the angel noticed a shift in air when the Archangels appeared. A few higher-ranking angels walked with them and Diane knew that their little trip was to occur soon.

Diane went back to their chair and rushed through some of their observations to finish some tasks they had been delayed. Just as the soft bell chime rang through announcing the second break, Diane waited until everyone was out before proceeding.

Diane had found a mortal girl that would make an excellent vessel for them. She was twenty-three mortal years of age... And was dying of an illness. Diane knew they couldn't dare to take a living vessel. Besides, the angel couldn't possess the body without her permission. But a few days ago, Diane overheard that the girl could have passed in her sleep overnight. Diane had no idea what had happened for the girl to be seriously ill but it still made the angel sad.

Diane knew the girl's soul would rest peacefully in Heaven, not knowing that an angel would later possess her body.

Diane was careful as they trailed behind the higher-ups. The angel wouldn't dare trail after an Archangel, after all, they could sense them easily since their being is different than an Archangel. But low-ranking angels? They sensed each other every day. So it wouldn't seem out of the ordinary.

Diane stopped as the two other angels entered a room and as the door closed, the angel slipped through taking in the surroundings before continuing. There was something that was drawing them in. (An indescribable force if you will.) So they followed it until they stopped in front of a massive glowing light that levitated in the middle of the room.

The angel looked around. There was no way traveling to the mortal world was this easy and yet, it was. Somehow no one had been in the room. They felt no presence of any sort. So Diane took a deep breath and walked toward it. They halted in their steps as they stood in front of the portal.

Diane had now begun questioning if this was a good idea. Maybe it would've been best to stay behind and not take the initiative. But suddenly, there were voices. They were heading toward the angel's direction. So whether Diane liked it or not, the angel turned back and jumped into the light.