I've never regretted anything more than this moment! How stupid am I to have followed the damn light?!

No doubt this thing would kill me! My heart feels like it is going to implode in my chest. What am I accomplishing by being here? Am I trying to get killed?

My lips tremble as I slowly take a step backward. The man's panting suddenly ceases. He turns his head slightly and inhales the air. I freeze. Can he smell me?

I am frozen in place when I look at him up and down. I want to turn around, but I am scared he'll hear me.

The man has blonde hair and tight and is wearing tight black leather pants. They hang off his hips, and he isn't wearing a shirt due to the wings. Diamonds adorn the top of his hips like a belt.  He continues to smell but doesn't turn around.

The fire on his wings started to melt away. The remnants would fall onto the ground and disappear, leaving puffs of smoke in their wake. The man extends his wings which begin to turn gold. As he does, I take the opportunity to run back into the maze.

"Oh my god..." I keep chanting. I want to scream, but I put my hand over my mouth as I continue to run. If that thing is sniffing the air, then I'm sure it can hear me.

Suddenly, I see the exit. I run through it and see the trees. The storm is still as angry as I had left it.

I exit the maze and feel the angry rain and wind against my body. I cover my face against the elements when something huge falls from the sky, landing a couple of feet from me. It causes me to fly a few feet backward, landing on a soft blanket of mud! I scream as I get my bearings and begin looking for the flashlight I dropped! Once I find it, I shine the light in front of me. The winged man thing hit with such force that the two trees in front of me snap in half and fall onto other trees beside them.

I sit up and see it. It's standing a couple of feet from me. "Please don't hurt me!" I yell at the UFO.

"Emery," it says with a menacing voice. "Curiosity tends to kill the cat."

My eyes open in horror. How does it know my name? I get on all fours and crawl away, all while my tears, rain, and wind sting my eyes. He is going to kill me!

I stand and begin to run when I shine the light behind me. That man's wings expand, and he jumps, disappearing into the treetops. I scream as I run back to my truck!

I have no one to blame that this thing is going to kill me! Why did I leave the house? Why didn't daddy say no to letting me use the truck?

Suddenly, I remember I parked in a vast, dark clearing. That thing will spot the truck!

I look up and see the headlights. It motivates me to run even faster. My breathing and heart are the only things I can hear at this point!

I make it into the truck, spin out and head back through the clearing. I am looking all around me for that thing. It looks like a man, but no way is that thing human. People can't fly or fall from the sky or have wings.

What's worse is that I'm probably never going to see my family again.

Once I'm back on the main road, I swerve and almost hit a car coming from the opposite side. I scream as they blow their horn at me. I hurriedly put my seatbelt on as I floor the gas. I also continue to look around. The storm is raging even angrier. I can't see anything in front of me either. Even then, I still didn't slow down. What if that thing is behind me?

After a minute, I look around again and start to slow down a little. There aren't any lights in the sky or an indication that thing is following me. I feel like it's gone.

I take a deep breath as the realization hits me. I almost died tonight. I close my eyes for a second and exhale. When I open them, I am inches from a car in front of me. I slam on the brakes and swerve to the right, into the grass, trying to avoid it!

It is too late. I still hit the car, causing the truck to flip over!

I scream as the truck rolls down the grassy hill. Weightlessness comes over me as the truck cartwheels. The sound of metal twisting and turning has me in shock that I stop screaming. I close my eyes and throw my hands up when the sound of glass erupts all around me. The truck suddenly stops when it hits a tree.

Nothing but the sound of angry rain and wind surround me. Am I alive? Am I hurt? I open my eyes slowly and look around when a shooting pain erupts from my neck. Everything is a bit hazy also. I try to touch my neck when more pain radiates from my right arm. I can't move it!

The storm continues to rage all around as I blink several times and notice I am hanging upside down. I start to sob.

"Help me, please! Anyone! Please!"

There is shattered glass all over the place, and I have a splitting headache. Suddenly I feel a wet sensation slide from my stomach. It travels between my chest and onto my chin.

Trembling, I can move my other arm. It's above my head. I touch my neck and bring it to my face.

Blood!

I feel the blood spillover. It runs down the side of the face and through my hair. Am I bleeding a lot?

A rush of wind enters the truck. The wind from the storm starts to pick up more and more. I scream when the wind causes the old Ford to shake. This storm is unlike any other. It couldn't have been!

I try to reach for the seat belt's release button, but I can't move my right arm at all. As I struggle with my other arm, the driver-side door rips open!

Covering my face, I scream. I continue to struggle with the belt again when I see the glowing light. It's back!

I panic as I try with all my might to get the seatbelt off! I keep hitting the button, but the clip won't release.

The man with the wings bends down and looks at me.

I close my eyes. "Please, don't kill me!" I yell.

In one quick move, he rips the belt off, grabs me, and places me on the grass. He gently lays me down, and his wings expand, giving me shade and protection from the storm raging around us. I try to fight him off, but I have no strength and am in so much pain!

I suddenly look down at my stomach. A massive chunk of glass is protruding from it. I rest my head back on the grass and start to cry again. Leaving my father this soon isn't part of the plan! If I die, he will lose it for sure. Nothing Alice will do from tonight forward will mend his already shattered heart.

I look up at the stranger. I thought he would have finished me off by now, but he is concentrating on my stomach. It is then that I notice his face: his chiseled chin and blonde hair. A strand of his hair, toward the front, is black. His golden eyes glimmer as he looks me up and down, a worried look on his face. He is so beautiful.

It then dawns on me that thing that has been following me isn't a monster. It's an angel.

A beautiful angel that just pulled me out of the wreckage. An angel I know. "Levi?" I ask, looking at him in awe.

His brows furrow as he snaps my direction and looks at me in confusion. "You can see me?"

I slowly nod as the edges of my vision begin to turn black.

I pass out.

Arms carefully place me on top of what feels like water, but it is neither cold nor hot. I suddenly feel my entire body radiating with pain. I want to cry out, but the sound doesn't escape my lips. What is happening?

Everything is still hazy. I can feel someone holding me, but I can't see anything but the dark sky. Where am I?

I feel myself floating on top of the water as the person lets me go. An unknown force then grabs me and pulls me gently under, engulfing me. I inhale and feel instantly relaxed. Am I breathing underwater? I close my eyes and open them when the pain starts to dissolve. Suddenly lights begin to form on the right side of my vision. I try to turn my head, but I can't move. It's not that I can't; I just don't want to. Whatever this is, I don't want it to end.

Should I fight this ethereal feeling? No. Why would I? I feel nothing but blissfulness. No care in the world. Is this what heaven feels like, and have I died and gone to heaven?

Sweet, sweet, serenity.

—————————————————————-

I stir in bed. What day is it? I look towards the window. The sun is at its highest.

Noon.

I sit up in bed and stretch. It feels good to oversleep. I allow myself to do it once a month like a cheat day. Tons of people did it with dieting. Why can't I do it with sleep? I trust the guys to take care of the farm anyways.

I take a shower and head downstairs, seeing Alice and daddy sitting at the table. They share the same sad looks.

"Who died?" I ask, going to the refrigerator. I reach for the handle when Alice screams and runs towards me. She hugs me as she begins to sob. I look over at Daddy, confused. "I'm sorry. Have I missed something?"

Daddy stands slowly, an anxious expression on his face. He limps toward me and puts his arms around Alice and me. "We were so worried, Emery! Sweetheart, the accident almost killed you!"

I scoff as I slowly move away from them. "Are you both insane?" I ask as I laugh and hug myself. "What are you talking about?"

"What's the last thing you remember?" Daddy asks as a single tear falls from his eye. He puts his arm over Alice's shoulder as she bites her nails. I've never seen her this worked up about anything in my life.

"Uh, last night? We were sitting on the porch. You were telling me about Alice's shop, how the wrong lights were delivered. Why?"

What is going on? Why were they acting like this? Alice places her shaky hands onto her lips. She takes a breath and removes them. "Emery, sweetheart. You were in an accident due to the storm. The truck rolled over a couple of feet from the property. You've been asleep for two days."

"Uh," I laugh. "Is this a joke? You guys are funny." I look at my father and shake my head. "The tears, Dad? You're good!" I chuckle as I walk out of the kitchen. My aunt loves to prank people. Kudos to her for actually getting Daddy to help her. He isn't the joking type at all.

I open the front door and head down the porch steps. I want to check on the guys. Once I finish, I'll get something to eat. I am starving! I feel like I could eat an entire chicken.

I'm going to make a right towards the barn when I immediately stop in my tracks. I begin to shake when I suddenly realize Alice and Daddy aren't lying!

I take a step forward as my heart begins to race. There, where we always park, is Daddy's mangled green truck. It's almost flat, covered in dirt and grass.

I run my hand through my hair. Panic starts to set in. How?! Why don't I remember this? A sense of dread fills my chest as I walk around the truck and stop. The driver's side door is missing.

I hold my head as a headache erupts and a flash of memories come to me.

I saw the light that night! The one in the sky. I followed it, not knowing it would take me to the Castor Estate.

I remember walking through the other side of the maze and seeing Levi. But he wasn't himself. He was some sort of alien. I was trying to get away from him when I hit an abandoned car on the road.

Are Alice and my father serious? Had I been asleep for two days? I look up and see my dad smiling. I can tell he's trying to mask his genuine emotions. I slowly back away from the wreck, run to the porch, and hug him. His arms embrace me as he kisses the top of my head.

"I love you, Daddy." I look up at him. Tears pool in my eyes. "I shouldn't have left that night."

He nods and lets me go. "No, stop. I'm just relieved you are here and healthy. Our hearts dropped when we saw the truck. How you escaped without a scratch is a miracle, Em."

We both look towards the truck. I can't imagine what Daddy felt. He lost both his sons and wife. Losing his daughter would've sent him over the edge ultimately.

"I guess we will drive the tractor around town, huh?" I say as I let him go. I place my hands in the back pockets of my jean shorts.

He smiles at me. "Sandy bought Alice a car. Well, Alice calls it loaner. Alice couldn't wait to get home and show you. That's why I came back alone that night."

I am impressed. I know Alice is ecstatic about the car.

"That's not all. Did you know Mr. Castor was a doctor? Well, back in New York, he was. Mrs. Castor is the one that's loaded. Levi was the one that saw your accident and brought you back here. He called his father, and Mr. Castor raced over. He said it was best not to travel to the hospital in stormy conditions. We were to let you rest. You would regain consciousness in two to three days. Mr. Castor was here every day to check in on you. It's scary how he knew when you would wake up. I guess that's why he gets paid the big bucks."

Daddy takes a seat and smiles at me. "Anyway, Mr. Castor had a loaner delivered." He pulled out a small remote.

"What's that?" I ask, grabbing it from him. All of this new information is too much to process!

"A key to another loaner. A truck," Daddy says, pointing towards the side of the house.

I am surprised. Strangers giving away vehicles for free? Odd. I walk off of the porch and toward the other side of the house. Surely enough, a forest green truck stood there.

It shined as I walk around to the back of the truck. It was the exact truck I managed to wreck. The Ford F-150. Just a newer year. This year I imagine.

I walk back to the porch and ask Daddy to borrow the truck. Daddy is hesitant until I tell him I want to thank the Castors for all their help. He agrees. The condition is I have to carry my cell phone on me at all times. He takes my phone out of his pocket and hands it to me.

I stare at the phone and sigh. I had completely forgotten about it and left it in the box and everything. Well, I left the phone in the box purposely. Having it on me doesn't feel right.

As I make a right out of the farm, I smile. This truck had a brand new smell on it. I happily inhale. Tapping the brake pedal lightly and the vehicle quickly reacting is a joy I can't explain. A girl could get used to this! However, this doesn't mean I want a life of new vehicles and technology.

No, sir!

As I make my way to the estate, I see the clearing and all the trees I went through the other night. It led to the other side of the maze. Flashbacks of that terrible night start prancing around me. I should have been dead. I shudder as I see the tire tracks from the night of the accident when I entered and exited the clearing.

I slow down when I reach the entrance. I make a right off the road, and the gates immediately open. They must have seen the truck and knew it was one of us.

I drive to the front of the house and jump out of the truck. I look around. I don't see Rick or Sandy's cars.

Only Levi's.

I am going to walk to the front door when I feel myself gravitating towards the maze. I take a deep breath and follow my instincts.

I'm crazy, right? Every time I leave the maze, I am either upset or, until recently, scared for my life. Why would I put myself in harm's way on purpose?

This is insane, but I have to see that fountain again! For some reason, I feel like it's everything to me when it isn't. It means something to Levi. He is always there.

I travel through the maze-like I have been through it a thousand times. I never hit a dead end. Strange how I know exactly where each dead end is. I reach the entrance to the fountain and stop. I inhale deeply and make the final right into the garden.

My heart begins to race when I see Levi sitting on the bench. His legs crossed, his arms stretched out on top of the bench. He is looking right at me. Is he expecting me?

I scrutinize Levi. His hair is black, his eyes are blue, and he has no wings. He looks normal. I sigh in relief as I begin to walk forward. I stop when something about the fountain catches my eyes. I turn towards it. The angel's wings are fully extended, not closed like they always are. It is still holding the sword in the same position, though.

I'm stunned. "How is that possible?" I ask, barely audible.

"Is there something you need, Emery?" Levi asks, causing me to jump. I compose myself and walk towards him. I hesitantly sit next to him.

"What are you?" I blurt out, terrified to hear his answer, but I need to know.

"A mammal. Next question," Levi says. He then scoffs and looks back at the statue.

"Your hair, your eyes. It was you, but it wasn't. And how did I escape that accident without a scratch?"

Levi didn't answer. He just continues to look at the statue.

"Isn't this the part where you tell me I am hallucinating? That I probably hit my head?" It is the only answer I am praying for. I will accept it and leave.

I think.

"Just thank me and be on our way, all right? I'm not a social experiment or a freak! We both know what you saw," he says as he stands angrily.

"I'm not judging! Please! Tell me." I beg him as I stand and walk toward the fountain and turn to him. "Are your parents-"

Levi snaps his head towards me. His eyes suddenly turn red. In the blink of an eye, he is right in my face. "No! And I advise you to keep your mouth shut, mortal!"