3.

In the darkest of days, or nights, there is always time and opportunity for a lighter moment or an attempt on making a lighter moment, to occur, if that is an appropriate thing could be something debated for each individual moment. In the here and now of a particular group of three, a lighthearted moment could be both necessary and unnecessary.

Whatever it was that inspired Gabriel to burn the truck within which our particular group of three had hardly spent much more than minutes within, it done the job. The shadow creatures, soul demons, entities of evil without body, ... all have gone, moved on, and are no longer in pursuit. The fire has driven them away and they will not follow the trio anytime soon.

There was the what now thought, the what now question followed by the answer ... we walk ... that way ... the only way there is to move on. This in turn followed by a moment jovial with intent. There indeed would be one way to go, one road to travel, and with night settling in along with a burning hell of fire being left behind to become next to nothing the further a distance is put between them and that, there would be the thought of what will light the way forward at a time when the sky is particularly dark.

'Watch this ...' speaks Gabriel.

He makes the first finger of his right hand glow and glow it does ... bright and white and it provides immense illumination. The finger is not the only thing to brighten as upon sight of that glowing finger Emily's whole being is lifted. She has never seen anything like this before and she was completely not prepared for anything like it. In truth she had been prepared for anything she has been experiencing of late. None of it is like anything she has ever seen before.

Odd as it is, there indeed is that feeling of belonging as if none of this is happening by mistake, she had more than been in a right place at a right time. All this, whatever it is, Emily Healy was supposed to have her own little part in it. She belongs to it even if Raphael himself is unsure as to why he has a companion other than Gabriel.

He could simply return her to her regular life though he does not wish for this. He would rather have her company than not have it and this is something he feels is more than something possibly selfish in nature. Besides, Angels, especially Arch Angels are not known to be selfish ... that statement could possibly be a little untrue. Perhaps there was or will be a reason as to why his search had first led Raphael to Emily.

It is clear that Gabriel has yet to become one hundred percent Human, he is not far from it. It is only a finger that lights up and not his whole being. His memory is still Swiss cheese, still the thought of burning the truck must have come from that little bit of Angel still within him.

Raphael would not have thought to have burned that truck and he is as much of an Angel in this moment as he has ever been. Perhaps it is this war that has begun, Gabriel had been studying it long before he made his first appearance on Earth. He had been waiting to interfere, wanting to aid Humanity for as far as he could see ... how can or could Humanity defeat Hell all by themselves when most of Humanity is completely unaware of the war?

Many are unaware that Hell and or The Devil himself are as completely real as they are, and in given such, how could any kind of defense be mounted, especially against the power Hell possesses?

Gabriel felt it completely necessary to be part of what is happening. To him, an attack by Darkness on Earth is just as much an attack on Heaven as it is that attack on Earth. Heaven might not be directly invaded, but it will suffer the consequences one way or another and he was sure that to wait for something like that is as good as doing nothing for it surely would only be a matter of time. Heaven cannot sit back and do nothing. Michael suggested just that, to sit back and do nothing for it is not Heaven's war.

Of course, Gabriel didn't listen. It is Heaven's war or at least it should be, in defense for all of which is good and possibly now, given the recent events and the thoughts of what may come, Michael is coming round to such a thing. Still, Gabriel has almost completely become Human.

The joint push away from the farm, two of the three angelic forces still intact, does not go so far as to bring the trio anywhere near to a location where mankind is prevalent, not wholly anyhow. Ninety minutes of walking along their darkened dusty road brings them to a rooms for rent rest bite. One member of the group needs no rest, the other two obviously do. They'll take two rooms between them for the night and Emily takes care of the cost.

'Look ...' she quietly speaks to her companions, nodding towards a near-by television. 'I'm apparently missing.'

Yeah, there is a news report being delivered by a certain Johanna Appleby on a woman who has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. The person Emily is dealing with, does not seem to be paying attention to the television. Just as well for a photo of Emily is being displayed upon it.

'Yeah, well. Best not to deal with that right this minute. You guys get yourself a good rest and we'll move forwards from tomorrow.'

This is what they'd do, get some rest. When Emily wakes a few hours later, she would do so with a start. Raphael is in her room stand a few feet away from her bed and he had been doing so wondering as to how best to wake her. No need to wonder any further.'

'What the Hell? ...' she sits quickly, holding on to her duvet, ensuring all her parts are covered.

'Hell may be an appropriate word ...' he says no sure as to if he should look at her or turn away. He is not attracted to her in any way, he's an angel, his lack of experience dealing with Humanity on a personal level is what has him as unsure as he is.

'Why? What's wrong?'

'This place was invaded during the night by journalists. We got them to vacate the building on condition you come out to them to give them a statement ...'

'A statement for what?'

'You said it yourself when we arrived. You were missing ... I guess you have been ... found.'

She lets out a sigh of frustration and in such, Raphael witnesses a side to her he had previously yet to show.

'Go on ...' she says.

'Go on where?'

'Anywhere, I need to get dressed and not while you are standing there looking at me ... now vamoose.'

'Oh ...' and with that, Raphael vanishes out of the room.

***

Outside there is a gathering, outside there is mayhem, outside there are journalists, reporters of all sorts and there are many members of the general public. They want answers, answers on a number of topics and not just the circumstance on why it was that Emily Healy was missing. Where did she go? Who was she with? Did she go willingly? Why did she not inform anyone of her whereabouts?

Then there are the questions of ... is it true? Is any of it is true? What should people do? They want to ask these questions of one person, and they only want the answers to come from that one person, and of course that one person is Emily herself.

Why would Emily have answers to anything? She would almost ask herself this if it weren't the fact that she, for some reason, feels that it is her destiny to address the gathering crowd who all are being kept outdoor. Something has clicked. Her part in all which is happening, perhaps. Barriers and a police presence keep things calm and organized. There even is a small stage set up with a platform all set up for one person to come and address the gathering.

This has a feel as if a superstar has come to town and this is to be the one and only chance for the locals, and for those who have come a long way, to see that star. All that really is missing are homemade posters and a chant to go along with them. She will show them the way ... she will lead.

It is approximately half past nine, not at all so long after Emily has been informed as to what it is that is happening, and she has wasted no time in getting herself up and ready to come down and play her part. Apparently, the earliest of gatherers have been here five hours already.

Once in the reception area there is nothing that needs to be said. There is a fair distance between Emily and Raphael, and they just need to share the briefest of eye contacts and she is wholly ready. Escourted, Emily makes her way onto that stage outside, and she does this to a flurry of photographs and a heck of an applause.