Andrew burst into a sprint, rushing down the broken street. He ran as fast as he could - the speedy Marker was on his tail. Andrew passed under Big Baby, drawing its attention. The bigger Marker lifted its fist and brought it down, missing Andrew barely. Instead, the blow caused debris to fly up and hit the speedy Marker.
Michael appeared just as the Marker sprawled onto the ground. "Now!" he screamed at Andrew. The Soul Angel nodded; he knelt down then closed his eyes. The air around him crackled, then a huge barbed javelin appeared in his hands. He struggled under its weight.
Michael flew down and grappled the smaller Marker, holding it in his arms. He then positioned himself in front of the bigger one, dashing to the left and to the right to avoid its swings. Michael called out to Andrew again. "Do it! Now!" Andrew hesitated. The Marker in Michael's arms squirmed.
"Damnit," Michael's voice was straining."This is the only way! Do it now!" Andrew inhaled deeply, then flung the javelin with all his might. The wind whistled as it flew, true as an arrow, aimed at Michael. Andrew flipped himself over as his hold on the projectile was lost. He only caught a glimpse of the destruction he had caused; the javelin pierced through both Michael and the Markers.
Michael couldn't scream as the javelin tore a hole through his midsection. The Marker in his arms immediately disappeared from the enormous amount of pain. Michael's body flew with the javelin as it burst through the larger Marker's body. Michael kept going, limp from exhaustion, and watched as the purple remains of the Marker deteriorated.
The javelin exploded into a shower of splinters and metal high in the sky. Andrew, who sat on the ground breathing heavily, traced the explosion with his eyes for a sign of Michael. He couldn't find him; it was either too dark, or - he wish that this thought hadn't crossed his mind - Michael was gone.
---
Another explosion thundered in the sky. A hole was torn open in the blanket of black laced with stars. Surno stood at the edge, backed up by hundreds of Soul and Heart Angels. They flooded out into the city, spreading out into the designated areas they were assigned. Humans came out of hiding, aware that the danger was over. Had they won? No one knew. Surno descended onto a street below, finding a Soul Angel with a fauxhawk.
He offered him a hand. "You?" It was a question for his name.
The Soul Angel hesitated. "Andrew." He grabbed Surno's hand and got up to his feet.
Surno waved a hand at the wreckage of the city. "What?"
Andrew thought over his gesture for a moment, then realized what it was asking. "Markers started to appear from the sky. The purple mist hanging over the city caused it." He lowered his head for a moment. "I have a question for you, now, if you don't mind."
Surno nodded.
Andrew stared at him silently. He then grabbed him by his shirt collar and lifted him off the ground, an expression of fury crossing his face. "Why didn't you get here earlier!? Where the hell were you guys? If you had just acted a bit quicker, he'd be here right now!" Andrew tightened his grip. "Shit... Answer me!" he demanded.
Surno twisted Andrew's wrist, forcing the angel to release him. He brushed off his arms, then straightened his mask. "Sorry," he simply said. "Who?"
Andrew still breathed heavily. "Who? Michael, that's who. Michael. Yeah! He's fuckin' dead. Again. He wanted it this way - he told me that this was the only way. Yeah." Sarcasm and anger were mixed in his voice. He pointed at Surno. "The fuck were you guys doing up there? Couldn't you at least hear the battle going on down here? This is exactly why I sided with the Heart Angels in our little 'Independence Day.' This is exactly why I fought against my own brothers."
Surno stiffened. Andrew noticed, then smiled wickedly.
"That's right, buddy. I was one of the traitors. Wait, a traitor? Hell no. I fought against my own friends because it was right." Andrew walked menacingly towards Surno. Surno was quivering with either enmity or self control. Andrew laughed. "At least I bucked up to it and realized how wrong we were. Following Peter was the worst decision I have ever made." Andrew laughed in Surno's face.
Surno reached slowly for his mask. He tore off the theater disguise, ripping the straps. He stared at Andrew with blood red eyes. They shifted colors into a sapphire blue, then emerald green. "This... No time for this. Keep the humans safe we shall." Surno began to walk away.
Andrew spat on the spot he was just at. "We'll settle this afterward." Andrew caught up to Surno, then paced beside him. A time like this called for appearances; the humans they passed by looked up to them with hope in their eyes. A glimmer sparkled within their looks - it almost broke Andrew's heart.
If he had one.
---
Greg landed in his assigned perimeter, scouting the area quickly. He spotted the Compass building; he dropped in front of the doorway to check it out. He heard soft sobbing. Greg summoned forth a two sided, gold battle-axe from thin air and rested it on his shoulder.
"Hello?" he called. He entered cautiously, gripping the handle of the axe tighter. "You're safe now. Can you hear me?"
Greg found a girl with brunette hair slumped against a grandfather clock. The old clock chimed once loudly as he neared her. "Are you all right?" he asked. He knelt before the girl. She seemed familiar.
Taylor looked up with puffy red eyes. "Is he alright?"
Greg instantly recognized her. "Ah, Taylor! I had almost forgotten you. Whom are you asking about?"
Taylor looked past Greg, not meeting his gaze. "Is he alright? Is Michael alright?" she probed. Her voice started to sound panicky, but sorrow was the most prominent.
Greg forced his weapon to disappear. It faded from sight. He picked up Taylor gently, then walked out of the Compass. "Is he alright?" Taylor asked again. Her voice was softer now, almost calm.
The angel continued towards the center of the city. An image of a small figure being launched into the night sky by a large projectile, then exploding into bits, flashed before his mind.
"He's alright, Taylor," he said. "You believe me, right?"
Taylor nodded. She laid her head on Greg's chest as she closed her eyes. "If you say he's alright, then he's okay. Please take me to him," she said. "I want to say something..."
Greg tried to force the gruesome image from his mind. "I wish to say something, too." He laughed weakly. "I really do." Greg felt a tear escape through the corner of his eye.
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