Chapter 2: Disappointment (Pt.2)

The streets of the city were crowded. It was not your normal daily commute; there was a crisis going down. Families and friends alike huddled close together under the purple mist with cell phones glued to the side of their heads, talking wildly. Calls were sent out to the authorities and to the local news station. Uniformed policemen gathered the citizens into tight knit groups near homes where generous men and women handed out snacks and blankets. Reporters with cameramen following them strolled down the packed sidewalks, interviewing any person who looked like they knew something.

Lily and the forsaken group of Soul Angels hid on the rooftops. The energy in the air made them tangible; they could feel, and smell once again. An angel brimming with excitement licked a discarded can on one of the rooftops to test her newly acquired senses. She quickly tossed the dirty aluminum container away, twisting her face in disgust. The others followed suit, touching anything around them and inhaling faint scents. Lily sat by herself on a different building with her head buried in her hands. She peered over the edge of the rooftop. A little girl with black hair in pig tails looked up at her. A small teddy bear with a bow was pressed tight in her hands. The small girl waved at Lily. The angel couldn't help but smile.

"I'd hate to see her become one of us," she muttered bleakly to herself. "We're going to have to reveal ourselves to them sooner or later, though." A sigh escaped her lips. Lily waved back. The little girl smiled.

An outburst of noise came from one of the supervised groups. Lily examined the scene, and noticed a pair of black wings. A bloodied boy was being carried by a man, and beside the two walked a familiar brown haired girl. Taylor and her father looked like they were calling out for help. Michael lay limp in the man's arms. A policeman was blocking their way to the 'safe zone' that was being set up. There was a white tent with a red plus sign painted on the side of it. Taylor and her father were headed there.

Lily took flight. The rushing of wind beneath her wings brought attention to her. People shrieked in fear for the unknown being descending into the street. Two policemen rushed her with batons - they whacked away wildly, making not a single scratch or bruise on Lily. She pushed them down easily. "Hold on a moment, please!" she shouted. Everyone fell silent.

"Kill that thing!" A crotchety old man shouted from the crowd. The group began to murmur. Lily laughed.

"I'm the one of the only things that can help you right now. Listen up!" They fell silent again. "Let those two into this little outpost. The boy they're holding is an angel - and so am I. There are others like us, so don't fear; we're here to help you. We've always helped you." Lily walked casually to Taylor. The policeman who confronted them stepped away reluctantly.

"Miss Lim," Taylor whispered.

"The name is Lily." The angel brushed her hand against Michael's face. It was deathly cold. Mr. Robins laid him out on the ground so that Lily could observe him better. The news reporters inched in closely, talking softly into the cameras that were recording the incident. Lily gently removed strands of his sweater and t-shirt from his cuts. The wounds were deep; black blood oozed out of them with every little touch. Lily worked carefully, slightly wincing as she pulled out strips of cloth. She could feel the pain somewhat, or at least imagined how much agony it would cause. Taylor buried her head in her father's chest to restrain her sobs.

For what seemed like an hour, the entire ensemble was deathly silent. Even the reporters had stopped whispering about the event. The other Soul Angels had joined them, watching from a distance and setting a protective perimeter around the human groups. Three Syphies buzzed around Michael. A nurse handed Lily a bucket of water and a washcloth. Lily dunked the cloth in the water and squeezed it a little, draining some water out. She pressed it on Michael's forehead.

"I dun wanna angel to die," a little boy said. His mother hugged him. "Angel helps us. He on the cwismus twee too! Angel no die. Right mum?" The boy stared with sparkling eyes at his mother.

She choked up. "He won't die, Tommy. I promise."

The answer wasn't good enough. "Whut if he does die, mum? Does he go to heaben like us? Angels is in heaben, mum. Where does he go?" His mother couldn't answer. Silence found its place amongst the gathering once more. Only the sound of the incessant buzzing produced by the Syphies could be heard.

The Syphies departed from Michael's body. They floated to Lily and squeaked in alternating tones. Lily nodded at certain points in the conversation.

Taylor pulled her head away from her father. "What are they saying? Is he going to be alright!?" Her voice was panicky. She had never felt such fear before - for herself and Michael. Lily cleared her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but was speechless.

"Well?" Taylor prodded.

"I dun wanna angel to die, mum!" "Is that boy alright?" "I think it's over. Game over man!" "There's no way we're going to survive with these things if they can't even take care of themselves." "Who is that kid?" The crowd was bustling with anxiety. Lily cleared her throat once more, and the gathering quieted.

She shook her head grimly.