Lily stepped onto a generator affixed to the roof. "Everyone! It is about dawn. We shall wait here until the next opening our beloved city presents to us. Our friends are already fixing up the place. Now, if I could just have your attention for a little bit longer, then I can inform you that..." Her voice trailed off. The entire audience fell silent. Some stood up, and others took the initiative to arm themselves. Nothing but the wind could be heard.
A few blocks away from them an explosion erupted. The angels all turned in unison to witness a strange, purple energy being sent off in all directions. It evaporated after it crossed a few feet. "What the fuck was that!?" an angel said with a panicky voice. To their right, a bit farther out, another explosion erupted.
The same instance began to multiply. All over the city these explosions went off, growing louder and stronger with each passing one. The Soul Angels covered their ears. Lily, however, stood silently and counted each thunderous boom. "Shit! Shit!" another angel mumbled. "Is this a missile assault from a foreign country?"
Lily chuckled nervously. "Far worse. I've only been told of this happening once - and not in this large of a number."
The chain of explosions ceased. Lily took in account of the city. A faint, dark purple mist started to float into the air. Lights began to turn on in most of the buildings and houses. Some humans walked out of their doors to examine the commotion. "They heard that too?" a female angel said, concerned. "Is this something we should be worried about?"
Lily hung her head. "It can't be happening - and there's fifty-three of them!" She took a deep breath, then lifted her head. "Everyone, stay calm. This is something we cannot control. We need... We need a hero." She stared up into the morning sun.
"I hope to hell that hero appears soon."
---
Taylor rolled over in bed, screaming. Loud sounds echoed throughout her entire household. She gripped a pillow, clutching it to her shaking body. Michael, still at the window, covered his ears and shut his eyes to the noise. "Dear Lord! What's happening?" he said through clenched teeth.
Taylor yelped as the explosions began to increase in pace. "I don't know! I thought the big bad angel would know! Oh my God, does anyone know!" She whimpered helplessly. Michael groaned.
"Stay calm," he commanded. "I'm pretty sure that whatever it is, we should be completely safe." The loud sounds came to an end, and a crippling silence ensued. Michael eased up, and Taylor released her pillow. She laughed weakly, then smiled at Michael.
"It could have been fireworks-" she paused mid-sentence. Taylor let out a bloodcurdling scream as a dark, purple massed being phased through the window and tackled Michael. The two were sent hurtling out of the house from the force of the blow, passing through five rooms on their way out.
The pair rolled out onto the street. Michael clenched his fists and struck his assailant, sending him flying. The angel jumped to his feet and stood before the mysterious enemy. The being was made of some semi-solid energy that floated off in globules. It glided across the street towards him, fluid and deadly. Michael crossed his arms before him to block an attack. The attacker practically melted into the ground.
Surprised, Michael let down his guard. The second he did so, the mass of energy that made up his foe popped up before him. The being struck him with his own fist, spewing forth blood from Michael's injured face. The angel dropped to one knee, then recalled his lesson with Sarah.
"Your thoughts went out to your girl, didn't they? You probably didn't notice, but when you kept thinking about her, every blow you inflicted was even more powerful than the last."
A brief image of Taylor smiling at him when they were in the meadow flashed before his eyes. Michael jumped up with astounding force, attacking with a vicious uppercut. The presence of his power enforced his blow, sending his enemy hurtling up into the sky. The being dissipated into a purple mist. "Yeah! Take that, your bastard!" Michael shouted. He spoke too soon. The being rematerialized then dropped on top of Michael, knocking the wind out of him.
The being croaked - a sound similar to laughing - at Michael. Before retaliating, Michael took a closer look at his enemy. It had yellow eyes, a deep contrast to its purple body. It had bat wings. The remnants of clothes hung from its core loosely. It even had hair. Most unique of all, it had claws instead of fingers. Michael hesitated, too busy admiring their differences, allowing his foe to cut him up.
The being swiped in rapid succession with its claws, digging deep into Michael's flesh. Each wound brought forth black blood that spewed over the angel's clothes. Michael reached out to choke his enemy but soon succumbed to his injuries. He struggled to keep consciousness under the relentless barrage of blows. Michael dropped his head facing Taylor's home. His body began to numb under the loss of blood. In the corner of his eye he saw Taylor and her father open their front door. The brunette haired girl let loose another scream. Being a protective dad, her father held her close. He stared straight at Michael. "Michael? Is that you, Michael?" Mr. Robins called out. The strange mist must have given him sight to see Michael.
"Yeah," he croaked. "It's... me." Michael closed his eyes. His enemy disappeared into the purple mist that hung in the air, satisfied with hurting him. Taylor and her father rushed over to the injured angel.
"Michael!? What's happened to you? How did you end up this way?" Mr. Robins questioned. "Michael?" he said as he gently shook the wounded angel. Taylor burst into tears, sobbing loudly.
"I died, Mr. Robins," Michael said weakly. He opened his eyes and laughed. "It's funny, though. Why? I'm about to die again." He laughed until he lost consciousness.
Taylor laid her hand on Michael's chest. In her other hand she took his. "M-Michael? We need you. Daddy! We need him so badly right now. We need you, Michael." She sobbed. "I need you, Michael. Are you there?" Mr. Robins held his daughter in his arms, patting her head softly.
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