Halo

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Skeppy and I followed Father through the church, seeing the woman Skeppy had told me was Death, or as he said, one of the many "Angels of Death." I was confused by the whole situation, and why everyone said I was some mega demon or something...But I wasn't going to argue with them. I'd been lied to my entire life about everything. And what rubbed salt in that wound was that Skeppy had been the one to tell me...Father didn't have the sympathy to tell me the truth, despite raising me to not lie....It was my biggest issue.

The church shook again, this time stronger than it had before, which threw me to the wall and caused Skeppy to fall against me.

I protectively locked my arms around his hips to make sure he was safe and secured in my hold.

"Boys! We don't have time for you to be lovey dovey. We need to get Skeppy to safety and Bad to Death." Father called when the shaking stopped.

"I'm not just "going to safety" without Bad!" Skeppy shouted back after I let him go.

"Skeppy. You are mortal. Death said she cannot fight with Bad by her side if he was distracted and she had to worry about protecting you. Trust her."

Skeppy met my eyes and I nodded, giving him a soft smile to tell him that Father would never put us in harm's way...Even though I was going to be smack dab in the middle of Death, and two angels fighting.

"Fine." Skeppy growled under his breath.

He had every right to be angry...I did too, but for some reason I found peace in being told the truth, even if it meant I was a demon.

"Bad. She's in the back of the church.I'll get Skeppy to safety. Go..."

I could see the fear and sadness in his eyes, the way he was so hesitant to let me leave.

I pulled Skeppy into a tight hug and heard Father standing not too far away.

"And son..."

I let go of Skeppy and looked at him, the man I'd seen as my only family for years.

"I love you...Be safe"

It sounded more like a command than an actual request.

I teared up when he hugged me for a second and then when he let go Skeppy instantly pulled me to him, bringing his lips to rest on mine for a moment before resting his forehead against my own.

"Bad...I love you...So you better come back to me...Like this...Like the beautiful human you are."

I nodded and kissed his cheek before stepping back and watching them walk down the hallway...Why did this all feel like a goodbye? One long, painful goodbye.

I hurried out the back of the church to see the sky was dark grey with red ashes laid on the ground.

"Death!"

I called when I saw the young woman leaned down, pone hand touching her side as she bled black blood....Black as oil.

She looked back at me and I saw her eyes...Very scary...but I recognized her, not from the hallway...but from a grass field...Very vividly.

"You recognize me. I knew you would."

I didn't respond, watching as one of her legs gave out and she fell to the ground.

"What happened to you?" I asked, moving her to sit on the slide.

"I have pissed off one to many people with your existence. They are here...Somewhere." She responded, voice timid as though she were scared to upset them further.

"How do I help?"

Before she had time to answer she kicked me away, making me roll onto the ground as a sword, identical to the one in my dream that killed Skeppy flew past my head and into the plastic of the slide behind where Death had sat.

"A cheap shot? Just show yourself." Death called out and the sword retracted back the way it had come from.

I stood back up, standing beside Death as two...Almost human things walked. Side by side.

No way...the thing from my dream...

It has scales...And black feathers, that pitch black skin...And the dark yellow eyes...All of it seemed terrifying.

The thing next to it had a gentle glowing dark orange halo atop its head...but it looked the same.

"I-..What is that?" I let out, looking at Death with confusion

"They are the gatekeepers of Limbo. I saved you from them when your soul was there, which made you a demon. They have been looking for Lust, and found you."

Her answer just confused me more and I felt the ground under me begin to shake.

"Don't let those swords touch you. They can drag you through the gates of hell and into heaven...Or to the darkest corners of hell."

Skeppy...Please stay inside.

Both rushed forward and the demon came at me, sword barely going over my head as I ducked and tried to sweep it's feet from under it.

"Here kid!" I heard Death yell and just in time I turned to catch a silver knife with a white handle.

"Aim at the heart Kid!"

I nodded and ran backwards, turning to throw the knives only to feel as though the world was moving in slow motion.

The flash of blue crossed my vision..

No....No....No!

As I went to run forward I watched as Skeppy threw his arms up in a T, black blade going straight through his chest as he let out a high pitched scream "Bad!"

I stopped moving, watching as the blood dripped down the blade and that thing ripped it carelessly from his abdomen, instantly hitting the ground.

"No!" I heard Father yelling as I ran toward Skeppys limp body.

"Skeppy...S-keppy?" I whimpered, tears sliding down my cheeks.

He lifted his hand to touch my cheeks, blood spilling from the corner of his lips as he spoke.

"Don't...Give up...B-bad..."

Just like in the dream....I felt anger rise in me....Anger and sorrow turned to rage and hate...They hurt Skeppy....They wouldn't make it out alive....Or dead.