Archangel

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Scarlett's POV
I woke up, my wrists still bound to the headboard. After freaking out yesterday, I managed to fall asleep somehow. I must have exhausted myself from all the struggling to get free. I felt the rope cut into my wrists deeply. What also bothered me was the weird dream I had. I was in a strange place, the only thing I could see was white blinding ligh as I heard other voices around me. It felt like I was suspended in air. But I wasn't afraid, is was a nice feeling. Then I heard someone calling my name, only it wasn't my actual name. I felt my heart rate increasing in pleasure and excitement, as I smiled and turned around towards the caller. But I woke up before I could see his face. I couldn't dwell on it now, I had other pressing matters.
"Hey! I need to use the bathroom!" I yelled. Gabriel said that there were as an outcast stationed outside at all time to tend to my needs. The outcast walked into the room, looking annoyed and pissed that he was stuck on babysitting duty. Yeah, well I wasn't happy about it either. He walked towards the bed and leaned over me to untie the rope. He wasn't bad looking. He must have been one of the higher angels. He had blond hair and hazel eyes with soft features. It's scary how human they look. Not one clue to identify them as angels. He interrupted my train of thought when he said
"Don't try anything funny. I won't hesitate to strike you." I knew that he was lying. I heard Gabriel tell him that he cannot harm me. Idiots, talking right outside the door. As soon as he untied me, I jumped from the bed. I looked at my wrists. The rope cut into them very badly, ripping the skin and leaving a dark red mark around it. It hurt when I moved them. I got up from the bed and stretched. I didn't care that the outcast was watching me. It felt too good to be able to move again.
"Move, let's go. You have five minutes." The outcast barked, nudging me with his hand. I glared at him, but moved towards the bathroom. And so did he.
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked as I entered the bathroom, and it looked like he was going to as well.
"Gabriel gave me specific orders not to let you out of my sight."
"Yeah, you do that." I stated, as I slammed the door in his face and locked it. He started pounding on the door.
"I have to come in with you."
"In your dreams buddy. Now let me have some privacy, it's not like I could go anywhere." He didn't move from the door, but he stayed quiet. I washed my face, and my hands. I felt so filthy but I wasn't about to take a shower in a place full of outcast and Gabriel. I stayed in the bathroom for a long time. The outcast kept banging on the door, telling me to come out. But I couldn't, I couldn't bear the thought to be tied back to the headboard. I felt completely helpless. Hope was starting to slip away from me and complete fear started taking over. It was getting harder to breath, and my heart started racing. I started shaking uncontrollably. I think I was having a panic attack. With shaky legs I quickly walked towards the bathtub and turned on the cold water on full blast. I didn't know what I was doing. My body was acting without any commands from my brain. I took a bunch of toilet paper, crumbled it up and stuffed it in the drain. The next thing I knew I was in the bathtub with my clothes on, the cold water making my teeth chatter as the tub quickly filled. Then, all I felt was numb as the water reached up to my neck. I couldn't move my body, and I felt my heart slowing down. Everything around me started to fade. It was calming. I faintly heard the sound of something crashing, then being pulled out of the water by two hands. My eyesight was blurry, so I couldn't clearly see the figure looming over me. Eventually all I saw was darkness.

Gabriel's POV
I was sitting comfortably on my throne, thinking about the future when the planet would be rid of humans and angels would be in control, when one of my minions came barging in.
"Master Gabriel, the girl has locked herself in the bathroom. Should I proceed with the use of force?" I looked at him, not saying anything at first. I stood up and remarked,
"You cretin! How did you let that happen? I give you one simple task. Keep an eye on her! And you can't even handle that! How do you expect to rule this planet, if you can't even handle a human, a girl at that!?"
"But master...I...she..." He stuttered. I moved closer to him and whispered
"Get out of my face. You disgust me." He quickly nodded and scurried away. I sighed, it seems that I have to do everything myself. I started toward the room that she was kept in. I opened the door, and started walking towards the bathroom and rattled the door knob.
"Scarlett! Open the door this instance. I will not repeat myself." There was no response, just the sound of rushing water. I kicked open the door and what I saw had me more frightened than I ever felt in decades. The water was spilling over the bathtub unto the floor and Scarlett was underneath it all. I rushed to the bath tub, her lips were the darkest shade of blue, and her body was stiff as her long hair floated around her. I grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her up. She was ice cold to the touch. I put one hand under her legs and another behind her upper back and took her out. Her eyes fluttered a bit, until she stopped moving completely. Fear seized my heart. I gently laid her on the bed and went and got a towel to dry her as much as possible. Her clothes were soaked, so I removed them. I covered her with the duvet, trying to get her warm. I felt for her pulse, it was there but it was really weak. The duvet wasn't enough. I needed something warmer. And there was only one thing that was sure to keep her warm. I climbed in the bed next to her and pulled her close to me. Then I spread my wings and wrapped them around her wrapping her as if in a cocoon.
"Please. I can't lose you too. Not again. Please." I whispered.