Angel's Authority

Part Two, Chapter Sixteen: November 9, 2011

Based on the Volition Inc.™ game: Saints Row 2™

EVA

I was woken by a gentle hand stroking my forehead and removing streaks of loose hair from my face. Once again, I had forgotten where I was and was about to say Glinda's name out loud before I opened my eyes and noticed that it wasn't her.

"Shelly!"

I realized, immediately awake. How good it felt to see a familiar face. She had aged a little with her hair graying and a number of additional wrinkles in her face but at the whole, she was the same person, radiating kindness almost as much as Glinda.

"Hey there sugar, I hope I didn't wake ya."

She said, smiling her kind smile that I had gotten to love during my stay at the general hospital.

"A bit but I don't mind. Five years of sleep are enough. I'm just very glad that you are here, you cannot imagine how good it feels to see a familiar face."

Once more, she smiled and removed another streak of hair. I noticed the fresh flowers on my desk that she had brought with her.

"Always happy to come. And don't think that I would have left you here alone; you packed quite the punch. But I've known back then that you are a fighter."

Now, it was I who smiled at her and took her hand. She was my rock here. In this world governed by sins and chaos, she was a star shining bright.

"Thank you. I wouldn't manage without people like you though..."

Her thumb moved up and down the back of my hand.

"Thank you too, sugar. Now, do you need something to eat? A coffee perhaps?"

She offered, standing up and getting the purse out of her handbag. This woman amazed me even more than the Masons had done back then. God, how I missed them, missed all of my friends and family.

"A coffee and perhaps some snack would be nice, thank you."

I replied. When I get the chance, I would pay her back but I doubt that prison offers much possibility for this. She left the room, nodding.

"I'll be back in a minute!"

With that she was gone through the double door that had a small square window on eye-level.

"Psst. Psst!"

I heard someone trying to get my attention from my side and turned to see who it was. The boy with the purple beanie was resting on his elbow, looking at me with big eyes. He was now wearing a tank top over his bandages and his orange prison pants.

"Hey?"

I shortly replied, wondering what he could possibly want from me.

"You were with the Saints, right? I'm Carlos, my brother used to roll with you before the tragedy happened..."

Of course. The Saints. I had to know what had happened in these past five years yet judging by his tone, I assumed nothing good. And I was surprised that he even knew me. Apparently, I had left at least some impression. Funnily enough, he was named Carlos... Reminding me of Oz again and the pain of not being there. Surely yet another way for the Sins to mock me...

"Tell me, what happened with the Saints?"

I asked, fearing the response.

"Not now! First, we'll have to get you outta here. You have a lifelong sentence on your head and if it hadn't been for the explosion, you would have gotten the death chair."