No Angels

Chapter One - Achilles Heel

Jada hid behind a trash can.

It wasn't the most luxurious hiding spot but in the moment Jada couldn't really afford luxury. She covered her nose with the collar of her jacket, trying not to breathe or make a sound as much as she could. Just like everyone else on the street, her eyes were trained on the sky. Large shadows were cast onto the high walls as the familiar beating of wings sounded from far above. The narrow alley in which she hid in was covered in darkness from the silhouttes of winged beasts flying by.

Everything was silent.

It was a whole flock of them flying past the block. Jada narrowed her eyes as the last of them flew over the alley. Them. Angels. The beautiful depicted winged creatures seen in religion and stories and art. Beautiful. Pure.

Wrong.

They are anything but pure. They are not beautiful, Jada thinks in spite. They're dark and cruel and bloodthirsty. They kill for the sake of fun and food. They feast on human flesh and devour the hearts of their brethren. She was utterly disgusted by them as her sister was fascinated. Although the flock of angels had flown away from her sight, she knew to stay in hiding just for a little longer.

This wasn't her first time hiding from the winged beasts. The first time was seven years ago when she was eleven and walking with her older sister to school. Suddenly the sky had darkened and angels dived down and snatched people from the street. Like birds going for a school of fish. Thankfully, Coretta had grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a bush. They watched as people were picked up and flown away. Never to be seen again.

Everyone knew what happened if you were picked up by an angel. They would kill you. Eat your limbs and drink your blood like wine. Jada wouldn't wish that fate upon herself or anyone she hated. She continued to hold her breath, her backpack close and her free hand gripping the front as she held it to her chest. Somewhere away from the alley she hid in, a baby started to cry.

The grip on her backpack tightened and she bit her lips to prevent a curse from spilling from her mouth. Her brown eyes searched the sky for any tell tale of the flock coming back. But since she was in a tight alley her vision was restricted to only what was above her. Daring not to make a sound, Jada slowly set her backpack beside her and quietly leaned to her right to poke her head out of the garbage bin she hid behind. Her gaze fell upon the street. She could see the baby carriage of the child who had cried but was effectively shut up as their mother covered their mouth.

People hid behind benches and car and parents had shoved their children under those cars. Jada eyed the alley she was in. She shared her hiding spot with another frightened family. Across from her, but deeper in the alley, was a mother holding three frightened children in her arms. The mother didn't dare speak but mouthed quick prayers with a cross necklace held tight in her trembling hand. Jada looked away and back to the street. She tilted her head to look up at the sky at the retreating wings flying towards the pier. Once not even a glimpse of the figure could be seen, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Then came the scream.

Jada jerked her head to the source of the sound where a winged figure was dragging a child out from underneath a car. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she retreated back behind her garbage bin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening them. The mother across from her looked at her with fractiousness and curiosity. Jada's eyes flickered to the woman's children and the mother held them closer to her shaking frame. Peeking her head out of the alley again, she saw a man bringing down a metal pipe on the winged kidnapper's head. She winced as the angel released it's hands on the kid's legs in favor of turning towards the man.

"You ain't laying your filthy hands on my boy, monster." He shouted aggressively. The angel snarled in response, snapping it's sharp teeth at him. Jada thought she might have recognized the man. She shook her head. It didn't matter anyway, he was as good as dead now. The angel's vivid yellow eyes darted everywhere where other people hid, it's mouth salivating and a nasty grin beginning to form on it's face. It's eyes landed on her and she shivered but held it's gaze.