Providence

Right to Freedom

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

--- UN General Assembly, 1948, Universal declaration of human rights (217 [III] A). Paris. Art. 1

The door opens, and a tall woman walks in. She looks quite a bit older than Fortitude and Astra. Her long blond waving hair and blue eyes make her look like an angel, but Erin does not recognise her. She doesn't look like any of the statues. She is definitely an angel tho. Her skin is wrinkled and freckled as if she is in her nineties or older, but her hair looks young and healthy, and she has the athletic build and the muscles of a twenty-year-old. All the signs of someone whose life has been artificially prolonged. Her deep blue eyes look very tired. There seem to reflect the wisdom of someone who has lived several human lifetimes. But this is not the only thing that surprises Erin. She is shocked by how much the woman looks like Erin's mirror image. The woman looks like an older version of Erin, like two drops of water. She speaks with a strong and surprisingly low voice.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Astra looks up at the woman. She grabs Erin with both her arms and pushes her forwards. Erin feels like she is a doll, being shown of to a parent by a proud child.

"Infinity!" she yells out. "Guess what, I found your daughter, the long-lost angel child."

'Infinity.' Erin thinks. She never heard of an angel named Infinity. But it definitely sounds like an angel name.

"I can see that." Infinity answer. She reminds Erin of a disgruntled parent, expressing disappointment in their children. "And if I understand correctly, you and Fortitude tried to kill her. You know Truth is unhappy with you guys killing pilgrims. If pilgrims do not come back, it raises too many questions."

Astra looks down, while Infinity walks over to Fortitude and removes the glass bottle from his throat. Totally ignoring the still unconscious Gwen lying on the couch, and the cowering Sadie sitting against the table's leg. She gasps and takes a deep breath. "So, Fortitude, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"In all fairness, Truth does want the angel child dead. So if anything, we are following his wishes," Fortitude says. "Speaking about Truth, I want the credit for finding the angel child, if we tell this to him. I am sick of you being Truth's favourite. It is about time he knows that for once, I cleaned up your mess."

"Excuse me," Erin snaps. "I am standing right here."

Infinity sighs. "Can I speak with you and Astra in private? Not in front of the Mortals."

Astra lets go of Erin and gestures to the stairs. Sure, let's go upstairs. She walks to the outside door and demonstratively locks it. "We wouldn't want our priced angel child to run off while we talk." She laughs manically.

Infinity walks to Erin and without warning, hugs her. Erin struggles free from the woman's embrace and looks the woman in the eyes. Her eyes look exactly the same as her own. It's like looking in the mirror. The woman's eyes are filled with tears.

"I am so happy to see you again. The last time I saw you, you were just a newborn baby. But look at you, you are all grown up now. And looking at the young lady you have become, I couldn't have hoped for better, Eternity."

"Eternity?" Erin asks.

"Yes, that is your name."

"My name is Erin."

"When I gave you to that nice pilgrim, she decided to shorten it. A girl called Eternity would not remain hidden for long, would she? Everyone would realise she is an angel. Hence why she called you Erin."