The Perfect Shall Remain

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Why are we here?" Star asked, stepping forward.

If I could just get an ounce of this girl's boldness, I would be able to live a happy life as the most confident person on the planet. But no, even though it was Star that asked the question, my heart sank into the pits of my stomach in worry.

His fiery eyes locked on her. "For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."

His words didn't shake the world, but it definitely shook my soul. It must have affected Grey too, because he fell to his knees and his eyes unfocused.

"Does that mean we're dead, or alive?" Jack's voice had a slight warble to it.

Adniel set his sights on him, and Jack took half a step back. So did I. "This is an opportunity to fix a fatal flaw."

"So...we died?"

"What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?" His wings weren't extended, but he was still able to hover above the ground. "Do not focus on life and death."

Honestly, he was just making my head hurt. What did any of that mean? Was that a yes or a no?

Was it really possible that I had somehow died and not known it?

What was the point of all of this?

"Why us?" Star countered. "What is this place? Why are we being tested?"

I can't believe she kept asking him questions. Every time he looked at her it made me shiver.

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

"To solve bible riddles? For what? We can barely remember what we were doing before we got here, let alone what the bible has to do with it." Star was furious, but my curiosity stopped me from intervening. As much as I wanted to tell her not to yell at the strange angel, I wanted to know too. What significance did this have? Where were we? Why us? They were all valid.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."

"So this really is just some kind of horrible test..." I hadn't meant to say it out loud. Adniel's eyes snapped to my face and I almost fell to my knees. "What is a resolution without a test?"

"What are you?" Jack piped up.

Everyone started firing questions at once and he held up a hand, refusing to speak until we fell silent. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

"Awww, c'mon man. More riddles?" Jack groaned.

"This is an opportunity to fix a fatal flaw," he repeated it like it was simple, but my heart sank further. A fatal flaw? With no memory of what that could even possibly be? Was it my anxiety? My inability to trust other people? My impeccable fashion sense?

"Is this a race?" Star asked. "How do we win?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"How many sections are there?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"Who do you work for?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"So we're supposed to believe God is doing this to us?" Star did not sound pleased.

Adniel ignored her question, and that's when I realized something crazy: I recognized him. My breathing got more and more shallow, the burning in both my mind and heart intensified. Adniel vanished and reappeared right in front of me, those eyes burning into mine before blurring out completely.

"Hey, have you ever heard of Angel House Wellness Center?"

"Uh, no. Why?"

"Mom texted me the address and wants me to pick up a package for her..."

"Sounds sus."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, 'sus' for sure."

The building looked nice enough, with big trees and a small gated-off park to the side. Angel House Wellness Center was spelled out in large gold letters above the door, a brass angel statue perched right on top. I flipped the camera so my brother could see too. "Weird, right?"

He pressed his hand to my heart and I was sucked out of the memory. The brass angel on the top of the Angel House Wellness Center. It was him. But how was that possible?

"Your hurt cannot be cured through this Trial." Even at a whisper his voice came from multiple angles. He pressed further against the spot that always seemed to burn in my heart. "You must find healing, but it will not come easily to you."

"I-I don't–"

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

"I don't understand–"

"Live up to your name," he said, slowly fading.

And then he was gone, leaving me more confused than ever.