The Last Babysitter | Requiem

A Lifetime of Pain and Suffering, a Special Room, and the thing about Angels

"Say it again, for those not listening."

Ella straightened herself in her desk. "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."

She was third from the front. Not so close that it felt like Ms. Capressi would call on you, but not so far away that you would get distracted from all the talkers in the back. And that was important because Ella's grade point average would suffer if she became distracted, and she couldn't have that. Her grade point average was going to be the thing to carry her far away from everything and everyone she knows. Including him. Especially him.

"Very good, Ella." Ms. Capressi clapped once, holding her hands together at her waist. "So it rhymes, and it makes that pesky year easier to remember."

The teacher continued talking, but her words became background noise for Ella as her father consumed her thoughts. Before she knew it, the last bell rang and school for the day was over.

While Ella waited outside for her mother to pick her up, her thoughts were still on her father. Surrounded by laughter and children talking a million words a minute, Ella stood silent as the wind. As motionless as the small, jagged rock by her foot. She kicked it, sending the rock rolling away in the dirt.

"Ella Croft!"

The teacher snapped Ella out of her trance but seeing her father's pickup truck caused her pause.

"Why didn't mother pick me up?" Ella shut the door then her father accelerated so abruptly her back slammed into the seat. Ella put her seatbelt on. "Is something the matter? What's wrong? Why're you so sweaty?"

"Everything. The decisions I've made. The one's I want to make right now. Everything. Life. That's what's wrong. Life. Just...fuckin life."

The truck sped up. Ella's father swerved, passing everyone on the highway at blinding speed.

"I'm scared! Dad!"

He gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. "I had a kind of come to Jesus moment today, baby. I hurt you. Hurt you a lot. The things I've done to you, it's turned me black inside. Rotten. Just rotten to the core. And, and you! The things you've had to do because I made you...you'll never recover. For as long as you live, you'll have the memories of me doing those things to you."

"Stop the truck, daddy!"

He pressed the gas to the floor. Everything passing by was just a blur now.

"Stop, daddy! Please!"

"I couldn't stop myself from touching...from doing all those things to you, and by God, I can't stop myself from saving you from a lifetime of pain and suffering."

"Daddy!"

Ella's father drove the truck into the steel safety barrier and it went flying over a wooded stump pond.

White and yellow light illuminated all around Ella and from it, arms of a woman formed around her, hugging her tightly. Then large white, feathered wings appeared and they wrapped around Ella's entire seat, enclosing her in their protection.

The truck hit a tree, spinning it like a top until it hit another tree, abruptly stopping its momentum. The truck splashed into the water below and sat there, three feet deep in mud.

When Ella opened her eyes, she glanced at her father. His head was cracked open and blood covered his entire face. The angel was still sitting there on Ella's lap, smiling gently at her.

"He's dead, little one. There is no need to fear that monster any longer."

"A-are you an...angel?"

"Yes." The angel smiled. "I am an angel."

"Oh. Well, okay then. What just happened? I don't feel good."

"Despite my protection, you were still rocked around quite a bit. The feeling will pass, I promise. As for what happened, your father was beset with guilt for what he's done to you all these years. He was going to kill himself, and you, because in his mind that was the last good thing he could do for his daughter. Save you, from anymore suffering."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"The mind overcome by evil rarely lends itself to reason."

The angel opened the door.

"How did you save me?"

"I am capable of a great many things. As it stands, saving you and opening doors. I am very proud of the former."

Ella was thigh deep standing in the water when she looked up at the broken barrier and saw all the people gathering on the road.

"How will I get up there? Are you gonna fly me?"

The angel laughed. "No, unfortunately. You'll have to do this all by yourself. Such is the way in life. But, I will guide you. From now on, I will always be here for you."

Long claw-like fingers burst through the chest of the angel and light exploded from the wound. The light blinded Ella and she screamed uncontrollably. The black hand in the angel's chest pulled back, leaving a gaping hole, and the angel slumped into the water.

As the angel fell, an emaciated and very tall humanoid creature stood there, smiling. A silver substance, Ella assumed it was the angel's blood, covered his arm. The creature had sharp, crooked teeth, yellow-green eyes, and leathery black skin.

"Hi there. The name's Pan."

"You killed the angel!"

"Funny thing about angels...they're easy to kill." Pan kneeled and took Ella's hand into his. "Hey, wanna know something cool?"

Ella nodded her head yes.

"We both hate your father."

"Why do you hate him?"

"Because he hurt you. You won't believe this, but I have your father. I've got him in my own little special room where he'll suffer dearly for what he's done to you."

Ella looked over at the car and her father's body inside of it. "How do you have him when he's right there."

Pan smiled, flashing his sharp, crooked teeth. "I have the real him. His soul. You're Catholic, so I know you know about souls and how they say everyone has one, even puppies and kittens. Well, humans don't have souls, they ARE souls. The rest is just meat and liquid."

"Humans ARE souls?"

Pan stood up. "That's why they're so important. Tell you what, I'd like to make a deal with you. Think you're up for a little deal making? Would you like to see your father pay for his sins against you until the end of time?"

"Yes. He deserves it."

"Oh, I know he does. A monster, he is. Alright, here's the deal. I'd like to keep your father in my special room where he will suffer until the end of time, BUT in exchange, I want you to help me collect more souls. Keep in mind, I might ask for your help tomorrow, or I might never ask, or I might ask someday in the faraway future. What do you say? Will you let me help you?"

"Could I see my father whenever I want?"

"To do what, if I may ask?"

"To watch."

"Tell you what, kiddo. Since you're so cute, I'll set up something like a television and you can watch him scream that way. Acceptable? Put her there, partner!"

Ella shook hands with Pan, then the demon held her by her hand and led her out of the water and back to the road.

"The angel was gonna make me walk out of here all by myself."

"Really? I'm not surprised. Angels are dicks."