Don't Go Back

Felina the Wicked

I woke up on my cloud still feeling pink and puffy according to Celine.

Who am I

These words echoed through my mind like a never ending canyon. I remember...
An old man in his late thirties? Star like hair?
I was small. So small. My hands were small. The canyon. The river... I couldn't breathe.

"Payton!" Celine yelled
I shot up off my white comfortable cloud she had my full attention.
"Goodness, don't scare me like that." I exhaled. I felt sudden pressure in my head. I got up to look around. How long had I been out? I had such a strange feeling in my head like everyone was trying to talk to me at once.

Ffff...

My mind screamed.
"Are you alright?" Michael rushed towards me

Fe..

They're coming in pulses
"Yeah just... Head rush is all..."

Fell...

I felt a sudden gust of wind and large maple eyes in front of mine. That big curly brown hair. Looked more like ribbons.

Felin...

I wanted to say nephila. But somehow...

"Felina..."

I felt soft feathers as I was swept away.
------------------------------------------------

"Payton..."
"Payton wake up"
So familiar.
So warm
Soft

"Payton!"
My eyes shot open as a few blurry faces came into focus.
"Gabriel" I spoke with raspiness in my voice.
"What does the name Felina mean to you" he urged.
"Gabriel please, she is feeling weak." When Nephila spoke it was like honey so smooth and sweet.
"Well she's just a story. She isn't real" I said as I awoke. I felt this gut wrenching pain, no, discomfort in the pit of my stomach. I felt so...
So...
Nervous
Worried
Afraid
These words had no place in heaven. They were unfamiliar to me. These earthly feelings aren't supposed to exist here.
"It's not just a story." Gabriel said "we expected Felina to come back..."

"What he means is, well we have suspicions that you might be her." Nephila continued.

"I'm... I'm the wicked one? I'm... No. It's just a story! Told by the lights trying to teach the new how to behave here! This isn't real!" My mind spun and searched every memory it could possibly reach any clue, any hint, any possible way that could have given away that I could possibly be her...
"We don't believe you reincarnated to be just like her. You're merely a fragment of her. A polished version of the Felina from the story." Gabriel said. Was he trying to comfort me?

"As if Felinas soul had gone through the erosion process and only left the good. All the wicked may be gone." Nephila reassured.

"Why am I here then? I mean, why are you telling me all this?" I asked

Nephila looked at Gabriel with a concerned expression.
"Well." She glanced back at him for approval.
"We weren't necessarily looking for you. We were, but we were hoping you were..." She looked down as she parted her lips to say the next partnership of her sentence.
"We were hoping you were Faith." She blurted out almost like lifting a weight of her shoulders.
"What? But the story... I thought she was destroyed." I felt so confused.
"Well in theory Felina shouldn't exist. Lucifer destroyed you." That last part felt like that he plunged that silver dagger into heart. Has acknowledging I'm her. She's me. I'm Felina...
"Do you have any idea who could be Faith?" I asked.
"We have suspicions it may have been one of the lights sent to earth. We've searched these grounds for eons." Gabriel stated.
Gloria.
Her name popped into my head instantly.
It could be her. I mean she sacrificed herself for me. She was good. Great even.
"How do you plan on getting her?" I asked.
"That's when you come in, Felina" nephila grabbed hold of my hand.
"It's Payton" I pulled away.
"I was born Payton and I died as Payton. I'd like that, at the very least, to remain the same." I looked to the floor.
That feeling in my stomach. It hurts.
"Right. My apologies, Payton." Nephila said taking my hand again.
"Right. Anyway, we plan on sending you to... Terrae" he said looking over at nephila.
"Earth." She explained.
"What?!" How? Why?! They want me to live?! Again?!
"You don't have to of you feel uncomfortable with the idea." Nephilas big brown eyes twinkled at every syllable.

Gloria. She saved me. My heart felt like it was going to pound straight out of my chest. The least I could do was return the favor.
I was silent before I built up the courage to answer.

"Alright." I looked to the floor as my eyes felt as if they boiled and my cheeks felt flushed with red.

"I'll go."

"Alright! Well since we can't actually send you there ourselves you're going to need to be brave. Do you think you can do that?" Nephilas voice was always so reassuring.
"I think so. How will I get there?"
"We are going to wait for the next breach. For this we need a demon." Gabriel furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his jaw.

"Demon? This day just keeps getting better." I said trying to lighten myself up.
" I do not understand. You just recieved horrible news that you are in fact the wicked and now you are being sent into the face of danger." She tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"Oh. It's um. It's an expression." So the rumours of the Angels being so literal is true.
"Oh yes, she said laughing how funny." She grinned.
Seraphim Angels are very different from the arch angels.
Gabriel is so stoic and authoritive looking. Nephila is sweet and almost quirky.

"Vince." Gabriel whispered as if he'd realized something.

He grabbed hold of my wrist and I felt that now familiar gust of wind as we flew. I heard a very faint echo from nephila as we left. Was it no? Or go?
I open my eyes as I smelled the fresh grass break under my feet.
"Gabriel?" I yelled seeing that he was no longer holding my wrist.
"Gabriel!" I yelled as I pushed through countless branches and brushery. My heart started racing and my palms began to sweat.
"Gabriel!" My voice cracked.
I heard rustling behind me.
I stood still.
Please...
Be
Gabriel. Michael. Celine. Nephila.
All these names ran through my head as I wished as hard as I could.
Someone grabbed hold of my wrist.
Gabriel. I thought.
I turned around to find a pair of the darkest brown eyes I had ever seen.
"Arrivederci, bella ragazza..."
His other hand took hold of the back of my neck, thumb reaching my temple. Warm liquid ran down to my chin as he muttered he word.

"Terrae"