CLOUD 9INE (OG)

10

The five friends converged on the arena. Evyn was running and carrying Tetra and Rich on her back, while Ava flew with her newfound wings and carried Lo.

The onlookers gasped as they forced themselves through the lines and arrived at the large door.

"It looks sealed shut," said Rich matter-of-factly as he and Tetra dismounted Evyn. Tetra looked on as Evyn gave them an uncharacteristic smirk and started attempting to ram the door down with her shoulder. She was happy that Evyn felt more at home with herself, but she wished she'd gone through some type of transformation that would've helped her with her anxiety or something.

The crowd of people waiting in the lines cheered as Evyn kept trying to get into the door. Ava took Lo over the top wall and they landed on the outer rim of the roof. Lo looked over the edge and waved to Tetra who was down below. She waved back and blew him a kiss. Lo caught it.

Suddenly, the door gave way. Evyn reverted to her human form and pumped her fist in the air until she saw Rob step through the door.

"Oh, wow," he said. "I did not expect this turn of events."

He poofed closer to her. "You've managed to become one of us. Interesting. Well, if you're looking for a job, all you had to do was knock."

Tetra yelled at him, "We're not here for job applications. We're here to take you down!" Rob laughed. "You can't 'take me down', human. Even if you dispel me, my superlatives will most certainly begin to attack you. You can't win."

Evyn transformed and pounced on him, attempting to claw at him, but he poofed back into a standing position and attempted to sleep her. Instead of her sleeping, it only made her angrier and she grabbed him by the waist.

"If there's one thing I hate about my kind," she growled, "It's their pride." Ava and Lo floated down as Evyn began squeezing the life out of Rob. He was trying to protest, but the more he tried to talk, the more Evyn suffocated him.

Before passing out, Rob raised his hands and dark red energy was expelled from his hands and shot into the sky. His skin turned grey, and his face turned expressionless. Evyn dropped him and he slumped down onto the ground.

"He's dead," said Rich. "Finally."

Evyn turned human again and knelt beside Rob. Even though she was victorious, she was almost in tears.

"What's wrong?" Tetra asked.

Evyn lifted Rob's lifeless cadaver. "I don't know...I killed another demon. Another of my kind. I feel terrible."

Ava placed her hand on Evyn's shoulder. "Do whatever you have to do."

Evyn nodded and carried the body into the arena. Her friends followed as the bolt of red energy descended upon the arena and created the helldoor. She carried him through the door and laid him on the other side.

"Could we go with you, Evyn?" asked Rich. She shook her head.

"The horrors are too great right now. I'm going to bring him to the front desk and then I'll be back." The door slammed shut and disappeared.

Tetra's intrusive thoughts began again as she wondered if Evyn would be okay. Ava stared wistfully at where the door once was.

Lo simply hugged Tetra and she hugged back. She felt him sigh. Not a frustrated sigh, but one of relief. She traced his back with her finger while they waited for Evyn to return. Hours passed. Then the door made a crackling sound as it opened and Evyn stepped through, her hair smoldering in purple flame.

"I definitely don't want to go in there again," Evyn said as she shrank down into her human form.

Ava ran to hug her, and Tetra smiled as well.

"What now?" Lo said.

"They could come back," said Rich as his face was buried in his notes.

Tetra said, "Thanks for helping my angst out, Rich."

"No problem."

Loud heavenly trumpets began to play suddenly as three angels descended on the arena's floor.

The two on the right and left looked more like Ava, with small wings and light blue skin. The angel in the center had much larger wings and a much brighter halo.

Tetra glared at them. "What's all this for?"

The head angel spoke. "We are here to reward you, humans and spirits, for your service in stopping the demon invasion. We would like to take you all to Cloud 8 as celebrities. You will all receive one large house, and it will be farther away from the cities to give you peace."

The angel on the left dropped a cube on the floor, which created a hologram model of their new house.

Tetra's eyes grew wide and so did Rich's, but the other three were warier of the deal. "What if we wanted to stay here instead?" asked Evyn. She transformed again and Ava did as well.

"Alas, you do not get to make that choice," said the head angel. "The big man will be taking you there."

Tetra thought for a moment. "What about all of our other friends here? Will we see them ever again?"

"If they pass next year's Reaping, yes."

She pondered for a while, then whispered to Lo, "Should we do it?"

Lo didn't answer with words, and instead gave her another kiss on her forehead and smiled at her. Tetra turned back towards the angels.

"We'll take it."

The head angel explained, "Alright then. I'm glad you made the decision to accept. Kindly, spirits, do not threaten us again. We could have the demon sent to Hell and the angel returned to our ranks, if need be, so do not try that." Both girls became human again and Evyn crossed her arms.

Before they could gain their bearings, they were whisked away to Cloud 8. When they arrived, the sun was much brighter there, but not blinding.

All five friends looked around at their new surroundings. Their house had rooms tailored to their specific likings. Evyn's and Ava's room was in the basement and covered half with bright colors and tapestries, the other half filled with dark colors and runes. Even the bed was split down the middle with colors.

Rich's room was a lookout on the top, with a space telescope and a plethora of lab equipment.

Tetra and Lo searched for their rooms and came across it. It as in singular. They shared a room.

Tetra was excited and scared at the same time. Their room was simpler than the rest, decorated quaintly, but it was with stuff that they both enjoyed. They held hands and looked out over the balcony that was fashioned for them. The ocean's tides cascaded over the rocks down below and the city skyline shone brightly over the horizon with light.

Lo took Tetra's hands into his and looked directly into her eyes. His green eyes made her want to melt, but she kept her composure.

He hugged her close and kissed her, on the lips this time. It was a short, but passionate kiss to tell her one thing. He loved her and wouldn't give her up just yet.

She rested her head on his chest and they stared out into the horizon again, wondering what was in store for them.