Absolution

13: Scars

Alice

I woke up harshly by the foul smell that fills the air and my eyes opened widely to scan my surroundings.

I don't think my eyes are functioning right in this place, all I can see is red smoke and some silhouettes.

When I inhaled some of the red smoke, I coughed harder and my eyes begin to water. The smell of blood and something decaying is too strong that I choose not to ignore.

I bring my arm to cover my nose and luckily I wear my hoodie to protect my skin in this somewhat infernal furnace.

Infernal.

I gasped at the realization that I might possibly be dead and the person who dropped me in this place is probably the angel of death.

But wait a second, I remembered something that I am being lifted from the ground and the sound of a flapping wings.

Then after a few minutes, a bloodcurling scream follows and another hand picks me up through the collar of my hoodie.

That is when I lost my consciousness and now I woke up into this weird place.

Someone grunted from my right and my head whipped to the side to see who is it. So I am not alone here.

"S-somebody help.." a male voice croaked. I noticed that we are like inside of a cage or a dungeon, but it doesn't matter. I have to attend to this person.

I crawle next to him and I pressed the light button on my watch to give me some light to see his face.

My throat gone dry to see a creature with wings and a handsome face crumpled in pain.

Goodness! He has wings!

I take off my hoodie and covered it to his body, he is not yet opening his eyes but the pain in his face is evident.

There is a blood coming from his back and from what I saw, it is from his wings. Then again, I feel like I'm going to be ill seeing his wings that are almost featherless.

I fished out a handkerchief and tried to stop the bleeding from his wings "I know how to first aid but I don't know how to cure a wing!" I exclaimed.

The man opened his eyes and I was baffled to see a pair of sky blue eyes twisted in agony.

"Humans are really nice. You even try to help an angel, I must thank you once we get out of here." what the hell is he saying?

I shake my head in disbelief as I wipe away the cake blood from his wings, it is a relief to see that the bleeding almost stopped.

"I don't know what are you talking about. Humans? Angels? I don't understand." I said, confusely.

The man tried to sit up and I helped him, he muttered a thanks and leans his back against the rock.

"I am Cassiel. The angel of Misery and I failed to protect you while my bestfriend is fighting out the demons who are trying to corrupt your soul." he said.

I glanced at his wings and to his bloodied tunic. So he really is an angel.

"So angels are real?" I whisper, still confused.

He nods, smiling "Yes. We are real." I chew my bottom lip and I am alarmed again when I saw the blood seeping out from my handkerchief.

It seems I got no choice.

I push the sleeves of my hoodie up to my elbow, exposing my bandaged wrists.

I remove the lock from my bandage and peeled off the bandage from my wrists.

"Beautiful scars in critical veins. You know Alice, living is nice and you must savor every minute of it." he is right, I told myself to quit the suicidal attempts but these past few months I've been a mess.

I remember everything what happened from that night when I learned that they are not really my parents.

Also, I don't even know how I remember those but I am glad that I am fully aware of what's happening.

If demons are real, of course angels too. Hell, maybe some vampires or witches are real too but they keep themselves in secret.

I'm currently bandaging his wing in poor attempt to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, it is actually succeeding.

I sit beside him and scan again our surroundings "Where are we?"

He cough "I think we're in the 7th circle."

7th what?

He turn to face me "Alice, do you know the consequences of your actions? The self harm instances and suicidal attempts?"

I shake my head "I only did it because I am so depressed of my life. I've been bullied throughout my school years and I think I am too tired to live." I confessed.

"We all have different obstacles in our lives but killing yourself is a grave sin." he said, his eyes looking sad.

"So what will happen to me?" I ask.

"Your soul is bounded in 7th circle. You are destined to be here in Hell, Alice." he answered.

Shit. I knew it.