The Redemption

Prologue

The cold water from the rain dripped down along the edges of my black wings. I shivered as I spread them apart, spraying water everywhere, then I tucked them back in once they were dry. I chose the worst day to sneak down on Earth, didn't I? Thunder roared as lighting crashed onto the wet, damp ground, revealing a young boy my age before my eyes, in the dark, spacious cave. His beautiful, dark brown eyes peered at me curiously, but not a word escaped from his lips. Did he see everything? I felt lightheaded and everything around me was spinning and before I knew it, all went black.

When I woke up, I was still in the cave, and a blanket was placed over my body. Fire crackled beside me, as if it was eager to tell a story. 

"You're awake?" a voice asked me. I turned my head to see the boy again, except this time, he had a kind smile across his face. He placed the back of his hand to my forehead and loomed forward, "You had a really high fever, but I think it's gone now." The boy backed away and his smile turned into a concerned  frown, "Oh, I thought you had recovered completely, but your face is all red. I guess you are still sick, aren't you?"

I felt my burning hot cheeks with my fingers. Yeah, I had no doubt they were bright red. No human has ever been so close to me. "I-I've recovered, it's just the dark lighting in this cave that's creating illusions," I defended. I noticed a tint of sadness in the smile that returned to his face. "Ah, that reminds me, why are you here? In this cave, I mean. I hid here for temporary shelter, but how about you?"

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he took a seat on the ground, "It's actually a stupid reason."

"Tell me."

He tilted his head upwards to look at the clear, dark, beautiful sky that was enhanced with bright, shining stars, and sighed. "I was notified that my father had passed away a few days ago, and then I ran away. I know I should be comforting my mother, since I'm the only man left in our family, but I'm frightened. I don't know what to do, and the only thing I can do is avoid reality." His eyes were brimmed with tears, and he buried his head in his arms, "I'm so selfish, right?" he asked in a husky voice. "Selfish and cowardly."

"You're not cowardly at all. It takes great courage and bravery to help a stranger, and you did that. Without you, I may already be dead already," I assured him, although I knew I was lying. I mean, sort of. It did indeed take courage for him to have helped me, and he is brave, but the truth was, I wouldn't be dead. To be exact, I can't die. If I don't have a life to begin with, how can I lose something that I don't own? Anyways, what was important was that I had succeeded into lying to him.

"Thanks..." he said with gratitude, lifting his head to face me.

"Did you not sleep yesterday?" I asked worryingly, noticing the dark circles outlining his eyes.

"No, because I was concerned about your condition the whole night, but I'm fine." The look on my face must've told him that I didn't trust him, because then he added, "Really, I'm perfectly fine." 

"Here, have this. You need some sleep," I demanded, shedding the cover for him.

He shook his head, "You're the sick one. You need it more than I do. Plus, there may be wolves or other wild animals around here. I have to-"

"I'll be able to defend us. Just rest." I ordered.

He finally gave in and rested his head on the ground, throwing the covers onto him. I ran my fingers through his short, silky black hair and hummed a sweet lullaby until his eyelids slowly drooped down. His eyelashes were long and luscious, and all of the features on his fair, flawless skin were so pretty and detailed. I smiled at the sight of his angelic, sleeping face.

"Who's that?" a familiar voice snapped at me. I twisted my head in the direction the voice came from to see my old friend, Lee Seunghyun, smirking as always, leaning on the wall of the cave with his arms crossed. Although I hadn't seen him in a while, he was still fairly good looking, with his slick, black hair gelled up and his charming eyes, gazing seductively at people around him. No wonder why he chose to be a Verifier. Guy's the perfect playboy. Must have so many girls on Earth, I teased silently in my mind. Despite the fact that he had been here for about 500 years now, and the fact that I looked like I was only 12, Seunghyun and I go way back. My heartbeat stopped racing and started beating at a normal pace, comforted by the realization that I still had a pal to rely on.

"Oh, it's you. I thought it was someone else," I said as I stood up. 

"Well, you're lucky it's me. They called. Ordered anyone who's on Earth right now to capture you and bring you back up." He waved his hand above his head to indicate which "they" he was talking about. "Are you done staring at that boy, Lily Pad? I'm afraid I'll have to do what the orders say, sooner or later." 

I smiled. Lily Pad. Only Seunghyun would call me that. Others would just refer to me as Nana, or the first and only female God of death. "Give me just a minute, Seunghyun. Do you have a pen and something to write one?" He handed me a fountain pen along with a small sheet of paper, and I took it, offering him a thank you in return. I quickly wrote what I had to say to the boy on the piece of paper, then I slipped off my ring and knelt by his side and cradled it within his hand. 

"Why are you giving him that?" Seunghyun questioned. 

"It's the only way I'll be able to find him if I ever come back down on Earth. And the only way I can protect him," I whispered.

He just chuckled softly, "That's why we have names, perhaps? And the ability to learn a human's name just by looking at them?"

I smiled, "No, that's just freaky. I want to look after him, not stalk him. If I want to learn his name, I shall ask him myself, like a human, but it's too late for that." I got back to my feet and slapped Seunghyun's shoulder lightly as I headed towards the opening of the cave, "C'mon old man. We're leaving now."

Seunghyun took a long, last look at the boy and then followed me.

The sun slowly peeked into the cave and crept onto the boy's eyes. He awakened with a start. Was it all just a dream? Faint images of a pair of black wings and a pretty girl with long, black hair flashed in his head. Something nudged his palm, and he lifted his fist to his eyes, wondering what may be in them. Gradually, he opened his hand, revealing a silver accessory inside it. There were silver vines entwined with each other, creating the form of a ring, and in the middle there was a cross. A very unique cross. 

No, it wasn't a dream, but where is she? He scanned the entire cavern with his eyes, but she was nowhere to be found. Something in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he turned his head to see a letter on the ground, underneath a fist-sized rock. Intrigued about what the letter may contain, he quickly unfolded it and read it's content.

"Dear saviour,

By the time you read this, I have already left the cave. Do not worry, I am safe and sound. I truly thank you for your kindness and for willing to talk to me. I have nothing to pay you back for your generosity, but only a simple ring under my possession. It is now yours. I promise you that if you wish to see me again, the ring will guide you to me... or me to you. Don't try to find me. It's no use. All you have to do is to be patient and wait. I wish you the best.

Sincerely,

The girl in your debt."

"The girl in your debt". Couldn't she at least tell me her name? He slid the ring onto his index finger and stared hopelessly into the bright, warm sky, painted with red, yellow, orange, and many other colours. I will wait for you, he vowed silently. For sure.