24 Dreams Of You And Me

63) Wanted, Dead Or Alive

"What's your drug of choice?" she asked.
"Hope," he said. "The most addicting one of all."

***

Levi stumbled on his feet but eventually gained balance and stood up. His wide gray eyes soaked in the sight of the burning barn.

"A wall." Crystal said. "She built a wall of fire around herself. I-I couldn't do it."

Levi furiously turned to face her. "You were going to kill Alyssa!"

"And I still would." The Angel stated with authority. "She is a threat to all creation."

"There's a human spirit inside." Levi pointed to the flames. "She has been twisted to the point of malignance but nothing changes the fact that she's still a girl!"

"You have without hesitation killed other, less harmful soldiers. What makes her different?" Another Angel asked.

"She's the sole heiress of half an American tribe. Without her, chaos will loom down on them." Levi replied.

"Even with her, her tribe will be up to no good. She'll turn everyone and then worlds will be brought down to their knees." Came the reply from the male Angel.

Levi exhaled sharply. "I'm not giving up on her. Not yet."

"You should've protected her while you had a chance. Now isn't the time to get in our way."

"Watch me." Levi said as he stood alone against five Angels.

Crystal breathed in deep. "Levi, don't make us hurt you."

"Give me some time. I promise I'll take care of her myself if worse comes to worse. But now isn't that time." He said truthfully.

"Elijah died. So have many others. Why would we give you more time, to let more of us die?"

"Because if there's even a slight possibility of hope, you don't kill. Your the good guys. You'd rather sacrifice than letting injustice happen. Angels don't do reckless slaughter. Not to innocent lives."

Crystal remained silent and kept her eyes down.

"Crystal won't come home until Alyssa is dead." An Angel declared.

Levi looked at Crystal and begged with his eyes when she looked up.

"Okay." Crystal reluctantly agreed. "I'll not go back home."

Immense relief washed over Levi as he slouched a bit. "Thank you." He said with sincerity in his voice.

"Are you sure, sister?" An Angel asked and Crystal nodded.

She walked past them and disappeared. The rest of the Angels, after a stare down, walked away too.

Except one.

"Do you want me to repeat the speech personally to you?" Levi raised his eyebrow at the female Angel.

"I don't understand why everyone is okay with this. Mark my words, Levi. You'll live to regret this decision. Darkness, so deep, will surround you. You won't know what's right or wrong. Sin will seep in deep inside you and make you unclean. You'll be terrified to the bone and you won't have an out. Playing with fire is a dangerous game which everyone is destined to lose."

"I won't let it happen. Once I'm sure she can't be saved-"

"How will be sure? After the damage is done. Before that, you'll always see the light of hope. But damage is irreversible."

"Very optimistic for an Angel." He commented sarcastically.

"Very brave for a mere spirit." She shot back.