The Angel Among Us

Chapter 2

Virgil died on a windy day in April. He woke up that day unsuspecting of what was going to transpire that day. He felt on edge, but shrugged it off as him being paranoid. He cooked and ate, packed his things, and set on his way.
After a few hours of walking, he heard a twig snap behind him. He jumped a little, but kept walking. It's probably just a deer, he thought.
He picked up random little sounds, a bird flying away, the sound of a walkie-talkie going off, a chipmunk scurrying up a tree. Some of the sounds put him more on edge. He pulled his bow from off of his back and cocked an arrow.
After a while he heard leaves being crushed by feet behind him. He knew who they were, so he starting running. He knew it would be pointless, but he shot an arrow backwards.
He was getting winded, and the people behind him were getting closer. Still, he didn't stop. He wouldn't die today, that's for certain.
Suddenly, a bunch of SWAT-Team looking people ran into his path. Virgil panicked and ran to the left. Others stopped in front of him. He turned around and ran the other way. More people stopped him.
He was surrounded. There was no chance of escape. Virgil felt like a trapped animal. He folded in on himself until he could feel the presence of the people chasing him. A strong hand grabbed him by the hair and lifted him up.
"Gotcha, ya little shit. Think you could've run away from us, huh?" A gruff voice said. Virgil didn't want to open his eyes. He kicked his feet in a final attempt to try and get away. He was suddenly dropped to the ground and slumped there. He heard the cock of a gun. "Your brain will do a lot for us, y'know?" The man chuckled.
Gun fire. Excruciating pain through his chest. Darkness. Virgil lost.
~
Virgil died when he was 15. If he was still alive, he would be 28. If he had lived, he might've had a family, a job, a house.
It was so long ago, yet the nightmares kept continuing. It was almost like clockwork at that point. He rarely had a peaceful night's sleep. He would wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to go back to sleep. The only time he would actually feel rested is when the lack of sleep caught up to him, and he would pass out without dreaming. It sucked, to be frank.
The nightmares woke him up the night before he was supposed to go back to earth. Great, he thought, can't even get a good night sleep before I start on my journey. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. Might as well make sure I have everything before I go.
He double triple checked his bag, making sure that he had the necessary supplies. He couldn't afford any improvisation on this journey. People's lives were at stake, all riding on his shoulders. He tried not to think about the responsibility.
"Are you seriously packing last minute?" Virgil jumped at the sudden voice. "Oh no, I'm so sorry." David put her hands over her mouth. She was wearing pajamas with hearts on them, and slipper socks. No wonder Virgil didn't hear her come in.
"It's fine," he mumbled, "I'm sorry for waking you up." Virgil normally would've thought that David hated him, but she hasn't kicked him out yet, even after all these years. She stuck with him through his worst days, so she must be staying.
"It's fine, I was up anyway." David walked over to the coffee machine and started to make herself tea. "Dreamed about the day you died again?"
"I thought they were supposed to stop after a year, why do I still get them?"
"You have an anxiety disorder. You dwell on things for a very long time Virgil. Your brain works differently than everyone's." She picked up her mug and leaned against the counter.
"I wish it didn't." Virgil always struggled with paranoia and anxiety. It was a life- and afterlife- long struggle.
"Do you have the files on your clients? Can I see them?" Virgil nodded and pulled some files out of his bag. There were three of them. He spread them on the table and opened the first one.
"Patton Matthews." He picked up the photo and handed it to David. "18-years-old. Is super in-tune to emotions. A little under a year and a half until he's taken away. Lives in central California. Should be somewhere near the western border of Nevada right about now." He opened the next file and held up the photo. "Roman Prince. 17-years old." David took the photo out of Virgil's hand. "Has amazing and completely unique ideas. Also very strong. Lives in Arizona. Likely where the borders of Nevada, California, and Arizona." He pulled out the final picture. "Logan Phillips. 16-years-old. Super genius. Lives in Florida and has been on the run for almost a year. Probably in southern Idaho at this point." Virgil also pulled out a map. "Abraham's going to drop me off near Patton. He'll be the easiest to convince. After that, we'll go and find Roman. He'll be a little more difficult, but he's probably terrified right now." He took a deep breath. "Logan will be the hardest to convince. He's had the most experience on the run, and he's probably set on his own plan, but Abraham told me that his plan will lead him to ruin. I have to set him on the right path, otherwise I'll fail."
"You're very prepared," was David's only comment. She looked at him with amazement. "You've changed so much Virge. You're so different from the scared fledgling that Abraham brought to me."
"I'm not different; I just learned to hide my fear." In appearance, he hadn't changed at all. He was fifteen when he died, and he still looked fifteen. He barely even grew in height too.
David laughed a little. "I don't know what I'm gonna do without you." She rubbed her eyes.
"You'll be fine. Trust me, Abraham has something special for you." Virgil held out his arms.
David returned the hug. "I hope so," she mumbled.
The two shared that hug for a while. After all, it would be a long time before they saw each other again.