Those With Wings

Heaven Is Hell

Zero's POV

I heard footsteps behind me, and I quickened my pace. What if it was another demon, what if-

My thoughts were broken off abruptly as I felt a slender hand on my shoulder.

"Zero," Luanna said softly.

I turned to face her, and my heart jumped. Even with green slime covering her face, she was pretty.

She hesitated. "Can we...Stick together?"

I wanted to nod eagerly, but then changed my mind. "As what?" I asked cautiously.

She flushed. "I don't think-"

Disappointment flooded through me. "Okay."

Luanna gave me an awkward hug, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer.

She scrambled away quickly, and gave me a look. I shrugged. "I had to try."

"Whatever happened to the other Zero?" she asked, smoothing her hair in place.

"Yeah, he's still here, but pretty much dead and gone ever since you came into his life."

Luanna smiled slightly. "Well then...I guess this is the part where we get you home?"

I paused. "I guess."

She took my hand, though her nose wrinkled when she did. "Let's get cleaned up first, before we scare everyone off," she suggested.

I didn't move as she tried to tug me back towards the river. She threw me an annoyed look. "What?!"

"When I get home...Will you stay?" I asked.

"Your parents accused me of kidnapping you. I don't think I'm very welcome."

I looked at the ground. "I'll miss you," I admitted.

"I know you will, shushnub. Now let's get cleaned up."

She walked into the cold river, and rubbed the slime off of her arms, and face. I stared at her, in a trance, as she laughed, and pulled me in as well. "Come on, shushnub," she said, rolling her eyes.

I wiped the stuff off of my body, and she huffed in frustration as she couldn't reach a spot. I lifted my arm, and washed it off of her back. She shot me a glare. "Watch your limits," she warned as my hand remained on her back.

I jerked it away quickly, and stepped out of the river, shaking my head. She got out as well, and shivered. "I could do with a nice, warm home," she said dryly.

"So could I," I murmered. She rubbed her arms against the goosebumps.

I paused. "You know, you never did tell me where you came from."

She peeked at the sky. "From up there. In a place they call heaven. But heaven isn't the heaven humans believe in, and angels aren't what they believe angels to be. It's a horrible place."

I gave her a look. "So in fact, heaven is hell?"

Luanna linked her arm through mine, and put her mouth to my ear. "It's exactly that," she whispered.