Flight

Prologue: the angels

The day my dad went missing was the same day a hole opened up in the sky and the whole world unanimously declared: Angels are real. Which, of course, had a few follow-up questions.

For example:

If angels are real, then what about demons?

Is God real?

Of course, the Christians and Catholics and Seventh Day Adventists all announced that we had known all along and people should really pay more attention to what we "religious freaks" had to say.

On that same day, everyone decided the Bible was sacred and they really needed to read it. How sweet. Good intentions, right? Self-preservation is always handy.

Unfortunately, the Bible is not a survival guide for when angels descend and declare their wrath. I should know. 

I'm a Christian. My parents are Christians. My grandparents are Christians. I've been raised in a very religious home, and I was quoting the Bible before I knew the state capitols.

For anyone who hasn't read the Bible, I'll explain what they do as quickly as possible. 

1.) They deliver messages from God. 

2.) They carry out God's demands, which are usually along the lines of destruction. Ordered destruction, though.

3.) They are not golden rays of goodness. They are fierce warriors and protectors and when they say "God will not be mocked" then God will not be mocked.

4.) They are made up entirely of light, even though they do have a slightly human shape and have a huge wingspan. They can take whatever human form they want.

5.) You know things are serious when they whip out the flaming swords.

In reference to example 5, that's exactly what they did. 

Pretty much all the religions in the world went "Oh, we're done." But the government decided that these beings made up of pure energy were somehow destructable.

Well, quite obviously, they're not.

Atleast, not by us.

Which brings me to Section One, Part Two, which I just made up.

The Fallen.

Now, as opposed to the golden light the good guys are made up of, the Fallen are made up of darkness. 

Here are five things you'll need to know about them.

1.) They have a huge grudge against God and His angels.

2.) Their leader is known as Satan to the angels, Lucifer to the Fallen, and Satan to us. Azazel is his old name, which no one uses anymore.

3.) The angels despise the name "Azazel" with a burning passion. Do not say the name in their presence unless you are suicidal.

4.) You can summon the Fallen. This can get particularly messy.

5.) Summoning the Fallen is simple enough, if you can speak tid-bits of Latin and know a few Hebrew symbols. The price you pay for bringing them to earth is your body. They like to use it as their own.

Sometimes, I think that's what happened to my dad.

He was always a bit of an eccentric--especially for a Christian--and he had lots of theories about angels and demons. But most of all, he had theories about the Fallen.

The Fallen are demons. 

You don't need to worry if they're close. You'll know. You'll feel the cold pressing in. Every bad thing you've ever done will come to mind. The darkness is tangible. No one has ever survived what they call a "demon kiss". It's when the darkness closes around you and harshly presses down on your lips, drawing your life from your body.

How delightful, am I right?