Dark Angel

Chapter 5

 There was someone at the door. They'd been fiddling with the lock for a while now, trying to open the door without breaking it down. I pulled Blue into the closet with me, bringing the shotgun and pistol as well. My rifle was hidden back here somewhere as well, making me feel a bit safer that whoever it was couldn't get their hands on it.

Fear like no other set in as the door finally popped open and the desk scratched against the floor. It was a man, and he cussed at the now tarnished wooden floor. "Who else is in here?" he called out, his voice raspy. There was the sound of a gun cocking, and then his heavy footsteps on the floor.

I sank further back into the clothes, hoping that they concealed both me and Blue for the most part. There was a loud thud, and then silence for what must have been half an hour. No more footsteps. I ordered Blue to stay as I crept out.

The man was passed out in the living room, a pool of blood around his middle. I nudged him a bit with my foot, waiting for him to stir. Nothing. Blue trots over, sniffing. A low growl comes from his throat and I hush him, moving to get a chair. I haul him up into his chair, his body slumping over. His gun was resting on the floor next to the blood and I left it sitting there as I tie him up.

If he wakes up while I'm checking his wound, I'd much rather know he can't move then think that he could strangle me. From there, I carefully peeled up his shirt. He was young, with dark brown hair and tanned skin. He looked only about 21, maybe 22. He was also fit, probably from the past few months of living in the wilderness, though he wasn't skinny. He was getting enough to eat.

There was a long gash across his stomach, though not deep. It appeared to only be a flesh wound, and the amount of blood he'd lost wasn't enough to kill him. I was about to start stitching when something strange started happening. The skin started pulling itself together. I lurched back, clambering around for the gun that was on the floor. He wasn't human.

My hand splattered in the blood and I quickly wiped it on my jeans, trying to scurry further away. His eyes opened, finding me immediately. I held the gun up, flipping the safety off. "What are you?" I ask, my voice shaking. He doesn't say anything, only flexes his arms against the rope. "I'll ask one more time. What. Are. You."

"I think you know exactly what I am," he answered. My blood ran cold, my finger shaking on the trigger. "Shooting me is only going to make me angry. I don't even have to be in this chair if I don't want to. This rope nothing."

"How do I know you're not just saying that so I won't shoot you?" I retort. My hands were shaking more now, barely keeping the gun steady. I was going to die.

"I'm going to get out of the chair now, don't shoot me," he spoke slowly, like I was an idiot. Blue started growling from behind the angel and I called him over. "Nice guard dog you have there," he spoke as he stood, the ropes snapping off like thread. I kept the gun trained on him as he moved the chair back to where it belonged. "What's your name?" he asked, grabbing a towel and beginning to wipe up his blood off the floor. I didn't answer. "So you're giving me the silent treatment? Ok. That's fair I guess, I mean I did break into the cabin you claimed, though to be fair it was mine first," he spoke, a hint of laughter in his voice. He thought toying with me was funny. I fired a warning shot, the bullet embedding itself in the cabinet behind his head. He slowly turned to look at me, his face going harsh.

"You missed." His voice was cold.

"I just thought you'd like to know I'm a pretty good shot, and that if you get any closer I won't miss again," I replied. My voice sounded smaller than I would have liked.

"What's your name?" he asked again, taking a step closer, testing me. I didn't shoot. He had his blood smeared on his hands from trying to clean it off the floor, making him 10 times scarier. He waited a bit longer before asking again. "I'm asking one last time, and then we can figure out a different way to get it out of you. What is your name." I gulped.

"Wren." My voice was barely above a whisper, but he still heard it. "Ok Wren, now lets figure out how this is going to work. I thought about killing you, but that doesn't seem fair, and I'd rather not have to clean up so how about this. We co-exist in the cabin, because this is my cabin and I'm not leaving, and we can talk because it seems to me that you've only had this dog to communicate with and that's just not the same, is it? I've also been alone for the most part these past few months, so I could use the company too. Rules though, you can't shoot me, or anything else that would harm me, and the same goes for me to you. Does that sound good?" He spoke to me like I was a child. I was irked, but not stupid. He was offering me a chance to live, and possibly find out more about the angels.

"Your name. I want to know your name before I agree to this," I ask, gun still trained on him.

"It's Michael," he answered, waiting for my response. I only nodded, setting the gun down on the floor.

"Then it's a deal," he smiled. My stomach sank with anxiety as he offered me his hand to shake. I obliged, his blood smearing across it. A blood deal it seemed then. 

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Sorry this chapter's a little late, today's been crazy with classes and all that stuff. Don't forget to vote and share it with your friends! I hope you guys like it, it's finally starting to pick up! :)

-Olivia