"She's dead," I whispered in a voice that can only be described as tortured, as the agony of losing my best friend to that demonic creature overwhelmed me. I was sitting in the middle of the pitch black forest outside my house with the cold, lifeless shell that once held the soul of my un-biological sister, Marie, lying in my arms. Rain was pouring down on us, as if it wanted to wash away the horrible tragedy that just took place in what I thought, until just a few hours ago, was the safest place on earth. The only thing running through my mind, on that particular day, at that precise moment, was 'I don't know why he did this, or who he is, but I will find him. I will make him regret what he has done.' I bolt up in my bed with Marie's voice running through my head as if she's really in the room.
"Riley, it's not your fault." Her voice sounds comforting, but it's edged with something that I can't place.
"Marie, is that you? Where are you? Why did this happen?" All that I can force past the lump of tears in my throat is a rush of questions.
"Ok! Stop with the question bullets. You're not a shotgun." It sounds as if my best friend of nine years has completely disappeared, and in her place stands someone that can't say one word to me without sounding cruel. "I'm right beside you. You've been in that same position with that same look of dumbfounded shock on your face for five minutes." I turn my head, and I almost jump out of my skin. It's her! Marie's long, wavy, dark brown locks frame her round, pale face. Her lips are the same way they've been since she'd fallen off of the swings when we were eight years old. The bottom lip is full, while the top is slightly crooked. She smiles and shows off a set of perfectly straight, white teeth, but I notice that her smile doesn't meet her light brown eyes the way that they used to.
"How? What? When? Where?" Again, more questions spill from my mouth. "All I remember, after Alec grabbed my neck, is waking up here. Catch me up to speed. How long have I been dead?"
"You've been dead for two weeks and three days. I told the police that we were climbing trees and you fell on your neck. He snapped it. Only and owl can turn its head that far. Who is he? You said his name is Alec?" The truth about how she died is harsh, but we've never kept secrets.
"He's an immortal, and as you can see by my ghostly state, we aren't exactly the best of friends." That's an understatement.
"Wait a minute. What on God's green earth is an immortal?" I turned my head, and caught my own reflection staring back at me in the mirror above my dresser. My long, straight, black hair frames my round face. My skin is an olive tone. The dark, thin eyebrows that are furrowed in a questioning look are above my sparkling hazel eyes.
The look of disbelief and utter shock is beginning to take over my full lips. "An immortal is a beautiful being that lives forever. I broke a rule. He had to kill me." She smiles a sad smile, and turns towards the door. She disappears.
I can't believe that just happened. I flop my head back down on my pillow, and there's a crackling sound under my head. I lift my head back off of my pillow, and see a note.
~ Riley, you are more special than you think. The answers will come soon, and you will have to make a choice.
-Marie
What does that mean? I fold the note and jump out of bed. I hurriedly pull on my dark blue jeans, snatch my gray Hunter Hayes t-shirt over my head, brush my teeth and hair, sweep on my black eyeliner, slip on my shoes, grab my keys, and finally walk out the door. Twenty minutes later, I'm walking through the front doors of Langston Grove High School.
The school is fairly new. The brick is still its original shade of red. The building itself is humongous, and most of the students need a map just to find a bathroom.
As soon as I am inside, I round the corner and head in the direction of my classroom. As I push and shove my way down the hallway, I lock eyes with the most beautiful person I have ever seen.
His dark black hair looks like darkness itself. His eyes glow with such a deep blue that the ocean seems to be inside them. His skin is tan and flawless; his shoulders are broad and strong.
My admiration is cut short as I realize that he's staring at me too. Holy crap! Before I know it, the beautiful boy is gliding down the hall in my direction. He smiles a wide smile at me.
"Hey, I'm Alec," he says with a glorious smile of his own. Before I can comprehend what is happening, my hand is already balled up into a fist and slugging him as hard as I possibly can in his gorgeous face. He stumbles back a few feet with a look of pure astonishment and disbelief replacing his smile.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"Well I don't know. It could be because you're the idiot that thought that he could just murder my best friend and not have to deal with me." All of my anger and pain is starting to gush out of my eyes.
"Ok, look. Would you mind meeting me after school? We can go to the coffee shop on the square. I'm pretty sure you have tons of questions, and I will answer them then. Please?" For some reason he looks desperate, and I want to go.
"No, we are going now." I need answers.
"What about school?"
"School will be here tomorrow. Let's go." Is that amusement in his eyes? I start for the door. We walk in the parking lot, and I head for my truck. As we settle in, he blurts "That night in the forest, I looked right into your eyes. I automatically fell in love with you."
"Are you saying that you fell in love with me at first sight? This gorgeous guy that killed my best friend is telling me that he loves me. How crazy is that?
"Yes. I know you probably don't believe me, but it's true." Is it just me or are his eyes getting brighter?
"I believe you," I whisper. Then, I realize that what I said is true. Alec looks at me and smiles. His smile makes me melt. What am I thinking? He killed Marie.
I park the truck outside of the coffee shop and kill the engine.
"Start at the beginning," I say as we sit down.
"Well, first of all, you are a fallen angel. Your real name is Rain. When you were in heaven, you were the Archangel. That's the highest ranking angel. God saw a war in the future, and since are the most powerful angel that has ever been born, he sent you to earth to save the world. You were reborn as a baby with no knowledge of what you are.
"Marie was also an angel. She planned to kill you so that she could take your place. She got you to trust her and love her like a sister, so that you wouldn't see it coming. I'm an immortal. My job is to bring punishment to the angels that have broken the rules. Every immortal falls in love with one angel, his angel. I didn't know it was you until that night. I don't regret what I did, but I am sorry that it hurt you so badly." As he finishes, I see a flash, and Marie is right beside me.
"It's time that I tell you about that choice of yours. You see, Satan needs your power for the war. So, the question is; will you give them up, or will you die in war?"
"There is no way he's getting my powers. They're mine, and it's going to stay that way." My voice is strong as I say this, and pride in who I am washes over me. I didn't realize that I had stood up. She gives another harsh laugh and disappears. Alec spins me around to face him.
"You are amazing." His eyes are even brighter than before. He leans down and touches his lips to mine. He takes my face between his hands, and deepens the kiss. I fling my arms around his neck, my fingers playing with his hair. He looks down at me.
"I love you Rain," he said. My heart begins to warm as I come to a realization that has been staring me straight in my face all day.
"I love you too." In one day, my whole future has changed. I have changed; or rather I've become who I really am. I was betrayed, and it made me stronger. I fell in love, and it made life better. I will learn to use my powers; whatever they may be, and I will fight against the evil army. I will save the world. I have made my choice.
