The Battle Within An Angel

Twenty-One | Maddox & Anaia & Claire

"Flames," Anaia whispered into Maddox's ear. Once again, he couldn't see her, but he felt her presence near to him. "The warehouse is up in flames."

"Claire," Maddox felt a stabbing pain in his chest as her name escaped from his lips. He wanted to cry, but his tear ducts felt empty as if they were incapable of producing the salty water. 

"She's still alive, Maddox. Find her."

For the first time in a while, Maddox heard a deep concern in Anaia's voice. If the devil cared about one thing, it was her daughter.

In the distance, Maddox caught a glimpse of smoke. His wings protruded from his back, though by Anaia's will, not his own.

Not that he cared about that, though. He wanted Claire to be safe as much as Anaia did, if not more.

Maddox's wings lifted him from the ground that had begun to cool down- if only by a hair- as the Red Giant began to set in the sky. As he flew toward the burning warehouse that lit up the night sky with dancing red flames, he saw a group of people standing around it, watching intently.

His wings lowered him slowly to the ground, and in front of him only by a few yards, he saw Claire.

And unfortunately, Wesley.

Claire was standing up in front of Wesley, rubbing her wrists as the two spoke.

Can't trust him. Maddox ran toward the two, trying not to allow his exhaustion to catch up with him. He found it extremely difficult to move his legs, but that was no matter. He was close enough to hear a piece of their conversation as they faced the building while he inched closer behind them.

"We have to go, Claire. They know now that I'm mutated, too. Now there's a price on my head and yours. Also, I found this."

Maddox watched as Wesley handed Claire a few pieces of paper, a bit crisped on the edges but still legible.

The silence almost caused Maddox to be caught as he panted for breath, but Claire filled the void with a soft-spoken voice.

"So, I have the power to reverse the Red Giant?"

"That's what it says. And I know that the island doesn't exist that Chaos promised. I want my life back. I want Earth back. To be able to breathe clean air, you know? And you're the only one who can make that happen. I'm going to help you if you let me."

Maddox, once having caught his breath, stepped between the two.

"Claire, what happened?" Maddox pushed Wesley aside, but Wesley himself was too tired to fight back.

"Are you blind? It caught fire!"

"Actually," Wesley spoke, coming into view of the two of them. "It was struck by a grenade. Two or three, most likely. It's a pretty big place for one grenade to take down."

Maddox looked at the bulky man in disgust but allowed him to speak.

He'd taken Claire from him, and Maddox wouldn't let that happen again.

Maddox focused his attention back on Claire who, to his surprise, wasn't harmed at all.

"Are you alright? How'd you escape?"

Claire rolled her eyes at Maddox. She found it sweet that he cared about her, but the fact that he could've saved her earlier impeded her thoughts like a herd of buffalo.

"I'm fine, and I didn't escape." A smile came across her face as she nodded toward Wesley, who stood beside her. "He saved me."

Wesley simply stood still with his hands behind his back, tapping his foot. "We need to leave," he whispered with a tremor in his voice. "Now. They're trying to find us," he pointed to Claire.