Original Sin

Chapter 7

"A rock? That's the item to provide divine intervention?" Hailey wasn't convinced. Michael was turning out to be a disappointment.

"Indeed. But it is not to be used lightly," Michael replied sipping his tea like a true aristocrat. He acted like a king, probably nursing a God complex for the last few thousand years.

Her brief discussion with Michael revealed that not all angels are completely devoted to God and doing his miracles on Earth. After Alex left, many angels followed him to Hell, and that number seemed to be increasing. Angels were still leaving, which left Heaven and the pure souls of human beings in danger. 

By helping Hailey accomplish her goal, Michael proved himself quite cunning- He could fix humanity's eternal problem and essentially become God-like, without having to lift a single finger. 

"I believe you understand the consequences of misusing this information, correct?" Michael raised an eyebrow.

What an ass. Michael was full of himself.

"To be honest, I never thought I'd be the one telling you this. I honestly believed you and Lucifer..."

"Please call him Alex, Michael. We aren't in Biblical times anymore."

At this interruption, Michael seemed annoyed. "Does it matter?"

Hailey crossed her arms, steadfast in her decision to remain loyal to her husband until the day she died, even if that day was imminent. "These are the names we have chosen in an attempt to maintain our humanity. It connects us with this world and the people who inhabit it."

"Do you think he really has maintained humanity?" Michael queried. 

Hailey didn't reply. She didn't know how to reply while still in control of the conversation. From what little she knew of Michael, he was certainly not a push-over; if she gave an inch, he would take a mile. Thus, she kept her face void of emotion and chose to say nothing. 

Michael seemed content to table the question for now. "Very well," he said and put down the tea. He withdrew from his pocket something that Hailey could only describe as very old. "Do you recognize this?"

Hailey carefully handled the delicate artifact. It was papyrus, fraying badly at the edges but still beautifully preserved despite the fact. Greek letters...ancient Greek. Hailey read it aloud. "We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible." Hailey hadn't seen these words in almost a thousand years. "This is a piece of the Nicaean Creed from the First Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D."

"Good. Then you understand the legitimacy of the next text. They are from the same manuscript." Michael withdrew a larger sheet of papyrus. As Hailey leaned in for closer inspection, she saw they bore the same water markings, showed the same age, and the calligraphy had similar curves, dips, and spacing between the letters. It appeared both documents were written by the same individual at the same time. 

But the second document bore statements and phrases that Hailey had never seen or heard uttered in public spaces before.

"And these items shall be deemed sacred among believers... At the time of Revelations, all believers will take the pain of judgement upon themselves with the Rock of Ages... Divine souls will be spared... May judgement come upon the nonbelievers..."

Hailey flipped the document to the other side. The drawing seemed to depict this Rock of Ages. It wasn't much (to anyone else it looked like just a sparkly rock), but according to the document it had the power to deliver judgement upon an individual. 

"Michael, how did you come across this?"

"Ah well, I am an angel. People generally give me whatever I ask for."

Hailey rolled her eyes. "This information isn't credible unless you can explain to me the history behind said "rock" and exactly how it is supposed to work."

Michael gave a long sigh and closed his eyes. He seemed so used to getting his way without question. If he were human, he'd have been knocked senseless by countless women, Hailey thought. 

"You certainly are as fearless as the rumors said." Michael stood from the table, gesturing for Hailey to follow him out the door. As they exited Common Grounds, Hailey looked back to see the waitress squealing with excitement at the $20 tip he left on the table. 

Awful nice for an arrogant jerk. 

"I suppose it's rare for you to see the good we influence in the world, isn't it?"

"Yeah...I'm usually on the negative side of things." This wasn't a topic she preferred to discuss with him. Time to change conversation tracks. "Now, about this Rock of Ages..." She trailed off, waiting for him to take the hint and continue the conversation as they walked to the parking lot.

"Well, if you insist, shall I show you instead?" Michael was grinning from ear to ear. 

That cocky smile is going to get him slapped across the face.

Hailey was taken aback by a sudden gust of wind. The image of the café blurred into the background until it disappeared entirely. She faintly saw Michael's wings, the trademark white glow of angels with exponential power. 

Because of that power, and because Michael already held some form of dislike towards Alex, vigilance was necessary. Hailey kept all five senses alert, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. 

In place of the café was a mountain, snow-capped and beautiful, almost ethereal. The sky was blue and cloudless, but a dark storm could be seen lurking miles away. Hailey scanned the horizon, further down toward the valley. There was a tiny village with flickering lights, perhaps newly electrified. It seemed older than most American and European cities in layout, design, and functionality. Kneeling in the dirt, she picked up a handful of rocks and silt, sifting them through her fingers, searching for a memory. Hailey was certain she'd been here before, though it must have been centuries.

"Where are we?" she asked Michael who now spread his arms wide, almost giddy with excitement.

"You don't recognize the legendary Mount Ararat? We're in Turkey, of course."

Mount Ararat...a "Holy place"...The name suits it. Hailey thought this place had disappeared years ago, but she'd been wrong before. This mountain was legendary, and recollection came flooding back to her.

"Now that you mention it, I do faintly recall the snow on the peak, the hardened magma that created an ecosystem, the lightening strikes on the slope, and how the ground shook from terrible thunder." Hailey took a few cautious steps toward the summit, searching for any remnants of the boat, though there most certainly wouldn't be any left. "I haven't been here since Noah banished me from the Ark."