The tip of my shoe finds an old paint can. Even though I barely touch it, the thing skitters into the wall, releasing a dullplink. Oh shit.
Silence falls, my heart jackhammering so hard I think I might pass out. I’m so fucking screwed. Do they suspect I’m listening? Are they headed my way? Maybe I shouldn’t have come out here alone. Shit, shit, shit.
“If you told anyone else, you little shit, I swear on the corpse of our old god that things will not end well for you.” The scarred angel — who I’m guessing must be Roderick — says menacingly, causing my limbs to tremble with the need to flee.
Something crashes to the ground around the corner, and I almost jump out of my skin. What the fuck was that?
I don’t have long to wonder before a new voice speaks. It would almost be pleasing, if he wasn’t meeting criminals in dark, empty corners of the Fallen district.
“Sorry I’m late, man. I didn’t mean to scare you. I come in peace.” He laughs, though no one else does.
“You didn’t fucking scare us, you idiot. We were about to investigate a noise in the alley.”
“Ah, don’t bother. It was just these guys.” He pauses, but I can’t tell why or what he’s referring to. Did he bring more angels with him? “See?” he continues, the flap of his wings rustling up garbage to create a cacophony of sound.
“No wings out in front of the boss,” the gruff voice from earlier whispers.
“Right. My bad. So, can I see the goods or what?”
Roderick growls, though in his nasally tone it comes off more of a pig squeal than anything menacing. “Hold him.”
“Hey!” the new angel shouts as the commotion grows louder.
“What are you doing with that?”
“Cleaning up your fucking mess,” Roderick replies.
“Wait. No. Man, you can trust me. You’re not seriously going to use that thing on one of your own, are you? I won’t say anything! I believe in the cause!”
Everything happens so fast, and within a single moment there’s a shriek, followed by this wet, gurgling sound and the thump of what I hope isn’t a body.What the hell have I stumbled into?
“Get the fuck up,” Roderick says. “Take a good fucking look at him. He’s lying there because of you. And if you don’t want to be responsible for more death, you’ll learn to keep your goddamn mouth shut.”
There’s this pained, half-sobbed groan that hurts my heart, but I still don’t really understand what I’m hearing. He’s talking as if he just killed an angel, except that’s not possible. Not without the blades the demons carry, and why would an angel have one?
But even as I think about it, the angel’s words repeat in my mind.You’re not seriously going to use that thing on your own kind, are you?
I need to get the fuck out of here. Heat curls around my heart, racing down to the tips of my fingers and toes until I’m lightheaded. No, no, no. Not here. If I pass out here, I’m as good as fucking dead.
“It’s time you finish your fucking task, don’t you think? Those crates won’t transport themselves. And you. Follow him. Make sure he doesn’t fuck this up any more than he already has.”
Footsteps follow his words before the creaking of a door, and I’m left with my heart in my throat. As much as I want to peek beyond the corner, I don’t trust it. This is way more fucking dangerous than I realized. Raphael and Theo are going to be so pissed when they find out.If I even make it out of here.
Around the corner, Roderick speaks again, but this time it’s soft, almost a caress. “I didn’t want to do this, you know. Killing doesn’t thrill me. But you threatened everything I’ve worked for, and I just couldn’t risk it. There’s too much on the line, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect those I care about. I hope you find peace. One of us should.”
Confusion and fear freeze my limbs as I listen on, unsure what to make of his words. He sounds almost apologetic, but can monsters even feel sorry? My mind churns, desperate to find a way out of this mess. The reality of it is that I probably should have left a long time ago, but now I’m too scared to even breathe.
Wings flap beyond the corner I’m hiding behind, and I press in closer to the wall, happy to find the stone cool against my heated flesh. Anyone flying overhead could see me, perched here for all to see. It takes every ounce of strength I have to stay still, breathe normally, and not run for the damn hills.
I don’t know how long I stand here, leaning against the wall. I don’t even fully understandwhyI stay. With everything that occurred here, I should want to get home as fast as I fucking can and call my friends. And I do want to, but there’s a part ofme that just can’t leave. Not without seeing for myself what lies beyond the wall.
With one final inhale, I step softly around the corner.
On the ground lies an angel with blood pooled beneath his body and splattered around his mouth.The gurgling.I pull out my slate, hands shaking as I take a photo. It takes three tries before I finally get one that isn’t blurry and the moment I do, I turn and run.
Except I don’t get very far.
“You should really be more careful.”
