The Monsters around, freeze, every single one of their red eyes turn towards the blue soul. A mouth open wide, hundreds of bright white teeth stained in red clatter together. The sound echoes all around me, getting louder and more excited.

Like a pack of piranhas, they swarm her, their teeth sinking into her blue-hued spirit. Her face shifts from a peaceful glaze to one of pure pain and terror, eyes going wide a silent scream begging for help. 

I falter backward, falling, and scampering to the wall. Hands over my mouth I'm to scared to breathe. I watch as the Monsters devoured this woman, tearing her piece by piece leaving nothing behind. The frenzy slows down, the scraps snap up, their red eyes looking around like beacons of death. 

I close my eyes tight, just waiting for them to see me. To tear me apart just like her... a minute goes by, then another... I peek from behind shaking hands. The Monsters around have gone back to their hosts, just waiting like snakes in the reeds for a small rodent to poke its head out. 

The Raven landed beside me, during my fearful fright. Tilting its head, it hops up and down cawing at me. Before it lift itself up in the air, and flew down the hall circling and waiting for me. Is this a dream? It has to be, but a part of me shivers and quivers as a strange reality kicks in. If I am somehow stuck in this... spirit out of body loop, then these things... can kill me...  

Unsteady, I force myself back up. I can barely walk, let alone breathe. I cling to the walls, avoiding every one of the Monsters and Patents here. The hallway is just as busy, however, I can stick to the walls easier than out in the waiting room. Nurses and doctors rush past me, a group of bloody nurses open an elevator, the Raven slipping inside. I rush after it, stuck in an overly filled box slowly descending. 

Doors open, and I can only stare. There are no cars parked in the garage, only tents and makeshift beds all along the floor and walls. Patents are moved here and there, and those with minor wounds are put in an area with only a nurse to walk around and give out meds and wrap bandages. Then... there are the area's where those marked with black wristbands are left alone in uncomfortable white sheets. I think... they're the ones unable to be saved... as Monsters hover over this section eager to get a bite. 

The nurses rush through me, talking to a woman who directed them. 

I close my eyes, begging the elevator to take me away from all of this... The virus.... is this because of it? How are these people wounded? Dying in heavy waves... There's a caw, and I look up to see the Raven leading me toward a section... Taking a breath, I follow. 

The Raven landed upon the leg of a dying man. His moaning and screaming full of sobs, "God please, don't let me die! Please!" There are three different nurses working on him, trying so hard to stop the bleeding. Before another shakes her head and puts a black bracelet on his wrist. 

He must have been in a traffic accident, his entire arm twisted and torn from its sockets. His face is completely inhuman, broken in several places, torn and rubbed raw, with burn pockets down to his neck. There's blood... so much blood all around him. I don't know how much is his own, or the patents around him. He raises what's left of his hand trying to clutch something as his voice got smaller and smaller, "I... I need to make it... I promised them." 

Light burns above us, a pack of Monsters staring down from the ceiling surrounding us. Their red hungry eyes burned with a pack beastality. I stare at them, then at the man before me, he's trying so hard... I grab his cold marbled hand, his eyes steadying just enough to stare at my own hands clutching his. I rub his palm, the way mom would, "Don't go giving up! You can do this!" 

He searches my face, the fear there slowly dissipating and slacking to a relaxed relief. A broken torn smile, and tears mixed with blood, "An angel from god..." His grip tightens, a warmth radiating from me to him. "Darling Angel, can you let me see my family? One last time before I go?" He croaks, shaking violently. I scream clutching tighter. "Don't die! You have to see your family again! You have to!" His cold hands fall through mine, onto his chest. A sob escapes me, my hands are cold. All he wanted, was to see his family... Do they know he's gone? Are they waiting for him? 

The monsters above shiver and shake with excitement, their red eyes bearing down on me. With a unison howl, they slipped through the ceiling disappearing. 

"Why hello darling, do you know where I am?" A smooth, kindly thick voice as deep as a bassoon asked behind me. I turn slowly towards a blue-hued man. He has curly black hair falling around his large ears and thick lips that spread in a good nature smile. His large gold-brown eyes twinkle in joy and life. He's wearing a plain blue shirt with the words, 'I Love Rocks!'. And plain blue jeans and black shoes. He has this eccentric air to him, and a confused blank stare. "Why is the world so fuzzy?" Rubbing his head carefully he mummers, "This is strange? I'm supposed to be at my baby's concert?" He suddenly beams pulling out of his pockets air, "Hey where's my wallet?" He looks a bit more patting himself and sighs, "It seems I may have lost it again. Honey Bun is going to scold me again." He smiles shrugging without a care in the world, "Well you see, I have the cutest little boy ever! The cutest brown hair and large cute brown eyes! He's the best son anyone could ever have! He's having a  play today, and I have to deliver his suit and tie..." he looks around slightly confused, "His... suit and tie..." He tilts his head, "Where did I put that?"

I interrupt his thoughts, "Who are you?"

He blinks, turning back to me with a bright easy smile. I don't think he knows how to frown, "Oh, sorry darling! The name's Calvin. My partner's name is Joe, and our little boy's name is Adam." He looks confused again, "Now... where is my car? I can't have lost that too...? Oh darling, why are you crying?" 

I'm crying? I touch my wet cheeks.

 He doesn't remember that he's dead... There's a small caw below me, the Raven lightly tapping my feet before fluttering off and circling in a direction. Is it telling me where to go? I glance from Calvin to the Raven. I think it's telling us where his son is. Grabbing Calvin's hand I tug him after me, "Let's go! We don't have any time to waste." We left the garage, entering a grey-and-black world. It's a strange concoction of the world I know, and layers and layers of old torn buildings fade back and forth between each other. The people are more like shades, and when I pay attention to them they get even duller. Light flashes around, not in color or in the sense of brightness, from several cop cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. The noise that would be coming from them is muffled behind so many layers of foam. 

Calvin looks around, his eyes fading in and out, "I think my car is here? Would it not be faster to drive?" 

"No, not this time!" I drag him away from the chaos, following the Raven above. It's strange, the world phased here and there, and walking felt more like running, and running more like walking. There is no sense of time, or in distance however, with Calvin in hand, and following the Raven overhead, we kept getting closer and closer to the school. 

From behind us, a howl vibrates and breaks several of the shadowy buildings around. From above the Raven caws urgently, diving down. 

Calvin shouts, "There it is!" The school is a small elementary school, with a broad white sign board decorated with children's handprints. It's a pleasant-looking place with large well-used playgrounds and sand pits. Calvin slips his hand out of mine, running far ahead of me. He leads us to a lunchroom that's been temporarily transformed into a concert arena. The elevated stand-up front filled with children giggling, laughing, and calling out to their parents in the crowd. 

Calvin has this burst of energy, his bright eyes scanning every lane until he stops by the very front row and shouts with glee, "Joe! Honey Bun!" He leaps forward smiling ear to ear, "Let me tell you, I had a hectic time trying to get here!" 

Joe is seated with his legs crossed. He's a tall very tall dark-skinned man dressed in a snazzy suit and tie. His black hair has been braided back in several small braids along his head, his long face a calm coolness of jazz. He is the exact opposite of Calvin and his erratic energy. His right hand is held at his side, and his left twitches toward the empty chair next to him. He has this sad worried frown on his face, that is quickly forced into a stuttering smile whenever he looks up at the stage. 

Calvin leaps at Joe with the energy of a poodle and phases right through him. He falls flat on his face, sitting up dazed. He stands back up, and once more attempts to reach Joe only falling through him once more. He's more hesitant his third time, waving his hand over Joe's chest. He stares at his hand before turning his tear-covered face towards me, begging me to tell him what's wrong. 

I can't find any words... How do you tell a person they are dead? How do you tell someone they will never see their family ever again? I... There are no words to explain it, no words that will ever be enough. No words that could express such an emotion he must be feeling. 

Calvin's soft voice cradles an awareness and understanding, "You... darling... you're my angel?" He falls to his knees, sobs echoing around us, "God sent you to me from Heaven... So I can see my loves one last time..." he wipes his eyes roughly, sitting in the chair next to Joe, "Darling, is there any way I can hold his hand?"

How would I be able to do that? I'm not an angel...

From above the Raven lands on Calvin's shoulder claws opening and closing as it stares at me expectantly. I take a step forward then another, and a strange calmness waves over me. There's a twist in the pit of my stomach, boiling with this odd urge. I grab his shoulder, a warmth filling me and flooding down to Calvin. The blue hue surrounding him brightens several times. 

Calvin nervously reaches over smoothly placing his hand on top of Joes. Joe straightens up in surprise, his eyes widening. He looks around trying to find the owner but seeing no one. I don't know why, but Joe reaches over and places his other hand over Calvins. His breathing quickens, eyes watering, heart hammering loud enough for everyone to hear. Somehow he knows it's Calvin. 

Calvin begins to sob, leaning his head on Joe's shoulder and pointing to the stage. "Look, that's our little boy in a messy shirt and pants. Too bad I couldn't get him a neat suit." His boy is disheveled, with the cutest smile. Laughter follows the boy, and he playfully pushes his friends around. He looks at the crowd, eyes spotting Joe waving like wild until he notices the empty seat next to him. He frowns, worriedly distracted when a friend pushes him. 

A teacher walks to the stage lifting her arms up. The children were quiet enough that they could start singing their songs. Adam even had a solo that caused his fathers to both clap wildly tears in their eyes. 

Once it was over, Adam ran on over, "Dad, where's daddy?" Joe's lips quiver, and he gathers Adam in his arms. "Baby..." He loses his voice not sure how to respond. Calvin stands slowly, wrapping his arms around them both. Father and Son freeze stiffly, then relax. Somehow they seem to know it's Calvin. 

Calvin kisses both of their foreheads, whispering sweetly before he lets them go. HIs voice is heavy with remorseful happiness. "Thank you, darling angel, for this chance to say goodbye." 

I shake my head, "I'm no angel..." 

"But you are darling." He closes his eyes, "I have one more selfish request. Can you please keep them safe, darling... I'd appreciate it."

Before I can tell him once more I am not some angel, he fades away to dust. 

Protect them... I can't really do that. 

They slump into one another, their hearts wavering in uncertainty. Whenever I don't feel well or upset, Mom and Dad would give me a head pat... It's all I can do for them. 

I reach over, rushing both of their heads, wising to ease their pain even for a second. Both of them look up, eyes widening. Adam whispers, "Angel?"

[To be continoued]