Between

by Mary Ting

  Philip, Margaret, and Agnes’s eyes filled with concern. They cared deeply for Michael and didn’t want to see him being punished. In fear of what Jeremiah would suggest, Philip thought about how he could make Michael cooperate. It would have to be something he feared the most. Though the Divine Elders had already voted for Claudia to stay on Earth instead of taking her to Royal Council, Michael didn’t know. “Michael, if you don’t do this, the only alternative we have is to send Claudia to the Royal Council. It will be your choice.”

  Michael didn’t respond. He felt disgusted. Not only was it painful enough to hear this, but they were asking him to do it; it sickened him. How could he do this to her? He felt drained, so weak he thought he was going to collapse. The room started spinning and the faces of the Divine Elders became blurry.

  “The alkins will have to go back to Halo City, but Michael, I have an important assignment for you. We will discuss it later,” Katherine added.

  The meeting was shortly adjourned. Michael was given one week to fulfill his order.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Michael and the alkins transported to Claudia’s front door.

  “Why are we knocking on the door instead of already being inside?” Davin asked.

  “Because the door has a purpose,” Michael replied, pushing the doorbell.

  “We never used the door before. Did Claudia say something?” Davin asked, feeling concerned.

  “No. I don’t like to surprise her, especially when there will be all four of us appearing at once.”

  Davin was satisfied with the answer and turned to look at the angel statues, the watchers. They were situated along the front porch, near the rose bushes. “They are so creepy looking, especially when you know they can see and hear you.”

  “I think they are beautiful,” Caleb commented.

  “Yeah, you would,” Davin teased.

  Caleb pushed Davin, sending him flying toward one of the statues.

  The impact of Davin’s weight crushed the statue into several pieces. “What the heck?” Davin said in shock. Then he realized it was a real statue and not a watcher. “Look what you did. You can put it back together.”

  “Children,” Vivian said. “I can’t take you guys anywhere.”

  Michael shook his head.

  Caleb ignored Davin when Claudia opened the door and saw the broken angel statue. She looked at Caleb and Davin as they both pointed their fingers at each other. Vivian and Michael pointed their fingers at Caleb and Davin.

  “What’s up, Claudia?” Davin cheered. “Don’t worry. You know Caleb will fix it.” He gave a nervous smile. Caleb just stood there and grinned, unable to move. Seeing Claudia made him feel uneasy too, knowing why they were here.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Claudia beamed a warm, heartfelt smile seeing all four of them wearing the red scarves she’d bought for them for Christmas. It didn’t matter what they did. She hardly ever got to see them all together. This was a surprise visit, and she wanted to spend quality time with them instead of scolding them.

  “Come in.” She opened the door wider. Michael gave her a tender kiss on her forehead and walked in.

  The alkins felt uncomfortable. Their visit had a purpose today, and it was one that would change their course forever. They headed to Claudia’s room and sat on her bed. Michael seemed aloof, and he sat away from everyone. Claudia felt something was different, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.

  Claudia talked about her daily life, her job, and friends. But when she brought up the subject of her mom, the alkins’ bodies stiffened.

  Claudia was worried that her mom had been texting her only for the past several weeks and Claudia couldn’t reach her on the phone. Her friend had passed away, and Claudia couldn’t understand why there were so many urgent things her mom had to take care of.

  “I’m sure she is fine. You need not worry about her.” Michael tried to calm her worries, but he had to calm his own nerves. He hated lying to her.

  “Hmmm…no need to worry. I can feel that she is fine,” Vivian fibbed.

  “Really?” Claudia got excited. “Okay. I guess any teenager would love to have free time alone. But she’s been gone so long.”

  “It’s not like she got brain washed and moved away,” Davin snorted.

  “You’re so funny,” Claudia said, pinching his cheeks.

  The alkins gave him a questioning stare. Davin raised both of his hands and shrugged his shoulders. Vivian nudged him so hard he fell off the bed. Then they all started laughing.

  The day turned into twilight as the light and dark met for a brief second.

  Michael nodded his head as his sign to let them know it was time to leave.

  “Well, it looks like we need to head back,” Caleb said, feeling awkward and nervous, knowing he was straight out lying to her. “We’ll see you soon.” He reached for her, holding her so tightly that Davin had to peel him off her. Caleb turned sideways, hoping Claudia wouldn’t see the tears that were threatening to fall. Davin blocked Claudia’s view of him and grabbed her, turning her at the same time.

  “Don’t you remember the slow dance you promised me?” He tried to lighten the mood and held her in a dancing position.

  “Now? In front of everyone? Will Michael approve?” She giggled, smiling at Michael.

  Michael did his best to give her a genuine smile, but he was dying inside, wanting to tell her the truth. He didn’t know how he was going to find the strength. He nodded to let Claudia know that it was okay.

  Davin opened his mouth, and Claudia thought he was going to say something funny or sarcastic, but instead, he started to sing “How Do I Say Goodbye To Yesterday” by Boyz II Men. As he sang, he squeezed her so tightly she couldn’t breathe.

  The lyrics touched her deeply. A tear drop found its way down from her teary eyes. The song was heartbreaking yet beautiful. She would go through it all just to have them in her life because they were her sunshine after the rain. “That’s so beautiful, Davin,” she said softly, overwhelmed by emotions she didn’t want to feel, the thought of not being able to see them again.

  “A song I heard from my iPod,” he whispered.

  Vivian pulled Davin off and placed her arms around Claudia’s neck. “Thank you for being a sister I never had. And thank you for being such a good person. I’ve learned so much from you. I will never forget you,” Vivian whispered as tears escaped her.

  Claudia pulled away while holding Vivian’s arms. “This isn’t goodbye, right?” She looked at Michael for confirmation. “I mean. I know we killed Aliah, but I’m sure there will be more demons or some other angel looking for me, right?” Her steady heartbeat was now increasing beyond her control.

  The alkins didn’t answer; they focused elsewhere, afraid she could see the truth in their eyes.

  “Why aren’t you answering me?” she asked frantically.

  Michael stood between them. “Claudia, say goodbye.” His voice was monotone.

  “No! I don’t want to say goodbye. I’d rather say see you when I see you or peace out,” Claudia huffed.

  Davin let out a chuckle, but then he felt his heart deflate. It was the saddest thing he’d ever had to do that he could think of in his angel lifetime. He wished he could make this easier for Michael, but he didn’t know how. He was heartbroken himself.

  “Claudia, please, say goodbye,” Michael pleaded.

  “Why? I’m going to see them soon. Right?” She looked at the alkins for an answer. “Okay…is this a joke or something because it’s not funny anymore. I want to hear it from anyone of you that I will see you soon,” she demanded.

  The alkins didn’t say a word. So Claudia turned to Davin, whom she knew would spill the beans. She faced Davin, but Davin wouldn’t look her in the eyes. Then she knew. Her heart sank, and she felt as if her life had been drained out of her. “Are you mad at me?” She asked so innocently the alkins started to tear up even more. Heartbroken, they had no words to give her that would comfort her, and nothing wou
ld ever be the same.

  Michael drew Claudia into his arms. “Claudia. My Claudia. I will love you for eternity. There is nowhere I’d rather be than here with you. No matter what happens, know that my love is real and my heart and soul belongs to you and only you.”

  Claudia gazed up into Michael’s teary eyes. “Michael, what’s wrong? Please tell me. You’re killing me. I need to know.”

  It’s time, Michael thought. The longer he dragged this out, the harder it would be for everyone, especially for Claudia. He kept repeating to himself, better here where I can be with her then lose her to the Royal Council forever.

  He cradled his hands behind her head. “Claudia, look at me.” She did as told. “You are falling asleep.”

  “Why, Michael?” Claudia asked. She could feel her body relax, but her eyes were wide awake.

  Michael started to speak to her telepathically. “Claudia, when you wake up, you will have no memories of me, the alkins, your mom, or your friends. You will have no memories of the life before.”

  “No, Michael. What are you doing?” Unexpectedly, Claudia was in shock that she was able to speak back to him with her mind.

  “I’m sorry. I was given an order. I need to do this to keep you here or else I’ll lose you completely. You must understand. This is not my will.”

  “Nooo…” she begged. She couldn’t fathom why he would do this. Michael loved her…or did he truly? Was this an easy out? None of this made sense. “I’ll lose you completely” echoed in her mind. Whatever the reason he had for doing this, she felt heartbroken and betrayed. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined something like this would happen—especially by Michael—but she couldn’t give up. She loved him too much and knew that he loved her back to the depth of his soul. “Michael, I don’t want to forget you. I don’t want to lose the memories of people I love,” she pleaded. “Pleeeassee…don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to us.”

  “I have no choice.”

  “Since when do you follow them?”

  “Claudia, stop fighting me. It’ll only make it harder for both of us. Don’t you know how much this is killing me?”

  “No, I don’t. You don’t care about me. I’ll never forgive you for this. You didn’t give me a choice. You took that from me.”

  Claudia’s words stung Michael sharply through his heart. Her words hurt so much he wanted to stop. The last thing he wanted was for Claudia to think he cared so little for her.

  “It’s okay. You can hate me. It’ll make it easier for the both of us. You won’t remember, but I will. One day you will understand. But I hope you don’t remember this day.”

  “Michaaaeelll!!!” Claudia yelled from the top of her lungs. Her desperate last plea was long and drawn out. Claudia’s force of will threw Michael to the ground. Her voice was so earsplitting and powerful that it shattered the windows. Michael sheltered her with his wings, preventing the flying glass pieces from cutting her. The alkins, too, had to cover themselves from the darting, shattered chips and the excruciating pain from her voice.

  Fighting Michael in her mind weakened Claudia. She didn’t know she possessed that kind of power. Angered and perplexed, she collapsed on her bed. Michael wasted no time and took this moment of weakness to lie next to her, cuddling her tenderly, trying one last time.

  “Michael,” she said weakly, staring lovingly into his eyes as she spoke in his mind. “It won’t work forever. It may work temporarily. I’ll never forget you, no matter what you try to do to me. Memories are not kept in the minds but in the hearts. Remember what I told you; it’s not what you say but how you make someone feel. You are my ocean…my constant. Your love will live in my heart and I won’t let you go…ever. Your love…is magical. I could never love anyone…the way I love you.” She managed to give a short smile. Her fragile body sunk in deeper on her bed as her hand dropped from Michael’s cheek.

  Michael’s tears streamed down his face. He hadn’t shed tears in all his angel lifetime, but today was the first time he ever felt pain beyond what he could imagine. His heart burned, flaming with anger and bleeding for his love that wouldn’t remember him after today. “I won’t promise you only because I know how much you hate that word. So I swear to you. I swear to the moon, the stars, and the sky that I will love you for eternity. I will help you remember us when the time is right. Though I won’t be with you, I’ll always be here,” he placed his hand on her chest where her heart pattered rapidly. “I will be the sun that keeps you warm, the whisper in the wind, and the cool breeze to brush your hair. I will be your constant. I will always protect you no matter where you are. This I swear to you.”

  With his last word, Claudia inhaled a long, deep breath and managed to whisper her final words, “I love you…as high as the sky and as deep as the sea.” Her fingers uncurled, her heartbeat steadied, and she lay there, fast asleep.

  “I love you more,” Michael cried. His fingers wrung the blanket tightly as his body shook. Screaming inside from pain, he buried his face on Claudia’s stomach and cried her name, “Claudia!!!”

  Tears poured down Michael’s face again. He had lost his love. It was as if she had died. This is what he would feel for the rest of his life. Though he would carry her memory with him, she wouldn’t remember his name. She wouldn’t even remember him if she saw his face. She wouldn’t remember their times together, the times he took her breath away, and when they first met in Crossroads.

  Davin couldn’t stand there and watch his friend in agony any longer. As he wiped away any evidence he had been crying, he rested his hand on Michael’s shoulder. “Let’s go. There is nothing for you here now.”

  Michael sat up, still clinging onto her and gazing at his love. He outlined the delicate frame of her face, smiling, thinking about the better times they’d shared. Tenderly, he kissed her soft lips, drinking her in for the last time. “Te amo.”

  Davin’s hand slid down to his arm and pulled Michael away from Claudia’s hold. “Let’s go.”

  Michael hesitantly moved away from the bed. Caleb lifted Claudia and placed her head on her pillow. Vivian started to pull the blanket over her body when she noticed a T-shirt that looked familiar.

  “It’s Michael’s,” Caleb said.

  Vivian held the T-shirt, debating what to do with it. The right thing to do was to take it with her. Any evidence of their existence had to be taken. But she too was upset. It wasn’t fair. Who do they think they are, she thought. She tucked it under Claudia’s pillow and shrugged her shoulders when Caleb gave her a questioning look. The alkins gave her a goodbye kiss on the cheek, leaving behind their first earthly friend, leaving behind someone they cared for so deeply, more than they’d

  ever thought possible. With tears streaming down their faces, they exhaled a deep breath and vanished.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Michael sat in the corner of his room, motionless. He felt so empty and had never felt so alone like he did today. Unable to comprehend his body shivering, he held himself tightly, curling up into a ball. Strangely, every inch of him hurt. His muscles ached like he had the flu, and his bones felt stone cold.

  Finally, he uncurled his body, pushed his legs out, and leaned back, contacting the wall. He felt something jiggle from his jeans belt loop, and he cradled it in his hand. It was a picture of them together—the little trinket Claudia had given him for Christmas. Claudia hooked it there so he wouldn’t lose it. He thought his heart would crumble, but surprisingly, he felt nothing.

  Michael heard footsteps. He didn’t bother to look up to see his visitor. Davin walked in and saw Michael at the lowest level possible. He walked over and sat next to him. “I can only imagine your pain. I feel a tremendous loss too, but yours must be a thousand times worse. We will find a way,” Davin said as his heart broke seeing Michael so frail. He wrapped his arm around Michael, giving him a sideways hug.

  Michael didn’t answer.

  “I know you would give up everything for her. I know how much you love her. Ther
e will come a day when you two will be together because true love conquers all.”

  Covering his face with the palms of his hands, Michael muttered, “I’ve lost her. And if she ever finds out that it was me who did it, she will never forgive me.”

  “Of course she will. When that time comes, she’ll understand.”

  Michael disregarded his words. “I’ve hurt her. I didn’t mean to. She fought me with everything she had. She wouldn’t let go. It must have pained her to fight me the way she did.”

  “You had no choice.”

  “There’s always a choice. But I’d rather know she lives on Earth. At least I can hold onto hope. If she were taken, I would never see her again.”

  “You’ll make it through this. You’re not alone. I’m here with you.”

  Davin’s words touched Michael deeply. He didn’t know how he would get through this ordeal, but having Davin by his side and giving him comfort gave him a sense of hope, even if the feeling lasted only for a few minutes. Michael was always the stronger one, but today he needed Davin in a way he’d never needed him before. He leaned into Davin’s arms and cried. He poured out his pain, all the mixed emotions that burned inside him.

  As they sat in silence, Davin noticed an incomplete oil painting of Claudia resting adjacent to a table. He also saw paint brushes and other tools—tools he couldn’t identify, but tools he knew Michael used to make his creations.

  “Michael, Katherine will be here shortly. I was told she needed to speak to us.”

  “Not now,” he muffled through Davin’s shirt.

  “I don’t think you have a choice,” he replied, hearing footsteps, but he felt puzzled when it sounded more like scurrying sounds.

  “Michael!” Alexa Rose called out loud as she entered, panicking.