Angels - the Judith's secret

by Wudson Silva

  It was an insipid grey morning, and it would probably stay like that for the whole Sunday. An intense mass of clouds covered the sky in such a manner that it wasn't necessary to watch the weather channel. The thunders, far away, transmitted the weather.

  David was the first one of my friends to show up. He came along with the Chief of Police Jonas. It is good to have someone to talk, I just couldn’t take that chitchat anymore. After the right condolences, we went to the kitchen.

  — That’s life — said Jonas. — Someday, we all have to make our peace with God.

  — I am ready for that — I replied. — By the way, yesterday I dreamed about my mother’s passing. It was weird, but, for sure, it was a warning that it was about to happen.

  — You dreamed about your mother’s passing? — asked David, already taking a sip of coffee a cousin of mine had made.

  — Actually, I dreamed about Gabriel dying, but the dream changed… it is complicated.

  I didn’t want to tell the whole thing, otherwise I would have to tell about the scare the damm neighbor gave me.

  — What about Tobias, is he better? — I asked the Chief of Police.

  — He is conscious. The priest took responsibility for his health. The interesting thing is that he is not even interested in blaming someone for the damages in his car, that means he pardoned everyone.

  — This priest is really moody.

  — What about the detective, Isaias, I haven’t seen him around here.

  — And you won’t. The poor bastard sulked at João’s bar, and I had to go there and take him away.

  — What happened to him?

  Barely David asked the question, Jonas sharpened his ears waiting for my response. But, on second thought, I wasn’t in the mood of telling that story about he seeing angels, and talking to God and all. There were so many things to tell that I didn’t even know where to start. The worst of all is that they wouldn’t believe me; the best was to lie.

  — Clóvis was just upset about not finding the murderers.

  The day continued grey until the coffin was taken. A thin rain made everyone open the umbrellas to follow the funeral.

  The grave-digger was fast and a catechists invited us all to a last pray.

  We got back home and sat out on the porch, thanked some of those that were still trying to comfort my family. Little by little my house was empty.

  The day passed by slowly as I went from side to side without anything to do. The worst of all was to see the night falling without the sun showing up the whole day.

  I sat down on a bench on the porch and observed the remaining light that made no shadow and gave no life to things; valuing even further the melancholy of someone tired of living in a world with no color or life.

  From the porch I sadly contemplated the unpaved street that continued up the hill towards the aviation field.

  A neighbor turned the radio on, with the sound as loud as the radio could reach, tuned in a radio station and all I could hear was a bunch of people praying and praising: “Amen!”. The insects started buzzing and filling my ears with their sound. Thank God the night was falling, soon they would stop.

  I tried to avoid the melancholy focusing on a man coming down the hill. It looked like the “loony detective” in his noble walk. As he got closer I had no doubt that it was him that was coming from a place that had nothing of interesting. I went up to the gate and waited for him. Clóvis seemed okay, despite of his frustration.

  — Is everything okay, Clóvis?

  — Yes, I am fine. I am sorry for not coming to the funeral. I was up there the whole day.

  — Ok, but what were you doing up there?

  — I was meditating...

  What goes through his head to stay the whole day in an aviation field, wasting time meditating?

  — I was meditating about life, Isaías.

  I shook my head in consonance. I forgot he could read minds, or talk to angels… I don’t know!

  — By the way, about that story that you talk to angels …

  — Forget about it, Isaías, I was tired of my routine.

  — What do you keep writing about in your diary? Is it, by any chance, related to what you told me yesterday?

  Clóvis stared at me with sorrow. It was obvious that there was a connection.

  — Forget what I said — he insisted. — Forget it, because it is only another interesting tale that, as many others, will remain in your mind for a short time, because you have more important things to worry about.

  — Fine by me. I just asked out of curiosity.

  — I see — he smiled. — Are you alone?

  — No.

  — May I speak to your children?

  I agreed and opened the gate, however, I was a little afraid of what this detective might say. Maybe everything would get even worst. However, on the other hand, it doesn’t matter. I opened the gate and got back to the chair on the porch, tolerating the buzz from the insects and the neighbors radio.

  After a while, Matheus got out of the house with his head high, looking to the street as if the noises and melancholy there did not disturb him. He even greeted me to show he was fine.

  — Clóvis went to your room?

  — Yes, but now he is talking to Maria.

  Just before I ask what the detective was doing in Maria’s bedroom, he reached the porch.

  — I am leaving — he said, saying goodbye to Matheus as if they were old friends. Then, Clóvis turned back to Maria with an easy-going smile and hugged her tenderly. I found it weird, because my children never showed that kind of affection towards me.

  — I promise tomorrow I will return your toy — he told my daughter.

  — Okay, don’t worry — she said smiling.

  Matheus and Maria waved to Clóvis until he was out of sight. It was amazing how happy they were. It doesn’t even looked like they had just lost their grandmother.

  — What toy, Maria?

  — A recorder that uncle Pedro gave me.

  — Why did he take it?

  — I don’t know!

  Madalena showed up, interrupting me, and spoke as if she were the man of the house.

  — We are going to the mass today. Everyone, you included, Isaias.

  — Me? Why?

  — Because priest Lázaro will do a honor to all women that helped in the development of our city and will talk about the recent passing: Judith and Marta.

  I sighed tired. I won’t even return the car to the garage, soon I will have to do another sacrifice.

  Not even the rain prevented the citizens of Rio Vermelho from going to the church. I have never seen so many people in a single place. It was so suffocating that I choose to stay close to the door to stop the sweat dripping down my forehead like a spring; and the fresh air from the rain helped.

  After some hymns were sing the priest showed up and made the speech about Tobias accident, without blaming anyone and without worrying about the damages to his car. The most impressionable almost cried with the rich vocabulary the priest displayed.

  He spoke about the recent passing of the former-businesswoman Marta, that had a fundamental presence in the business development of the city.

  And, finally, mourned the passing of the youngest catechist in town. He remembered her birthday, that would be today, and that, probably, if alive, would throw another party at her sister’s house, Miss Ruth.

  Then it happened: everyone crying.

  I noticed Clóvis leaving before the mass ended.

  Right this moment I realized I was so afflicted about my mother passing that I forgot he already knew who were Judith’s killers; and my curiosity raised. I could not miss this opportunity, once he would pass by me on his way out of the church.

  — Are you not going to wait for the mass to end, detective?

  — Let’s say it is a delicate situation. They are in here, Isaías, and I will have to confront them so that a new tragedy doesn't take place.

  — Wouldn�
��t it be best to warn the Chief of Police and let him taking care of it tomorrow morning?

  — If I do not settle this problem till midnight, tomorrow will be too late. I will wait for the right time to confront them.

  — I am going with you!

  — No. Respect your mourning; besides, I must handle this by myself.

  — Alone? Are you confronting the murderers without police help? How many are them?

  — Only two, but there will be a crowd similar to the number of people inside this church to witness the ritual.

  — How?

  — The case is too delicate, since it is a continuity of the catechist’s death. I have to go.

  Clóvis left without giving further explanations. He went through the main street, where the only establishment open was João’s bar.

  — Let us be in peace and that the Lord be with us! — said the priest, ending the mass.

  As I was already at the exit door, I had just to jump out and get into the car, waiting for the others.

  After a while, Gabriel opened the door and all got in at once

  I was surprised when I looked ahead and saw Abel, Moisés son, beside his brother’s car door the one who had gone to the United States. He stared at me and pulled a long face until he opened the door and took off through the city’s alleys.

  Without thinking, I turned my car on and followed my way. The destination was my house, but I remembered the path followed by the detective; so, I changed my route.

  — Where are you going? — asked Madalena.

  — I have to settle something at João’s bar.

  — I cannot believe you are going to…

  — Get off my back!

  I didn’t give too much attention to Madalena and parked right outside the bar, but the detective wasn’t there. I thought that maybe he would be on the back and, so, I got inside the bar and faced my friends on the cracked glass counter; they were drinking as usual. But I was interested in knowing the whereabouts of the loony man.

  — Have you seen Clóvis around, David?

  — Yes, I did, but he didn’t stay long.

  — What did he want?

  — He came looking for João, who was at the mass and left the bar for the waiters to manage.

  — João went to the mass? — I questioned finding it weird.

  — That is right. There was a rumor that the priest was going to explain to the community what happened to Tobias and that he had a nice speech in honor to Judith and Miss Marta, your mother. So, João didn’t want to miss this event so special to all and he is not back so far.

  — Clóvis went away without saying anything?

  — He looked upset and said that he would fix it.

  — Fix what?

  — I don’t know.

  I got back to the car and left exhausted and lost with the detective’s behavior. However, I wanted to forget everything, take a hot shower and relaxed on my bed.

  Having said and done. I went to the bedroom still steaming from the hot water and, finally, I laid down.

  Besides, Clóvis behavior continued to disturb me. That story he told me about angels easily connected to the easy ways he has read people's thoughts and mixed with the fact that he had discovered who were Judith's killers.

  Twenty to midnight.

  My family was already sleeping while I was still alert. My body ached in tiredness, but my brain was running high.

  A buzz, similar to those of the insects in the afternoon, triggered in my mind with an intensity that made me roll from one side of the bad to the other without sleep. It was a huge mess of information going through my mind again and I couldn't control it.

  I needed something to calm me down, but, where was my strength to get out of bed and look for a medicine?

  If I were Clóvis, I would ask for an angel, but I am not crazy, it was best for me to do something.

  Angel!

  Little by little the mystery of Judith's death became clearer in my mind, as if I had created the script myself.

  I remembered that Clóvis told me there were two murderers, and that there would be a crowd similar to the number of people that were in the church to witness the next murder. I connected these facts to the point of view of the detective, when he commented that he could see an individual, but observed him as if he was two, that is, there aren't two murderers, but only a man and his angel.

  A man and his angel!

  What about the crowd similar to the number of people that were at the church to witness the next murder, the only solution to this math problem was that the crowd would be the number of angels that accompanied the believers in the church at that time, and that could get away from their humans, because good part would be sleeping at this time. The only place in Rio Vermelho that could receive all these angels would be... oh my God!

  I got up, turned the light on and went up to the wardrobe. The situation I was facing was severe: Clóvis was risking his life.

  — What is going on? — Madalena said to me finding all of this odd.

  — I need to act fast!

  — Is there a problem?

  — Wake Gabriel up. I need him, now.

  — But, why are you acting like this?

  I just stared at her desperately. For starters, because I couldn't explain what was going on; she wouldn't understand. Second, because time was too short. I had to take action as fast as I could or it could be too late, since it was almost midnight.

  — Can you explain me what is going on, Isaías?

  — I am acting like this because of Father Lázaro's angel.

  — Angel?

  — That is right. Lázaro's angel is not Good, instead, it is Evil!

  Even at full speed on the streets, by the time I parked my car at the church square, it was already fifteen past midnight.

  I got off the Variant feeling my pressure high; Gabriel accompanied me until we pushed the church door and saw Clóvis looking at the altar cross — all by himself.

  I sighted in relief when I saw that my interpretations about the inevitable tragedy were wrong.

  So, I contemplated the empty benches and it reminded me of my childhood, of the day I wanted to run free through the aisle and my father grabbed me by the ears, shaking me as if I were some animal.

  Gabriel was flabbergasted, contemplating the room, the ceiling, the altar and the silence that played with the echo from his footsteps. I saw in his eyes that seeing the benches empty aligned and organized was something beautiful to him, as if those projections drove him to infinity. It was the first time he saw that church like this. A smile grew on his face and a feeling of freedom inspired him.

  — Do you want to run around, Gabriel?

  — May I?

  — Of course you may.

  — Won't you hit me?

  — No — I laughed. — I want you to fulfill an old dream of mine: ran around this room, pretend to be an angel and let your imagination fly through every corner of this church.

  Needless to repeat that, Gabriel let go off my hands and ran free.

  There was no need to look down, there was nothing to stumble upon. He didn't need to care about being ridiculous, to care about the fear of getting hurt. He could run as if he was flying, lifting his arms and feeling the wind on his ears.

  It didn't take long and Gabriel got closer to Clóvis, and he found it weird to see a red liquid mining from the altar's floor, right under the table.

  — Father! There is blood here!

  Even with the echo I understood what my son said. My surprise was inevitable; I walked fast until I reached the stairs at the altar, I checked under the table and saw the blood flowing over the wood boards. I saw, also, the shoes of someone lying down.

  Clóvis got close to Gabriel and calmed him down.

  — Wait outside.

  — But, that is blood?

  — Blood or wine? The priest leaves a wine bottle under the table and the bottle must have turned, do you understand? Let your father
solve this problem and go outside and throw rocks at the pigeon until it leaves the nest.

  Gabriel got out without caring much about it.

  I waited until he left the church, circled the altar's table and was surprised in face of the body lying down with a revolver close to the right hand. Eyes open, dilated pupils and the blood in the mouth were signs that death had already taken that soul. One tragic shot to the mouth was fatal.

  I felt a knot on my stomach when I saw the brains spread around. It was hard to understand whether it was a suicide or if someone shot and left the weapon next to the body.

  A million doubts popped up in my mind: Did the detective do that? What if he is really crazy? What is he doing on the other side of the table, starring at the cross? What is he looking at? Angels? What angels? Do angels exist?

  I tried to breath and wait until Clóvis took the next step, but the only thing I could see was a man that moved his eyes from one side to the other, in expectation, as if he was trying to help someone, but couldn't; he could only watch. Sometimes he looked back, observing the church benches, however looked as if the church was full.

  All my doubts, the heartbeat in my ears, and the butterflies in my stomach ruined my body and my conscience. Despite of how I was shaking, what nearly kept me from standing, something inside me was telling me: trust the detective.

  To ease my tension, I tried to do a recapitulation of the last week. I concluded that it was the first time in my life that I accompanied someone that was never angry at my evasive behavior or that made jokes just to laugh at my face, on the contrary, this detective smiled at my atrocities without caring about what I was saying or thinking about it, and more, he even gave me advice on how I should manage my life.

  I decided to keep quiet and wait; he deserved a credit. I waited a while until he waved to a place at the top of the altar, as if he was waving goodbye. Finally, he went back to me, something that relieved me.

  — It is over, Isaias. If I had gotten here last week, I would have saved this man's life.

  Clóvis circled the table and looked disappointed at the priest's body. An enigmatic sight made me think I would not see the detective anymore.

  We crossed the corridor on our way out; a pigeon crossed the room and rested over the cross, above Jesus Christ's right arm. She had, mysteriously, got back to its nest. We left the church observing the bird's behavior.

  — I did it! I did it! — yelled Gabriel, going up the stairs and meeting us at the exit door. — It had to be done at night; she is afraid of the dark and that is why she went back inside!

  — Were you throwing rocks at the pigeon? — I asked.

  — Yes, I was. Clóvis told me to!

  Clóvis confirmed with a smile and breathed the cold air of the rain that had just washed down the city. Contemplated the flowered church square, flexed his shoulders and head trying to relax his muscles.

  Then, we went to the hotel to get the detective's backpack and, finally, we left Gabriel at home.

 

  Madalena came up to the gates to see if her son was okay. She had never seen anyone taking a boy to a police mission, and neither did I... but that's okay. Gabriel got off the car and hugged his mother tenderly. Thank God the detective asked to go to the police station, otherwise I would have to take a piece of my wife's mind.

  At the police station Clóvis started making a bunch of phone calls. One time he explained what happened at the church, and other times he created a bunch of symbols about the iconocrats or iconolats, I do not know what! I couldn't understand a single thing of what he was saying, but as soon as he ended his calls he asked me to go to a place where we couldn't be found, once the Chief of Police Jonas would be responsible for what was going to happen from this point on.

  I went through Magalhães, a district distant from the city, I parked about five hundred meters from the last house and opened the car door; my brain was anxious for some oxygen.

  — Are we safe here, Isaias?

  — Yes, we are. After the new city entry was built, just a few people use this road, particularly at this time of night. The bus travels through here, despite of the new road the itinerary didn't change.

  — So, rest a little.

  — Do you really think I can rest after everything that happened?

  Clóvis lowered his head for a while, as he already knew where I was going with that question.

  — You were very brave out there in the church, Isaias. Further, you found out who killed Judith; definitely, you exceeded my expectations.

  — What... piece of cake!

  He stared seriously at me for about three seconds, and then went back to his usual laugh that was already a routine in my life. But he got serious again, fast.

  — You think I owe you some explanations, right?

  — Yes, I do.

  — Do you want me to tell you now?

  — Yes, but do me a favor: I want to know it all, every detail, including what you saw and heard inside the church.

  — Do you want to know about the angels? Why?

  — Because I think that no one is crazy enough to keep seeing things, and, at the same time, act so professionally as you do. Besides, I am certain that I wouldn't understand your story if you took your angels out of it. That is why I want to know everything.

  The detective agreed immediately. He looked at the dark road and meditated about where he would begin to tell his story.

  — Are you sure you really want to know everything, Isaias?

  — Yes.

  — Ok, this is what happened:

  The rain didn't stop after the mass. Many people waited for it to stop to go away. I remained at an strategic point, far from the church, observing the way out of the believers and their respective angels. After this, the priest closed all doors and remained alone inside the church.

  At this time I got into the church and found the priest praying in the altar. I also saw a nearly invisible being, who looked like Lázaro when he was a teenager, standing over the altar table. This was the same angel that said “I love you,” at the parish house. He had his arms crossed, characterizing a look of dissatisfaction, inducing the discomfort of the present fact to the priest's mind.

  I misinterpreted the behavior of that angel, I thought he was good... but this is another story.

  Lázaro showed satisfaction with my coming, but I knew, by the looks of the angel, that he was faking it. I knew it would be hard to explain to the priest that he was being deceived by his own thoughts, further, deceived by an angel that followed him since the first minutes of his life, tormenting and dominating his thoughts, while he was acquiring life experience.

  This angel accompanied him since childhood, until the opportunity to follow priesthood appeared. A privileged profession to someone that just could no longer bear with being just another one in the crowd. But, as time went by, he felt the thorns of priesthood. He had to study hard and needed to subjugate desire and admit celibacy. He achieved the targets proposed, however, found out that this wasn't what he wanted.

  All of a young catechist came into his life, and he couldn't resist the earthly pleasures. He was finally willing to accept this love, to turn back time and restart his life, at any price. He was decided to leave the church and marry the catechist.

  However, it was faith's desire that at the highest of the blind passion suspicion also appeared. He soon found out about the betrayal, and his self-esteem disappeared.

  This fact, added to all disturbances induced by his angel, made him weaker. After Judith's death, the bad angel freely manipulated the priest's ego, making the feel of guilt to fall as a huge weight on his conscience.

  Consequently, his angel proposed to build a new life in order to suffocate the pain that tormented him. Since it was impossible to correct the mistakes of the past, the soul was greed for grasping without hesitation any kind of solution. However, the project was audacious and should be presented carefully.

  At principle, Lázaro shi
vered, but was persuaded to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty, what should be his refuge and fortress, delivering him from the snare of the devil and from the deadly pestilence. The objective of this project was to confront the soul, as its final stop. Besides, there was a likelihood of meeting again and forgiving the poor lover forever and ever.

  The project was, then, approved.

  The world no longer seemed so hostile, since there was a hope to grab on. The unconscious pact with the angel relieved the pains and weights on his conscience. The project became real piece by piece. A new breath invaded the soul of shaken foundations, and death turned into a kind of religion.

  Suicide.

  “Dying to win” was the philosophy of his angel.

  The conscience was lighter. And all the priest could see was the presence and the path to God.

  I needed to act with caution, and Lázaro, impatient, pointed a gun at me.

  He confessed the crime with the condition that I leave immediately after his story; and I took the opportunity the expose the negative side of the philosophy induced by the angel and I exposed the evil creature. Lázaro was confused with the poison he carried with him. However, his angel, who was still in control of the situation, reminded him of his commitments, making him anxious in view of the short time and the need to reunite with his love.

  When it was almost midnight, the angel, over the table, lifted his arms and yelled evoking the imminence of his victory.

  — It is almost time!

  I looked back and observed the arrival of countless angels that went through doors and walls looking for a place to watch the show.

  There were angels in the shape of athletic men, women with insinuating curves, young people with perfect faces. There were jewelry, makeup, watches and expensive clothes. Everything reflecting earthly desires of their disciples, who were sleeping at that time.

  The purpose was to watch the end of the priest’s life and celebrate my defeat in the useless effort of convincing the priest not to commit suicide.

  I asked him to shape a young man filled with bad intentions and saw him over the table. My objective was to put the guilty of the bad things that had taken place in his life to the responsibility of this imaginary being. Lázaro accepted it, but remained suspicious. One time he pointed the revolver to the imaginary being, other time to me. Tears dropped.

  At this point, he was already aware of the weakness that accompanied him, and thus, he had two paths to choose: sacrifice or resurrection. The priest became the master of his own fate; not only that, he had the power to completely change his life.

  Someone had to die — there was no other option. I didn’t pull back, so didn’t the angel.

  Lázaro, then, yelled God’s name… and chose pride.

  The sound of the shot echoed throughout the room, however, applauses and laughter of the angels in the room followed it, celebrating my defeat.

  The angel over the table was the only one not celebrating the attitude of his disciple, because there was still one obstacle ahead: the presence of the good angel, who soon would show up. Therefore, he remained indifferent.

  After a while, a soul left the body and raised stunned at the new world it was seeing. It was happy to see that the hands were almost transparent, but saddened when it noticed its own body bleeding and little by little covering the altar floor. Then, looked stunned to the church room filled with transparent beings. It was even more stunned when it looked at me and realized I could see it as well.

  He verified, also, that the imaginary adolescent invented by me was in fact over the table, and rebelled at its existence. But right after he recovered his humor, because, in his mind, shortly he would meet God and his love Judith. So, he went to the front of the altar and contemplated his church filled with angels.

  Suddenly, a bolt lightened the opposite side of the altar’s table, and in an explosion of color, raised a child with big cheeks, curly hair and with a healthy and gracious smile on his face.

  The small creature, with a simple gesture, congratulated me for trying to stop that disaster.

  The priest looked at both sides of the table and found it outrageous to watch two beings that had nothing to do with him: a grumpy adolescent and a child with a contaminating happiness.

  — I want to see God! — he ordered, arrogant and impatiently.

  The little angel indicate that Lázaro should calm down.

  — So, tell me, Lázaro — the child angel asked — what did you do to justify your way into the Heavens?

  — I was a priest! — he replied.

  — Very well! We always had professions in this world, having one or not doesn't mean you’re in the right or wrong path.

  — But I am referring to the importance of my job.

  — Which is the job that is not important, then? This was your obligation, right?

  Lázaro was speechless, as if he had no words to say his mind. He hardened his eyebrows and saw his reflex on the other angel, imitating him.

  — Was I so bad? — he asked the angel.

  — The answer had always been with you, Lázaro, face the facts and you will be free to fly.

  So, he started doing a speech in his defense to demonstrate how he understood the value of goodness and what he had learned with the biblical teachings. He spoke about God as a wise man and even convicted several wickedness committed by others. “They do not know what they are doing!”, he said, “and I did everything to help them!”. The angel of Heaven confirmed calmly, shaking his head, as if nothing of that was new.

  — You speak very well, Lázaro, but you still didn’t answer my question.

  — What do you want me to answer? I already spoke about God and everything I think is right. What else should I talk about?

  — Talk about you. Am I asking too much?

  Right this instant the main door of the church started opening.

  The angels in the room turned back and were upset with the unexpected presence of two individuals in an inopportune time: you and your child.

  And, when Gabriel ran through the aisle, the feeling of freedom demonstrated by him made the angels so angry that they immediately booed; and a major part of them crossed their arms, shaking heads in denial.

  The angels demonstrated their disapproval in several ways: mumbling, making faces, angry eyes, noses in the air, eyebrows raised, well, every look of antipathy you could think of was present to repel the actions of the disrespectful child that was “flying” around the church.

  Right this second the small angel turned to Lázaro:

  — Do you understand now? These beings are responsible for the personality disorders of the human beings. The complex of inferiority, perfectionism, procrastination, narcissism, egocentrism, envy, greed and other kinds of psychological problems, are controlled by them. Including suicide! Do you understand how much this evil has infected you?

  Lázaro, even terrified, pretended to be indifferent.

  Gabriel soon got close to me, and when he saw the blood on the altar floor, he didn’t hesitated in calling you. And you came, checked under the table, saw the blood dripping between the wooden boards, and also saw the shoes of someone on the floor.

  I asked Gabriel to throw rocks in the pigeon’s nest, and he left without worrying much about it; and right then the angels silenced again.

  When you circled the altar table and got terrified at the body laying down, and your angel suggesting doubts about the possibility of me being the author of the crime and putting the gun at the priest’s hand, among several other hypothesis that troubled your mind.

  I noticed, also, when you fought back at your angel, and, that is why, I went back paying attention to the fate of the priest’s soul.

  — What about our answer, Lázaro, what will it be? — asked, patiently, the creature that came from Heaven. The priest answered that he was not obliged to clarify anything, particularly to such a minuscule being. He said he was honest in God’
s path and that he always acted pursuant to His will. He preferred to wait for the help of the one that created the heaven and earth, and hope that his transgressions and sins would be forgiven.

  — I understand perfectly the magic in your words. — said the angel, with a sweet voice. — But you forget that we are fragments of this Omnipotence and that one part may not reject the other. When this happens, one of the parts must be excluded. I beg you to talk to me. I beg you to accept me as a friend. We already know who is God, we already know His Power, everyone does, but purification is essential to the approximation.

  — I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, and I can do all through him who gives me strength; because the Lord is my shepherd, and I lack nothing. Since God is love, since God forgives, why keep discussing bad things?

  — Do you choose pride over humility?

  — I choose the presence of God.

  — Even knowing that God repels pride?

  — I will he humble before Him!

  — What if I tell you that I am God?

  Lázaro observed him from head to toe and got flabbergasted.

  — But God doesn't look like you.

  — How do you know in what form God revels Himself?

  The angel realized that Lázaro was stubborn and lowered his head in defeat.

  — I will tell God everything that happened here. And, let me tell you: He will not be happy about what I will tell him.

  — So you are not God!

  — Remember that God is in all places, including inside you. We are part of a Whole, as fragments of Omnipotence, but when one of these parts rejects the Whole, this part must be excluded.

  At this time, the angel that was keeping the look of a grumpy teenager deformed monstrously. His fingernails turned into sharp claws. The muscles swelled, creating a plasma fire coloring his skin. His eyes opened wide and turned red, his jaw was terrifyingly prominent showing the sharp teeth. A heavy and dark snarl revealed his victory in face of the good angel.

  — What is happening? — asked Lázaro, terrified.

  The angel, without giving any explanation, attacked the soul and dominated it without difficulty, going back to the altar to show the others his trophy, what was shaking as an animal trying to escape while he had the strength. After celebrating, the beast prepared to the jump that would take them to the new and bizarre dimension.

  I, powerless, looked back and realized that the behavior of the bad angel flowed throughout the church, making the angels present exalt. Little by little I noticed that they were also changing into monsters, as the angel at the altar. Good manners suddenly disappeared, giving room to an environment filled with horrible beings, of deformed bodies. The silence gave room to scary cries. Peace gave room to fear and aggressiveness. Then, part of them started jumping and holding to the pillars, as others were hanging from the fans hanging from the ceiling; and some others preferred to pick fights instead of applauding the priest’s fate. There were sex scenes between the horrifying creatures, and also those that preferred to stay under the benches, demonstrating the faces deformed in panic watching everything. Some of them cried asking for help, as others jumped from one side to the other, as hyperactive demons.

  These angels, Isaias, take over repressed feelings to weaken and dominate ignorant souls; discouraging them to be free and making them suffer unconsciously. I watch all this clearly, but I do not know how to cure humans from this evilness.

  I noticed that the good angel preferred to stay a little longer; usually they do not watch this ending. Just before this monster jumped, the angel raised his hand, making the other one wait a little longer.

  — Do you want a second chance, Lázaro?

  — Yes! I beg you! What must I do so that I am not taken?

  The good angel proposed him to be reborn, in another place, in another life. His past would be completely forgotten and he would be evaluated again in a new life.

  Lázaro immediately accepted.

  The demon hesitated for a while, but let the soul over the table and stared at it harshly. An unpleasant sound of a snarl was heard so that that soul could understand that they would meet again. After a jump to the middle of the room, crossing the floor of the main aisle of the church made the terrifying creature to disappear completely.

  Lázaro, relieved for not being at the claws of the profane creature, thanked my support and asked me forgiveness for not hearing my advices.

  So I waved to the angel and Lázaro’s soul, which defragmented slowly.

  I was so happy with the initiative of the Lázaro’s good angel, and since there was nothing else to watch, I turned my attention to you.

  What happened later you already know: We took my backpack at the hotel, we left Gabriel home, we went through the police station for the telephone calls needed, and now we are here.

  Did you understand, Isaias?

  — Kind of. The only thing I may say for sure is that if I could see these angels as you do, I would already have committed suicide.

  — It is like that. In the beginning, I nearly wanted to die than going through what I am experiencing.

  — How can you sleep at night, detective?

  — I close my eyes and sleep; as time went by I got used to them. Talking about sleeping, I think we should get some rest. What do you think?

  I agreed with him.

  It took me a long time to sleep. It was too much information to take. Even so, I napped a little.

  Monday