HIM

by Brittney Cohen-Schlesinger

  “He was an easy target to get to you.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, confused.

  “It was my job to supply you with a power only Shadow Angels possess. One year later and you’re still standing. I’m surprisingly impressed.” I was bewildered. “Must I spell everything out for you?” he asked with an attitude. “My kind - Shadow Angels - know what you’re going to become, Avalon.” I hated the way he said my name.

  “And what is that exactly?”

  “One of us,” he smirked, making Jensen’s beauty appear evil and oddly demonic. “That is, after your term as a *Barak concludes.”

  All of this seemed unreal . . . in a bad way. What was a Barak? Why hadn’t Jensen and I come to this conclusion on our own? Did he really not know or was he protecting me from all of this?

  I shuttered. “No, no that can’t be possible,” I said softly.

  “Oh trust me sweetheart, it’s possible.” He smiled. “Your *premonitions? Yeah, the way they are and how they come to you…that’s something Shadow Angels have - something Light Angels don’t. I generously gave it to you last year.”

  “You mean the frightening dreams and mirages I’ve been having are really…visions?” I asked, scared more than ever.

  “Bingo, baby!” he taunted.

  My rape was planned. I hadn’t been dreaming; I’d been having visions of the future. I wanted to vomit. The room seemed to get smaller with every breath I took. How in the world would I - could I - become one of them?

  A Shadow Angel?

  “We’re connected, you and I.”

  I felt sick, realizing a Shadow Angel had now confronted me for the second time - portraying a man I loved. The memory of that night still haunted me even though I tried to be brave - for Jensen. The visions I’d been having for twelve months - only involved this Shadow Angel because we were connected through that power. By him sharing his power with me I felt an odd pull towards him. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t help it. His presence was intoxicating in a strange, mystifying, seductive way. But it was faint so I could fight it. I refused to have anything to do with him.

  Through tear-blinded eyes I slapped him across the face. I’d never imagined getting violent with Jensen, ever. But he wasn’t Jensen anymore. He was someone else entirely.

  “You’re too adorable,” he said blankly. Without warning, he instantly punched me in the eye. Everything went blank.

  * * *

  When I opened my eyes, it was blurry.

  My right eye burned to the touch. Seeing out of it wasn’t an option at this point. Shaking my head, I got up. From where? I wasn’t quite sure.

  At first, I thought my one good eye was playing a trick on me. But then I realized where I was - a place I’d only imagined in my wildest dreams - The Middle Plane. This was Jensen’s home, his world.

  It was beautiful and magnificent in every way - just as Jensen had said. The clearness of it all was so unbelievably surreal - almost like a dream. There was a foggy mist consuming the space around me but it was absolutely breathtaking.

  “Ah, you’re awake,” said an all-too-familiar voice, shattering my pleasant diversion from reality.

  Before turning to see who it was I had to tell myself that Cole was dead. Shadow Angels could possess human bodies - ones that were deceased. It had been a year since I’d laid eyes on his body. A lot had changed since then.

  He looked just as he did the last time I saw him - darkness in his eyes, although his hair was disheveled and his body slumped over, like the way he used to stand.

  “It’s so easy squeezing into a human, you know.” I knew he wasn’t the Cole I used to love. This Cole was possessed by something purely evil and selfish. “How’s that eye of yours?” he smirked. “You should know I went easy on you. Had I not, you would be dead right now.” I envisioned him punching a hole right through my skull.

  Disregarding his statement, I asked, “What am I doing here?” I tried getting past seeing him in front of me for the first time after so many months - so many horrifying months. This whole experience seemed like all of the dreams - or rather, premonitions - I’d been having for a year.

  I have premonitions - an evil power deep inside me. Is this all just one bad dream?

  “Just thought you’d like to see where you’ll be living for the rest of eternity. That is, when you die.” He whistled a tune I didn’t recognize.

  “Jensen would know who did it. He’d slaughter every last one of you disgusting, filthy creatures.” I was panicking. I could hear the blood pumping through my veins.

  “Do you kiss your daddy with that mouth? Oh wait, I forgot, he’s dead.”

  I spit in his face. He chuckled and wiped the saliva off his cheek.

  “Sweetie,” he laughed, “you know Jensen can’t kill us, just as we can’t kill him. That’s up to The Angel Vaad. And I highly doubt they’ll keep the two of you alive much longer.”

  “Where is Jensen?” I asked, every muscle in my body turning to Jell-O at the thought of Jensen weak, alone and afraid.

  “Somewhere no Light Angel can defend himself - nor escape.”

  “Show me.” I knew I shouldn’t have said it but I didn’t know what else to do. “I’m as good as dead anyway. Am I correct?” My adrenaline was kicking in.

  “Yes.” He gritted his white teeth. My palms were sweaty. “You’re a feisty little one, aren’t you?”

  I gulped and looked away from him. Maybe if I played vulnerable he’d listen to me better. It was obvious he didn’t like that I was playing on his level. I was determined to see Jensen one, last time before his life and my life ended. And I didn’t care how I got what I wanted; I was going to get it.

  “Can I ask you something?” I wondered, voice shaking.

  He seemed surprised. “Depends what you desire to know,” he answered smugly.

  “What is your name?” After all this time, it’d be nice to refer to him by his real name, other than Cole - my ex-boyfriend, only by death, who did absolutely nothing wrong.

  “Why are you asking this of me?” He was defensive.

  “I just would like to know who I’m speaking to, that’s all,” I exclaimed.

  There was a brief pause and then, “Aiken.”

  “Aiken. That’s an interesting name.”

  “What do you want, Avalon? To see your lover boy?” he hissed. “You trying to butter me up, girly, by pretending to be interested in who I am?”

  “No,” I lied gracefully. “I just want to get to know you since we’re connected and all.”

  “I’m a Shadow Angel, there’s not much else to know.”

  “What will happen to me once I become a Shadow Angel?” I wanted to throw up. “Will you and I be connected at the same level? Even more? Will the connection go away?”

  “So many questions,” he smirked. “We’ll be connected, I’m sure. My guess is the same amount we are now or even stronger. It will never fade away. A part of me is inside of you. And because of that I feel connected to you as well.” His eyes were dark but softer somehow. I think this was his nice side.

  Bracing myself for him to hurt me, I took a step toward him. I got very close to the body he’d possessed once again. “Would you and I be together?” The thought was revolting but I didn’t let it show.

  He smiled slyly at me. “I guess you could call it that.”

  With a shaky hand I placed my fingertips on his arm, then his face . . . Cole’s face. This didn’t feel real. “How many other girls are attached to you and vice versa because of this?”

  “None. Like I said before…you’re the only one who survived. You’re pretty tough for a human. That won’t go unnoticed by The Angel Vaad or the other Shadow and Light Angels in The Middle Plane.” He snickered. “Many will grow to respect, even fear you, I’m sure.”

  This was all too much to take. “So I’m unique, is what you’re saying.”

  “Very much so. The only one of your kind.” He bowed his head toward me like he w
as honoring me.

  This whole situation is unfathomable.

  “Will I have powers just like you?” I asked curiously, dropping my hand from his face.

  “That’s the plan,” Aiken stated. “The Angel Vaad has never accomplished something of this magnitude before. They’ve been trying for thousands of years but so far, you’re the only human strong enough to withstand the power of a Shadow Angel.” He began pacing back and forth with his hands at his sides. "The Angel Vaad want more power. They wish to prove to the Shadow Angels, Light Angels and this supposed G-d they’re always conversing about -especially G-d - that they can create just as much as He can. They don’t feel it’s fair He obtains all power and they get none.”

  “So they’re trying to create something - a Barak…I’m a Barak.” I let this sink in.

  “Barak is the Hebrew term for mixed…meaning you’re half human, half Shadow Angel.”

  “I’m the only one in existence. The only one that survived the experiment.” I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I couldn’t fathom this was now my life.

  “Yes,” Aiken said. “And once you die you will become the first Angel Vaad-made Shadow Angel to ever walk among The Middle Plane.”

  As much as all this freaked me out I wondered why I could withstand such a horrific event and still have managed to stay sane, let alone alive. But before I could allow myself to get any further into this conversation I needed to get to Jensen. Maybe after all this talking Aiken would allow me to see him.

  “Aiken,” I said, pronouncing his name awkwardly for the first time.

  He stopped pacing to face me, a stern look in his eyes. “Yes?”

  “Can you please take me to see Jensen now? Please?”

  “Hmm. Thought about. And no.”

  “Come on!” I shrieked. “I just want to see him before anything happens to him…or myself.” I shuddered involuntarily. “It’s not like I could do anything about it.”

  “Why should I let you?” he challenged.

  “Why wouldn’t you?” I cautioned and my voice shook. I was acting braver than I actually was. “I’m just asking for a final request.”

  A chuckle rumbled from within him, dark and eerie. And to my surprise he responded with, “As you wish.”

  That was too easy. There has to be a catch.

  My soul felt detached from my body - floating above as I watched what was going on below. He took my hand and before I knew it, led me through transparent shaped buildings and trees. “After your meeting with lover boy,” he said, changing the subject, “I have to take you somewhere.”

  I tried finding my voice but it seemed as though my soul hadn’t entered my body yet. After a moment, I spoke, “To kill me, right?”

  “Oh, I’m not going to kill you,” he smirked. “The Angel Vaad might though. And Jensen’s going to watch the show.” A throaty laugh rang through the air - strong and full of power. “But don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’m a great audience member.”

  And there’s the catch. I guess I was hoping for something more creative.

  “You can’t fight your destiny, Avalon,” spoke the Shadow Angel possessing Cole’s lifeless corpse. Just holding his hand made my skin crawl. “You were chosen for this.”

  I wasn’t sure what made me even more nauseous - the fact that I was practically born just to become an evil creature or that I was connected to Aiken and would be involved with him once the transformation was complete after my death.

  Large, see-through iron-like archways stood in front of us, with what looked to be like Shadow Angels on either side of the gate. The men were holding large staffs - one glowed metallic silver, the other gold. A sizzling, crackling noise came from one of them. They eyed me as we headed toward the gate. We paused to look at them - one stared me down, intensely. He was tall, rugged looking. The other was the same but extremely muscular. They scared the life out of me.

  “Upon request of The Angel Vaad we all had to possess one of the thousand human corpses held in our chambers. We aren’t allowed to show you our true selves. Can’t scare the human.” He smirked.

  So at least The Angel Vaad isn’t completely evil.

  One man, irritated, grunted as the doors opened themselves up. I took a deep breath as I held onto my captor’s hand, leading me into the unknown world that was The Middle Plane.

  ____________________

  ** Reference Angelic Key

  EIGHTEEN.

  Through the darkness of the damp hallway I shivered.

  I knew this was a ridiculous time to be thinking of this but I had no idea this type of place could acquire any type of precipitation. It was a normal world - except everything you saw you could see right through. If I had been afraid of heights I would’ve had a problem. Underneath everything was something else, though the whole lot was separate.

  It was utterly scary but honestly, remarkably stunning and unforgettable all at the same time. But even in the midst of all this beauty never in my life had I ever been so afraid - so unaware of the danger in front of me. I hoped - really hoped - that he was taking me to see Jensen and that this wasn’t some sort of twisted trap.

  His hand still held mine in his. My palms were sweaty, as well as the rest of my body. I chuckled on the inside, wanting my perspiration to gross him out. If it was he didn’t seem to make a big deal out of it.

  The loud thumping of my unsteady heart muffled our footsteps. I was scared what would happen if I didn’t calm down. Either way, I hated the sick feeling that was spreading through my timid body like wildfire - between the fears of dying too young and never seeing Jensen again - was too overwhelming. But I couldn’t break down now - not in front of him.

  Stay strong, Avalon.

  “You seem nervous,” Aiken noticed.

  “What makes you say that?” my voice trembled.

  “I hear your heartbeat. Calm yourself.” He snickered at my discomfort.

  “Working on it.”

  We rounded a tight, transparent corner, crossing a bridge - over a large body of rushing water - to get to another section of the building. Once on the opposite side we strolled down a few more long hallways and then ended up in front of a wide door. The top was higher than the Chrysler Building. Although clear, you could see nothing on the other side of it. The room appeared to be empty.

  But that was not the case when you entered. There were crystal-like cages - about forty or so with bodies inside them - holding men and women captive. Before walking in, Aiken had explained to me that everyone in here were Light Angels that had disobeyed The Angel Vaad in some way. I wondered what they all had done to end up in this place; although it wasn’t my business to know.

  Before I could calm my nerves from realizing that, after all, this was not a trick, I took notice in how the Shadow Angel was honest with me. Why? I didn’t know. Although he was no good I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit better, knowing he hadn’t deceived me.

  My eyes, frantic, searched for Jensen. After a few moments I spotted him. If I hadn’t looked hard enough I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was him. He looked like a different person. He was in the corner, on the right side all the way in the back, hunched over. Some sort of medallion or talisman was hanging around his neck, a symbol I’d never seen before. Charms of many shapes and sizes hung around the large cage. And everything was transparent. Something else I’d never witnessed - Jensen appeared to be weak, actually physically weak. I had to see him. My feet began to move.

  “Ah, ah, ah,” said the disgusting creature holding my hand. He pulled me back so I was next to him once more. “Ask for permission.”

  “Wow, you really love being in control, don’t you?” I snapped, shaking. Jensen was about a hundred yards away from me. I wanted to run to him.

  “Why yes, I do. Thank you for taking notice.” His sly smile made me want to spit in his face, even though he was wearing the mask of my old love.

  “May I please see Jensen?” In a way I felt silly for askin
g.

  “Certainly.” He let my hand go.

  And with that my legs moved, sprinting across the room with speed and endurance - adrenaline pumping through my veins. My lungs felt like they were going to burst. I was crying on my way to see the man I loved. I had been without him for too long and couldn’t bear to see him like this. When I approached the cage he did not look up. I came to a halt, catching my breath and touching the cage bars with much trepidation. I hadn’t given much thought to how the bars would feel. But they felt like real iron bars - I could touch them without a problem.

  “Jensen,” I breathed, trying to even out my panted breath. He didn’t budge. “Jensen,” I repeated. No movement. His skin was almost pale and was in desperate need of a shave and new clothes - they were ripped and tattered.

  Tears streaked my weary face. Could he even hear me? Could he see me?

  “He only answers to us,” came Aiken’s haunting voice. He was standing behind me.

  “What do you mean?” I asked through gritted teeth, never taking my eyes off of Jensen.

  “He’s…what would you call him? Oh! A puppet.” I could hear a smile in his voice. “We control him.”

  I turned to face the Shadow Angel. “Make him move. Make him speak to me. Please.”

  “Why do I care to please you so much?” he asked with an odd grin, running his pointer finger down the length of my arm. “Jensen,” he spoke, turning his attention to my boyfriend trapped in the cage . . . like an animal, “you may listen, speak, and respond in any way you please to your guest. But keep in mind your time with her is limited. Don’t let it go to waste.” He then turned to me. “And as for you, I wouldn’t try anything slick with him. He won’t be himself. He might not even recognize who you are. So just watch yourself.” And then he left, the humongous door slamming behind him, echoing throughout the room. Not one angel moved.

  Just then, Jensen’s eyes - his eyes a dull blood red, and underneath, dark shadows -flickered and looked up at me. Seeing his face - bruised and bewildered - frightened me. He was the strongest being I’d ever known, so sure of everything, so confident and brave. Seeing him here was almost excruciating. But I had to show him I was strong - that I would find a way to get him out of here, somehow, some way, I would.