Trapped Inside Humanity

by Bernice Burgos

She now realized this was no dream. Everything occurring at this very moment was very much real.

  “The reunion is over,” Anu said, irritably.

  He grabbed the woman by her wings and stood her up. The woman screamed in agony as pain shot through her legs and wings. Angel hurriedly rose and tried to grab for her, but Keiko intervened and pushed her away. All Angel could do was clasp her hands over her mouth in disbelief. She couldn’t stop shaking.

  “THIS IS YOUR QUEEN, ARE YOU SURE, SHE IS YOUR QUEEN?” shouted Master Anu angrily, pointing at Angel.

  The woman struggled again to speak. She breathed heavily in fear and grunted, “Yes, yes.”

  Anu held on tighter to the woman’s wings and shook her to stay still.

  “See, the problem is, she can’t help you. She won’t help you. Because she does not believe she is your Queen. She’s just a regular human with a regular boring life,” he mocked.

  Angel was horrified. His treatment toward the angelic being frightened and enraged her all at once. To hear her own words thrown back at her was a symbolic slap in the face. At the same time, she grew livid. She could feel her blood boiling and her temperature severely rising. Seeing Master Anu mistreating this helpless woman, a sensitive rare creature, struck a nerve in her. She flashed back so rapidly, it felt as if she physically disappeared from sight. In her thirty-second trance, Angel witnessed this woman being kidnapped, stripped, locked in a cold damp cell, raped, beaten, kicked, fed on, and tortured. She was interrogated but could provide no answers. When the angel didn’t satisfy her torturers’ demands, they clipped her wings, piece by piece, as they raped her again and again. They laughed in the enjoyment of her pain. Angel could hear her screams ringing in her head. She could smell the scent of blood and raw flesh that stung heavily in her nostrils. When she finally flashed forward into her present state, she clasped her head between her hands and screamed.

  Angel screeched madly to block out the woman’s memories from her head, but it didn’t work. She couldn’t escape the taunting and the panic. She couldn’t escape the violent pictures replaying in her mind. What was worse, she couldn’t escape the laughter―the laughter the woman’s captors had every time they took joy in the beatings, rapes, and feedings. There was one specific face that Angel could not get out of her head. It was that of a milky skinned, brown-eyed, dark-haired man with a mustache who wore an L pendant around his neck. He was the woman’s main torturer, the one who took the most pride in his work.

  Angel’s body was sweltering and her stomach turned upside down. Her knees felt weak, but she kept herself from falling. The room around her felt as if it were spinning, but nothing was moving. She began to vibrate, and her body shook uncontrollably.

  Keiko covered her ears as the sound of Angel’s screaming was louder than anything she could bear. Everyone stared at Angel, anticipating her next move. Master Anu knew he was close to unleashing Angel to her full potential. He decided to push the envelope, mentally preparing for any consequence that followed. When Angel finally stopped screaming and shivering, Master Anu seized his opportunity to pull a huge knife out from his back and held it to the top of the woman’s wings.

  “It is said that if one completely cuts off an angel’s wings, they die. Drinking her blood nearly drove my men to their true deaths. The scent of her blood is enticing. My men do not have the control I possess when it comes to blood.” Anu paused a few seconds. “I would do anything to save my kind, even kill a creature given to this earth by God.” Anu tugged harder on the wings and brought the woman down to her knees. “NOW WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO SAVE YOUR OWN FUCKING KIND?” he yelled with so much rage in his voice that it echoed throughout the room.

  Angel opened her robe and let it fall to the ground. The heat boiling inside her body felt as if she was going to detonate. She fell to her knees; she could feel her hair grow longer, and her spine rippling. The tattoo wings drawn on her back felt as if they were ripping out through its ink. She didn’t feel pain, just throbbing, as if something was yearning to emerge.

  Keiko and Sammy hastened over to Master Anu to stare at Angel in amazement. She was changing into her celestial form before their eyes. Master Anu held on tighter to the woman, while Keiko and Sammy stood fearlessly by their Master.

  The green bra that Angel was wearing ripped apart, exposing her breasts for all to see. The throbbing became so intense she could feel something emerging from between her shoulder blades. Her flesh yearned to tear open as this intense sensation sent ripples of waves coursing up and down her spine. Tearing and cracking, followed by the scent of open flesh, echoed throughout the room. Angel’s body slowly positioned itself on all fours, her black-rimmed glasses falling from her face. She clawed at the hardwood floor, feeling as if she was giving birth through her back. Everyone watched intently as her wings slowly emerged from the depths of her shoulder blades. It was like watching a roseate spoonbill spread its bright beautiful wings for the first time.

  Feathers fell as Angel’s huge wings flapped steadily at her sides. She screamed so loudly that she hardly recognized her own voice. The heat inside her disappeared and her long black hair fell over her face. She lay still on the ground as the memories of her past life played into her mind like a movie played backward. She saw images of her mother, her friends, her grandfather, her uncle, and her brother. She began to slowly remember who she was and her purpose on Earth. She remembered the death of her brother and screamed louder than she had ever yelled before. Everyone around her tried to shield their ears shut, but it was too late for Keiko. Her eardrums burst, and she was bleeding from both ears.

  The room grew increasingly silent as Angel’s screams subsided and then finally stopped. The buzzing noise in Keiko’s ears was intense. She quickly signed to Sammy that she couldn’t hear, showing him the blood on her hands. Sammy rose and went to her aid, offering her a drop of V blood for healing.

  Angel lay motionless for a moment then pushed herself to her knees. She swept the hair away from her face and slowly drew her attention to Master Anu. Through her greyish-green eyes, she glanced at everyone and made a quick assessment of the situation. She was going to kill them all. Her skin glowed flawlessly with vibrancy and energy.

  Master Anu smiled in triumph. Keiko stared in disbelief; and Sammy held his hand over his mouth, shocked, as the blonde woman struggled to free herself.

  Angel touched the wings that were lying flat by her side. They were as white as freshly fallen snow, the brightest white anyone had ever seen. It was softer than any material she had ever felt. She flapped her wings, involuntarily elevating herself into the air. Once she was standing straight, she quietly planted her feet on the cold hardwood floor. The room was silent as all eyes were on her.

  Master Anu released the young blonde; she limped herself towards Angel. Her tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy and relief.

  “Angel,” she said happily.

  The two angels embraced tenderly, like a mother protecting her child. Angel cradled the woman’s head between her hands and kissed her forehead.

  “Gia! Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” Angel’s embrace instantly began to heal the celestial being she knew as Gia. Within minutes Gia’s wings grew longer, fuller, and turned whiter. Her bite marks and bruises vanished. Her hair became lustrous, and her clear blue eyes grew brighter and restored with life. She felt stronger and energized. Master Anu, Keiko, and Sammy were amazed as they witnessed a never before seen supernatural work its magic. Master Anu would record this phenomenon in his research.

  As Angel embraced Gia a bit longer, she began collecting memories of her past life in Eden. Their childhood flashed into her mind―

  swimming in Father’s lake, running through fields, and playing their instruments together. She was happy to finally have someone she considered family with her.

  Angel was pulled back into her true form; and although she was sent to Earth as a symbol of peace, she was ready for a fight. She stepped back and took a deep breath. Ange
l was relieved to see that her healing powers had restored Gia. She nodded and smiled warmly at Gia as she mentally prepared herself to attack.

  “I will kill YOU ALL,” shouted Angel furiously, charging at Master Anu. As Angel attempted to rush Master Anu, Keiko jumped in front of him in fight mode, ready to protect her Father/Master. That didn’t intimidate Angel. She was satisfied that Keiko stepped in first; she would be the first one to get hit. Angel punched Keiko so fast and hard on the side of her head that she went flying to the opposite side of the room.

  Sammy used his speed in an attempt to intercept Angel; but again, she was faster and stronger. Angel roundhouse kicked him down to the floor. Master Anu grudgingly accepted her challenge with a hard hit to Angel’s throat. Angel fell on her back holding her throat and gasping for air. She was surprised by the toll that hit took on her. She didn’t expect Master Anu to be that strong. It didn’t matter to her; the challenge was accepted. Master Anu leaped in the air and tried to land his foot on Angel’s chest, but she quickly rolled out of range. Anu’s bare feet came crashing down on his wooden floor, creating a huge hole.

  Angel stood up, turned around, and hastily kicked Anu on the back while he was distracted. He fell forward, rolled himself on to his back, then jumped himself back into fighting position. He didn’t want to attack Angel; the fight might end with her death. Although she was a decent fighter, he had an advantage over her―his army hidden behind the doors. One call to his guards and Andrew would carry out her true death within minutes. He didn’t bring Angel all this way to kill her, so he had to find a way to restrain her.

  Angel proceeded to kick Anu again, this time aiming for his head. Anu grabbed Angel’s leg in mid-kick and pulled her closer to him. His fangs were out, and their sharpness was frightening. She tried not to focus on his teeth, feeling that he was trying to distract her. Instead, she elevated herself and tried to pull her leg free; but Anu’s strength was incredibly stronger than she had anticipated.

  “You’re not getting away so easily, QUEEN.” Anu smiled while pulling on Angel’s leg.

  Gia jumped onto Anu’s back, but he tightened his grip. Sammy gained consciousness and quickly pulled Gia by her wings, forcing her off. Angel used that time to draw herself closer to Anu and kicked him in the face as hard as she could with her free leg, soundly striking his mouth, blood streaming from his lip. Anu released Angel, and she landed on her feet. She watched him wipe his hand on his mouth and laugh. She stared at him in surprise as the gash on his lip disappeared.

  “You can heal?” Angel asked, surprised.

  Anu’s healing process preoccupied Angel; it gave Keiko enough time to gain consciousness. She quietly stepped behind her and stabbed her in the back of the neck with a syringe. The sharp pain caused Angel to drop to her knees, holding her wound. She instantly felt weak and dizzy.

  Keiko froze Gia in place using her mind trick. Master Anu walked over to Angel and knelt beside her.

  “Let’s stop this now, before the serum kills you. I believe you know how this works. Think bad things and your head will explode; it’s that simple.”

  Anu turned to Keiko, “Set Gia free and have Andrew take her to a room. I’m sure it will make the Queen Guardian happy to know her little celestial is being taken care of.”

  “Don’t touch her, you piece of filth! Agghhh,” the pain in Angel’s head felt as if her brains were being bashed in with a hammer.

  “I told you to settle down, Angel. The pain, remember?” Anu said, pointing to his temple.

  “You’re going to rape and torture her as you were doing before, I saw it all. I will kill you all before that happens again,” she replied angrily, trying to get past the pain.

  Anu glared at Angel; the first thing he was going to do was clear his name. “Your visions have steered you wrong. You have us mistaken. Do you think WE were torturing your friend? No! We are NOT savages. If any of my men ever engage in rape, I will personally nail them by the balls to fry out in the sun. I don’t condone that method of suffering, ever!” He was speaking with truth, he never in his entire existence accepted rape or sodomy as a form of torture. It triggered a nerve for him to put any type of paranormal or human in that situation.

  “We saved her from the Leader’s guards. They held her captive for weeks in an undisclosed location in Chicago. My men found her and brought her in yesterday morning, just in time for your arrival. I could have nursed her back to health, but my idiot men became weak and began licking her wounds. I had to attend to them first. Besides, I had a feeling you would challenge me, so I had to use her as leverage.”

  Angel listened then remembered the L-shaped pendant on the guard.

  “The guards, the Leaders’ guards―do they wear L-shaped pendants?”

  “Yes, it’s a rule the Leaders instituted. Whatever line you belong to, you must wear either a pendant or a tattoo. My people mainly have the gold pendants with the red “A,” if not they will have a scripted red A tattooed on their inner left wrist as Keiko and Sammy have,” explained Anu.

  “I believe you; it was the L-pendant I envisioned.”

  Angel looked up at the high ceiling and inhaled. She exhaled quietly, shut and opened her eyes, trying to think clearly. She now had to piece things together.

  “My people are not all dead. There was a situation centuries ago that led us to go underground.”

  “Right, my Leaders were hunting your people,” stated Anu.

  “Maybe, I don’t know the full story. Many of my people are hiding, but some are missing. I need to find them. As their leader I need to protect them and the humans,” Angel responded readily, agreeing to Anu’s plan.

  Master Anu understood Angel. If he had a beating heart, he would have felt for her. He understood how it was to have the lives of others in your hands, every decision counted.

  “Are you truly willing to help me?” asked Angel sincerely.

  Anu gave her a warm smile of relief. “Yes! as long as we are willing to help each other,” he responded.

  Angel nodded her head in agreement.

  “Then you have yourself a deal. You help me find my people, and together we will end the Leaders. They will pay for what they did to Gia, to my people, and anyone else they hurt. Together we will end them,” declared Angel angrily.

  The pain in Angel’s head subsided as she relaxed her thoughts and quieted her anger. Master Anu held his hand out to help Angel stand. Sammy walked over to Angel and handed her the silk robe. Angel slipped her arms into the front of the robe, leaving the back open because of her wings. My God, Anu thought, Angel, is the most beautiful and magnificent creature I have ever seen.

  Anu rubbed his hands together shyly, “May I touch your wings?” he asked politely.

  Angel hesitated then nodded in agreement.

  As he reached out to touch her feathers, she flinched.

  “Do not be afraid, my Queen. I just want to feel the texture. I promise I will not hurt you.”

  The feel of Anu’s hands was gentle against Angel's feathers. She could feel his hands caressing her wings and examining them with his eyes. “Remarkable.” Anu let his hands down.

  “I have more things to show you, Angel,” said Anu. “As a sign of good faith that I am on your side.” He smiled and clapped his hands. Angel didn’t know if the clapping was a good sign. The last time he clapped, nothing good happened. Oh, come on. I already agreed to everything, what now? she worriedly thought. Within seconds the rear door opened again, and the guards appeared with two children behind them. It was Maggie and Jesse.

  Maggie and Jesse looked at their mother in shock. She didn’t know what to say; she could feel their mixed emotions burning a hole through her. It wasn’t a good feeling. They were taken aback and didn’t know what to do or say.

  Anu broke the silence. “Children meet your mother. Angel, meet the children; now is the perfect chance for us to come clean about things,”

  The children looked at the being they knew as their mother and took
two steps back. Maggie held tightly to Jesse. He picked up his little sister and held her close. Tears began to trickle down Angel’s face. Keiko walked back into the room, noticed that Maggie was afraid, and reached out to her. Maggie embraced Keiko and moved her small frame into her caring arms.

  “Don’t worry, my little child,” said Keiko soothingly.

  Angel’s impulse kicked in and she held her hand out in protest.

  “Don’t touch my child,” she warned angrily. Immediately, the pounding came rushing to her head as if a hammer was being nailed into her skull. She grabbed her forehead and wobbled forward, trying to gain her balance.

  “Mommy,” remarked Maggie worried.

  “Mom”, Jesse repeated.

  Maggie jumped down from Keiko and ran over to Angel.

  “Mommy,” said Maggie with open arms. Angel knelt down and hugged Maggie tightly, kissed her cheek, and held on to her for dear life. Jesse soon joined in. Maggie pulled away and asked innocently, “Mommy, are we going to heaven?”

  Angel wiped her eyes as the pain in her skull began to subside.

  “No honey, but...” Angel paused to look at Maggie’s bright brown eyes that grew wider.

  “Am I an angel too, mommy?” she asked sweetly.

  Jesse waited patiently for a response, but she never gave one.

  “Don’t worry…mommy is going to get us out of this bad man’s place,” Angel said quietly.

  “What bad man, mommy?” questioned Maggie.

  Angel pointed to Anu.

  “Master Anu isn’t bad, he's nice. He has a huge house and a huge plane and Jesse and I have our own rooms and they cook us big meals and take us to the beach. We watch TV and Chum Chum is teaching me how to play instruments,” she happily replied. “Mommy, I like it here; everyone is really nice. It’s much better than being in a boring school.”

  Angel looked at Jesse in confusion and for confirmation.

  “Mom, Maggie’s right. This place is pretty awesome. Master Anu hasn’t done anything bad to us,” he confirmed.

  “Maggie, who is Chum Chum?” asked Angel curiously.