C L (First Version-Complete)

37: Behind the Mask

I did not know him yet he knew me since the very day I was created.

Did this mean he watched my parents perform sexual intercourse? Raphael had his kinks. I never thought he was a voyeur.

He said that he was my guardian angel and he had a responsibility to protect me yet I never felt the performance of his duty not until now. I do not like having people sacrificing themselves just for me. I had enough of those. I want it to be the other way around. But why was it that this dodo bird was now acting like my protector and I had no other ways to save him from his sacrifice?

"Raphael!" I heard myself shout. It was the very first time that I let my emotions be expressed through the pitch of my voice. Yes, I do not know him. I do not have any ideas of what kind of person he was yet I cannot have anyone may it be a person valuable to me or not; put themselves in the front line just for me. One thousand people were enough. Having one person was already too much of a guilt but knowing that ONE THOUSAND did it for me was just...a bite to someone's sweaty testicles.

Was it too late if I shove him aside? The soul was just a few seconds behind him. Even thinking of these words wasted the seconds. My eyes caught the sight of a purple stone thrown just behind Raphael. I took a peek and watched as the smoky non-solid creature get sucked inside as the gemstone dropped to the floor. The soul let out a scratchy scream and I yanked Raphael down and he fell on top of me. The angel whirled around and we watch the soul get  slowly trapped inside the amethyst stone in which my uncle talked about. It formed long and sharp fingers as it tried to claw the floor to escape the inevitable. I just noticed that it had two completely red eyes. I moved my vision from left to right and found no one in sight.

Raphael sat up and grabbed the stone containing the catastrophe. He stood up and walked forward. He assessed the surroundings to see who his savior was but it would seem that the person kept his identity in obscurity. The man let out a sigh of relief and I stood up with a limp on my leg and an occurring headache. It was at these times where I just want to unwind and eat Slade's cooking. It felt like my stomach was digesting itself from how it boiled from hunger. I would ask Slade to cook some garlic roasted potatoes and chop carrots into carrot sticks.

I left Raphael who just began to patrol the area to find out the person behind the angel's current sanity and I wandered around while limping. It was definitely painful to move. Maybe if I abuse my body more then it might return into being numb like before.

I stood in front of the frozen giant and perceived that the ice was getting moist. I poked the surface of the frozen foot and moved my finger up and down to feel the very cold temperature. It was my first time touching something so cold. Silence ruled the destroyed camp and a sense of safety settled completely. It would be a different story if the amethyst stone wasn't thrown at the most convenient time. What could have I done to handle Rapahel? With his wings, he had the upper hand. He could have killed me. Things would be much worse if he was the one possessed. His sacrifice could have been in vain. It was a shame that I didn't get to thank the person responsible for the acquired opportunity to continue with this voyage. I will invite that person to dinner once I discover who he or she was.

Raphael landed beside me with a sigh. It was time to leave. This place was no longer feasible. We were attacked two times now. We need to search for a much isolated place that ensured safety but first...

"I want a bath," I told him. "And I am hungry," I added blankly. I do hope the kids were fine. I believe they didn't have breakfast yet.

"Okay, let's get you to the other side," Raphael said and his spear faded along with the stone. He lifted me up in his arms and then flapped his wings down to get us up in the air. He seemed to be swimming in deep thoughts until my hand smacked his front face to yank him out of his ruminations.