Fallen

Chapter 1. Somewhere in the never-ending sky [Michael]

A storm is creeping upon us.

Thunder reverberates powerfully in the denser, darker clouds. Rain is already pouring down heavily, and the sky is slowly turning ink blue.

Following the storm are the monstrous shrieks of even more of the bat-winged monsters. Coming closer with each passing second. Monsters, capable of tearing our wings off with a simple clasp of long, sharp teeth and pull of the strong jaws.

We've been set up to fail from the start. The number of monsters, too great for us to fight and make it out alive. The only thing we're doing is making it worse for ourselves. If we stay. There will be nothing of us in the end.

"There are too many of them!" Gabriella - my second in command - yells over the torrent of rain. Voicing my exact thoughts.

From my peripheral vision, I see her move swiftly. Sword in hand. She sends it directly into the bony chest of one of the monsters. It withers into clouds instantly.

Retreating is the best option we have. I might just be able to get all of the monsters' attention, being the decoy needed.

I sprout my half-baked plan.

"You have to gather our people. I'll distract the monsters," I say. "Hopefully, it'll be enough time for our people to get away."

Speaking of the monsters. One jumps at me.

With my sword, I slash it across its chest. It vanishes in a puff of clouds as the previous one did. As they all seem to do.

I look over at Gabriella, her wings beating in the harsh wind. She shakes her head at me. A frown on her face.

"We can't afford to lose you too!" She shouts through the thunder.

My stomach drops. All the angels we've lost in the matter of a few weeks are a lot. I can feel my throat constrict, words catching on my tongue.

I take another monster down, she takes two.

I picture my father's face. I remember the last thing he'd said to me before they took him down too. That the last of our people was my responsibility now. That I was the only one left powerful enough to fight them off. To secure a future.

"You have to!" I yell back.

Time is hardly on our side.

I can see her fighting with herself, but we can't argue back and forth. It'll get us nowhere. And she knows that too.

I place a careful hand on her shoulder and give her a gentle shove.

"Go," I order.

And she follows.

With a last glance over her shoulder, she dashes through the wind. Tearing through the sky hastily.

I hear snarls come closer. More of the monsters are placing down my location. But not good enough. I need all of their attention.

I roar loudly. Yelling bloody murder for the monsters to come get me.

With a push of my upper body, I dash through the clouds. Up and further through the clouds. Wings cutting lines in the dense clouds behind me. Raindrops prickle my skin, almost to the point of hurting. But I push through. I have to.

The snarls follow. More than before.

I make it to a patch of clear sky. The moon shines brightly. Exposing the monsters trying to hide in the surrounding clouds.

I circle around myself. Waiting for one to make a move. But nothing is happening. The monsters only stare at me with their glowing orange eyes.

"Come on!" I yell. "Let's finish this."

My voice is strong. Booming even.

A dark laughter cackles somewhere around me. And unlike any of the sounds of the monsters.

Suddenly, a tall and slender man appears out of nothing. Carrying himself by large bat-like wings, similar to the monsters. He smiles wickedly, exposing sharp rows of teeth.

"We finally meet," He snickers and cocks his head. Long black hair falling over his ghastly-looking face.

"Who're you," I bite back. I've never seen the man before.

He ignores my question with the cock of a brow. As if it's obvious.

"I thought seeing the torment of you and your people would be entertainment enough," He clicks his tongue. "How wrong of me. I would much rather join the fun."

He must be the leader of the monsters. The one who has been hunting us for years on end. Although he looks so young. Maybe even near my age.

He points a claw-like finger at me.

"I would give the world to see your last dying breath," He growls. "Just like I did with your father."

It clicks. Mørke. The man who calls himself the killer of angels. He is the one who killed my father. The one who destroyed my home.

"-After I am done with you. I will let my monsters play a bit with your people before they come to the same fate."

My face scrunches up in disgust, and anger flares through my body. The grip on my sword twitching.

I won't let him speak ill anymore. I don't let him.

I dash swiftly through the wind, raising my sword, ready to strike.

With a simple flick of his wrist, my sword disappears. Vanishes into thin air.

My face must show my surprise because he chuckles.

"You have not seen the full extent of my abilities, angel," He spits the word out with a tang of bitterness. "You're nothing compared to me."

He snaps his hand. Suddenly several of the monsters grab me from all around. I try and struggle out of their grasp, but there are too many of them.

They keep adding up. More joins.

Clasping my hands, legs. All across my body.

Something catches my wing. I can feel it tear through the feathery surface. Another, cracking the bones.

Agonizing pain goes up my back. I scream out in pain.

Too dizzy and in pain to withhold anymore, I slump down in their hold.

The man flies up to me. His bat-like wings rattle.

He takes my face in his bony hand. His claws clasp firmly into my jaw.

"You angels are so silly," He says and guides my face to look up at him. Everything feels so far away. He sounds so distant.

I only have one option left. I can feel it built up in my fingertips. Warmth flooding the entirety of my arms. I just need a second more.

He slides a finger down along my face.

"I really do not see the appeal in you angels. Well, besides the handsome faces, of course," The man smirks.

I struggle in his grasp.

"Too bad this will be the last time I see your face," His hand reaches high. Moonlight glister off the surface of his claws.

It's as if a switch turns on. I feel my arms tremble with power.

And for good measure...

"You talk too much," I tell him.

Before he can reply. I strike.

An enormous flash of light erupts from the sky. Enough to distract them. And enough to hurt.

I can hear the monsters and their master howl in pain. I manage to get out of their grip. But my wings are useless.

And I start to fall.

The unforgiving atmosphere pulls me down with great speed. Sharp cuts of wind tear at my skin. I cradle my wings as close to my body as I can.

I fall through the dense white clouds and make it to the other side.

A house reaches my vision. The last thing I see before I meet the ground, hard. Everything turns black.