The Unknown // Colby Brock

~~ Chapter Fifteen ~~

Arianna's POV
          I despised the thought of heaven, which I thought I'd made very clear every single day that I had been there, but the longer I spent sitting in the midst of the 'town' with Katrina guarding me by my side, the more I began to... dare I say, like it. I would still never choose heaven over hell - ever - but there was no denying that there was more to do for everyone and people were a lot happier. Go figure.

Katrina had become like Xepher was down in hell: my shadow. I spent lots of time with her, though none of it was my choice, and she liked to chat about this and that with me as though I wasn't from hell. She was a bubbly girl with a way-too-optimistic attitude. When she talked loud, it was really loud and when she laughed - at her own jokes - everybody in the area could hear her. Unlike anywhere else, though, no one would care. The surrounding people would turn and look at her like she was some sort of Disney princess singing. I understood that she was very beautiful and it wasn't hidden that she was supposed to be Sam's queen, but I just didn't get why everyone loved her so much.

I got the occasional glance from a few people who would smile and wave until they realised that I wasn't supposed to be in heaven. That was fine: I didn't belong. I wanted to be down in hell. I wanted to at least punch the devil. And I wanted to finally wear black again.

It had been over a week since I had even seen the colour red or black or anything else dark. Heaven was just so... white and 'pure'. Ugh. Disgusting.

"So anyways, then this guy realised who I was and got this huge blush on his cheeks," Katrina continued her mind-numbing story. "I told him it was okay, that Sam wouldn't mind, and then I gave him- "

She was cut off when an angel guard swooped in out of nowhere. The people in the area backed up as fast as they could, hiding behind one another or ducking behind the stalls selling items that never changed.

"Here we go," I mumbled to myself, crossing my arms over my chest as the angel guard bowed down to Katrina. I wasn't acknowledged, as usual. When he stood up again, he held out a small letter with a blue rose stamped onto the back.

"From Sam, Miss. It's urgent." Katrina fumbled to open the letter, eyes scanning over the words as if it was the last thing she would ever do. I managed to read a couple, most of them reading something along the lines of 'demon hiding in the streets of heaven'. So the boys were up to it again.

Out of curiosity, I scanned my eyes over the crowd. Just out of coincidence, I caught sight of familiar black and white hair split down the middle. Was that... the figure drew closer allowing me to see Aryia's face. My mouth dropped open for a moment in surprise. They really were up here.

It took me a second to notice that he was trying to get me to go to him, but I knew I wouldn't be able to escape Katrina without her noticing. Just as I considered making a run for it anyway, she turned to me. "Bad news. We have to head back."

"We?" I questioned lightly, pretending nothing was wrong.

"Yes, there's a disturbance in the town and God wants us out of the way," she explained. Her fingers wrapped around my wrist as she began to pull me away from the people watching the scene. I felt the need to stop right there, to turn and run into Aryia's arms so he could take me back to hell. But I couldn't.

The moment we entered the opposite side of the crowd, I noticed the looming figure of Kevin hiding behind a couple of taller guys who were watching Katrina and I pass by. After Kevin, I saw Reggie and Cassie standing off to the side holding hands. How could Katrina not see and recognise any of them? Was she really that focused on getting back to God?

Before I could even think, Katrina's hand lashed out. I only just managed to dodge it, but it wasn't aimed for me. The blue streak of energy hit Kevin fair and square in the chest, making him scream out in pain for a moment and clutch his shirt. I panicked, pushing Katrina to knock her off balance. She stumbled just long enough for Kevin to suck in a breath and disappear in a flash of red.