Crimson Angel

“Happy Halloween!” Ms.Fredrick called out as I left with my pumpkin head basket full of the candy I had collected with my younger cousin. Swiftly I pulled out my notebook and scratched off a name, its ancient pages soaking up the timeless ink of the feather pen. Catching a glimpse of the name I had marked off my cousin spoke up, “I thought we already went to their house?” “I know.” I replied. “This isn’t the kind of list you are thinking of, you wouldn’t understand. Hurry up and get to the Henderson’s house before those kids get the good candy.” I said gently tapping her on the head with my notebook and sending her sprinting off towards the house. Slowly I pocketed the notebook in the back pocket of my abnormally white angel costume. “No one would understand would they…” I whispered walking up slowly to the house as well. After a few hours we had collected as much candy as we could hold while I got my names, so we headed back to the house. “Alright Tammy, bedtime.” My adopted mother said picking up my younger cousin and carrying her into the house. “Thanks for watching her Alice. You can go out on your own now.” Her voice echoed through the empty house giving it an airy feeling. “No problem, I’m off.” I said tearing out of the house my list of names clasped firmly in my hands. While running down the street I glanced over the notebook and noted the few names I had left since over six were already marked off. “Be sure to reward them.” The voice in my head said filling up the empty spaces inside me with its echo. “Of course, like we always do.” I replied pulling out a bag I had hidden under a neighborhood tree full of my gifts to give. Recalling the names left on the list I made a beeline towards the first house. After a few miles of running I reached the Richardson’s house, my face as white as my angel costume and cheeks as red as the rain about to come. Panting as I stood the woman finally opened the door gasping at my condition. “Oh dear, come in, come in. I have to get you a drink.” Swiftly she rushed me into the house. “Thank you ma’am.” I croaked out. Quickly she sat me down in what seemed to be the living room of her house that had a raised ceiling and a balcony that ran across all corners of the house; basically giving it a second floor except that it was open in the middle. “I’ll be right back dear, and please, call me Shannon.” She said heading into the kitchen that was off down a hallway. “Let’s go.” The voice said sending me immediate directions to the human life signs in the house, glowing a bright iridescent color and leaving a small glowing trail which would lead me to them that the voice allowed me to see. I had begun to get used to the color and shape of the light which gave me information of what race, gender, relationship to the other humans nearby, even their names on whoever was highlighted. As I headed up the stairs I could feel the two twins residing in the room above me. Little Karen and young Peter, how cute. It was a bit odd though, it seems that Karen is older than me. Yet she seems so young while I’m so ancient, how funny. Ah, time for the gifts. Quietly I opened the bag knowing what I was looking for and shuddered with excitement as I felt my hand brush over it and I pulled it out. The small glass bird shone an iridescent color from the dim light as I sat it on her bed stand next to her head. I could barely keep quiet from the excitement ready to burst from inside me in anticipation for them to receive the gifts. Gently stepping over to Peter I knew what I needed and dug my hand through the bag going immediately to the glass snake. Gracefully I sat it on his bed stand and smiled widely. Suddenly the bird twitched and it began to hop over to Karen, leaping into her open mouth. The snake soon followed slithering through the gently closed lips of the sleeping boy. “Only a few moments now…” I whispered barely able to hold in the excitement. The first to scream out in joy was Karen as the bird began to feast off of her bursting out of her stomach, her intestines flowing down its open beak as she writhed in excitement crimson rain falling down from the emptiness of the world. I couldn’t help but giggle as it drenched my face and pure white costume, its fresh scent exciting every inch of my skin as it rolled down my pale flesh. Leaning over Karen as she trembled in joy I watched as the bird began to grow, devouring a leg and working its way up to her smiling face now wet with her own rain. Her eyes held that glare, that never ending stare that stayed with you and watched over you as you slept, that glare of pure white joy. “What are you?” She asked with those glowing eyes. “An angel.” I replied stroking my now crimson sprinkled pure wings and smiling, letting the rain wash my pale face. The bird had now reached the head crushing it beneath its beak, spraying her corpse in all directions, filling a small amount of emptiness in the air around us. Turning to leave I glimpsed the glass snake giving it’s gifts forcing me to smile as I exited the room my skin and costume as pure white as when I arrived, the crimson rain having been washed away by the voice which helped fill the void as well. “Oh, where did you go dear?” Ms.Richardson asked completely unaware of the gifts and joy filling the void around her. “I was looking for the bathroom. Thank you for the drink.” I said I made it to the bottom of the stairs and she handed me the glass of water which I downed in one gulp, shocking her slightly. I should have probably held back that ability the voice had given me, but it didn’t matter. I let my hand move itself around in the bag of gifts until it found the one it was searching for. “This is your gift.” I said handing her a delicately crafted glass butterfly holding amazing detail. “Oh that is just beautiful. I could never accept that.” She said putting her hands on her chest slightly taken aback by the beauty of the gift. “Please, it’s the least I can do.” I said handing it to while walking out the door. “Thank you dear she said as I was about to shut the door but left it open a crack to watch the butterfly began to move its legs. The look of shock on her face soon ripped off by the butterfly’s legs and her headless body plummeted to the ground for the butterfly to devour under the downpour of the cleansing crimson rain. “Happy Halloween.” I whispered shutting the door and walking off towards the next house while marking off another name from the ancient paper with the timeless quill. After all the names had been scratched I made my way towards home giddy with joy and excitement at knowing some of the void had been filled. “Good job my dear. That was very pleasing.” The voice praised. “I know, they did sound so happy didn’t they?” I said aloud skipping back to my house and up to my room. “Hey Tammy.” I said shaking my cousin awake. “You want a present?” She nodded back barely awake. “Here’s your gift!” I said handing her a lovely glass turtle. “I gave mommy a gift on the way in.” I told her shutting the door behind me and walking into my room gently closing the door. Crawling up into my bead the screams of joy rang out singing me to sleep. “I can’t wait ‘till Christmas.” I yawned as exhaustion took over and I was taken to the world of the voice yet again.

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Publication Date: 01-24-2012

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