CHAPTER 8

Whenever she was on Earth, Monica was used to waking up with the gentle sunrays crossing the window and shining through her room and the singing of the birds announcing the beginning of a new day. But there, at that state prison, the only thing that would announce it was already morning was the loud and anguishing sound of a siren.

Being a constant observer of the human's nature, Monica noticed that the women in that place did things almost mechanically. Going from one place to another, they looked like robots with no soul, no feelings at all. She tried to spot Abby amongst them on the patio some time after breakfast, but the inmate was nowhere to be seen. The Irish angel headed to a more deserted area, where not many inmates were as it was not bathed by the sunlight, so important to them.

Monica scanned the area looking for the shy and sad woman she had met a while before, but instead a threatening voice reached her ears.

"Look who is here... Crossing my way again..."

Monica turned around to face Sheila, and now the inmate was alone.

Despite the fear that was taking over her soul, the Irish angel stared back at the woman. "I don't know why you talk to me like that... I haven't done anything to you..."

Sheila gave a few steps towards Monica and the cold look in her eyes caused a chill to run down her spine: only God knew what that woman had been through during her life, but whatever it was, it had taken her soul too far from God's love. One could easily see a lot of anger shining in there.

"Oh, poor you! 'You haven't done anything to me'!" she said, with a mock smile, and then her face became serious. "You might be my passport to freedom again, honey!"

There was no time for Monica to understand the meaning of those words: the woman pulled out a penknife from her pocket and knocked her down on the ground. "No! Please, I-"

She tried to cry for help, but Sheila covered her mouth and placed the sharp blade against her neck. "Shh... Didn't you understand what I said? I have to get outta here and once you're gone, I'm gone too!"

Monica fought to get rid of her but Sheila was twice her size, and was determined to use the weapon - a sudden cut in the palm of her hand caused Monica to panic at the vision of blood. Her ordeal in the woods had left deep wounds in her soul and the little angel couldn't control the fear every time she was exposed to violence, just like that moment. There was a fight, and more cuts, but before Sheila could use her knife again, another voice interrupted them.

"Hey! You two, stop that!"

Two guards rushed towards them and immediately separated the two fighting inmates. One of them was Tess.

"This one is hurt..." The supervisor said, doing everything she could not to show that she and Monica knew each other, even though deep inside she was hurting terribly to see her dearest friend suffering a physical abuse. She helped Monica stand on her feet. "Let's get her to the ward and call a nurse, she's hurt!"

"Okay, you take her, I'll take this one to detention!" the other guard spoke, shoving Sheila along the path. And it was then that she and Monica realized who had warned the security about Sheila's attack: Abby.

And before disappearing from her view, the dangerous inmate gave them another threatening warning. "You'll still hear from me soon! Both of you!"

The prison building had a ten bedded fully equipped hospital with necessary Medical and Paramedical support, and feeling Monica's shaking body, Tess took her to be examined by a nurse. Like a mother, the older angel placed a gentle hand over her shoulder. "I'm here, baby, I'm here..."

The little angel's mind was whirling with thoughts and pain, but one thing came to mind above all others and she turned panicked eyes to her supervisor, "Tess! Andrew...you can't-."

But the older angel was already shaking her head, knowing exactly where her Angel Girl intended this conversation to go, "Baby, you can't hide this from him; he's going to know as soon as he sees you. You have more than one knife wound."

Monica's eyes turned to her hand and arm and seeing the blood she paled considerably and closed her eyes. A second later, she was swooning slightly.

"Pat! I need you over here!" Tess bellowed for the prison doctor as she helped her young charge to lie back on the bed before she passed out.

The Irish angel struggled to cling to consciousness and once she had lain down, her stomach began to calm and her head began to clear. The doctor and nurse were examining her wounds and someone laid a cool compress on her forehead.

"Well, two of them aren't too bad, but the one in her hand and the one below her ribs are going to need a couple of stitches," The doctor remarked as she shook her head. She saw so many inmates come and go through her doors, so many of these women hardened by their lives and the evil deeds they had done to get them here. Most of the time, Pat didn't feel a thing when treating them; they were mostly all the same.

But at that moment, the auburn haired female opened her dark eyes and met them with Pat's and the look in those eyes nearly took her breath away. Her eyes seemed to be a mirror to her soul and instead of the hate and anger Pat was accustomed to seeing in inmate's eyes, there was sadness and hurt, but also acceptance and peace. None of it made sense to her, but she found herself suddenly caring about this young woman just the same.

"I'll numb you up, Monica and you won't feel a thing, I promise. In a week, the stitches will be out and you'll be as good as new."

"Thank you," the angel murmured as she closed her eyes once more. She knew she should be happy that Abby had cared enough to get her help. She had seen the young woman standing off to the side, watching worriedly and had instantly known that Abby had been the one to go for help. Surely that was a breakthrough and she should be happy.

But all she could think about was how she had only been in here for three days, yet it felt more like months. How was she supposed to help Abby when she felt as if she herself were losing hope? Exhaustion suddenly felt as if it were invading every part of her human body and with a tiny sigh and the feeling of Tess' fingers stroking her hair, she drifted off to sleep, unable to keep her eyes open any longer no matter how hard she tried. It was such an odd feeling, yet she had no control over it.

A heartbeat later, with her eyes still closed she was suddenly aware of a delightful intense warmth on her face and the feeling of sand under her bare toes. Opening her eyes to the sound of the surf, Monica gasped to find herself on a beach, a mere inches from the water's edge.

"I thought you needed a little break."

The tenderness of that voice caused her to turn around and almost hurl herself directly into Andrew's waiting arms. As he held her tightly against himself, she only allowed herself to remain in that moment; what was going on in the medical ward of the prison no longer mattered.

"Thank you," She whispered fiercely up against his chest, breathing in the scent of him.

"Baby, I am so sorry-."

"No, please," She begged, tilting her face up to look at him, "I don't want to talk about what is going on down there. There'll be time for that later and I know we only have a few minutes."

Though what he wanted was to talk about it and be assured her heart was all right, he knew she was right. Back down there, her wounds would soon be stitched closed and the God-induced sleep would have to be lifted and force her back into reality again, "You're right. Come on."

Pulling away, he took her hand firmly in his own and they walked down closer to the water's edge, allowing the waves to break gently over their feet and ankles. Monica's dark eyes were fixed on the ocean and the sky, taking in every moment of which she had been deprived the last few days and every movement and expression caused the blonde angel's breath to catch in his throat. She was so beautiful and so innocent and didn't deserve the things she was going through. Yet here she was, smiling up at the seagulls that were flying then diving into the sea in search of a meal as the ocean breeze blew gently against her hair.

Andrew felt as if he needed to say something. He knew that despite her smile and despite the fact that she didn't want to talk about the things that were hurting her, he knew she needed encouragement.

They walked in silence for a few more moments before Andrew stopped walking and turned to face her. Taking her other hand into his as well, he squeezed them lovingly and watched as she turned her trusting eyes to his.

"I know you don't want to talk right now about what is going on down there, so just let me remind of how much I love you; of how hopelessly in love with you I am, Angel. I want to remind you of how you are my strength most of the time because you are the strongest little angel I know. I want to remind you that no matter what you are dealing with or going through, that I am always going to be right there beside you, in body, in heart or in spirit. You are never alone, my precious angel, never, even when your existence seems to be the darkest," Dropping one of her hands, he cupped her cheek in his hand as he saw the tears shimmering in her dark eyes, "I will always be your light at the end of the long nights, baby. Always. This is my promise to you. I may not be able to end them, but I promise I will always be there."

It took Monica a moment to be able to speak through the tears that were lodged in her throat, "I love you so much, Andrew. Just so much it makes my heart ache."

They stood in silence for a moment, lost in each other's eyes, but then Andrew caressed her cheek, "It's time for you to go back, Angel."

"I know," She whispered, before standing up on tiptoe and bringing her lips to his, thankful when he lowered his head to accommodate her. A tiny sigh escaped Monica at the sweetness of their kiss, before it was deepened as their tongues sought access. For the moment it was all forgotten; Abby, Sheila, the crime she didn't commit; all that mattered was Andrew and the incredible way he made her feel.

Reluctantly, their kiss ended as they rested their foreheads against each others, catching their breath, "I love you." The little angel whispered once more.

"And I, you...with all my heart," He replied just as softly, "I'll see you tonight, beautiful angel."

"Yes. You'll be my light in the darkness; I'm counting on that."

When Monica opened her eyes, she blinked several times before she realized that Tess, the doctor and the nurse were all looking at her worriedly. Her hand was already bandaged and she could feel a bandage below her ribs as well.

The doctor had been right. She hadn't felt a thing.