CHAPTERS 9 & 10

Chapter 9

            Tess walked out of the home of her last assignment; the one she should have been working with Monica.  She sighed as she walked down the front steps and as she stepped onto the sidewalk she nearly collided with a woman whom was apparently power walking.

            “Oh! I’m so sorry,” the young woman cried out, but she stopped abruptly when she realized whom it was she had run into,

            “Tess!”

            “Stacey!” The angel smiled as she reached to hug the girl who had been Monica’s assignment weeks ago when this whole thing had started,

            “Where are you going in such a hurry, baby?”

            Stacey smiled broadly as she held up her Walkman,

            “I’ve been working out, Tess.  Monica helped me to see how I had been closing myself off to the rest of the world, so I decided not to let my weight be a deciding factor in my life anymore.  I don’t care if I get skinny or not, but I just want to take better care of myself.  That way I can do my part and God will take care of the rest.”

            “Well, it sounds like you and Monica had a good talk a few weeks back then,” Tess replied, her eyes clouding over a bit with thoughts of Monica and Andrew.

            “Where is Monica?  I’d love to see her again.” Stacey smiled.

            “Well, baby, that’s a real good question.  Both she and Andrew are missing, so to speak,” Tess quickly explained to Stacey all that had transpired in the last few weeks,

            “So, I’ve requested some time off so I can try to find them.  I know the Father has been trying to tell me that they are in trouble, so I don’t have any time to lose.”

            Stacey was quiet for a moment before looking hopefully at Tess,

            “Let me come with you, please?  Monica did so much for me, and if she or Andrew are in trouble because of me, I want to help.”

            “Baby, none of this is because of you, but if you want to come along, I’d have to say that I’d enjoy the company.  Even my car has been lonely without those two angel babies,” Tess said sadly as she opened the door to her car as Stacey got in the other side,

            “We’ve got to find those two, Stacey, because I have a feeling they are in way over their heads.”

            Andrew awoke with a start, thinking he heard something, but he soon realized it had only been a nightmare.  He relaxed again as he gazed down at Monica, who was still sound asleep.  He brought his hand to her forehead and shook his head in concern.  Why wasn’t her fever coming down? 

            “Andrew?” Monica murmured sleepily as she opened her eyes.

            “I’m here, sweetie,” He replied gently, feeling her shiver in his arms.

            “I’m so cold,” She said softly, as she felt him pull the blanket more snugly around her.

            Andrew’s mind raced frantically.  He had to get her out of here today, that much he knew for a fact.  The dampness in the cave wasn’t helping her any and she just seemed to be getting sicker each day.  If he didn’t get her someplace warm and dry soon, there was no telling what could happen and he had already vowed to take care of her.

            Andrew let her rest for a while longer, before he encouraged her to get up, so they could continue.  Monica was much weaker now, and he had to help support her as they moved deeper into the cave as he searched for any sign of light that could signify a way out. 

            “Andrew, please, can we stop for a minute?” She pleaded after nearly an hour,

            “I’m so tired…I don’t think I can go any further…”

            “Just a little longer, sweetheart, okay?  We’ll stop soon, I promise,” Andrew was fueled by his desperation to get her out of here as he tightened his grip on her and quickened his steps.

            Monica struggled to keep up with his strides, but after a moment, her head began to spin, just as her vision began to blur,

            “Andrew--,” She managed to say just before everything went black.

            Andrew felt her go limp in his arm and he caught her before she fell and gently lowered her to the ground, his heart racing,

            “Monica?” He gently patted her cheek to try to bring her around, but the ailing angel did not respond.  Tears filled Andrew’s eyes as he gathered her up into his arms and rose to his feet once again,

            “Please Father,” He begged as he began walking once more,

            “Please show me the way out of here.”

Chapter 10

            No sooner had the words escaped his mouth, did Andrew round the next corner of the cave and felt the cold fall air.  Looking up, he realized it was another opening in the cave, and he nearly cried with relief.  As he walked outside for the first time in days, he knelt and laid Monica’s still frame on the ground so he could rest for a moment.  His hand moved to stroke the hair back from her forehead,

            “We’re out, sweetie,” He whispered, though she did not respond.  He looked up at the starlit sky,

            “What now, Father?”

            Looking out into the dark woods, he saw a light not too far from where they were.  Saying a silent “Thank you,” he scooped Monica up in arms once more and walked towards the glowing light.

            Already knowing that the log cabin was from his Father in Heaven, Andrew opened the door with Monica in his arms.  The warmth of a fire in the fireplace greeted him and relief filled his weary heart as he stepped inside and kicked the door shut.  He laid his friend on the bed and pulled the blankets up over her, before he looked around to see what else was here.

            Andrew found canned goods and a refrigerator filled with food and juices as well as a working stove.  He hurriedly put the kettle on to make some hot tea, though he smiled sadly, knowing his friend would probably prefer coffee, but the tea would soothe her throat.  He found a washcloth and filled a small basin with cold water before he set it down next to the bed.  Sitting down beside of her, he bathed her forehead with the cold water and in a few minutes, her eyelids fluttered and her eyes opened.

            “Andrew?” Monica uttered, her expression on of confusion,

            “Where are we?”

            “Someplace safe, Monica,” He replied gently, as he wrung out the cloth again and laid it across her forehead,

            “A place where you can get better and get your strength back,” He heard the kettle whistle and he got up to fix the tea.  Bringing the mug over to her, he helped her to sit up and to hold the mug as she sipped the hot beverage,

            “How do you feel?’ He asked as he set the mug down on the bedside table.

            “Like death warmed over,” She replied before flinching at what she had just said to her best friend, the Angel of Death,

            “Sorry. No offense.”

            Andrew laughed, amused by the regretful look on her face,

            “It’s okay, Angel Girl.  No offense taken,” He watched as she returned his smile,

            “Hungry?”

            “No, Andrew, not really.  I’m more tired than anything,” She gazed around the room for the first time,

            “Do you really think we’re safe here?”

            “I think so.  If God provided it, then it’s safe,” Came the reply, which put Monica’s fears to rest,

            “Now,” Andrew continued, taking her hand into his,

            “I don’t want you worrying about anything more than getting better right now.  You leave all other worrying to me.  Do we have an understanding on that?” His green eyes were warm as he looked into her tired brown ones.

            “Yes, sir,” She replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before she lay back down, too weary to stay awake much longer.  It felt so good to be warm again, that she could barely keep her eyes open.

            “Sleep, sweetie,” He said softly, as his hand moved to stroke her hair,

            “Close your eyes,” As she obeyed, he began to sing softly to her as Tess had done for her so many times before when she was frightened,

            “Nothings gonna harm you, not while I’m around.  Nothings gonna harm you, no sir, not while I’m around.  Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays.  I’ll send them howling, I don’t care, I’ve got ways.  No ones gonna hurt you, no ones gonna dare.  Others can desert you, not to worry, whistle, I’ll be there…” He had scarcely finished the first verse before Monica was sound asleep, her fingers still curled around his hand. 

            Carefully, he removed his hand from her grip and stood up, leaning to softly kiss her forehead, before pulling the blankets more snugly around her.  He then went into the other room to take a hot shower.  Andrew felt better when he emerged, dressed in jeans and a black sweater, also provided by the Father.

            He ran the towel through his still damp hair, as he gazed out the window of the cabin, surprised to see the snow falling outside.  He wondered where this journey was going to take them, as he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were still in danger.  He only hoped that whatever was going to happen, would wait until Monica was stronger.  He too, felt exhausted from the last few days, and would welcome a bit of a rest. 

            He placed a few more logs on the fire, before checking on Monica once more, relieved when her face didn’t feel as hot as it had earlier.  As he watched her sleep, he thought about what Kathleen wanted from the sweet, loving angel and it made his eyes cloud with anger.  Kathleen had already caused his friend so much pain and Andrew had never been able to understand why the dark angel had it in for Monica.  Monica had been a good friend to Kathleen before Kathleen had turned to the darkness.  He thought about what the Father had told Monica before she had found him—that she would have to fight harder than she ever had before.  Andrew sighed, worried for his gentle friend as his hand moved to stroke her cheek,

            “I won’t let her harm you, Angel Girl.  Not again.”