: Chapter 13:

Fallen Angels

Itchy raced through the streets trying to find any trace of Charlie but he couldn't find him anywhere he looked around sniffing the ground nothing Charlie must be a ghost he had no scent at all. Itchy then felt his head spin again the flashes returned what were these flashes? He saw Carface talking to someone, he then saw this dark figure reveal an image of Gabriel's horn finally itchy saw himself watching them. The figure turned and Itchy felt his blood run cold, oh no. It was Red was with Carface and plotted the theft of Gabriel's horn. There was a dark inferno in his eyes and fire surrounding him and Carface. Red was from Hell! Oh no Red likely planned all of this and now that Charlie was desperate he was likely going back to Red.

The flashes stopped and Itchy picked himself up why didn't he remember all this what happened to him how did he forget this, and did he not tell anyone unless, it was beginning to dawn on Itchy. He saw Sasha approached Itchy David was with her.

"Itchy he just ran off he then disappeared" Sasha said holding out the collar.

Charlie forsaked the collar, he was going back to Red, he wanted to escape heaven what on Earth was Charlie about to do?

"You guys get home i'll find Charlie" Itchy told them he wanted them somewhere safe immediately if Red was a demon he would not hesistate to kill any of them to get to Charlie.

"He was the one who tripped me i think Charlie planned what happened to me but i don't understand why, he's my guardian angel why would he do that?" David asked fighting back tears.

Itchy turned to David he might as well explain, "Charlie was trying to sabotage his relationship with both of you he thought if he made you both hate him it would make going back easier" Itchy explained.

"What, why would he think that was necessary, itchy i saw him something's wrong with him" David said.

"I don't know i think David you reminded Charlie of his past a past he came to regret so he made certain you didn't follow his example" Itchy explained, this was likely true but now Charlie was trying to undo his heavenly ties and Itchy knew that would have devastating consequences Charlie wasn't thinking straight.

David began to ponder itchy's words they actually made sense and in truth he was missing his family the idea that he never saw them at one of his shows actually hurt he never knew if they were proud of his skills. His Step mom was right the moment he messed up they disregarded him without a second thought, she was just trying to help him and he repaid her by running away. David knew the truth he wanted to go home now, he was wrong to run away.

"Charlie was right, my step mom was right about everything and i wouldn't of realized that ever" David said.

"Are you saying you forgive him?" Itchy said.

"That's what both my moms taught me, please find him Itchy i want him and Sasha to be the ones to take me home" David said.

Sasha smiled at David's response it would seem maybe what Charlie did was necessary though she still didn't think so, but that didn't mean she couldn't forgive him he was lost right now and in pain these were the kind of moments Darren told her to give him a chance for.

"Sasha get David back to the junkyard and keep him in your sights I'm going to find Charlie." Itchy told her.

"Itchy, what's happening?" Sasha asked him.

"Get David to safety, neither of you are safe!" Itchy shouted.

"What, Itchy?" Sasha tried to say.

"Sasha do you know anything else about Carface's club what it was like while you worked there anything, about your boss?" Itchy asked her.

"Nothing really except one thing, i heard his superiors name once, Caruther Mr. Caruther" Sasha said.

Carface, that was impossible Carface was in heaven during that time he was dead the only way he could still be alive is if he struck a deal, with hell. Those visions he was having were real, Carface owned the club used it as a front but why what other reasons could there be?

"Anything else Sasha?" Itchy asked her.

Sasha thought about it for a moment her boss required a large amount of profit, for some investment where was it again.

"Um a real estate purchase that's what my boss was getting the funds for, i think it was a uh, Alcatraz he wanted to purchase Alcatraz" Sasha said.

Alcatraz a prison why, if Red was a demon what use did he have for a, for a prison. He was going to use the horn to drag every angel to that prison! This whole thing was a set up from the beginning Red being a demon likely foresaw Charlie falling for Sasha, they had been nothing but puppets, the horn Itchy had to get it immediately if Red got it first it was over every angel would dragged from heaven cast out!

"Get David to the junkyard lock up the barn immediately if anyone shows up that isn't me or Charlie run run as far away as possible!" Itchy told them.

"What, Itchy what is going on!?" Sasha demanded.

"Nothing less than the end of Heaven itself, now go hide get what you need from the junkyard then get as far away from it as possible" Itchy told her.

Sasha was confused but grabbed David and they rushed back towards the junkyard once there they she would take David home where they would stay until Itchy contacted them.

Itchy raced back towards the horn he wanted to help Charlie as well but if he didn't reach the horn then it wouldn't matter every single one of them would be damned.

Red was standing alone in his study eying his paradise lost painting closely the time was nearing soon he would have the horn and exact retribution on all those who wronged him finally he would see Heaven suffer as he had. He could sense Charlie's desperation he was coming and with him his final victory would follow. Charlie came racing into Red's house phasing through the door calling out to him.

"Red" Charlie called out.

"Charlie how unexpected to see you, what brings you back and where is your collar?" Red asked him.

"I appreciate it but it's not enough things have changed i found someone i love and a purporse i never knew, but I'm still an angel soon i'll have to return to heaven and leave all this behind" Charlie said letting his sadness show.

"You enjoyed your second chance i knew you would" Red replied.

"Yes so does that collar negate me from being an angel?" Charlie asked.

Wow Charlie was desperate he was practically falling apart this was it the moment Red had waited for all his life finally he would reclaim the price stolen from him, at long last Charlie Barkin would be his once again.

"No I'm afraid the powers don't extend that far" Red told him.

"Then how, is there anyway i can stop being an angel?" Charlie asked his voice was dripping with desperation.

"Perhaps but I'm afraid this particular case will require payment" Red told him smirking at the broken look he knew was on Charlie's face.

"I don't have any money, or anything" Charlie said defeated.

Oh, well very well" Red said before walking towards the back of the house.

Red wait, please wait, um Gabriel's horn i have that" Charlie said almost panicked.

"Hm well perhaps we can make a consideration, Charlie but why are you so desperate to turn away from Heaven?" Red asked him.

Charlie didn't need to think of that answer for even a moment what had heaven done for him lately or at all for that matter nothing they mocked him and kept him from what he wanted he wasn't even understanding how they were considered so pure, Annabelle was cruel completely and utterly heartless for putting him through this.

"They're cruel, heartless they sent me here on a mission and if there as all knowing as they claim Annabelle knew i would fall in love and sent me anyway knowing i would have to give it up. Their pureness, their absolute goodness is a complete and utter sham!" Charlie growled.

Oh yes Charlie was ready Red could relate to his words he felt the same thing for all their pureness he was still banished just because he wouldn't embrace the pathetic mortals because he chose to say no, how does simply saying no warrant being exiled from one's home, it didn't, Heaven was a fraud. The world needed to see Heaven for the fraud it was, and soon they would.

"You are right, heaven is a farce, I was once an angel that's how i know of you but i was asked to make a sacrifice and i said no, i was called a traitor they tried to take everything from me, but i fought back and here i am cut off from my home all because i said no" Red said his voice was filled with emotion and he was staring at the paradise lost painting watching as Lucifer, or rather himself was cast out of heaven."

"They don't care, you broke free of heaven tell me how please, I'll do anything" Charlie pleaded.

"This horn could send me home finally, that's all i want is to go home, is that so bad?" Red asked Charlie for a moment Charlie thought he saw a hint of tears.

"No it's not much to ask of them all i want is to stay with the woman i love is that so bad?" Charlie said.

"No, it's not bring me this horn let me go home and i will tell you the secret to finally being with your love" Red told him.

Perfect they had an arrangement Charlie didn't have to keep his part he wasn't exactly an honorable person all he needed was the secret to being free nothing else mattered.

"I need to be alive to do that?" Charlie told him.

I see are you certain you want this once this is done there is no turning back, so we have a deal." Red asked him.

Charlie didn't hesitate all he saw was Sasha that was all he needed he reached out and accepted Red's paw. In a single moment Charlie felt a million memories entering his mind all ancient secrets to heaven and finally the main one the way to turn away from heaven, he saw an Angel he then watched them sprout their wings before severing them they then stood as a mortal. That was it all he had to do was severe his wings and heaven would have no hold over him anymore his life would be his again.

"My wings severe my wings and i have my life back" Charlie said.

"You're life is your own go claim it then help me reclaim mine" Red told him.

Charlie nodded before running off he raced past the docks and beyond the junkyard he needed to do this somewhere private. Charlie sprout his wings and soared through the sky flying through the city before landing on the top of the golden gate bridge. Charlie landed gently and extracted his claws he let his heavenly energy fill them with a deep and intense burn. He then began cutting through them. A sharp pain shot through him as he felt his claws cut into them. The pain intensified but Charlie ignored it struggling to maintain his drive. The pain grew more as he slowly chopped through his wings for a moment he stopped but then he saw Sasha's face, he saw them on the beach, walking along the bridge, dancing in heaven kissing above the Earth itself, then he imagined leaving her never seeing her again. Charlie began cutting more intensely not even noticing the pain anymore it was worth it for her, anything was worth it for her.

Itchy was about to arrive at the docks horn in mouth when he heard an angel screaming even more so heaven was crying out in panic as well what was going on? Itchy heard Annabelle shouting in his head?

"Itchy you have to contact Charles now i don't know why he's doing this but i can't reach him, you have to get through to him while he's still an Angel!" Annabelle said in complete panic.

Still an Angel what the hell was Charlie doing! Itchy focused in on Charlie desperately fighting through whatever blocks Charlie put up there was little option Itchy's connection was limited he need to deliver his message instantly.

"Charlie what are you doing!?" Itchy screamed as loud as he could.

"Reclaiming my life" Charlie said through clenched teeth.

"You idiot you have no idea what this will cause!" Itchy shouted.

"It will allow me to remain with her that's good enough, screw heaven" Charlie growled.

Charlie was more irrational then he had ever been but now more than ever he needed to listen to reason he needed to think rationally.

"Charlie this is a bad idea, deep down you know it talk to Annabelle even if she can't help you it's better than this what happens next!?" Itchy tried to rationalize.

"Annabelle never cared about me or any of us, I don't care what the consequences are it's better than going back to the existence i had!" Charlie roared.

"Charlie please for once in your life listen to me, just for once listen to what i am saying!" Itchy shouted in fear.

"It's already too late, go back to heaven itchy my life is here, goodbye my friend." Charlie said as he yanked his wings off and let out an agonized shriek before throwing them down.

Charlie stood motionless on the bridge he could feel the wind blowing through him could also feel the warm sun though it was setting at the moment. He took in a deep breath and felt the air enter his lungs. He placed his paw to his chest and felt his heart pounding. He reached out and touched the bridge with his paw. It worked Charlie wasn't a ghost anymore he wasn't an angel anymore he looked to the sky and saw Annabelle looking at him in horror and sadness, he ignored her finally he was free completely free of heaven he could be his own person again. He could take David home and live the rest of his life with Sasha. Charlie smiled and cried tears of joy before moving across the bridge of course Charlie didn't notice something as he did so, his tears burned through the ground like molten lava, his paws ever so slightly scorched the earth, he could not be sensed by itchy anymore or Annabelle they couldn't even sense his soul, Charlie was lost to them, he like Red and all who followed him was now a Fallen Angel.

Oh no, just what has Charlie done what are the consequences to the decision he just made what will it mean to him as well as those he loves? What of Red's plan can Itchy retrieve the horn before Red uses it to tear down heaven itself and what role will Charlie play in this? I'm afraid that will have to be our stopping point for now but there will be more on the way soon enough, hope you've enjoyed the story up to this point.