8:39am
ST. ANTHONY'S ACADEMY

Gabriel was sitting on the roof of St. Anthony's Academy. He saw
children walking into the school. As the last group walked through the doors, he noticed Josiah approaching the building.

Josiah opened the door. It was almost time for school, about a half hour was left. He walked inside, letting the doors swing shut behind him.

It was time to find out what the cherub was doing here. Checking to make sure no one was looking, Gabriel jumped off, landing on the cement below. He walked into the school entrance.

Cole crossed the street, making his way to the school. Then, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around.

It was Malcolm. "Hi, Cole. It's been a while."

Cole yelled, "Dr. Crowe! You're here."

"Yeah. I finally came back."

"So, why are you here?"

"There's something I need to tell you. Something very important."

"Oh..Simon said it had something to do with angels, the future, and
fighting in Heaven."

"That's right. There are angels fighting over us. When God gave us a soul, some angels got jealous and strarted this civil war, led by the archangel Gabriel. He planned to wipe humans out, to make it like it was before man was created. But they must first battle other angels who were loyal."

"So, Gabriel is the leader of the Rebel army?"

"Right. Michael is with the Loyal angels..they're hiding out in Eden."

"Huh? Eden..like the Garden?"

"Acording to this book Simon gave me, it's called 'Mercazerio'. I
checked on different languages. I found out that Eden is in a vacant,
abandoned section of an American city."

"What?"

Malcolm chuckled, "I know, it sounds a little farfetched. But it's true."

"So..what's this old book?"

"A Second Century Bible. It has prophecies about the second war,
some stuff I read might help us out a little. It speaks of the Rebels
looking for a dark soul, what will happen if Gabriel wins.."

"What happens?"

"Oh, I think it was like..'Ash from a burning Heaven will cover the earth'. Oh, there's something else I forgot to tell you. No one is in Heaven."

"What do you mean, no one?"

"Nobody. As long as this war is going on, no soul can meet its Creator. I learned that three choices are available: One, they stay in their bodies, lying still in the maggot-infested earth. Two, they go to Purgatory, where they wait for the war to end. That's where I went to after we said goodbye."

"And..what's the third?"

"The worst fate of all. They somehow find--or lose, as the case may
be--their way to Lucifer, to Hell."

"Hey, speaking of the Devil, what's his part in all this?"

"He doesn't have a part at all. He might be a bit jealous, though."

"Why?"

"Because of what will happen if Gabe wins. If Michael's side succeeds, everything is put right again. But if the Rebels prevail, Heaven will open and..become a second Hell. I imagine Lucifer wouldn't be too happy about *that*."

"Did this book show you anything else?"

"Yes, it spoke of a final confrontation, the coming of an unlikely savior.. this man will fight an unknown enemy, thereby winning the war. But so far, no side is winning, it's at a stalemate."

"Who is this hero?"

"It doesn't give a name. But it says that he will be a nephilim."

"Nephilim..I heard that word before."

"It's a different race. It has two..part human and angel. Free will of a mortal, power of an angel."

"Oh...someone told me that a nephilim goes to school here, a kid named DJ. Diabolus, actually."

Malcolm arched an eyebrow. "Hmm. Diabolus, huh? Wait, that's Latin. Let me think...ah. Derived from the root word 'Diablo'."

"Diablo, huh? isn't that Spanish?"

"Yeah, it means..'The Devil'."

"So, it could be the son of Lucifer?"

"Possible. Then again, it could be any Fallen angel of his. It's hard to tell at this point."

"Maybe..I think there's a way."

"Really? How's that?"

"I was reading this book on angel legends and Hebrew cabalist stuff. Each angel has a marking on their neck, a symbol. Angelic script."

"Oh, that's very interesting. I need your help with something. I can't take this ancient Bible out of my house, since I'm a ghost. It's written in Latin, so I translated some of it to my notes. What I need is for you to come to my house and get them both. They're in my basement."

"Ok..your house is in Center City, isn't it?"

"Yes. I'm listed. You may need to give a convincing story to my wife, Anna. Keep trying until she lets you come in. She's a nice lady, I'm sure she'll understand if you explain it right."

"Okay."

"Who told you about the nephilim?"

"Someone I saw in church. Gabriel.."

"Gabriel?! The Angel of Death?" This was bad news.

"Yes. He didn't hurt me or anything, he just gave me a warning to be careful."

"Oh. Well, just to be safe, it would be wise to avoid any contact with him, and also stay away from DJ. At least for now. I haven't gathered all the data from that Bible yet, there's still more for me to translate."

"Okay. I'll meet you after school."

"But not for pretend, for *real*. See you after school."

Cole laughed. "Okay, Dr. Crowe. See you later.." Then Cole went to
the doors and walked inside the school.


Josiah walked through the hallway, making his way to the end. He passed by two kids, Tommy and Darren. Josiah stopped three feet away from them.

Tommy looked at the kid in white. Now, this was a weird sight. Some
student dressed all in white, with a trench coat to match? "Yeah? What do you want, *kid*?"

Josiah said, "I seek the room of Mr. Cunningham. Where is it?"

Darren pointed at the end of the hall. "The last door. Are you new here?"

The angel looked over at Darren now. "Yes. Today."

Tommy said, "Hey, where's your uniform?"

Josiah asked, "What?"

Tommy gestured at his jacket and tie. "Yeah, this. Everybody wears these here, it's the rule."

"I make my own rules."

"*What*? You can't start your first day without a uniform. You know..red jacket, tie, white shirt, slacks..a green jacket?"

"Well, now. That's too bad." He pointed at his white clothes. "THIS is my uniform. I wear what I wish and go wherever I desire."

Tommy snickered. Who did this kid think he was? He wouldn't last long in this school with that attitude. "Okay..I hope you don't get in trouble. It would be a shame if they found out." He added in a sarcastic tone, "I just hope it doesn't accidentally slip out..oh no!" He jokingly covered his mouth for emphasis.

Josiah stepped closer and looked into his eyes with a deadly calm. "I would not do *that* if I were you. You will NOT speak of this. Shh!" He waved his right hand in front of Tommy's face. Then he walked to the empty room, going inside.

Tommy stepped back and looked at Darren. "Uh..uh..what was I saying?" He was a little confused.

Darren said, "That kid, remember? You made a little joke about his clothes."

"Huh? Oh! The boy in that white suit? Hmm..he looked cool, I guess."

"But that's not the uniform!"

"Aww, that's alright..they might be able to bend the rules a little."

"*What*?" Something wasn't right here. "Hold on, now. Just a minute ago, you would've tattled on him."

"I would have? You sure? Oh. Well, too late."

Then, Darren saw a tall man walking in their direction. "Hey, Tommy. Check it out."

"Okay..gee, he looks serious." They saw that the man walked quickly
towards them. He wore a dark coat and leather pants, with a white shirt. He carried a trumpet in his hand.

Gabriel smiled, "Hi, kids. Did you see a small boy here? About four to five feet high, wearing white?"

Tommy said, "Sure. He's down at the end, in Cunningham's room."

Gabriel continued walking.


Josiah was in the classroom, sitting perched on the teachers desk:
hunched down, with hands folded. He sniffed. An angel was approaching. He looked towards the door and saw Gabriel walk in.

The seraph said, "Josiah. Long time."

"Yes."

"So..what brings you here?"

"The same thing that brings all of us here. The war. I'm taking care of business for you."

"I know that. And it's good to know you're ready to serve my purpose..thanks. But you see..I didn't call for you. *That*..is unusual. What are you planning?"

"To kill the nephilim. Diabolus."

"Oh. Good. Do you know what class he is in?"

"Not yet. But I will. His friends will soon tell me. Then I will slay him."

"We'll see. If you fail, I'll be sure to finish the job."

"You won't have to, because he'll die by *my* hand."

"So! That is the only reason you're here?"

"Yes."

"Great. Well, Josiah..it's good to see initiative in my soldiers. Keep at it." Then, he turned around and walked out.

After ten minutes, all the kids started piling into the room, taking their seats. Tommy and Darren came in last, followed by Cole. When Darren sat down, he looked at Josiah curiously. Something odd about a kid sitting on a teacher's desk.

Josiah picked up the student roster sheet. He saw that his name wasn't on it. So he grabbed a pencil and wrote it in.

Just then, Stanley Cunningham walked in. He saw a boy squatted on his desk. He almost dropped his briefcase. "You. WHAT are you doing on my desk?"

Josiah smiled mischievously. "Oh. I'm new here.."

Mr. Cunningham shouted, "Get off! And take a seat."

"Sure." He jumped off. "Where at?"

"Uh..right there. Beside Cole, that seat is empty. Oh, you should also have a uniform. School policy."

Tommy laughed silently, trying not to make a sound. He suddenly
remembered what happened in the hall.

The kid walked up to the teacher. "It's okay.." He put his hand on the teacher's shoulder. "That isn't necessary," he said, looking deep into Stanley's eyes, "I do not *need* a uniform. What I wear now is sufficient. Understood?"

Stanley found it almost impossible to look away. He found himself
agreeing with the boy. "Yes..yes, alright. Your suit should do just fine."

Josiah backed up. "Wonderful. By the way, my name is Joe."

Stanley blinked, set free from the trance. "Oh..oh, hi. Well, Joe, you can take your seat now. Nice suit."

"Thanks." He walked to the back, sitting in the desk to Cole's left. He looked over at Cole and winked.

Cole whispered, "How did you *do* that?"

Tommy, who's desk was in front of Cole's, turnned to face Josiah. "Yeah, that trick with the teacher. How? I'd like to do that."

Josiah smirked, "Nope. Trade secret. Besides, if I told you, you wouldn't understand anyway."

Tommy noticed a mark on the boy's neck. "How did you get that..
knife-fight?"

Josiah laughed, "No. Something my..'father' gave me when I was younger. Besides, if it was a fight, the opponent wouldn't be living for very long..if you get my meaning."

"Oh..okay." Something asbout Josiah's tone was unnerving. He turned back around, oppening his small legal pad. He took a pencil and scribbled the script marking on the paper. Then it occured to him. DJ had a scar too, a 'U'-shape. And that man in the hallway, he also had a brand: an old crown. He drew those as well and then put the pad inside his coat pocket.

Stanley announced, "Okay, class..quiet now. We're going to start reading. Take out your history books.."

As they followed his instructions, Cole noticed Tommy had been doodling something. He couldn't tell what he was drawing, but he had a pretty good idea. Cole made a mental note to ask him about it later.