CHAPTER ONE

Andrew stared at the dark alley in front of him. It came to his realization that he had just let Monica down once again, and he had just punched someone. What was going on with him? Was anger getting in the way of his motions?

"Oh, Father, please, don't let anything happen to her! Please, God, forgive me for I have sinned. Oh, God, what have I done? What did Monica do to deserve this treachery?" he prayed.

The wind dried the streaming tears on his cheeks, leaving only a red face. His emerald eyes no longer dazzled with happiness. His inwards were killing him, eating at his heart and mind. His best friend has just once again been captured by evil powers and evil had again won.

No, he thought. This won't happen next time. I'll get her and I'll keep her. She won't be taken away again. This is my entire fault. This is all of God's fault. He could have stopped this but didn't. He had the power to win but He didn't.

"Why are you letting this happen?" Andrew cried loudly into the windy night. He fell to the ground on his knees. Suddenly his eyes caught sight of a glimmer. He reached down and scooped up a necklace, Monica's necklace. It was the one that he had bought for her some time back for her birthday. It had an angel figure with a diamond inside of it, in the place where it's heart would be.

The angel of death put his head in his hands and cried softly. His green eyes stung with somberness. His mouth was froze shut and his skin tingled with grief. Little did he know that the next chance he would get wouldn't be that soon.

"Amy? Are you ready to go yet?" Gloria asked her companion. Amy slowly nodded as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "It's nearly ten," the angel said.

"Would you like to come to my house for a quick cup of coffee…wait, do angels drink coffee?"

"Oh, yes. At least our human forms do," Gloria added. "I love coffee and so does Mon…" her voice trailed off.

"Monica? Is Monica an angel too?" Amy asked as the two walked down the street.

"Yes, she is," Gloria replied sadly. Her glasses began to fog. "I miss her so much."

"Where is she? You never actually told me this morning."

"You're not going to believe this, but she's well…I don't even know exactly where she is right now, but she was captured by the enemy. She was taken hostage and is probably far from here by now."

"So you're telling me that you're an angel and that you know God, but your friend was taken by the enemy and you can't do anything about it? Can't you just create a miracle?" Amy asked in a confused voice.

Gloria shook her head and sighed. She shrugged.

"I don't get it that much," she began. "I don't see why God just won't save her," the angel said. "He has the power to."

"Maybe you should…pray?"

Gloria looked at Amy with gratitude flowing in her brown eyes. She nodded as the two walked into a beautiful house, painted blue and green drapes hanging in the windows.

Tess shook her head in disagreement.

"Don't you think that we should…"

"Now, Tess," Sam said. "Follow the Father's instructions. He's in charge now."

"Okay, but I don't see how going to Oregon is going to help us any. It's so…vague."

"Tess, your part of the assignment is somewhere here. Now you have to find him or her and bring her back to Salt Lake City. Is that clear?" Sam asked.

Tess nodded and walked off. She gazed at the plain town. It was small and she wondered who her assignment was. Usually God told her this kind of stuff ahead of time.

"Hello," a voice with a slight accent said behind her said. "Are you Tess?"

Tess turned around and stared at a young woman. She looked about thirty. Her blond hair hung down and was curled at the ends.

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" Tess asked with a confused look on her face.

"Teresa. Don't tell me they didn't tell you that Robin was on vacation," Teresa said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, yes," Tess played along. "I wish I was where she was. Wherever she is…" Tess said under her breath.

"Okay then, come with me and I'll show you to your new office."

"Excuse me?" Tess asked. "What office?"

"Now you're just being silly! You are Tess, right?" Teresa asked. She stared at Tess with a blank expression.

"All right, let's go." Tess quickly changed the subject. She shot Sam a glance that said, you're going to pay for this.

Tess was led into a small building that was entitled: Montgomery Tribune. Then Tess understood everything.