Monica stumbled along. Vern pulled her by the wrists determined to get as far away from anybody as possible.

"As far as you go, God will never stop following," Monica squeaked.

"Yeah, like God really cares about you," Vern laughed. "And don't even talk about Kathleen. She won't even notice we're gone. So just shut up and we'll all be fine."

"No, Vern, you will never get away with this. Andrew is going to come for me again, and this time I'll be gone before you can blink. I'll be with him, safe and away from danger," she explained in her Irish accent.

Her body ached from the beatings she had received. She did all she could to keep on walking. Finally, her legs gave away and she tumbled to the ground. Vern released her wrists and let out a disgusted sigh.

"Fine," he snapped. "You can rest but just for a few minutes."

Monica lay on the ground. She breathed heavily; each breath taking all the strength that was in her.

"Vern," she breathed. "I can't…"

"What? You too tired to go on?" he asked sarcastically. He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her up, off the ground, nearly pulling her arm out of the socket. He laughed as she whimpered and held her arm tightly. He gazed at her with haunting blue eyes.

"Vern," she cried. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because," was all he said.

He pushed her forward, forcing her to walk on. She did all she could to keep going just so she wouldn't receive another hit. She had never been in this much pain. It felt like her body was falling apart and the thought that her friends were looking for her held her together.

Monica again stumbled. She waited for God to reach down his hand and entangle His fingers in hers, but all she felt was Vern kick her in the back. She couldn't move she was so tired. Suddenly she felt another blow to her arm and blacked out from the pain and loss of sleep.

Gloria hugged Amy tightly and left the house. She walked down the street, wondering if taxis ran this late. Finally one came into sight. The angel flagged the yellow automobile down and hopped in. She told the driver to bring her to the park where she hoped to find Andrew. She felt so lost and as if God was ignoring His angels. The truth was that He wasn't and she was angry with Him for putting her and her friends through all this.

The taxi came to a slow stop. Gloria bit her lip and reached into her pocket. She unexpectedly pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to the driver, receiving five back. She thanked him and hopped out and stepped into the park. There was no sight of Andrew. As the time passed, Gloria was beginning to think that the angel of death wasn't coming.

"Oh, Father," she prayed. "Please send me someone to talk to. I need to see a familiar face."

"Well, you got one," a strong voice said. Gloria smiled as Sam appeared in front of her. She twirled one of her braids gently. Sam, seeing the look on her face, came over and embraced her for a short period of time. He smiled back at her and explained what was going on.

"Tess is on her way back from Montgomery, Alabama right now. I have no clue where Andrew is. He was supposed to bring Roy here about two hours ago. And Monica is still nowhere to be seen."

"That's not true." Both of the angels turned to find the angel of death standing there. He brushed a blond strand of loose hair from his face. "I just saw her."

"What?" Gloria asked with an excited voice. "Where is she now?"

"I tried," Andrew cried. Gloria ran over to him and cradled him in her arms as he leaned into her. He sobbed so hard that he shook. "I still don't understand. I just don't get it anymore."

"I don't think any of us do right now, Andrew," Gloria said sympathetically. Her glasses began to fog as a tear rolled out of her eye.

"Andrew," Sam said. "Don't worry about Monica right now and get to work on your assignment. Remember that she's still in God's hands."

"But I love her so much," Andrew sobbed. "I can't let her go like that. I just can't, Sam!"

"You know what Tess told you, Andrew? Well, we went through the same discussion. She didn't think that she could either. But guess what, she did! And now you need to do what you're supposed to."

"I still don't know what Tess told both of you!" Gloria exclaimed. "Come on, tell me. Please? This is bugging me and I would like to get it off my back.

Andrew started to cry again. He looked Gloria in the eye with such a miserable look that she almost broke loose. His expression told her that she didn't want to know and would be lucky if she didn't find out. But she would sooner or later. That was something that he couldn't help.

"Gloria," Sam continued. "Tess will tell you when she's ready and you're ready. That's God's time and our time is now so…Andrew? Is Roy going to stay in town forever? He's living in an old house…"

"I know. That's where I found Monica. She was in the alley. Sam…He was beating her. He was…"

"Andrew, whatever happens to her is in the Father's plan. I know how tough this is but we have to do as He tells us to."

"Sometimes I think God is crazy for what He commands, but in the end I find I was the crazy one," Tess said, intervening in the conversation. She held Teresa's hand tightly. "This is Teresa, and she's my assignment all the way from Alabama. She's also Amy's sister and is the only one that will be able to help Amy through the disaster that will strike next."

Sam smiled and nodded. "Tess, I think you and Gloria have to have a little talk before you continue on."

Tess sighed and closed her eyes. She let go of Teresa's hand and grabbed onto Gloria.

"Little Angel, come with me. I have to tell you something. I regret this and I know you will too. I'm not going to…"

A loud explosion erupted and all of the company covered their ears. They looked over and across the street. The offices had been blown up. Why was evil allowed to endure that day?