AN: You know the drill... Do not own the X-men. I wish I did though. However, I am proud to say I own Aunt Maggie and Angel in this chapter. Enjoy. R&R.
Chapter 3
A Promise Is A Promise
Charcoal clouds ruled the skies as they tainted and sucked out all the life and blue that had been there that morning. The trees, swaying in the soft breeze, looked black under the gloomy atmosphere.
A week had passed and it was the designated day for Nathan and Sharon Arden's funeral. Near the cemetery's gates, sat Aunt Maggie's parked car. Angel sat alone in the passenger's seat. Looking down at her hands, she heard the driver's door open as Aunt Maggie got back into the car. She had already visited the graves. Both of Angel's parents were buried early that morning. There wasn't going to be a priest or anyone else to visit the grave site. Aunt Maggie and Angel agreed that it was best to lay low and not make things too suspicious looking. Not only did Angel feel that it wouldn't be right to bring up how and why the deaths occurred, she also was not ready to relive that night again right now. So, for now, she thought it was best to start a new life where no one would know what she was. The young girl wanted a perfect life, even if it was only an illusion for the moment. She only wanted to fool herself for a little longer.
Aunt Maggie, dressed in black, turned to look at her niece. "You know it's okay to cry."
"I know, Aunt Maggie." Angel replied almost in a whisper. "But I think I wasted them all. I have no more tears to cry."
Aunt Maggie frowned at how sad it all sounded. She knew in her heart that this whole event made Angel grow up too fast. Before her eyes, in only seconds, her ten year old niece disappeared and transformed into someone stronger and older. It seemed the child had packed up, leaving her childhood behind and arrived into adulthood. Deep inside it hurt how fast this child gained the knowledge about the real world, seeing how painful and cold it can be at times.
"If you want, I can come with you…" Maggie started to say.
"No. It's okay," Angel cut her off. "I want to do this on my own."
The ten year old took a deep breath and took hold of two white roses that laid in her lap. She opened the car door, slamming it shut once she was out. The blue eyed girl walked up the dirt road, passing the bold black gates that greeted her into the cemetery. She looked over at the crippled trees, how their branches looked like outstretched arms with long bony fingers, reaching out. A few crows were perched on the branches, watching her as she made her way by them. They were the spectators for the day, seeing the melancholy reunion between the girl and her parents who now lay six feet under in their final resting place.
Angel stopped in front of the two gravestones that sat side by side with the engraved names of both her parents. She looked down at the carved stone. She stood their engulfed in her own silence until she finally broke it.
"I only wished that I could have saved you. I miss you both so much. I promise I'll visit you when I can. I won't forget you. I love you, Mommy and Daddy." Angel plucked the stems of the two roses. "Aunt Maggie is really nice. She is taking really good care of me. She even helped me gained confidence in talking more. Anyway, I know this isn't much of a ceremony but we both are trying to start over. I got these roses for you. Each one represents each of your souls." She said this as she reduced each flower to nothing but their separate petals. When she opened her hands, the wind picked up the white rose petals and carried them in the air current. Mingling and dancing together, they flew into the distance. "Both of your spirits are now free, free from pain and suffering. May you rest in peace somewhere in heaven. Goodbye, Mom and Dad. I love you."
Angel turned her back to the gravestones, walking away as her long blonde hair blew in the mild winds. The crows crowded together, their voices echoing as they squawked at each other. Meanwhile, the dark trees were animated by the breeze, softly their branches cracked and creaked as leaves left their previous wooden arms. The little girl made her way back to the car taking her seat once again in a quiet manner. Aunt Maggie started the car and began to drive off on the paved road.
"Aunt Maggie," the little girl started to say, "promise me you'll never leave me."
"I promise." Her aunt replied sincerely.