Chapter 2
Monica and Andrew gasped in disbelief as they strode through the doorway to the warehouse. Inside it was totally different from the way it looked outside. There were streamers and disco lights and music so loud that everyone around for miles should have heard it. There was also an enormous banner stretched across the entire span of it all reading: Happy New Year!
Glancing around with her jaw agape, Monica could not believe what she was seeing. She could already spot so many of her old friends it was almost overwhelming. "Andrew." She breathed in amazement as she continued to stare at the incredible celebration in progress before them. Andrew smiled, thinking something along the lines of, I knew this was the place. I knew there was some explanation. Nice work, Father!
"Let's go." He murmured contentedly into Monica's ear before leading her off into the crowed by the hand, no matter how much of a fight she put up. The first two familiarities they ran into were Kathleen and Ruth. Kathleen had actually gone over to the dark side for a while, but Monica had managed to convince her to come back. Ruth had been her supervisor before she left and as Monica supposed, she was her supervisor again now.
"Monica! Andrew!" Ruth called out when she spotted them approaching. They each nodded a hello and Monica wasted no time in embracing Kathleen, her old friend. "Oh, Kathleen, it's so nice to have you back." She told her honestly as she pulled back from her friend again. Kathleen smiled – a smile which suddenly looked so honest and true that Monica noted all the evil that had been in it before had gone – and nodded in agreement. "Nice to be back." She replied with small laugh. Ruth smiled as well and draped a loving arm over her old trainee's shoulders. Andrew too, gave Kathleen a small peck on the cheek in greeting and then drew back with Monica.
Kathleen was wearing a beige-gold, sleeveless dress, which stood out brilliantly against her dark skin. Ruth was simply wearing something any of them would have expected: a white business-looking blazer.
"Well, Kathleen, you look great." Andrew remarked as he gestured to her outfit. She laughed and thanked him earnestly. Monica smiled as well. It was so mice to hear Kathleen laugh and not cringe at the evil-sounding sound. But now it was a sound like wind chimes, honest and true. The sound of an angel's laughter.
But just then, Monica and Andrew suddenly heard their names being called again. Glancing over the crowd, they spotted some of Andrew's old friends. Henry and Adam were two other Angels of Death whom Monica hadn't actually seen for ages. Adam she had seen about a year ago, but Henry she hadn't seen in years. She was sure the last time she saw him was in her first few years of casework. With that, the two excused themselves from Ruth and Kathleen and headed over to talk to Andrew's old friends. What they didn't know was what awaited them when they started to talk.