"My soul years, even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

Psalm 84: 2

Chapter 5

It was a dark and quiet morning within the stone walls of the dining hall when everything would change for those serving the Christ. It was entering the third day since their arrival and no promising changes had yet to occur. Chrono lay, for the moment, in a motionless peaceful slumber having not had a fever for a good five hours now. His face was a mask of nothingness which had been an improvement from his earlier fits of writhing in pain. Rosette on the other hand finally begun to stir. The pain in her chest made each breath difficult as she began to enter consciousness.

'So tired', Rosette mentally complained. 'Ugh, why do I ach more than I usually do?' Her mind began to form coherent thought. She lulled her head to her left and found a warm soft arm to lean up against. She gently squeezed the hand within her own and found comfort. "Chrono", her mind took delight in. She felt so heavy she just didn't want to move, but was glad he was at her side. She could recognize the smell of his skin and the feel of his hands regardless if it wasn't the smaller hands she normally held. She wasn't awake enough to fathom the fact he wasn't a child next to her.

Someone across the room stood up from a chair and walked towards the makeshift bed. Rosette frowned at hearing the steps along the stone floor. Where was she? She now had enough sense to ask herself.

"Sister Rosette?" a gentle voice called. "Are you awake?"

She scrunched her nose. Oh how she didn't want to wake, she felt so heavy with burden, but she was also so confused. She hadn't realized she had spoken Chrono's name aloud.

"Rosette?" the voice called again.

"Ya, I'm awake," she mumbled. She kept herself from hissing in pain from the effort.

The girl squealed in delight and wished her friend would try and open her eyes.

"Mary?" Rosette hoarsely spoke in bewilderment as her mind forced its way through the fog of new consciousness.

"Yes!" she nearly yelled. "Wait right here!" she said as she bolted from the room.

Rosette couldn't even open an eye or lift her right arm to stop her she was so exhausted. Where was here anyways? It didn't really seem to bother the saint as she was too tired to care. She was back asleep the moment the heavy wooden door shut.

It wasn't long before that door opened again with Mary and a slew of others following despite the early hour. Sister Kate moved to stand next to Rosette to see if she could finally get some answers. She laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Rosette," she coaxed. "Rosette I need you to wake up now," she spoke kindly.

"Mm, what?" they all heard her mumble as she snuggled closer to Chrono in attempts to stay in oblivion.

"Rosette," Kate continued unhindered. "I need you to wake up," but she got no response. She then had an idea. "Sister Rosette!" she barked. "The day has already begun. You're late," she sternly lied.

Rosette was now working to wake up and rolled slightly towards their head sister. She was confused enough to try and work it out.

"I'm late?" she tried to grasp. "Where am I again?" she asked louder this time.

It brought a smile to everyone's face to hear her speak. It brought them all hope.

"This is Sister Kate speaking," she now went on to say. "I apologize, but you are not late for anything. I simply needed you to wake up."

Rosette laid there and thought for a moment. "Wait… I was dying."

A sudden stillness fell over all those watching as Rosette worked to piece together what she knew. To hear her speak so candidly of her own death was unnerving.

"I'm sure I died," she said again confused. Her eyes were still closed. She had a vague memory of a warm light and a complete love she had never felt before, but try as she might she couldn't fix her thoughts onto a single image of heaven. She then fidgeted and rolled her head a bit. "Well I certainly feel like I was dead," she said cringing a bit, but didn't have much strength in her to do anything else. "How did I… end up back here?" she was fading fast again as speech took too much effort for her. She didn't know her chest was also completely black and blue due to the crushing impact she received when her life was restored.

"We found you," Kate explained misty eyed. "And yes you are back with us in New York; safe."

The on lookers observed her with a tight squeeze in their hearts as they watched Rosette slowly bring her right hand up to her chest feebly in attempts to find her clock. Kate reached for her hand to stop her as tears threaten to fall. "It's gone," she spoke solemnly. "That is, we have it but it is in pieces."

"What?" she said in weak alarm.

"You did die Rosette. You and Chrono both died." Kate felt she needed to say.

Rosette nodded slightly and smiled weakly. "I figured as much." What was she supposed to say to that?

"Yes, but Sister Azumaria prayed on your behalf and an Angel of the Lord revived you both!" Kate quickly informed smiling. "You don't need your clock anymore."

Sister Kate couldn't tell her the whole truth right now. Rosette didn't need the added burden of knowing their resurrection cost Azumaria her life as well despite being in a coma now.

"Unbelievable," Rosette muttered. There were so many things going through her mind right now. How was Chrono alive if demons were the enemies of God, let alone continue living without her life force as a supply of strength? Yet with all these questions and more, Rosette couldn't muster the strength to speak them. She was weaker than she ever had been before. She felt as if she was back on the brink of death rather than returning from it.

"Rosette," Kate called down again. "I know this is a lot and that you still need your sleep." She then waved to one of the girls to come forward with her tray. "I'll speak to you again later. For now you must eat a few bites of soup before we will allow you to rest once more."

The blond would have resisted, but wasn't given much choice in the matter. She was being propped up instantly by some of the brothers of the church while still being careful not to disturb the devil next to her. Sister Kate walked out along with the elder. They would call Remington in his downtown flat to tell him of the change. Rosette was then nearly forced to eat as her body just wanted to shut down. However, as unfavorable an experience it was, those that called her their friend were happy she had managed to eat some before succumbing to sleep once more. Food meant life and life they so badly cherished.