"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees

and make straight paths for your feet."

Hebrews 12:12-13a

Chapter 10

The soft quiet peace of the dining hall had remained the same for the past few hours. Anna had popped in to check on things and had found both of her friends fast asleep. Anna didn't really know what to think of everyone sleeping. Joshua and Azumaria hadn't changed at all in over a week now. They had all been fearful that the two Apostles may fade into death, yet their vitals still remained strong. It was as if they were Sleeping Beauty in the flesh, left in an eternal slumber. Surly the Lord was with them both and keeping them in his protective loving hold.

Anna turned and left. She had Monday's off, but felt perhaps she should return to the chapel to pray for her friends some more.

The closing of the door stirred Chrono. In his dreams he continually wrestled and fought with a darker version of himself and never could win. The fight was always intense and most often terrible. His shadow-like counterpart always knew what move he would make, just as he too could predict the move of the other. Beads of sweat began to form again across his brow. When Anna had shut the door, Chrono sat up with a violent desperate start.

Chrono gulped down air as he raked a shaky hand through his hair and cradled his pounding head. 'When is this madness going to end?' He couldn't help but think. Like Rosette, he didn't know what to expect about this whole situation. It was all so unprecedented. What was he, along with the Christians, supposed to do about bringing a demon's body back to life?

Chrono sighed and turned to look down at Rosette's sleeping form. They had been together for almost five years now, he mused. She was such a strange girl; a pure breathing and walking enigma. He then raised up their intertwined hands. "How can you be so trusting?" he asked aloud. He had often asked himself that but rarely, if ever, said it to her directly. She amazed him. Her selfless acts of kindness towards him made his heart squeeze tight and soar high all at the same time. It was that selfless love in her that had really made him want to change his nature back to the way it once was before the fall. He smiled as he watched her snore with her mouth wide open. She was adorable. It was moments like this that he treasured most.

After a time, Rosette began to wake back up from their nap, just as Chrono's mind had gone full circle and was once again reliving his stupidity for breaking her hand.

She yawned.

"Rosette, are you awake?"

She smacked her lips a bit as she then stretched long. "Ya but I don't think I've ever slept so much in my life!" she answered a bit miffed.

He smiled down at her.

"Oh, hey. You're sitting up now!" she acknowledged as she too sat up next to him.

"Yes I am," he shook his head slightly. "Will wonders never cease?" he said sarcastically.

Rosette then removed her hand from his and proceeded to punch him in the arm.

"Oh geez Rosette! Always so violent," he now laughed. He was so glad she was in good spirits.

"That's for taking so long to do so!" she hollered back good-naturedly. "And sheesh, will you please try NOT using any of your old powers right now!"

Chrono broke out into a cold sweat and wondered if he had crossed a line.

"You passed right out and scared the daylights out of me!" she continued oblivious.

"Wait... what?" he said confused.

Rosette let her hands fall to her lap as she looked away from him and blankly into the darkness. "You scared me," she said a bit softer now. "I don't care that you broke my hand Chrono and you should know that by now. What I can't live with is if you do anything to die before me."

Chrono didn't know what to say.

"The deal is I die first remember!" she now turned back to him fervently. "Please just don't do anything to endanger yourself on my account!" she said grabbing his arm.

The edge of fear in her voice was too painful for Chrono to bear. He loved Rosette more than she would ever know and to hear her say such words only deepened the bottomless wounds of his heart.

"Rosette," he finally began once he could find his voice. "If you are afraid of being left here alone you can forget it right now," his deep voice soothed. "I'm still here with you now right? We both were raised up and both of us are blind in the same way right? I'm not going anywhere. We are in this together and like I promised before... I won't leave you. I'll follow you into death," he said with his throat closing a bit. Chrono was still too weak from the battle that waged within to have a good cap on his emotions.

"But what about the contract?" she finally had the courage to ask. The question had been bugging her since she had awakened, but his hand in hers had kept her from freaking out about it like she was now doing.

"Tzh, forget the contract. Rosette if you haven't figured it out yet... I care about you. Being here isn't out of some form of duty for me. Ever since Aion convinced me to betray my own kind, I have been at odds with everyone. I have no real master anymore."

It was such a strange thing for him to say aloud what had been in his heart for so long.

"But I'm designed to serve someone," he said slowly. "And after the kindness you showed me back in the tomb... I decided to give my allegiance from Mary Magdalene over to you. Hell, she even gave me her blessing."

Rosette took a moment to process that. "So wait... you're saying that even before we made the contract, to give my life's energy over to you for power, you had already decided to stay by my side?" she asked in disbelief. A small part of her had always wondered if he only stayed and put up with her antics was because of the clock alone.

"That's correct," he said with no hesitation. Even if you had moved from the orphanage I would have secretly followed from then on... until I finally faded from your world."

"Man, I can't believe after all this time you never told me," she smiled.

Chrono shrugged. "Guess I just figured you knew," he said nonchalantly.

"Pfh, well maybe I keep secrets too! Perhaps I just put up with you and can't really stand you!" she said in a mock huff.

Chrono's smile grew wider. "That's fine," he lied. "Then I'm sure that oh so caring kiss you gave me again was surly something you'd never want to repeat and did so solely out of duty, right?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

Although Chrono couldn't see pigment, he was sure her cheeks were now bright red.

"WHAT!? You mean to tell me you knew about that?" she asked mortified.

His deep laugh filled the room. She began to clobber him repeatedly which made him laugh all the more.

Sister Kate then entered the room and couldn't believe she was seeing Rosette walloping Chrono repeatedly as they both laughed freely.

"Sister Rosette! I believe that is enough of that!" she said sternly. "My, I can't believe you have that sort of energy," she said in wonder as two others waked in behind her.

"Sorry Sister Kate," Rosette replied still smiling. She couldn't feel bad. Chrono had just told her that he wanted to stay with her no matter what. Nothing else really mattered at the moment.

"I bet," Kate mumbled.

Chrono lowered his head a bit in Sister Kate's presence.

"Well at least the two of you are sitting up and separated," she analyzed.

That comment sobered both of them up real quick.

Their grim expressions were not lost to Sister Kate, but she couldn't be sure if she knew its source.

"Is there anything I need to know?" she felt she needed to ask.

Rosette shook her head a bit too fervently while Chrono made no move of reply.

Kate's eyes narrowed slightly. "Very well. Now I'm sure you are ready for your bath now Rosette," she stated more than asked as Ewan Remington and Elder Edward Hamilton walked into the room.

"Let's see if you can walk," Kate continued as she waved the two girls forward to help Rosette shift off the table into a tenitive standing position.

Rosette gently put her feet on the ground and rose to stand with a helper on either side. She had been bedridden for so long, sleeping, eating, and using the bed pan for a toilet that it was nice to be standing again.

'I can do this!' her mind chanted as they began helping her to the door. As they turned and began taking a few steps down the hallway, Rosette stopped and faced Chrono's direction. "Are you going to be okay without me for a bit?" she now remembered to ask. It had been a very long while since they had been apart.

To those both in the dining hall and in the passageway it was bizarre to see Rosette speaking to a solid stone wall. However, despite her blindness, in her sight she could see souls through solid objects and could see Chrono clearly.

"I'll be fine Rosette," he answered back. His voice carried through the open door to her. "Go on ahead."

"You-OUCH!" Rosette suddenly cradled her hand. She had thrusted a pointing finger at Chrono and had inadvertently punched the stone wall in front of her.

Chrono sat up straighter with concern. "Are you all right?"

She made a face as she waved her hand side to side to shake the pain off. "Ya, just great," she winced.

"Rosette there is a wall there," Chrono informed unnecessarily.

Rosette rolled her close eyes. "No kidding," she mumbled. "Alright," she grabbed onto her helpers arms once more. "Let's head to the bath!" And they continued the arduous task of walking.

Sister Kate had to shake her head in wonder yet again. Why did she have to supervise over such strange events, she didn't know. She looked at Chrono in wonder. If God had allowed him to be raised to life than clearly he wasn't going to be any kind of threat to them in the long run, but for now she just wasn't so sure.

"Is your contract... your legal bond with Sister Rosette truly gone?" she now asked. The only bystanders now was Remington and the elder who stood silently in observation.

Chrono would lie for Rosette's sake, but in this case he was betting that he didn't need to.

"Yes. The contract is gone. It ended when her life did," he stated plainly.

She nodded. "Good." She didn't need that still hanging over their heads. It had always bothered the older woman. "Do you have any other thoughts about all this?" she asked both the demon and the angel present.

Chrono rubbed his arm. Apparently Rosette could clobber pretty well still. "No idea," Chrono stated plainly.

Remington walked over and gently lifted up his red bandana to look at the bone cross. The detail was far greater than what human vision could see, yet it clearly still had a few blank areas. "I haven't the clue," he answered. "But Chrono's cross is past the half way mark," he surmised.

"Very well," Sister Kate sighed. "Father Remington, would you be willing to assist Chrono bathe after Rosette?"

"You don't have too," Chrono was quick to add. The thought of being so weak was infuriating and humbling at the same time. He didn't like it.

"It will be my pleasure to assist you," Remington answered with a charming smile that put Kate's fears to rest. After all, it was an angel's responsibility to step in and help the saints of God.

"Oh thank you," she answered relieved. She didn't know if she would be able to get any male volunteers to help him without Remington present.

Sister Kate and Remington then walked out with many thoughts and tasks left for them to accomplish.

The Elder then turned to leave, but was stopped short with a firm grip on his coat tails.

"And where are you off too?" Chrono asked darkly.

The Elder sheepishly laughed. "Why Chrono, you know how busy I can get… you know… with all the inventions I am always… um, inventing." He laughed some more.

"Right," Chrono said easily calling out his bluff. "Of course you have your work to do. You would never take advantage of this opportunity to follow Rosette to the baths now would you?"

Hamilton scratched his head and chuckled nervously. "Caught me eh?"

"Maybe you should keep me company instead," Chrono said dryly as he let go of the old man's coat.

Back in the washroom, Rosette was eased into a nice hot bath. It felt amazingly good to soak into the nice clean scented water. "Oh man, I need this," she spoke to her two helpers.

One began washing her hair as the other moved to retrieve some towels.

As shampooed fingers began working diligently into her scalp, Rosette thought she could be in heaven then. Nothing felt better than fingers being raked though your hair.

"Um Sister Rosette?" the voice above began to speak.

"Mmhm," she mumbled in bliss.

"If you don't mind me asking... what was Heaven like?"

It then dawned on Rosette that the whole of the Magdalene Order probably had a billion questions for her and were anxious to see how things played out. She then felt sorry for being so selfish. Their awakening was bringing more unneeded chaos to those she truly cared about.

"I remember the feeling of warmth, love and light," she recalled again. "But no matter how much I think about it, I can't remember any details," she answered honestly.

"Oh," the awe struck voice answered. "How long were you dead?" she pried further.

That one stumped Rosette. "Uh, I actually don't know," she said in wonder. "I remember watching the sunset... I can't picture the night so I must have died in the fading light," she concluded. "I don't know when we were found." It was still hard for her to believe she had actually died in some respects.

"What day was that?" the other girl asked as she sat on a stool nearby.

"Um, a Sunday evening I think," she recalled. Back then, they had stopped acknowledging the days to the end.

"Wow!" the other girl marveled. "You were found on a Tuesday morning! That means you were dead a whole day and a half!"

"That's amazing!" the first girl exclaimed.

Rosette was kind of amazed herself. How Chrono hadn't dissolved was now clearly a miracle in itself. She also could help but realize every word she told these girls would soon be spread to all of the others, which was fine. She continued to answer various questions, if she knew the answer, and in no time she was changed back into her old uniform, for lack of anything else clean for her to wear, and making her way back to her makeshift bed.

"How was your bath?" Chrono asked as she settled herself back down into her bed. He had been sitting up waiting for her. The Elder had just recently left.

"Oh beyond wonderful," she said with a yawn. She began to bury herself in her sheets.

"The bedding was changed while you were gone," he added.

"Mmmhm," she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

Chrono looked down at her with a smile. "Annnnd... She's out," Chrono stated with a small smile. His dear Rosette could be really adorable when she wanted to be. Apparently her small adventure to the bathroom had worn her out.

"Chrono," Remington now walked in. "Are you ready to attack this?" the angel asked with care and warmth in his voice.

Attack was right in Chrono's mind. He hadn't let on to Rosette or the others just how difficult a time he was having. Breathing was the hardest at first. Then talking had become the next chore. He had barley just been able to sit up on his own only a few hours ago! He wasn't recovering as fast as Rosette was. Oh sure he was able to crush her hand, but when comparing the total strength of a human to the full power a demon could possess, Rosette was far closer to being 100% than he was.

"I could carry you," Remington suddenly offered. He could see Chrono's discomfort as clear as day. "Although that would be easier if you transformed into the form of a child," he added.

However, that wasn't as easily done. "Using my powers isn't a good idea right now," Chrono said at last. "Even compacting my form into the smallest size I can fit into… that childlike form everyone is so used to seeing… well, I'm not sure if I'll pass out or not," he sadly admitted. He hated feeling this week.

Remington looked at the man sitting before him with understanding. Remington had been there alongside Chrono for many hard moments in the past. He had seen this demon nearly lose all will to live back when he had been separated from Rosette for over a month due to Aion's trickery. That separation along with the guilt nearly destroyed him. So much pain, thought Remington. So much loss and sacrifice. What was the reason these two were here now? These questions and more plagued Remington's thoughts but he kept a lighthearted expression about himself.

"That's fine Chrono. I'm more than capable of assisting you as you are. You don't have to change on the account of me."

Before Chrono could resist further, Remington was helping him pivot his legs off the table and soon had Chrono standing on shaky legs.

"I can't do this," he said in desperation. He felt as if pins and needles were jabbing into every mussel which all seemed to offer no strength at all. His whole weight was being propped up by the angel and the table next to him. There was no way he was going to be walking anywhere.

Remington felt exasperated over the whole situation. He was going to have to embarrass Chrono by carrying him. Out of frustration Remington looked upwards and silently prayed. He pleaded with his God for help. This was all too much. If he was going to revive the demon, couldn't he help him get his strength back?

As Remington took a deep breath and just as he was about to lift Chrono up, Chrono took in a few deep breaths of his own and stood just a bit taller than before.

"Chrono?" Remington asked.

"I'm supposed to have my horns back right?" Chrono answered with determination that he didn't have a moment ago. "Then I should be able to take what power I need to do this right?"

Remington was astounded. Soon he found himself inching Chrono along and down the hallway. Where did he find his strength to push onward? As Chrono bathed, Remington could only look up and wonder, once again, what was really going on.

For Chrono, he couldn't believe what he had said. He couldn't believe he was willing to admit such a quick defeat. Here was Rosette at his side and she had never stopped fighting. She still lived, and in each moment of that life, she never gave in or gave up. Chrono knew he was changing and had a lot going on within him, but that wasn't an excuse to let the pain override him and win. If Rosette had been awake she would have shoved him off the table and would tell him to stop being a wuss about it.

Chrono smiled at the thought.

Who would have thought a day going to the baths would be so adventurous?

Wow this chapter was so much fun to write! But the last bit of it was like wading through mud.

The story takes on a new pace next chapter. They can't stay in bed and out of the loop for long! Danger is approaching. There is more at work that what we can see.