"Enter by the narrow gate.

For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Matthew 7:13-14

Chapter 16

Chrono sat peacefully on a stone bench in the sun as he waited for Rosette this Friday morning. It had been two days since the swarm incident and as frustrating as it was, nothing further had been learned from it. No other similar activity had occurred to their knowledge.

Rosette was doing as well as expected. Waiting around had never been a strong quality trait for her. She had been given her old room back. However, her first night alone had been horrific for her.

Chrono darkened inside from the memory.

Chrono couldn't fall asleep that first night without Rosette within sight. He was really starting to see how possessive he had become now separated. If he hadn't been so well trained he would have laid their growling and showing disgust all over his face for his frustration at not being able to do what he wanted. However, Chrono was no young immature being. He would never show any of that sort of emotion on his face; even alone. He was just starting to entertain the idea of sleep when his sharp hearing faintly heard what seemed like a harsh sob. Chrono sat up strait and strained to listen into the night. His fingers ghostly fingered the nearby desk clock the elder had given him which had the face plate removed. Delicately his fingers could tell the hands of the clock read around one in the morning. There was no way Rosette could be awake right now… right?

Chrono kicked back his blankets and stood. This wasn't going to be easy, but he had to know for sure if she was okay. Fumbling around blind caused some problems, however he eventually made it to her building. Luckily Rosette's room was easy to find being the last one, but he could see her before he even found the door knob; she was breaking his heart all over again.

Rosette was sitting up against the headboard of her simple bed with her hands firmly clasped over her mouth and trembling. Chrono didn't wait for permission and headed right in. It wasn't as if she couldn't see him approaching.

He could smell her tears. He hated that smell.

Blindly, Chrono continued his clumsy trek across her room, crouching low, trying to find the bed frame along with not walking into anything else. Finally finding the mattress, Chrono walked to the head board and hesitated.

Rosette didn't speak a word but the moment Chrono was within reach, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. Her whole frame shook with her suppressed sobs; biting her lip to the point of blood.

Chrono scooped her up and moved to sit on her bed with Rosette nestled against him. She clung to him like a life line in a raging storm. She hated this nightmare. Aion's days of owning her, controlling her, using her against her will was something she wished would be erased from her mind forever.

Chrono didn't need to ask. She didn't need to tell. Simply the harder she clung to him the tighter he would hold her.

That's all he could do for her.

That's all she would ever ask of him.

A few sparrows happily chirped overhead pulling Chrono out of the memory. He sighed. He was thankful at least that Rosette was able to sleep last night. He had snuck back in, this time while she was still awake, and had promised to stay up with her until she had fallen asleep. Only then did he leave and seek out his own rest. He missed sharing a room with her. 6 months of being right at each other's side was a habit he had no desire giving up.

Looking around again, Rosette still wasn't around yet. He wasn't worried during the day. He knew Kate Valentine wouldn't let eyes off Rosette too easily anytime soon. He just wondered if today would be any different for them.

Rosette was led by Sister Mary away from Sister Kate's office. Rosette had just officially returned to the Order and had been given new weapons and uniform.

"Just like old times!" Mary happily declared to her charge.

Rosette smiled easily to her longtime friend. "Yep! I am sooooooo ready to get out already! It's about time Sister Kate let me leave," she huffed.

"But you have been recovering," Mary reminded. "We don't want anything bad to happen to you again."

Rosette rolled her closed eyes. "Good or bad will happen to me regardless if I'm cooped up around here. Come on! Let's pick up the pace a little. I may be blind, but I TRUST YOU. Let's grab the car and Chrono and hit the road!" she thrusted a fist into the air.

Mary laughed easily as she tucked a stray blond hair from her face back into her head covering. "We are only running errands in town. It's not like we are going off to defeat evil."

"Close enough!" Rosette smiled. "CHRONO!" she hollered as they walked out of the building and into the open air. She could see him now in the distance.

Chrono's face lit up into a smile. She was happy. He chuckled to himself as they made their way to him. If she was happy then he knew they were leaving on some sort of adventure; mild as it may be. He just hoped she would have a good time and that nothing would stop him from keeping her safe.

"We get to go run errands with Mary!" Rosette happily informed once they reached him.

"Really," he continued to smile from his seat.

"Yep," Mary confirmed. "Sister Kate gave us permission. Are you up for the trip?" she asked.

"Oh he's coming!" Rosette answered for him. "Right Chrono?" She smugly leaned forward with her hands on her hips.

'Adorable,' he thought. "Of course."

"Wait!" a far off voice called.

The three of them turned and saw Elder Hamilton hustling over their way across the lawn.

"What does he want?" Mary asked absentmindedly.

The old man always made Chrono wince internally. Whenever the old codger came hurrying over to Rosette it meant a 50/50 chance of disaster. It was enough to make him look up into the sky in a silent plea for some good luck.

Rosette was enthusiastic instantly. "Do you have something interesting for us?" she asked excitedly the moment he reached them.

"Perhaps," he wickedly smiled. "How about a kiss on the cheek as payment."

"How about I wallop you," she answered back darkly.

Chrono simply crossed his arms and watched the banter play out in front of him. Eventually the old man revealed his gift, and to Chrono's surprise, he was given one as well. It felt like a thin long cylinder. "What is it?" he finally asked.

"It's heavy," Rosette noted as she too felt the object given her.

"It's a walking stick!" Edward declared triumphantly. "You feel the top end has groves around it like a quarter. Well, there's a button right there on the side. Now be caref- ugphf," the elder gasped as Rosette curiously pressed the button while unknowingly pointing the end towards the old man. A staff shot out the bottom right into his gut, knocking him down.

Rosette jumped back while Mary threw her hands up in alarm.

"Elder Hamilton!" Mary exclaimed as she rushed over to help up the gasping man who had the wind knocked out of him.

'Serves him right,' thought Chrono. The guy messed with his Rosette too much for his liking sometimes, although he overall liked the man.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he gasped as Mary helped him back onto his feet.

"Sorry about that," Rosette sheepishly smiled.

He coughed a few times before standing straight once more. "Yes, well. As I was saying. Be careful where you point that as the end extends out into a blind man's walking stick. If you press the button again it will retract. Also, as an added feature, the top screws off to contain a vial of Holy Water for emergency defense purposes. Pretty ingenious if I do say so myself."

Chrono's eyebrows went up in surprise. Not a bad gift after all.

"Thank you!" Rosette said with a surprise quick hug for the inventor. She quickly pushed him away before he could realize any opportunities. "Let's go Mary!" she said turning to leave. Rosette was all too ready to try out this new walking-stick-thing. Mary, wide eyed, quickly grabbed her friends elbow and began leading her towards the car park with Chrono rising to follow after them.

This was going to be an interesting afternoon after all.

"Okay," Mary happily opened the car door. "Climb in!"

Chrono felt for the edge and ducked as he climbed into the back. To his surprise, Rosette moved to sit right beside him rather than sit up front with Mary.

As Mary started the car and headed out, Rosette hummed a happy tune while secretly threading her fingers within Chrono's grasp.

Chrono blushed a little as he pretended to perceive any passing souls outside his window, however Rosette had caught him off guard with the gesture. True, Mary wouldn't be able to see their grasp in her rear view mirror, but that did not make him any more comfortable.

"We should reach town in about ten minutes," Mary said over her shoulder.

The bumpy rural road was finally turning into a smooth city street for the riders.

Chrono sat up straight when he finally saw a soul. His thoughts instantly shifted. 'How could I forget,' he cursed himself. 'She's going to ask!' he knew. He unknowingly became obviously ridged beside Rosette which was just enough to alert her something was wrong.

"Chrono?" she asked unsure.

He turned his attention to her. 'This is going to break her heart,' he sadly realized as he released her hand from his. 'Or cause a huge scene'.

"What is it?" she asked as they bounced through a pot hole.

"Rosette," he began unsure. "There is something I need to warn you about."

Rosette crossed her arms and waited.

He gulped. How was he supposed to explain this to a head strong girl who sought to right every wrong that crossed her path? Life wasn't that simple.

"When we reach town," he started. "You'll be seeing a lot of people."

Her eyebrow quirked up in an 'I'm not surprised' like look.

"Well, you'll notice a lot of things Rosette, which humans were never supposed to see."

"Such as…"

What was he supposed to say? How was he to explain about the spiritual warfare humans underwent each day unknowingly? He struggled for the words.

She sighed and leaned back. "Don't worry about it," she decided as she let her arms fall. "I'm sure you'll explain it when we get there."

Such a tired like response surprised him. How much emotion was she hiding even from him?

"Just… just don't attack any demons… unless I point them out. Okay? Don't interact with anyone." Chrono finally asked.

"Demons?" she said confused.

"Almost there!" Mary piped back up to those behind her.

Chrono didn't elaborate further. He just turned away from her to resume his blind gazing outside.

Rosette continued to stare at the back of his head until the sounds of other cars on the road finally drew her attention away from her partner. However, she hadn't been prepared for what she began to see.

Mary led her two blind friends slowly across the side walk oblivious to Rosettes confused and worried face. Mary was just too caught up in pointing out every sidewalk crack, lamp post, and dustbin to notice. Chrono on the other hand followed them on silently. He was waiting for the onslaught of questions he was sure to come. However, he couldn't help but marvel at how Rosette had actually heeded his words and didn't react to anything she was seeing… but that didn't make him feel any better.

All around Rosette people walked or drove by, going about their day, running errands, seeking out lunch with little interest. A couple of church folk like them weren't worth noting in their everyday hustle and bustle. However, Rosette couldn't keep her mouth from gaping at them all. So many human souls were hardly noticeable. It was as if they were such a dark gray she could barely see them. Oh sure, she saw several white souls like her friends walking about, but most weren't at all. Why were they such a dark gray? But as much as that could be troubling alone, it wasn't what left her speechless as Mary led them on. Demons. There were several that crossed her path and not on their own. A man walked by holding something, Rosette could only guess was a newspaper, while a small demon clung to his back, angrily pounding at his human's shoulders, spreading his anger into him.

Chrono made no move at all as they walked by them.

Another woman, a nanny Rosette figured, tried to drag two screaming children away from a candy story, she assumed from the sweet smell, but the children had a short fat demon clinging at their ankles in a fit of winey, gluttony rage.

Once again, Chrono never acknowledged them.

By the time Mary left them outside as she ran into a convenience store, tears began pooling in Rosette's eyes. She gripped her walking staff tighter until her knuckles were sure to turn white. Why wasn't Chrono saying anything? Why was he just standing next to her saying NOTHING?

Rosette then angrily snapped her head towards Chrono. Looking up at him she demanded an explanation.

That look.

Chrono took a careful breath before answering. The last thing they needed was for her to lose it and start firing on the local community. "What you're seeing," he whispered down to her, "Is what everyday life looks like from a spiritual standpoint."

Rosette didn't comment. Her appearance clearly demanded more info.

"The gray souls you see are humans obviously. But that's what you all look like. It's not until they are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God that their souls turn white from his inhabitance within you. So you see, for angels and demons alike, being able to pinpoint believers from nonbelievers is easy."

Rosette processed that. If everything she had seen thus far was any indication, what he was saying made sense.

"Fine," she stubbornly hissed. "But what about the tormentors?" she was trying not to seethe inside.

"That's life Rosette."

If she could glare, she would.

"Demons are allowed to tempt humans to sin just as much as angels are allowed to offer guidance and protection. It's only those that break the bounds from that, those who try to possess the humans or take on their physical form to cause destruction, gives rise for the church to seek them out for destruction."

"ARE YOU TELLING ME I SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?" Rosette suddenly yelled, while pointing to an older woman in a back seat of a car with Worry clinging to her. Worry's small blood red body trembled on the old woman's shoulder making her anxious and nervous about everything. However, the signal light must have changed because their car soon continued down the road.

Chrono winced. It was something he had never really paid too much mind to. However, Rosette had a knack for showing him new perspectives when seeing through her eyes, but this wasn't one he would enjoy. All he could do was sorrowfully shake his head. This was the way of the world. Spiritual warfare was real and ever present. It was just Rosette could never see it before.

"Just try and put it from your mind," was all he could say as Mary came back out with bags to carry to the car before their next stop.

Rosette didn't answer, but if the way she swung her walking stick back and forth with such force was any indication to her thoughts, Chrono was in for a long ride home later.

The things we take for granted...

They have a few more stops to make until they head home. What else could she possibly see?

TBC...