CHAPTER 10

Monica cradled Andrew in her arms and exposed to the sun and the constant desert wind, the angel kept her eyes on the road, just a few inches from where they were. She elected to remain at that same spot, first because there was no shelter from the sun nearby and even if there was one, it would be too hard for Andrew to move up to it.

His organism was becoming weaker as the minutes went by and it was possible to notice that Andrew grew quieter, taken by sudden dizziness once in a while or by extreme exhaustion. Monica fed him with sandwich and more water but she knew that it was not enough and that what he really needed was urgent medical care. The snake venom was slowly invading his blood system and spreading through his body – it was just a matter of hours before he lost consciousness.

"The wind helps soothe the heat of the sun..." She tried to keep him awake, gently caressing his short blond hair. "I did not think I would become so fond of it after the sand storm we crossed yesterday."

The blond angel opened his eyes and searched her face: the dark circles under her eyes were a hint of her exhaustion. Monica had been ill too, slightly feverish during the day and also quite weak from their long journey. She too needed medical attention.

"How are you feeling, angel?"

He watched as Monica bit her lower lip, mentally sorting out the right words to reply to that question. "I'm holding on... Please, do not worry about me, not now." She said, returning his gaze with utmost love.

"This is the only thing you can ask me that I cannot do for you..." His eyes were filled with tenderness as he spoke.

But Monica was determined to be the one to watch over him, be the 'strongest' angel and care for his welfare until help came. "I did eat a little. Soon, it will be your turn."

"How much food do we have?"

Monica had difficulty with words once again: their food supply was finishing and strangely it was not being replaced by her angelic friends.

"Enough to keep you. I don't feel hungry, you see."

Not far from them, Tess, Rafael and Adam stared at the two angels with worry.

"I don't understand it..." Rafael spoke, running a hand through his hair. "So far, we've been able to help them with food and water but now... it seems that our powers have been reduced."

"That's the Father's orders."

Sam's voice caused them to look at the older angel in search for an explanation.

"The Father's orders? What are you talking about?" Tess demanded an explanation.

"Hear it yourselves." Ruth spoke. She and Sam looked like they were "winning" the argument that had been established with their co-workers for a few days now.

"That's true..." Adam was the first angel to feel God's message echoing inside his mind, followed by Tess and Rafael.

"But... Why, Father? Why leaving these poor babies deprived from everything? They will perish this way!" Tess raised her hands to the sky in a desperate way and equally to her friends, she did not understand the reason for such command.

All the angels heard silence as their answer. Whatever God's plan was, it would certainly work in a mysterious way.

X

The two angels remained in silence for a while, having the constant howling wind as the only melody playing in their ears. With his eyes closed, and half numb due to the venom that slowly flooded his veins, Andrew's mind travelled back to a not so distant past, when he would take his beautiful co-worker for a dance at the end of a well-succeeded assignment and they would enjoy pleasant moments in each other's arms. Monica's sparkling eyes gazing at him and her joyful smile would be forever etched in his memory, bringing him some relief in difficult hours.

He knew that their time was running out and that soon he would not manage to remain conscious. Andrew thought he should insist on her looking for help all by herself but then he also wondered how far her short legs could take her considering that she too was suffering the effects of a long term exposure to the desert weather. In silence, the angel of death prayed for their loving Father to send them any kind of relief.

He felt her soft lips pressing against his and opened his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." She quickly spoke, her auburn hair falling over her shoulders and arms and tickling his face.

"Never apologise for that, angel." Andrew raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek.

"You were fast asleep, I didn't-"

"I wasn't. I was thinking of you. Remembering all the times we danced. The joy it brings me..."

Monica stifled a sob and forced a tearful smile. "I promise you my next dance."

He returned her smile and nodded. "I'll be counting every minute, baby."

There was not time for another reply for both angels heard more than the disturbing sound of the desert wind. Monica raised her head and her eyes scanned the road with urgency. It took her mere seconds to spot a black car on the horizon, crossing that inhospitable land and coming through the same road they had been travelling through.

Hope filled her heart and her sad smile was replaced by a broad grin. "A car!"

Andrew could hear it too and a part of him was happy for that. But he also wondered what kind of person could be riding on that road.

Monica gently disentangled from him and with extreme care placed his head over his jacket. Then, the Irish angel stood by the road and raised her arms, signalling for help. As the vehicle approached, her petite figure became more visible and the driver started to slow down.

"They saw us, Andrew!" She said, smiling at him with hope.

The black Camaro pulled over right next to them but because its windshield was totally black it was not possible for her to see how many people were inside or even their faces.

It did not take Monica too long to find that out, though.

"Please, help us, my friend is hurt and our car broke down a few miles from her, we-"

The Irish angel stopped by the driver's door and started to explain what had happened to them but her words ceased a moment later, when both the driver and his passenger opened up the car door.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? The angels broke their wings and fell right here in the middle of the desert?"

Kathleen's image leaving the passenger's seat and getting out of the car came as a shock for both Monica and Andrew. In a matter of seconds, the two angels saw all their hopes crashing and now panic took over their souls.

Panic at Kathleen's presence and, most importantly, at who she represented, as "he" was the one on the driving.

"We've met before," he said, closing the car door behind him and watching as Monica gave some steps back, standing by Andrew's side as if trying to protect him. "And I knew we'd meet again, we always do. What I did not expect was that this meeting would happen under such circumstances."

The tone of his voice was steady and elegant and contrary to his co-worker, it did not hold any sarcasm.

Monica stared back at them trying to control her own fear, even though she did not fear for herself but for Andrew's life. She could not see as Andrew tried to move and sit up on the grown in a desperate attempt to stand by her side.

Invisible to Andrew's and Monica's eyes, their angelic friends, plus Sam and Ruth, also looked at one another in shock.

"Dear Father, I cannot believe what my eyes are seeing!" Tess exclaimed, nervously rubbing her hands.

"And I don't believe I'd exist this long to witness such a thing!" Adam spoke, as surprised as his friend.

Rafael turned to the angels with anguish. "We have to help them! Now more than ever!"

"The Father says no."

Sam's sharp voice interrupted them and only raised the angels' distress. But the angel of angels was quick to add. "It's not Ruth or me who are speaking. These are God's orders. We should stay and watch. All of us."