Chptr 9

Ryan knew now the reason, or at least part of the reason he and the rest of the kids had been brought here. They were being prepared for a war.

"Ryan!" Instantly snapping back to reality, Ryan focused on the voice calling his name. It was Sara's voice. She always seemed to have a way to get his attention, and he liked that.

What's up Sara? He asked.

"You were staring off into space I was just seeing if u were okay."

"Oh umm thanks and I do that a lot. It's usually just me thinking really deeply about stuff."

She looked at him and giggled "Oh okay so you're one of this deep thinkers?"

"Of sorts," he chuckled. "don't worry about it. It's fine."

"I never said it wasn't." she said this with a smile. "So Ryan," she paused for a second before continuing on "you are still a mystery to me. I know next to nothing about you."

"Yeah I know. I only tell what's necessary because I find people with trusting are hard to come by these days."

"That's true I guess. So I also will guess that means you don't trust me?"

"Well I haven't been given much reason to have I? I don't really know you that well either."

"I guess that's fair…" she paused. "Well how can you learn to trust me if you don't give me a chance?"

"You're right but how do you plan on gaining my trust?"

"Did you do that on purpose?" she giggled again.

"Do what?" he asked sincerely not knowing what she was talking about.

"Your eyebrow raised on one side like you think you the Rock or something."

He chuckled in realization as he understood what she was talking about. Sometimes without realizing he raised his right eyebrow when flirting or thinking too hard. "I didn't actually," he laughed, "I do that sometimes without knowing."

They continued talking as Michael watched and listened from afar. He flew by with his 20 foot long wings that gave him a 40 foot wingspan. He flew all the way to Uriel in the original Garden of Eden.

"HALT! Who dares enter the Sacred Garden of the Lord?!" "Speak thine reason for entering these holy gates or I will set thy heart aflame with hellfire!"

"Tis I your brother Michael. I've come to ask a favor of you brother the second most silent if us all."

"Alright Michael I must say it's getting to be a bit bothersome. These tasks of yours."

"Brother Uriel I understand but you are the only one besides Azrael who can complete the task. And I dread asking him of such a thing."

"What is it you require?" Uriel asked with obvious and exaggerated annoyance.

"I need you to allow a demon from Hell to arise once more."

Clearly stunned and baffled beyond belief, Uriel his brother completely flabbergasted.

Michael took humor in his brother's reaction but hid his feelings well. "No need to be so incredulous brother. Yes I say this knowing the creature shall die and be sent back. I just need to know that our children are capable of such a task. Allow me to explain my plan…"

"Children I ask of your presence." The disembodied voice of Michael called to all of them at once.

Ryan looked at Sara stunned. "Did you…" he didn't even need to finish his question. She was already nodding

"Yeah. Let's go." They followed the voice to Michael. He was standing in the middle of the room but he wasn't alone.

"Hullo lads and lasses." The other person in the room greeted them. "You might not know me but I guarantee you'll never forget me after this. It said this with a fanged tooth smile.

Ryan and Jason were the first to react. "What the hell is that thing?" Ryan asked "Why does it talk like there are 40 people speaking simultaneously? And why does this thing not have irises? His eyes are straight pupil like what the hell?"

"You ask a lot of questions and you're starting to annoy me." The beast replied

"Ryan it's obviously a demon from Hell that my father allowed free to try to kill us." Jason said.

"So we kill it before it kills us right?"

Michael smiled deviously "If just one of you fails and is killed by your personal demon, you will take that demon's place in the Bowels of Hell. They will, in return for their service, be given a second chance and be reborn on Earth as a human child with no recollection of their past."

"Now divide and conquer!" The demon shouted. With that all the children found themselves alone.