The Savior*

I was floating in the air as I witness my memories unfurl before me...

The transferee was staring at her for the hundredth time as Cassandra gave her a side-eye glance.

Did she not think she would notice?

The brown-haired blue-eyed girl slowly moved to stand behind her in the crowd as they stood by the sidewalk packed with a pedestrian along with other students of their school.

Horns honked as highschoolers talked on their cell phones. People swore and yelled as car exhausts and air pollution clouded over them when vehicles whooshed before the light flashes red.

Cassandra thinks she was following her everywhere.

She felt her presence behind her whenever she goes to the next class or when she eats at the cafeteria. Goosebumps rises on her nape when her sixth sense tells her someone was watching and voila, the transfer student was suddenly there watching her.

Will she follow her home this time too?

The crosswalk lights pinged and this was the time to test her theory. Cassandra's feet were tired after a long day of classes so she walked deliberately slow to see if the transferee would wait behind her or hurry on to move ahead of her.

Her theory was proven wrong when the girl walked briskly as she moved ahead of Cassandra, bumped and jarred by other people as they crossed the street.

Without warning, a delivery truck approached on the other side of the lane, speeding past without signs of slowing down.

Cassandra saw the frightened face of the driver in the oncoming vehicle right before the impact. Without thinking, Cassandra ran towards the transferee who was so fixated on the ground at the time and pushed her back.

Tires screeched. Gasps and screams. Cassandra went stiff all over to brace for the impact.

Cassandra was thrown forward; each moment in time was cut into small flashes rather than a conscious stream. She bashed her head and side against the truck like a rag doll.

Cassandra felt numb with shock, the sensations of time running slow. Her thoughts fogged, disoriented. She was going conscious of the pain from a million cuts and bruises. Pieces of cut glass penetrated her flesh.

She suddenly had this intense fear and worry over others. The girl! Was she safe?

She woke up in the darkness, ears ringing. The glare of lights dug at her eyes.

Pain flared in her shoulder and hip bringing a flash. She was suddenly conscious of where she was.

A truck skidding. Screams ripping her ears. She tried to call for help but all that came out was a sob.

Some cars were not able to avoid the collision. Other vehicles were smashed as their hoods crumpled. Fractured glass and shattered windshields were everywhere.

A crackle of flames blossoms as people coughed at the toxic smoke from chunks of twisted metal and plastic. Cassandra heard the frantic cries and moans of the victims trying to slither out of their upside-down cars through broken windows.

Some cars broke to a stop to help. A redneck from the crowd of onlookers held up his phone to record the scene.

A person suddenly knelt beside her.

There could be no denying that he had the face of an angel who guarded the gates of heaven with a flaming sword. He was purely masculine beauty blessed with strong brows and sharp jawline with the hint of a dimple in his left cheek.

She must be dead. She was seeing angels.

The stranger touched her cheek with long tapered fingers but then he jerked back his hand as if he had been burned. She noticed he has multiple cuts on his hands and arms as blood soaked through his clothing.

"Are you alright?" He called out. "Can you hear me?"

Cassandra's eyes threatened to roll at the back of her head the moment he said that. She tried to move but was unable to do so. Her frustration and panic built when she saw her blood gushing from her wounds.

"Don't faint yet." He told her, his body shivering uncontrollably with shock. "Try to stay conscious as much as possible, okay?"

The stranger's fingers trembled as he unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse and slipped his hand inside. Cassandra twisted, trying to get away from him but something pinned her in place. Pain pulsed her body again.

"You're not supposed to die for me. You are supposed to die by my hands. Why can't you see the difference?" His voice was low and hoarse as he whispered, his tears falling on her face. "Don't move. I'll take care of you."

Cassandra was too scattered on his words.

The stranger held her hand, leaned down, and touched his lips to hers. His lips were smooth and firm, giving her the alluring taste of strength and softness.

It took her several seconds to kiss him back. His lips had parted slightly beneath hers, matching the subtle pressure of her own.

Something pricked her chest and cool numbness crept through her before dimming her pain. And then, it was gone. It's as if he's giving her life and energy through his kisses.

Cassandra began to stir and moved her legs and arms. She slowly lifted her head as tears spilled in her eyes. Impossibly, she was alive and all her of her wounds have healed.

"Who?..." Cassandra whispered, gazing up at him with confusion then suddenly it hit her.

I remember now.

That stranger with the tattoo of a tarot cup in his right hand was Gabriel.

And he had saved my life.