005 - Breathe

…

A series of hurried footsteps, accompanied by the crisp sound of crushed dried autumn leaves and the breaking of twigs, signalled the arrival of the persecutor.

“Oh, it’s you,” the man says through heavy gasps for oxygen.

“Hello there, morning run?” I cracked a forced smile.

The man steadies his breathing, “No, no, no… Uh… say, I know this is odd, but have you perhaps seen a man running past you in this particular direction; (He points awkwardly towards the edge of the cliff) and uh… black hair, black hair, I think… “

“No, not at all,” My toes were curling in my boots, “What seems to be the problem, Gabe?”

His tall and agile frame doesn’t seem like much when he’s leaning on his rifle for support while his muscles give him hell for over-exhausting them, but I knew to be careful around him. Gabriel was the third of angelkind brought into existence by the unparalleled powers of the Father, and he had much to prove for that.

A kind soul, but nervousness and carelessness constantly took hold of him, and he was prone to dropping everything he held in his hands. Every bullet that exited the barrel of his gun, every arrow loosened from the nook of his bow, every spear that hurtled forward from his hands, never missed its mark, be it heart, liver or brain. And on God, was I terrified of those preternatural hands.

Suddenly, the freckled, red-haired man locked his olive-green eyes with mine. He cast his angry stare over me, and it took every ounce of my strength for my legs not to give way. A complete opposite of his previous impression.

I gulped as he studied my sweaty face, like he was dissecting every muscle apart from their tendons and searching for truth in them.

I think the ground cracked when he finally took a step forward in my direction.

“You lie,” he growled.

The clouds edged together in fear at his behest and shrouded the Sun, basking the cliff in a dark and dim glow. The grass and wildflowers surrounding his soles instantly blackened and died, like the life had been sucked out of them.

“So you either tell me where he’s gone,” the volume of his voice increasing sharply, “or I’ll let you know what pain tastes like.”

I could feel his ice-cold breath against my face. Minty. His eyes stared straight into the recesses of my soul, almost like they were daring me to lie. My mouth tasted like the contents of my empty breakfast and if I ever complained my palms had felt sweaty before, I must’ve been sweating rivers by now.

“Off the cliff,”

“Excuse me?”

“He tossed himself off the cliff. I don’t know who you were after, but that idiot looked deranged. Poor bastard didn’t even allow me time to ask his name before he looked back to your shouts and hurled himself off the edge of this very cliff. Dead. On impact. I checked.”

I recited like I was reading an account off my brain. When angels died, our bodies immediately disintegrated into the dust that we were created from. A convincing lie, spun in a matter of mere seconds and slipped through my teeth like a snake.

His piercing gaze let go off me and he heaved a heavy sigh. At once, the clouds evacuated themselves from the scene and oxygen entered my dead lungs.

“Sorry, so sorry, I overexerted myself today,” he clasped his head in his hands, Damned thing wouldn’t stop running even after I shot it,”

“If you don’t mind me asking, Who- no, what was it?”

“Damned fallen. Too many of them lately. But this one in particular was something special. If I’m not wrong, he was a recovering soldier from the war and was provided asylum in the wards. One day, they found him crouched over his bed with his head cupped in his hands; noxious, black ink spreading from his scalp through his hair.”

I winced at the description. I never liked hearing about these things. The possibility of it happening was just too little. The chance was near to zero. Yet everyday I hear about their numbers increasing, what were the odds that I were next?

“So they sent you to get him,” I laughed the anxiety off. It could never be me. Why would it be me?

“And get him I did, pumped a full barrel through him on the way, and another three once we were in the forest, but that snake never fell. If only he had just keeled over and died. Would’ve saved me the trouble and you the traumatic experience, eh buddy?”

“Oh well, if he’s jumped and gone and dusted, that’s your work done for you I guess,” I forced a laugh to his jest.

“Well then, uh... I should get going. I’ll be seeing you!”

He turned back into the forest and I waved him off into the distance. The noon sun beat down like an iron rod on my neck, but I stood there in an anxious watch… until I knew he was gone.

“You… you’re safe now,” I breathed a sigh of relief.

Cough.

Cough cough.

Cough wheeze cough sniff.

He slumped over from the shade of the tall, dark tree into the grass. His hand was still clasped over the pulsating wound on the edge of his abdomen. Blood trickled out from the gaps in between his fingers like a furious river; showing no signs of stopping.

Damn it, damn it all. “Breathe, take a goddamn breath, the bleeding’s already stopping. You’re doing a great job.” I growled through gritted teeth. I didn’t know this man, but I knew I wanted him to live. He couldn’t die. Not now at least. I had so many questions.

“You don’t have to comfort me,” he heaved a short-lived laugh in between his coughs, “I can’t see… but I feel it bleeding out… ” he coughed again.

I winced.

“Listen to me, it’s not safe here. He may be gone, but you won’t be safe here. We won’t be safe here. Can you stand?” I asked.

He closed his eyes and nodded shakily, trying to pull himself to his feet.

But just as soon as he managed to get somewhat upright, his knees buckled. I dived forward and caught him before he hit the ground; his palm gripped tightly on my forearm as I helped him sit back down.

“S-sorry,” he stutters, “I’m trying,”

“I know,” I say as I slip a hand under his legs and another behind his back, “It’s going to be okay, you hear me? Everything is going to be fine.”

I wasn’t even sure of the authenticity of my own words, but it had to be fine. It was going to be fine.

Easily, I picked him up and brought his hand around my neck.

I can’t bring him to the infirmary. No, not at all. They would find out instantly.

“Th…”

“What?” I edged my ear to his lips.

“Thank… you…”

I didn’t have time to waste thinking over it. Carefully, I stepped to the edge of the rocky cliff face,

“I’m gonna’ need you to take a deep breath,”

And jumped.