《Angelic Possession》


 Chapter 1

    It''s been 10 years since her last possession, and Anna is resigned to her fate.


    She thought of the supposed ''blessings'' she was meant to receive after being chosen to be an angelic vessel - by her friends, her family, the matrons at the nunnery, and other angelic vessels who gave interviews and travelled the world spreading the message. God knows she''s watched enough sinners-turned-saints preach the word of God following an angelic possession.


    She moved to the fridge to retrieve an ice-pack for her aching knee, and spent a few minutes contemplating what exactly she could do next.


    Her ex-husband would be stopping by later, to drop off the last of her things. After losing her faith, she found that she could no longer truly respect someone so willfully deluded, and he could no longer truly love someone who, in his eyes, was soulless. (He did try to love her, the way God commands us to "love everyone", but he couldn''t maintain the facade. He''s happy to continue loving her from afar, away from her distasteful lack of belief).


    The house was quiet, and sparsely furnished. The 1-bedroom apartment held little, enough for her to survive. Ever since she lost the use of her legs, she found that most furniture was not made for her - and was often uncomfortable, and would take up entirely too much space.


    The couch existed primarily as a space for her visitors to sit; the bedroom contained a bed and an exercise machine to help maintain her strength, and little else.


    The kitchen was mostly bare; most cabinets and the fridge were moved down to make it easier to access. She found herself eating less and less post-possession, and her fridge held little more than a few frozen meals that she would buy, and packaged meals donated by the church.


    She realised that her pension more than covered her daily expenses, but she found little use for the money. The few family members she had remaining would visit her, and she would leave the apartment for a mandated 1-hour session with her physiotherapist every week, and for a daily ''sunlight session''; apart from that, this apartment was her world.


    The only thing brimming in her apartment was her bookshelf; her shelves were doubly stacked with books, the back row propped up on empty tissue boxes so you could see all the titles, and there were a few books stacked near her bed, precariously balanced on the bedside table. Reading was one of the few pleasures she would indulge in, and preferred the lure of fantasy.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    On calm, sunny days like this - when her brother would visit after work, and when the street was quiet enough to hear the chirping birds - she would often think of the first time she was possessed.


    Far from being an unpleasant memory, she remembers little of the actual possession, the physical and mental trauma sealed away in her mind.


    She was just 12 when it first happened - the youngest possession in recorded history. Her father, an engineer, was concerned of the long-term effects a possession would have on her growing body; her mother, however, was ecstatic.


    The possession lasted a little less than 48 hours. She remembers waking up that night unreasonably early, attracted by a distant light in the night sky. She remembers going down, leaving the house and walking towards the empty fields; a bright flash, a deafening, all-encompassing, bone-vibrating *whine* and suddenly -


    The neighbours'' house is in flames. The neighbours were 2 miles away. Other houses were burned to the ground, and ash - human, animal, wood - floated in the air. She lay, collapsed, surrounded by broken bodies and burnt remains.


    The firefighters found her first, an angelic mark burned onto her left forearm, the skin of her heels and calves singed off, her hair burned up to the root (her hair never grew quite right after that, and she''s kept it short ever since).


    She was lucky to make a (mostly) full recovery. Her mother tells her what happened, of the 48 hours of love and forgiveness; how she flew to neighbouring regions to heal the sick and the dying, preach the word of God, and resupplied empty grain silos and low food supplies. Her mother does not mention the hours of vengeance, of heavenly fire raining down on houses of sin, of neighbours being burned alive for reasons only God will know. She doesn''t think about this, much. Her mother doesn''t, either.


    The time she spent in the hospital after her possession was hellish; the skin on her legs burned and her skull felt raw. Most of all, she was tired. She slept constantly, and was fed via an IV drip for over a week. Slowly, slowly, she recovered her strength. It took a few weeks for her to relearn to walk, to train the weakened muscles in her legs to support her own weight. Her ribs were cracked and took months to heal, but she was given the green light and was allowed to go home just 2 weeks later.


    She recovered quickly, and her faith then was strong.

 Chapter 2

    She could split her life into ''before'' and ''after''. Her ''before'' was difficult, but idyllic. She spent her days like most other children in her situation; trying to please an overbearing mother and attract the attention of a distant father. Her ''after'', however, was almost unbearable, for she finally got what she spent years trying to achieve - her mother''s affection and her father''s attention, and all the pressure that came with it.


    She spent her pre-teen and teenage years with others who were also ''blessed'' with possession; there were a few survivors. For many, the stress of possession often ended in sudden cardiac arrests, for the human heart could not take the stress of working with a heavenly occupant. This was considered an incredibly lucky way to go, for you were guaranteed a place in Heaven, and it was often quick and painless.


    The others were young adults, older than her, but not by much. A few were permanently wheel-chair bound, and one was no longer able to talk - he had a seizure after the possession and bit his tongue clean off. No angel returned to heal his disability. It does not matter, for he has a translator who accompanies him at all times, paid for by the Church. He is blessed.


    She grew close with a young woman who was possessed at 15; lucky for her, this possession was focused on spreading the word of God, so her body did not take too much of a beating. She was the healthiest one out of the lot, the one with the least injuries, and so was the one who often preached the word of God the most.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.Ironically, she was the one with the most self-doubt. Seeing others suffer while she remained unhurt didn''t help, and it wasn''t long before she was too full of doubt to adequately preach the word of God, and was no longer invited to share her story.


    No matter. She continued to spend time with her friends and in the faith. Her father oddly grew more distant as she grew more evangelical, and the weeks would be spent with her mother, driving down to the church (or other halls), sharing her experiences and her wisdom, and coming home for dinner.


    She noticed that her parents didn''t talk as much, anymore - ever since her possession. Her dad tried to spark her interest in other hobbies, in movies and games and going to the arcade. She would decline almost everytime, feeling guilty but overwhelmed by the amount of workshops, seminars, speeches, and talks she would give/attend.


    Her friends were helpful, and were (largely) good people. Amari and Jake understood her plight the most; the constant talks and presences were exhausting, and Amari in particular was still getting used to navigating life on a wheelchair. Aimee and Desiree were kind, and often helped by giving useful tips on public speaking, and on the best way to answer questions from the public. Brendan, too, shared a lot of useful tips - the best one being to stare silently into space, looking almost (but not quite) at the ceiling, if you couldn''t think of an answer immediately. *t makes you look wise, he signed. Like you''re communing with God.


    She used that trick a lot.


    She used it once when her dad asked her if this is how she wanted to spend the rest of her life. She saw him roll his eyes and walk away when she pulled that trick.


    She still does it, but only in public.

 Chapter 3

    As an adult, she spends most of her time alone, in her apartment, trying not to relive painful memories. Unbidden, they swarm her mind. The day she remembers often is the day she began to doubt her faith.


    She had wrapped up another 12-hour day of seminars, followed by Q&A, followed by intimate workshops with that church''s more generous patrons. Her dad had come to pick the two of them, and they would spend a quiet weekend in the woods outside of town.


    The drive was quiet, but beautiful. Her mother disagreed with the trip, and felt that Anna was being selfish wanting to spend time away from the parish. Her father argued that Anna should spend some time being a kid.


    "Hell, even God said that Sunday was a day of rest, didn''t He?", he asked. Her mom rolled her eyes in response.


    "Honestly George, I don''t like you encouraging this kind of behaviour in our child," she replied. "What next, you''ll let her wear those tiny miniskirts and go cavorting around town with the rest of her classmates from school?"


    "Jeez, Martha, one weekend away in the cabin does not a sinner make," George replied, exasperated. This wasn''t the first time they had this discussion.


    "Yeah, Mom, I want to take a break, too", Anna chimed in.


    Martha turned to look at her. Her eyes softened. She knew that when she asked for something, her mom acquiesced - because she never really asked for much.


    "Fine, but just this weekend. I''ve made arrangements for you on Monday, and I''d like to be back in the city by then." Anna sighed, but was pleased that they were finally getting a weekend away from everything.


    The rest of the drive was quiet, and Anna rolled her window down once they entered the woods, breathing in the clean summer air. The day was warm and cloudless, and she met her father''s eyes in the rearview mirror. They seemed happy. The weekend itself was quiet; despite her mother''s initial objections, she seemed to lose her inhibitions once they reached the remote cabin. With no cell service and an hour''s drive to the nearest town, the three of them spent countless hours playing cards, going on long hikes, and stargazing.


    Anna craved nights like these - when she was younger, she would cry every time they had to leave the cabin, and asked that every night be like this one. She remembers her parents exchange looks with each other, and she knows now that it was always a silent battle, with her father ready to pick up and move on, but her mother''s ties to the community were seemingly unbreakable, and so, they stayed.


    The night before they had to leave, Anna was sitting outside, a few meters away from the cabin, the perfect spot to stare in wonder at the heavens above. Her dad came and sat next to her, a chilled can of soda in each hand.


    The two sipped their sodas in silence, admiring the night sky.


    "Hey Dad, can I ask you something?"


    "Sure, what is it? Wait, if it''s about your business with the church, I''m not sure if I''ll be able to help," he began.


    "No, it''s not that. It''s about...well, it''s about you and Mom."


    He leaned back, silent.


    "Whenever we come out to the cabin like this, it''s always a fight. I know how much you love coming here, but it feels like it''s always a struggle to, and the only time we come here is when I say I want to, too."


    "Well, I wouldn''t say it''s a fight every time -"


    "How come you always do what Mom tells you to do?"


    He was startled, and then he laughed. "It''s because I love her, Anna."


    Anna frowned. "Love doesn''t mean blind obedience," she said.


    Her dad shook his head. "Funny hearing that from you," he muttered under his breath, but Anna heard him. She had a feeling he said it loud enough for her to.


    He cleared his throat, seeming a bit guilty, and took a sip of his soda. "I listen because I love her enough to stay. Sure, I don''t want to do what she wants to do, but if everyone wanted to do the same thing all the time, then the world would be a boring place, wouldn''t it?"


    "I...I guess?" Anna replied.


    Her dad sat up, and scooted closer. "Think of it this way," he said. "Your mom takes care of us - she makes sure we''re always eating healthy and doing what we''re supposed to be doing. She keeps me grounded, and she makes sure you get the best opportunities possible. I know your mom does what she does for the family - it may look like she always ''gets her way'' to you, but trust me, every move she makes is for all of us, not just her."


    "Doesn''t really feel like it sometimes," Anna grumbled.


    Her dad laughed, ruffled her hair and rested his arm on her shoulders.


    "Trust me," he said. "You''ll realize it when you''re older."


    "Wow, isn''t *that* a cliche," she said, rolling her eyes. She didn''t shrug his arm off, though.


    "Yeah, well, if you''re looking for the wordsmith in the family, it isn''t me," he said.


    The two drank their soda in silence for a few more moments, relaxing in each other''s presence. The night air was warm, the breeze was low, and the skies were clear. Both of them were lost in thought for a few moments, each one completely absorbed in the moment.


    After a while, her dad stood up. "Come on, Oaky, it''s bed-time. Let''s head inside before your mom comes out," he said, taking her empty soda can from her hands. She stood up, dusted the bottom of her jeans, and followed her dad into the cabin.


    The next morning was bright, another warm summer day. They left soon after sunrise, which meant that Anna was asleep in the back seat while her parents spoke quietly about her itinerary for the week, and how Martha was getting along writing Anna''s speeches.


    Anna is startled awake when the truck T-bones their little hatchback, totalling the driver''s side. Anna''s limp body flies off the side and into the door of the car, which knocks her unconscious.


    A few hours later, she finds herself on a gurney in an ambulance, with a male paramedic explaining to her that she was in an accident, and to not move too quickly - she sustained major injuries.


    "What about my parents?" she cried.


    "They''re in the other ambulance," he replied. "Your mom is okay, she''s with your dad."


    "How is my dad?" she asked.


    The paramedic hesitates. "He was heavily injured, but we think he''ll make it. Don''t worry, we''re going to the best hospital in the area. Trust me, we''ll take care of him."


    She turned to face the ceiling, her neck and back on fire as the pain slowly started to flare up. She thought about her parents, and then the pain took over, and she could think of nothing else.


    18 hours later and she was asleep in a hospital bed, recovering from surgery.


    During her stay at the hospital, her mother was the sole family member who visited her. She never met other members of the family, and they never seemed interested in reaching out to her, either. Her parents were tight-lipped on Anna''s grandparents, and she never broached the topic too far.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.Her friends from the church came often, bringing food, books, and simple games to play; the other members of the parish sent home-baked goods to her door, her little hospital room overflowing with gifts from the community. Her mom took pride in this, her face beaming from the outpour of affection. "Isn''t it lovely to see how many people care for you?" she''d ask. "Aren''t they all so kind?"


    Oddly, her father never came to visit, in those two weeks. Her mother said it was because he was still recovering; it was only after badgering a nurse for 7 nights straight that she admitted her father was in a coma, and they were unsure when he would wake up.


    The next few days were utter chaos; internally, she was screaming, desperate to leave the hospital room and find her father and shake him awake, hold his hand, kiss his cheek, do something. Externally, she remained quiet, and docile, thanking her mother and the other members of the church for their affection, asking carefully worded questions about her father and backing away when her mother would get too annoyed.


    After she was discharged, her mother drove her home. When asked where her father was, she simply replied, "He isn''t better yer, darling, he still needs to stay. Don''t worry dear, I''ll still be visiting him everyday, I''m sure he''ll be well enough to come home soon."


    The weeks passed by in a blur; Anna could no longer find anything out about her father, and there was no way for her to reach the hospital without her mother finding out. Martha would visit John for an hour or two every evening, and encouraged Anna to bake cookies, cakes, and pies for him, or to make a card, or crochet clothing. Anna knew this was a ploy, to get her to stop asking questions and turn her mind to something else. "You know how much he loves your baking, dear," she said. "Don''t you want him to come home to a house full of your love for him?"


    Before she could make a clear plan of stealing away at night to see him, Martha brought him home. Unannounced. One could ask if she stole him from the hospital, but that would be impolite.


    "Sweetie, I have a surprise for you!" Martha yelled. "Come downstairs, quick!"


    Anna raced downstairs, and stopped on the top-most step.


    It was Dad. He was finally home. She was about to rush into his arms...but she stopped.


    He looked different, somehow. His face looked uncertain - he was smiling, yes, but that wasn''t how he smiled at her. His smile was...off.


    He knelt down, as though she was a toddler. "It''s Anna, right?"


    ...What?


    "Well, sweetie, your dad suffered from a really bad head injury," Martha said, smiling at him. "Now, the doctors did their best, but he lost all his memories in the crash. Transient global amnesia, they called it. That''s right - they kept referring to it as TGA," she said, with a slight giggle. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, they said that they weren''t sure when his memories would come back, if they ever would. But, he''s healthy and he''s alive, and it''s up to us to remind him of who he is, right, darling?" she said, looking at Anna expectantly.


    Anna just stared at this stranger who had her father''s face. She walked up to him and said, "Yes, my name''s Anna. You used to call me Oaky, after Annie Oakley," she said. "We learned about Annie Oakley in school, except I pronounced her name wrong, and you''ve called me that ever since," she continued, tears rolling down her cheeks. she couldn''t believe she was sharing this with her dad-who-wasn''t-her-dad. This felt *weird*. He should know who she is.


    "Hey, it''s okay," John said. "I remember now - Oaky, that''s right. My little Oaky," he continued. She shook her head. He was saying it *wrong*. She took a deep breath. Things will be fine. She knows this. God is looking out for her. He always does, and this is just another step in her journey. Soon, her father will get his memories back and this will be another story to share at dinner-time.


    Things did not get better over the coming months. Not only did her dad not recover his memories, he was *nothing* like how he used to be. He lost it all, his sense of humour, his love of music, his carefree nature, his willingness to push back to let Anna breathe, all of it. Martha took over every single aspect of Anna''s life, and Anna watched everything she loved slip by her, with her dad standing by, with a stupid, vapid smile on his face, watching it happen.


    She tried, every single day. She tried playing their favourite games, movies, and music; she took him to museums and parks to remind him of the things they loved to do, and she talked about their hikes in the forest and the nights spent in the cabin. When she mentioned the cabin, Martha heard her and said, "We are not going to that cabin anymore. It''s a death trap, and I won''t hear otherwise."


    Anna found out later that Martha was true to her word; she had sold the cabin and donated the profits to the church. John did nothing, and simply watched it happen.


    Anna tried to include him, but with less vigour. After all, almost every waking moment was spent either helping the Church, studying up on the Bible, or working on speeches with her mother, when she was booked by every church, chapel, and school in the country. What litlte time she had left was catching up on her schoolwork; though she was formally ''homeschooled'' by her mother, little education actually happened unless she tried to teach herself.


    She spent weeks travelling from one venue to the other, meeting other blessed vassals and losing track of them just as quickly. Faces blurred into each other, and she knew she had lost her father completely when she saw him standing outside the school doors waiting for her, and only saw a stranger.


    She remembers the day she stopped praying - well, praying sincerely, at least.


    It was when she was praying for her father to return, to come back to her, when a thought bubbled to the surface: "let''s be honest, it probably won''t happen." Her eyes flew open and welled up with tears, the sudden guilt at the thought that God may not help her. It was selfish, but hadn''t she done her part to serve Him? Didn''t she give her entire life, and her body, for His will? She felt ugly and shameful at the thought, and spent hours in prayer that night as if to make up for it.


    Foolishly, she thought it would end there, but everywhere she turned, she saw signs of His absence; at the large groups of the homeless people that would gather during every speech she gave as she handed out food after, at the trauma her friends went through since they were ''blessed'', at all the horror and injustice in the world, and mostly, at her mother''s seeming indifference that her husband, the man she loved, had effectively died.


    By the time she turned 18, Anna barely spoke to her father, and for what it''s worth, John stopped trying for a relationship, too. Post-accident, he seemed far more unwilling to put in effort, which meant that if she ever rebuffed his attempt at affection, he simply stopped trying. What started as a bad day at school would often end with her father ignoring her for days on end, because "you looked like you wanted to be left alone, anyway." By the time she left the house, she understood how her father felt.


    Her mother, however, was far more unwilling to let Anna leave, and insisted that she delay going to college for at least a year, to fulfill her obligations.


    After spending nights studying, Anna was successfully able to obtain a high school diploma on her own. That coupled with her history as a ''blessed'' meant that most universities were eager to accept her into their hallowed halls.


    Anna didn''t reveal the fact that she had secured a full scholarship for theological studies at a university about 10 hours away, and that she had already packed a bag full of essentials and was ready to leave.


    It took multiple fights for her mother to relent to delaying her programme by a semester, instead of a year. It took Anna''s high school friend, Jamie, offering to drive them both up to university that her mother realised she had nothing left to play, and resorted to begging.


    Knowing that her mother was begging her to stay because she had no purpose other than Anna further deepened her doubt, and she left without looking back.

 Chapter 4

    Her years at the university were idyllic, and she felt like she was being deceived almost constantly. Her studies in theology quickly shifted; she was far more interested in the intersection between religion, culture, and gender, and switched her major to cultural studies in a matter of weeks.


    She spent most of her time in what felt like a dream; her friends were boisterous, loud, and *so* curious about her past. The questions were well-meaning, but relentless until she learned not to reveal that she was one of the ''blessed'', preferring to keep her prayers, prayer-books, and semi-regular online workshops a secret. The duality ate at her, and she found herself longing for a companion to share her burden, and feeling guilty for feeling like the privilege of a university education and being a ''blessed'' was a burden at all.


    The first Christmas holiday, she went home to see her family. The stress of returning to the church, preaching, and the heartbreak upon seeing the man who was once her father broke her. Her time at college made her more open, more vulnerable - her mother saw it as weakness. What started as quiet refusal to attend a Christmas event turned into a shouting match, which ended in tears.


    The next holiday season, she did not go home. She applied for financial aid and was quickly offered many bursaries as a member of the ''blessed'', and she spent her time in her dorm, or with her friend (and future husband), James.


    James was calm, stable, and steady. Anna loved James for his reassurance, his reliability, and his kindness. Anna knew that these weren''t the right reasons, but she thought she loved him anyway. The relationship was simple; James was attracted to her for her stoicism, her aloofness, and her willingness to debate serious topics on faith and belief. A profoundly religious man himself, James found himself dazzled by this young woman who seemed so sure of her stance in the face of God, and was eager to know more. They spent most of their time in college together; James often buying Anna dinner, accompanying her to shows and events, and spending the night (though he insisted on sleeping on the floor in her bedroom).


    Her graduation was a quiet one; though James and her friends from her youth programmes attended, her parents declined to do so, and she spent her graduation oddly missing her family, and left the graduation party early.


    Soon after, she realised that she could apply for enough government assistance programmes for the ''blessed'' to not have to work for a while. She moved into an apartment with James and was able to live a quiet, steady life as a children''s illustrator.


    He proposed to her about two weeks after moving in, insisting that since they already live together ''as man and wife'', it only made sense to officiate the relationship. Anna couldn''t find a reason to disagree, and simply said yes.


    In her heart, she wasn''t sure if she truly loved James (or if she loved anyone), but she admired his resilience and his commitment to her, and the wedding was a small one, with a few close friends from her teenage years, and James'' brothers. James asked about her parents, but was tactfully shut down by Amari, one of the few friends that Anna kept in touch with over the years. The wedding went off without a hitch, and Anna and James found themselves enjoying each other''s company more and more for a blissful few years.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Her mother reached out to James approximately two years later.


    Her marriage dissolved a year after.


    She didn''t realise how much poison her mother dripped into her husband''s ear until he asked her ever-more probing questions about her faith, her unwillingness to go to the local church, and her relationship with her family. When he insisted she reconnect with her ''father'', she withdrew immediately, and spent a few nights at a hotel before accepting that her stable, calm James was no longer a source of stability. Upon realising that, she knew her marriage had served its purpose, and consulted with a lawyer.


    James didn''t put up much a fight, though her mother tried to. The break-up was painless, and she moved to her own apartment soon after, thanks to her funding.


    Her apartment was quiet most nights. She preferred watching TV shows and movies with the volume turned down low, so low you could barely hear what the characters said on-screen.


    When she was younger, she would play "What was that?" with her dad, a mad-lib style game where they watched the same movies over and over again with the volume turned down, giving the characters new lines and trying to make the other laugh.


    More often than not, her dad would have her in stitches, but sometimes, she''d startle a surprised laugh out of him; not just a pity "haha" laugh, but a genuine "that was hilarious, my kid is actually funny" laugh. Often, he''d look at her with a mixture of love and pride. He doesn''t look at her that way anymore. Anna doesn''t think he''s really looked at her in years.


    Sitting in front of the TV, she would note down the funniest ones in a now-battered notebook. She had many such notebooks, filled with  lines her dad and she had come up with when she was young, and would revisit and highlight the best ones, the ones that still made her laugh.


    She spent her nights writing in the little notebook, before swapping and picking up another - this book was her magnum opus. A story she''s been working on for 10 years, the narrative covered dozens of notebooks neatly arranged on a bookshelf, clearly labelled.


    When she had the energy during the day, she would go back to earlier notebooks, editing her work as she went. If the edits were too numerous, she would rewrite the notebook from scratch, re-label it, and stow the original in a locked cupboard, where other draft-filled, scratched out notebooks went. She didn''t have the heart to get rid of them or shred them, but kept them, just in case.


    She did think about submitting her work when it was complete, and has submitted a few short stories to middling acclaim. Her stories were all set in the same universe; a world where humanity can visit God, riding atop the backs of angels.


    Her short stories were glimpses into this world, but her magnum opus would be the grand adventure of a young girl''s journey to ultimately talk to God.


    Having worked on the story for over a decade, she knew it was almost complete, but also that you couldn''t rush perfection.


    One morning, she found herself staring at a thin envelope shoved under her door. The envelope was light, the paper creamy, and the gold-embossed logo of the Vatican catching the light and shining back at her face. The letter within was short; an RSVP to attend a formal ceremony and a group dinner with the sitting Pope. The letter didn''t say much - about the ceremony, or who would be attending, but Anna''s curiosity got the better of her, and she RSVP''d yes.


    A week later, she was stepping off a plane at a private airport in Vatican City, and found herself in the back seat of a private taxicab with Amari.

 Chapter 5

    "You look well," Amari said, as Anna put on her seatbelt. "Thanks, Ame, so do you," she replied, turning to face her. Amari had stayed largely the same, her hazel eyes taking in Anna''s tired appearance, her short brown hair kept back by a crocheted headband. The silence stretched between them. "Been a while," Amari said. "Yeah, it has," Anna replied.


    Silence.


    "Okay, are you going to tell me anything, or are you going to pretend like we''re strangers?" Amari asked, her face betraying her anger and concern.


    Anna slumped back. "I don''t know what to tell you, Ame. Things didn''t work out with James."


    "Yeah, I heard about that, your mother was so devastated," Amari said, looking at Anna square in the face. Anna had trouble maintaining eye contact while Amari spoke. "She went on and on about how she just tried to talk to you, and how helpful and loving James was, and how you turned them down and would rather get a *divorce* than to talk to your own mother. You know that''s what she''s been saying, right? Not just to the church, but to everyone you knew, know, and will know."


    Anna swallowed, uncomfortable with what Amari was implying.


    "Look, I know your mom was...controlling, but tell me - was it worth it? Was walking away worth it?" she asked.


    Anna looked at Amari''s face - her friend''s face, someone she confided with for years, and then cast aside in a desperate attempt to find something new.


    "Yes," she found herself saying, and was surprised to realise that she truly believed it - despite the loneliness and the isolation. "Yes, it was."


    "Huh," Amari said, sitting back. "Well, I''m glad you found the courage to do what''s right for you," she said. She looked out of the window for a few moments, before turning back, a smile on her face. "I mean it, Anna. I''m glad you''re doing okay, even though you look like shit."


    Anna smiled at that. "You too, Ame."


    The rest of the drive to the Apostolic Palace was calm, but eventful. Anna and Amari talked the entire time - how Amari''s family was doing (they''re doing well, Aaron is in university now, can you believe it), how Amari was doing (the church was stretching her thin, but she continued to find pleasure in her work), how Anna''s family was doing (her mom, and now James, are still active in the church, still loudly praying for Anna''s return), and how Anna herself was doing (getting by, still working on her writing).


    The conversation soon moved to politics, Amari being far more active and politically aware than Anna. Having been sequestered after university for so long, Anna didn''t realise how much she had missed out on. She knew that there was a growing body of those discontent with the preachings of those who were possessed, especially those who had lost homes, limbs, and lives in collateral damage. The phrase, "they''re in Heaven now," rings hollow when a son has lost their parents in a car crash after an angel blows out a portion of the highway, while committing their angelic deeds.


    As they got closer to the Palace, she saw graffitti on the walls, with the letters ''PAP'' scrawled in various sizes. "What''s PAP?" she asked. "People against Angelic Posession," Amari replied. "They''ve been getting really popular, lately. Apparently, the newest angelic possession wiped out half a mile in a village in Italy, and a lot of people - innocent people - lost their lives," she said, her face somber. She looked...upset. Like it was her fault, somehow. "Wouldn''t that make it PAAP?" Anna replied, trying to keep the tone light in the car. "Yeah, but Pap sounds better," Amari said, looking out of the window.


    The rest of the drive was silent - Amari was lost in her own thoughts, and Anna couldn''t think of a tactful way of asking her about these groups.


    The last few hundred meters to the palace was bursting with people - a large crowd was marching on the streets, many holding signs with phrases like: "Compensate the innocent", "rebuild Italy", and "I got possessed and all I got was this stupid sign". She was surprised to see other ''blessed'' people within the crowd as well, demanding better compensation for innocent people caught in the cross-fire. Amari scooted closer to her. "Yeah, I know what you''re thinking. Jake didn''t get invited for this hoo-ha, since he joined one of the groups a few weeks ago." Anna stared at her, slack-jawed. "Which group?" she asked. Amari shrugged. "One of the Pap-like groups - their demands are so similar, but they''re splintered for some reason. Honestly, that''s why they''re not as effective - you can''t have multiple groups demanding different versions of the same thing, then no one gets anything," she said.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.Anna felt uncomfortable. She felt bad for not knowing what her friends were up to, or what they chose to believe in, and felt bad that they didn''t think to include her, too. They never spoke about what they truly valued, after all - and Anna chose to walk away, as best she could for as long as she coud. Meanwhile, the driver said nothing, remaining a stoic professional to the end.


    "Could I talk to Jake, after this?" Anna asked. Amari looked surprised. "He''s difficult to get a hold of now, but we can try," she said. "What do you want to talk about?"


    "I just realised I have missed out on a lot of things going on, and it would be nice to catch up," Anna replied. Amari frowned, and Anna knew she didn''t do a good job. It was annoying, her lack of ability to bullshit, but hopefully Amari wouldn''t press on this.


    "What do you want to know, exactly? I can catch you up -" "We''ve arrived," the driver announced, pulling up to the gates. "Someone will guide you to the dining hall, ladies," he said, turning around to face them both. He smiled, a deadpan expression where nothing moved except his lips. "I hope you have a wonderful time here at the Apostolic Palace," he said.


    A guide brought the two of them to the papal apartments - the group was small enough that a private dinner with the Pope could be arranged, in his private library. Amari and Anna joined the group of a few others, most of whom they did not know. The group was small; including the two of them, there were 6 people in total. An older woman, with frizzy hair and dark skin, and a sour look on her face; a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a tired face; and twin boys from Southeast Asia, who looked little older than 18, their faces still pudgy with baby fat, though they were tall and muscular.


    The group was eclectic - the only common thread was that they were, at some point in their lives, vassals for angelic presences; apart from that, nothing tied them together. Not their history, country of origin, age, or gender, and though they were intimately aware of the challenges the others had faced as vassals, they were wary of each other, unsure of how to break the ice.


    The dark-skinned older woman turned to Anna. "So, how old were you when it happened?" she asked. Anna was startled; very few people asked such a direct question upon meeting her. "Uh, when I was 12," she replied. "My name''s Anna, by the way," she added, hoping to sound sincere and not snarky, but by Amari''s smirk, she guessed it was the latter. "i''m Amari," Amari said, sticking her hand out to the other woman. The woman looked at her, but didn''t move. "And you?" she asked, looking at Amari. "How old were you?"


    "And what would your name be?" Amari replied. "That''s how a conversation usually goes, when one person introduces themselves," she said. The other woman simply stared, and the others said nothing, unwilling to break the tension. They were clearly too intimidated by her. Amari refused to bend. "Why don''t you go first?"


    The silence was thick, and minutes passed before the other woman blinked. "I was 33," she said, her voice flat. "I was 15," Amari replied.


    "I see," the woman replied. "I am the oldest one here, it seems."


    This wasn''t surprising, to Anna or the others. Most people were chosen to be vassals when they were younger, or in their peak physical prime. The ideal vassal is young enough for the body to be strong and flexible, and makes recovery much easier; there were very few who were possessed after the age of 30. Anna was surprised to see the other woman looked relatively untouched; she had no visible scars, limps, or other permanent injuries. She was one of the lucky ones.


    She finally stuck her hand out to Amari. "My name is Aisha, by the way. I apologise for my earlier questions, but I find that one''s response provides far more insights into their character than a simple introduction." Amari shook her hand, and so did Anna. "Don''t worry about it," Amari replied.


    The middle-aged man introduced himself as Ralfie, originally Raphael, though he grew up in the UK and preferred Ralfie instead. The twin boys were named Ichiro and Kai, and they were shy, unwilling to offer much more information. They spoke amongst themselves, quietly and quickly, and looked like they wanted to get this over with. Anna understood that - how many things was she forced into by her mom, when all she wanted was a quiet day at home?


    Aisha and Amari managed to strike up a conversation, about the group of protesters outside. Anna stood near Ralfie, discussing innocent topics like the weather, and Ralfie''s family back in the UK. Ralfie seemed like he had a stable life; he held a stable administrative job in Manchester, and seemed content enough with the cards he had been dealt. He and Anna spoke at length about the differences in evangelism in the southern US versus England, and Anna was happy to know that Ralfie wasn''t sucked into the tedium of constant seminars and speeches, where words would eventually lose all meaning, and Anna felt little more than a puppet. They were standing outside for a while, and when the half-hour mark passed, the doors opened and a nuncio greeted them. "Apologies for the delay, everyone," he said. "There was a slight snafu this morning, but not to worry - everything has been resolved. Won''t you come in?"

 Chapter 6

    The library was spacious and airy, with large windows across one wall, and bookshelves lining the rest. 3 Sets of smaller chairs and tables were pushed together to form a dining table. The arrangement felt very informal, and Anna wondered why they were dining in the Pope''s private library, opposed to an actual dining room.


    "I find this space far more...meditative," the Pope said, as if he could read her mind. "Please, take a seat."


    Amari sat opposite the Pope, and Anna took a seat on her left side, with Aisha on her right. The combined tables made an oval shape. The twins seated on either side of the Pope, and Ralfie sat next to Amari.


    Amari was the first to speak. "Well, Your Holiness," she said, her voice mildly sarcastic. "We weren''t told much about this...lunch. Is there something in particular you wanted to discuss?"


    The Pope waved his hand. "Please, call me John," he said. "We can be informal, here. After all, you 6 have been far closer to God than I ever have," he continued. Anna smiled at that, as if it was a joke, but realised he was serious. She wiped her smile off her face and tried to maintain a neutral expression.


    "I wanted to speak to you to satisfy my own curiosity, in a way, and to know how you feel - after all, times are changing," he said, gesturing outside. Though you couldn''t see it from here, everyone knew what he referred to - to the group of protesters outside, to the larger discontentments around those who have been possessed (and by a few of the possessed themselves). "I''m not sure how aware you are of people''s...dissatisfactions," he continued, "but I am eager to hear your thoughts on the matter, as our new generation of the blessed."


    Amari and Anna glanced at each other. Anna didn''t know much about this - about why people were unhappy. She knew why *she* was unhappy, but that was because of, well, personal reasons. That didn''t mean *everyone* had an overbearing, church-going mother and a stranger for a father, or was everyone harbouring their own familial trauma, and expressing it in the same way?


    Anna glanced at the twins - Ichiro looked deeply uncomfortable, and Kai nodded aggressively with what the Pope - John - was saying. *Dude, chill,* Anna thought. His eagerness was a little cringey.


    John picked up on it, and responded accordingly. He turned his attention to the twins. "Kai, I''m eager to know what you think - I know things are different for you and your family back home. How has it been, adapting to this change?"


    Kai looked hesitant now, realising that all eyes were on him. "Well," he started, and Anna was surprised by how soft and high-pitched his voice was. He looked young, but sounded a lot younger. "It''s been hard, sometimes," he continued. "Appa - our dad - wants us to stop. We had a demonstration a few days ago, at our local church. Someone was suffering from a..." he blushed here, " venereal disease, and wasn''t responding to any of the treatment. The doctors were mystified, and the people in his community saw that as a sign from God. He asked Ichiro - " here, Kai gestured to Ichiro (for some reason, as though he was talking to a crowd and not a table of 7), and Ichiro looked up, a little shy himself. "Ichiro said there was nothing he could do." At this, Ichiro shook his head, as if this was a routine the two had played out before. "The man got angry," Kai continued, "and one day, he came home. Appa chased him away, but he came to our church, next, and kept yelling at us for ''forsaking him'', even though he was a God-fearing citizen like the rest of us."


    Kai hesitated, and continued when John put a reassuring hand on his. "Well, a few days later, he brought a group of his friends with him - people who thought he was suffering unnecessarily, and thought we could help cure him, or that our prayers mattered more."


    "It is difficult to tell others that they didn''t," Ichiro said, his voice above a whisper. He looked...sad, somehow, upset that he couldn''t help that man.


    "That night was when things got ugly," Kai continued. "The man was angry, and it felt like they were looking for a fight. Appa told us to stay indoors and he''d speak to them outside. He tried to have a calm conversation but it devolved into yelling pretty quickly, and one of the members punched him." Anna was shocked, and Amari''s eyes widened. The others were quiet. "Amma called the police immediately, and the group ran away pretty quickly after one of them hit Appa, but even then..." Kai took a break. "He''s fine, he was just bruised, but we were all shaken. Appa wanted us to stop preaching after that, and Amma agreed, but the pastor disagreed and told us that the community would protect us next time, and that we shouldn''t be afraid. The day after that, wereceived your invite. Amma thought it would be good for us to attend, and so we came here," Kai said, sitting back. "She also thought it would be a good idea for us to leave town for a few days, too," Ichiro added.


    Anna was surprised at this. She had her fair share of people upset at their circumstances in life, but most accepted that God works in mysterious ways - at least, that''s all she was exposed to. She does remember her mother turning people away sometimes, and her father shutting the door on someone''s face, but they always told her that they were impatient, unwilling to listen, and that they needed an adult''s help, not Anna''s. Anna wondered just how much her mom had protected her from, despite pushing her into the limelight on every occasion. It was a confusing feeling.


    Amari nodded along, responding to Kai''s story. "A friend of ours is in a similar situation," she said, gesturing to Anna. She knew Amari meant Brian. "In fact, he''s joined a protest group as well."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.Ralfie was surprised by that. "Really? And you''re still friends with this person?" "Of course," Amari said. "Why wouldn''t I be?" "Well," Ralfie replied. "These groups typically don''t like us, or what we''ve gone through. Doesn''t that mean he doesn''t like you anymore?"


    Amari shook her head. "Not at all, we''re still friends," she said. "I know him, I know what he stands for, and blind hatred is not one of them."


    "Please, tell me more," John said, staring at Amari with interest clearly marked on his face. He turned to Kai. "My boy, I am sorry you had to go through such a horrible experience, and I''m sorry you felt unable to help that man. Know that sometimes, things are out of your control, and it is solely up to God''s Will."


    He turned back to Amari. "Please, tell me what your friend thinks. I am curious to know. It is hard to get honest opinions here, in this ivory tower."


    Amari shifted in her seat. She didn''t want to reveal Brian''s name, or that he was a ''blessed'' either, that would make the conversation too real for this ragtag group, anyway. She did want to share his principles and his beliefs, if not his personal identity.


    She thought about the best way to frame it.


    "Well," she said slowly, considering her next words. "I know my friend feels powerless - because people expect him to be perfect, or grant their desires, or be morally superior, and he isn''t. He tells me about people asking him to pray for their loved ones, to cure their illnesses, and he knows he can''t. What makes it worse was when he *could*, when he was a vassal, but not anymore. I know most of us don''t remember their time as a vassal - I don''t," she said. The others shook their heads, including Anna. In fact, she didn''t remember the next week - all she remembered after the fact was waking up in a hospital bed, wounds healed, still slightly sore and tired, but otherwise well. "He explained that losing that ability, that control, is what partially drove him to join," she added.


    John nods, encouraging her to continue. She pauses, and the pause lengthens while she considers what to say next. Anna admired her way to hold a crowd''s attention while taking her time to think of what to say next - God knows Anna has blurted the wrong thing to those came to her, because she couldn''t hold the silence as well.


    "I also know he feels, well, guilty, about what happened while he was possessed. He remembers most of what happened, including what happened to those who got...caught in the crossfire," she continued.


    Amari stopped, having revealed everything she wished to - for this moment, anyway. "That''s all I can say," she said, her face slightly flushed. "I''m sure he has personal reasons that he wouldn''t want me to discuss." John put his hands up, as if to indicate that he wasn''t threatening. "Thank you for that, Amari. That was truly enlightening, and makes me re-think the pressure we place on the ''blessed'' - on all of you," he gestured around the table.


    "Please, enjoy the food," he said, and as if on cue, a staff of waiters enter the library, appetizers at hand - french onion soup, with a side of garlic bread, to start.


    The conversation was subdued, and decidedly away from uncomfortable topics. The twins talked about their plans in Italy - it seemed they had made this trip a part of a longer holiday, and John was happy to share a few tips while touring around the country. Ralfie joined in, having visited Italy many times before, and had a list of restaurants the twins should visit while in Rome and Milan.


    Aisha, Amari, and Anna discussed inane topics - the weather, any movies or TV shows they saw recently, and other safe spots of conversation - while enjoying a rich meal of duck, veal, and lamb, followed by slices of apple pie and peach cobbler, with vanilla ice cream. Amari and Anna were both wary of the others, unsure of how much they could share, and Anna felt the others'' hesitation as well. It seems that Amari''s words got them all thinking. John sensed this too, and suggested they move to a balcony for tea, once the waiters cleared the last ice-cream bowl away.


    "The weather is too beautiful to ignore," he said, standing up. The others followed, with Anna trailing behind the group. He was right, the weather was lovely - the sun was shining, and the skies were clear. In the distance, Anna could faintly hear the chants of the group the cab had passed outside - it seemed that they were still going strong, hours later. Amari met her eyes, and it looked like Amari could hear them too.


    "So, Anna," John said, placing his teacup down on the table. "What are your plans, now that you are here in the city? Or will you be returning home?"


    "Well, I did book a hotel room for a few days, but I''m not sure if I have a real plan. I thought this would be a good time to take a break from everything, but I didn''t think too hard about what I would do after this," she admitted, twirling her hair. It was something she did whenever she was nervous. "I think I''ll take a tour around the city?  I''ll take my time soaking in the sights."


    John perked up at that. " I''m glad you are staying here for the next few days! One of my assistants will give you a brochure of the things you must see, before you leave. I recommend you take a look at it, it''s full of useful information about the city, and the best places to eat. Please, it would be my honour to provide you with this, if not a guide," John said, literally holding his hand to his heart. Anna put her arms up, and smiled nervously. "Please, it''s not a bother at all. Thank you for the guide, but I''m sure I can find my own way around," she said. She looked at Amari with *help me* eyes, but Amari smiled and shook her head slightly. God damn it.


    The conversation that followed mostly revolved around the city proper, and soon after, John stood up to bid them farewell, and invited them to the palace to return at any time. The group split into various cars as drivers took them to their respective hotels. As they were leaving the residency, the Pope gestured to Anna. "I know you''ll be here for a few days, and I wanted to ask you if you would wish to return, at any time." He must have seen Anna''s face, because he quickly added, "there is no rush, of course. If you ever find that you have the time to spare, please feel free to visit. We have some lovely art and architecture within these walls, and many tour guides to show you around. You are welcome, at any time."


    And with that, the group dissolved, and Anna and Amari returned to the hotel.

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Well, that was an¡­interesting lunch,¡± Anna said the moment they entered their room. Amari snorted. ¡°No kidding,¡± she said, dumping her jacket on her twin bed. ¡°God, I felt weird talking about Brian,¡± she said, collapsing on her jacket, falling back on her bed. She rubbed her eyes. ¡°Was it weird? Did I sound weird?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Anna said. Amari turned to her - neither of them were convinced by Anna¡¯s words. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t weird - I think. The others seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say, and I¡¯m sure Brian would love you spreading the word,¡± she said, cracking a smile at her horrific joke.


    ¡°Boo,¡± Amari said at the pun. ¡°But, you may be right. Heck, at least the others have some food for thought. I wonder how the twins are doing,¡± she said, staring up at the ceiling.


    Anna lay down on her bed, joining Amari. The twins were interesting, to say the least. Probably the most similar to their upbringing as well. Anna burned with curiosity, and wondered if there was a way to ¡®bump¡¯ into them during the trip.


    ¡°Nah, I doubt we¡¯ll see them again, they mentioned they¡¯re fucking off to Italy,¡± Amari said. Anna turned to her in amazement. ¡°How do you *do that*?¡± She asked.


    Amari turned to her, grinning. ¡°I just know you that well,¡± she replied.


    Meanwhile, the twins were in their hotel room, browsing the brochures the staff handed to them on the way out. "Hot chocolate?" Ichiro offered. "Sure," Kai agreed, if only to get out of the hotel room and explore the city on their own. The two grabbed their things - a wallet and hotel keycard each - and left, stepping into the Italian sunset. The crowds from earlier had melted away, and the streets were largely empty, save a few passers-by. Ichiro pulled the brochure out of his pocket and peered closely. Kai snorted. "Why don''t you just wear your glasses?" Ichiro shook his head. "I left them at home," he said, mildly squinting at the brochure. "This shit is hard to read in dwindling daylight, okay?" "Dwindling? Sure," Kai said, grinning. He snatched the brochure out of his brother''s hands. "Let me see," he said, before crossing the street and heading down the road.


    The two walked in-step, silent for a few moments. "So, what did you think of Aysha and Amari?" Kai asked. Ichiro frowned. "Honestly, Aysha seems a little too nosy. I liked Amari, though - I liked that she stood up to Aysha''s bullshit, at least."


    Kai nodded. "That''s fair. Ralfie seemed interesting, too, I kinda hope we run into him again."


    Ichiro looked confused. "Why?"


    "I don''t know...I wanna meet more people that don''t just agree with everything, you know? I mean, we got invited to this ''lunch'' for a reason, right? I don''t think we''re a random selection of people."


    "Yeah, but still..." Ichiro seemed hesitant.  Kai looked annoyed, but continued. "Aren''t you curious, to know how the others feel? Heck, I want to know more about Amari''s ''friend'' - 10 bucks that she *is* the ''friend'' she''s talking about."


    "I''ll take that action - she does not give me terrorist vibes, that''s for sure." Ichiro shook Kai''s hand, before Kai could yank it away.


    "Man, those groups aren''t terrorist groups, what are you saying?"


    Ichiro waved his protests away. "You know what I mean. Violent, peace-disrupting types."


    Kai looked at him in mock horror. "Man, your definition of terrorism is horrifying. Do not go into politics, I beg of you."


    Ichiro mouthed a sarcastic *ha-ha* as the two of them arrived at the nearest cafe, and grabbed a table inside.


    Anna and Amari were climbing into the taxi at that moment - Amari with her suitcase, Anna with a small bag containing her phone, wallet, keycard, and a few other essentials. "I still can''t believe you''re choosing to go back so early," she grumbled. Amari sighed. "I need to get back to Brian, Anna," she said. "I need to help him. Honestly, I think you should come, too - you need to stop sticking your head in the sand and come see what''s happening in the world," she continued, a hint of annoyance in her voice.


    "I didn''t stick my head in the sand!"


    "Come on, Anna - you were unreachable for years. You locked yourself away in that apartment and thrived while the rest of us fought. If you didn''t, you''d know what the fuck I was talking about with *John* during the lunch. Don''t pretend like you didn''t run away."


    Anna looked stunned, and then looked down, mostly upset - and a little embarrassed. "I''m sorry," she said, in a soft voice. Amari immediately looked guilty. "Hey, Anna - I didn''t mean to snap at you like that," she said gently. "I just... I missed you. We all did. It hurt, when you just disappeared, like that. When you didn''t reach out. I know you were trying to get away from it all, I get that - but it still hurts."


    Anna looked up, tears in her eyes. "I just...never realized. I know that sounds so dumb," she says, sniffling. "I know, but it honestly felt like we were friends because we were chosen, and that if I wanted to walk away, I had to walk away from all of it, and that we weren''t *really* friends anyway, we were just friendly - " "Did you really believe that?" Amari asks, her voice sad. "Maybe? I don''t know, I was just...running away and sticking my head in the sand," Anna admits. Amari smiles. "I''m glad you realize it now." "Yeah," Anna lets out a hiccup-cum-giggle, "only took me a few years."


    They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, each thinking about the other.


    "Okay," Anna said. "I''m not saying I *fully* agree with you on whether or not I was present, but I... I know I messed up." Amari smiles wryly. "Let me make it right, Ame. I don''t want... I don''t want to just stick my head in the sand and pretend everything''s okay. What do I do?"


    Amari looked at her, for a little while. The silence stretched, before Amari sighed. "Honestly, Anna, I don''t know." She looked out the window, at the passing city, as she spoke. "I don''t have the time to educate you, and I don''t know how much you don''t know, either. It''s not just that, it''s that me telling you about these things isn''t enough - you need to see it for yourself." She turned back to Anna. "Remember the protesters we saw, earlier? Do you know why they''re protesting, exactly?"


    Anna was about to open her mouth when she realised she couldn''t answer her question. "Exactly. Attend a protest. I''m sure you can find the details of when the next one will happen here. It''ll probably be pretty soon, we''re not the only round of blessed dear John''s invited up here." Anna was mildly surprised at that - and then annoyed at herself for being surprised. *Of course* they wouldn''t be the only ones. "Alright, I can do that."


    Amari nodded. "Good. It''s as good a start as any."


    Anna smiled at her. "Thanks. I appreciate it. I know I''m not always the easiest to work with."


    "It''s not that, it''s.... I''m glad you''re back. I''m glad you''re coming back to us, Anna."


    The rest of the taxi ride was filled with conversations about friends and family back home, and the latest content they''ve watched. At the airport, Anna hugged Amari goodbye, before waving her off at the airport check-in.


    "Could we go to the town centre, instead? I''m not ready to go back to the hotel just yet."


    "Of course," the driver replied, and took her to St. Peter''s Square. In the setting sun, the square was teeming with people - with curious tourists, pickpockets, local families and their children, and pets tugging at their leashes. Scattered amongst the crowd were protestors, wearing white shirts with slogans painted on, handing out flyers to a largely disinterested public.


    She''s right. I have to make a choice. So she did.


    Aisha and Ralfie found themselves sitting next to each other at the same sushi bar after the eventful lunch. "I didn''t know you were a sushi person," Ralfie said. Aisha shrugged. "This is the best sushi bar in the city, and I found myself craving some after the lunch," she said. Ralfie nodded. His stomach wasn''t fully settled, and he enjoyed the idea of leaving the entire area for a while, to catch his breath and organise his thoughts.


    "So, what did you think?" Aisha said, sipping on a glass of sake.


    "Wow, you get right to the point, don''t you?"


    "I don''t like to waste others'' time, or my own."


    "Noted. Honestly, it could have been a lot worse."


    Aisha rolled her eyes. "That''s not an actual response and you know it."


    "What? I genuinely did think that after I left. Could have been a real shitshow, I thought. Could have been a PR disaster."


    Aisha laughed. "Well, let''s put it this way. I was fascinated by Amari, and the young twin boys. I thought the twins were brave to come here so soon after what they went through back home."


    Ralfie nodded. The twins'' story was harrowing - one he could not relate to. In contrast, his life was comfortable, and largely trouble-free. "I agree - Amari does seem like someone to watch out for."


    "Did you know she''s already left Vatican City?"


    "Already? That''s fast," he muttered, mildly disappointed.


    "Wow, I can see your broken heart from here," Aisha joked. "I''m not surprised, she seems like the person who wouldn''t stay for the frivolity. She came, she saw, she went. Besides, she''s going for a worthy cause." She ate one of her california rolls - the two had ordered the same thing as well.


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    Ralfie looked at her. "A worthy cause?"


    Aisha met his eyes. "Yes, a worthy cause. Don''t you think so?"


    Honestly, Ralfie didn''t. "Well, it depends on whether you mean the larger cause - which is much safer - or the various offshoots - that, in my opinion, are far more unsettling-"


    "Get to the point, Ralfie," Aisha interrupted. "If I wanted a speech, I''d have invited John to sushi instead."


    "Look, whether or not I agree with you depends entirely on what the cause means to you," he finished.


    "That''s so....meaningless, Ralfie. God, do you not have your own opinion at all?"


    "I do!"


    "Feel free to share it with the class, then!"


    "Fine! I don''t think the ''cause'' is worthy, or righteous, or just! I think they''re a bunch of depressed people who are angry at God because they''re too lazy to find their own solutions, and have roped in a few blessed that have lost their way!"


    The silence was thick, following the outburst.


    Ralfie sighed. He didn''t normally lose his cool so easily, but something about Aisha - her presence, her accusatory tone, her judgement, pushed him over the edge.


    "Why don''t you tell me what you really think?" Aisha joked weakly.


    Ralfie smiled at her. At least she had a sense of humour.


    "Do you remember the riots in Arkansas? When an incident spun out of control and 4 people died?" she asked.


    Ralfie nodded. "I remember two of them were children."


    "That was me." She looked down, at her half-empty plate, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know the worst part? Some nights, I can still feel it. I can still feel the raw heat my hands, from my face, from my eyes. I can smell it - I can smell flesh burning. I can hear them, Ralfie - " she blinked a tear away. "Their bodies were so small," she said.


    He said nothing. What could he say? That it wasn''t really possible to remember your possessions, that she hallucinated or dreamt it? That it wasn''t her fault? That the victims became one of God''s many chosen souls?


    "Well, do you remember the riots in Plymouth?" Aisha shook her head. Of course. Very few outside the UK would have heard of it - heck, even in the UK it was largely covered up. "Well, it was one of the first anti-possession riots in the world. The family of one of the victims felt that their son was unjustly taken away - that he was a victim of crossfire. Thing is, he wasn''t. That incident took place out in the countryside, and no other being was harmed - not even some of the foxes or rabbits in the forest. The papers never revealed much about who he was, but make no mistake - God took His vengeance against that man, and he wasn''t a victim." Ralfie swallowed. It had been years since he told anyone this story. "Well, his family didn''t agree, and they were large. His mother corralled their cousins, and they took to marching on the streets, calling for justice. The march grew into a bigger crowd, because the people were frustrated at the collateral damage and the costs they bring. They marched all the way to the blessed''s house - she was just 15. Her grandparents were visiting while she recovered, and her older sister just had her first baby. Everyone was at home." He paused, uncertain of how to delicately phrase the rest. He thought delicacy was not the way to go.


    "They burned the house down, with everyone in it. They barricaded the front and back doors, and torched the walls. The house was old, and made of timber - it caught fire immediately. Most of the crowd didn''t realise the fire started until it was too late."


    Two more plates - this time of prawn tempura rolls - were placed in front of them.


    "It wasn''t ''mob mentality'', it was a planned execution. The family''s lawyers used the insanity plea, and nothing happened. That family faced no consequence for taking eight lives, as ''justice'' for one."


    Ralfie stopped, and took one of the prawn tempura rolls. He chewed slowly, waiting for either of them to break the silence. Both of them ate for a few minutes, each processing their own grief, and barely digesting the other''s.


    "I didn''t know you had that...experience," Aisha said, after a little while. Their meals were over, and the two of them were sipping glasses of warm green tea. Ralfie snorted. "It was an experience, all right," he muttered. He sipped his tea noisily, and Aisha - despite her best efforts - found herself getting irritated by it. "Look, you can''t change my mind, alright? I know that truly, truly, there are no accidents. That every incident of ''collateral damage'', of victims getting hurt, of things coming apart, is by design. It is part of a larger picture that we cannot see."


    "And what of the family that walked away? Is their survival part of a ''larger picture''?"


    "Yes."


    Ralfie was stone-faced. His eyes were dark, but Aisha could see that he truly *believed* that there was a grander plan. "I truly believe that," he continued. "God would not have forsaken her so easily. Time will tell. It always does."


    Aisha nodded. It was useless to argue with deep believers, no matter how relaxed and approachable they seem on the surface. She pushed her empty cup of tea away from her, and put her phone back into her pocket. "This was a pleasure," she said, making no attempt to hide the sarcasm from her voice.


    "Do you?"


    "Excuse me?"


    "Do you truly believe that every innocent person is now condemned to an eternity of suffering and pain? That God makes that many mistakes?"


    She stood up, silent. She could feel tears pricking her eyes. For some reason, admitting the truth to him hurt. Like she never really digested what she decided to follow, until this moment.


    "Yes. I do."


    Anna chose to wear a light, summery white dress to the group discussion that evening. The woman who handed her the flyer kindly handed her a map as well, with clear directions (and graphics) pointing to the group''s meeting point. This was an introductory session, and all newcomers were welcome. She felt nervous, as though she was going for an interview, or a therapy session. She knew that in all likelihood, she wouldn''t have to share much with the others. It''ll be fine. Everything will be fine.


    "Welcome, everyone! We''re so glad you could make it!"


    She had a bright smile for everyone who attended, and her auburn hair was neatly coiled into a tight braid at the back of her head. Her skin was pale under the naked lightbulb, but she glowed with enthusiasm. Aria was excited - this was the largest turnout she''s seen so far, and she just started canvassing two weeks ago. *Shows John right,* she thought. John sulked in the corner, aware that his attempts at canvassing for over six months brought half the amount that had filed in today. Aria had a way with people - her smile was disarming, and you found yourself wanting to please her. So, people showed. Mostly men, but they showed.


    Anna found herself in the back of a large room, in a dark corner. Aria''s voice carried well, despite having no microphone. She sounded strong, and assured of herself.


    "All of us have enough reasons and more to fight for a cause like this," she said. "We''ve all lost someone, or something here. We''ve all been expected to go on as if nothing happened, or worse, to shoulder the blame - as though the ones we lost deserved the worst form of punishment on Earth." A few heads nodded with her. Anna observed the crowd - everyone was quiet, and the ones next to her looked forlorn, forced to remember what they''d rather forget.


    "I lost my little sister, about 6 years ago," Aria said. Her voice was strong, but solemn. "She was just a little girl, and she was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I remember having a closed-casket funeral because her body was unrecoverable - there was nothing left. I remember zealots coming to the house and proclaiming that my sister *deserved it*, because God did not make mistakes." Anna was surprised - Aria''s voice did not quaver, and she maintained eye contact with those she could see from the front of the hall. Whether she told this story so often, or whether she was made of stronger stuff, Anna couldn''t say. She guessed the latter.


    "We moved a year later, because my mom couldn''t bear it. She couldn''t bear the acusatory glances, the veiled threats parish-goers made, the assumption that if Melody deserved it, did we?"


    She paused. "We moved a lot, and I found myself feeling isolated from everyone around me, because I could not accept what had happened. I chose to study the experience further, which lead me to apply to the Antonianum here," she smiled at the few gasps from the audience. "Yep, I''m a certified scholar, with a doctorate in theology. Who''d have guessed, right?"


    "It was during my time at the Anotonianum that I came across these people," she gestured to the ones sitting behind here, "people who had suffered the way I had, who were as confused and conflicted as I was. It seems strange, but coming closer to the heart of it all brought me to the people I needed to be with. We''re not just a group of rabble-rousers and anti-establishmentarians, we''re people who''ve suffered immeasurable loss and are trying to find some form of justice."


    "I''ll leave you now, with one last thing. You may not want to join us - and you do not have to. I do want to ask you to think, and I mean really *think*, about your faith. What role does your faith play in your life? Does it truly help, or does it blind you to what''s happening right in front of your eyes?"


    She stepped off the podium to applause, and took her seat amongst the others, while Jonathan explained the history of the organization, the VABs.


    Anna continued to look at Aria throughout the rest of the talk. She couldn''t help it, her eyes were drawn to Aria like a magnet. Right before the end - before they turned the lights back on and people would leave - Aria looked at her, and their eyes met across the room.

 Chapter 8

    A few chose to leave after picking up a few pamphlets and muttering a few empty promises of ''I promise I''ll be there'', but most of the crowd stayed behind. Anna was surprised - for an event that offered no food or drink, a good chunk of the crowd chose to stay behind.


    Aria walked up to her, after weaving her way through the crowd. "What do you think?" she asked.


    Anna looked up from her phone. "Of the speech?"


    "Of all of it," she clarified. "I know you were one of the Pope''s ''special guests'', so I was surprised to see you here. Well?"


    Anna blinked at her. "How did you know about that?"


    Aria winked. "We have our ways."


    "Ah, well," Anna fumbled - Aria''s wink *really* threw her off. "I thought it was...really interesting," she finished lamely. "I mean, I never really considered other perspectives - I don''t mean anything by that, I just meant-"


    "I get it - this never would have crossed your mind," Aria finished for her. "Before my sister passed, my mom was deeply religious. I mean, church every Sunday, attend every event and gathering, and when we found out that one of our neighbours was a blessed, well, our lives were dedicated to her after that."


    Aria sounded... not sad, but empty. Like she was talking about the plot to a TV episode, and not her own past.


    "I never really considered this, either. I mean, in my hometown this group wouldn''t have even been allowed to exist - you *believed,* and that was it."


    Anna can relate - her childhood felt largely the same way. Faith wasn''t even up for debate - what was, was her level of engagement. Once she was blessed, that wasn''t up for debate either.


    "Well, after everything, we''re both here," she said, looking Aria in the eyes.


    Aria met her gaze with a smile. "You''re right - after all of it, we''re both in the same room."


    The rest of the night was warm, and pleasant. Anna found herself enjoying Aria''s company, in a way she hadn''t felt in years. In an hour, the crowd had thinned to a handful of people, most of whom were a part of the group. Anna was one of the few ''new recruits'' that had stayed behind, and the group had left the hall for dinner, opting for a local pizzeria.


    "So, how did it go?" Aria asked, between bites of pizza. The two of them sat on a smaller table close to the wall - the entire group was scattered around the restaurant, and most people spoke quietly.


    "How did what go?"


    "The lunch! How did that go? What did the Pope say? How were the others?"


    Anna held her hands up. "Ah, I don''t know if I can really talk about that..."


    Aria rolled her eyes. "Relax. It''s not classified information - you''re not a government spy. If the Pope said you couldn''t tell anyone else, that''s a definite red flag. If you don''t want to tell me, you don''t have to, but I''m just saying..."


    Anna sighed. She found herself wanting to tell Aria about the lunch, about *anything*. She enjoyed her company and wanted her approval. "It wasn''t that secretive, anyway," she said. "We mostly just talked about ourselves and why we accepted the invite, and how we feel about being...blessed."


    "And? Why did you accept his invite?"


    "Honestly, I was curious. I was also looking for a reason to get out of the house for a while, and this seemed like a good opportunity."


    "And the others?"


    "Well, most of the others were curious, too - it''s hard not to be when you get a personal invitation from the Pope, right?"


    Aria nodded. "Yeah, I get that."


    She smiled. The pizzeria was warm, and Aria seemed to glow in the soft light. She felt content.


    Ichiro and Kai walked back to the hotel after sunset, each one lost in his own thoughts. They had walked around the piazza earlier in the day, and Kai picked up a few fliers from a small group of protesters. The flier shared the details of a protest that would take place this week, about - well, about the blessed. Kai wanted to go. Ichiro wanted to hole up in the hotel room until everything blew over.


    "Come on, Ichiro, it will be good to see what this is about!"


    Ichiro shook his head. "You know better than to go to the mob," he whispered.


    "It won''t be a mob," Kai argued. "We both know that. Look, I think we should go. I also think we can get some form of protection if we tell John that we are going."


    Ichiro looked at him, skeptical.


    "Why not? He clearly has the manpower, and he''d be happy to help. He practically said so during the lunch! Come on, there''s no way he''d deny us!"


    Ichiro couldn''t help but believe him - Kai was right, the Pope would be happy to help. Considering the fact that they were two young men in a foreign city, if they turned to him for help, he''d be happy to oblige.


    "Still, I feel weird asking for protection," Ichiro said, as he made a face.


    Kai rolled his eyes. "It''s not the Mafia, man - although, we are in Italy. I mean, you can think of it as more like a tour guide," Kai offered. A tour guide did sound a lot better than ''protection.'' Ichiro shrugged. He knew that he would have to get over his fear of crowds quickly - his role and his standing couldn''t allow it. How long until he no longer felt terrified of the power of a crowd? "Fine." Kai fist-bumped. "But, we leave the moment things look even remotely weird - and I decide when that is, not you." Kai sighed. "Fine, I can live with that. I think this will be fun!"


    "You think a protest will be fun?"


    "Come on, we both know this isn''t really a protest, but more like a controlled march. No one is going to be throwing rocks or getting tear gassed. It''s probably going to be a nice afternoon walk - along with hundreds of other people."


    "You seem oddly optimistic about this."


    Kai nodded. "I''ve seen videos of peaceful protests in New York and London and it''s so...relaxed. People dress up for it, too - I saw so many videos of people in full drag going for protests, like it''s an event or a concert!"


    Ichiro shook his head. The privilege of attending a protest in costume was incredible. "Well, if it''s anything like that, then it should be...fine?"


    Kai put his arm over his brother''s shoulders. "Trust me, it definitely will be. What a way to experience the city!"


    The two of them walked back to the hotel room, curious about what the protest promised them.


    "So, is it always this...tense, here?" Ralfie asked.


    The security guard was surprisingly chatty - Ralfie didn''t know if it was because he was part of the contingent that guided them for lunch, or if he was just a *very* open person.


    "Not really," Mark said. Ralfie knew his name, the names of his wife and children, and why Mark joined the service to begin with - along with a myriad of other details as the two walked the grounds. "Even with the protests, we''ve never had emergency meetings about them - ah, I mean..."


    "It''s fine," Ralfie replied, smiling. "I''m guessing most protests tend to be more like calm marches? I don''t think we''ve had a fight break out in *decades*, for as long as I can remember, anyway. We do provide extra security to the local police forces, just to make sure that streets are cordoned off and manned in case of any emergencies, but it''s always been very...calm. Except, for this one. Higher-ups are not happy with the way things have been bubbling up in the city, and it feels like it''s coming to a head with the one scheduled later this week."


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    Ralfie looked up. "Later this week, huh?" A bird flew overhead, the only mark on an otherwise crystal blue sky. "Can I ask why your superiors think that?"


    Mark finally had the decency to look uncomfortable while spilling work-related secrets. "Well, I''m not sure how much I can tell you, but things have been getting worse for a while - especially when budgets were cut to victims'' families and many were forced to move out of government-provided homes."


    Ralfie was surprised - the welfare system here was remarkable, a strong safety net that managed to support most, if not all, of its citizens. "Why were they turned out?"


    "Those houses were sold to private landlords," Mark shrugged. "Those landlords wanted them out. No one consulted the families living in those houses in this decision, but money talks."


    "And how did you feel about it?" Ralfie asked.


    "Frustrated and angry, like the rest of us. If the government is okay with turfing people out of their homes, where does it end? But, I also know the difference between human greed and divine punishment. The church helped for those families - they''re safe in homes that we provided for them." Mark looked proud of this, and Ralfie could see why. Ralfie felt oddly proud, too. After his ''discussion'' with Aisha, he felt like he needed some form of validation. Something to ground him, to prove he wasn''t the only one in what suddenly felt like a sea of dissent.


    "That''s good to know, I''m glad you were able to help."


    "That help won''t last forever," Mark said. His expression shifted from proud to troubled in an instant. "The coffers aren''t unlimited, but corporate greed is. We''re already at capacity - if more families are turned out, they''ll have nowhere to go but the shelters."


    Mark wasn''t just troubled - he was *angry*. Ralfie had seen the same sort of anger before. Not just on the faces of his friends, but on his own, and it troubled him. Mark looked too young to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders, and frankly, he was currently too low on the totem pole to actually demand any change.


    "Cheer up, mate," Ralfie said. "For now, you''re doing what you can to help those in need. We just have to put one foot in front of the other, right?"


    "Right." Mark nodded, weakly smiling in return.


    "A silent march proves nothing, Alicia!"


    Aisha found herself in the middle of a tense discussion, veering towards becoming an all-out brawl. The group she had approached after her conversation with Ralfie - the ones boldly named ''Victims of God''s Enslaved'' (or VOGEs for short) were loud, brash, and commandeering. She felt drawn to their spirit and signed up immediately. In this meeting, she was one of two new members who had joined - Titus, one of the group''s co-leaders, scared almost everyone away with his intense stare and slightly manic energy. Almost.


    Aisha eyed the other new recruit - a tall, dark-haired man that was lanky and hunched, like he was aware of how much space he took and tried to minimize it. He hid his face behind long locks of wavy brown hair, but his glance wasn''t furtive, but curious. Aisha turned her attention back to Titus and Alicia, both of whom were loudly arguing their points to the chagrin of everyone else in the dank basement.


    "Okay, thank you Alicia and Titus!" Marcus stood up and clapped. "You''ve both brought excellent points to the table." "I didn''t raise any point!" Titus argued. "Calling Alicia''s point stupid *is* a point, Titus." Alicia gasps in an insulted manner. "Both of your points have been noted," Marcus continued, pointedly ignoring Alicia''s stares.


    "Before we dive into the nitty-gritties of it, let''s share a proper welcome to our two new recruits, right?"


    "Aisha, Stephen, I''d like to welcome you to the VoGEs. Apologies for the unpleasant introduction, but I hope you understand how passionate we are about the cause." Aisha nodded, while Stephen stood still, observing. Marcus smiled.


    "Great! Our first order of business - and well, our only one for tonight - is to decide whether or not we attend the protest scheduled for the end of the week. This one is...different from the rest. Aisha, I know you''re new here, so I''ll bring you up to speed. Groups like ours have existed within this city for as long as the blessed have, and we''ve been left behind at every turn, ever since the first victim lost their life and was deemed ''collateral damage'' by the government. Mostly, victims'' families are still treated well, though protests have occurred to fight for better compensation. A few years ago, budgets assigned towards victims'' families have been getting cut, and things are dire. Parents who lost their children are left struggling under heavy debts, and children who lost their parents are rendered homeless. Support groups and shelters have stepped in to bear some of the load, but it''s not enough."


    "It''s never fucking enough," Alicia interrupted. She looked angry. "It never fucking was - we always groveled to the government, begging for scraps. They don''t even toss those fucking scraps out anymore."


    Marcus looked at Alicia, who leaned back in her chair. "As you can see, tensions are running high. It''s not just us - it''s everyone. We heard about the protest from our network, but no one can really figure out who initially organised it, which is why-" Marcus raised a hand to silence Alicia, who opened her mouth - "I''m not sure if it''s a good idea to attend. The air feels different around this one. I have a bad feeling it''s going to get ugly, but I also can''t hold you back based on a vibe check. So, let''s put it to a vote - Aisha and Stephen included."


    Alicia and Titus immediately stood up. "They''re a part of us," Marcus said, standing tall. "And the others?" Titus asked. "We know what they think," Marcus replied. He turned back to Aisha and Stephen.


    "Well, what do you think? Do we go, or do we stay behind?"


    Aisha and Stephen looked at each other, and Aisha could see the anger behind his calm expression. He was just a kid. A kid who wanted to see the world burn. Fuck it. So did she.


    "We go," they said simultaneously.


    Marcus clapped. "Alright, the masses have spoken. We go."


    Alicia grinned. Titus looked concerned. Aisha was mostly curious - they seemed such a small group. "We will prepare, before we go - I see your concern, Aisha, and trust me, we will be ready for whatever eventualities may arise. We reconvene again in two days, and I''ll have more details ready for you. Does that sound good?"


    Aisha nodded. Her stomach was unsettled - she could feel the rising tensions that this protest promised to blow open. She could feel it in the meeting, and in the streets outside. She knew it would be a protest to remember, but she had no idea how badly things would go wrong.

 Chapter 9

    Anna didn''t think she had felt so at peace before. The last time she felt so comfortable was as a child, in her parents'' cabin - away from the world. Looking across the table at Aria now, the feeling of warmth and contentment spread.


    "What are you thinking about?" Aria asked.


    Anna shook her head. "Nothing, really. Just enjoying the sunshine." This was partly true, the weather was gorgeous over the last few days - clear skies and cool breezes. Anna and Aria had spent a surprising amount of time together, with Aria showing Anna the city proper, while they regrouped every evening to map out their routes and prepare for the protest. Anna felt like the preparations were thorough; they had mapped all possible exits throughout the protest route, had purchased gear like masks, gloves, bottles, pepper spray, whistles, and bags, and had walked through what felt like every possible scenario, from the most peaceful to the most violent.


    Aria leaned back. Her auburn hair soaked in the sunlight, and Anna sometimes had to look away when she found herself staring. She knew staring was impolite. "Hmm, I can''t believe the protest is tomorrow," she said. "It feels like we''ve been preparing for this one for a while, but it''s still surprising when the day actually turns up."


    "Yeah, I wasn''t expecting the amount of work that goes into a protest," Anna said. "Well, not always. We know that the Pope will be coming out and addressing the city - and probably the world - tomorrow, so it''s good media coverage, too. That''s why we''re being extra careful," Aria explained. "This feels like one of those days that can go very wrong, because more people will be paying attention."


    Anna didn''t realise the Pope would be delivering an address. She supposed she should have known; her mother normally tells her weeks beforehand of any addresses. Ever since she came here, she hasn''t really replied - or even seen - her mothers'' messages. It was oddly freeing.


    She settled back into her chair. "So," Aria said, after ordering a sundae to their table, "do you think you''re ready for tomorrow?" Anna blushed. She had never been to a protest before - her mother kept her firmly away from most protests, keeping her sheltered in the walls of their home or more often, the Church. She shook her head. "No, I wasn''t really allowed to."


    "Not even as an adult? We both know you''re older than 18," Aria replied, smirking.


    "I never really.... saw the need to," Anna said. Her face felt hot. "It was like... a thing that never really affected me."


    "Anna, of course it affected you - how could it not? These protests - they''re about you!"


    Anna shot her a look. "It''s not just me, you know. I''m not the only blessed that''s ever graced the Earth."


    Aria rolled her eyes at that. "You know what I mean. I get that things were hard for you growing up, but still - never? Not even to see what all the fuss was about?"


    Aria was incredibly gentle with Anna - her remark from anyone else would have sent Aria into a screaming match, but Anna was so... fragile. So delicate. Aria didn''t really begrudge her naivet¨¦. Anna slumped forward, leaning on her elbows. "So what if I didn''t? Does that make me a bad person?"


    Aria softened at that. For what it''s worth, Anna didn''t sound irritated, just - sad. "No, it doesn''t. You''re here now, that''s what matters," Aria replied, taking Anna''s hand in her own.


    A waiter came by and placed a disproportionately large sundae in between them. Anna smiled - a genuine, dazzling smile - and Aria lost her breath for a moment.


    "We can finish this discussion later tonight, right?" Anna said in between mouthfuls of icecream. Aria nodded, and felt her face warm - just a little bit - at Anna''s joy.


    ---


    Ichiro stared at the trees rolling past, while Kai had his head deep in the latest installation of *Bad Girls Gone*, a series Ichiro found incredibly cheesy. The landscape rushing past lulled him, he felt his eyelids get heavier and heavier, even though he wanted to stay awake till they arrived at their destination.


    The train was quiet; few people were aboard, and the ones that were, were either reading or watching the landscape go by. He felt his eyelids flutter shut and slowly drift off to sleep.


    SLAM! Kai loudly snaps the book shut, jarring Ichiro awake. "What the fuck, man?" Ichiro complained. He rubbed his eyes.


    "Sorry," Kai said, not sounding very apologetic at all. He sounded awed. "That was an insane ending, I don''t think I could ever see it coming."


    Ichiro stared at him. The plot for *Bad Girls Gone* was notoriously shallow, full of tropes and obvious fanservice. He shook his head - he had no idea how Kai was even interested in a badly written romance series. "Well, at least we''ll be there soon," Kai said, glancing at his watch. Ichiro glanced at his, too - he hadn''t realized they''d been aboard for over an hour. He spent most of his time lost in the sea of green, and found himself staring out at the rolling hills once more.


    After a few minutes, Kai shook his shoulder. "Hey, are you ever going to tell me why we had to leave?"


    Ichiro shook his head. "I told you, it''s just a feeling."


    Kai frowned. "It''s not cause of the protest, is it?"


    Ichiro nodded. "It is."


    Kai sighed. "You can''t keep being afraid, bro," he said softly. "We have to get used to being around people who, well, disagree."


    Ichiro shook his head. "It''s not that. I feel like.... like it was a bad, bad idea to stay in town. I don''t know how else to say it."


    Kai threw up his hands, in a mock peace gesture. "Fair enough. We explored all of the Vatican anyway, there was nowhere else for us to go. I''m all for travelling around while we can."


    Kai reached under his seat to get another book from his bag. Ichiro leaned back, and felt his nerves settle with each passing mile between him and Vatican City.


    He felt bad, but oddly comfortable, too. He thought about Anna and Aisha, Ralfie and Amari. He found himself frowning when he thought of them, like he abandoned them somehow. The anxiety flared in his stomach, and he knew he made the right choice.


    Kai was engrossed in the next book. They''d reach the next town, soon enough. They''d get off, have a lovely holiday in the countryside - eat some good food, go for some walks along the river - and he''d go back home. He''d bring Kai back in one piece. That was all he could ask for.


    ---


    Ralfie stared at himself in the mirror, the brass buttons on his uniform glinting in the afternoon sunlight. He was surprised at how well this fit, and the card from Mark at the bottom of the box - "A gift, as thanks for the time we spent together. See you tomorrow - Mark" - made it into his wallet.


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    The navy blue jacket was soft, and surprisingly breathable - he assumed it would be a lot thicker. The padded shoulders gave him a look of strength, and the tapered waist made him look slimmer, and taller. He stood up straight, admiring the crispness of the uniform - it had the feeling of being freshly dry-cleaned - and was actually looking forward to attending a protest.


    He snorted at the thought. "I guess there''s a first time for everything," he muttered to himself.


    He was surprised that Mark had actually given him the uniform; what started off as a hilarious joke between fast friends transformed into reality, when Mark took up his offer of providing support during the protest. "We need all the manpower we can get," Mark confessed during an evening patrol. Ralfie often joined him for these walks, enjoying the patrol around grand, quiet buildings. He felt a sense of awe, and truly enjoyed Mark''s company. Initially, he wondered if Mark was just being polite - after all, it would be awkward to tell one of the Pope''s personal guests to fuck off - but he quickly realized that Mark enjoyed his company, as well.


    Ralfie had found himself sharing secrets with Mark that he never would, with anyone else - the twilight of the evening, the lengthening shadows, their echoing footsteps, all of it lent to a feeling of being in a private bubble, where secrets could be shared, truths revealed without fear or judgement. Ralfie confessed of his conversation with Aisha - it felt like a confession, too, and he found himself tearing up at the thought. Mark was gentle, and offered soft words of understanding. The next night, Mark shared his own feelings - of inferiority and a deep-rooted fear of failure, of not being able to serve the God he loves; a secret he kept fiercely guarded, unable to show any sign of weakness to others. That evening passed in gentle consolation; Ralfie, too, was aware of how crippling a fear of failure could be.


    Last night, Mark blurted out an invitation for Ralfie to join him during the protest - to be a part of the front line. Ralfie was surprised, but he agreed; after all, his only plan that morning was to fly out of the country. The uniform arriving that afternoon was a sign of Mark''s conviction - it would be a sign of Ralfie''s, too. He changed out of the uniform into a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of slacks, and went downstairs to meet Ralfie at the gates of the palace.


    Mark was waiting outside the hotel, hands held behind his back. Even while waiting casually, he stood ram-rod straight. He smiled when he saw Ralfie emerging from the air-conditioned lobby - a smile that made Ralfie feel warm, despite just walking out of a chilly lobby. "It fits wonderfully," Ralfie said. "I really appreciate it."


    Mark waved his appreciation away. "Really, it was no trouble," he said, the two of them walking in-step to Mark''s usual route. The setting sun was warm on Ralfie''s face, and he found himself wishing the evening wouldn''t end, even though they had just started their route.


    They discussed their happenings of the day - Mark shared his thoughts on what happened in his morning route, including a not-so-funny anecdote about a tourist spilling her ice-cream, but Mark''s animated way of sharing the story had Ralfie laughing out loud. Ralfie, in turn, shared his own stories - of his childhood, and of his friends from the Church back home.


    "So, how are you finding your last night here?" Mark finally sked. Ralfie looked down - the cobbled stones were worn smooth with foot traffic over the centuries, and his feet fit the grooves carved by millions of steps before his. "I have to admit - I will miss this place," Ralfie mused.


    Mark smiled at that. "What would you say you''d miss the most?"


    Ralfie glanced at him, and cleared his throat. "These walks," he said, after a pause. "I haven''t had the chance to...gather my thoughts and introspect, in quite a while."


    The two walked in silence a while after, until Mark asked what he''s been thinking about for the past few days. "Why don''t you stay a while longer?"


    Ralfie looked at him, the both of them walking in tandem - Ralfie didn''t need to glance ahead to see where he was going, he had the route memorized. "I... have commitments back at home," he finished lamely. Mark nodded. "Of course, it was foolish of me to ask. I apologize."


    The gap between the two of them - which felt non-existent - suddenly grew, and Ralfie felt like it was a gap he couldn''t hurdle past.


    "I''ll be back to visit," Ralfie said, and the promise sounded flimsy to his ears. Surprisingly, Mark smiled - a genuine smile. "I''d like that," he said. The conversation shifted to the things Ralfie must try once he''s back, and all the trips he should take within Italy the next time round.


    The route came to an end all too soon, and Ralfie found himself wishing for a longer route, an extended walk, or even a quiet moment alone - but Mark shook his hand goodbye and turned to join the ranks.


    "I''ll see you tomorrow morning," Mark said. "Meet us at 8 AM, out here in front of the gates."


    Ralfie nodded. Tomorrow would be a somber day - he''d be flying out that night, and there''d be little else to do but watch the protest.


    Never mind. He knew he''d be back soon, and spending more time with the guards - with his friends, and with Mark - would be a wonderful way to end his day. He spent his final night in quiet rumination, and found that he was in an oddly meditative mood. He slept easily, and peacefully.


    ---


    The sun was bright, and Anna found herself wishing she had worn some sunglasses - her cap wasn''t enough, and she squinted against the glare off the cobbled stones. Aria, on the other hand, stared coolly at the crowd, unbothered by the sunshine or the bodies surrounding them.


    Anna didn''t know how she did it. The veritable ocean of people made her feel mildly claustrophobic, despite standing outside. Aria sensed her discomfort, and the two of them pushed their way to the side - the cool bars provided Anna with a sense of relief, and she leaned against them. "Busy," she said.


    Aria smirked. "Better turnout than I expected," she replied.


    Anna caught a glimpse of who she thought was Aisha in the crowd, but the group surged forward and Aisha (?) disappeared. "Huh," she said. Aria looked at her. Anna shook her head. She stood back up, wondering what happens next, Aisha already forgotten.


    The crowd felt tense, and the air was filled with what felt like a nervous energy. Anna sensed discontent from the crowd, and Aria frowned - she was tense, too, and her responses to Anna were not as soft and warm as they were yesterday. The crowd moved forward again, and Aria tugged on Anna''s hand. "We should keep moving."


    Anna nodded, and the two of them rejoined the crowd - Aria nodding to her partners further ahead, Anna craning her neck to see the size of the turnout. Instinctively, she grabbed Aria''s hand - and Aria squeezed back. Reassured, Anna allowed herself to be swallowed into the crowd - into the heart of the Vatican, to hear the Pope''s address.