The Ascension of an Angel by Noelle Anselmo (freda ebook reader .TXT) 📕

-Aurora-

Of what I can now remember of my human life isn't much. I was told when I first got here if I tried to remember my human life it would cause me pain. I'm not sure who it was that told me that, but their words keep repeating themselves over and over in my mind.

'….but it'll be far worse if by some chance you remember how you died, because when you do, you'll become a Reaper.'

I'm not exactly sure what's going on here, or where here is, but all I know is that my name is Aurora Daniels and I was eighteen when I died.

-Aurora-

The change from human to angel was very painful. Not at all like what I'd heard people say it'd be like once you died. When I first got to Heaven-no, that's not right. This place is neither Heaven nor Hell. When I got to this place and about two days had passed with me just wandering around I ran into someone. I had tried asking who they were and where we were, but they didn't answer me. Instead they told me something that frightened me so much I'm sure I'll never forget it.

"Don't try to remember."

At first I had been confused, wondering what in the world he could be talking about, but then he spoke again.

"It will pain you in more ways than one to remember."

"What are you talking about? Who are you? Where are we? What's going on around here?"

I was slightly scared. I was alone in a place I'd never seen before and this man wasn't helping.

"All your questions will be answered."

"But-"

The man shook his head and started to back away. Light hit him and illuminated his face. He looked no older than seventeen. His skin was fare and his eyes were a clear color, much like that of a blind person. He was wearing a long, black cloak that hid the rest of his body. All I was able to see was his face.

"Trying to remember your human life will cause you pain, but it'll be far worse if by some chance you remember how you died., because if you do, you'll become a Reaper."

I shuddered at the seriousness in his voice. He started to back away again and I took a step forward, trying to reach him.

"Wait!"

"Don't try to remember."

And with that the mysterious man was gone. None of my questions were answered, if anything I was more confused than before.

I sighed before starting to walk in the direction I felt I'd get some answers. I suddenly felt really sick and stopped when my vision blurred. Next thing I knew everything went black.

I woke to a searing pain in my back. It had me jumping out of the bed I was laying in.

Wait a minute, since when was I in a bed?

Pain coursed through my body, making thinking impossible.

At first, the pain was all over, then it moved to my shoulders. Just when I thought it would go away the pain intensified. It felt as if someone was taking a knife to my back and dragging the blade down as slowly as they could. I turned my head to try and see what was causing the pain and my eyes widened when I saw bulges beneath my skin move to my shoulder blades. I saw white wing-tips break through my skin. They continued to push out, tearing my skin as they tried to settle in place. I felt a hot, sticky liquid running down my back as more and more of the wings came out. Even in death I'd never known such pain.
A new wave of pain coursed through my body and it brought me to my knees. Finally, the pain stopped and a dull throbbing took its place. I sat there, completely still, blood dripping from my wings onto the already soaked carpet. I couldn't move, my body was completely numbed from the pain. The only thing I could feel was the weight of my wings, and the dead weight of my numb body.
I looked around the room and saw the floor was littered with blood soaked, pure-white feathers. I could feel the carpet beneath me soaked with my blood. It was seeping into my pants. I tried to get up, but all I managed to do was straighten my back so I was on my knees. That caused pain to shoot through my body again, and this time I blacked out from it.

As I was coming to I noticed someone else was with me. I felt a gentle tugging on my wings. I'm not sure what they were doing, but it felt really good.

"Oh, you're awake! Thank Heavens, not everyone survives the change."

A voice said from my left. It sounded soft and gentle, like a grandmother talking to her grandchild.

"Your wings developed quite nicely considering they broke through on their own. And they have such a wonderful color to them."

I turned my head slightly to the side in an attempt to see who was talking to me. As my vision came into focus I saw an elderly woman with snow white hair to her shoulders, clear blue eyes, a soft, kind face, and light blue wings sitting next to the bed. She had what looked like a wash bin and brush on the table next to her.

"You must be tired from the change. Well, your wings are clean now so I should probably let you get some sleep."

The woman said as she stood up and headed for the door.

"Thank you."

I said in a small whisper. The woman stopped and looked back at me from over her shoulder. She had a smile on her face.

"So you can

talk, and you're welcome."

She said then left and I suddenly felt lonely.

I looked around the room and was shocked to see it was spotless. No blood, no feathers, nothing out of place. I rolled over onto my back and immediately turned back onto my stomach. My entire body was sore, and my wings were extremely sensitive. I sighed at my discomfort before closing my eyes and falling asleep lying on my stomach.

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-HIM-

"So? How is our new arrival? Have they gone through the change yet; did they survive?"

I asked Karin as she stopped just before me.

"Yes, she's gone through the change and survived. She's just tired at the moment and sleeping it off."

"That's good to hear."

"Don't you think it'd be a good idea to have someone look after her?"

Karen suggested and I thought about it.

"Yes, but who?"

I asked after a while.

"Send Jake, he's been with us long enough to be able to help out our new angel."

I nodded at her suggestion and couldn't help but smile.

"That's a good idea. We'll send Jake to look after our new fellow angel."

I said and Karen nodded.

"Alright then, I'll go and tell him of his new task."

She said before turning and leaving.

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-Jake-

"Hey Jake!"

I turned around at the sound of my name. An angel with light brown hair cut to just past his ears, emerald eyes, and a pair of chocolate brown wings came running up to me.

"Ah Jak-Jak, how are you?"

I asked with a smile as my friend stopped in front of me.

"Good, but I've got some news for you."

He said and I turned to look at him.

"Really? What is it?"

I asked curiously, but I didn't like the frown on his face.

"I don't think you'll like it very much."

He said and I sighed. He always had a tendency to draw things out.

"Just tell me Jak-Jak."

"Okay. We have a new arrival and you've been assigned to look after them. You know, show them around and junk."

"What! Why me? There are several other angels who are older than me that could look after the newbie."

What in the world is he thinking? He knows I can't stand newbies. He probably did this to get back at me for earlier.

"I don't know, but don't tell them I told you or I'll be in big trouble."

Jak-Jak said, bringing me back to our conversation and away from thoughts about my father.

"Ok, thanks Jak-Jak."

He smiled before leaving for his place. Just as he disappeared from sight Granny Karin showed up.

"Morning Jake."

She said with a smile as she walked up to me.

"Morning Granny Karin."

I said and she sighed.

"I do wish you'd quit calling me that. I'm not that old."

She said and I smiled.

"I know, but it's more fun to call you Granny."

She sighed again before a serious looked covered her face.

"I've got some news for you."

She said and this time I sighed.

Here it comes.

"Oh? What is it?"

I asked with fake curiosity. I already knew what she was going to say and I wasn't too thrilled about it. Newbies were always so boring and they asked too many questions. They're worse than three year olds.

"We have a new arrival, and you've been assigned to look after her."

So it's a girl?

I wondered.

"Why me? Couldn't he have picked someone else?"

I asked a little cross at my father for putting me in this situation.

"Actually, I was the one who suggested it."

Karin said and I looked at her in surprise.

"What! Why? You know I can't stand new-"

"This is no ordinary angel Jake."

Karin said, cutting me off and catching my attention.

"What do you mean?"

I asked confused and she just smiled and shook her head.

"You'll see."

She said and I sighed. I really hated it when she goes all 'vague elder' on me.

"Fine. Where?"

I asked wanting to meet this new arrival and get this over with.

"Well right now she's resting from the change, but she's-"

"We had a new arrival survive the change!"

I asked surprised. Not many angels can take the pain that the change causes. It'd been several years since we last had a new arrival that survived.

"Yes,