My Story Blog

Chapter One

 

Annabelle Charles wasn’t a bad girl. Or should I say angel?

She was perfectly sweet to everyone. Well, if you include just herself.

So this is Annabelle’s story…

 

The Day Annabelle Died

            “Annie! Cross the street for me honey! You can do it! Come on! Come on!” Annabelle Charles’ mother beckoned her little five-year-old across the street.

            Annabelle’s mother was all the way across the busy street and she had just taught Annabelle to walk across it on her own. Annabelle was scared, but reluctant to reveal her insecurity. So, to get rid of it, Annabelle walked over to the 7Eleven a few sidewalk squares away.

            Entering the store, Annabelle could already hear her mother yelling, “Annabelle! Bad girl! Come back to Mummy!”

            Annabelle walked right over to an unoccupied cash register and climbed onto the counter. She started banging on the register and pressing all the buttons until, finally, a little bang and some smoke came from the register. She had broken it. Annabelle smiled.

            “Annabelle! Little girl come here!” Mummy yelled.

            Annabelle crawled right off the counter and over to the occupied register. She bit into a man’s leg and he screamed. The customer ran away before sliding her credit card and threw her bags on the floor from fright.

            Annabelle clung to the man’s leg as he started running wildly, dragging his foot behind him. Mummy was getting nearer, so Annabelle let go of the man and ran to the aisle of sweets. She ran to the back where the Slurpees were located and she jumped onto the counter.

            Annabelle pressed on the button for a long time until she realized the bin was all out of cherry. She put her mouth under the Blue Raspberry nozzle and pressed on it. She must’ve drunken half the bin.

            “Annabelle!” Mummy screeched. She snatched Annabelle from the counter and carried her squirming daughter outside. At the curb, Mummy put Annabelle down and held her daughters hand firmly and began walking across the street. Cars screeched to halts and Annabelle pulled hard on Mummy’s hand, pointing a ‘pretty’ Cadillac.

            “Look, Mummy, look at the pwetty Cadiwac,” Annabelle said. “MUMMY LOOK!” Annabelle demanded loudly.

            The honks erupted and the Cadillac lurched forward. “ANNABELLE!” Mummy screamed.

            And then Annabelle was blasted with pain. She screamed, but too late. She was dead.

            Mummy mourned. She grieved. She regretted handling her little baby too harshly. Annabelle was rushed to the hospital but it was no use. Her heart faltered right after all the tubes and needles were stuck into her. Mummy kissed Annabelle’s head and blessed her with motherly love. It was the only way Mummy was sure her baby would be sent to the Lord.

 

Present Time In Heaven

Annabelle shook her head slowly at her outfit in the mirror; her white tank top was too long, she wanted to show her belly button, her jeans were too casual, she should just use short-shorts, and her black moon necklace was too…fallen angel-like.

            Shaking out her golden hair from its ponytail, Annabelle took her white tank top off and cut it just enough that it’d be a few inches above her belly button. She wriggled out of her jeans and slid on olive green shorts and stepped into her white flats. She took out her yellow star necklace and unclipped her black moon one.

            “Perfect.” Annabelle grinned her beautiful smile.

            “Annie, come on!” Annabelle’s friend Stelle prompted her.

            “I’m finished and coming, geez, Stelle.” Annabelle growled. Stelle was an Italian name, meaning ‘star.’ Annabelle was partially cold to Stelle because she had such a beautiful name.

            “Pardon me.” Stelle growled back. Stelle was wearing a white mini-dress that when down just above her knees. Pearls lined the straps and the hem of the dress. Annabelle mentally sighed and realized how beautiful Stelle looked. Like a real star.

            Annabelle hissed like a cat and then pushed herself in front of Stelle. They entered the temple together and many waiting angels were staring as they walked down the aisle and slid into their seats.

            “Thank you for finally joining us dears.” the head angel, Muriel, smiled kindly. Her tone was sincere and she didn’t sound like she was trying to acknowledge the rudeness of Annabelle and Stelle’s arrival.

            The friends nodded.

            “This Friday is the day of Deciding. Does any Virgin Marys know what the date of Friday is?” Muriel continued in her musical voice.

            Many Virgin Marys raised their hands (Virgin Marys are like juniors in high school, they are one step away from becoming Living Christs. Living Christs are like seniors. Disciples are sophomores and just Angels are freshman).

            “Yes, Becki.” Muriel called on a pretty dirty blonde in the back.

            “The 26^th of the Month of Danger.” Becki answered smoothly.

            “Excellent. You all know quite well, I’m sure, that the Month of Danger is the month to be most careful and cautious of your actions. Even angels are not perfect, my dears. Remember, our Lord is coming this Friday and he will be sending some to fall. I’m sorry but I cannot give any hints of who shall be falling.

“I want you all to know I love you. You are my children and I am your mother. For now, I am the closest angel to Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. Mary will be filled with grief when her sons and daughters begin to fall.” Muriel explained. Her face saddened as she asked her next question. “Do any Virgin Marys know what next month will be?”
            Again, Becki raised her hand, but this time, Tommy was called on. “The Month of Mourning.” he said in a deep, attractive voice.

Annabelle turned her head and gave a thumbs-up and winked. He blew a kiss to her (yes, they’re together) and she caught it. Muriel cleared her throat.

Immediately, the couple turned their attention to the front. “Correct. Excellent job, Thomas. Next month, we will all go into mourning for three and a half weeks. We will all eat one meal a day.”

The crowd of angels nodded solemnly.

“I wanted to know if any angel had a question about the Day of Deciding, that’s why I called this meeting.” Muriel lifted her beautiful head.

No angel raised their hands. Annabelle picked at her French manicured nails. Stelle kept her full attention on Muriel.

“None? Okay, well, my dears, you may all go back to your houses, rooms, apartments, condos, trailers, or many places I have left out. I love you and God bless.” Muriel smiled. A tear rolled down her cheek and looked straight at Annabelle.

Something about Muriel always weakened Annabelle’s knees and made her feel powerless, so Annabelle smiled.

Muriel smiled sadly this time and called to Annabelle. “Beware of your regularities.” Muriel walked away.

Annabelle was left puzzled and worried. She simply shook it off and set out to her room, but instead of walking all the way over there, she instead started calling for red paints and super glue. In her outstretched hands appeared super glue and Dutch Boy paint. Smiling, Annabelle set off for her math teacher’s office.

 

Annabelle took the Dutch Boy paint bucket and poured the red paint all over the math teacher’s desk until it was all gone. She then put super glue on the seat and glued his favorite pencil to the desk.

            Grinning deviously, Annabelle had totally forgotten Muriel’s warning. She wiped her hands on her jeans and zapped back to her room. Stelle was lying on the couch reading a GL magazine innocently. “We have to go shopping. I really want some yellow tights.” Stelle gushed.

            “Done.” Annabelle nodded. She collapsed onto her bed and then got up again. She laid out her clothes for Friday. White Gap jeans and a white collared shirt with a dark blue sweater-vest over it.

            “Don’t forget we have to wear our Apostles pendant.” Stelle yawned. The meeting had started at 8:30 and ended at 9:00, so plenty of angels were getting ready for bed. It was 9:30 at the moment and Stelle had already changed into her orange satin pajamas.

            “Right.” Annabelle nodded. She was somehow nervous about the Falling Angels ritual, but she knew that she wasn’t going to be picked to fall. It was impossible.

Chapter One

 

Annabelle Charles wasn’t a bad girl. Or should I say angel?

She was perfectly sweet to everyone. Well, if you include just herself.

So this is Annabelle’s story…

 

The Day Annabelle Died

            “Annie! Cross the street for me honey! You can do it! Come on! Come on!” Annabelle Charles’ mother beckoned her little five-year-old across the street.

            Annabelle’s mother was all the way across the busy street and she had just taught Annabelle to walk across it on her own. Annabelle was scared, but reluctant to reveal her insecurity. So, to get rid of it, Annabelle walked over to the 7Eleven a few sidewalk squares away.

            Entering the store, Annabelle could already hear her mother yelling, “Annabelle! Bad girl! Come back to Mummy!”

            Annabelle walked right over to an unoccupied cash register and climbed onto the counter. She started banging on the register and pressing all the buttons until, finally, a little bang and some smoke came from the register. She had broken it. Annabelle smiled.

            “Annabelle! Little girl come here!” Mummy yelled.

            Annabelle crawled right off the counter and over to the occupied register. She bit into a man’s leg and he screamed. The customer ran away before sliding her credit card and threw her bags on the floor from fright.

            Annabelle clung to the man’s leg as he started running wildly, dragging his foot behind him. Mummy was getting nearer, so Annabelle let go of the man and ran to the aisle of sweets. She ran to the back where the Slurpees were located and she jumped onto the counter.

            Annabelle pressed on the button for a long time until she realized the bin was all out of cherry. She put her mouth under the Blue Raspberry nozzle and pressed on it. She must’ve drunken half the bin.

            “Annabelle!” Mummy screeched. She snatched Annabelle from the counter and carried her squirming daughter outside. At the curb, Mummy put Annabelle down and held her daughters hand firmly and began walking across the street. Cars screeched to halts and Annabelle pulled hard on Mummy’s hand, pointing a ‘pretty’ Cadillac.

            “Look, Mummy, look at the pwetty Cadiwac,” Annabelle said. “MUMMY LOOK!” Annabelle demanded loudly.

            The honks erupted and the Cadillac lurched forward. “ANNABELLE!” Mummy screamed.

            And then Annabelle was blasted with pain. She screamed, but too late. She was dead.

            Mummy mourned. She grieved. She regretted handling her little baby too harshly. Annabelle was rushed to the hospital but it was no use. Her heart faltered right after all the tubes and needles were stuck into her. Mummy kissed Annabelle’s head and blessed her with motherly love. It was the only way Mummy was sure her baby would be sent to the Lord.

 

Present Time In Heaven

Annabelle shook her head slowly at her outfit in the mirror; her white tank top was too long, she wanted to show her belly button, her jeans were too casual, she should just use short-shorts, and her black moon necklace was too…fallen angel-like.

            Shaking out her golden hair from its ponytail, Annabelle took her white tank top off and cut it just enough that it’d be a few inches above her belly button. She wriggled out of her jeans and slid on olive green shorts and stepped into her white flats. She took out her yellow star necklace and unclipped her black moon one.

            “Perfect.” Annabelle grinned her beautiful smile.

            “Annie, come on!” Annabelle’s friend Stelle prompted her.

            “I’m finished and coming, geez, Stelle.” Annabelle growled. Stelle was an Italian name, meaning ‘star.’ Annabelle was partially cold to Stelle because she had such a beautiful name.

            “Pardon me.” Stelle growled back. Stelle was wearing a white mini-dress that when down just above her knees. Pearls lined the straps and the hem of the dress. Annabelle mentally sighed and realized how beautiful Stelle looked. Like a real star.

            Annabelle hissed like a cat and then pushed herself in front of Stelle. They entered the temple together and many waiting angels were staring as they walked down the aisle and slid into their seats.

            “Thank you for finally joining us dears.” the head angel, Muriel, smiled kindly. Her tone was sincere and she didn’t sound like she was trying to acknowledge the rudeness of Annabelle and Stelle’s arrival.

            The friends nodded.

            “This Friday is the day of Deciding. Does any Virgin Marys know what the date of Friday is?” Muriel continued in her musical voice.

            Many Virgin Marys raised their hands (Virgin Marys are like juniors in high school, they are one step away from becoming Living Christs. Living Christs are like seniors. Disciples are sophomores and just Angels are freshman).

            “Yes, Becki.” Muriel called on a pretty dirty blonde in the back.

            “The 26^th of the Month of Danger.” Becki answered smoothly.

            “Excellent. You all know quite well, I’m sure, that the Month of Danger is the month to be most careful and cautious of your actions. Even angels are not perfect, my dears. Remember, our Lord is coming this Friday and he will be sending some to fall. I’m sorry but I cannot give any hints of who shall be falling.

“I want you all to know I love you. You are my children and I am your mother. For now, I am the closest angel to Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. Mary will be filled with grief when her sons and daughters begin to fall.” Muriel explained. Her face saddened as she asked her next question. “Do any Virgin Marys know what next month will be?”
            Again, Becki raised her hand, but this time, Tommy was called on. “The Month of Mourning.” he said in a deep, attractive voice.

Annabelle turned her head and gave a thumbs-up and winked. He blew a kiss to her (yes, they’re together) and she caught it. Muriel cleared her throat.

Immediately, the couple turned their attention to the front. “Correct. Excellent job, Thomas. Next month, we will all go into mourning for three and a half weeks. We will all eat one meal a day.”

The crowd of angels nodded solemnly.

“I wanted to know if any angel had a question about the Day of Deciding, that’s why I called this meeting.” Muriel lifted her beautiful head.

No angel raised their hands. Annabelle picked at her French manicured nails. Stelle kept her full attention on Muriel.

“None? Okay, well, my dears, you may all go back to your houses, rooms, apartments, condos, trailers, or many places I have left out. I love you and God bless.” Muriel smiled. A tear rolled down her cheek and looked straight at Annabelle.

Something about Muriel always weakened Annabelle’s knees and made her feel powerless, so Annabelle smiled.

Muriel smiled sadly this time and called to Annabelle. “Beware of your regularities.” Muriel walked away.

Annabelle was left puzzled and worried. She simply shook it off and set out to her room, but instead of walking all the way over there, she instead started calling for red paints and super glue. In her outstretched hands appeared super glue and Dutch Boy paint. Smiling, Annabelle set off for her math teacher’s office.

 

Annabelle took the Dutch Boy paint bucket and poured the red paint all over the math teacher’s desk until it was all gone. She then put super glue on the seat and glued his favorite pencil to the desk.

            Grinning deviously, Annabelle had totally forgotten Muriel’s warning. She wiped her hands on her jeans and zapped back to her room. Stelle was lying on the couch reading a GL magazine innocently. “We have to go shopping. I really want some yellow tights.” Stelle gushed.

            “Done.” Annabelle nodded. She collapsed onto her bed and then got up again. She laid out her clothes for Friday. White Gap jeans and a white collared shirt with a dark blue sweater-vest over it.

            “Don’t forget we have to wear our Apostles pendant.” Stelle yawned. The meeting had started at 8:30 and ended at 9:00, so plenty of angels were getting ready for bed. It was 9:30 at the moment and Stelle had already changed into her orange satin pajamas.

            “Right.” Annabelle nodded. She was somehow nervous about the Falling Angels ritual, but she knew that she wasn’t going to be picked to fall. It was impossible.

Chapter Two

 

 

Thursday came and went for Annabelle, and pretty soon, Friday evening had come. She and Stelle had finished their homework out of anxiety, and even double-checked their answers.

            “Let’s go, Stelle.” Annabelle announced. She pulled on the clothes she had lain out on Wednesday night. Clipping on her Apostles pendant lazily, Annabelle glanced over at Stelle.

            Stelle was wearing white Capris and a white tank top with a light, pink-pearl colored sweater on top. “You look fine, Annabelle.” Stelle smiled.

            Annabelle smiled back graciously. “You, too, Stelle.”

            “Thanks.” Stelle blushed. The girls linked arms and walked to the temple.

 

“Thank you all for joining us today, daughters and sons. The Lord is present this fine evening, as you see, and his light is flowing through us all.” Muriel walked out and bowed at the altar, then folded her hands together.

            “Amen.” the crowd muttered.

            A bright light coming from the tabernacle glowed throughout the room. Gold glitter sprinkled angels’ wings and made their hair shimmer. Many laughed with joy.

            “My children,” bellowed a deep voice. “My children, welcome. Welcome to my church. Today we gather together for the ones who have not honored me to fall. I have a list for my high daughter, Muriel. I love you all, even those who fall. I am watching your every move, sons and daughters. I know everything about you.”

            The light flashed, practically blinding Annabelle and Stelle, and a piece of paper floated down into Muriel’s hands.

            She could barely stifle her gasp. “When…I read your name…please come to me immediately. I will count to 3 and you can squeeze my hand as hard as you want. At 3, you jump and you begin falling.”

            “Hills, Geoffrey,” Muriel began. Every time someone’s name was called, they’d jump and scream.  “Richards, Christina…(scream)…Parker, Juliet…(scream)…Ch-Charles…Annabelle.”

            Annabelle wanted to scream, ‘WHAT?!’ but instead she stared straight ahead at Muriel. Annabelle turned to Stelle. Stelle had a bewildered look on her face, so she had heard too. It wasn’t a nightmare. It was real.

            “Charles, Annabelle.” Muriel said again, this time more smoothly.

            “C-c-coming.” Annabelle muttered. Stelle rubbed Annabelle’s hand and shook her head.

            “I don’t know what you did, but what the heck am I gonna do without you?” Stelle’s eyes watered up and eventually she started crying.

            “I love you, Stelle,” Annabelle squeezed Stelle’s hand. Tommy was at the aisle and pulled Annabelle into a passionate kiss. “And I love you too, Tommy.”

            Tommy almost laughed, but only a half-smile made its way onto his face. “Love you.” he muttered sadly.

            Annabelle walked down the aisle to Muriel, finally. “Muriel? There has to be a mistake…”

            “No mistake. I told you to watch what you do, daughter,” Muriel sighed. “I loved you Annabelle. You were the only one who understood me. You died at 5, also, and I felt like I could tell you anything. I felt as if you were my daughter, and I was your mother.”

            “Yes. I never knew well enough what it was like to have a mother.” Annabelle nodded. She remembered her mother screaming her name when she ran into the 7Eleven and when the Cadillac had run her over.

            “You have a visitor.” said an echoic voice.

            “M-mummy?” Annabelle twirled around.

            “My daughter.” a ghost-like figure floated toward Annabelle, pulling her into an embrace.

            “When did you die? How come you aren’t with me?” Annabelle asked.

            “I live at the Heavenly Village. I died a few months ago. My daughter, you really did need me these years. You are falling today and I’m afraid I’m quite disappointed. But Annie, my daughter, I still love you.” Annabelle’s mother smiled.

            “I still love you, too.” Annabelle sniffled. Her mom kissed her hair and then shoved her toward the black hole.

            “Take my hand, dearest, and let me count to 3.” Muriel held out her hand.

            Annabelle squeezed so tight she thought she heard Muriel whimper.

“3.” and Annabelle automatically jumped into the whole. Pain struck Annabelle in every possible way. Her heart ached, her side shed blood and her ankles felt as if they were broken. Her clothes were ripped from her body and her hair was contorted this way and that. Annabelle could barely feel her hands.

            Her limbs grew skinnier and she suddenly felt sleepy, maybe even drugged. Annabelle felt bags grow under her eyes. Then her hair was pulled out of her head and grew back, but instead of golden hair, she had midnight black hair, with no moon or star to sparkle it.

            Dark clothes were wrapped around Annabelle’s chest and waist and legs. Knee-length leather boots, a ripped up black skirt, and torn leather tube top with a black moon brooch stabbed into her chest. Annabelle didn’t bleed. Annabelle didn’t even feel the pain she would have felt in Heaven.

            Whump. Annabelle crashed to the ground. “Another one?” a voice cackled. The person (or dead thing?) started dragging Annabelle by her ankles. Still, no pain.

            “Welcome, Fallen Angel, to the Underworld. No, there is no fire or ice or all that crap. It’s just a smelly place but with good cooks. I see you are one of our new ones? Along with Isabella Zagala and Reise Maron. I see that Fallen Angel clothes fit you nicely.” the ‘dead-thing’ revealed himself.

            He had a bony face and it looked like he was sucking in his cheeks. His hair fell around his face loosely. On the last remark the man made, he glanced at Annabelle’s chest. Crossing her arms, Annabelle said, “What’s your name, pervert?”
            “Drew.” he laughed. “And yours?”

            “Annabelle.” Annabelle said simply.

            “I understand. Well follow me, Annabelle. Your roommate is waiting.” Drew grabbed Annabelle’s arm. Seeing it stick out like that, she noticed how visible her wrist and finger bones were, and how thin and frail the arm looked. Drew’s arm looked the same.

            Annabelle then noticed the pale white skin. It was white, but kind of warm.

            They passed bubbling purple swamps and green flowing rivers. Annabelle saw a girl that looked like Persephone, the Goddess of Springtime, sitting under a pomegranate tree, reading. Drew tugged her arm harder and Annabelle almost fell forward.

            “Careful.” Drew grumbled to me. Annabelle glared back at Drew, saying with her eyes that he had been the one to pull me first. He rolled his eyes.

 

“Now that you’re settled in, dinner is ready at 4:30 AM. Our time is different from Heaven’s. We’re up doing the night and asleep during the day. Hope you’ll get used to it soon.” Drew clapped his hands.

            Annabelle nodded to him and then grabbed her suitcase, practically shooing Drew out. She wondered how all her clothes had gotten here and how they’d all turn black and gray. Annabelle just pulled on some black sweats over her skirt and a gray jacket. If she hated black, she might as well be lazy and wear hideous clothes too.

            “Hey, you’re my new roommate?” a girl walked out of the bathroom. Annabelle was intimidated immediately.

            “Um, I guess. My name’s Annabelle.” Annabelle nodded.

            “Ah, so…angel-like. I’m Satin. Our names are changed after one week of being in the Underworld. After one week, you are for the Underworld forever. Being sent back up to Heaven is possible, but it rarely ever happens.” Satin said.

            “What will my name be?” Annabelle asked curiously. She tugged on her shirt nervously.

            “I dunno. Morticia, maybe. Coldkissa.” Satin shrugged.

            “What was your old name?” Annabelle took a step toward Satin, almost fully regaining her confidence.

            “Rainia.” Satin said. Satin was wearing a strapless, black, well, satin dress and black boots. She had a gray shrug tied around her shoulders and black hair cut to her chin. Around her neck was a silver chain with a black pentagram hanging off it.

            “What grade does the pentagram represent?” Annabelle asked.

            “Junior. You’re one, too right? You’ll get yours after dinner.” Satin didn’t let Annabelle answer.

            “Yeah, I’m a junior…did you immediately go to the um, Underworld or did you fall first?” Annabelle looked around the room.

            “I fell first. Only three Fallen Angels went straight to the Underworld. They’re the Satan Followers, as everyone calls them.” Satin’s face hardened. She glared at the ground for a moment.

            “Scary. So…what time is it?” Annabelle said.

            “You’re full of questions aren’t you? I feel like I’m being interrogated by a policeman…it’s 4:20. Ooh, we have to get to dinner in ten minutes. Better get going.” Satin stood up. She seemed to hesitate at grabbing Annabelle’s hand, but took it anyway, and tugged hard.

            Again, Annabelle almost fell forward. “Whoa.”

            “We can’t be late for dinner, especially since a bunch of new fallen angels are coming down. Blackwing will freak.” Satin started running with Annabelle.

            “Blackwing?” Annabelle raised her eyebrows.

            “The head of our whole…thing. He’s the closest thing to Vampyra.” Satin explained.

            “Vampyra? I thought you were ruled by Hades.” Annabelle frowned.

            “We were, but Vampyra trumps Hades. She was his most recent wife, too recent to be put in books. And she is not a vampire. She got her name Vampyra from Christina. She was immediately sent down from earth to the Underworld. That’s how evil she is.” Satin said, out of breath by the time she finished.

            “Wow, I never knew.” Annabelle said with surprise. Satin pulled Annabelle even faster and they burst through the doors and into the dinner hall.

            Luckily, the welcome service hadn’t start yet, so Satin and Annabelle ran down the aisle to their seats. The kids were arranged by their grades and roommates.

            Right when their butts touched the cold, glossy surface of the bench, an extremely loud voice blasted and bounced off the walls in the room. “Welcome back students, and welcome to your new home, Fallen Angels. After our meal, I will explain and answer your questions. So, eat.”

            And immediately, out of fear, the students began eating their meals. It seemed so long, and Annabelle wasn’t hungry. She spooned out mashed potatoes with some kind of red sauce on it. The food tasted odd but good. She’d have to get used to it anyway.

Chapter One

 

Annabelle Charles wasn’t a bad girl. Or should I say angel?

She was perfectly sweet to everyone. Well, if you include just herself.

So this is Annabelle’s story…

 

The Day Annabelle Died

            “Annie! Cross the street for me honey! You can do it! Come on! Come on!” Annabelle Charles’ mother beckoned her little five-year-old across the street.

            Annabelle’s mother was all the way across the busy street and she had just taught Annabelle to walk across it on her own. Annabelle was scared, but reluctant to reveal her insecurity. So, to get rid of it, Annabelle walked over to the 7Eleven a few sidewalk squares away.

            Entering the store, Annabelle could already hear her mother yelling, “Annabelle! Bad girl! Come back to Mummy!”

            Annabelle walked right over to an unoccupied cash register and climbed onto the counter. She started banging on the register and pressing all the buttons until, finally, a little bang and some smoke came from the register. She had broken it. Annabelle smiled.

            “Annabelle! Little girl come here!” Mummy yelled.

            Annabelle crawled right off the counter and over to the occupied register. She bit into a man’s leg and he screamed. The customer ran away before sliding her credit card and threw her bags on the floor from fright.

            Annabelle clung to the man’s leg as he started running wildly, dragging his foot behind him. Mummy was getting nearer, so Annabelle let go of the man and ran to the aisle of sweets. She ran to the back where the Slurpees were located and she jumped onto the counter.

            Annabelle pressed on the button for a long time until she realized the bin was all out of cherry. She put her mouth under the Blue Raspberry nozzle and pressed on it. She must’ve drunken half the bin.

            “Annabelle!” Mummy screeched. She snatched Annabelle from the counter and carried her squirming daughter outside. At the curb, Mummy put Annabelle down and held her daughters hand firmly and began walking across the street. Cars screeched to halts and Annabelle pulled hard on Mummy’s hand, pointing a ‘pretty’ Cadillac.

            “Look, Mummy, look at the pwetty Cadiwac,” Annabelle said. “MUMMY LOOK!” Annabelle demanded loudly.

            The honks erupted and the Cadillac lurched forward. “ANNABELLE!” Mummy screamed.

            And then Annabelle was blasted with pain. She screamed, but too late. She was dead.

            Mummy mourned. She grieved. She regretted handling her little baby too harshly. Annabelle was rushed to the hospital but it was no use. Her heart faltered right after all the tubes and needles were stuck into her. Mummy kissed Annabelle’s head and blessed her with motherly love. It was the only way Mummy was sure her baby would be sent to the Lord.

 

Present Time In Heaven

Annabelle shook her head slowly at her outfit in the mirror; her white tank top was too long, she wanted to show her belly button, her jeans were too casual, she should just use short-shorts, and her black moon necklace was too…fallen angel-like.

            Shaking out her golden hair from its ponytail, Annabelle took her white tank top off and cut it just enough that it’d be a few inches above her belly button. She wriggled out of her jeans and slid on olive green shorts and stepped into her white flats. She took out her yellow star necklace and unclipped her black moon one.

            “Perfect.” Annabelle grinned her beautiful smile.

            “Annie, come on!” Annabelle’s friend Stelle prompted her.

            “I’m finished and coming, geez, Stelle.” Annabelle growled. Stelle was an Italian name, meaning ‘star.’ Annabelle was partially cold to Stelle because she had such a beautiful name.

            “Pardon me.” Stelle growled back. Stelle was wearing a white mini-dress that when down just above her knees. Pearls lined the straps and the hem of the dress. Annabelle mentally sighed and realized how beautiful Stelle looked. Like a real star.

            Annabelle hissed like a cat and then pushed herself in front of Stelle. They entered the temple together and many waiting angels were staring as they walked down the aisle and slid into their seats.

            “Thank you for finally joining us dears.” the head angel, Muriel, smiled kindly. Her tone was sincere and she didn’t sound like she was trying to acknowledge the rudeness of Annabelle and Stelle’s arrival.

            The friends nodded.

            “This Friday is the day of Deciding. Does any Virgin Marys know what the date of Friday is?” Muriel continued in her musical voice.

            Many Virgin Marys raised their hands (Virgin Marys are like juniors in high school, they are one step away from becoming Living Christs. Living Christs are like seniors. Disciples are sophomores and just Angels are freshman).

            “Yes, Becki.” Muriel called on a pretty dirty blonde in the back.

            “The 26^th of the Month of Danger.” Becki answered smoothly.

            “Excellent. You all know quite well, I’m sure, that the Month of Danger is the month to be most careful and cautious of your actions. Even angels are not perfect, my dears. Remember, our Lord is coming this Friday and he will be sending some to fall. I’m sorry but I cannot give any hints of who shall be falling.

“I want you all to know I love you. You are my children and I am your mother. For now, I am the closest angel to Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. Mary will be filled with grief when her sons and daughters begin to fall.” Muriel explained. Her face saddened as she asked her next question. “Do any Virgin Marys know what next month will be?”
            Again, Becki raised her hand, but this time, Tommy was called on. “The Month of Mourning.” he said in a deep, attractive voice.

Annabelle turned her head and gave a thumbs-up and winked. He blew a kiss to her (yes, they’re together) and she caught it. Muriel cleared her throat.

Immediately, the couple turned their attention to the front. “Correct. Excellent job, Thomas. Next month, we will all go into mourning for three and a half weeks. We will all eat one meal a day.”

The crowd of angels nodded solemnly.

“I wanted to know if any angel had a question about the Day of Deciding, that’s why I called this meeting.” Muriel lifted her beautiful head.

No angel raised their hands. Annabelle picked at her French manicured nails. Stelle kept her full attention on Muriel.

“None? Okay, well, my dears, you may all go back to your houses, rooms, apartments, condos, trailers, or many places I have left out. I love you and God bless.” Muriel smiled. A tear rolled down her cheek and looked straight at Annabelle.

Something about Muriel always weakened Annabelle’s knees and made her feel powerless, so Annabelle smiled.

Muriel smiled sadly this time and called to Annabelle. “Beware of your regularities.” Muriel walked away.

Annabelle was left puzzled and worried. She simply shook it off and set out to her room, but instead of walking all the way over there, she instead started calling for red paints and super glue. In her outstretched hands appeared super glue and Dutch Boy paint. Smiling, Annabelle set off for her math teacher’s office.

 

Annabelle took the Dutch Boy paint bucket and poured the red paint all over the math teacher’s desk until it was all gone. She then put super glue on the seat and glued his favorite pencil to the desk.

            Grinning deviously, Annabelle had totally forgotten Muriel’s warning. She wiped her hands on her jeans and zapped back to her room. Stelle was lying on the couch reading a GL magazine innocently. “We have to go shopping. I really want some yellow tights.” Stelle gushed.

            “Done.” Annabelle nodded. She collapsed onto her bed and then got up again. She laid out her clothes for Friday. White Gap jeans and a white collared shirt with a dark blue sweater-vest over it.

            “Don’t forget we have to wear our Apostles pendant.” Stelle yawned. The meeting had started at 8:30 and ended at 9:00, so plenty of angels were getting ready for bed. It was 9:30 at the moment and Stelle had already changed into her orange satin pajamas.

            “Right.” Annabelle nodded. She was somehow nervous about the Falling Angels ritual, but she knew that she wasn’t going to be picked to fall. It was impossible.

Chapter Two

 

 

Thursday came and went for Annabelle, and pretty soon, Friday evening had come. She and Stelle had finished their homework out of anxiety, and even double-checked their answers.

            “Let’s go, Stelle.” Annabelle announced. She pulled on the clothes she had lain out on Wednesday night. Clipping on her Apostles pendant lazily, Annabelle glanced over at Stelle.

            Stelle was wearing white Capris and a white tank top with a light, pink-pearl colored sweater on top. “You look fine, Annabelle.” Stelle smiled.

            Annabelle smiled back graciously. “You, too, Stelle.”

            “Thanks.” Stelle blushed. The girls linked arms and walked to the temple.

 

“Thank you all for joining us today, daughters and sons. The Lord is present this fine evening, as you see, and his light is flowing through us all.” Muriel walked out and bowed at the altar, then folded her hands together.

            “Amen.” the crowd muttered.

            A bright light coming from the tabernacle glowed throughout the room. Gold glitter sprinkled angels’ wings and made their hair shimmer. Many laughed with joy.

            “My children,” bellowed a deep voice. “My children, welcome. Welcome to my church. Today we gather together for the ones who have not honored me to fall. I have a list for my high daughter, Muriel. I love you all, even those who fall. I am watching your every move, sons and daughters. I know everything about you.”

            The light flashed, practically blinding Annabelle and Stelle, and a piece of paper floated down into Muriel’s hands.

            She could barely stifle her gasp. “When…I read your name…please come to me immediately. I will count to 3 and you can squeeze my hand as hard as you want. At 3, you jump and you begin falling.”

            “Hills, Geoffrey,” Muriel began. Every time someone’s name was called, they’d jump and scream.  “Richards, Christina…(scream)…Parker, Juliet…(scream)…Ch-Charles…Annabelle.”

            Annabelle wanted to scream, ‘WHAT?!’ but instead she stared straight ahead at Muriel. Annabelle turned to Stelle. Stelle had a bewildered look on her face, so she had heard too. It wasn’t a nightmare. It was real.

            “Charles, Annabelle.” Muriel said again, this time more smoothly.

            “C-c-coming.” Annabelle muttered. Stelle rubbed Annabelle’s hand and shook her head.

            “I don’t know what you did, but what the heck am I gonna do without you?” Stelle’s eyes watered up and eventually she started crying.

            “I love you, Stelle,” Annabelle squeezed Stelle’s hand. Tommy was at the aisle and pulled Annabelle into a passionate kiss. “And I love you too, Tommy.”

            Tommy almost laughed, but only a half-smile made its way onto his face. “Love you.” he muttered sadly.

            Annabelle walked down the aisle to Muriel, finally. “Muriel? There has to be a mistake…”

            “No mistake. I told you to watch what you do, daughter,” Muriel sighed. “I loved you Annabelle. You were the only one who understood me. You died at 5, also, and I felt like I could tell you anything. I felt as if you were my daughter, and I was your mother.”

            “Yes. I never knew well enough what it was like to have a mother.” Annabelle nodded. She remembered her mother screaming her name when she ran into the 7Eleven and when the Cadillac had run her over.

            “You have a visitor.” said an echoic voice.

            “M-mummy?” Annabelle twirled around.

            “My daughter.” a ghost-like figure floated toward Annabelle, pulling her into an embrace.

            “When did you die? How come you aren’t with me?” Annabelle asked.

            “I live at the Heavenly Village. I died a few months ago. My daughter, you really did need me these years. You are falling today and I’m afraid I’m quite disappointed. But Annie, my daughter, I still love you.” Annabelle’s mother smiled.

            “I still love you, too.” Annabelle sniffled. Her mom kissed her hair and then shoved her toward the black hole.

            “Take my hand, dearest, and let me count to 3.” Muriel held out her hand.

            Annabelle squeezed so tight she thought she heard Muriel whimper.

“3.” and Annabelle automatically jumped into the whole. Pain struck Annabelle in every possible way. Her heart ached, her side shed blood and her ankles felt as if they were broken. Her clothes were ripped from her body and her hair was contorted this way and that. Annabelle could barely feel her hands.

            Her limbs grew skinnier and she suddenly felt sleepy, maybe even drugged. Annabelle felt bags grow under her eyes. Then her hair was pulled out of her head and grew back, but instead of golden hair, she had midnight black hair, with no moon or star to sparkle it.

            Dark clothes were wrapped around Annabelle’s chest and waist and legs. Knee-length leather boots, a ripped up black skirt, and torn leather tube top with a black moon brooch stabbed into her chest. Annabelle didn’t bleed. Annabelle didn’t even feel the pain she would have felt in Heaven.

            Whump. Annabelle crashed to the ground. “Another one?” a voice cackled. The person (or dead thing?) started dragging Annabelle by her ankles. Still, no pain.

            “Welcome, Fallen Angel, to the Underworld. No, there is no fire or ice or all that crap. It’s just a smelly place but with good cooks. I see you are one of our new ones? Along with Isabella Zagala and Reise Maron. I see that Fallen Angel clothes fit you nicely.” the ‘dead-thing’ revealed himself.

            He had a bony face and it looked like he was sucking in his cheeks. His hair fell around his face loosely. On the last remark the man made, he glanced at Annabelle’s chest. Crossing her arms, Annabelle said, “What’s your name, pervert?”
            “Drew.” he laughed. “And yours?”

            “Annabelle.” Annabelle said simply.

            “I understand. Well follow me, Annabelle. Your roommate is waiting.” Drew grabbed Annabelle’s arm. Seeing it stick out like that, she noticed how visible her wrist and finger bones were, and how thin and frail the arm looked. Drew’s arm looked the same.

            Annabelle then noticed the pale white skin. It was white, but kind of warm.

            They passed bubbling purple swamps and green flowing rivers. Annabelle saw a girl that looked like Persephone, the Goddess of Springtime, sitting under a pomegranate tree, reading. Drew tugged her arm harder and Annabelle almost fell forward.

            “Careful.” Drew grumbled to me. Annabelle glared back at Drew, saying with her eyes that he had been the one to pull me first. He rolled his eyes.

 

“Now that you’re settled in, dinner is ready at 4:30 AM. Our time is different from Heaven’s. We’re up doing the night and asleep during the day. Hope you’ll get used to it soon.” Drew clapped his hands.

            Annabelle nodded to him and then grabbed her suitcase, practically shooing Drew out. She wondered how all her clothes had gotten here and how they’d all turn black and gray. Annabelle just pulled on some black sweats over her skirt and a gray jacket. If she hated black, she might as well be lazy and wear hideous clothes too.

            “Hey, you’re my new roommate?” a girl walked out of the bathroom. Annabelle was intimidated immediately.

            “Um, I guess. My name’s Annabelle.” Annabelle nodded.

            “Ah, so…angel-like. I’m Satin. Our names are changed after one week of being in the Underworld. After one week, you are for the Underworld forever. Being sent back up to Heaven is possible, but it rarely ever happens.” Satin said.

            “What will my name be?” Annabelle asked curiously. She tugged on her shirt nervously.

            “I dunno. Morticia, maybe. Coldkissa.” Satin shrugged.

            “What was your old name?” Annabelle took a step toward Satin, almost fully regaining her confidence.

            “Rainia.” Satin said. Satin was wearing a strapless, black, well, satin dress and black boots. She had a gray shrug tied around her shoulders and black hair cut to her chin. Around her neck was a silver chain with a black pentagram hanging off it.

            “What grade does the pentagram represent?” Annabelle asked.

            “Junior. You’re one, too right? You’ll get yours after dinner.” Satin didn’t let Annabelle answer.

            “Yeah, I’m a junior…did you immediately go to the um, Underworld or did you fall first?” Annabelle looked around the room.

            “I fell first. Only three Fallen Angels went straight to the Underworld. They’re the Satan Followers, as everyone calls them.” Satin’s face hardened. She glared at the ground for a moment.

            “Scary. So…what time is it?” Annabelle said.

            “You’re full of questions aren’t you? I feel like I’m being interrogated by a policeman…it’s 4:20. Ooh, we have to get to dinner in ten minutes. Better get going.” Satin stood up. She seemed to hesitate at grabbing Annabelle’s hand, but took it anyway, and tugged hard.

            Again, Annabelle almost fell forward. “Whoa.”

            “We can’t be late for dinner, especially since a bunch of new fallen angels are coming down. Blackwing will freak.” Satin started running with Annabelle.

            “Blackwing?” Annabelle raised her eyebrows.

            “The head of our whole…thing. He’s the closest thing to Vampyra.” Satin explained.

            “Vampyra? I thought you were ruled by Hades.” Annabelle frowned.

            “We were, but Vampyra trumps Hades. She was his most recent wife, too recent to be put in books. And she is not a vampire. She got her name Vampyra from Christina. She was immediately sent down from earth to the Underworld. That’s how evil she is.” Satin said, out of breath by the time she finished.

            “Wow, I never knew.” Annabelle said with surprise. Satin pulled Annabelle even faster and they burst through the doors and into the dinner hall.

            Luckily, the welcome service hadn’t start yet, so Satin and Annabelle ran down the aisle to their seats. The kids were arranged by their grades and roommates.

            Right when their butts touched the cold, glossy surface of the bench, an extremely loud voice blasted and bounced off the walls in the room. “Welcome back students, and welcome to your new home, Fallen Angels. After our meal, I will explain and answer your questions. So, eat.”

            And immediately, out of fear, the students began eating their meals. It seemed so long, and Annabelle wasn’t hungry. She spooned out mashed potatoes with some kind of red sauce on it. The food tasted odd but good. She’d have to get used to it anyway.