PROLOGUE

In the olden days, There was a girl who was extremely known for being “unlucky”. She’s a very beautiful young girl who has experienced lots of misfortunes in her life. At that time, God sent a powerful and trustworthy Archangel down to the earth. He’s called the “Angel of God” also known as “Help from God” who lived in a disguise on earth. It is a name that he only uses as a disguise on this land. God entrusted him to protect the people of the land and the souls of the dead in the hands of evil. He was the guardian of the souls in the land of the dead and the land of the living. 

On the other hand, Satan teams up with his accomplice again. One of the reasons why God sent an Archangel is to defeat this evil once more. Satan’s fiend name was “Lucifer”. He has been wandering around the earth for centuries looking for victims. The Archangel doesn't know that Lucifer has already found a pet to play with him for a long time and that is…

“You!” called by a woman. 

This woman splashed a bucket of water on a young girl who’s on her knees in the middle of the laundry area. The girl kept bowing her head to the woman and kept saying sorry.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you should not leave any single piece of dirt left in my dress?!” the woman said angrily.

“I’m so sorry Miss Amanda, I won’t let it happen agai--”

“I’ve already heard that a hundred times but it didn’t change anything!” she said.

“But Miss Amanda! I--”

“Enough with your excuses! You’re fired!” said the woman who was infused with anger.

“No! Please-- forgive me Miss Amanda! I’m begging you!” the girl said while bursting into tears.

“I want you to live in this place now! I don’t want to see your face here ever again!” the woman said then tried to pull the young girl out of the place and left her in the middle of the road.

“I’m begging you! I have nowhere else to go...” she said with a tear in her eyes.

This young girl is an orphan. Her mother died at the young age of 5. She was killed by the people of the higher rank and never been justified because of that, there’s a huge pain inside her heart. Her father is a drunkard and abuser. He sold her daughter out to be a slave for some men. She’s been abused lots of times by the people who bought her and passed her on to another patron. She has lots of scars and bruises in her body that she only hides under her dirty white dress with long sleeves. 

The laundry area where she was treated as a maid that works there is her last shelter. That’s her most fine job that she ever had in her life but it didn’t last long. So, right now she has no place to go. She’s currently walking barefoot on the road until she reaches the forest and sees the sunset on the hill. Her eyes shine and shudder with tears. She couldn’t help herself but cry. Then suddenly she heard a rustling sound from the bushes on the other side. She became alerted and wiped her tears. She quietly went near the bushes and snooped on the other side. 

She saw a man with black and redish hair that reached up to his shoulder. He’s wearing a white shirt with a nice build of body and pants that have the same color as his eyes which is “caramel”. This man was currently feeding the animals in the forest.

“I can see you,” the man said, then smiled and looked at her.

The girl was surprised at the moment. Her eyes widened and wanted to run away but she accidentally tripped in one of the branches near the bushes and fell down.

“Ouch!--” she said. The man walked near her and gave her a helping hand. She just looked at him nervously.

“You should’ve been more careful,” He said with a gentle voice. The girl accepted his helping hand and then once she’s alright. She started stuttering.

“I-I really-- I mean! It wasn’t my intention to snoop at you! I-It was just an accident!” She said defensively and closed her eyes out of embarrassment. The man only looked at her puzzled and he found that her reaction was cute. That made him burst into laughter.

“I know-” He said while laughing. After he calms down he continues what he’s saying.

“I was just trying to help you out from falling, it was also my fault. If I didn’t surprise you, It wouldn't happen. I’m sorry” He said then smiled.

“But How did you know that I was hiding here?” she asked.

“I can sense your curiosity, that’s why” He said. The girl seemed puzzled about what the man said. 

“What does he mean by he can sense my curiosity?” she thought. The man only looked at her and smiled.

“You should go back home now, It’s running late” He said that made her frown.

“I have nowhere else to go,” she said with a sad voice. The man suddenly felt sympathy for her. That made him turn around and look at the animals that he was feeding.

He suddenly remembers that there was an old woman living in the woods near their location. That old woman was a friend of his. She’s been living alone there ever since her husband died because of an illness. The man only visits her when the old woman needs some help. He looked at the girl once again.

“I know a place to stay,” He said. The girl’s face was enlightened but it suddenly disappeared when she realized that she didn't know this person. How can she trust him? The man suddenly giggled. That made her pause for overthinking.

“Don’t worry, I have no evil intentions. You can rest assured that you can live well in this nice place that I’m talking about.” The man confidently said. She just looked at him straight in the eyes and finally accepted the man’s offer.

“Why are you helping me?” The girl asked with confusion. The man gave her a lift and let her ride one of the red stags that he’s taking care of.

“Because you need it” He said while caressing the red stag. They started to leave.

“Why are you so kind?” She thought but she didn’t continue her question.

While walking in the forest the girl just looked at the whole place. It was like she’s seeing the other side of the world and realized that there’s still beauty in it despite her past experiences. The fireflies in the forest suddenly appear and it’s dancing around the place. The crickets started singing, like the sound of the night was in the middle of a play. In this moment of her life, her painful past was forgotten momentarily. 

On the other hand, the man by her side was looking at her the whole time. He found this girl beautiful. Especially after seeing her smile for the first time. That gazed, that genuine smile, he couldn’t erase it in his mind. 

When they both reached their destination. He asked the old woman to have her in her place. In this way, she won’t be alone anymore. She’ll have a companion and someone that could help her when she needs it. The old woman smiled.

“How thoughtful of you! I’m always thankful to know you dear” The old woman said then pinched the man’s face.

“Ouch!” He said. The old woman just giggled and looked at the girl he brought to her.

“Hello dear, It would be nice to have a companion.” The old woman said.

“Good evening!” She said then bowed her head. 

“I’m delighted to meet you Ma’am” She said and then flashes a genuine smile. The man on the left saw it again and blushed for a moment.

“Oh my-- What beautiful girl you are!” The old woman said. 

“It was also nice to meet you dear. You can stay here in my home as long as you like. Just make sure to help me out with the chores, the foodstuffs and harvests. Will that be okay?” The old woman asked.

“I’d be glad too! I promise, I’ll do my best!” She said high spiritedly.

“Oh thank you very much!--” She said, then hugged her tight.

“Now, now--” The old woman said while patting the girl's back.

“You know that I’m not the one whom you should say thank you for, right?” She said after the girl was released from the hug. The beautiful girl turned to her left and looked at the man beside her. She grabbed his hands.

“Thank you so much! You don’t know how grateful I am to run into you” She said happily then hugged him. The man flushes from shyness.

“U-umm… You’re welcome?” He said while scratching the back of his haid. After she released him from the hug, he started to get ready to leave the place.

“So, this is it! I have to go now” he said.

“Oh! I see--” She said with a sad tone. The man suddenly pauses because of it. He turned around then looked at her.

“Until we meet again, pretty lady” He said then left the whole place with the red big stag. The girl’s face turned red after seeing the man’s smile.

“Pretty lady?!” She asked in her thoughts then giggled.

“Until we meet again,” She mumbled. A smile curved into her lips then she entered the old woman’s home. 

On the flip side, there was a guy in the shadows who saw the whole thing. It’s a human guy that suddenly transforms into a person with a horn and black wings. It suddenly looked like a demon with deep black eyes. It smiles then laughs.

“A powerful Archangel and my human toy huh? Hmm… That’s interesting!” He said then an evil laugh suddenly let out from him. He spread his wings then flew up in the sky.

“This is gonna be fun!” He shouted in the sky while letting out an evil laugh.

***

“In the beautiful day of spring, everything became perfect as it seem,

The laughter of summer curves well in her lips,

As her life filled with lots of gifts,

For the first time in her life she felt happy, 

It felt like a dream.

Until the day of darkness appears in fall

and destroyed them all,

Everything was perfect, 

Everything was supposed to be perfect,

Why did it have to be this cruel?

She asked and cried

Until the darkness that she kept for so long,

Mistakenly awaken itself”

***

“Don’t worry, I got you,” someone whispered.

Everything was blurry and the night was filled with darkness as the rain fell down in the sky. The girl was unconscious and as the world bagan to recommence.

AZRAEL THE LAST PSYCHOPOMP

"to kill or to save: choose your purpose"

Written by: Chavinsky Y.E