She Talks to Angels

This story is adapted from the song Angels by Jack Johnson.

I drifted across the empty pitch black space that seemed painfully endless. I had nothing to cling to for comfort. No sound except my pounding heart. My eyes stung from the tears I'm holding back, even though there is no one here to watch me cry. This void of darkness is starting to consume me. There is no time to waste. I must save her before she saves me.

Chapter One

I jolted in shock as I returned to the dulled noises of reality. I was sitting on a picnic table in the school field with Nathan and Matt. Nathan's pixie-like face was buried half-way in a thick book he was silently reading. Matt was staring peacefully into the near distance where guys played football in the warm sunshine while he rested his chin on his arm that stood on the wooden table.

"Rose, you okay?" Nathan's dark analysing eyes watched me, like I was a book that he found hard to understand. Matt's cool gaze never left the game as if he was in an entirely different place. Matt wasn't much of a talker, but when he spoke, he had a sense of annoyance in his voice, like he only chose to open his mouth to insult you. His wild marble green eyes seemed bored. On the other hand, Nathan's calm eyes watched me. His eyes kept its dark brown colour even in the brightest of lights. I could sense his warm heart that allows everyone to feel like Nathan is the person you will always be able to trust.
"Huh? Yeah, why?" I couldn't tell him about the dreams I've been having. They're getting worse, so much that I dream when I'm awake. He'll think I'm crazy. Maybe I am.
"You seem to zone out all the time... Are you sure you're okay? If those girls are bothering you again..." His sympathetic face comforted me, just his presence calmed me down.
"No, I can handle those bitches, all right. I dunno, I guess I'm just tired. Hey, have you seen Joanna?" I was the master of subject changing, but his intuition is strong. Though I guess he doesn't want to pry.
"Oh yeah. I've been texting her all morning, she hasn't replied to a single one. Call her for me."
His eyes slid to Matt and examined him for a short while, and then returned to his book. I reached down onto the dry grass where my handbag unhappily sat. I searched the neverending sack of trash, I put everything in my scrawny handbag.
"It's in your pocket, dummy." Matt's voice rang in my head, I looked up and saw that his gaze never left the game.
"Thanks."
I clicked on speed-dial 3 and pressed the small, stick-like phone that my mother gave me to my ear. It rang and rang, until the voicemail message woman started talking to me instead of Joanna. Why isn't she answering? If Nathan and I weren't alive, I think Joanna would claim her phone to be her best friend. Nathan read my expression and assured me that she may be busy and we shouldn't interrupt her.
"She disgusts me." Where on earth is she..?

The end of lunch bell rang and I followed Nathan to our next subject, Performing Arts. I was helping Nate to practise his singing skills, because yesterday he told me he found a song that he loved and that he wants to solo it. I bet its for someone.
"No, I just want to sing it... That's all..." For someone so intuitive, he is so easy to read.
"Anyway. You've got to try and change your tone, because you're sounding quite flat. You'll get there."
"Okay. I'll listen to it and see how the singer does it, and I'll imitate him." One can try...

I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone

"Rose! Snap out of it!" I squinted to the blaring sun shining down on me. As I opened my eyes, a set of dark, almost black, brown eyes stared into mine. His warm breath felt like the heat of the rays of sunlight. He glowed bright yellow.
"Am I dead..?" I shut my eyes once more and waited for the answer that I needed to hear. Fresh scents of camomile and lily lingered into my nose.
"Yes, you are. I'm an angel who's been sent to carry you to the school nurse." His deep voice soothed me.
"Oh, okay. Thank you. What's your name, angel?"
"I would play your game with you Rose, but my throat really is starting to hurt from all that singing. I'm taking you to the nurse." Sounds like Nate.
"Dude, you just walked out of class! Like you were sleepwalking." His words slowly become blurred and clouded in seconds.


Chapter Two

The light shone bright in my eyes, I struggled to open my eyes as the scent of lily and camomile came to my nose. Smooth blades of short grass tickled my face as the wind serenely blew its lightest. I slowly lifted myself to my feet and rubbed my tired eyes. As I opened my eyes, I was literally blown away. The collection of trees stood tall in random rows as if it carried on forever in the distance. Collections of different flowers neatly surrounded each tree like children and their mother. Rays of sunlight shone through leaves after leaves, as it left their spot of sunshine on the soft grass. Butterflies fluttered with grace around her, and the sound of chirping birds could be heard from high above.

Faintly, I could hear something shuffling across the grass. I scanned the beautiful forest for any sign of life, but with no success.
"Hello?" My voice sounded different. It felt different.
"Hello?!" A soft high-pitched sound imitated my curious greeting. I spun around to meet this person who has answered my call. I saw no one. Starting to get paranoid, I started walking in any direction which was brightest. I can't stay here.

I heard the scurrying once more, and so I ran. I sprinted between tree to tree, with no idea where I'm leading myself. I soon realise that I've been wasting my breath. Have I travelled in a circle? I could almost swear that I've seen this arrangement of trees before. I turned and twisted, searching for the other life form that is stalking me. The cool warmth of the sun and the elegant lukewarm breeze of the flowing wind felt like I was in a heaven. My heaven. This is my dream.

"I've been trying this thing called Lucid dreaming. It's like... Weird. I've never been able to do it, but I've read that when you achieve it, you can control your dreams." Nathan's voice wafted into my mind, I could remember us sitting together in the compact school bus, with Sofia and Melanie in the pair of seats infront. It was a gloomy, rainy day and Nathan was in his happiest of moods. I had no idea what he was going on about, as usual.
"I read it in this blog on Tumblr, and everyone commented "This is so creepy." so I guess it must've worked..."
"How do you do it?" I didn't really have any care for the topic, but curiosity claimed me.
"No idea." Nathan may read a lot of books, but he absolutely has no memory, whatsoever.

The sounds of movement in the innocent grass was getting louder, and closer. I did not bother to do a full scan, as I could sense that whatever it is, it's behind me. I shut my eyes gently and concentrated. Should I relax concentrate or focus concentrate? God damn it, Nathan. The short intervals of tiny footsteps was slowly creeping forwards, and I was ready. I could feel my pulse beating in my chest, then in my legs, the tips of my fingertips, and finally my forehead. The beat of my heart in every part of my body synchronised, and heat warmed my face. I'm ready. The unknown behind me kept advancing, and so I turned around so fast that I almost felt dizzy.

Two fairies. Yep, I'm dreaming. They were just like in Nathan's books. They were both pale, and their skin was absolutely flawless. Their pink cheeks flushed in the same tone, and their wide eyes stared at me in frozen surprise. The shorter fairy on the left had red hair as fiery as flames as it came straight down to meet her forest green eyes. The taller fairy was leaner, she wore icy blonde hair in smooth curls and her electric blue eyes penetrated my soul. Their thin sparkling wings fluttered like a butterflies but did not make a single sound. They wore leaf dresses. I really have got to stop listening to Nathan.

"Umm, hello..." I almost choked on my words.
They did not move a muscle from their tip-toe positions. It's as if they're playing that game Sofia always wanted to play, where everyone freezes when the player turns around. Which is why I'm staring them down. Just in case.
"I will not hurt you, so please, when I turn around, don't leave me... Please." My desperation for company is overwhelming me.

Their expressions did not change even a slightest bit. I swallowed, and slowly turned around, keeping my eyes on them for as much as I can. They were beautiful. As my eyes left them, I felt a cold breeze that blew in my neck which caused me to shiver. I prayed for guidance. This sweet dream feels like a beautiful nightmare. An eruption of loud giggles startled me as I contemplated. The taller fairy skipped elegantly around me to face me. I was still wide awake in shock. Her piercing eyes greeted me.
"Hi! What's your name? What's an angel like you doing in a place like this? Sofi take a look at her!" My lips were clamped shut in embarassment. Sofi, the shorter fairy glided to meet me with an innocent smile.
"Hello there." Her voice was soft and childlike.
"Err, say something." The taller fairy looked at me impatiently, in a nice way.
"I'm not an angel." Well, I had to blurt something out... It's getting awkward me standing here staring.
"Oh right. I knew that. Anyway, my name is Mela." Mela flashed a bright smile.
"Rose."
"Well Rose, we should get you home!" She murmured something illegible, but Sofi seemed to understand and nodded with a grin.
I followed them in the wall-less maze of trees that all look distinctly similar. Freckles of green leaves flew in the wind as we travelled in paradise. Mela and Sofi seemed to know where they're going.
"So, where do you live?" Mela asked me emotionlessly while I shot my eyes at her. They both turned around and looked at me as if I knew where I was going.
"Yes, but I have no clue where I am! If I knew how to get home I wouldn't be following you two right now." My patience was running thin. I can't stay here.
"We we're kinda... Following you." Sofi looked at me as if I'm a tyrant who just stole her lunch money.
Suddenly, my head started to spin and before I know it, I was knelt on the smooth grass. The sudden outburst of camomile and lily scent is making me drowsy.
"Rose! Sofi, help me get it away from her! Hurry!" Mela's strong voice was trying to hold me together, and her arms were locked around me, keeping me safe. Sofi's angelic grunts we're high above my head as I could hear embers of scorching fire and waves of gushing water were clashing all around me.

I could feel every part of my body pulse. I rested my head on Mela's shoulder as she held me firmly.
"I hope we'll be seeing you again soon, Rose." I looked up to see her kind eyes smile down upon me as my vision failed me.


Chapter Three

I was woken by a defeaning crash that sounded like plates of metal. My sleep is always interrupted.
"Shit!" The low grunts of a boy appeared to come from somewhere nearby. I opened my eyes to see Nathan sat emotionlessly reading his thick book next to my hospital bed.
"Don't wake her, she might go mental, man." Nathan spoke without taking his eyes off the pages.
"Looks like she's awake already dude." Matt's cool green gaze rested on me. I've only just noticed the way he looks at me. They stared deep inside, as if we were the only two people in the world. He advanced towards me as I tried to sit down on the white, spotless bed.
"Don't get up. Knowing you, you'll probably pass out or something." I never liked Matt's comments. Nathan told me to be nice, and he'll be nice... I don't really want to be nice right now.
"Whatever. Did you bring my vaseline?"
"You were deep asleep for a whole day and a half, and when you wake up, you ask for Vaseline?" Matt let out a cheeky smirk and grabbed my handbag from a brown leather couch like it was a sack of potatoes. I took my heavy bag off him and rummaged. As I fixed myself to look at least presentable, Nathan placed his book on my bed and got up to stretch.
"Are you hungry?" I'm starving. Matt asked as he claimed Nathan's seat while he was distracted. Nate shot him a dirty look.
"Matt ate your sandwiches!" I seconded Nate and shot Matt a dirtier look.
"You sicken me to the core." With emphasis in the 'core'.
"Thanks for that, bro." Nate wiped his playful dirty look and gave Matt his biggest grin.
"Oh, that reminds me, Matt brought you flowers." Nathan pointed at the green ceramic vase filled with tall white lilies that stood valiantly on the bedside table. I love white lilies.
Matt punched Nate on the arm playfully and blushed bright pink.
"Hey, I thought you were bringing flowers too!" I was too mesmerised by the lilies that watched over me to listen to their bickering. The elegant lilies delivered memories that were held deep inside. My short adventures with Mela and Sofi have been becoming more common, that was my 3rd dream that they were a part of. Yes, I'm keeping count.
"Rose?" My trance was broken by Nathan's call.
"Yes?" I returned my gaze to their direction and saw that they both stood awkwardly at the end of my bed. Matt was frustratingly taller by around 5 inches, but this reminded me that Nathan was still taller than me.
"I didn't want to tell you until later, when you get out of hospital, but..." Nathan's cheeks brightened and his eyes shot down to look at the floor. Nathan's had some problems in the past and he is never able to tell others secrets of his own or anyone else's. He's never told anyone but me about what happened, and even then he meekly stuttered, fidgeted and occasionally changed the subject whenever he found an opportunity. I had to force it out of him to make him feel better about it. I waited patiently as he tried to finish his sentence, but eventually he gave up so I turned to Matt.
"Joanna's missing. Apparently it was around two days ago that she was last seen." The morning me and Nate were trying to contact her. I can't believe this. Where could she be? Who could've taken her?
"What about Rhode?" Rhode was Joanna's boyfriend. They were inseparable.
"He's gone missing too. We think that they've embarked on a romantic adventure." Nate smiled shyly, as his statement was very inappropriate.
"No. You think. Don't drag me into your fantasies, Nate." Matt coldly remarked.
"I'm only trying to think positive... It does no good for anyone if we sit around crying." He's way too sensitive. Matt quickly regrets his word and his eyes follow Nathan as he drifted gloomily into the dim bathroom.
"She will be back. I know it." I regret those those very words that slipped out of my lips.

I arrived home and threw my handbag on the nearest chair that welcomed me.
"Hey, Rose!" Anna and Brody ran recklessly to meet me and offered me a chocolate chip cookie, which I happily accepted.
"Welcome home, Rose." Michala sang from the kitchen.
"Hey, mum." I walked into the stainless room and helped myself to a cold beverage. Michala greeted me with a warm smile. Her stunning blue eyes shone like the ocean in the light that entered the kitchen window. Her golden wavy locks flowed like smooth waves to her shoulders while they glowed like an angel's.
"Nathan called me just now, did he tell you he wants to be called Nathaniel from now on?" Her sweet ignorance of me ending up in hospital was astounding. She stopped the tap and took off her pink washing gloves and leaned on the sink to study me.
"No... When did he tell you that?" That is so Nate.
"A while ago... It was a little strange that he texted me saying, "Hello, I'm changing my name to Nathaniel. Hope you call me that from now on. Thanks."
Michala's eyes shifted to another object to occupy her while I tried to think of something to say.
"I think that's a pretty stupid thing he's doing, to be honest." I don't understand why. Nathan is fine. I left the kitchen in a calm posture as I journeyed to my room. I whipped my phone out of my pocket and threw my exhausted body onto the caressing bed as I texted furiously onto my phone to Nathan.

Chapter Four

The unbearable pain present in my heart gets replaced with happiness whenever I'm in his presence. Relief from this eternal anguish is heavenly. But when he's gone... It comes back to haunt me.

"Wake up."
My sleep is always being disrupted. I'm not going to bother opening my eyes, I wish to return to sleep.
"Wake up." The voice was angelic. It was so beautiful that it could hypnotise any mortal if they were to hear any more. This new voice prickled my senses, as I shut my eyes even harder.
"I found you." His soft fingertips slid across as he gently pushed away the locks of hair that rested lightly on my face. I slowly opened my eyes to meet this stranger who has woken me from my rest. I squinted against the beam of light that met my eyes as I got up. The familiar contents of my bedroom flooded my sight. My head instinctively turned and twisted from one wall to another as I searched for the man who woke me. His deep voice was nothing like I have heard before. My mind wavered as I scrutinize the fragment of a memory that I struggled to keep ahold of. As I replay my dream back and forth and try to grasp all of which I could remember. Pieces of my dream was like crumbling earth, it slowly fell apart, until there was only the memory that there ever was a dream.

I stood up from my worn bed, silently opened my bedroom door and crept down the stairs to almost crash into