Fallen Angel

What I Was Created to Do

My fist collided with his jaw, sending the man tumbling to the ground. Blood gushed from his nose as his eyes grew wide.

"Y-You're one of them! A F-Fallen Angel!" He scrambled farther away as I moved closer. His girlfriend lay slumped against the wall, her face contorted in pain.

My shoulder throbbed as I landed a kick in the man's stomach, causing blood to sputter from his mouth. Just a little bit more, Erich. You don't want to kill him. And yet, it felt good to be inflicting pain on this mortal. He deserved to suffer.

"How many times has this man hit you today?" I turned my head to the girl, who faintly opened her eyes. A quiet number muttered from her lips before she fell silent. Okay, I can do this. Kneeling beside the man, I held him by his shirt collar.

"Let's make it even." I growled, hitting him in the nose. "One." I hit him in the jaw. "Two." Then in the forehead. "Three." Once more to the nose. "Four." He cried as I slammed my fist into his chest. "Five." Rib cage. "Six."

Throwing his unconscious body to the ground, I turned to face the girl.

"Is he...dead?" Her voice was so quiet as I knelt beside her.

"No." I replied, taking her hand in mine. "You need to go home and rest. This man won't hurt you ever again." She nodded, closing her eyes as we passed the unconscious man. "Where do you live?" Despite my burning shoulder, I was willing to walk her home. This girl had been through enough torture today. What kind of man takes advantage of such a young girl?

"Just a block away from here. I-I can walk." Her hand shook in mine as her bottom lip began to tremble. She's scared of me, I realized. Mortals don't understand us...Fallen Angels. She's afraid that I'll hurt her. 

"I'm not going to hurt you." I turned to her, placing my hand on her shoulder.

"You're one of them." She gave me a weak smile. "Don't see many of you guys around anymore. Shame." Her eyes drifted behind me, to the man. "Thank you."

I smiled proudly. "Are you sure that you can get there by yourself." Despite this girl seemingly regaining some composure, I wasn't sure that she could make it back to her home.

"Y-yeah. I'll be fine." The girl gently slipped her hand from my grasp, slowly backing away from me. "Thanks again." She brushed some dirt from her tight dress, turned around, and quickly walked out of sight.

 Why are people so afraid of us? We're on their side. But then again, she said it was a shame that we weren't really around anymore. Most gods and Undesirables are with Poseidon...or dead. I went back through the alley, preparing to dispose of the man, but he was gone. The only trace of him was a small puddle of blood. Huh, saved me some work. 

I walked back into the green house, half-expecting Bliss to be there.

She wasn't.

"Where are you?" I asked myself. The only reply was the sound of my voice echoing throughout the space. Walking towards the tent, I lean over to get one of my daggers, but cry out in pain. "Agh!" My shoulder burned intensely, telling me not to move anymore. Clenching my teeth, I left the dagger, and gently laid down on the blankets and pillows, stripping my shirt off. Despite the cool night's air, I was beginning to burn up. What's going on with me? "Sleep, Erich. Shut up and go to sleep." I whispered to myself.

...

Panting and sweating, I sat up. "Gah!" My shoulder screamed in protest, but I wiped my face down and tried to regain control of my breathing. It's not real. It's not real. I'm okay. But I've gotta get out of here.