Just Drifting by Cecilia Cromwell

Chapter Two

When we reached and crossed a road, Lattimer seemed to ease up a little. He let go of my arm but I kept holding on to his for comfort. As we entered another thick wall of trees I felt my stomach tighten and I grip his arm tighter. Soon I started to feel a bit queasy and faint. I was reluctant to tell Lattimer of how I felt, but I knew I must.

“Lattimer, I don’t feel so well.” Then a wave of uneasiness came over me and I collapsed on the ground. Lattimer was bent down and at my side within seconds.

“It’s probably just your energy coming back. Dollie, you’re awakening. Come now, we must get to WingCorp soon or else you’re going to fully awaken. Without the proper conditions the whole of Port Coquitlam will be wiped out.” He lifted me bridal style again and carried me through the forest. I couldn’t help but cling to him as a very painful headache came over me. My head was throbbing and my temper was too. But nothing around me could’ve caused this headache other than stress. Yes, yes. Stress was the only thing that could’ve caused it now.

Then I heard the wailing sound again. It was the DarkBringer. The E Quarters thing must’ve tired by now. “Shit. E Quarters has returned to base already? This DarkBringer must be strong!” Lattimer started running very fast deeper and deeper into the forest until we reached a clearing. It looked quite like a construction site except that there were no giant machines. The pain in my head started to move throughout my body fast and I gasped as it reached my stomach. I felt it lurch. I winced in pain and I grasped Lattimer’s clothes tighter.

“Explain yourself!” I shouted. I felt something dark fly overhead of us, and soon I felt heat, anger, pain, energy, power, confusion, and frustration overcome me.

“Please, Dora. Just wait! We just need to make it to that shack over there and we’re home free!” Lattimer’s voice was filled with a sort of twisted joy.

“I’m not Dora! My name is Dollie!” I didn’t know why I said that, I knew my name was Dora. Then everything went blank. I wasn’t in pain anymore. I wasn’t angry anymore. I wasn’t confused either. I felt nothing other than sorrow and sadness. I felt like I wanted to cause suffering for my feeling. Although I couldn’t quite see anything, everything was in a blur of black. I couldn’t hear anything other than a distinct voice calling.

The voice sounded familiar and comforting. But the voice only sounded like it was saying a slur of words. Only once I focused on it could I tell what it was saying. “Dollie! No! What are you doing?! Not yet! This will come to them as acknowledgment that you’ve awakened!” I then felt dirty. Like I’d done some immoral deed that could not be erased from me.

I felt the black fog clear from my mind and things started to clear, as well. I saw there was black goo all over the clearing. I myself was covered in it. And there, right in front of me was the DarkBringer, just laying there on the ground not moving. I felt afraid. “Dollie…” I turned around quickly and saw Lattimer behind me, still at the edge of the forest; his face was full of fear, worry, and concern.

Then the confusion and fear hit me like a truck. I felt full force of the emotions. But fear was the dominant one and tears started to run down my face. I ran at full force to Lattimer, crying into him when I’d reached him. “What happened?! Lattimer speak! What happened?!” I cried, trying to calm myself. But nothing seemed to make sense. Then he put his arms around my back for comfort.

“Dollie. You’ve arrived,” he whispered very quietly.

“What does that mean, Lattimer?” I asked as I looked up at him, my face tear stained.

Just then the shack opened and two people rushed out and towards us. I noticed this out of the corner of my eye. “Lattimer! What happened here?! Who in their right minds brought down a DarkBringer? Who of this power?” The voice that spoke was a male one.

“Eru. Dollie. It was Dollie who did this, Eru. She awoke and brought down that DarkBringer in a matter of seconds. A powerful one, she is.”

“Ah. So this is Dollie? So young. A fresh teen, no?” The one named Eru turned to the other person. “Bambie. Contact AIR and THUNDER. Tell them to clean up this mess.” That name triggered something in my mind.

“Bambie…Bambie Bathazar?” I said, my voice hardly over a whisper. Lattimer let me go and held me an arms length away.

“How did you know?” he asked.

“I met her before…in the alley way. Poor Jane…” It hurt a little to recall the sight of the dead girl on the pavement. She was my age, and yet she died? Why? And by who?

Eru stared at me then turned his attention to Bambie. “Bambie, is this the girl you met in the alley way? Is she the one who materialized?”

Bambie nodded her head. “Yes, Eru. She is. I only should’ve guessed she’d be one of the Gifts of God if she did what she did.” Then she smiled weakly and ran off back to the shack.

“What happened?” I asked faintly. Eru and Lattimer stared at me like an idiot. I looked around me for a moment and tried to piece everything together. “I did this? Did I kill the DarkBringer?”

“Yes, Dollie. You did. It was a very morbid sight, to watch you rip it apart like that. I never knew angels could be so violent or dark.” Lattimer’s stare turned into a worried one.

Then Eru cut in. “Remember, Lats. She’s one of the Gifts of God. They are Hidden Angels of Suffering, able to ‘sleep’ for long periods of time until awaken. And once they are, nothing will stop then from completing the task set in their brains. They're often referred to as ‘Fallen Angels.’” Lattimer nodded. I still felt confused. None of this made sense.

“What am I? A ‘Gift of God’? What is it?”

“A Gift of God is one of the six Hidden Angels of Suffering that were sent down to earth seven years ago,” Eru filled in. He looked concerned, and it showed in his voice. “Now let’s return to base. I’m very sure the DarkOnes have noticed the DarkBringer’s energy is gone and will send more soon.” He made a slight gesture to the shack.

“But, it’s so small. How can it be a base?” No one answered me. I was getting kind of used to being ignored. Lattimer grasped onto my shoulders and started ushering me to the shack. Eru followed shortly afterwards. He closed the door and everything went black. Then I noticed the floor we were standing on wasn’t dirt or wood. It sounded and felt like a metal of sorts.

“SeasonedWings,” I heard Eru say. And then the floor started to move downwards. I felt like I was in an elevator, and I’m pretty sure I was. After a few minuets the elevator stopped moving and the doors opened to a gigantic “Office Building” type of place. Everything was white and glass. There were people everywhere, but not so much that it looked crowded.

“What does SeasonedWings mean?” I asked.

Eru looked down on me. “You’ll learn that in training. For now, it’s a word that lets you enter WingCorp.” I felt small, useless, fragile, and stupid. Here everyone knew what was going on. And here I was, a fresh teen who doesn’t even get smart grades in school, entering this weird business type place. What was going on here?

Everyone we passed addressed me as “Dollie,” and I was getting quite sick of it. If everyone knew my name, why didn’t they bother to call me by it?

Then a memory came back to me. It was a supposed story, err, myth or legend about the Twelve Gifts of Devil and the Six Gifts of God. It was said that in the year 2000, the millennium year, Satan sent Twelve Winged Demons to earth in Australia to destroy Earth in eight years time. But little did he know, God sent Six Hidden Angels of Suffering later on that same year. The reason being why God sent only half the amount of Angels as Demons was to prove that Good was stronger, and more powerful than Evil. And sure enough, its 2007, seven years have already passed. Next year is the year that Earth is supposed to be either destroyed or saved.

“Where are you taking me?” I enquire as Lattimer and Eru walk me down a different blindingly white hallway to a fogged glass door. On the door in black was the name, “Wing Yun Man.”

Eru walked ahead and knocked on the door. “Director Wing. We have retrieved the Gift of God you have specified.” The door opened and Eru walked in, followed by Lattimer pushing me in.

A young looking woman sat at her fogged glass desk in her white leather swirly chair. She had black shoulder length hair that seemed to thin as it ended. Her pale skin was perfect and looked smooth. The clothing she wore reminded me of the Victorian times, or the Edwardian times with an Asian-Modern twist to it. She wore a crown-like headdress and some jewelry. She looked nothing over the age of Twenty-Five.

“Good Morning, as it is early morn. Captain Kurosaki and Captain Dita, I see you have brought back Type D; Dollie. Now known as Dora Lalani Lael.” How did she know my name? I guess these guys are stalkers of a sort. Wing sighed deeply. “At least you brought her back, and didn’t let her succumb to the DarkOnes.”

“Yes, Director. Now what do you suppose we do with her?” Eru asked.

Wing closed her eyes and seemed to be in deep thought. “Let’s put her in light training. Then she’ll go with your team, since we lost Miss Rae yesterday.” Training? But I have school to go to. They can’t take me away from that.

I perked up. “I have school today! I can’t skip out! Plus, my parents drive me, so they’ll be expecting me to come out of my room at six twenty-five.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Dollie. You’ll be home soon,” Wing said calmly.

“But…What about my sleep? I’d only have a few hours of it. My friends are sure to notice the giant bags under my eyes!” I practically shouted. My temper could never be controlled.

Wing sighed and Lattimer’s grip on my shoulders tightened. “Director, make no effort. We will take care of this matter during training. Shall we start now? If so, I’ll need her training papers.” Winged nodded and gave Eru the papers he asked for. “Thank you, Director.” He bowed and motioned me towards the door. I didn’t really have a choice as Lattimer dragged me out. When Eru shut the door Lattimer hastily let go of my shoulders. Eru grabbed them now, forcing me to face him.

“You do not raise your voice at the Director! She’s head of this operation, so if it wasn’t for her you’d still be out there in the world with no idea of what you were! You would be killed!” He shook me as he spoke to make his message go across clearly.

“Hey, Eru. Maybe you shouldn’t be so rough on her. I mean, after we train her, she’d have the ability to kill you,” Lattimer cut in. Eru let go of me and sighed deeply.

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes slightly. “Lats, we’d better start her training soon. Don’t want her asking us questions again. No time for twenty questions.” He then walked off back down the hallway to the main one. “Coming?” Lattimer patted my back for comfort and I nodded. I followed Eru down the main hallway with Lattimer behind me. I really didn’t know where they were taking me. But as long as I got answers, I didn’t really care as much.

We reached another fogged glass door that read, “Dollie.” Me? Why me? Eru opened it and inside was a full bedroom with a bed, desk, a shelf, a bedside table, a clock, a TV screen, telephone, computer, and a lamp next to the bed. “Dollie, this is your room while you’re here. Your training room is across the hall, so when we call you report there,” Eru explained.

“Yes. Now here, take this. You’ll need it for communication, as well as for us to track you.” Lattimer shoved a small gadget into my hand. It looked exactly like the one he had earlier. “Now remember these code words. MudClump for when you’re in danger and want protection. SeasonedWings for when you’re in the shack and want to enter WingCorp. SundayBear for when you want me and MondayTiger for Eru. SummerDeer for Bambie. DarkOnes for whenever you see a skeleton with a girl. DarkSnape for any other evil creature. Understand?” I nod my head slowly, trying to digest that all at once.

“Good. Now stay in here while we set up the training room.” They left soon after that. I just stood there in the middle of the room. Well, at least I wasn’t tired yet. I knew I would be soon, according as it’s early in the morning. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was four sixteen in the morning. I was due to wake up in two hours. I groan in irritation as I fall freely onto the bed. Why and how was all this happening? I still didn’t understand it, so I went over the Twelve Demon Six Angel Myth again in my head. I always knew that thing didn’t sound like a story. I just never knew it was true or involved me.

If it was true, and what these guys are saying is true, then that means I’m one of the Six Hidden Angels of Suffering; means that I’m an angel of god. But this can’t be right! I’ve got a disorder, angels aren’t supposed to have disorders; they’re supposed to be perfect! I’m not perfect. I’m the almost total opposite. If I knew that myth was true, I’d actually give thought that I’d be a Demon rather than one of the Angels. Truly.

Then the phone rang. I rushed up and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Alright, Rule number one; never just pick up the phone and ask ‘Hello?’ Answer ‘Yes? Dollie speaking.’ Then wait for a reply.” The voice sounded like Eru.

I swallowed. “Why must I answer like that?”

“Because it’s more proper than just ‘Hello?’ You don’t have to do it at home, just while you’re here. Which will be often, now. And be prepared to lie to your parents. And try to get your friends to lie to them too. You’re going to go away often on long trips.”

“Lie to my parents? I do that all the time! I’m really no angel, Eru. Just a human girl. And if not that, then a demon.”

“Ah. You’re no demon, and no human girl. Lattimer saw your performance, and we know what the demons look like; we have one amidst us, Dollie. Now report to your training room immediately. By the way, it’s DollieParker.” He hung up the phone right after he finished. Was that an order? Earlier Wing addressed him as “Captain Kurosaki,” so does that mean he’s a captain? It’s severely obvious now that his last name’s Kurosaki. And what’s with the “DollieParker” thing?

I walked over to the door and out of the room, closing and locking it. I knocked on the door across the hallway. “Yes? Password please.”

I racked my brain for what the password was, and then it hit me. “DollieParker,” I said confidently. That must be what Eru meant, the password.

The door opened to reveal a pure white room with Eru, Lattimer and Bambie standing in the middle of it. “Hello,” I said shyly.

“Good morning, Miss Parker. How are you today?” I jumped and turned to my right to see a girl with blue eyes, blue hair pulled up into two pony tails at either side of her head, and wearing a blue maid’s outfit.

What was a young girl doing here? “H-hello. Good morning, you too. I am fine, you?” I asked politely.

She bowed. “I am fine, Miss Parker. Thank you for asking.”

I heard a cough and then I remembered the other three in the room. I turned to face them with a slight blush on my face from embarrassment. “Um, hello?”

“Yes, well. Good morning, Parker. Time to start your training,” Eru said. I could tell by now that he was the leader type.

“We’ll start with your knowledge, yes?” Bambie asked nicely. She seemed like a very nice person by now.

I nod slowly. “Alright, then.”

“We’ll start with that MaidMachine to your right. Her type is ZeroThree. But everyone calls her Akira. She’s basically a robot maid that has emotions and does what you tell her to do.” Lattimer motioned to Akira and she bowed again to me. “Akira, please get Parker a chair to sit on.”

Just like that Akira was off through the door and back within seconds with a chair in hand. “Here you go, Miss Parker.” I thanked her and sat down in it. Then she pushed me towards the center of the room where she got chairs for the others and they sat down, as well.

“From now on, your name will be Dollie Parker. On our missions, that will be your name. You are Lattimer’s little sister. Bambi and I are a couple. Jane was supposed to be my little sister. Our missions can be from only a few hours to as long as a few months. You have to be able to handle that. You have to be able to hide and lie to your parents and friends. You have to make sure your friends lie for you to your parents and school staff.” I’m going to be Lattimer’s younger sister? I guess we’d have to get to know each other a bit more then, don’t want to screw things up while on missions.

“Basically, your friends are the ones covering for you. AIR will take care of everything else.” Eru glared at Lattimer for budding in. Bambie sighed deeply. Seems to me that every gets a long just fine. I giggled at the thought.

“What is so amusing?” Eru snapped.

“Nothing, really. Just continue on with the explaining. Um…please explain the fact of me not needing sleep, please.” No sleep? I don’t understand how anyone can survive without any sleep. Not even a fallen angel like me. I can’t see that happening.

“Ah, yes. Well, since now you’ve awakened, you just don’t need sleep. Not sleep in the form of sleep, at least. Only for resting reasons. This means you can stay awake for multiple days without sleep. Do not worry, everything will be taken care of.” Gee, well that surely clears things up. I’ll only need rest and not sleep. I take them as completely different things and yet they treat them as similar.

I’d better get going soon. My parents will be expecting me.

“What time is it?”

“Five ‘o three in the morning. You’ll be leaving soon; around twelve minuets,” Bambie answered.

“Thank you.” She really was kind. The only actually kind and caring person in this little group. There was a knock on the door and Akira answered it to reveal a blond girl with long hair wearing a black leather outfit and a black ribbon in her hair.

“Good Morning Miss Fable. What may I do for you this early morn?” Akira asked.

“I would like to speak with Captain Kurosaki and Captain Dita, please Akira.”

“Yes, at once.” Akira moved out of the way to show her in full. She had light blue eyes, pale skin, and another red ribbon tied around her neck. “Miss Fable of AIR would like to speak with Captain Kurosaki and Captain Dita.”

Eru rose from his seat and Lattimer just stayed slumped in his. “Good Morning Miss Fable. What is it that you would like to speak about? Or is it urgent and is in need of absolute attendance?”

“Morning Lain! What do you need?”

Bambie and I giggled at the differences between Eru and Lattimer’s responses.

“Captain Rain and Captain Dina would like to inform you of the status of the area above.” What area? That empty construction place? Where I killed that DarkBringer? I remember that mess I made. It was sure to attract someone—or something—to that place, and maybe lure them inside this place.

“Yes? Is it clean and complete? Just as it was beforehand?”

“Yes, Captain Kurosaki.” I am glad it is clean.

“Good, then. You may leave.” Eru and Lain bowed once then she left and Akira closed the door with a smile on her face.

“Oh my, look at the time, Eru! We’d better get Dollie back to her house soon or else her parents will notice she’s gone,” Bambie said, looking at her watch.

“Yes, I agree. Akira! Lead Parker to the entrance and wait with her there for Sub-Captain Labrador,” Eru ordered.

“Yes, Captain Kurosaki. Come with me, Miss Parker.” I’m leaving now? Like this? I guess they expect me to clean up my clothes myself.

But… “Who’s Sub-Captain Labrador?”

“She’s the sub Captain in METAL group. Really nice. She’s also Royalty, you know. Along with her brother Captain Labrador. She’s Eru’s girlfriend, too! Her first name is Devyn and her brother's name is Damhan.” I couldn’t help but let out a light giggle.

“So the Captain’s dating Royalty, eh?” I put a sly smile on my lips and close my eyes to only slits.

He blushed lightly and pointed to the door. “Out! Leave! You should go home now. Your parents will get worried!”

I’d broken him, with the of course help from Lattimer. “Fine, Captain. I’ll leave.” I turned to the door and rushed out, really taking Eru’s words seriously. But as I rushed out the door I bumped into a girl my height. I fell to the ground with a thump.

I only had time to see she had blond hair, tanned skin, and black demon wings before everything went out in a black blur. This time I went black, I couldn’t hear anything for a little while. Again, I felt sorrow and sadness. As well as a longing to cause despair and destruction to all. After what seemed like only a few minuets I started to hear a song. It sounded so similar to Love Story by Beethoven.

Then the song faded and cries of pain and shouts of anger replaced it. My view faded from black, to gray, then everything became clear. The horrid sight before me was absolute and undenying,

I was standing in front of the girl. She was crouched on the floor before me. She had black goo—I suppose was her blood—around her and on the floor. And at worse, on me.

It was all over my hands and legs. Some of it was on my body-torso section. I do believe some was on my face also. The girl was quivering and her eyes were wide and blank. They were staring up at me with fear.

My want for home couldn’t be stronger.