She stood there frozen in thought. Raphael had betrayed her. The angels were hardwired to adore her and follow her every commandment. This was probably what death meant.
' no matter if she won't help me, I'll kill them myself. ' she thought to herself.
She had made up her mind. The humans weren't worth saving.
She wandered around aimlessly searching for the bridge between the two layers, until she came upon an angel.
" Milady. Is there a place you wish to be? " The angel said as she frittered about, starstruck by her presence.
" Yes actually. Could you take me to the bridge. "
" If I may ask, which bridge do you speak of? "
" The bridge between the layers of course. " Life said slightly confused.
" I understand that and do please bear with me milady, but to which layer do you speak of. Is it the heaven's bridge, the fallen bridge or the path "
" The path? " Life asked, as her face showed how confused she was.
" Has Lord Raphael not explained it to you yet. Never the matter. It shall be my honor to aid you "
All of existence, every planet or universe, and beyond the infinite vastness is all part of the second layer. There are three layers divided evenly and used for different purposes. The first layer often called heaven is where souls rest. In here resides Angels. Second to life they are the purest form of creation and harmony and therefore oversee all their mistress makes. The third layer, often referred to as hell. It is darkness. Nothing exists within this layer. It is a layer that consumes and corrupts all life. Only the demons, the corrupted essence of life, and death can reside here. The second layer. A realm of life. Every planet, star, constellation, Galaxy and even universe exist here. It is a vast pit of life and creation. Out of all three layers, this is the only one that supports true life. There are three bridges that connect them. The bridge that connects the first to the second layer is called heaven's bridge. The bridge that connects the first and third layer is the path and the bridge that connects the second and third layer is called the fallen bridge.
She wanted a gate to the second layer, the layer of humans.
" Thanks for the info. So could you take me to the heaven's bridge "
" It would be my pleasure. "
This was it, once she got there she would do it, extinguish all. Erase every trace of the humans, this was the right thing to do, the only thing. Yet her hands shook, she was scared.
Life is a being born of creation hence is forever bound by it. To go against this is to go against her very nature her reason for existing. The closer they got to the bridge the more her hand shook. Her eyes spun and her legs became weak. Soon enough they had arrived. The bridge was strange, it looked more of a gate than a bridge. As she gazed up at it immeasurable height, her hands shook more. When she walked through this gate there would be no turning back. ' steel your nerves ' she thought to herself.
" That's right. Before we go in, I never got your name " she said looking at the angel, trying to stall.
" Oh we angels don't have one. We aren't given one since we're practically indistinguishable from one other. Although. Lady Gaia did give some of the angel's their names but she sadly passed before me. "
" Ohh.... Well in that case, would it be alright if I call you Anne? "
And as she gave her the name, she looked at her face for the first time. She was ecstatic, her eyes filled with a glimmer of joy, as she let out a goofy smile and she nodded in agreement. Throughout their journey she never bothered to look at her, but now she did, she realized how much she looked like Raphael. Her hair was a deep brown and her eyes a light grey and yet they looked practically indistinguishable.
" Shall we go? "
" Yeah. "
Leading the way both Life and Anne walked through the bridge. Behind them, several hundred meters were death and Raphael, watching.
" Don't you think it's time to jump in? " Raphael said watching him, waiting for any giveaway to his answer.
" No. I think she'll have to learn this lesson by herself. She'll figure it out, she's a smart girl. "
" And if she doesn't? " He said with an eye raised.
" Then she wipes out the human race. After all they're her creations. I couldn't be bothered about that. "
" You're a liar. You'd be sad and angry. " Raphael said
" No. I'll be very disappointed. "
" in that case for your sake, I'll keep an eye on them. "
" No, I'll go, stay here and keep an eye on things."
The moment she walked through the gates she was greeted with the most mesmerizing colours. The leaves were bright oranges, reds and yellows. The clouds a deep red hue, and the litter of kids across the streets playing. A cold gush of wind flew by sending a chill. It was autumn.
" Is there an issue milady? " Anne said worried
" Its really cold. Don't you feel it? "
" I'm sorry but we angels don't really get cold. Maybe I can give you my toga for warmth. "
" No. That won't be necessary. "
It was completely different from when death took her here. It was cold and yet bright and beautiful, and the weather complemented perfectly by the scores of happy children roaming around the streets.
" The second layer is quite beautiful this time of year. "
" I hadn't known the leaves could change into so many colours. " She said as she spun around mesmerized by the autumn trees.
" This is actually my favourite season on this planet. "
" Yeah it's not hot, like when Death brought me here. Who knew this world had two seasons. "
They both talked as they walked side by side enjoying the beauty of the world as the sky set and the children ran to their parents.
" No way! " Life said in shock
" You're telling me that they're more than two. There's a season where white, cold, fluffy water fall from the sky, and a season where there are flowers everywhere. "
" Yeah. " Anne said with a giggle as they both sat on a bench.
" If I may ask milady? Is there a reason you decided to come here? "
Suddenly and swiftly all joy was taken from her face. She had just forgotten. Her mind had been made up. she was going to kill them. Erase an entire specie of the face of the cosmos. Children, women, Innocent and happy lives. She couldn't bring up the words to answer Anne. How could she, action become apparent when you have to speak them.
" Anne. "
" Yes milady. "
" If you had to do something you believe was right only to be shown an something that contradicted your very morality. what would you do? " She said, her eyes watery.
" What would I do?–"
" What a tough question indeed. " A voice echoing through answered.
A human had answered her.
" Lord death? " Anne asked confused.
" It seems your lady finally named you Anne. "
He said as his eyes met life's. His eyes filled with sorrowful disappointment.
" Yes. And a marvelous name it is. That being said, why're you here? "
" Oh nothing, just stopping a moron. "
" You won't stop me death. I have to do this. No matter how much I don't want to or how conflicted I feel right now, this is something I have to do. " She said in a panic as she tried to convince herself.
" If I don't kill them they'll go on to wreak havoc. " She said, dropping her gaze as tears bubbled at her eyes.
" I know you come from a good place, but this isn't the right way to go about things. Anne give us some space, I'll like to speak with life in private. "
" As you wish. " Anne said as she flew back a few hundred meters.
Death walked slowly putting his hand on her shoulder.
" I get it, you believe this is a necessary evil that must be carried out. You aren't the first person that want to rid the world of the humans. The humans hate themselves and have tried. I did too once. Unlike you, I actually went ahead with my goals, I was dumb, weak and vulnerable, I was going to kill everyone. Men, women, children, the guilty and the innocent. "
" Why didn't you. I doubt there's anyone who could've stopped you. " She said finally looking up at him.
" You're right. All the angels fell silent as they watched me kill hundreds of thousands... Millions of people. I could feel their fear. The one who wasn't afraid was you. Well seventh. It is a memory I still hold dear. "
His gaze darting up to the sky as his eyes wandered, recalling a memory. A young girl holding his hands, her eyes blue and her smile beautiful. She was saying something as she held his hands.
" You stopped me when i was at my worst, you helped me, and showed me the beauty they had to offer. so let me try and help you. "
" I've seen the good. You showed me how beautiful it could be, and even now I see it, but the evil I saw in those images I can never forget. For their sake and for the rest of the world you need to kill them. "
" Morality is more complex than good and bad. " He said looking at Anne.
" There's a place far from here. In its absurdity and cruelty it isn't much different than the rest, but an event will occur, one equally as pointless as suffering. "
" What do you mean? " She asked, her face a twist of confusion and curiosity.
" Shall we go see it? It is quite the site though so be cautious. "
They paced through the wet and muddy floor, their footprints a quiet that was unnatural. The three stood at the centre of a building containing a massive number of animals. The smell of animal feaces rich in the air, the atmosphere a depressed and horror filled monody. It was a place far away from most of the human population. In that warehouse there were hundreds of animals, poached from there habitat. The mere sight of it made life throw up, even Anne who tagged along was sick. There they were used for horrible experiments or sold to the highest bidder. Their body filled with marks of abuse. Somewhere in the corner was a bear, and something glowing beside it. Death without a word moved towards the light emanating from the bear. When both life and Anne got to him, they saw the soul of a creature, one unable to move on.
" Don't souls normally gravitate towards the first layer? "
" Yes, they do but with a strong enough will, it can force itself to remain in this one. "
" Why would anything want remain here? "
" Strong sentimental emotions can tie the souls to things they once had. A house, a book, or anything of such value. Or it could be the will of someone who still had something to do. "
He turned pointing to a cub curled like a ball as close to the dead bear as possible.
" That being said, I can't let it remain here, if it did it could change the purity of the soul into something much worse. "
Slowly and with pure intentions he stretched his hand out to the soul of the bear. With a massive growl it lunged at him and bit his arm, but he was not deterred. He sat down among the dirt and filt, gently caressing the creature in his arm.
" I'm sorry but you can't stay here. I know you want to keep him safe, so you stayed in this place you hate so much surrounded by beings you'll never understand nor forgive. Let me promise you this though, he will be safe. "
Slowly she let go of him, now curling up in his arms.
" The humans tend to believe that they are superior to all. So they steal the resources from the creatures around them, and while they may not be the same as humans they feel just like they do. They feel pain, sorrow, depression, loss and even loneliness. they're hurt and in sorrow. The humans rip them from their home, and use them in the cruelest of ways. Forever trapped here to be endlessly drained of whatever resource they need. This soul in my arms belongs to a star bear, in here it's bile will be drained from it till the day they die, in the corner are pangolin scales and ivory from an elephant. These were ripped from these animals, as they bled out or were killed. "
Suddenly the creatures in cages all around them begin to scream and yell as people walked through the door and past the cages. There were three men, all smelling of drugs and cigarettes. They opened up the cage were the mother beat was and lifted the body out as the cub tried helplessly to fight. After leaving they threw the body in a ravine. In there were dozens of animal bones and carcass
" Why show me this? " Her voice barely a squeak as streaks of tears rolled down her eyes.
" A truly gruesome sight isn't it? But this is nowhere near the worst things they've done. Pointless wars that take from the helpless, unsolicited murder, destruction to their world on an immensely massive scale, and discrimination amongst themselves. I brought you here to show you how cruel and evil humans can be, I brought you here to show you how pointless their endeavors are, I brought you here to show you that humans are the most cruel and evil specie that has ever existed on this planet. But... "
Suddenly the doors to the warehouse brake open as dozens of officers troop in. The warehouse was surrounded, they had come to rescue the animals and arrest the poachers. In moments all the poachers were on the floor or in cuffs as the officers gently loaded the animals into transport vehicles.
" I also brought you here to show that they can be the kindest and nicest specie. They are cruel yes, but they are aware of the cruelty of their nature and try to fix it. I just told you that hundred of thousands of situations like this exist but there are millions of those that bring hope, they aren't the best, but they try. There's more to people than their actions. People that do bad things can and do change, sometimes they end up doing more good than their worst mistakes. " His eyes meeting hers.
" Living brings cruelty and evil, it's just a fact of life. The reason I brought you here is to show you, that neither you nor the things you make are perfect, but that doesn't make them evil. "
After a while they left there. With the soul of the mother bear in hand all three sat together at a bench as the sun set.