by R M Gauthier
“I don’t know,” Nevaeh replies just as shocked as Fallon.
“Just tell me.” Aaron asks, peering up at Nevaeh. “I’m dead, right?” His innocent gaze travels between the two, anxiously awaiting a response.
His gaze lands on Fallen, specifically his black wings with red tips. Those colors swirl together, causing Aaron to squeeze his eyes shut. He thinks he’s hit his head and is delusional right now.
When he opens his eyes, he’s staring at the card in the man’s hands.
“Do you want the card?” the man whispers to Aaron, while holding the card in his outstretched hand.
Aaron’s gaze drifts from the card to the man for a moment before snapping out of his delusion.
“No, you hang onto it for a minute.” Aaron replies, then falls back into his routine. “So, your first name starts with an A, and your last name an S?”
“Yep.” The man gives Aaron a puzzled glance.
“Is your name Azrael Star?” Aaron asks.
“Yes,” the man responds, bewildered.
“And, is that your card?” Aaron asks pointing to the card in the man’s hand.
The man flips it over and mumbles to himself as he laughs, then holds it up so the audience can see it.
“No,” he responds.
“Whose name is on the card?” Aaron questions.
“Yours,” the man responds.
“And, is this your card?” Aaron steps to the side, grabs the book off the table and lifts the lid. He pulls out the card resting inside and holds it out so Azrael can examine it.
“How?” The man laughs, then nods his head in the affirmative.
Aaron holds the card up for the audience to view.
Gasps and applause erupt throughout the theatre.
Aaron gazes at the man next to him.
“Do I know you?” he questions the man, his eyebrows knitting together.
The man winks at Aaron as the stagehands direct him off the stage and back to his seat. Aaron stares at him the entire time stunned before snapping back to reality as a stagehand passes him what he needs for his next trick.
Aaron’s next session with the Doc is going to be interesting.
5
It’s at this point in his performance that Aaron wonders if this was the best idea. He wanted to prove his worth, his capabilities, his sanity. However, it appears he’s proving his mother and doctor right—he’s completely insane.
As the audience claps, and the stagehands set up the next illusion, Aaron stands still, pondering whether he can continue, or if he should shut down the show and go home. Until he watches the stagehand drag the table with the deck of cards and book on top of it, to the side of the stage.
His gaze fixates on the golden lettering along the spine. His eyes close as he considers his position.
Aaron’s eyelids snap open, offering him a view from the window in Dr. Swanson’s office. He spins around and glares at the bookcase. He wanders over for a closer view of the spines.
“How was your week, Aaron?” Dr. Swanson watches Aaron drift around the room, his anxiety evident.
“Fine.” Aaron replies, without a glance at the doctor.
Aaron is preoccupied reading the spines of the books in the bookcase behind Dr. Swanson’s desk. As he peruses the shelves, his finger runs in sync with his reading.
“Just fine?” the doctor probes.
“Yes. Everything is fine.” Aaron continues to stare at the books.
The doctor shifts on his chair, lets out an audible sigh, then reaches for a folder at the side of his desk and flips it open. He grabs a pen out of the holder and begins making notes on a paper in the folder.
Time passes, and Aaron ignores the doctor as he works silently.
Finally, Aaron plops down in the chair in front of the doctor’s desk and glares at him.
Dr. Swanson peeks up, dropping his pen on top of the paper containing his notes. He sits back on his chair, resting his arms on the side supports. Fingers steepled under his chin, he stares at Aaron, but says nothing.
“It’s been a weird week.” Aaron finally speaks.
“How so?”
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel the same as it used to.” Aaron fixes his gaze on his lap.
“What doesn’t?”
“Life.” Aaron peeks up at the doctor.
“You returned to work this week. How did that go?”
“Strange.”
“Because it’s been so long?”
“No.”
“Did something happen?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You know, Aaron, I can’t help you if you’re not honest with me.”
“I am being honest. I don’t know what’s happening. I just know that nothing is what it used to be, and at my show—” Aaron cuts himself off.
Dr. Swanson peers at Aaron, waiting patiently for him to continue. When he says nothing further, and only stares at his lap, the good doctor nudges him.
“What happened at your show, Aaron?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Besides, it’s not like I know either.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I saw an angel. Two in fact, possibly three.” Aaron blurts out.
The doctor sits back on his chair as he regards Aaron’s demeanor. The two are suspended in a pause of silence.
“Are you having delusions? Because—” Aaron immediately cuts the doctor off.
“See. Told you, you wouldn’t believe me,” Aaron flashes an accusatory stare. “I don’t even believe myself,” he whispers, as he lowers his gaze to his lap, once again.
“Aaron,” Dr. Swanson replies. “Please look at me.”
Aaron slowly raises his head.
“I believe you.”
“No, you don’t. And I don’t blame you. I’m finding it hard to believe.”
“Why?”
“Why? What?”
“Why don’t you believe yourself?”
Aaron’s attention drifts to the window. He stares at the dull sky filled with grey clouds as his minds drifts off.
Aaron is standing on the edge of a cliff, staring out into the vast land. The two angels approach him coming to a halt, one on either side of him. They all stare at the deep valley and the mountains beyond laid out in front of their eyes. They stand and gawk for a moment observing everything.
“Where are we?” Nevaeh asks, her voice echoing for miles. She covers her mouth with her hand, while confusion clouds her features.
“S-h-h!” Aaron waves his hand at her.
“Well, this is new,” Fallen barely whispers, as he scans the entire vicinity.
“Do you think we’re back on earth?” Aaron asks, glancing at Fallen.
Fallen laughs.
Nevaeh gives him a disappointed glare.
“Aaron. Why do you think no one will believe you?” Dr. Swanson asks again.
Aaron returns his attention to the doctor.
“Because telling people that I died and met angels who want something from me sounds crazy, even to me.” Aaron glares at the doctor in challenge.
“A lot of people have the same experience when they think they’ve died.”
“No, Doc. There wasn’t a bright light and these angels weren’t all-loving with halos over their heads glowing golden. Well, Nevaeh glowed, but not Fallen.”
“Wait,” Dr. Swanson sits forward on his chair. “They have names?”
Aaron’s face turns neutral.
“Yeah.”
“And, what did they want you to do?”
“That’s the thing, Doc. I have no idea.” Aaron raises his arms up, then lets them drop back to his lap. “I think they were trying to get me to do something.”
“Like live?”
“No. Actually, they were bewildered that I was there.”
“Where?”
Aaron shifts on his chair.
“Heaven?” he asks more than confirms.
“Why do you think y
ou were in heaven?”
“Because it was all white and fluffy and quiet.”
“How come you haven’t mentioned this before?”
“I didn’t remember. When I did my show this weekend, it came back to me in pieces. I thought I’d lost my mojo. Then, Sunday night, I had a big breakthrough and remembered everything.”
“So, tell me what you remember,” Dr. Swanson instructs.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Intrigue.”
Aaron glares at him dubiously.
“One of the angels was at my show,” Aaron reveals.
“How do you know?”
“He was part of the show. I do a trick where I bring a member of the audience on stage for the big reveal. He was the chosen one.”
Dr. Swanson regards Aaron for a moment.
“Why do you think he was there?”
“I’m not sure, but I think he may try to hurt me again.”
“So, you think he shoved the pills down your throat?”
“No. Not exactly.”
“Then how was this dark angel involved?”
“I don’t know,” Aaron whispers, then rises from his chair and makes his way to the window. He stares down at the traffic passing below as he thinks about the man from his show. He had the long black hair, same face, eyes—everything. It was him, there’s no doubt about that.
Aaron suddenly spins around, eyebrows knitting together as he glares at the doc. “How did you know he was a dark angel?” he accuses.
“You told me,” the doc is quick to defend.
“No, I didn’t,” Aaron snaps.
He stalks to the front of the doc’s desk, places his hands down and leans forward, hovering over the doctor. “How did you know?”
Dr. Swanson shrinks back in his chair, while staring up at Aaron.
“Answer me,” Aaron shouts, slamming his palms down on the desktop.
Dr. Swanson jumps from the loud sound created by Aaron. He shrinks even further into his chair, making himself as small as possible. His gaze remains on Aaron.
Suddenly, the doctor barks out with laughter.
Aaron straightens up and takes a step back.
“Honestly, Aaron. Did you think we’d just let you go around telling people about us?”
Aaron takes another step back in shock.
The doctor stands from the chair, spreads his arms out to his sides and tips his head back. Black wings with red tips sprout from behind him, as his face morphs from Dr. Swanson to Azrael Star. He grows in height, then tilts his head forward again, his black and red eyes landing on Aaron.
“Hello, Aaron. Miss me?” Azrael smirks.
Aaron takes another step back.
“No.” He steps back further. “It can’t be. You’re not real.”
“Oh, I assure you. I’m very real.”
Aaron takes several steps back, trips over his own foot and stumbles backwards, hitting his head on the coffee table as he falls.
The world goes black.
6
“Aaron?” Dr. Swanson calls out.
Aaron struggles to open his eyes.
“Aaron? Can you hear me?” the doctor asks.
Aaron strains his mind trying to remember where he is and why he can’t clear the fog in his head. He faintly hears the doctor calling his name, but he can’t seem to snap out of this haze.
“Aaron, open your eyes,” Dr. Swanson requests as he runs his hand over Aaron’s forehead. “Come on. Wake up.”
Aaron’s eyes snap open, his gaze finding the doctor’s.
“Where am I? What happened?” he whispers.
“You’re in my office. You tripped and hit your head. How are you feeling?”
Aaron struggles, but manages to sit up.
The doctor is kneeling at Aaron’s side, but shifts backward giving Aaron room to maneuver.
Aaron rubs the back of his head feeling the lump that’s beginning to form. Suddenly, his eyes snap to the doctor.
“Did you see him?” he asks.
The doctor stares at him puzzled.
“Who?”
“Azrael.” Aaron glances over at the doctor’s desk, but the space is empty. “Tell me you saw him.”
“Aaron, no one has been in this room besides you and me.”
“No,” Aaron scrambles to his feet and creeps over to the doctor’s desk. “He was right there.” He points to the doctor’s chair. “But you were there too. No. Wait.” Aaron rounds the desk and stares at the chair. “He was right here.”
He spins around and glances at the doctor.
“Tell me you saw him.” Aaron pleads.
“There was no one to see, Aaron.” Dr. Swanson takes a couple of steps closer to Aaron. “Why don’t you sit down for a minute. You hit your head pretty hard.”
“I know what I saw,” Aaron snaps as he rubs the back of his head hissing when he hits the bump that’s developing. “He was here.”
“I’m sure you believe—”
“Don’t patronize me. He was here.” Aaron walks to the door, pulls it open, but turns around before leaving. “And he had a message for me.”
Aaron walks out the door, slamming it behind him.
Aaron wanders down the street lost in thought about what just happened in his session. He knows the angel was there, he can’t deny that. What he can’t figure out is why? All these visions are coming together and hopefully soon he’ll know what it all means. Is he crazy? Most people would classify him that way, but he truly thinks something bigger is happening.
As he strolls further into town, he passes by his favorite store. A place he always feels at home, and he can’t contain himself. He pulls the door wide open and steps over the threshold. Entering the store, he stands for a moment and admires his surroundings. He hasn’t felt like himself since the incident, and being here quickly reminds him of what he loves and why.
He steps further into the space, glances over to the left side of the room where an older gentleman perched on top of a stool behind the counter. He glances up, spotting Aaron and jumps down, then wanders around the counter coming to a stop in front of Aaron.
“Aaron,” he greets, his smile brightening. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Mr. Wolf.” Aaron smiles back. “How have you been?”
“Oh, you know. Same as always.” Mr. Wolf reaches out, taps Aaron’s shoulder, then gives it a squeeze. “Big run on tricks.” He laughs as he walks back, resuming his seat on the stool. “What brings you by today?”
“Serenity,” Aaron replies off the cuff as he moves toward a display.
“You doing okay?”
“Yeah.” Aaron shrugs a shoulder as he stares at a product in a glass case. “I guess.”
“I heard what happened,” Mr. Wolf states.
Aaron spins around and stares at the older man.
“Who—” Aaron stops himself. “My mom?”
Mr. Wolf smiles. “Yes.”
“Of course,” Aaron throws his hands up in the air, then lets them drop to his sides. He turns back to the display. “What did she say?”
“She told me about your accident. The pills. Asked if I knew why you’d do it.”
Aaron returns his focus to Mr. Wolf, wandering over to stand in front of the counter.
“What’d you tell her?”
“Nothing. What could I tell her?” He gives Aaron a pointed glance, raising one eyebrow.
“I’m sorry she bothered you.”
“It was no bother, but I was concerned, Aaron.”
Aaron bows his head, suddenly finding his shoes fascinating.
“Aaron, I’ve known you since you were a small lad coming in here with your father. You were always enthralled by magic and everything it entails. You were eager to learn, even after your father—” Mr. Wolf cuts his speech off, and makes the sign of the cross before returning his attention to Aaron. “You’re a great kid. So why?”
Aaron peeks up and regards Mr. Wolf for a moment.
&nb
sp; “It’ll only sound crazy,” he answers.
“I’m an old man, son. I’ve heard a lot of things in my lifetime. Try me.” He smiles.
“I didn’t try to kill myself. I didn’t take the pills on purpose.”
“So, it was an accident?” Mr. Wolf inquires.
“No.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“Do you believe in God?”
“Absolutely.” Mr. Wolf makes the sign of the cross again, then kisses a gold cross that hangs around his neck from a chain.
“How do you know he’s real?”
“Faith.”
“But, how can you have faith in something you can’t see?”
“That’s what faith is, Boy.”
“Well, what about angels?”
“Of course, I know my beloved Katherine is my guardian angel. She’s been watching over me since her passing.”
“But how can you be sure?”
“Nothing is ever certain, but that was our plan. Whoever went first would watch over the one left behind. Besides, when I do things she doesn’t like, she lets me know.”
“What you do mean?”
“Since her passing, every time I try to smoke a cigar, I’m prevented from enjoying it. Every. Time.” Mr. Wolf glances up at the ceiling, laughs, then glances back at Aaron and notices the puzzled expression on his face. “The first time I tried to smoke one, I was standing in the alleyway out back. I just put the cigar in my mouth, brought the lighter to the end of it and then the bell above the door jingled. I tried four more times that day, and every single time, someone came into the shop. Now, you and I both know this store is never that busy, but that day it was.” Mr. Wolf points his forefinger to the ceiling and winks at Aaron.
“Have you seen her?”
“Sadly, no. But, if she did materialize, I’d probably have a heart attack, and she would know that.” Mr. Wolf laughs again.
“I’ve seen an angel.”
Aaron stares at Mr. Wolf awaiting his response. When he doesn’t get one, he continues.
“Three actually.”
When he still gets no reaction from Mr. Wolf he continues.
“I’m still piecing together what happened, but it appears they’re using me for something.”
