Dearly Departed

by Katie May

  Thank Heaven for my halo and wings. Those helped me rescue her on more than one occasion. Contrary to popular belief, not all Angels are gifted with halos and wings. Nope. They must be earned. Those of us chosen to become Guardians are given the opportunity to do so.

  I earned my wings at the end of my first year. Rigorous training in the gym and flight simulator classes allow our instructors to decide if we can move on to become Guardians or just your basic Angel. Of course, I fucking excelled. Just as in my life before death, I excel in all aspects of the afterlife.

  Year two, I started my Guardian classes, earning my halo. Now, the halo doesn’t just hover over my head at all times like one might think. The hundreds of murals dedicated to us give the living that presumption. No, our halos only show up in times of great need or extreme emotion. In times of duress, my halo gives me extra boosts of power, persuasion abilities, and precognition.

  Those come in handy once you are given a mortal to look after. Sometimes, I’ll see things before they happen and I’m able to thwart situations that might have been disastrous. Other times, we’re able to whisper guidance to a mortal’s soul. Though their human ears cannot hear us, their souls do and respond according to our will.

  All three of my Guarding abilities have aided me more times than I can even count while following Hadley around. So many times I just wanted to fold my wings, so to speak, and walk away from Guardianship. It weighs heavily on the heart, as well as the mind. Especially when Guarding someone like her. When she was dared by another patient in her ward to run naked across the street, unaware of the car barreling towards her on the icy road. When she fell down on her way to the bathroom because she refused to push the call button for a nurse. When she was in remission and went to a party, but her ride was too wasted to take her home. Who was there with her every step of the way? Who stopped the car with his bare hands, whispered words into the nurse’s ear that encouraged her to check on Hadley, and found a taxi that night of the party? Me.

  During classes, we often share stories of our adventures on Earth, learning from others’ mistakes and successes. Some of their mortals were downright boring as fuck, making me grateful for my little troublemaker.

  But Guardianship isn’t just about protecting our mortals during their lives. We also must suffer through their deaths.

  I was there when Hadley received her cancer diagnosis. I held her hand when she endured a gamut of tests.

  Blood work. Scans. Specialists.

  Mental and physical exhaustion.

  Silent tears she hid from the rest of the world.

  Painted on smiles she wore for her friends and family.

  A whispered promise that she was okay, that she felt no pain, even when her body shook with agony.

  I was there through it all, whispering calming words to soothe her aching soul when her doctors told her it was stage four, when she learned she only had a few months to live.

  But my Hadley was a fighter. Her strength never ceased to amaze me when she spent entire days receiving chemotherapy, only to have the treatment make her ill, making even eating a chore. She persevered through intense radiation sessions, not once complaining about the hand she was dealt.

  It was agonizing for her, but she put on a brave face for her friends and family. Only I knew different. Guardians always know, since our souls are connected to our mortal’s in a very deep, very intimate way.

  When the light came for her, when she took her last, painful breath, my halo almost ignited. Intense emotions heated my blood when I watched her soul leave her body. It was my worst day and also my best. Knowing she would no longer suffer gave me great peace, but realizing my time with her was over would have killed me had I still been alive.

  To my abject horror, I saw Preston there, carting her soul off like groceries at a supermarket. A fierce anger brewed inside me, knowing I’d see her again at the Academy, that her soul would not be resting in the Afterlife. But what infuriated me the most was knowing that he would be named her Reaper. I realized then that he had been there for her at the same time I had...only I hadn’t realized it. On the mortal plane, we only saw the other species when they wanted us to see them. And Preston? He didn’t want anyone to know he was there except for in Hadley’s final moments, when his emotions were too strong to conceal himself from prying eyes. I doubted he even realized I was there as well.

  A cacophony of emotions swirled in my gut when I was pulled back to the Academy. She would be assigned a Guardian, that much was certain. But I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be her mentor or not.

  Could I allow another to take my place, guiding her through the Angelic segment of the afterlife?

  Maybe.

  Did I want her to rely on another Guardian, one that might not be as careful or meticulous as I?

  Definitely not.

  Though Miss Celeste and the Headmaster are the team who decide which Angel will be assigned to the DD’s, I hope I’m chosen to mentor Hadley.

  Strolling through the doors of Miss Celeste’s classroom, I glide over to my desk and take a seat, remembering how shocked I was during my first class.

  Learning that halos and wings were not a guarantee surprised me, but even being a normal Angel has its perks.

  For instance, Guardian or not, Angels are educated in weaponry, specializing in the bow and arrow. Angels are also allowed to travel back down to Earth and visit the ones we love. Through the power of positive thinking, we are able to influence them. We send smells through the air that remind them of us or of those they miss to let them know we are around. It can be tiring though. Watching people grieve day in and day out is not a task for the weak hearted.

  No.

  It takes someone strong of mind. Someone like me.

  “What crawled up your ass back there, Auston? Got your eyes on the new girl, do ya?”

  I frown. Jake never did know when to shut his fucking mouth. “What’s it to you, Jake?” I throw as much sarcasm in his name as my voice will allow.

  He smirks. “I put in a request to be her Angel mentor, you know. So you might as well back down before you embarrass yourself.”

  Clearly, this bloke has forgotten who he’s talking to. I am Auston fucking Turner, lead student Guardian Angel, first in the class. My wings are larger and stronger than anyone else's. My powers of persuasion and premonition are far more advanced than any other third year. And when my halo glows, well, just make sure you remember to grab your shades.

  What Jake doesn’t know is that I've had a premonition about him. He’ll get a Dearly Departed, but not the one he expects.

  “Just watch yourself, Jake. Karma is a fickle woman. You’d do well not to anger her.”

  His smile fades as Miss Celeste, head Guardian Angel, enters the classroom. Everyone takes their seats and waits quietly as she glides behind her desk.

  Literally glides.

  It’s a power granted to all Guardian Angels upon graduation. It’s more like levitation, really. We can hover a few inches over the ground, our thoughts moving us along instead of our legs.

  I’m pretty fucking excited about it.

  Celeste lowers herself to the ground with a click of her heeled shoes and clears her throat, grabbing everyone’s attention. Short and portly, with chocolate skin, tightly curled hair, and amber eyes, Celeste demands attention. She’s an Angel you don’t want to fuck with.

  “Hello, class.”

  “Hello, Miss Celeste,” we chant back in unison like we’re fucking five.

  “By now, many of you are wondering which Dearly Departed you’ll be assigned to. I’ve just left the Headmaster’s office where he gave me the official list.”

  She holds up a sealed scroll. Yep, you heard me right. The dead do like to be fancy. Breaking the wax seal, she unfurls the paper and shakes it dramatically, ensuring all eyes are focused on her.

  “Jake Snodgrass.”

  I snicker when I hear his last name. Fucking Snodgrass. My anticipation heightens, knowing the
disappointment that lies just a moment away. “You are assigned to Bruce Overberger.” At that, I laugh even harder.

  Snodgrass and Overberger. What a fucking team.

  Jake levels me with a glare, but I counter with a wink and focus on Miss Celeste. She rambles on down the line, but I pay her no mind. My attention is elsewhere, anywhere, but here.

  Resting my chin in my hand, I gaze out the window. It takes me a minute to realize I’m searching for her.

  “Auston Turner.” My eyes flick back to the front of the room. I sit up a little taller and straighten my back. “You are assigned to Hadley Jameson.”

  Yes!

  Smug as fuck, I turn to a horrified Jake who raises his hand. Instead of waiting for Miss Celeste to call on him, he stands and speaks out of turn.

  “But I put in a special request for Hadley, ma’am.”

  “Indeed you did. But Administer and Headmaster thought it wise to give her to Auston.”

  “But Preston—”

  “No buts, Jake. Now, please take your seat.”

  She gives Jake a glare that would curdle milk. His throat works as he sits down, red faced, teeth gnashing inside his mouth.

  Miss Celeste focuses back on the list and rattles off the final names. I use this opportunity to take a shot at Jake.

  Leaning over, I whisper, “Who’s embarrassed now, dick face?”

  Mature, I know.

  He takes a breath to retort back when Miss Celeste calls his name.

  “Jake, please stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed. Go and find your DD and get acquainted. You’ll be spending ample time with them in the coming months.”

  Pushing my chair back, I offer a frowning Jake a toothy smile and head off down the hallway. A flood of nervous excitement shoots through my veins. Knowing I’ll get to see her again causes my heart to squeeze. Then, the enormity of my new responsibility starts to weigh on me. She was tricky to guard in life, so I can only imagine what risky and potentially hazardous situations she’ll find herself in during the afterlife.

  I push those thoughts aside and march down the hallway. Footsteps echo off the tiled walls as other Guardian Angels rush to find their new charges. I don’t chase after them. Instead, I take my time and filter through my thoughts.

  I already know Preston is her Reaper. This means he has already spent generous amounts of time with her.

  Just the thought of him near her irks me.

  Preston was born with two left feet and a thick tongue. If he’s not tripping over his feet, then he’s falling over his words, so he’s not exactly an ideal candidate to mentor someone I care for deeply.

  A memory of Preston tries to rear its head in my mind, but I quickly stuff it back down. I don’t like to dwell on what life used to be like. None of that matters now. Just one more year of suffering his presence, and I’ll never have to see him again.

  Any of them.

  I run my hand through my hair, pulling the white strands from my eyes. Preston and I haven’t talked since we were DDs, and even then it wasn’t by choice. I’m sure as hell not wanting any forced conversation now. However, since we are both her mentors, I know future awkward situations are inevitable.

  The corridor ends, and the sliding glass door opens, allowing me to step outside. A fresh, warm breeze flows through my shoulder-length, white hair as I pass a group of female DDs. Deciding walking is for the wingless, I bend my knees and spread my massive wings. A collective gasp sounds from the girls as I launch myself into the bright blue sky.

  After a few swift beats, I’m soaring over the landscape, arcing my wings as I ride the air currents high above the land. Heading past the dorms, I swoop down low and spot Hadley’s blonde locks on Pontem Veritas. I’d recognize them anywhere. But her soul is what calls to me; even in death, we are drawn towards one another.

  Hadley is with an elderly woman. They both have a drink and are slurping it through bendy straws. Seems Hadley has already discovered the cafeteria. Though we don’t need to eat in the Afterlife, having a snack every now and then is something I’ve always enjoyed. Seeing as how my DD was unable to eat much in the final weeks of her life, I’m not surprised to find her consuming a frosted slurpee.

  A premonition flashes in my mind, causing me to temporarily lose my momentum in the sky.

  It’s Hadley, and she’s about to make another dangerous decision.

  I tuck in my wings and make a beeline for her. With a smile on her face, she sets her drink down and climbs on top of the railing. She stands there for a long moment, her expression serene. I push myself even faster.

  “No!” I shout, but it’s too late as a gust of wind shoots up through the canyon below and knocks her from the bridge.

  Chapter 6

  Hadley

  Some of you might ask...why?

  Why climb on a bridge when you know you have the balance of a kangaroo high on acid with no feet and ball sacks as hands?

  Let me tell you a little secret—when you’re inches from death, as I have been since my freshman year of high school, you don’t worry about the consequences. Your mind is firmly in the here and now, and the inevitable future is swept beneath the proverbial rug.

  What’s the worst that can happen? It’s not as if I can die again.

  Or can I?

  With a morbid curiosity, I wonder about that thought. The mere prospect makes my head spin and my stomach churn. Yup. Enough mind fucks for one day, thank you very much.

  I wasn’t thinking of any of that as I placed my hand on the intricately carved railing, warm breeze blowing my blonde tresses away from my face. I wasn’t focused on Saggy Aggie’s speech about her rendezvous with two senators and a KFC bucket.

  In that moment, it was just me, the fluffy clouds, and the rushing water frothing against the shoreline.

  Until I fell.

  Yup.

  All in all, it isn’t my worst Friday night.

  A scream escapes from my throat as the water rushes up to meet me, my heartbeat ricocheting in my chest.

  Thousands of thoughts assault me, but one is the most prominent—I’m going to die. Again.

  I can just see my second gravestone now, sitting at the edge of the school grounds.

  Large and gray, my name etched into the marble.

  “Here lies Hadley. Dying of her own stupidity.”

  I can freely admit that climbing onto the bridge wasn’t my smartest move. Can you blame a girl for wanting to get a closer look at the ethereal beauty of the campus? The throng of trees painting a canvas of burgundy, garnet, and aspen yellow. The sky a shade of blue so vibrant an artist wouldn’t even be able to encapsulate it. The spires piercing the wispy, white clouds.

  My artist’s mind has always been enraptured by beauty.

  But falling from a bridge into the foamy water below? Ten out of ten would not recommend.

  The second my body would’ve collided with the turbulent river, strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me upwards.

  My lungs struggle to take in air, and my heart continues to beat erratically in my chest.

  “What in the fucking cesspool just happened?” I bark, staring below me at what might’ve been my watery deathbed.

  “I was going to ask you the same question,” my savior curtly responds. “Are you fucking insane? Are you trying to kill yourself? Again?”

  “Again?” I turn in my captor’s arms, struggling to see his face. “I’ll have you know I didn’t choose to die the first time. Now get your flaccid dick out of your ass and put me down.”

  His head flicks in my direction, and my breath instinctively catches.

  It’s the Angel. Not Fucking Jake, but the other one I saw in my dorm building.

  White, shoulder-length hair that feels like silk where my fingers are intertwined behind his neck. A body so incredibly muscular and sculpted any girl would have a wet dream.

  And large, white wings flapping on either side of him.

  Because...holy shit, he’s flying.


  I’m flying.

  Too soon, he places my unsteady ass back on the bridge. I stumble, probably resembling the little mermaid attempting to use her legs for the first time, and he catches me. His large, calloused hand engulfs my significantly smaller shoulder.

  Up close, his eyes are a brilliant shade of blue. A light, piercing color like the sky when the sun is shining dazzlingly overhead. Golden flecks heighten his already angelic appearance.

  Those beautiful eyes narrow on me with an almost incandescent fury. I swear I can see sparks electrifying the air.

  “What the hell was that?” he questions briskly, throwing his hands in the air in aggravation. We are back on the bridge, a few feet away from Aggie who gapes at us wordlessly. I give her a tentative finger wave to let her know I’m alright before diverting my attention towards Muscles.

  When I don’t answer fast enough, he takes a step towards me, his bulky form towering over mine.

  “Do you not speak?”

  I glare, matching his step with one of my own. I have to look up—dude is a freaking giant—but I make sure he sees that I’m not cowed by his rude remarks. I even raise my chin imperiously, channeling my inner bitch.

  “Listen, nipple clamps, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you don’t get to yell at me. At all. That is not fucking okay.”

  He takes a deep breath, eyes closing, before he surprises the shit out of me by nodding.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just...I just couldn’t...” His hand trembles slightly as he pulls his fingers through his white hair. “Seeing you fall like that was...not fun. I’m sorry for yelling.”

  “Oh.” My lips curl down. “Well, I had at least three more monologues planned and a grand finale musical number. I didn’t expect you to apologize so easily.” Something about the Angel seems familiar, but I know innately I’ve never met him before in my life. Still, I can’t stop my eyes from gently grazing his handsome features. No, I would most definitely remember someone like him. “I’m Hadley.”