John wheezed as he held onto his sides. It never got old, crossing The Great Divide, he would give it that. He stumbled forward, taking the long trek to the front gates. The city was as inviting as ever, with golden spires that reached into a perpetually clear sky. The pristine white towers climbed unrealistic heights and tapered off to fine points that rose above the four spires. The Grey Wall, that separated the actual city from the forested area, was covered in clouds of what appeared to be fuzzy moss. But he knew what those were─ the City of Souls was on high alert. Someone from the Abyss must have triggered an alarm. From time to time a wandering spirit was able to breach through The Great Divide and crawl into the city.

For the most part, you could not tell a heavenly human spirit from a creature of the Abyss. They both appeared as wisps that glided next to the Angel of Death. The only difference was the markings on their flesh. The creatures from the Abyss’s markings were dark like the inky blots from the heavenly human spirit, and they looked nearly identical, except for one very important difference. The Abyss spirit had the marking ingrained into the flesh, whereas the heavenly spirit had the markings purged from their skin. These skin tattoos would be washed from the heavenly human body and they were free to enter. The souls that were Abyss bound, however, were turned away and would wander. They would join with the River of the Dead that surrounded the outskirts of the city, and trickle down the side of the steep edge. This waterfall that fell from the City of Souls joined with a sister city that dwelled beneath.

Both floating bodies of land were joined by a thin bridge that could only be crossed by Azrael and Messiah itself. It was said, from the Lost Scrolls, that a series of three tests were conducted to find the value of the spirit. Ages ago, he turned his nose up at the pathetic souls that clawed their way up and tried to hold ground in Purgatory. He was callous, placing bets on those that he knew would dissipate into the trenches, lost to the River of the Dead forever. There were a lucky few that became minions and warriors for the Abyss and sent to the next plane of existence. He would laugh at those that were victorious in their tasks and were rewarded with a second chance at life. Several made it to the top, but their minds would forget why they were there, and inevitably they would return back the way they came into the river. Only two in the last several thousand years were able to finally breach the top. John had laughed then. Now he would give anything for a chance to have a life beside his beloved and join Michael, his brother, in battle.

He was soulless, and therefore predestined to die at the dreaded Re-birth. It was his ultimate punishment for forsaking his Arc, and his Messiah to be with a woman beyond the Purge. Once a soul had passed from the River of the Dead to the Gates of Abaddon, they were within the sub-realm of the Abyss and the worlds beyond their own. The Purge, much like The Great Divide, prevented a soul from returning to the river and back to Purgatory. It was a one-way ticket, or so he thought─ until he spoke with Azrael. The Angel of Death.

John discovered that if he were to sever his wings, he could be granted a place on Earth. The cost? Was one soul. He always laughed it off, wondering why any Angel would choose to do that. Now John knew that there was a reason for everything. There was a rumor, a strong one─ that Angel and human alike would perish in the Re-Birth. It was something the Angel’s did not like to speak of. Absolute obedience was expected, and therefore faith became a way of life among the Angels. They were ever-hopeful that Messiah would protect them from The Great Destroyer.

The Destroyer was placed for balance in all existence. The ultimate neutral being. Its name was highly deceptive. The Great Destroyer did not have the end say, however. It was a grievous error to think that, as the Morning Star soon discovered before Its fall from Heaven. Beyond The Unknown and the Eternal Darkness Ring, it was rumored that The Destroyer resided as one of the Four Beings of Counsel. The knowledge of the beings were part of the forbidden library in The Unknown and therefore, only the protectors of Heaven knew what the scrolls meant. He had lost all memory, but Michael had been very adamant that their decision for the end to come was absolute in all realms. John suspected, like many others in the fold, that Messiah had split Itself into the four beings to protect balance. This would explain his absence in Heaven for all of these years. The throne was occupied by Messiah, yes, but he was very sure that it was a rouse for the Abyss to buy into. Everyone sensed it, even the humans. War was coming.

It was vague, but John still remembered the first time his eyes had opened into existence. He saw the glow that filled every space. Felt the presence of every breath and facet of life. And though he could never fully understand the omniscient beings, he could begin to see why there existed a need for balance. It was a failsafe for disaster─ should an uprising occur and beings began destroying one another. According to Azrael, it had been put into action once many eons ago. It made John wonder what Azrael had seen, and how he remained when others perished. Most importantly, why? How many ends had The Angel of Death seen?

John liked to stare at the wisps that glided past him. It was a form of content, or maybe he felt connected as they would float beside him, unaware of his existence until they entered the city. Each person’s markings were unique and varied on how they passed away.

He filed them into six known categories: Non-violent, which the tiny, and dark star-like blot appeared on their chest; Violent, which was a giant gaping blot in their side, temple or chest and spanned anywhere from four inches to twelve inches. The difference in these was the fact that they were very large in comparison to the dainty blot of the Non-Violent deaths. And then there was Pseudo-Violent, where the blot was on the temple, chest and side but they were not as large as the Violent, yet not as small as the Non-Violent. Their shape was more soft than jagged, in comparison to the Violent scars as well. Accidental scars appeared in tiny and hidden blots between the thighs, under the arms, behind the ears or at the bottom of their feet. Purposeful scars generally had several blotches of black overlapping or obscuring their face─ and finally Saints, these individuals only have staining on their robes and no visible marks along their body. In the eyes of Messiah, these are his most devote followers and they will one day be appointed as a General of Light.

These types of spirits were the only ones truly awakened into their surroundings. They are free to do as they please and learn the city and its laws. When they have learned all there is to learn from the Lost Scrolls, they are rewarded with becoming a Messenger, and are allowed to travel across the Dead Sea into the human realm. They learn from The Guardians, which teach the Messengers how to restore faith and balance within humanity. The next realm, which is the least talked about, is the Unknown, far outside of The City of Souls, Heaven, and Earth. Not a single soul, save Messiah and its protectors, knows what happens beyond the Eternal Darkness Ring that divides the residing realms from one another.

Michael and he had followed the Messengers to the border out of curiosity. Very few of the spirits returned from the Eternal Darkness, and those that had would not repeat what they had seen. It was understood that to question, meant to be cast out. Messiah’s doctrine was absolute─ one John had learned not to mess with. If Michael was discovered, really if either of them were, they would be made examples of and cast into the Abyss. Well, Michael would anyway. There would be nothing waiting for John. That was why he was so determined to make this work, he had to. He owed it to Michael, especially for the pain that he had caused. Michael had lost not only a friend in the uprising, but a brother. Instead of being there to fight alongside his commander in battle, John had severed his wings to be with his beloved. Why Michael had decided to help him, was still a mystery to John. But he planned on making it up to him and pay back what he owed. He would never abandon his friend again.

John hated to think that he might fall into the same category as the traitors, but he couldn’t let the world fade away. Without their help, the demon would awaken in Celeste and all of mankind would perish. He couldn’t allow that. Surely, Messiah could understand that he had to break the rules so that they could all survive this unscathed. It wasn’t just the humans that would suffer after all. The prior Cleansing had happened long before the seven Archangels guarding the throne were created. In the time before the split kingdoms from the Tower of Babel, there was one deity whom awoke from the spark of nothing. The Cleansing had annihilated and the Re-Birth had begun. Upon opening its eyes, a deep longing moved it, and the deity sought to create life.

So it pulled from Itself and scattered Its body across the void. It created heavenly bodies, entire self-run systems and borders that separated the volatile from the stable. Messiah filled every space with some part of itself, for It was the Universe and the Universe was It. As It sat, enjoying the many systems and life-supporting planets, It decided to create worlds within worlds, and thus the Multiverse was breathed into life. Messiah, quite content with Its creations, allowed the creatures to stay connected, speak one language, and talk with one another.

They all agreed to build a tower to heaven so that they could be with their god. One day, Messiah descended to the realm of man and saw their building plans. It realized that no good could come of this, for the creatures would only be able to look upon, and admire their work, forgetting that they were Messiah’s children. And so, Messiah scattered the beings across the Universe and diversified their language so that they would become confused.

It divided Itself among the people and blossomed throughout the Multiverse, so that there may always be a need for it to be sought out and remembered among its creations. Each society found their solace through their own likeness and so the Deities were born. Legends were built from every corner of the Earth and expanse of the Universe. John did not know all the details, because as a Fallen, he was unable to remember what he had learned from The Unknown, but he knew enough to realize Messiah did not take pity on traitors.

“I see you got through,” Raphael called. He never could get used to that as a near-human. Though Raphael was an Archangel of knowledge and safe travels, his travels were monitored by the Generals of Light. And though Michael had been on John’s side, he was only one among the mass that agreed with what he was doing. The rest believed it was against the Universe’s will to prevent the Cleansing. To them, Re-birth was a natural order of things. Zealots, he spat inwardly.

He faced Raphael and dipped his head, “I did, thank you for ensuring my safety.” Raphael smirked and patted him on the shoulder, “Sure, no prob. It’s kinda my thing.” John rolled his eyes inwardly, Raphael was really into Western American culture lately, if he heard another dumb phrase about ‘adulting’ or ‘that’s salty as fuck’ or his personal favorite ‘cray-cray,’ he was going to go the definition of what that word meant himself, and curb-stomp an Archangel. If he could ever have his full abilities restored, he promised himself he would.

They turned toward the white city and started walking to the bridge. “How’s Rashnu?” John asked. Raphael scratched the back of his head and looked to the ground, “As humorless as ever,” Raphael said. John grimaced. Well, it had to be done. Especially since there were three days left until the Harvest Moon.

* * *