I stared at my desk. I kept staring. I felt warmth. I felt happiness. Releasing that feather was something I should've done sooner.
I got up and looked outside again. This time, instead of the light I saw before, I saw the sun descending instantly—and the blood moon rising.
"Oh fuck… shit…" I whispered to myself. I knew what I had to do, but I didn't want to go there. I didn't want to go into the forest. But I had to.
I turned around and walked to my wardrobe, grabbing my rifle. I headed downstairs and found Amy.
"Hey, can you see the red moon outside?" I asked her.
"What are you talking about? There's literal daylight outside. How can the moon be up?" she replied.
I remembered—only I could see the twisted world. I looked toward the door, then back at her.
"Don't leave, alright? I don't know if I'm going to come back," I told her and left immediately.
I started walking toward the forest behind the house. The deeper I went, the darker and eerier it got. My paranoia grew until I felt like someone was always behind me.
Suddenly, a strange bang echoed through the trees. I flinched and shivered.
"I am scared… What's going to happen to me? Am I going to die?" I whispered, not expecting an answer. I kept walking.
"Huh? What is that?" I muttered, spotting a strange light source. I walked over to it and saw the same blade heaven used to pierce Raziel—The Blade of Longinus. A note sat beneath it: "The Blade of Longinus. Use it wisely."
I picked up the large spear and examined it. The holy lance, its tip glowing gold. I'd read about it somewhere… I couldn't recall exactly where, but I knew it was important.
"The blade that was used on Jesus to confirm his death," I mumbled to myself.
"Why did you give this to me?" I asked, raising my head to the sky. No answer came. I looked behind me—and saw several creatures surrounding me.
I raised the holy lance high, and the creatures scattered, retreating into the woods. I let out a shaky breath, relieved they didn't attack me.
The blood moon still hung above, so I kept moving. Eventually, I felt something at my feet. I looked down and found feathers—white, pure, and floral-scented like lilies. I looked around and saw a soft halo glowing in the distance.
I approached it—and there stood Raziel.
"Raziel? Why are you here?" I asked.
"Son, this may be too much to ask… but kill me. Pierce me with the holy lance, and maybe my sins will be forgiven. But before you do, I have some advice. The blood moon will return. Be ready. The next few days will be the hardest of your life. If you survive, you might be able to save the world. If you don't… I don't know what will happen.
Now, before you pierce me…"
He plucked some feathers from his wings.
"Son, here you are. Use them wisely. They may act as your last line of defense," he said.
I took the feathers. Guilt, sorrow, and despair settled in my chest. I looked behind me and tightened my grip around the holy lance.
"Raziel… why do you want to die?" I asked.
"So I may be forgiven… Uriel will come, and I don't know how you humans will survive. Uriel is not a forgiving angel. Now… end my miserable life," he said.
I placed the holy lance's tip near his neck. "I'm sorry, Raziel," I whispered as I pierced his neck again.
How did he end up here? Did the feather I released revive him? I didn't know.
But for now, the blood moon vanished. The sky was filled with only the darkness of the moon.
I ran back to the house and went inside. "I'm home," I said.
"I'm in my room, I wanna sleep," Amy yelled from upstairs.
I locked the door and headed to my room. I stashed the holy lance and feathers under the wardrobe. Sitting down at my desk, I opened the angel book again.
This time, a new page had been added—with a picture of the Holy Lance.