The Guardian Angel

"Somebody somewhere is listening to me, an angel flies down with broken wings, blood and pain everywhere..an angel's falling, such a pity.." Emmy sat in her bedroom, staring out the window at the rainy streets, singing lyrics that randomly popped into her head. She couldn't be sure if the lyrics came from her mind or her heart, but either way, they disturbed her slightly. It had been eight years now since her mother's death. She had been living with those horrible people she called grandparents for eight years.

Now being a sixteen year old, she had grown up to be just what her grandparents wanted her to be: A cold, stoic, prodigy. Emmy's appearance revealed that, as well. Her pale skin showed the fact that she never went outside, staying as far away from people as possible. The dark circles under her eyes told everyone that she hardly ever got sleep, being a restless insomniac. Emmy was what people called a "bookworm", and she had been nicknamed "The Recluse" in school.

"Crimson liquid slides down the sharp blade, reminding the victim of it's fate..an angel with black wings cries..another lost soul has died.." Emary continued to sing.

After moments of staring out in the dreary sky, Emary sighed. Picking up the book that laid on her lap, she stuffed it in her blue backpack. Emmy began to prowl through her drawers, searching for a jacket. Smiling in satisfaction when she found what she was looking for, she grabbed her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and proceeded to go downstairs.

"Emary, girl? Is that you?" Her grandfather's voice called from in the living room.

"Yes, yes, I'm going out for awhile," Emary responded emotionlessly.

A few years ago, her grandparents would've never let her go out anywhere alone, and they would especially never let her say she was going with or without their permission. But oh, now was a different story. They knew their precious granddaughter would not dare disobey them, so they trusted her perfectly. Her grandfather's beady eyes watched as the girl grabbed an umbrella and stepped out in the cold night air.

The ebony-haired teen shivered and opened the umbrella. The rain wasn't as heavy as it was when it started, it had deceased to a light drizzle. Emmy wasn't sure exactly why she had wanted to come out here, but she was bored and had nothing better to do, so..

Emary was lost in thought, not even realizing where her feet were taking her. Her hazel orbs widened slightly when she saw she had arrived in the forest, right beside a creek bed. The girl stood there, staring into the crystal clear water at her own face. She frowned, tracing the black circles beneath her eyes. It seemed as if time had aged her more than it should have. Still frowning, she continued to study herself in the water she used for a mirror. When she turned to observe her body from the left side, something caught her eye. It was a small, blood red jewel laying just beside her foot.

Bending down and picking it up, the teen held the mystery object to her face to study it. The jewel appeared to be a ruby, which was hanging of off a long golden chain. Emary assumed it was someone's necklace, and they had obviously lost it. Just when she was about to throw it down, Emmy felt the necklace grow warm in her hand. Suddenly, a blinding light flashed and Emary fell backwards, shielding her eyes.

When the light faded, Emmy peeked between her fingers unsurely, only to see a young boy sitting on the ground in front of her. Her eyes widened considerably as she continued to stare at him. His hair was thick and black, hanging just below his chin. Strangely, the black clothes he was dressed in clinged to him as if he was soaking wet.

"Who the hell are you?" Emmy gasped.

Groaning, the boy opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. Locking his green eyes with Emmy's, his mouth opened in surprise.

"I-I can ask you the same," he whispered.

Raising her eyebrows, Emmy scowled. "I'm Emary. Now, you are?"

The male swallowed hard and made his way shakily to his feet. "I'm Artemis. Or, at least, I think I am..."

This had to be a dream, he couldn't have actually been back, after all these he?

"Artemis? Don't remember you.. You're not from around here, then?"

"So you noticed," Artemis replied rudely, glaring at her from underneath his bangs.

Emmy drew her eyebrows together and gave him the most hateful look possible. "Well, I can see that you have no manners whatsoever." Emary could already tell she would not get along with this boy.

Closing his eyes, Artemis massaged his temples. 'I don't get it..I thought I wasn't supposed to come back until..' Suddenly, his eyes snapped open with realization.

"The necklace! My necklace. Did you find it?" Artemis casually strolled over to her and grabbed her hand.

"Your necklace? Hn. I believe it's my necklace now. And don't you touch me!" The girl warned when she felt him snatch her hand.

"Ah, I see now. So you're the one then?" The boy paused, then out of the blue, began laughing. "You? Of all people, I had to get stuck with the bitchiest person alive.."

As soon as those words met her ears, Emary's temper shot out the roof. She drew her hand back and slapped him as hard as she could across his cheek.

"That'll teach you," she huffed. "I am not bitchy. Even if I was, you have no right to say that. And what the hell do you mean by 'getting stuck with me'? This will be the last time we see each other, as far as I'm concerned."

Artemis staggered when her hand met his cheek. 'Damn, she sure can hit hard, for a girl..' He rubbed the red spot on his face tenderly. She would pay for that!

"Too bad, if it were up to me this would be our last meeting as well. But it's not up to me." Artemis sighed at the look of confusion on her face. He really didn't want to explain this, she probably wouldn't understand anyway..

"Eight years ago, I drowned in this lake," Artemis told her, pointing to the sheet of water behind them. "Unfortunately, I was one of the lost souls that could not find it's way to Heaven..so, to be able to see the light and make my way to Heaven, I was forced to become the guardian angel of whoever finds this necklace."

The female stared at him like he was a talking animal. Finally, after long moments of silence, she burst out laughing. "Oh, so this is some idea of a joke, right? Well, too bad, it didn't work. I'm not your average stupid empty-headed girl, you know."

Her laughter annoyed Artemis, made his eye twitch. 'Damn, stupid, ignorant woman.'

"It's not a joke. Sorry girl, you're stuck with me being your guardian angel until I can redeem myself."

This only amused her further. "Oh, yeah, right. So whenever I'm in trouble, you come rescue me and be my Prince Charming, right?" She laughed. "Well, thanks for the good laugh, I needed that."

Emary had turned on her heel and was about to walk away when he grabbed her arm. "It's not a joke," he stated softly, his eyes glimmering in a strange sort of way that made her feel he was actually serious.

"Oh yeah? So if it isn't, then what do you call it?"

"The truth," he replied firmly. "Either you help me, or I'll just be forced to something drastic that I really, really don't want to do."

"Like what?" She snorted.

"Kill you," he answered, his voice barely above a whispered. "I don't want to, but I will, if you won't help me. I mean, if you don't help me, I'll be forced to go to Hell anyways, so it won't matter."

"Y-you're just trying to intimidate me," she stuttered.

"No, I'm serious."

Emmy swallowed the lump in her throat. People had, of course, threatened her before, but never had anyone threatened to kill her and looked so serious about it. She couldn't help but feel that if she didn't agree he really would murder her. Taking a deep breath, the distraught girl tried to calm herself.

"Well then, let's say I agree to help you. Say that I actually believe all this utter nonsense. What then? I mean, how is this going to redeem you?"

Sighing, he let go of her arm. "I don't know," he admitted. "I never understood.. I guess this would just be like a good deed, watching over you, I mean." He paused. "All I know is that when you need me..just rub the necklace. I'll be there."

"Um, okay." Emary didn't know what else to say. She didn't really believe any of this, she just thought the guy completely insane. But she didn't want to die, so instead, she played along.

"So uh, I guess we'll be seeing each other more often, then." When he saw Emary nod, he relaxed a little. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. She seemed pretty obedient when put in her place. "You're the only one who will be able to see me. I am, after all, sort of like a ghost."

"Er, yeah." The young female just wanted to leave already. She had no guarentee that this crazy man wouldn't just snap all of the sudden and kill her anyway. Making up her mind on a way to get away from him quickly, she decided to lie.

"I um, have to be getting home. Uh, bye, see you later then, I guess."

Artemis watched as she hurried away. He knew, of course, she didn't believe him. 'Well, she will soon enough,' he sighed mentally. 'And once she finds out I'm for real, I'll have a lot more explaining to do..'