Michael shook his head. “What’s that like, having an archangel drop by every once in a while?”
I shrugged. “It was nerve-wracking at first, but…I eventually got used to it. Gabriel’s really easy to get along with. He’s probably the closest thing I have to family. I guess being God’s Messenger has something to do with that.”
“Are you allowed to ask him questions about Heaven and Hell and stuff?”
“Sort of. There are rules. He told me he’s not allowed to tell me anything that would reveal the ‘true nature’ of God or Heaven because I’m supposed to find out on my own when I die.”
“So I take it you tried asking him about Mr. N?”
I lowered my eyes, forcing myself not to wince. “Yeah, but he said that’s on the list of things I’m not allowed to ask him. He told me I don’t understand now, but it’s for a good purpose.”
He made a soft, scornful noise in the back of his throat. “Can’t be that good of a purpose if it means you have to have nightmares every night for the rest of your life.”
That sounded like honest-to-God sympathy. I couldn’t help but glance up at him. He met my eyes with a solemn look that made my breath catch for a second. There was something strangely compelling about his face when he stared back at me like that. It was a quality I had recognized in someone else, too. Gabriel.
His voice was quiet. “The bus is here.”
I faced forward to see the rusty vehicle in front of us. Just like that, the spell broke and I climbed aboard, shaking off my thoughts.
Chapter 6
“Ms. Catalina Amador, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to come with us.”
My mother’s shoulders tensed in response to the man’s statement. I stood behind her, blinking up curiously at the scene before me. My mother had opened the apartment door with the latch still on it and through the crack I could see a man in a suit with two men in blue uniforms on either side of him.
At five years old, I had no clue who they were or why they were at our home. I tugged on my mother’s skirt, whining, “Mama? Who is it?”
She pushed me away from their sight. When she spoke, her voice was harsh with anger. “I know what I saw, Dr. Merriweather. There is nothing you and your facility can do. There are powers in this world beyond your comprehension and they are the ones who have come for me today, not you.”
The doctor sighed. “Ms. Amador, we are trying to help you. We don’t want you to endanger yourself or your daughter—”
“My daughter is fine, you son of a bitch!” She spat, making me jump. I had never heard her speak like that. Her accent made her words burn like flames against my skin. Tears welled up in my eyes so I buried my face in her leg, trying to hug her.
“Mama, I’m scared. Why are you yelling?”
She rested a hand on the top of my head, whispering to me. “Don’t cry, mi hija. It’s alright.”
“Ma’am, if you don’t come out of the apartment I’m going to have to have the police escort you out. I have legal permission to admit you into the facility. Rest assured, your daughter will be taken care of and your stay will not be permanent.” The doctor adjusted his large glasses over his nearly translucent face. My mother glared at him before turning to me and kneeling until our faces were level. The fury trickled out of her lovely features, filling my vision with her soft brown eyes.
“Listen to me. These men have come to take me away. I have to go with them.”
I shook my head wildly. “Why? I don’t want you to go! Don’t go! Please don’t go!”
“Por favor. Be strong. I love you. I love you so much. Never forget that.” She hugged me tight, allowing me mere seconds to bury my face into her neck as I tried to memorize the feeling. I was sobbing by the time she pried my arms away and opened the door for the men. The doctor led her out of the room first but I ran, heading for my room to lock myself in. Someone grabbed my arms from behind, lifting me into the air. I screamed and kicked as hard as I could. The cop that picked me up had no expression, no face—just a blank void. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to go.
They put her in the back of a white van and started driving without telling me where we were going. I sat up front with the faceless men, calling for my mother over and over again. My eyes were swollen and red by the time the truck stopped, so I couldn’t see where we were until they opened the doors. The building before me was huge and white like a hospital, but something about it seemed nothing like a place to help people.