Angel's Home

Consider this my last words to the world

My name is Karl. I have been called nothing else. This happened at a location I shan’t disclose. Remember when Area-51 was a big deal? Well you may say I work in a similar facility. Yes, they exist. I don't care how insane I sound, I know what I have worked with. I've seen it. We primarily study what you would call “the supernatural,” and I can now admit that all your worst nightmares are indeed real and may be haunting you for their own entertainment. But this isn’t about them. This is something worse. This all started on site [REDACTED] on 18/7/24. A few of my colleagues and I were testing a substance from 51 Pegasi b when we were all called to the HACC (head anomaly containment centre) for a creature examination. When we arrived and saw it, we immediately understood the reason for the urgency. This… thing was the most beautiful yet terrifying creature I've ever seen. It was very humanoid, with pale skin, a hood covering its head, and a golden helmet resembling a medieval bascinet spoleto covering its face. It was wearing a shining white robe with a gold-plated sword belt and leather roman sandals. Yet, the most prominent feature was the wings. It had four enormous white wings coming out of its back. They spread to at least ten meters from its body, which was rather intimidating considering it itself was around eight meters tall. Its feet were shackled to the ground, yet it was standing straight up in a battle stance with a sword drawn and ready.

As soon as we saw this thing, whispers arose among my co-workers. The words “angel” and “God” were being thrown about my small group. Was this a Biblical angel? Is this what people have considered an angel throughout history? Was this real? No, it couldn’t be. It was not an angel. It was something else. Angels couldn’t possibly exist. This was probably an anomaly that might have been labeled as an angel throughout history, as dinosaurs had been labeled as dragons. This thing has been labeled an angel. Yes. This was the most probable explanation.

As soon as it saw us it thrust itself at us, ready to impale us all if only it hadn’t been chained to the floor. As it thrashed at its chains with its sword, desperately trying to break free, I finally managed to speak up. “We need more advanced containment procedures”, I told one of the head researchers, “simple iron chains won’t hold it for long”. “Sir,” she answered, “that is the only thing capable of containing it. We have already tried countless other strategies but so far cast iron chains are the only thing with the capacity to contain it”. I was stunned. This thing could destroy concrete, diamond, and bedrock but was contained by bicycle chains? That was stupid, but convenient.

I needed to decide whether to keep it or release it. I turned to my colleagues and gave them a slight nod. It was already obvious that everyone had silently confirmed the idea of keeping it. I looked back at the head researcher. “Our final verdict, ma’am, is to keep this anomaly for further research”. She nodded and quickly walked off, her low heels clicking gently on the concrete. Her name was Danielle. She was considered the cleanest and most precautions member of the ACP (anomaly control personnel). Her smile always bright, her eyes always shining, her clothes alway in pristine condition. She had many braids that she always put up in a loose bun. Yes, I was deeply in love with her, but who could blame me? She had this perfect way of speech; strict yet tender and always understanding. I really can’t tell a story straight, can I? Always getting distracted by irrelevant themes… from now on I shall only report the events. No more telling stories.

As the months went by, the thing finally started to calm down and get accustomed to our presence. Eventually, it gave us its name - Ariel. Soon after, we started sending test subjects into his containment chamber. He surprisingly never displayed any hostility towards anyone or anything, be it animal, child, or criminal he always sat and spoke to them. After the subjects were taken from his cell they would always be different in a way. Any animal, no matter how feral, would always come out happy and tame. Criminals would come out in tears, begging for forgiveness for their actions, children would always come out smiling and full of joy. Eventually, we had decided that as long as personnel were around, he could roam the lab. Usually, this is where things go wrong in a story, but not here. Ariel was extremely cooperative and never attempted escaping. He would interact pleasantly with any anomalies and laboratory staff and would always help in the face of danger. He had an unexplainable charm to him, his way of speech made it incredibly hard not to listen. He was loving, yet joyful in a sort of calm way. He was peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, and had immense self control. It was strange, he seemed perfect. No one could find a flaw in him. This was until Donn, a fellow researcher came into the picture.

Donn was a rich asshole. The only reason he hadn’t been reported to HR yet was because he was some big investor who funded half the lab. He was rarely allowed around anomalies due to his tendency to ignore regulations and hurt them unprompted. On 16/10/24, he got into Ariel’s containment chamber. There was a video camera and audio recorder in the room at the time of the incident. This is how the conversation went:

Donn- “Sooooo, you're the angel nobody will shut up about?”

Ariel- “I guess I am… is there something you need from me?”

Donn(smirking)- “Yeeeeaaaah. Can I see your wings?”

Ariel- “Why, yes of course”

Ariel spread his wings and extended them to Donn. As soon as he did, Donn grabbed a handful of his feathers and pulled them out. Ariel immediately pulled his wings back while Donn just stood there, laughing.

Ariel- “What are you doing, you fool!? Drop it this instant!”

Donn(still laughing)- “Oh and what are you gonna do about it? Cry about it-”

The laughing stopped. Donn’s eyes were bulging and he was clutching the arm he held the feathers in but he didn’t let go of them. He couldn’t. A few security guards tried to enter the chamber but it was no use. It was sealed. We could only watch as Donn’s arm started to decompose before our eyes. He screamed and begged for it to stop. Donn was dying, slowly, painfully. The rotten meat was falling off his bones. Ariel nearly immediately drew his sword and cut Donn’s rotting arm off at the elbow. There was no wound though, only a stub where his elbow had once been. He grabbed Donn by the shoulders and shook him a bit. “Are you sane!? I told you to drop it! Why do you humans never listen to words of reason!? You could have died, you hear me!?”. Although he yelled, Ariel didn’t sound angry. He was worried. He was afraid of hurting him, despite Donn being a complete ass. Donn was still trembling, his eyes full of tears, hand shaky. He tried to say something but no words came out, only scared and pained wimpers. Security finally managed to open the door. Obviously, despite his protest, we had to install additional security measures. After this incident, he was no longer allowed to leave his cell unless for a specific purpose, he wasn’t allowed to receive special treatment, and the chains that originally held him down had been exchanged for thicker and shorter ones. Personnel had been restricted from entering his cell.

Weeks passed and Ariel would still ask to be released or at least given some of his previous privileges and his requests would still be denied. He was growing more restless by the day, pacing around his small cell for hours, repeating “They’ll change, they know not what they’re doing. Please give them another day.” to himself over and over. He would still treat any test subjects sent to him with kindness but he was obviously much more tense than before. I should have listened to him then. I should have helped. I could have, why didn’t I?

3/11/24 was the day it happened. I was studying Ariel’s behaviour as he was sitting unnaturally still, unlike his usual pacing. I was writing a report when I saw it. There was another creature similar to him in his cell. He had shortish black hair and his face shone. He had a full set of armour, holding his helmet under his left arm. He looked solemn, almost sad in fact. “Rise Ariel, their time is up” his voice was slightly deeper than Ariel's and more commanding. Ariel stood up. Ariel pleaded, “Michael, my brother, please give them a few more days. They shall change, I know it”. “I wish I could oblige, but alas, the choice is not mine. I am not as cruel as the demons in hell, and I shall definitely hate the death of so many yet this is what must be done.” said the other, Michael, I think. This time though his voice was softer, remorseful even. He reached out a hand to Ariel and told him “We have been here long enough, let us go”. Ariel took his hand and spread his wings. And said the last words I heard from him “There is a woman here, Danielle, please spare her”. The other answered “Of course I will, I know who leaves and who stays. She is a kind soul”. With this Ariel spread his wings and flew. Leaving the shackles still locked on the ground, he flew through the ceiling and disappeared. Michael stayed. He put his helmet on and drew his flaming sword. He spread his wings and flew up about a meter off the ground. He looked up at the camera that I was watching through and flew up to it. With one swing of his sword he cut it from the wall. I had to warn security about this potentially dangerous entity. I grabbed my walkie-talkie and shouted in “caution, unidentified entity on the loose. I repeat, unidentified entity on the loose”. Security should be able to deal with it now.

I walked out of the security office about an hour later. Wherever I was, it wasn’t the lab. It couldn’t be. The metal which the walls were made of was burning life paper, glass had been shattered across the floor, but worst of all was the blood. The blood was ankle deep. I threw up at the horrible sight and the smell. It was terrible. I had to find an exit. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and started walking towards the nearest door. I didn’t know where anything was anymore but I needed to get out. I nearly punched the button to get the door to open but I immediately punched it again to close it after I saw the corpses of my colleagues hanging by shards of sheet metal stuck through the wall into their stomachs. I hurled again. Where the fuck was the exit? Why is this happening? Is this the thing that came to Ariel? Michael. I went to a strict catholic school when I was younger and we learned about archangels. Was who I saw the archangel Michael? No. That was impossible, right? Angels aren’t real, right? Then how the fuck do I explain this?! Ok, ok, I need to calm down. I can’t calm down. I moved over and sat on one of the tables that was still intact, getting my legs out of the pool of blood that was the floor. I am still here, writing this hoping someone will read this. Angels are real and soon I will die by one. I can see him now. He is close. Why me? Why not? I know what I did. I murdered. I sent people to their death only to study the reaction of some anomaly or virus. His sword is now drawn, I feel the heat from its flames. At least I won't be in hell alone.