The Metatronic Chronicles: a Minor Inconvenience

By Kathleen Esther

In the Metatronic universe, Heaven and Hell are located in a spatial void that exists outside of what we understand to be our universe. Angelic assignment outside of this "Void" is a plum job as it involves the populating of entire planets, which gives angels the utmost freedom to wander. Michael and Daniel Wilder are normal teenage boys who live in a small Wisconsin town, trying to keep up with school, meet girls, play their music and keep their parents off their backs. When an unexpected tragedy whisks them off into the lives they are destined for before they are ready, they find themselves in a fantastic world of angels, swordplay and adventure. However, with school still needing to be attended to, a baby on the way and being expected to fulfill new responsibilities, life becomes very complicated. To top it off, the new baby just happens to be Metatron, creator of the universes, chief of all angels and a general pain in the ass.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathleen Esther
• Release date: Dec 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301749058

Kathleen Esther

A former onion field weeder, linen sales clerk, Department of Revenue filing robot, apartment cleaner, tobacco display artist, candy rack stacker, Department of Motor Vehicles filing robot, medical records insurance abstract typist, friendly but resentful medical clinic receptionist, library cataloging technician and pharmacy clerk turned writer.But enough about me.The Metatronic Chronicles is about a family of angels trying to live normal lives in semi-rural Wisconsin. I originally started writing these stories back when I was sixteen years old and if you look at my photo, you can tell this was quite a while ago. The initial idea came to me when I was growing up on a produce farm and not enjoying the experience. I always wanted an angel to come scoop me up and take me where people enjoyed life, love, music and art as opposed to onions, black dirt and fertilizer. In a way, my angel did come and help me as I began writing and became lost in this world of fantasy mixed with what was my reality at the time.I wrote for many years, starting out in longhand after I was supposed to be in bed asleep. My parents must have wondered why it was so hard to get me out of bed in the morning. I couldn't tell them it was because I had sat up writing until 2AM! Over time, I switched to a typewriter which on the surface seemed a good thing. However it was a thermal paper typewriter and do you know what happens to thermal paper that is exposed to sunlight? Don't ask.I finally put down my pen when I got married and never wrote another word for about seven years. However one day I just got tired of life for awhile and began to retreat back into my world of angels. By this time, most of my old manuscripts had faded into blank sheets so I decided to start again. This gave me an opportunity to rethink and redesign everything I had developed up until the loss of my earlier work.In the Metatronic Chronicles, James and Mary Wilder are raising their two teenagers Michael and Daniel as most parents do, with discipline, love and more patience than most of us can muster. Michael and Daniel are good kids but they are growing boys with raging hormones that overcome them more often than should be allowed. When Michael begins seeing young Alice Fitch, it's mostly because she is very well endowed and very willing to let Michael do as he will with her.In the meantime, Daniel has found an outlet for his pent-up sexual energy with the housewives of their small town and has raised the ire of a jealous and murderous husband. During a tryst in the school parking lot in her vehicle, her husband shows up and threatens Daniel's life. Using an ability they have had since they were kids, Daniel calls his brother telepathically for help and Michael comes running, but arrives just in time to see his brother shot and then the shotgun is aimed and fired at him.The next time we see the boys, we realize that something amazing has happened. A new life begins for Michael and Daniel and from them grows the latest chapter in the Wilder family chronicle.

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Kintner/The Metatronic Chronicles: A Minor Inconvenience

Kathleen Kintner 110,007 words

2111 Robinson Avenue

Kingman, AZ 86401

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THE METATRONIC CHRONICLES: A MINOR INCONVENIENCE

by

Kathleen Esther

Chapter 1

In the beginning…

The year was 1950.

Sandy haired, freckle-faced Mary Brandon was growing up on a dairy farm near the town of Roseville, Wisconsin. It was summer, so she was home most days helping with the chores around the farm, so James had caught her eye when he first came to pick up milk from the farm in the early hours. It took a few weeks, but he finally noticed Mary standing next to her bicycle one morning, staring at him as he drove up to the barn. Uncertainly, he silently nodded a greeting and gave her a slight wave.

That was when she made her move. Sixteen-year-old Mary had her sights set on him, no matter how old he was. It was easy to see why. The handsome blond truck driver had instantly captured her imagination and amazement, watching him as he easily hoisted the heavy milk cans up into the truck and tossed down empty ones.

Hey! she had called out to him that morning, pedaling her bike toward his truck. Watch it! Those milk cans are expensive!

Sorry, he had replied over his shoulder, ready to get back into the truck and leave without another word, but she would not have it. Suddenly, she was between him and the truck door. Uh…I have to get going, young lady.

Young lady my sweet ass! she retorted. I’ve been watching you every morning for the last month. What’s your name?!

Uh…James. He tried to get past her, but she held her ground. Sorry, but I have to go!

You aren’t going anywhere until you ask me for a date, and you damned well better show up! Her green eyes were flashing fire at him as she spoke, and her set jaw indicated that she would not take no for an answer.

With a sigh, he gave her young figure a quick glance, then nodded. A date…to the ice cream shop! With your father along!

No way, Jose! she shot back, pointing to the old barn at the rear of her parents’ farm. You and me…a date…up in the loft! Right NOW!

To her surprise, he gave in, followed her to the barn and that was how their son Michael came to be.

Upon realizing that their daughter was pregnant, her parents, Ernest and Lavonne Brandon were not happy. It took some fast talking by Mary to convince them that James should not be in jail. After they finally agreed to that, then she broke the news to them that she was in love with James, further distressing them. After a long discussion, she finally got them to believe that he was only nineteen years old, so that made the issue somewhat less distressing.

James transferred to a new route to keep the pressure off Mary, but the pair dated for three months, her parents watching them carefully, before he proposed marriage and she accepted. The wedding date was set for a month later, just after Mary’s sixteenth birthday, and the bride proudly rubbed her swelling belly as it happened.

Since their initial shock had worn off, her elderly parents just shook their heads as the vows were said, their only child’s condition being distressing, frustrating and welcome, all at the same time. It also was the subject of the local Roseville town gossips, so the couple withdrew Mary from school and hoped that somehow, she would be able to return after the baby was born.

On the other hand, she was James’s problem now and though the new grandchild was welcome, the baby would be the sole responsibility of his parents. For that Ernest and Lavonne were grateful.

After the wedding and much to Ernest and Lavonne Brandon’s horror, the couple had moved to a decrepit but still basically sturdy eighteen thousand square foot former mansion with twenty three rooms including a dozen appointed bedrooms, with at least two complete with full baths. This was a project that James had been saving for, a chance to restore Old Oaks, a large house built by a local lumber baron nearly eighty years earlier.

It has once been a former lumber baron’s house during the town’s long past heyday as a lumber-processing center but had now fallen on hard times, it’s roof full of gaps, many of the rooms made nearly useless. It was obviously in need of major repair, close to falling down in fact, which made it very cheap and came with twenty acres of land, so James had insisted.

Mary had looked upon it with horror, but when he told her of his dreams to make it a showplace again, she finally agreed to live in it as long as he kept his promise to repair it. With his savings, along with a small amount of money he had made from the sale of his late parents’ property, the couple put a down payment on the old house and moved in.

After making a few rooms habitable, James and Mary Wilder soon settled into the first floor while James worked on the rest of the house in his spare time, first replacing the ancient kitchen stove, upgrading electricals, adding a used refrigerator and making sure the plumbing was intact and fixtures working in the kitchen and the only first floor bathroom, a tiny facility that had been installed into a former broom closet decades before.

Mary helped as much as she was able, having withdrawn from school for the time being, and relegated to simple jobs such as painting and cleaning. Already used to such activity, she worked as hard as she could to make a home for their baby, and soon a small section of the house was clean enough for them to set up a small nursery in the only bedroom, an old servants’ room behind the kitchen. The small family was now at home, the rats, mice and pigeons chased out and the future settled in.

Michael was born a few months later, and then Daniel arrived almost eleven months to the day after Michael’s birth. The delivery of the second of two big, squalling, punching, and kicking boys meant that Mary’s body just couldn’t take anymore. After consulting with her parents’ doctor, she was forced to have a hysterectomy a few months postpartum, a shocking development, but with James at her side, the surgery went well, paid for by a small loan from her parents. Her quick recovery enabled her to come home to her boys stronger and ready to get back to work.

In the meantime, James had used a few more dollars saved from his job to put a down payment on a failing storage company less than a mile from the house. Although he had a bit of a rocky start as he learned the business, it had eventually become a thriving commercial success, over time adding refrigeration and freezer units, large vehicle storage and pickup services. With no similar businesses for a hundred miles around, the Roseville Commercial Storage Company was in demand and though it didn’t turn the family into millionaires, it kept them comfortable, the house continuously under repair, the loan repaid with interest and the bills covered.

That was how it all started, and now we are all up to speed.

Chapter 2

The year is 1967.

One particular autumn morning started out as an indistinguishably ordinary day.

Always, the early bird, Daniel was showered, dressed and out of the house by the time Michael even opened his eyes. Their mother Mary was in the kitchen when he left, but only bade him a brief goodbye and a quick kiss as he waved and disappeared through the back door. James was already at work, leaving Mary to deal with her boys most mornings but that didn’t usually last long before they were gone to school and out of her hair.

When Michael finally appeared at the kitchen door and sat down for some breakfast, she smiled admiringly at him. Like his younger brother Daniel, black-eyed Michael was a healthy, muscular six feet five inches tall, and his thick hair fell past his shoulders in soft black ringlets. Daniel was built much the same, but his blond locks and blue eyes made him nearly a clone of his father. No one was quite sure where Michael’s olive complexion, black hair and eyes came from, but Mary suspected some influence from one of her great grandfathers, a rather roguish Italian gentleman who had been married five times.

So, she said. What’s the plan for today?

He glanced up at her and winked as he poured himself a cup of coffee but paid no attention to the fact that there was no food on the table. Everyone was on their own for breakfast on school days. The usual, school, a Geometry test and homework, he answered, sniffing the coffee before venturing to take a sip. The stuff tasted bitter and he put the cup down to let it cool. Exciting, huh?

Homework? It’s Friday. Don’t you have anything exciting planned? Mary asked, wanting to know what the boys had in mind for the evening. Like dates with actual girls?

Michael saw his mother’s frustration and smiled slyly. Maybe dates, but with girls? Nah! We like sheep!

His joking tone told her that he was not taking the her question seriously and she went for it. Who are you going out with? Anyone I know?

Michael knew his mother would worry until he told her exactly what they were going to do so he finally relented with a jab of his sardonic sense of humor. Okay, we’re going over to Alice Fitch’s house for an orgy, he confessed. Then we’re going out to run down a deer on foot, catch it with our bare hands and eat it raw. We’ll be coming home all bloody, so don’t wait up.

Mary’s rosy cheeked face went pale for a moment, and then she grew angry. Don’t tell me things like that! she spat back at him. After what I put up with between you two, I’ll take you seriously! Besides, that Fitch girl already has enough problems without you spreading stories like that.

He relented a bit, having mercy on his gullible mom. Sorry, but seriously, I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Daniel. He’s the Perle Mesta of this house. I just tag along and survive on his offal.

Seeing his mother’s grimace back at him, he suddenly felt uncomfortable, so he quickly finished his coffee despite its hot temperature and rose from the table. We’ll be home after school, at least for a while. That much I can tell you. What comes later this evening is up to Dan and I’m sure he has something planned.

Grabbing his book bag, he gave his Mom a gentle kiss and headed for the door.

Mary watched him go, and then suddenly called out I’ll be waiting up for you tonight so no more shenanigans! I don’t want any more calls from Officer Macy! She was referring to a recent instance of Michael being accosted by local law enforcement for climbing the town’s water tower, perching himself at the top of the slippery tank, a very dangerous stunt. Officer Ralph Macy was the town constable who had climbed up after him to get him to come down, shouting up at him from behind the safety rail on the iron grid walkway that surrounded the tank. Michael had waved gallantly from his perch on top of the tank, then slid down over the smooth surface of the structure, nearly causing the older officer to have a stroke as he leaped the forty foot drop to the soft ground below.

Macy shouted his ire, then rushed down the rickety metal steps to find Michael rising uninjured from the dirt and dusting himself off. Sorry, Officer Macy, he grinned at the frustrated officer. But you said to come down!

That bit of mischief had resulted in a ticket for a court appearance and a fine, which his parents begrudgingly paid. The payback was two full weekends of work without pay in the storage facility.

Promise! Michael’s words rung in Mary’s ears as she closed the door behind him. He began to trot down the county road toward Roseville, easily toting his twenty-five pound book bag across his shoulder. As he rounded a corner two miles later, he saw Daniel on the sidewalk in front of a well-kept brick home, waiting to join him as he passed.

Mom and Dad better not find out! The words exploded in Daniel’s mind as the two ran along.

Find out what? He teased back the same way. The two brothers shared a very strong telepathic link, something they had developed over the last few years. They had found the ability by accident when Michael once got lost in Goose Lake Woods and managed to find his way home by tuning in to his brother’s thoughts guiding him. After much trial, error, eavesdropping and fighting, they had now each managed to learn how to control it, including blocking the other one out if necessary since they were in each other’s business all the time.

Find out that you leave early so you can stop at Mrs. Blankenship’s house after her husband has left for the day! his brother retorted. Michael knew his brother was not afraid of Mr. Blankenship, a questionable part-time resident from Chicago. Daniel had been seeing his wife two or three mornings a week for about a month now, ever since he had met her at a convenience store. It was nothing like love, only like lust and the teenager was having the time of his life. At the end of each visit, she slipped twenty dollars into his jeans pocket before he left.

I’m doing the old lady a favor! Daniel shot back as the school came into view. The ‘old lady’ was thirty-four, approximately the same age as their mother. She’s alone most of the time and needs someone to talk to.

Dan, no one pays for someone to talk to except if they need a shrink! Michael answered. If you’re banging her, it’s going to get back to Dad and Mom…and her husband!

Her husband isn’t a problem, Daniel growled out loud as they slowed down to enter the building. The bell rang just as they split up to go to their classes. The two boys wouldn’t see each other again until the mid-morning study hall the two shared.

Michael paid no attention to their physical locations as his voice went on in Daniel’s head. Blankenship is rough. Dad says that he does some kind of illegal business in Chicago and he doesn’t pay taxes on it, so he could be dangerous if he caught you.

What does Dad know? Daniel retorted the same way and then blocked his brother out to concentrate on what his teacher was saying.

Two hours later, Michael sat down next to him in the study room. Dad knows a lot, he said, going on with the conversation telepathically as if no time had elapsed. He’s done business with the guy for years. Remember all those washer/dryer sets we shoved around for months? They were his and he paid nearly twice the regular rate to keep them with us. Why? Were they hot?

Who steals washers and dryers? Daniel snapped back at him. They were surplus, and he was saving them for some big sale he was going to have at his store in Oshkosh. Dad gave him a great rate for storing it. Don’t be stupid! What’s the matter with you--are you jealous? Do you want to screw her?

I wouldn’t mind it, but that’s not the point. The point is that Blankenship might hurt you and you don’t see that. Michael opened his history book and appeared to begin to read as he caught the eye of the study monitor. You can be hurt. So can Mom and so can Dad and so can I.

I’m not afraid of him! Daniel slammed his own book shut and rose from the table. I’m going to the library. Don’t follow me and I’m blocking you out. See you after school! He left his brother, signed out on the library sheet and headed across the hall, leaving his brother sitting alone.

Michael watched him go, then sighed and looked back down at his history book, irritated at his brother’s stubbornness. While he read with one eye, the other almost seemed to move independently as he glanced around the room, admiring the eighteen girls who were studying in the room along with him. Tall, short, thin, fat, brown, white, yellow Michael liked them all, but he mentally chose one that he knew would be willing--mousy, bespectacled and overly chubby Alice Fitch. With a flick of his hand, he motioned to her and then rose to sign out for the restroom. Two minutes later, she signed out as well and they met in a small, out of the way and unguarded gym equipment room.

My mother says you’re dangerous, Alice giggled softly as Michael slipped his hand under her blouse, lifting it up to reveal a pink lacy bra. I’m not supposed to see you anymore.

Your mother is right, Michael muttered as he felt around to try to unhookay the bra. We don’t have much time, five minutes at most.

There were many prettier girls in school, but Alice appealed to him because she was soft and warm, so vulnerable to his influence, with bountiful chest as a bonus. Other girls fell under his spell too, but Alice was his version of a charity case.

The bra hooks defied him until he finally gave up and decided to go directly for his main objective instead. He moved around behind her.

She closed her eyes, leaned forward and whispered, Do it! Then waited for him to follow through. He was about to grant her wish when he heard Daniel screaming telepathically. Startled, he stood up straight, nearly dropping her to the floor. Jeez, Daniel! He said out loud.

Alice opened her eyes just as he took off running down the hallway. Daniel? She echoed. What’s wrong with Alice?

He didn’t answer as he quickly left the room, leaving her to button her blouse and return to the study room.

Oh, Michael, she sighed sadly as she went, then whispered to herself what she had wanted to tell him. I just wanted to tell you the good news. I’m pregnant.

Michael went into the library and looked around. His brother was nowhere to be seen. I can’t find you! He shouted telepathically. Where are you?

There was no answer for a second, and then a weaker response came. Mike, come help me! They shot me! Behind the tennis courts!

Panicking now, Michael headed out of the school and toward the athletic fields where the tennis courts were located. As he rounded a turn behind the slatted fence, a bright flash greeted him, the last thing he saw as a human.

Chapter 3

Michael initially saw the bright flash, then a massive burning sensation inside his head before he finally blacked out.

The next thing he heard was Daniel’s voice inside his head. Mike! Wake up!

His neck and face felt as if they were in flames, but slowly he opened his eyes and was surprised to find himself floating in what seemed to be a black cloud in the night sky, surrounded by stars. Daniel’s voice was coming from somewhere beyond the cloud. He tried to say his brother’s name, but nothing came out of his throat. Suddenly, a figure was directly in front of him. Mike!

If Michael could have screamed, he would have. Daniel’s face had been blown completely away, but he didn’t seem to be aware of it.

Can you talk? Daniel asked, his voice coming from a raw, bloody cavern, all that was left of what had been a mouth. Jee-zus, you look awful!

Michael shook his head as he telepathed I can’t talk. Do I have a mouth?

Of course, you have a mouth! But your throat and the left half of your face is gone! Daniel looked around, using the one bit of eyeball he had left. The other eye was completely destroyed. I’m not sure what happened. What is this place? He gathered the shreds of his cotton tee shirt to himself. It’s cold here but I can’t see my breath. Weird.

Michael suddenly realized that Daniel didn’t know his face was gone. In fact, the burning pain of his own horrible wound was fading away very rapidly. Yet, he didn’t feel as if he had died. Experimentally, he tried to talk again and found that he could manage a very weak raspy sound in his throat. What happened to us? He rattled out to his brother.

There was no response for a moment as his brother turned away in shame. After some time, Daniel finally answered. Blankenship. He killed his wife and then killed us. You were right. He was trouble. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.

He glanced back over at Michael, who saw that some of his face seemed to have grown back--he had eyes now. You’re getting better, Daniel commented as he noticed that Michael too was healing. Your throat is nearly closed up.

Then are we dead? I don’t feel dead! Michael tried to touch his throat but there was still some pain, so he left it alone. Are they going to go after Mom and Dad?

I don’t know. Daniel looked around, suddenly realizing that they weren’t anyplace that could be the planet Earth. Um, where are we if we’re not dead? He took an experimental step forward and found that his foot punched right through the cloud. And how are we…? His telepathic voice faded as he looked downward. Holy shit! Look at that!

Michael followed his gaze and was shocked to see what the planet Earth was obviously floating below them. Then he looked down at his feet and realized that the black cloud below them was dissipating and nearly gone. Gravity began pulling at them and the planet started getting closer. They were falling back to earth!

Daniel glanced back at his brother just in time to see him go floating downward and then felt his own body begin the descent.

What do we do? Michael’s voice cried out inside his head. We must be over a hundred thousand feet up!

Just float down, I guess, Daniel answered, his gut tightening. We survived the shotgun, we apparently seemed to survive in a near vacuum. Maybe we’ll survive this too. He looked over at his brother. By the way, your face is completely healed.

Michael looked back, nodding. Yours too, he answered back. He was glad to see Daniel’s clear eyes intact and in place where they belonged. Somebody has a lot of ‘splainin’ to do if we don’t burn up on the way down! He managed to shift his trajectory a bit and managed to get within reach of his brother. Grab my hand! If we die, we die together!

Earth began moving more rapidly toward them and the atmosphere around them began heating up. The two brothers kept looking at each other until friction built up into a wild flaming fireball around them and kept its path toward the planet true and stable until it plunged straight into the Pacific Ocean’s MCelestias Trench, the deepest area of any ocean on earth.

The water didn’t put the flames out and the fireball continued nearly 5000 feet into the depths before it finally came to a fizzling halt, dissipating into nothingness. What was left started toward the surface, breaking out of the waves nearly thirty minutes after first entering.

Daniel was the first to emerge and came out with a gasping shout. Michael! He yelled vocally. Mike! Come out!! Come on!! The waves were huge and kept washing over him as he fought to keep afloat in cold darkness. He took a moment to look around, seeing nothing but roiling ocean wherever he looked. Then something else broke the surface near him and he eagerly sought out the face of his brother. Michael!

The dark shape in the water drew close and despite the salty, frothy water in his eyes, Daniel’s vision was clear enough to tell him that something had happened to his brother. The form reared up and a giant pair of black wings unfolded, carrying it slightly out of the water with great broad sweeps of glistening feathers.

Daniel froze, uncomprehending as a giant shadow suddenly reached down and snatched him up with strong hands. His final memory before blacking out again was being carried back up into the sky at a rapid rate by something that was beyond comprehension. The ocean became a memory and then there was nothing.

Okay, come out of it. The next thing Daniel heard was Michael’s voice through the enveloping darkness. It seemed deeper than before and a gentle hand was caressing his forehead. You’ve had a rough few hours but it’s time to face life on Earth again. Wake up, Daniel.

You’re talking funny, Daniel managed to say as he spit up a bit of salt water. Where are we? His eyes opened, but things were hazy and out of focus. I can’t see.

A hand touched his eyes and his vision cleared up instantly, bringing a vaguely familiar face into view. It looked somewhat like his brother, but somehow, bigger and more imposing. An immense cascade of shining black waves tied back by a leather thong replaced the shaggy hair and the smiling face he knew so well was even darker. He noticed several healed scars on his arms and shoulders. The eyes were the familiar black and still shone like diamonds. Most imposing was a pair of glistening black-feathered giant wings on his brother’s back. It was Michael, but not the Michael he knew. He felt his voice quivering as he asked, Who are you?

I am Michael, the angel answered. The teenager Michael Leighton Wilder was burned away, and I was left behind.

Burned away? Daniel felt terror rising in his throat. Despite his own intimidating stature, he would be nothing to this giant being before him. What do you mean by that?

Only the physical shell is gone. So is yours--look. Michael held him up so he could see his reflection in a little mirror that appeared from nowhere. His own face looked back at him but at the same time the face was that of a stranger. Again, it was a giant angel, looking rather beaten up, but otherwise, very much like the face of the being who had replaced his brother. You’ve retained his memories, his personality, a bit more than I have retained Michael’s. I suppose that he must have hit the surface harder, but I’m sure I’ll get him back. He lifted Daniel upward into a sitting position. Once I was released, I came back up to you, snatched you up and brought you home.

Home? Daniel looked around but saw nothing that looked like home. Instead, it was just a big vaguely pink nothingness and they were floating in it. This doesn’t look like home to me, he commented nervously, and then jumped as he saw something move beneath him--another giant wing, this one covered with shimmering golden feathers that curled up slightly at the ends.

What happened? Daniel managed to ask in spite of his incredulity. What happened to Michael? What happened to us? He shifted suddenly and his brother appeared to spin away for an instant, but he felt steady hands bring him back to bear.

He saw the shadow of his brother’s former being pass over Michael’s face for a moment. Then the angel answered him, his words chosen carefully. When Blankenship shot us, the shotgun blast was fatal to our human bodies. Our angelic selves came forward and healed us but the descent back to Earth was too much to repair and our human bodies were physically burned away.

Daniel just stared at him, uncomprehending.

Michael tried again. Let me put it this way. We’re fine. We’re healthy. We’re just joined with our angelic sides again now. My angel’s name is Michael and yours is Daniel, as before.

Daniel suddenly closed his eyes tightly, muttering a mantra to himself. I’m asleep at home. I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming or I died and I’m dead or I’m crazy or something! Tears began to well up. I can’t be dead. I can’t be gone!

Michael quickly took him in a tight embrace, drawing him close. You aren’t dead! he assured his brother. You are alive and well and if you wanted, you could go home to reconstruct your body and live your life as you did before!

Daniel suddenly pushed him away. What are you talking about? How I can go home and just go on as if nothing happened?

You can, but you won’t be the same, not really. It took a long time to become buried so deep in the Wilder family so that you could be born and reborn again to live as a human. Michael gave him a loving caress to his forehead, brushing away suddenly longer, thicker locks falling into his face. You’ll be better. Still an asshole, but better.

Daniel’s thoughts went back to his parents, his home and his life in a place that seemed so long ago now, and his eyes filled with tears. Was this what it was like to be dead or was this strange being who looked like his brother right and he could just somehow get back home?

Michael looked around the vast expanse of bright pinkish nothingness. I have a feeling that there should be countless numbers of us here but there’s only you and I, which makes me think we are not to stay here. And I do remember one thing very clearly and that is how to get back to Earth! He pulled his brother close, spread his wings and together they faded away into darkness again.

The next thing Daniel saw was his home on Earth coming up quickly at him as it did before, but the terror was gone. With Michael’s encouragement, he spread his wings and was surprised to feel the atmosphere push up on him, slowing him so drastically that he was torn from his brother’s arms, making him scream in terror, but his fear was short-lived.

Instinctively, his wings suddenly spread, and his body twisted around righting himself, slowing his descent so drastically that he saw Michael shoot downward past him, then laughing, arc around and come back up to join him. You’re doing it! his brother angel shouted at him through the wind. You must remember! You are meant to be up here! Enjoy it!

Daniel was still a bit frightened, but his wings moved slightly with the wind, his pelvis and legs acting as a rudder, bringing him slowly downward, floating in the wind for several minutes until finally alighting easily in a clearing amid trees in the local county park, Michael landing with him. Holy shit! he finally yelled back at Michael. What in hell just happened?

You went for your first solo flight! Michael laughed back. That was awesome! I’ve missed flying—it was great to do it again!

What about Mom and Dad? Daniel asked, gasping from the long trip down. "Are they a target?

Michael seemed to concentrate on something else for a moment, and then shook his head. No, Blankenship has gone to Chicago. He doesn’t care about doing anything to them—it was you he wanted and when I came to help you, he got me too. He paused a moment more, seeming to absorb more information. He’s left to go take care of some business, he finally said. His wife is wrapped up in a big plastic tarp in his trunk and he’s got his thugs with him.

So, what do we do about him? Daniel asked, unconsciously scratching his left wing shoulder, assuaging a few ticklish downy wing feathers. Do we just let him get away with it? He killed three people!

Two of which didn’t really die Michael reminded him. For his wife he should pay dearly, I agree, but even now authorities have picked them up and they are in Cook County Jail. The body was found so the charge is murder…and speeding.

Daniel’s eyes grew hard and empty as he and his brother began walking out of the park. I want to kill them! he suddenly said. I can do it, can’t I? Is that within my power?

If your ‘power’ consists of basic whacking, yes, Michael sighed back in exasperation as he picked his way through the rocks and undergrowth. You have the power, but I don’t recommend it for those just out of the egg. He spotted a car coming down the road and recognized a neighbor, Charlie Keene, on his way home. Quick, do as I do! His wings suddenly disappeared, and he shrank back down to human size, looking just as he had before.

Daniel just stared at him. How the hell did you do that? And WHAT egg?

You can do it too. Just do it! Michael watched his brother close his eyes, appear to think very hard and suddenly become young human Daniel Wilder again. And that was a JOKE! Lighten up!

Daniel cast his eyes down and looked up with a shock. Our clothes! They were burned away! How do we explain being out here naked, answer me THAT?

Let me take care of the clothes problem. A brief thought from Michael brought a tee shirt and jeans that Daniel recognized as being from his own closet. As he pulled them on, he saw Michael’s own nearly identical clothes materialize on his body.

How did you do that? Daniel kept questioning as the car grew nearer. Seriously? How DID you do that? How are you doing all of this?

Never mind! Michael growled back, shaking his head. Just give me some time and I will explain it to you later!

By then the car was close enough to wave down, which Daniel did, his face still full of a mix of shock and curiosity.