The Angel Without Wings

By ROBBIE HOWERTON

The Angel Without Wings

The day that Robbies baby sister was born, he meets a boy named Kevin. Years later, he meets him again. The two of them become great friends; however, Robbie can tell that Kevin has a deep secret. When Robbies Papa dies, Kevin is forced to tell the truth about just who he is and why he is here. He had been sent back to earth after dying in order to kill demons, with the help of a weapon created by God himself, the God Sword, the only weapon able to kill a demon. After Robbie discovers this, he agrees to help Kevin with his task. Their group slowly grows, and then Robbie finds out another truththe more Kevin kills the demons, the closer he himself gets to becoming the strongest demon in the world. Robbie has to protect him from this fate. However he puts the blame on everything upon the demons and swears to get his revenge on them all!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Dec 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426988288

ROBBIE HOWERTON

As a small child, Robbie F. Howerton was always making up stories. As he grew older, he would write small stories as Christmas gifts for his family. Robbie has a passion for writing and making up stories, being able to take some of his family’s experiences and adding to them to make a story out of them. He is from a small town in Kentucky and the oldest of three siblings.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Killing Secret

My name is Robbie Forester, and I am fourteen years old. I have short red hair, and I am about five foot three. My dad works nights at a factory in Middlesboro, Kentucky, called Blue Diamond, where they make pipes, and he roofs houses during the day. I go visit him at work every day, but I never get to stay the entire time. Until this night. I walked around with him everywhere. Then after a few hours, I got tired, so I went and got into my dad’s truck, and he went back inside to work. I fell asleep for a while.

Suddenly, I heard a noise and jumped up. It sounded like metal rubbing metal. I started rubbing my eyes to wake up. I didn’t know where I was for a few minutes. I looked around and saw the lights coming from inside the factory, and then I started to feel around the door to find the door handle. I heard the noise again and became nervous; I started looking out the window, trying to find out where the noise was coming from. I could hear the wind blowing through the open doors on the factory, and I could see something… glowing… in the distance. Or so it seemed. I was so nervous I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. But it wasn’t in the distance; it was just a few feet away. I fumbled with the lock, trying to push it down, when I realized it was Kevin, my friend I had met when I was younger.

He was bleeding badly and looked like he was about to pass out, he was so pale. No wonder I couldn’t see him And he had so much blood on his shirt, I was afraid to open the door at first.

Kevin, what happened? I hollered as I ran to check on him in a panic.

Be quiet, please! Kevin said, his angry voice stopping me in my tracks.

I stopped for a few brief seconds, and then I started walking toward him again, even though he kept telling me to stay away.

I’m okay, he said, obviously worried.

"You’re obviously not okay!" I yelled back at him.

Kevin looked shocked—I had never raised my voice at him before—and he took a step back and said, I am, don’t worry,

I finally convinced him to take off his shirt. He had three deep cuts on his back and two on his chest. I whipped off my own shirt and ripped it into sections—to use as a compress on the gashes, to slow the blood. But within a minute, I was able to wring blood out of it. I started to turn and run into the factory to get my dad, but Kevin grabbed my arm. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was serious now. But so was I. I am used to seeing you injured by now, but not this bad! I am going to get my dad. Maybe he will know what to do!

I was sure he would back down, but he gripped my arm even tighter and said, No!

I was shocked; I didn’t know what to do. I kept trying to escape his grip, but the more I struggled, the tighter his grip became.

I said no, Robbie! he growled, and I realized it would be me who was forced to back down. Even if I did break free and go get my dad, Kevin would leave before I could get him outside. So I gave up. Then I noticed a sword on the ground behind Kevin. I was sure it hadn’t been there before. Then Kevin turned and picked the sword up off the ground.

What do you have a sword for? I asked Kevin, surprised.

However, he looked even more surprised than me with the question. Dang it! he said with a shocked tone as he tried to hide the sword from me again.

I could see the sword didn’t have any blood on it at least, and I was sure Kevin would never hurt anyone, unless it was to protect someone else.

What’s wrong? I asked Kevin, still looking at the sword.

I forgot to hide it, Kevin said under his breath.

What have you been doing?

Kevin looked at me, and I could see the pain in his eyes; then we heard what sounded like screeching. I started looking around, trying to find out where the noise was coming from; then I saw Kevin get the sword out into his hands. I started to tell him it was probably just a dog and not to panic, but when I looked at his face, I could tell how serious he was. I was unable to talk.

Kevin, I finally found you! A small boy, probably around fourteen years old, ran out of the woods beside the factory, screaming.

Damn it! It would find me now of all times!

I looked at Kevin, and he seemed emotionless. He held the sword at his side, and then the small boy started running toward him, again screaming. I’m going to kill you!

I felt my heart start to race. I knew how bad Kevin was hurt, so I jumped in front of him and held up my hands without thinking. Stop it! He is hurt! I demanded.

Kevin put his hand on my right shoulder and pushed me to the side. Robbie, stand aside,

I was confused. But why? You’re hurt. You can’t fight in that condition, Kevin! I screamed at him, forcing him to finally realize that I wasn’t going to back down on this.

He backed up, and I could tell he was thinking about something. Then he took a deep breath and said, I guess I have no choice but to tell you the truth,

I didn’t know what he meant, but I was nervous about what it could be. I started to feel dizzy. The truth?

Before he could answer, the small boy ran into Kevin, pushing him back. Kevin put his hands on the small boy’s shoulders and shoved him down to the ground. Then he started running away from me. It was obvious he was trying to lead the boy away from me.

I will tell you as soon as I am finished with this fight, I swear! he screamed as he ran toward the woods. Meet me at the park tomorrow! And he disappeared from the factory grounds.

But what if you can’t win? I screamed back, trying to make him hear me.

I didn’t think he heard me at first; however, he turned around after he stepped into the woods and said, Don’t worry; I will win. I swear it,

I watched him run off with the small boy following close behind him. The streetlight suddenly started to flicker; then it went out altogether, and then they were both gone. Okay, be careful, please, I said under my breath. I knew there was no changing Kevin’s mind when he decided to do something; so I went back inside with my dad and waited the rest of the night.

* * *

The next day, I went to the park, and Kevin was sitting on a bench under a large oak tree. When he saw me coming, he turned his head away from me. I could tell he was nervous about telling me what he had been doing, but he no longer had the sword, and he didn’t seem to be injured anymore either.

What happened to all of your injuries? I asked as I looked at his chest, where the worst cut had been.

I am going to tell you the entire truth, he said, finally looking toward me. I could tell by the look on his face he was nervous. The wind slowly started to pick up, and I started to get nervous too. After a few moments, I was finally able to clear my throat and say, What is it?

He stood up and started walking around the park. He walked around the swing set and then put his arm on the monkey bars and turned to me. I am not alive, he proclaimed.

I didn’t know what to say, my first thought was that he was insane: he had hit his head too hard in a fight or something. You mean you’re a ghost? I asked him, confused.

No. I’m not alive; yet I’m also not dead,

The more he talked, the more confused I became. I started walking around, trying to put everything together, but I couldn’t figure anything out. Finally, I just told him, I’m confused, as I walked back over to the bench.

He sat beside me and took a deep breath. When I was a baby, I died. However, I was sent back in order to protect the world from demons,

I still didn’t know what to say. I honestly didn’t believe in demons, but I didn’t want to think Kevin was insane either. Demons? I repeated sarcastically.

I know it sounds insane, but it’s the truth. That sword I had last night is known as the Sword of God, or the God Sword. It will kill demons; however, if I stab a normal person, it will not harm them.

I was sure after hearing him say that, that Kevin had lost his mind. You expect me to believe in demons? I screamed.

I expected him to start laughing or something and tell me he was just joking, but instead he stood up and started pacing in front of me. And then he looked at me; he looked as if he were about to cry when he said, It’s true; when people forget the difference between right and wrong, they become demons, He paused, waiting for my reply, but I couldn’t… I didn’t know what to say.

He went on. Once they become demons, there is no hope for them, and I am forced to exterminate them. That is my price for being sent back to earth, Again he paused, but again, I couldn’t think of what to say.

If you don’t believe me, I will understand though, he said as he started to slowly walk away. I could hear the pain in his voice. I realized that he honestly believed everything he had said, so I wanted to believe him too.

I want to believe you, but… I paused, trying to think of how to word my thoughts, but before I could get them right, he interrupted me.

I understand, he said, and he then turned to walk away.

I will have to see it to believe it, I proclaimed as he was leaving, and then he stopped and slowly turned around to face me. He was silent for a few moments.

All right, he said, finally. I have a mission tomorrow. I will allow you to come with me, but you will have to be careful. He looked depressed.

I will, I replied.

All right then, go home and get some rest. We leave tomorrow evening, he said before he turned and ran away.

Okay! I shouted as I turned to leave the park.

Chapter 2

Truth of a Soul

I didn’t know what to tell my parents. I knew if I told them the truth, they would think Kevin was insane. I mean, even I thought that was a possibility now. I decided to take a walk and think about what to tell everyone. It was still a little dusky outside. I slowly walked through the woods until I started hearing what seemed like someone running through the brush. I turned to run out of the woods. The trees were blowing with the wind, and I felt like I had a million eyes watching me. I felt like I was lost even though I had been in these woods many times before. Then I heard what sounded like Kevin’s voice leading me out of the forest.

After that I went back to town. Middlesboro was a small town, so it didn’t take long to find Kevin. I wanted to ask him if he had seen me in the woods. Especially since I had figured out that whenever he wasn’t fighting, he was always close to me. I found him on the hilltop above my house.

* * *

What are you doing here, Robbie? We don’t leave till tomorrow. I told you that, Kevin said as I walked up behind him.

Were you in the woods earlier? I asked him.

No, I wasn’t. Why? Kevin answered.

I could tell he was just as confused as I was, and he was worried about me, so I just made something up. Sorry, I just thought I saw you. I could tell Kevin didn’t believe me, but he didn’t say anything. It was quiet then for a while. I could hear the wind blowing through the trees, and the sounds of my family down at my house.

Maybe we should go to St. Louis today, Kevin said, interrupting the silence.

St. Louis, Missouri? Why do we need to go all the way there? I asked, confused. And why should we leave today? I asked, wondering why he had changed his plans to leave tomorrow.

We will be gone for three days, he said, not answering any of my questions.

What will I tell my family? I asked, worried about what they would say when I told them I was leaving for three days.

No need to worry. I have it all planned out already, he said with a grin on his face. Then he pulled out a piece of something—it looked like white gum.

What is it? I asked him, confused.

Then he handed me the gum and said, Here!

I wasn’t sure about chewing it, but I knew he wouldn’t try to trick me, so after a few seconds, I threw the gum into my mouth and started to chew. It didn’t have any taste at all. Then he told me to blow a bubble. I was still confused, but I did as he said, and when the bubble popped, I was looking into my own eyes.

What is this? I asked, shocked.

But Kevin replied calmly, It’s you,

Which only made me further confused. I am here! I said, trying to make Kevin understand how confused I was.

But again, he stayed calm and said, "Yes, and you are there."

I didn’t know what to say or do after that. I was completely confused. Then Kevin stepped between me and the other me and started to explain. Part of your soul is inside this. It will take your place while we go to Missouri, and no one will ever realize you’re gone.

I was still extremely confused after his explanation. My soul? I raised my voice, trying to sound a little angry instead of as scared as I was.

Tell me, Robbie, do you know what a soul looks like? he asked calmly.

The question shocked me; I had never really thought about it. I pictured a blue light shining inside my head. A small blue light, I guess? I answered silently.

Kevin began to laugh before saying, "No, a soul is the person’s life—a soul is us. I am a soul. That is why I cannot die, no matter how much I am cut or beaten. A soul can never die."

I didn’t know what to say again for a few moments. Never? I finally managed to get out.

No. However, a soul can be tainted, Kevin said as he started walking away.

I ran to get in front of him, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that something he’d said had worried him. What do you mean? I asked, cautiously trying not to force him to talk about something he didn’t want to.

Everyone on this planet is born with no evil inside of them; everyone is born kind-hearted and caring. But things in this world—like the desire for money and fame, for example—can tempt you and change your soul into an evil soul. That is when you become a demon.

I had to admit this made sense to me, but I was confused about one thing still. "Can you be tainted?" I asked.

Kevin looked at me for a few seconds with a depressed look; then he smiled and looked toward my house. I am a soul, so yes I can, he answered quietly.

How did some of my soul get into that thing? I asked, trying to change the subject back to the original one—since I could tell he was uncomfortable with the way it was going.

Tell me, what do people do just before they die? he answered, confusing me again. And then I started to think about something my dad had told me before: people always take a final breath before they die.

So I said, Do you mean take their final breath?

Kevin seemed surprised to hear my answer; then he said, Yes, why do you think they take that breath?

I didn’t really know the answer to that, so I just guessed. To clear their lungs, maybe?

Kevin began to laugh a little, and then he said, No, they take that final breath to release their soul. That breath is that person’s soul.

I realized he was looking toward the other me while he was answering that, and then it hit me: I had blown into the gum to blow the bubble.

So when I blew into that bubble— I began.

But before I could finish, he interrupted me, saying, You used your breath, and so a little of your soul slipped inside.

I didn’t know what to say after he said that. I tried to say a few things, but nothing managed to come out. Then it was silent again for a while.

Don’t worry; I wouldn’t do anything dangerous to you. When we return, it will return to you, Kevin said, breaking the silence.

I was honestly still worried, but I wanted to believe him so I said, Okay.

* * *

Kevin and I talked for a few more hours before we finally took the other me down to my house. I waited for my family to all leave the house, before I snuck the other me inside. I put it in my room. It was still awkward to look at myself, but I was sure this would work, and I was glad I didn’t have to explain everything to my family.

After I left it—him—in my room, we waited to see if my family could tell or not. It was obvious there was no way they could ever tell—that was the real me. And I was the real me after all too. When my mom and dad saw the other me, they just started talking to him like they would talk to me any other day. After seeing this, we left for St. Louis.

Before we get there, I will need to teach you the main things about demons, Kevin said as we drove down the interstate.

What is there to know? I asked him cautiously. I was honestly afraid to hear what he was going to say. Afraid they may be like what I’d imagined demons to be: huge, ugly, and extremely strong. But then he interrupted my thoughts.

There are five main types of demons; most of them fall into the first level of the lost. These demons are merely people who have lost their sense of right and wrong.

After he said that I felt a relief and interrupted him. Then I can beat them myself! This will be easy. You had me worried for nothing, I said, laughing, but then I looked toward him and his expression had changed completely.

He was clearly not amused. They are stronger than a normal person, Robbie! They truly have no idea what they’re doing is wrong. Nonetheless, they are the weakest of the five demons. The second level is the werewolves—

"Werewolves?