Camilla looked down from her perch in the clouds, watching the teens running around the Palmwoods. She tweaked little things here and there, leading the kids to make better choices.

Being a guardian angel wasn’t always easy work. It was easy to become disconnected from the world spread out below them. Camilla found a way to fix that though. She created a mortal counterpart of herself, named her Camille, and popped her into the middle of the action

This was her job. But it was more than that. Her counterpart had come to love these teens. And Camilla felt that love for them as well. She smiled down at the Palmwoods and the sun shined down a little brighter. This was more than just a job, this was her life, and she loved every moment of it.

“I’m here to collect on your end of the…bargain.” James said with a smirk on his face.

“Wha-what are you talking about?” the man stammered, looking at the ground.

James’ smirk grew a little wider, a hint of his slightly pointed teeth peeking out from between his lips. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean.”

The man looked up, panic shining brightly in his eyes. He turned on his heel and sprinted off into the darkness. He was startled back a step, nearly falling to the ground when a shape thumped down in front of him. The demon looked up at him with yellow eyes, crouched easily on the ground. ”Did you really think it was going to be that easy?” 

“We have to go.”

That was the first thing Gustavo Rocque would hear from the last person to see him alive. And she wasn’t even a real person. Figured.

It wasn’t even the fact that she just showed up out of nowhere, or that no one else seemed to notice her that caught his attention. It was the fact that she had wings. Giant, black wings, wings, folding up against her sides as she took off her sunglasses.

“You have wings.” he stated. She looked at him before opening the red organizer she carried with her and scanning a page.

“I wasn’t aware of that. Thanks.” She replied, checking off something on the page. “Now let’s go. I have to be to Minnesota in twenty minutes and I still have to drop you off.”

He looked at her in disbelief. “Who are you?”

She sighed in annoyance. “My name’s Kelly. Or it was Kelly. You’re dead and I’m here to collect you. That would explain my wings. I’m kind of an angel, except not at all. Can we go now?”

“I’m dead?”

She nodded. “In two minutes, you are going to have a massive heart attack. It’s easier for  everyone if I collect you now. And again, I have to be to Minnesota in twenty minutes. Can we please go? I’m supposed to explain this all on our way to the drop off.”

“Why do you look like a human if you’re an angel?” he asked.

“Wow. You are full of questions.” she shot back, before reaching out to grab his hand. He felt a sharp pull and suddenly he was standing next to her, looking at himself.

“What the hell was that?!” he shouted.

She remained calm and looked at him. “That was me collecting your soul. Against your will, because you wouldn’t shut up and we were off schedule. Now you’re officially dead and I have to take you to the drop-off.” He looked at her in frantic disbelief and she sighed again. “The light at the end of the tunnel, the door, whatever you want to believe happens when you move on. I have to take you there.”

He felt something inside himself settle. Something calmed that he’d never felt before.  “You never answered my question.” he told her.

“About the human thing?” she asked. “It’s supposed to be comforting to you guys. We’re supposed to look like someone you recognize. You interviewed for an assistant once. She quit after a week, but you had a thing for her.”

“I did not!”

She laughed and he swear she glowed for a second. “Yes you did. Don’t try to lie, I know everything about you.”

He hesitated. “Everything?”

She grinned at him. “Everything.” she replied and looked over his shoulder. “See that light?” He turned and did notice the door into the hotel lobby was glowing. “I think that’s yours It was nice to meet you. Again.” she said with a soft giggle. “I’ll see you later, Gustavo.”

She kissed him on the cheek, and disappeared.

Submitted by: Mandy

Logan glanced over his shoulder in mock confusion, pretending he didn’t know what she was so confused about. “What’s the issue Camille?”

She gaped at him while a million thoughts raced through her head. “You…you have w-wings…” she finally choked out.

A smirk appeared on his face. “Yes Camille. For, you see, I am not merely Logan anymore. I am an angel…an angel of the lord.”

She merely stared for another moment before fainting dead away.

From: Megan 2.0

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
……
He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

Jabberwocky - Lewis Carrol

[Graphic text from the Prologue from Into the Woods]

From: Megan 2.0

Oh perilous place walk backwards toward you
Blink disbelieving eyes chilled to the bone
Most visibly brave no apprehended gloom
First to take this foot to virgin snow

“Wunderkind” by Alanis Morissette

“To live would be an awfully big adventure.”

J.M. BarrieJ.M. Barrie

When I wake up
The dream isn’t done.
I want to see your face and know I’ve made it home.
If nothing is true
What more can I do?
I am still painting flowers for you.

Painting Flowers - All Time Low