2

Clouds were gathering in the sky.

The sky seemed to be planning something unpleasant, the evening weather was so disgusting.

Joel Gabriel looked up.

Harmful, like the Grinch, drops immediately bypassed the glasses and penetrated between the eyelashes, making it impossible to see.

The guy rubbed his eyes with his fingers and blinked, trying to regain his sight.

The curls became cold and, like snow, clung to the face.

He still hid the glasses in his pocket, fearing their frequent loss, which happens even in normal weather, and now ...

the car stalled and therefore had to walk the whole long way.

The alarm system faintly blinked after him, as if saying "come back soon!"

Rain and no one is around.

It is rare when even here it is so lonely. It's even scary...

if he get the phone now, he can say goodbye to it forever. And listening to music is not an option right now...

Joel quietly hums something, looking forward more often and only occasionally looking around.

A sharp slap from behind on a particularly large puddle. Immediately the legs become wadded with fear.

The pace accelerates and Joel, suddenly feeling a rush of fear, ran as fast as he could along the rainy road, driven by the horror that he felt, but could not see.

Drops attack him, they hit his legs, face, clothes, icy fear haunts everything ...

For a second, the thought comes that this is so, just paranoia, but if only... Something is coming for him...

A loud growl, he drowns out the raindrops.

Heaven and earth change places and Joel feels a blow on his face. Blood flowed from his nose down his lips, drenching his wet face with red.

Joel jumps up and screams - both knees are broken.

But fear dulls the pain.

A red-haired curly-haired boy rushed down the street with all his might. Wet pants pressed against his aching knees, hurt, obviously...

On the porch he drifts again, almost broke his leg.

Heck! The note!

Joel screams in wild horror.

Mother's gone! So, brothers and sisters will take advantage of the moment and will not come home! And he forgot the keys himself, as always...

— Joel!— someone called out to him.

— Clarissa!—Joel whispered, blinking blindly.

Claire ran here disheveled, with an umbrella in her hands.

— What happened??—she asked, approaching.—Did someone attack you?—

— I don't know... I don't know... Can I come to your house at least for a couple of minutes?— Joel sighed, so as not to cry because of his suddenly weakened nerves.— My car stalled, and my mother left again! —

— Come on, we have a room, and we are not biting yet.—Claire Fallen wrapped her arms around the guy's slender waist.— Come on, be careful...—

When they reached the door, Joel shivered - for some reason, this cold returned for a short moment.

Clarissa pulled him inside without much effort.

— Dad, we have a guest!—the girl shouted, as if warning about something.

Her father didn't even look out, just muttered something softly.

— Come on... That's terrible, what's wrong with your legs?—Claire stared intently.

— Yes, I fell...—holding on to the girl with one hand and the other against the wall, Joel carefully sits down on the bed.— Is this your room? —

— Would I take you to my room right away?—the girl giggled.— We haven't known each other for a long time! —

She went to get a first aid kit.

— Clary!— suddenly Jack appeared in her way.—And what happened? Who beat up that redhead like that?—

— I didn't understand. But I really want to help him. I'm going to heal his wounds as best I can. Humanly, of course...—Claire turned around. And in her usual manner, the girl was looking for a spy.

— Go ahead. I'm going to take a nap, don't wake me up.—Jack said and went into the room.

— Haven't you fallen asleep here yet?—Claire turned to Joel with the first aid kit.— The request may be strange, but you need to take off your pants.—

— Take a deep breath...—Claire says to Joel and presses cotton wool to his bruised knee.

A sharp cry lights up the room and Joel falls limp on the bed.

The red-haired guy gasps for air, his eyes bulging.

Gabriel get up when his knees are already wrapped in bandages.

— Everything's fine, it's fine, right?—Clary looked at him.

— Yes, I am... I seem to be fine...— whispered the redhead, looking at the ceiling.— Is it bleeding a lot? —

— You are ruined your pants a lot, but nothing problems, I'm washing it off!—Claire says enthusiastically.

— You also do the laundry... I'm just in a daze...—Joel looked at the way the girl grabbed his pants.

— Don't be shy... My dad doesn't get out until morning, so it doesn't matter what to wear around the house. You can call your mother if you want. If your phone doesn't work, I'll turn on the landline now.—Clarissa pulled the contents out of her jeans pockets and spread them out on the bed.

— My mobile seems to be working... Can I take a shower?—Joel asked.

— Better later. But you can. If you go into the water now, your knees will sting a lot.— the door closed.

Joel stared at the ceiling. Groping for the phone, he found his mother's number in the contacts.

— Hello, Mom, it's me. It's Joel.— he said softly when the connection went.— And where did you go?—

— Oh, Joel, didn't I tell you this morning? If I didn't tell you, I'm sorry. Beverly is pregnant and we went to the hospital with her. Didn't you take the key again, honey?—mother asked anxiously.

— Yes, but I'm fine. When will you be back?—Joel sat up and looked out the window at his house.

It doesn't look like anyone was rushing there directly...

— Tomorrow afternoon. There's a big accident on the highway, I'll have to go the other way. Some guy's heart stopped right behind the wheel...— strange voices were heard on the phone.— Sorry, my sun, I have to go! —

Joel disconnected the call and tried to catch Wi-Fi. It was interesting to find out what kind of accident it was...

for some reason, the Wi-Fi was not here in any way...

— Hmm... If the Internet, then, alas, it is only caught in the attic. This house is strange.—Claire appeared in the doorway.

— So fast? Thank you. And... no, I think it will be too much...—the redhead hesitated.

— Ask what you wanted.—Clarissa told him.

— Can I stay with you? My mother won't come until tomorrow, and I just can't go to one of my brothers. They won't let me in, they have their own life...—Joel sighed.— Everyone has their own business, and I have no one...—

Approaching the guy as close as possible, Clarissa ran her hands through curly red hair. Like fire, they floated between her fingers, a stunningly beautiful mesmerizing sight ...

Hugging his narrow shoulders, Clarissa bent down and kissed him.

Beautiful, so bright, so sunny...

Now Joel also felt this warmth in his heart.

This is real Love... The real one, the one that will never tremble ...

Stronger than a stone ...

***

The sound of a blow was heard outside the window.

— What's there?—Joel dropped the pen.

— It's okay... Don't pay attention, we are keep studying the homework!—Clarissa waved her hand.— I've already seen two car accidents when I was driving to the city, but I didn't pay attention, because I can't do anything.—

— Well... You probably know better...—Joel picked up a pen and put the book and notebook back in front of him.— Hmm... Clary, I can't keep that much in my head! —

— Yes... Excuse me, Joel, it seems that you and I have different preparations... I was always brought up as if I would only have a day to live... My dad is strict, but he's the best.—

— I can't disagree, but I would say that he is the best. But you... I go nuts every time I look at you...—Joel hugs the girl, pulls her to him.

— Don't lose your mind at school!— the girl looked into such shining, such loving eyes.

Clary's heart had been beating with the elixir for a long time, but now it was burning like a girl.

Fallen heard a crash on the ground floor. Something prickled unpleasantly inside.

— Dad lost something there... I'll help him now and come back. He can't get used to it... —

The smile Claire tried to put on made her cheekbones ache a little.

She never managed to pretend that everything was fine, and Jack always noticed that.

A huge white creature was running around the library.

Clary felt her knees tremble a little.

— Clary!—Jack called from behind the door.

— This way...— the girl said softly.

Dark creatures can only be destroyed by light things. And by this you will not understand what hole he came out of...

— Restless spirit.— Jack Cassidy appeared behind me unexpectedly, he seemed to float by, and did not open the door.— I'll kick him out myself, go to your John.—

— He's Joel!!—Claire raised her voice angrily.

— Go, go...—Jack closed the door behind her.

Claire walked back, mentally hating herself for these damn weaknesses.

She can make a potion, create an artifact, but she can't expel this filth in any way...

— I'm already here! Bored?—Claire asked, peeking in.— I often get bored here, even though we just moved in! —

***

Joel woke up in the middle of the night.

His neck hurt a lot.

His fingers were stained with blood when the redhead touched the wound.

The blood was so hot that it seemed like it was about to boil.

— Damn it...— the red-haired guy clamped his hand over his mouth, suppressing a sob.

Blood pours and pours, it has already stained the T-shirt and is flooding the bed.

Swaying from a semi-fainting state, the guy goes out into the corridor.

It seems that all the blood will soon drain out of him.

The lights are not on anywhere.

Joel turns on the water, a cold, even icy stream from the tap burned his fingers.

In the dark, Joel clearly sees these scarlet drops everywhere.

— Joel?—the switch clicks and the light is blinding for a while.

Clarissa is standing in front of him, but she didn't look like she was sleeping. She was neither disheveled nor sleepy.

— Blood...—Joel pointed behind him.

His eyes stung, tears were already eager to break free.

— What happened?—Clarissa went behind him.— The wound is terrible... But there are only a couple of drops! Joel, are you so afraid of blood?—

— Ah... Yeah...—Gabriel looks down.

All these streams, they don't exist, they simply aren't here!

Did his mind really start playing such jokes with him?

The guy's psyche broke down. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

— Joel..—.Clary hugged her lover to her.— How much I love you... —

***

— Dad, Joel and I went to lessons!—Clarissa knocked on the door.— Are you with us or not?—

— I'll come back later! I still have some things to do and I'm going to need a car! Take the money for the bus you know where!—Jack shouted from behind the door.

— Yeah, I see!—Clary slung her bag over her shoulder and shortened the strap a little.— Come on, Joel!—

When Jack heard that Clarissa and Joel had left, he continued talking:

— Explain this assignment to me, Archangel.—

— The undead army is on the other side. She only needs a guide. One sect in the city is looking for this guide. Here they are.— the photos fell on the table.—You have to kill every single one of them and send their souls to hell with this.— the amulet carefully fits into the cool hand of the angelic messenger.

— And the dead leader?—Jack asks quietly.— You have to stop him from being killed, and if he dies and is reborn, you need to destroy him with this.—Michael pointed at Jack's knife.

— Who is he?—Cassidy finally found the strength to sit down.

Before that, he was all like a naked nerve.

It's not that Jack Cassidy is downright afraid of angels, he's not afraid of them, he's more afraid of what follows next, the tasks themselves.

Although the man has already died once, he does not want to repeat this encore number.

— Okay, Michael. I agree to accept this assignment.—Jack says softly.

***

— So, class!— Mr. Bukovsky flew into the classroom as if scalded.— First I have a very important statement. Today is the seventeenth anniversary of the lunar eclipse.—

— Yes. And I have a birthday to boot.—Joel muttered in a whisper.— I hate algebra on holidays!—

The pages of the textbook, driven as if by the wind, fly under fingers.

Joel took a pen in his hands and began to write down everything that the teacher wrote on the blackboard.

He always did not listen to teachers on principle, and only this helped him get high grades.

The lines fly quickly across the paper, Joel taps his pen on the paper, thinking about the answer to the problem.

— ...Joel Gabriel!— suddenly there was an angry hail.

— Yes!—Joel stands up, swaying.

Mr. Bukowski just tapped the board softly.

One glance at what was written there was enough.

Joel Gabriel took the chalk and began to write down the solution.

Clarissa almost dropped the pen when she saw this speed and this genius.

Yes. Only a genius could paint a solution to a simple problem like that... Or... Hmmm...

Having lunch on the lawn, Claire took out an album.

What should she draw?

There was only an image of Joel in my head. It's so human to think about someone all the time, but if you're not human...

It's funny, it's very funny to be a human non-human...

But at the same time, people are the main abomination of nature.

— Missing me?—Joel sat down next to me, smiling.

— Well, yes, a little...—Clarissa closed the album.—I don't really know what to do...—

— I'm often like this myself during the break. Most of the time I kill time playing on my phone, and you?—Joel fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief and wiped his glasses.

— I write, read, draw and everything in the same spirit. I have a couple of books, I can show you on occasion...—Claire tickled Joel lightly.— Maybe you'll be afraid to look into them! —

— I'm not afraid of horror stories...—Gabriel sighed.— It's even boring sometimes...—

— Believe me, my horror stories will definitely not bore you...—Clarissa took a hard notebook out of her backpack.—Here is the best. You can study it. I always write with dedication and with all my heart. Believe me, some people really like it.—

— Can I take your notes home?—Joel asked.

— Yes, of course. Just don't give it to the younger ones. My stories have always scared children.—said Claire.—Joel?—

For some reason, there was a huge impulse to look at him.

— Yes, Claire?— bright eyes are looking at her.

A feeling pierces the heart with a thin and painful needle.

— I just wanted to look at you...—Clarissa strokes his hair.

— For some reason, I'm still scared... I remember that evening when I was absolutely alone...—Joel took off his glasses and stared into the glare.

— Were you scared?—asked Claire.—Is it scary that you're alone?—

— I wasn't alone... I realized this much later...—

The eyes darkened and became somehow strange for a short moment ...

— And who was with you?—

There was no response ...

***

In the evening, when everyone dispersed to their homes, it started raining again.

But in addition there were lightning bolts, such huge lightning bolts, such as cannot exist in nature.

They were punching the asphalt.

— When will you be back?—Jack looks at Clarissa with a slightly lost look.

The witch has already prepared the portal. Cassidy was always so helpless when Clary left. Especially...

The Carpathians and Eterna Tartarus... This damn mental hospital!

But only they can hold it well enough. Her madman. Her Joker, so to speak ...

For many tens and hundreds of years, the girl hid him. The one who turned her... Husband...

Brooklyn Mercury... And does the husband have a real name? How can she call him that!

The husband is the one to whom the heart really aspires...

Clarissa stepped into the portal and felt a burning sensation covering her skin.

No mortal knew about this hospital. Eterna Tartarus... It was because of the patients that she was so named...

— Clarissa Fallen. I'm going to Mercury.— she says at the entrance.— No need for security.—

— Why do you go to him?— the old man asks her at the entrance.— This guy is more dangerous than devils!—

Clarissa didn't say anything because she didn't know...

Brooklyn tapped on the glass and smiled.

— Hi, my favorite executor! You're here again, the same day again. And what do you want this time?—he pressed his forehead against the glass.

— Hi, Brooklyn. Do they feed you well here? I've ordered you to be given more animal protein.—Clary says without looking up.

She knows that if she meets her husband's gaze, she will drown in those green eyes.

— You will not enjoy life for long, and these fans of the dead are already very close. Here...—Brooklyn presses a piece of paper against the glass with his fingers.

— Are you telling the truth this time?—Claire asked.

— I never lie. I'm not lying to you...— pale lips are distorted in a smile.

— And how do you like it here?—Clary suddenly changed the subject.

— Do you really love him that much?—Brooklyn put his pale and thin fingers to the glass.

— As if you love me, Brooklyn Mercury...—Clarissa ran her fingers over the glass as if she had touched his face.

Brooklyn was alone in the cell again.

The eyelashes of the closed eyes flutter and a tear rolls out from under them ...

***

Joel typed "Avatar band" into G****e on his phone.

I wish there was at least some reminder of Clarissa around.

He hasn't seen her for the second day already! Without it, it turns out to be much worse than it was before ...

Headphones with a faceless spirit from the anime "Gone with Ghosts" poured a loud melody into the ears.

Joel shuddered at first, and then only for a second remembered how Clary was sitting and absolutely motionless listening to music.

For a second, the guy was overcome with laughter, and then the motive stopped seeming scary.

However, it is clearly impossible to dance to this ...

Thoughts were interrupted by a strong blow to the side and the wire squeezed the thin neck...

***

When Clary came home, Jack was sitting in the library and leafing through magic books.

— Are you bored?— the witch came up behind him.

— No. Reading.—Jack said, running his fingers over the yellow pages from time to time.

— With your knowledge of Aramaic?—Clarissa smiled.

— I know Aramaic!—Jack said indignantly.—I just need to fix it up a little.—

Clarissa suddenly clutched at her heart. Everything went blurry in her eyes, and her chest tingled.

— Clary!Jack grabs Clarissa by the shoulders.

The girl feels the light fading...

***

— ... Clary! Clarissa! —

Her head hurts a lot. The light burns her eyes.

— What with... What happened to me?—

The lips are like cotton wool, the girl can hardly speak.

— Speaking in the language of people, it was a heart attack. I thought your inanimate heart was running away... What happened?— bent over her an alarmed Jek.

He was even more worried now than he had been when Clary left.

— I'll live for a while...—Clarissa tries to sit up and exhales noisily.

There's still a dull ache in her chest.

What just caused it?