• tab I felt queasy as I made my way home. The dark sky spoke of a storm. I smelt the rain and felt the electricity. I sighed and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. I dialed my older brother's number.
    tab Ring...ring...ring..."Hello?" Nate's best friend, Derek answered.
    tab "Hey Derek. Is Nate there?" I sighed.
    tab "Nate!" Derek yelled. "Phone."
    tab "Hello?" Nate's calming deep voice was rougher than normal.
    tab "Nate. I need a ride. I feel sick and I still have seven miles 'til I get home."
    tab "I'll pick you up. Wait for me at the Quik Mart. Bye." He hung up.
    tab I trudged the mile and a half to Quik Mart. By the time I got there it was raining and I was cold and clammy. I saw Nate's Ranger parked in front of the store. Nate himself was just exiting the store. "Nate!" I yelled at my brother. When he looked up, I waved my arms. I sighed in relief when he brought the gray Ranger over to where I was standing.
    tab "Are you okay Danni? You look like crap." His dark brown eyes were worried.
    tab "It's the storm. I feel the lightning." I stopped talking and bent over, my stomach heaving. My lunch came up. I heard the door open and then it seemed like time froze. I felt better again so I straightened up. Then I froze when I saw a bright figure approaching me.
    tab It was female, I was sure. Long golden hair waved gently to the middle of her back. She was garbed in a long white dress. Her eyes were an amazing blue and they were soft. Most surprising of all, was the wings that grew out of her back. Large white wings that commanded total attention. I gasped in fear.
    tab "Do not worry child. I am a peaceful angel and I mean you no harm. I come with a request for you." The angel had a high soprano voice that was extremely pleasing.
    tab "What do you request of me?" My voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.
    tab The angel seemed to gather her thoughts. "We want you to act as our mouthpiece in the war we are fighting against the demons."
    tab "There is a war between angels and demons? Huh. Fine. I'll do it but if I get hurt..." I let my sentence hang.
    tab "Thank you Danni. You won't get hurt. You just have to find the demon's mouthpiece." The angel smiled and she got even more breathtaking. She leaned towards me and stuck her hand out. She touched my forehead and whispered something in an unknown language. It sounded like, "Selinand avareitsa." I felt a shock go through me and everything went black.

    tab "Danni! Danni!" I felt someone shaking me. I groaned. "Wake up Danni!" I recognized Nate's voice.
    tab "Nate?" I groaned again. I opened my eyes groggily.
    tab "Oh thank god! You're alright Danni!" Nate picked me up.
    tab "What happened?" I thought about a dimly remembered figure. An angel. With a start I realized the angel was gone and that I had a spliting headache.
    tab "You puked and collapsed. I got to you as fast as I could." Nate put me on my feet next to the passenger side door of his Ranger. I got in and we were home in a few minutes.
    tab Once we got home I ran to the bathroom. I saw my reflection out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and looked again.
    tab My long auburn hair was matted and muddy. My face was pale and sweaty. My eyes were their normal gray-green color. What surprised me was the shining mark on my brow. I gasped and touched it with my hand. It was warm to the touch and, as soon as I touched it, I heard the angel's high voice sounding in my head.