At The End Of Their Tunnel Vision

Chapter XII

Narelle never expected she would meet an angel, an utter angel and not stare at her with contempt or repulsed by her existence. Although Irene's radiant magic was a holy attribute she didn't hurt her as long as Irene wouldn't make direct contact towards her. Regardless it didn't deter both of their unbridled enthusiasm as they strolled around the art gallery. Irene's passion from showing and giving her interpretation about every piece they passed matched her eagerness upon listening with a child-like wonder. They were really vibing so well that she thought it was all just a dream.

When Irene showed her where the sculpture area was her eyes feasted from the sight. Her long lost passion about sculpting ignited when her eyes stared at every statue with such longing.

Irene joked about Elliot not lying about her interest in this type of art; Narelle was indeed passionate about sculptures. She admitted about her dream being a sculpture just like her mother. When the angel encouraged her about reaching for her dream, all she couldn't answer was she couldn't. While clutching her left hands, feeling the scar from her missing finger.

Narelle giggled upon remembering the real reason behind their encounter. "You know I always wanted to compliment Elliot's appearance. But knowing him for two years he won't accept a straight-forward compliment. So I tried being creative, still it didn't work."

"Elliot is a handsome lad. If only people would look past the stigma of his variance." Irene's eyes held such sadness that reached her.

"But seriously I always compared his physical features with marble statues," she said.

The sadness in the angel's eyes faded. Staring at her before giggling in glee. "I'll take note of that." Irene said before winking at her.

Why did she feel she admitted into something she would likely regret soon. Irene led her into another part of the gallery heavily themed with angels. And the woman stopped in front of a half body size of a portrait of an angel. She stared at the angel beside her and saw the same nostalgic look she had earlier.

Narelle understood that look. As if she was staring at the picture, a part of the past she desperately wanted to bring back.

The painting that Irene droned such longing was a portrait of an angel. Just like the angel beside her, the angel in the picture shone such radiance. An unadulterated happiness glowed in the angel's cyan eyes. The painter must be reminiscing this image with such vividness if they managed to depict the natural glow of happiness in the angel's eyes. As if they were an unbothered spring.

"Isn't he beautiful? And I barely replicate the image from one of my most treasured memories." Irene said.

Narelle couldn't look away since the image in front of her looked so real, and familiar for some reason. The angel's facial features sent a sense of recognition as if she was looking at someone she knew.

An ache in her chest strung from the pain she couldn't even begin where it was coming from. "He looked so happy. But why does it hurt?"

Irene only looked at her with unspoken understanding. Narelle realised how some of Irene's facial features closely resembled the features of the angel in the painting. She didn't have to ask who was the angel in the portrait. Because that angel would always be just a reminder.

"What happened?" she asked. She wanted to know. Know this angel bearing such humble kind smile turned, corrupted.

Irene gave the painting last glance before moving away as if giving a farewell to a home. "It began with an envious god. Envious of his own creation. So he put the angel into a test. He tested his faith by sacrificing the innocent for just petty jealousy. The angel failed the test." The deafening silence only amplified the heavy stamps of her stiletto echoing the restrained anger in her gait. "But he wasn't satisfied from the failure of the angel, he even broke him. The reason why he got infected. Eventually the angel was condemned to his downfall."

"No wonder my friend held a special brand of hatred towards them and always regards them as the biggest asshole in the cosmos," she said. Irene agreed by chuckling at her statement. "So, Why is Elliot so different among other Corrupted?"

"Oh, of course you will be curious about that. You noticed the hole at the right side of his head?" Irene hummed when she heard her answer a simple yes. "Somehow after he acquired the injury from his last fight he regained control and it stayed. Unlike the rest that continued to struggle retaining their will."

"He didn't die from that injury?" she asked.

Irene explained corrupted are the most resilient types of angel. Not even holy water nor hell's inferno can damage them. Even some of the second generation avoided them in fear of losing a permanent limb or irreversible damage. So basically pulverising the skeleton underneath the black goo before reaching the core could eradicate the condemned creatures.

But even the blow in Elliot's skull and busted ribs he managed to overcome his last conquest. It was even the cause of his miraculous salvage of his consciousness because the corruption focused on recuperating the permanent damage he sustained.

"Anyway I'm curious about your relationship with my corrupted brother." Irene asked. They were perched in one of the benches from the greenhouse. Unfortunately Irene showed her everything the gallery could offer. So they decided to continue their conversation as they navigated out of the establishment and continued treading the path towards the greenhouse.

And it was no brainer after Irene showed her the portrait of Elliot's previous life that they were related.

"We're just friends."

"Friends? That is hardly believable when I saw how he casually reached for your hands."

Her eyes focused on the lavender plant in front of them, in hopes of easing her stress. This form of questions again. Why was most people obsessed with relationship these days?

"We're just comfortable like that with each other," she said. While wringing her fingers.

"Hmm, don't you like my brother, Narelle?"

A heat gathered on her cheeks, an instant reaction she didn't have any control over. A reaction she was hoping the angel wouldn't notice. She didn't like getting teased or pressured like last time. But she felt an instant bond with Irene. She hoped she wouldn't regret her decision.

"I-I like him. But, there is a but." The hopeful look on the angel instantly melted into disappointment. "But I don't want to be in a relationship right now. And I only want to stay friends with him."

"But, why?" Irene asked with an aching curiosity.

Why? Because she's broken. Nobody loves broken people. Nobody loves her without subjecting her body again for pleasure and relief. Nobody loves a slutty being like her.

With a grit in her teeth she spoke. "Because I don't want to."

Narelle expected a disappointed look in Irene's eyes. Yet she saw a hint of realisation slide before the angel's expression went into neutral.

"Sorry, Narelle. I didn't mean to poke you around. I guess I'm just ecstatic about my brother finally having someone he's comfortable being around with."

"I'm sorry too. I can't be his girlfriend. I can't."

"It's ok. My bro is patient. And a proper gentleman." Irene winked at her.

"No! You don't understand. I can't–"

She stopped from continuing her statement when Irene laughed at her again. Did she say something wrong? What did she do this time? She tried calling her in an attempt by bringing back the angel's attention so she could finish stating her dilemma.

Irene gave her a smile of reassurance after wiping the tears gathered at the side of her eyes. "I think I got the gist of your hesitance. And I respect your decision, Narelle. Just be ready with the incoming breakthrough." Irene beamed at her with a giddy mischief at her smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Her heart was definitely racing right now from the sudden anticipation. Narelle didn't even know what she had to be anticipating for.

Irene sounded like a giggly highschooler. A kind of a best friend at adolescent period that constantly teased their friend from their crush. Or in simplified terms a shipper. Oh, god was that the reason why she was teasing Elliot about us being in a relationship?

"Hehehe." Irene rubbed her hand in a very suspicious way that the angel was scheming something. "Don't worry my new sister. I will help you."

That escalated faster than the friendship she built with Elliot. "Whoa, hold it, Irene. I don't want to be your sister if it only means you can play matchmaker on us."

"But you're already my sister, Narelle."

"What?!"

"Well, not yet. But soon." Irene smiled at her sweetly. As if that helped her confused mind.

It's a surprise she didn't feel the ominous vibe at the angel. As if the words she was saying were facts not a warning she should be cautious about. Yet, she wasn't thrilled about her claims.

Irene uttered those words as if she was certain about the incoming future.

"I can't."

"You can. You will heal, Narelle. Continue growing. Fight over your fear. He will wait for you."

Was Irene a seer? She instinctively pulled back away when the angel tried reaching for the side of her face. But her avoidance didn't deter the smile on the angel's face as if she was seeing something else. "I believe in you, Narelle."

Kind words. Narelle wasn't used to them anymore. And as much as she wanted to deny the validation, hearing those words and not recalling it from a memory sure hit differently.

She wasn't sure what to expect from the assistance she gained from Irene. But if the angel could help her ease the effects of her dark past. Sure she could try and comply. She just hoped she wouldn't regret her decision and shutter at the very end.

Irene diverted the topic almost immediately after the awkward positive reinforcement. The casual atmosphere settled between them again. Talking about the types of entertainment interested them. Unlike Elliot's fascination with satire humour, Irene liked nerdy kind of humour. Irene was in the middle of explaining to her what waifu means when a smell of sweet spice drifted at her nose.

Elliot was standing behind her clutching a pile of plastic and paper bags. Did he purposely leave her here so he could do the shopping? He looked smug upon seeing her reaction.

"Not, fair! How could you do this to me."

The bastard's smile went wider upon hearing her complain.

"Looked like you enjoyed yourself." Irene said.

Elliot only hummed. His gloves hand landed on top of her head, petting her. Although upset she didn't have the desire to stop her roommate from petting her.

"Stand up, Narelle we are going now. Thank you for entertaining her while I am gone."

"Already?" Irene asked. There was a hint of sadness in the tone of her voice.

Even Narelle felt sad at the inevitable departure. She thought about inviting the angel in their apartment for a visit but she hesitated upon remembering Elliot's condition.

"We will come for a visit again next time," she said.

Irene looked at her, she could see the restrained to swoop her for a hug. "O-ok." As if she was about to cry, Irene turned her head away. "Visit me soon, ok."

Narelle said her affirmation with a smile. She just hoped what she did was ok with Elliot.

"Did you have fun?" Elliot asked. He was still holding her. As she steady herself after the gut wrenching commute she had to endure back in their apartment.

"Yeah, I saw a lot of magnificent art. And Irene was fun to be with. Too bad she lived in a different country."

She immediately melted into his embrace when he sat both of them on the couch. "I can always bring you there, little bunny," he said. Voice mellowed into an alluring tenderness. His arms tightened around her in a secure embrace.

Narelle's heart fluttered again upon hearing the endearment. And she's beginning to wonder if the continuous sprinkle of affections wouldn't pass beyond platonic intimacy.