Angel In The Basement

 

Kyrena descended into the dimly lit basement of the church, the faint smell of old wood and dust filling the air. She scanned the cluttered space, searching for the book the pastor had asked her to find. When her eyes landed on it, she exhaled a relieved breath. But just as she was about to reach for it, a loud crash echoed through the basement, jolting her. Her heart raced as she instinctively froze. She hated being down here. The low lighting and the odd assortment of forgotten belongings from the previous owners made the basement feel suffocating.

The noise came again, this time closer, and Kyrena flinched, holding back a scream. Her eyes darted around, and she glanced toward the stairs, contemplating whether she could make a dash for safety without tripping over something. Slowly, she began to move toward the stairs, every step tentative.

“Please don't leave. I mean no harm.”

Kyrena froze, her heart hammering in her chest. “What... Who?” she called out, her voice trembling.

From the shadows, a figure emerged. His silhouette did little to calm her, but something—an instinct, perhaps—whispered to her not to be afraid. Still, her logical mind screamed for her to run.

“Please, I will not harm you,” the figure repeated.

As he stepped into the light, Kyrena saw that it was indeed a man. But what shocked her the most was the pair of wings extending from his back—wings that looked entirely natural, not artificial.

“What... who are you?” she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

The man smiled, his features calm and reassuring. “I am Gabriel... and yes, I am an angel.”

Kyrena pointed at his wings, still in shock. “Your right wing is damaged.”

Gabriel turned slightly, noticing the deep cut on his right wing. With a gentle motion, he closed his eyes, and the wound sealed itself, disappearing as if it had never been there. He looked back at her, his gaze soft yet intense.

“Miraculous,” Kyrena whispered, her hand gripping the railing as she tried to steady herself.

“Don't be afraid of me,” Gabriel said gently.

“Hard not to be,” she replied, her tone a mix of nervousness and an almost sarcastic edge.

Gabriel chuckled softly. “Would it help if I told you something?”

Kyrena's pulse quickened again. “Uh... whatever it is, I really don't want to know.”

Just then, a voice called from upstairs. “Kyrena, did you find it?”

“Yeah, I found it. I'm coming back up. I just tripped on something, but I'm fine,” she called back, not taking her eyes off Gabriel.

“Go on, Kyrena. We will talk again... hopefully,” he said, his tone understanding but tinged with a hint of sadness.

Kyrena looked at him, her nervousness fading just a little. She couldn’t deny that he was striking—dark brown hair that was long hair and seem to shimmer. Intense green eyes that had an almost angelic light, and a warm fair complexion. He was tall, towering over her, and his attire—while simple—seemed to fit him well. A dark blue long-sleeve shirt, fastened on the right side, and matching pants. He was barefoot, which only seemed to add to the otherworldly feel.

He smiled at her, and she couldn’t help but offer a small smile in return.

“I need to get back to work,” Kyrena said, her voice breaking the silence. She hurried up the stairs, glancing back one last time.

“I’ll be here, Kyrena,” Gabriel called after her, his voice warm and sincere. “I love you.”

Kyrena’s heart skipped a beat, and she stopped dead in her tracks. She almost said it back. But why? Why would she say 'I love you' to someone she had just met, especially under these strange circumstances? Her thoughts were racing as her heart beat faster.

“Dear God, could it be?” she whispered to herself, her mind reeling.

A quiet, reassuring voice in her heart seemed to answer, “Yes.”