Chapter Text
Prologue
In one moment, I, Hamaliel, was safe in Heaven where I lie an Angel gazing at a city below. It was a beautiful, moonlit night on Earth as I pondered how such tiny, powerless people could do such extraordinary things. In another moment, in a single blink of an eye, I was falling.
Plummeting, you could say.
Hurtling towards the same planet Earth, I had been observing at an impossible speed. At the time, I didn't know how to react, whether it be screaming, trying to stop myself, or... or anything. I just let myself fall. Hell, I didn't have an idea what was going on; I didn't know what to do. My face was burning, and my hair was singing. I could feel my wings breaking; I could feel them smoldering away, each feather torturously ripped from their rightful place.
So this... this was pain.
During this time was I positive that this was most certainly a bad event taking place, and I felt emotions I had never felt before: panic, helplessness, confusion were just a few. In the short time that I had, I hastily tried looking around to see what was going on. In the short glance that I had caught before my head was forced down, I saw millions of my fellow brother and sisters falling.
The Angels were falling. We didn't know why, we didn't know where we would end up, and we especially had no idea what was coming for us.
Bracing myself (seeing as I couldn't do anything else), I crashed headfirst into a forest nearby the city I had been watching and skidded across the grass, sending trees that had previously been in my path flying. I gasped, the pain unbearable. I came to an abrupt stop on my stomach and face, buried at least a foot into the ground. Slowly I lifted myself to my knees, checking myself for injuries. Up and down my arms and legs ran long, painfully deep cuts, one so deep you could nearly see the bone of my kneecap. I tried lifting myself to my feet, but failed miserably. One of my ankles collapsed, sending me falling backwards. As soon as I hit the ground, my eyes blurred towards the edges, and a cut on my cheek reopened. Before I knew what was I was doing, I felt my face become wet. I quickly wiped my cheeks off, then looked at the palms of my hand. Ignoring the bloody gashes on my hands, I noticed water shining in the moonlight on my palms.
I was crying.
This was new.
Not allowing myself to cry any further, I tried standing up again, this time succeeding on doing so. Before I could fall, I clutched onto a nearby tree. Hissing in pain, I pushed myself off the trunk and steadied myself before walking, seeing as I could not teleport- I was too damaged to do so.
Figuring that something like this was most likely a permanent change, I willed myself not to panic, and do what a helpless (human) being would do in this situation: survive. Find shelter and survive. I was worried, yes, but I willed myself not to show it.
Before I could walk a foot, familiar ringing began in my head. I closed my eyes immediately, trying to listen into what could only be fellow Angels talking amongst themselves.
Sam and Dean Winchester have attempted to close the Gates of Hell!
No one is in heaven!
What has happened?
Castiel is the foundation for our fall!
Why have we all fallen?
I had recognized all of the names mentioned: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, and my brother, Castiel. Throughout the past years, the Winchester brothers- Dean being the eldest, Sam the younger- had been mentioned several times. Not only had they been mentioned... I have seen them. Well, in visions.
Tiny blurs of color that formed beneath my eyelids would paint scenes regarding the Winchesters ever since Sam Winchester had joined his brother Dean hunting ten years ago. They became more frequent when Castiel saved Dean from perdition. However, these "visions" were never set in the future but rather set in present time.
It was an odd skill, one might say.
As for Castiel, I had the pleasure of being well acquainted with him until he left for Dean's sake. My brother would frequently be in Heaven, but that was during the war (that was still raging on), when everyone was flying about. This epidemic wasn't likely his fault- it wasn't of his nature.
I opened my eyes. I didn't have time to listen, no matter how important the information might be. I needed to find shelter and take care of myself. I debated either going to the city or deeper into the woods, eventually deciding to walk further into the forest. In the city would inevitably be noticed by curious, worrying people asking questions about my current state. It would be wiser to clean up and heal before time to avoid suspicion and questioning. After checking my inventory to make sure I had everything I needed (such as my Angel blade, a small vile, and scratch parchment which always came in handy), I set off on what would hopefully be a brief journey.
For what felt like hours, I trekked (or rather limped) through timberland, searching for a cave, a shaded ravine, anything when I finally came across a swallow river. Without previous knowledge, I walked into the stream with my clothes on. I watched intently as blood flowed from my cuts and into the water, befuddled. This was all so different- I had been thrust into a new world, one that I had gazed but never lived upon. Even though I was alone, I would not let myself be shocked- Angels such as myself were warriors of God, and if this were meant to happen, then so it be.
Looking past the trees as I rinsed myself off, I noticed an abandoned house not too far off.
Perfect.
Without hesitation, I did my best to walk across the river, trying my hardest not to slip or hurt myself even more. As soon as I had reached the opposite edge where the water met ground, I carefully hoisted myself up. The house was only a few yards away now, but I was freezing and hurting everywhere. Falling to my knees, I began to crawl towards the establishment. As soon as I passes the door, I flopped onto my back. Of course, the first thing that hit the floorboards were my shoulder blades where underneath my sensitive wings lied. I screamed in pain, then unintentionally unfolded them. Each wing's tip painfully brushed against the adjacent walls, much more tender than usual, thanks to my fall. My wings were shredded: the majority of my feathers were lost in the fire caused by the friction of falling. My whole body ached, especially my head.
I, Hamaliel, Angel of Logic, could not handle this much knowledge in this tortured form.
I knew that I had access to vital, important knowledge, but I needed to take this risk, or I wouldn't survive long enough to ever speak it.
Getting up to my feet once again, I searched for a pen which, surprisingly, did not take long at all, took out my parchment, and wrote down any important information or sketches that I might forget in the process.
In the process of becoming human.
It must have been hours later when I had finally finished my sketches and wrote down anything I needed to remember. I knew there was the possibility of me regretting this decision and that if I ever decided to give myself my grace back, it would be painful.
Nevertheless, I would die if I didn't. Any Angel in this vulnerable state would.
Using the last of my abilities to heal any serious injuries, I leant against the wall, took out my angel blade, and quickly dragged it across my neck. Taking out the small vile, I held it up to the swallow gash. It was funny- it was as if my subconscious knew I would need all of these items for my inventory. Within seconds, out poured my grace. It was beautiful, like glowing purple water; the only word to completely describe it was pure.
Well, pure but painful.
With every drop of grace I felt as if a piece of my soul was being ripped away. As if I were dying a terrible death, then brought back to life, only to relive it again.
As soon as my system had been clear of all things graceful, I hit my head against the wall, feeling extremely weak. With my last bit of strength, I put the cork back on to the bottle and looked around for a drawer which did not take too long. Inside lie a journal and a spot just big enough towards the back for the vile. Quickly stuffing it in and slamming the drawer shut, I slumped to my knees as everything faded to black.