Entry Ten: The best laid plans often go awry

I don't know what to do...I don't know where I am, or where Frank is, or if he is even still alive...I am trying to hide my fears from Mikey, but they are eating me up inside. Maybe writing all this down will help release some of the nervous energy that has been bottled up inside me for far too long.

Oh god - I am so afraid...

I might as well start with the events that transpired three days ago...right after I left Frank with so much hope in my heart and his kisses fresh on my lips...

I snuck back into Hell as quietly as I could, hoping that no one had noticed my unexpected absence. When I met with no resistance, I made my way to Mikey's room, constantly glancing over my shoulder to make sure the hallway was deserted. I found him in an uneasy slumber, mumbling and tossing about on the uncomfortable bed.

"Mikey - wake up," I hissed urgently. He snapped awake instantly, staring at me with questioning eyes laced with fear.

"What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"We are leaving. Take anything you think could be useful because we won't be returning."

"Gee - where are we going to go?" Mikey still hadn't moved, and I was getting impatient.

I still hadn't figured out how I was going to extricate him from Hell since he was a lower class demon, and they weren't allowed to walk the Earth unless they were on an assignment, and we had to meet up with Frank in just under four hours.

"Anywhere but here."

"But what if someone catches us?" Mikey asked warily.

"Please just trust me," I pleaded desperately. I could see Mikey's analytical mind pondering all the possible things that could go wrong, but in the end, he sighed wearily and nodded.

"I will be back to get you soon, make sure you are ready to leave." Finally Mikey moved from his bed and began scanning his room for items to take.

I peeked my head out of the doorway, and after ascertaining that the coast was clear, I rushed to my room and began hastily stuffing my meager belongs into a tattered pack I had acquired, making sure to retrieve this diary from its hiding place.

I was frantically wracking my brain for a way to avoid attracting unwanted attention during our escape, but I was coming up blank. No one questioned my comings and goings because I was one of Lucifer's favorites, but if I tried to leave with Mikey, that would instantly arouse suspicion. I could say that I was taking him with me on an assignment, but I hadn't received my next target yet. That would involve having to forge the necessary papers, and I didn't have the materials to do that at hand.

"You're fucking leaving aren't you?" a deep voice spoke from behind me, and I swear - I almost shit myself with fright. I whipped around and found myself face to face with Bob. Fuck me - this is just what I needed right now.

"Are you going to report me?" I asked defensively. I had briefly considered trying to deny it, but the evidence was irrefutable, and I knew Bob wasn't stupid.

"Hell no fucker - I am not Lucifer's rat!"

"What gave it away?" I wondered sheepishly.

"I have been expecting you to bolt for weeks, but when I heard your brother had become a demon, I knew you wouldn't let him stay here and become like us. I wasn't going to say anything, but I just thought you might need some help is all."

"Are you serious about helping me? Do you know how much trouble you could get in?"

"I will be fine, I always am. Plus - I get to piss off the king of Hell, and that's always an added bonus," Bob smirked.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well I think I'll just accidentally leave open the southern gates. A fucking nasty hellhound has been prowling around that area, and I am sure that would be enough of a distraction to draw the guards away from the portal for a while so you and Mikey can disappear quietly. Nobody will even realize you are gone until it is too late."

Bob's plan seemed perfect, not counting the risk he was taking upon himself, but I didn't have any better options to throw out, so I nodded my head to show my acceptance of his precarious scheme.

"You are too good to me Bob...how did someone like you turn into a demon?"

"I deserved it..." he sighed dejectedly.

"Can I ask what you did?"

For all these months, Bob had been my closest friend, and I had never once inquired about what evil deed he had committed, or how he died. At first, it had seemed a breach of privacy, but now that I might never see him again, I was burning with curiosity, even though time was quickly running out before I had to meet Frank.

"Well...I killed a man - not in cold blood or anything, but it was still fucking murder all the same." He paused for so long, I didn't think he was going to reveal anything else, but just when I was about to speak, he continued.

"I was in love with this girl...Michelle was her name. We were fucking engaged and everything, but out of nowhere, things started to go south. We separated, but we had a baby girl together, so I still saw her a lot so I could spend time with my beautiful Ellie. Oh how I loved her...she was the light of my life." Seeing Bob talk about his new family cast him in an entirely new light for me, he seemed like a softer, more vulnerable version of the Bob I knew.

"Anyway, one day I came over to pick up Ellie, and that's when it happened. Michelle had a new boyfriend named Jack - fucking asshole. I knew about him, and I was happy she had found someone, even though I still loved her, but that night...I let myself in with my key because no one would answer the door. I walked into the kitchen to witness that shithead smacking my Michelle around like she was a fucking punching bag. I had just gotten off my shift, if you remember I worked as a cop, and I still had my gun on my belt...so I shot him. I don't know why I didn't just try to pull him off her or something, but I completely lost it. I couldn't stand anyone touching her like that, and I knew if I didn't kill him, he would just do it again when I wasn't there. I wish I could say I regret it, but I really fucking don't."

"I never knew...oh Bob - I'm so sorry."

"I don't need your fucking pity. I made a stupid ass decision, and I realized there would be penalties, I just didn't think becoming a demon would be one of them." He smiled at me to lessen the sting of his words, but I was used to Bob's harsh ways by now, and I no longer took offense to them.

"So what happened then?"

"Well she called the police of course...I tried to plead self-defense, but it didn't work since he hadn't actually attacked me. So I was sent to prison, where I died not long after. I pissed off the wrong guys, and I got shanked out in the yard. Honestly, I was kind of relieved when it happened, I didn't want to spend the next twenty years rotting in a cell...but instead, I got an entirety in Hell."

"Still...you were protecting someone you loved. I am not saying it was right, but you don't deserve to be here." My respect for Bob had grown even more after hearing his tale. He wasn't a malicious person, he had just done what he thought was best in a fucked up situation. To be condemned to a life as a demon seemed an unfair punishment for such a selfless act.

"Well you are one to talk. I am glad you are getting out of here Gerard, I really am."

"Why don't you come with us Bob? I know you hate it here as much as I do, and if anyone discovers you helped me, you could be killed." Bob had been my only friend here, and the thought of him being punished for my defection wasn't a pleasant thought.

"As tempting as your offer is, I am going to have to pass. I wouldn't survive out there, I am too fucked up, but knowing you are free will be more than enough to keep me going. You are too good for this place man. I don't know how you ended up here. Somebody upstairs really fucked up with you."

Overcome by emotion, I pulled Bob into a tight embrace. His entire body stiffened up before he awkwardly patted me on the back.

"Hey man - no gay stuff okay. I don't do hugging," Bob chortled gruffly.

"Sorry - I am just so grateful for everything you have done for me. I wouldn't have survived this long if it hadn't been for you."

"Well just do me a favor and keep living. Don't let those bastards find you okay?"

"I won't."

"All right, well I am going to go open the gates. Stay out of sight until I get the guards away, and then make a run for it, and don't look back." I nodded grimly in response. As Bob headed for the door, I grabbed his shoulder, effectively stopping his retreat.

"If you ever change your mind about leaving - come find me. Get to Earth and call for an angel named Frank. He will know where I am, and he will lead you to us. I will tell him about you so he doesn't accidentally try to kill you or something before you can explain yourself."

"You are mixed up with angels too man? Well I always said you were one odd demon."

"Just remember that okay?"

"I will...and thanks Gerard, for reminding me what it's like to feel again. I'll miss you."

"I will miss you too." And with that, Bob left me to finish gathering my things. I was so thankful for his help that I could never express it in words. Without him, this whole escape could have been ruined before we even made it out of Hell, and I would be eternally in his debt.

As quickly as I could, I made it back to Mikey's room and explained to him what was going to happen. On silent feet, we crept as close to the portal as we dared, and then all that was left to do was wait.

Crouched in the shadows, I glanced over at Mikey to see how he was holding up; his eyes were wide and glassy, but his posture was straight, and behind his terror, I sensed a bubble of hope. Just when I was beginning to worry that something had gone horribly wrong, I heard the pounding of booted feet approaching from the direction of the southern gate.

"Guards - help!" Bob's voice rang through the quiet darkness of the city.

"Who's there?" One of the guards asked warily. Bob came into view, and I had to admit that he was giving a fantastic performance. I could feel the frantic sense of panic radiating off him for my hiding spot.

"A hellhound has gotten inside the gates and is rampaging all over the city! All guards have been commanded to leave their posts and help to slay the beast!" Bob's voice was so sure and commanding, the guards didn't question him at all, they simply gathered their weapons and followed him toward the bellowing roars of the enraged beast.

"Come on Mikes - this is our chance," I hissed quietly as the echo of the guards footsteps faded. As silent as mice, we scampered to the portal unnoticed.

"Don't be scared, the first trip through the portal is frightening, but just keep calm, and it will all be over soon," I warned Mikey, and he simply nodded in agreement.

With one last backward glance, I grabbed Mikey's hand as we stepped through the ominous looking warp hole that would take us to Earth. I felt the all too familiar sucking sensation surround me, and I scrunched my eyes shut, I found it helped with the nausea. Mikey had a death grip on my hand, and I squeezed it reassuringly.

I remembered how terrified I had been on my first portal trip, it literally feels like you are being forced through a tube that you couldn't possibly fit through, and the sensation of being constricted that tightly can be petrifying, especially when you have no idea when it is going to end. Mentally, I added this to the list of things that Mikey and I would never have to suffer through again.

A rush of fresh air announced our arrival on Earth, and I sucked as much air as I could into my useless lungs. Mikey stumbled during his landing, and I clutched his arm tightly so he wouldn't fall.

Surveying where we had arrived, I gave myself a metaphorical pat on the back. To travel by portal, you had to envision either the person you wanted to find, or the place you wanted to be, the second one being much trickier than the first, and I hadn't had much practice. Still, I had managed to land in the forest which surrounded the clearing where Frank and I had our fight/make-out session. It was maybe a five minute walk to the meeting place, and we had made it with plenty of time to spare.

As we headed toward the spot that held so many memories for me, I explained to Mikey everything that had happened to me after I died, leaving out as much of the horror and depression as I could. I told him all about how I had met Frank, and how much he had done for me in the short time we had known each other (skipping over the kissing parts of course).

Lastly, I informed him about how Frank had basically orchestrated this whole escape, and that he would be meeting us here soon to lead us to a (hopefully) safe haven. Mikey was silent during my story, and when I had finally run out of words, he gave me a piercing look that seemed to enter my soul.

"You love him - don't you?" was all he said, but he might as well have hit me in the head with a tire iron. Flabbergasted, I opened and closed my mouth so many times, I am sure I resembled a dying fish, before finally giving up on my lame attempt at speech and pressing my lips together.

"That's what I thought." Mikey smirked to himself, causing me to give him a brotherly punch in the arm.

"What the fuck Gee - that hurt! When did you get so strong?"

"It's one of the few perks of being a demon," I grinned cheekily.

"Well in that case, let me see how much I have improved," Mikey giggled as he pounced on me like a freaking cat.

Our brotherly scuffle was interrupted by the beating of wings, and I turned my gaze skyward, desperate for the sight of Frank, even though I had only just seen him a few hours ago. Something wasn't right though...Frank's flying pattern didn't sound like that, and it was much too loud...as if multiple beings were flying toward us, instead of just one.

"Mikey - hide!" I ordered sharply.

I didn't believe Frank would betray me, but I wasn't going to take any chances with my brother's life. Following my own advice, I retreated back behind the tree line, pushing Mikey down into the foliage so he was completely concealed, but keeping my own head up so I could witness what was going on.

At first I saw nothing but a flock of birds in the sky, but as I strained my eyes, I had to stifle a gasp as the supposed birds revealed themselves to be a hoard of angels. The majority of them were flying in strict formation, except for one angel at the front that darted to and fro in a zigzag pattern.

My heart clenched as I recognized those perfect grey tipped wings...what the hell was going on? I shoved Mikey farther back into the shrubbery and hunkered down as far as I could while still maintaining my line of sight. Frank had pulled ahead of the pack of angels by a large majority, but he looked ragged and exhausted. I noticed a heavy load strapped to his back, which was restricting his wings slightly.

All of a sudden, Frank dived rapidly toward the clearing, pulling his wings as close to his body as he could to gain more speed. Just when I thought he was going to hit the ground, he snapped his glorious appendages back out and hovered inches above the mossy floor. His eyes darted toward my hiding place, and I longed to run to him, but I was too afraid of exposing Mikey to the other angels.

"Gerard - you need to run," he gasped out in a soft voice that wouldn't carry too far, but I could still hear with my sensitive ears.

I began to stand up, but he shook his head the slightest amount, and I stayed where I was. Frank glanced skyward furtively, and I followed his actions; the flock of angels was still far away, but they were descending swiftly.

"Things have gone horribly wrong. Get Mikey away from here as fast as you can. I promise you, I will come find you. Just go and don't look back!" With those words that so closely echoed what Bob had told me at our parting, he unhooked the bundle from his arms and tossed it at my feet before taking off in the opposite direction of my hiding place.

The pursuing angels altered their flight path to chase after Frank's retreating form, but now that he was free to use his wings to his full potential, he was quickly outdistancing them. My eyes stayed glued to the sky until the last feather faded in the distance.

"Gerard - what do we do now?" Mikey's frightened voice snapped me out of my immobile state, and I retrieved the pack from its resting place.

"We do what Frank said...we run."

Hurray I finally finished this chapter! I have been trying to write this all week, and I keep distracting myself with writing smutty one-shots instead lol.

This is dedicated to Miss-Cheif because she got my Supernatural reference in the last chapter :)

So what do you guys think of this chapter? I really like how this story is turning out, so please let me know if you guys are into it too! Btw thank you all so much for getting this story to 400 reads!

And on another random personal side note, does anyone have any ideas on what I should do for my date on Thursday? The guy I am seeing wants me to pick, and I am literally drawing a blank. We have already done all the traditional dates like movies, dinner, drinks, etc. So I don't want to be lame and repeat one of those, but I really don't know what normal people do for fun! I just watch Netflix and write fanfiction, I need help lol!

<3 star