My eyes widened as I pressed myself against the door which seemed to have locked itself.

Small fires littered the wooden floor. Small hands, human hands, reached out of them.

My panic rose as I tried breaking the door down but it was as if it was made out of concrete. The fires picked up, combining into one. I turned to see the fire had put itself against the wall furthest from me.

With a shock, I realized that the fire wasn't actually burning the place down. Dozens of small hands swung wildly as if they were looking for something.

I gulped. "W-what are you?"

Almost immediately, the fire dampened and swirled becoming a man with no visible features.

"Don't you recognize me?" The raspy voice asked. A laugh, which I can only describe as maniacal, followed.

I answered by pressing myself further into the door.

Another maniacal laugh filled the room. "They will know me."

They will know me? That sounded familiar. Where have I heard that before?

And then the fire disappeared and silence engulfed me. I immediately yanked the door open and ran into the night, forgetting all about Joshua's warning.

I kept running, panic chasing away any rational thought. Just get away, was all I told myself.

My eyes swirled violently in every direction. Every building was on fire. That, whatever it is, laugh echoed from every direction as well. I tossed and turned, trying to see where it was when I ran into someone.

My panic and instincts took over as I immediately threw a punch but this someone caught it.

"Whoa there, Rookie. What's happening?" Armaros asked, sensing my overall mood.

Suddenly, all the fire disappeared as well as the laughter. I quickly gathered myself and looked at Armaros. She wore the same outfit minus the top, preferring to work out in her sports bra.

I gulped again. "Nothing, just decided to go for a run. What are you still doing in Alto?"

Clearly, she didn't believe my lie but went along with it. "It's my hour, remember? But now that your here, we can discuss-"

"Yeah, I'm not in the mood to discuss things I barely know." I interrupted. "Look I just need a few minutes to myself, to digest."

Her eyes, her mesmerizing multicolored eyes, narrowed before she nodded. "We need to get you other clothes. Can't have the new Angel running around in rags like that, now can we?"

The new Angel? The same maniacally laughter surrounded me again, letting me know that he was still here. Oh, I'll make you more than that, I promise.

More laughter followed but Armaros acted strangely as if she could hear the laughter. Then it occurred to me and I grabbed her hand.

Almost immediately, red chain-like strands became visible. They hung off her like...like hair. Then I realized that it was her hair.

"Is this your doing?" My anger peaked and the fires returned except this time all around us, not only on the buildings.

"Is what my doing?" She asked, her eyes portraying surprise. She made a move to grab my arm that held her but then her eyes focused on something: the fires.

She could see them.

"Answer me!" I shouted. The fire grew bigger as the volume in my voice rose.

For the first time, Armaros calm exterior melted away as her mind tried to figure out what was happening. Her training kicked in as she swiped my hand off her and kicked me back.

I slid for a meter or two before realizing that my arms were crossed over my chest. I had unintentionally, successfully, blocked the move.

I uncrossed my arms and the fire rose, sealing us off from the rest of Alto. For some reason, the voice was now gone, but that didn't matter as Armaros took her stance.

Her hair began to float behind her as she glowered. "Look, I don't know what's going on here but I didn't do anything, I swear!"

"How am I supposed to believe you? You're the Angel of Undoing. This could all be a test to see if I'll make it." I shouted back before charging.

I let my instincts take over. Midway, I jumped as if I was taking flight. I twirled midair and thrust my hands out as if I was pushing a wall. Instantly, all the fire combined and lunged at Armaros. Again, she was so surprised that it hit her with full force.

Armaros was thrown in the air. She twirled midair and landed on all fours.

"Josh, I swear on God that I am not doing this." She promised. I faltered and in that moment, the fire disappeared.

Suddenly, I was exhausted. I dropped to my knees, my body drenched in sweat. Armaros stood over me and I thought she would take advantage over my weakened state. Instead, she kneeled down as I collapsed.

She turned me over and her multicolored eyes inspected every inch of me.

"What are you?" She mumbled and then she faded into darkness.

___

ARMAROS

As I cradled Rookie, I started wondering what he truly was. He was supposed to be an Angel or at least Angel material but this was something completely different.

He had known my title before I had a chance to say it. He had had powers before he even started training. Even worse, he had enough power to fight against me, a full-fledged Angel.

I wiped some of his hair out of his face. Even now, I could feel his power rising up and down. It was unstable. He was unstable.

Right now, he was a threat to Alto. A threat to Angels and Demons alike. A threat to Heaven. I should report this to God directly but something stopped me. Something I couldn't place.