The Seventh Cloud
By
Yu Mao
~~~
PUBLISHED BY:
Grace Yip on Smash-
Words
The Seventh Cloud
Copyright © 2012 by Yu Mao
~~~
~~~
Book cover image by Grace Yip (amazing author)
~~~
For Grace, Samar, Yianna, Vaishnavi, Vivian, Netanya, Sihon, Deborah, Corey, Nevin, Nolan and Ms. Schreiber.
Forever and always
-Yu Mao
~~~
Table of contents
Prologue
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Epilogue
~~~
Prologue
I was 18 years old when a car crash killed me. I had died. I was floating, taken up to the middle of Heaven . . . and Hell. A bright light appeared before me to reveal a godly figure. “Welcome, Crystal Grace, to the Middle of Nowhere,” the figure said. “I am God.” “Thank you,” I bowed. “Where shall my place be?” I asked. “Hmm,” he penetrated my mind, watching all my memories unfold; even the ones I wasn’t proud of. He stood in silence for several minutes. “The Seventh Cloud,” he finally decided. I simply nodded my acceptance and bowed. “Thank you,” I said. He waved his hand over my face and suddenly I was floating towards the Heavens. So you decided to put me in heaven, hmm? I mused. But I was glad. I would be able to start over again, to live anew, and to correct my mistakes. Heaven was beautiful. I then began to look over my family, to watch over them. And then I began researching in the Cloud Seventh’s library to find all I can about Heaven. I was then crowned the Wisest and got a job. Everyone in Heaven was an angel, with white wings sprouting their backs, yellow halo and a specific ability. My job was to put the dead onto a scale and enter their minds (like the way God had done to me) and search for good/bad memories. The ones with the worst memories were sent to Hell, devil horns budding on their heads, red and black tail and a red staff of death. It wasn’t pretty. We erase their memories of everything except the fact that they belong there. Only Heaven allowed us to keep our memories of life, alive or not.
Chapter1
After 4 years in Heaven, a newcomer arrived, looking no different than all the others I had tended. But I sensed a different aura in him, the sense of sadness and glee; an odd couple. He was murdered; I’d found out. I searched his memories and found a jumble of them. They flowed into me, as if begging for help. First, a family of four, then pride when his eldest son won a trophy, despairs when his younger son lost his sight and pain when his wife died. Then him getting stabbed. Pain and terror filled my mind as an image of a sharp, silver knife plummeted into his heart as darkness filled my head. I began to sweat. I pushed the thoughts away. I was panting after I was done. I knew that this man must belong to Heaven. I waved my hand over his face, spoke an indication and he woke. “Hello and welcome to The Seventh Cloud,” I spoke softly. “May your soul rest in eternal peace,” I whispered. But at that time, I didn’t know that I hadn’t looked at one last memory. One that was significant . . . But I knew that I had to speak to him, to find out whether or not he really is one of us. But for now, I had to return to work. “Welcome,” I said at lunch break, spreading my arms wide. “Thank you,” he smiled, bowing. His voice was a deep rumble. “What is your name?” I asked politely. “Morris,” he replied. “And what might yours be?” “Crystal,” I answered. “Well, before you go, I would like to ask you a question,” I said cautiously. “Of course,” he replied, surprised showing in his face. I flicked my hand across his forehead quickly, stunning him. “So…Who are you, really?” I murmured. I pressed my palm to his arm and pushed my mind towards his. I reached towards the light when all of a sudden, I was plunged into mental darkness. There was a sharp stab towards my consciousness, followed by many furious pushes in attempt to discard my mind from his. I pulled my hand away from Morris abruptly. He blinked. “Um…sorry. You were saying something?” he shook his head. “N-no, it was nothing,” I stammered. He bowed and left. I stared at his retreating back. Something like that had never happened before. Then— Oh! Of course! The realization was shocking; of course, the only reason why he had that mixture of feelings and why he tried to repel me was because he had done something horrible. And tried to hide it. I walked quickly towards my cabin. Twelve feet away, however, I opened my palm and shot a ball of lightning to the sky. I waited. Finally, a boom of thunder told me that he got my message. “Yes?” a voice said. “God,” I bowed. “Come,” he called. I spread my wings wide and kicked off the soft grounds of Heaven and flew to where God was. “I'm so sorry,” I cried when I reached him. “Child,” he smiled. “You have done nothing wrong. You have merely overlooked a memory,” he said softly. “But—” I started. “Shh. Go look at it now and tell me the news,” he said simply. “Thank you,” I bowed. I spread my wings again and beat off towards Morris’s cabin. “Morris?” I knocked on the door quietly. “Hmm?” the door opened a crack. “Hello. It’s me,” I smiled awkwardly. “Oh hi,” he stepped out of his cabin. Immediately, I grabbed his wrist and passed my hand over his face. I concentrated hard, drawing his distant memory from his mind. To my surprise, it was extremely faded, almost erased from his mind. I had a sneaking suspicion that it might be wiped out eternally after a period of time . . . I finally found the memory I was looking for. I tried to draw it in, but it remained stonily stuck and still-fading. I concentrated harder, tugging the memory free. Come on, Come on! I willed the memory to come to me. Finally, it popped loose and drew into me. It was a horrible yet understandable memory. Morris had killed his wife because she had loved another man. But he hadn’t meant to. It seemed to just have happened. Grief and joy flooded into me. Morris had killed to get revenge but hadn’t thought of the consequences. Hmm … I half-dragged, half-carried Morris back to his cabin and placed him on his bed. I shut the door behind me, spread my wings once more and flew back to my cabin. Of course, God wasn’t there. He had many other businesses to get to, but part of his aura stayed in Cloud Seven. I released another ball of lightning and minutes later, he appeared before me, glowing white. “Have you found the missing memory?” he asked me. “Yes,” I replied. I told him all about it and his eyes never left my face. “That is quite interesting,” he said finally, after I had finished. “I think it is time to summon a trial,” he said grimly. “Crystal?” “Of course,” I smiled tightly. I banged the trial sword and a hollow sound echoed throughout Cloud Seven, giving depressing news. When everyone was gathered around (including Morris, who has apparently woken up from his “nap”), I stepped back to let God speak. “Morris, please step to the trail chair and sit down,” God ordered. He looked surprised and confused, but he did as he was told. “Morris Lean, you have committed a terrible crime. Do you have a restrain?” God roared. A restrain was someone who could defend your case (like a lawyer back on Earth). Morris shook his head nervously. “Then, do you deny that you have murdered your wife?” thundered God. Morris shifted uncomfortably. He shook his head again, a bead of sweat beginning to form on his forehead. He’s trying to convince us that he really is an angel from Heaven, I mused. He had almost tricked me! So much for being the “wisest” around, I thought glumly. I was horrified. What would’ve happened if . . . What God said next jolt me back from my thoughts. “Morris, you are now hereby banished to . . .” I closed my eyes tightly, hoping I wouldn’t hear it, but I did . . . “Hell.”
Chapter2
There was a moment of shocked silence. But wait, I thought. “If Morris really was a devil, how come he still hasn’t sprouted a tail and horns?” I said aloud. If you were sentenced to
the World Under, then the moment God says ‘Hell’, they’re supposed to grow a tail, horns and a dark, pulsing red venom, three-pointer spear would appear in your hand . . . but in this case, that didn’t happen. At last, it dawned to me. “He’s a fallen!” I cried. “Precisely,” God nodded. I was the Wisest in Cloud Seven and each angel had a special ability. Given the title, I received the most powerful yet dangerous power: Mind Reading. That was one of the reasons why they gave me the job of deciding where the dead would go. I could exercise my ability. Every angel was given a job where they could practice they’re power. As much as I hated to do it, I had to. “A fallen is an angel from both Hell and Heaven,” I remembered. “So what you’re saying is that Morris is half-angel and half-demon?” a familiar voice called from the crowd. I scanned the swarm of angels that had gathered. I spotted my friend Violet thrusting her way through the crowd. “Yes,” I replied. I glanced at God, as if asking for permission to go on. He gave me a slight nod. Thank you, I mouthed. He simply smiled and took a step back. “However, you might not remember, correct?” I turned back to Violet. She looked confused. “No,” she answered. I forced myself to give her a strained smile. “YOU were Morris’s wife,” I revealed. There were several moments of shocked silence. “B-but I don’t remember,” Violet spluttered. “Yes, because something was to be done . . .,” it was God who responded this time. “. . . Memory loss,” I finished. “B-but you said we could keep our memories in Heaven,” she protested. I shot a glance at Morris, but he kept quiet, his gaze on his feet. “That was necessary. I sensed that a war would be brewing,” God murmured. I closed my eyes and reached my thoughts out to Violet’s. They flowed into me. Confusion, anger and uncertainty rose like a dark wave of despair, threatening to crash down at any moment. I murmured in God’s ear and banged the trial sword and stepped back to let God speak once again. “This case is over for now. Whomever is speaks about this will receive eternal punishment,” God said sternly. “May I please speak to the Council of Decisions?” No one wanted eternal punishment. We all nodded. “Good. You are dismissed,” God replied. He nodded to me and gestured towards Violet. I nodded. “Violet! We need you to sit on the Chair of Choice, please,” I called. The Council of Decisions would let you sit on the chair while they discuss your “problem” and decide on your punishment or solutions, if God forbids. I signaled for Violet to follow me as we left the stadium.
Chapter3
Two minutes later, we arrived at the office where some angels worked. We walked into a room that was plated in gold “Council of Decisions.” Inside was a circular room with a table that was U shaped with dozens of chairs. I gestured for Violet to sit at the end of the table. We all took a seat. God descended gracefully on the golden throne at the front of the table. We sat through several moments of silence. “Maybe Morris and Violet should be separated, one here, and one on ‘the other side’,” the angel beside me suggested. I recognized Alice, a teenage angel with the power of soul searching. She was the one that found the people that had died and gave the coordinates to the angel that finds the actual soul, who collects them back and gives them to me to search their past. Violet looked nervous at that proposition. “Maybe we should ask Morris why he killed Violet first,” I said. I already knew why, but I didn’t say. It would be better if they found out themselves. But I knew God sensed that I knew something that I wasn’t telling. He glanced at me. I gave him a short nod. You know something, do you not? A voice mused in my mind. I jumped, startled. “Crystal? Is there something wrong?” Alice asked, concerned. “Hm? Oh, no, no, I'm fine,” I replied absentmindedly. I glanced sharply towards God. He gave me a quick nod. It’s you, isn’t it? I closed my eyes and concentrated. God? It’s you, isn’t it? It is indeed. Well done, my dear. You do realize what this all means? God raised an eyebrow. Yes. You wiped their memories personally, didn’t you? I replied. Very good. That is correct. But—it’s better if they find out themselves? I finished for him. He shot me a surprised glance. But you are God. You know everything, right? I teased. Yes, but, occasionally, I can be surprised too. He agreed. But do we continue like this? I asked. We should, he answered. But wait—what about this . . . this new power? I asked. This isn’t something I've experienced before! Yes. This is part of your ability that I gave you, he responded. And could anyone— I started. No. Only those you want will be able to hear you and answer if you allow them, God interrupted. Thank you, I nodded. Oh, no, dear. This is your ability. He replied as his voice faded. I opened my eyes again and sneaked a glance at God. He sat there as still as stone, as if he’d never moved. The argument went on for a while before I intervened. “Angels. Wait,” I interrupted. “God? What do you think?” I asked carefully. He looked thoughtful. “Perhaps it is for the better if we should ask Morris,” he agreed. The Council murmured in approval. But Violet looked doubtful. “I will get Morris,” I offered. “Very well,” God nodded. I pressed the Air Call button that was next to the door at every room. The Air Call allows the angel to speak to everyone on Cloud Seven all at once. Every angel had one on the white belt they always wore on their dresses or suits. “Will Morris Lean please report to the Council of Decision office room immediately?” I called. The message was repeated throughout the room and the Cloud. We waited for a few seconds before we heard the unmistakable sounds of heavy footsteps approaching. Morris burst into the room panting. “Sit,” God invited. He sat in the chair across from me. “Morris. Why, May I ask you, did you kill Violet?” God asked. I wondered why I didn’t see the kill in Violet’s memory . . . But then I remembered . . . God said he did that memory himself. “I was upset that Violet loved another man,” he replied softly. “But the past is the past. I'm here to destroy!” Morris suddenly grinned menacingly.
Chapter4
“What?!” The council exclaimed. I stood up so fast, I knocked down my chair. Morris stood up and threw off the robe he was wearing to reveal a dark black robe of . . . death? “I am Lucifer, Ruler of the Underworld and soon Heaven!” he declared, eyes glinting darkly. “Never!” I sat down on the new chair the angel beside me drew up. My ears were ringing. We sat through minutes of shocked silence. But God smiled ruefully. “I think I knew that,” he said calmly. “You will not take over Heaven. But I have one question: unless I am much mistaken, Violet really was your wife, no?” “I have no feelings for her,” he said coldly. “So you don’t,” God nodded. Is it time? I asked. Yes. Please call a trial, God replied. “Very well,” I said aloud. “Let the trial begin!” I stood up, opened my hands and let out a ball of fire. The official room shimmered and faded into the battle arena. Everyone from the Decision court was seated in the bleachers. I stood on the high chair in the middle of the stands. Cupping my hands, I released a circular ball of water that floated to the middle of where God and Lucifer were facing each other on opposite sides of the arena and exploded into sparkles. Lucifer swiped out a spear that had nasty arrows at the end. He shook off his clothes to reveal ghostly black armor embodied with symbols of death. God raised his arms and there was a burst of light, fading to reveal him standing with shining gold armor, holding a sword and a shield. Classic. Lucifer ran swiftly towards God, the arrows pointing at him. Quick as lightning, God raised his shield, just in time as Lucifer’s spear rebounded with a loud CLANG. Each trial cuts off the attacker’s powers, so they’d have to fight with their own abilities. And that included the Overlord of the Heavens and the Underworld Death Master. Lucifer’s eyes glimmered as the sword clanged against God’s shield and shifted his spear slightly, so it scratched God’s face with its arrows as it dropped away. He staggered, clutching his face. When he regained his balance, Lucifer was already getting up close for another strike. But Lucifer raised his spear again, leaving his chest wide-open for attack. I gasped and winced slightly as God struck his sword right at his chest. He feinted a blow on his left side and swiped him on the right. It was so quick, finished in a blink of an eye, that it was something you could only call superhuman strength, made even without the immense po
wer of the Heavens. Lucifer lurched back and griped his stomach. He tried in vain to raise his spear, but he was too weak, with blood flowing as fast as a river out of his right side, and it clattered to the ground. He tripped and fell down on his knees. “Alright, I give up,” he croaked bitterly as God took a step towards him. He knelt beside him on the blood-soaked battle field. “Why do you fight me? You know you are not ready yet. You have only just been appointed Death Master,” he said gently. “Get away,” he snarled, recoiling. God simply knelt there, staring at him. “You wouldn’t understand anyway,” he muttered. “I do,” he replied. Lucifer stared at the ground. “Fine,” he griped. God merely nodded and waited for him to continue. “I was married to Violet against her will since our parents decided it. But when I killed her and found out who she’d really loved, I was horrified, but I was also slightly contented, but I wasn’t satisfied. So when I died and was crowned the Underworld Master, I decided to search for Violet again and destroy her for betraying me,” Lucifer explained angrily. “I was hoping this day would never come, but again, fate was not thwarted,” God murmured. I had walked down of the podium and hid in the darkness. I froze. Slowly, I stepped out of the shadows. “What do you mean, God?” I asked quietly. He registered no surprise when he saw me. “Well, as you know, I looked at Violet’s memory myself,” he started. I nodded. “I foresaw these events and had a hunch,” he explained. “But, Lucifer, in the unexpected terms, at least, for the rest of us, would you like to join Heaven?” God invited. “I understand what you have been through, and I think all of us do, and therefore, you will have a chance to fulfill your true destiny,” he continued. “You will also have to give up your seat as Death Master,” God hesitated. “But that is your decision.” Lucifer looked thoughtful. “Actually, I would like to give up my position and join Heaven,” he said slowly. “Excellent,” God smiled. “You have a position in the Court of Honor on the fifth floor,” he smiled wider. There was thunderous applause; the crowd was clapping. God passed his hand over Lucifer and all his wounds healed and closed up. The dried blood that was on the floor was wiped away too. “Thank you,” Lucifer said. God passed a hand over himself too and the nasty cut that Lucifer had caused disappeared. “Sorry about that,” Lucifer said hastily as he saw the wound. “No need to apologize,” God replied airily. “Do you want to talk to Violet?” I asked him. Lucifer nodded, looking slightly unnerved. “Violet!” I called as she was about to leave. She turned around and walked towards us slowly. “Well, now, Crystal, I will leave things in YOUR hands while I clean up,” God called as he shimmered and disappeared. There isn’t much to “clean up”, I thought, impressed. Nice escape, God. Why, thank you, said God’s voice slyly. I chuckled aloud. Good luck! God’s voice called before it disappeared.