Adam's Grace - 4. "The Articles Of Faith" (Part 1)

(Sometime in the past)

"Danny, get down. It's getting dark!" the blue-eyed boy hollered from the foot of the massive oak tree, his soft and gentle expression peeking between the branches.

Daniel had just climbed to the top of the tree and now sat at the highest branch, facing his uncle's cornfield, patiently waiting for the glorious sun to set on the horizon. It was his favorite part of the day, and ever since he could stand on his two legs, he had been clambering his way into everything, constantly yearning to know what it would feel like to touch the sky and feel the clouds brush his fingers.

"Aziel, stop being a pussy. Just get up here, already!" Daniel shouted back, his eyes locked on the beautiful colors that formed in the sky, merging effortlessly.

Daniel and Aziel had been friends since childhood, and despite being born into different families, they behaved like brothers. They were both fifteen years of age, traversing their way into adulthood yet still lingering on the small joys only children could appreciate. Daniel was outspoken, fearless, and sometimes even reckless, but his heart was pure and protective towards Aziel. And with good reason, because his best friend possessed everything he lacked: he was sensitive, optimistic, and bright. In a sense, they complimented each other perfectly, which could explain how they had survived the cruel fate of being born in Devil's Haven, possibly the smallest town in the world. There was nothing there but cornfields, hay-stacked barns, and a small chapel that had been closed before the boys were born.

"I'm gonna fall," Aziel uttered, his voice trembling slightly.

No, you are not. Now hurry up, you're missing it!" Daniel hollered down.

Aziel took a deep breath and walked up to the tree's massive trunk, his pale, smooth legs rising reluctantly from the ground. Every step was precise and planned, his feet grappling into the tree's hidden nudges as his hands and fingers snared the larger branches. Slowly but surely, Aziel began to move up, drawing closer to Daniel, whose attentive gaze followed his friend's every move. Soon, Aziel's curly golden hair was bursting through the thicker twigs.

"See? That wasn't so hard." Daniel teased playfully. But suddenly, Aziel's foot slid off one of the branches, and he slipped, dropping instantly. Daniel's arm fired down, his hand seizing his friend's wrist. Aziel dangled there, his feet dangling, his body rocking slowly from side to side, and his terrified eyes locked on Daniel's, whose lips stretched into a smile. "I bet if I let you go, you'd fly." He whispered, blood rushing to his face as his arm shook from the strain.

"Danny..." Aziel uttered, his eyes shivering.

"My angel..." Daniel whispered before pulling his friend's body up effortlessly. Aziel sat beside Daniel, shaking nervously, his hand inadvertently sliding along his friend's bare leg, fingers clawing inside the skin.

"What was that for?" He questioned, slightly ruffled.

"You need to toughen up," Daniel stated. His tone was soft and delicate.

"I... don't need to toughen up. I have you to protect me," Aziel muttered, pausing momentarily to peek at Daniel's shrugged eyebrows.

"The world is a big, fucked up place, Aziel," Daniel sounded, his mesmerized eyes locked on the view. "And we can't sit in this tree forever." He added, turning to face his friend. His eyes immediately dove inside Aziel's deep, blue gaze as he did.

"I wish we could..." Aziel replied before the most tender silence took hold. He chuckled slightly and flicked his hair to the side. A motion he always made when he was nervous.

"It's so cute," Daniel commented.

"What?" Aziel questioned, a sudden awkwardness attached to his tone.

"That thing you do with your hair," Daniel explained, scanning Aziel's eyes, who blinked slowly, the boy's spirit completely wrapped around Daniel's finger. His body lingered there momentarily, hostage to the most endearing uncertainty, before lunging forward and awkwardly kissing Daniel's cheek. "What was that for?" Daniel asked, not an ounce of judgment or awkwardness.

"I don't know," Aziel whispered, pulling his beaming eyes back on the view.

"I best keep you around me...just in case," Daniel stated, turning to the mesmerizing twilight that formed, its violet light slowly coating the landscape.

Aziel's soul smiled, beaming with adoration, and he let his head fall on his friend's shoulder, resting there, along with the promise of their brewing unspoken love. A love that seemed to grow and transform. From its innocence, a carnal, fervent desire seemed to grow. Daniel and Aziel's bodies were changing, their childhood being slowly left behind, and they now sprinted willingly and fervorously toward adulthood.

That summer, every day became a new and exciting find as they began to discover their bodies together. It started as a joke when Danny asked if Aziel had ever jerked off. That turned into them showing each other how they went about it. And soon, they were doing it together and quite regularly. Their intimacy was so profound that, at a certain point, they wouldn't even consider masturbating unless they were together. Their sexual awakening was now tied together, a shared experience that demanded each other's presence to grow and flourish.

One particular afternoon, they were walking around town, bored out of their minds, when they inadvertently wandered close to the abandoned church. The reason for its closure had always been a source of interest and novelty among the younger generations of Devil's Haven, and the chapel had become a staple of local folklore. They stared at the building for several minutes when Daniel's voice finally broke from under the intense heat.

"We should go inside." He suggested, his reckless nature pushing through.

"No way," Aziel immediately countered. "If anyone finds out, they'll kill us," the boy warned. But he knew Daniel too well, his words flying right over his friend's head.

"There's a window in the back. I think we can climb," Daniel stated, inebriated by the adrenaline that now rushed through him.

Aziel slowly rolled his eyes before the sound of wheels scraping against the dirt forced him to turn his head.

"Danny, watch out!" He tried to warn as he saw a small pebble fly in the air and hit the back of Danny's neck.

"Shit!" Daniel muttered, his head immediately turning. Before them were three boys about their age mounted on beaten-down bikes, their lips stretched into mischievous grins.

"That should teach you to watch your back, Danny!" A dark-eyed boy stated, his feet planted firmly on the ground as he held the bike with his hands.

"Fuck you, Arthur!" Daniel fired back, his chest immediately inflating. "Get down from your bike, and let's settle this." He provoked. Aziel stood behind him, absolutely mortified.

"Danny, don't..." he whispered, eyes scouring the group on the other side of the rusted fence that circled the entire chapel.

"Like I'd waste my time with a bunch of f..." Arthur uttered, his eyes shooting daggers at Aziel. But before he could even finish his hate-loaded remark, Daniel's voice overpowered him.

"Watch your mouth, Arthur." He warned.

"Or what?" Arthur prompted, leaning into his seat.

"Or I'll tell everyone you're the real cocksucker," Daniel replied, spurring Arthur's eyes to flare up with rage and his cheeks blush red. "Yeah, I've seen the way you look at other guys cock's when we're by the dam." He instigated. Behind Arthur, the two other boys giggled, flaring the bully's rage even more.

"Liar!" Arthur screamed, lifting his leg and violently tossing the bike on the ground.

"Danny, just let it go," Aziel pleaded as he rushed over and pulled his friend's shirt.

But Arthur was already sprinting towards them, jumping over the broken fence, his right arm raised in the air and ready to strike. Aziel felt Daniel's shirt rip from under his fingers as the boy rushed forward to meet the bully. But suddenly, a deep, resounding male voice exploded inside a grocery store about twenty feet further down the street.

"What are you kids doing?" The man stated, his powerful tone cutting through the boy's imminent quarrel.

"Nothing, Mr. Sanders. We're just goofing around..." Arthur replied, his eyes locked on Daniel, who smirked at him, daring.

"Arthur, stop pestering them. Take your raggedy ass home, or I'll have your father come get you." Sanders threatened. Immediately, you could see the fear in Arthur's eyes, and his hand slowly came down, landing on Daniel's chest, where it lingered.

"This isn't over." The bully whispered, his eyes darting at Aziel's scared countenance.

"Looking forward to round two, bitch." Daniel fired back, his words escalating the silent rage growing between them. "I might even let you suck my cock next time. I bet you'd love that." Daniel provoked as Arthur's hand shook with rage.

The bully pulled away and returned to his bike, hauling it off the dirt ground and pedaling off, his friends following closely behind.

"You shouldn't mess with those boys, Danny." Sanders counseled. His tone shifted, turning gentle and caring.

"I'm not scared of him." Daniel punched back.

"It doesn't mean you can't get hurt—or get someone hurt..." Sanders advised, his eyes glancing at Aziel.

"Thank you, Mr. Sanders," Aziel uttered with a tamed smile as Danny walked away, muttering to himself.

"Danny's a good boy. But he needs to watch that temper..." Sanders commented before returning to the store, leaving Aziel to collect his small piece of wisdom.

The boy rushed after Daniel, who was already circling the church, his eyes scanning the walls and roof of the old building. As they wandered further inside, forced to sneak underneath a busted tall fence, they eventually found their way inside an old cemetery, its gravestones now concealed by overgrown grass and wildflowers. There was a morbid beauty to it and an odd sense of peace. Aziel's eyes seemed lost in it. The boy's sensitive soul could always see the beauty in everything, even obscure places.

"Help me with this," Daniel uttered from behind him. Aziel turned to find his friend pulling an old, tall ladder from under a pile of rubble. The boy rushed over, and together, they straightened it, pinning it against the wall, the tall end facing the smallest window.

"Danny, we shouldn't..." Aziel whimpered.

"Don't you wanna see what's inside?" Daniel teased, knowing full well how to trifle Aziel's curious nature. The boy chuckled.

"Fine." Aziel conceded, climbing the stairs as Daniel's proud grin followed him. With each step, he felt more liberated, his heart pumping excitedly.

For years, they had heard the craziest stories about that building. That it was haunted, strange creatures lived inside, or that the devil himself had sealed it so the gateway to hell would be protected from intruders. But the closer he got to the small glass window, the less scared he felt. In fact, a wave of warmth and peace slowly enveloped Aziel's body as if some benign force summoned him from inside. He reached the window and slowly pushed it, surprised to find it opened. He slid his slim body inside, slowly tumbling over some crates covered by large, dusty blankets. He fell on his back, rolling off them, feet landing on a small balcony above the church gallery. It was a small chapel, enough to house maybe thirty people, but Aziel was immediately struck by how bright and welcoming it felt. He remained there, his blue eyes traveling along the painted walls. He could see drawings desperately trying to break from under all the dust, and as he looked up, he noticed a giant cloth covering the entire church's ceiling. Suddenly, he heard a loud noise behind him.

"No ghosts. And no demons. Lame." Daniel's voice mocked. He had just dropped over the crates and was lying on them, looking at the blue-eyed beauty with utter disappointment.

But Aziel's mind was elsewhere, distracted. He leaned over the rail that hugged the balcony, and suddenly, his head was moving, following the ropes that circled the ceiling and came down the wall, wrapping like a tourniquet around a metal pole just right from where they stood. His eyes twinkled, and he walked over to the tight knot, slowly unwinding it. He paused and smiled before letting go of the thick rope, which flew up, bringing down the massive cloth that covered the chapel canopy.

"Wow..." Daniel whispered. Both their necks were now bent backward, their mouths agape as they watched the most magnificent painted stained glass ceiling being unveiled before their eyes.

"They're so beautiful..." Aziel mumbled, his eyes glistening with emotion.

It was a massive composition, a painted narrative. There were saints, many of whom Aziel recognized from his grandmother's Bible studies, like Saint Michael The Archangel, Saint Jude of the Lost Causes, Saint Thomas, Joan of Arc, and Mary, Mother of Jesus. But they centered around a divine figure that converged all their gazes: a raven-haired, blue-eyed angel holding a human in his arms. Aziel's eyes lit up, and his mouth stretched in awe.

"Who's that?" Daniel questioned.

"I...don't know. Granny never talked about any angel that looked like that." Aziel remarked, his voice lagging as he got lost in his thoughts. All he could do was gaze at that fascinating print, his eyes bathing in every detail.

Who was that beautiful angel, Aziel wondered? And who was the human he held in his arms with such grace and devotion?

"He looks dead," Daniel said. Aziel looked at him and frowned, diving his eyes right back into the drawing. "The guy he's holding," he added.

"His eyes are opened... he's not dead," Aziel argued. "The angel is reaching up like he's praying." the boy added. "They look like lovers..." he murmured.

"They look naked." Daniel mocked, his attention skating off.

"But they couldn't be...could they?" Aziel whispered to himself, completely spellbound by the picture's mysterious significance. "Maybe God closed this church..." the boy mumbled.

"Why would God have the guys who built the church paint them naked and in love if he didn't think it was fitting?" Daniel's voice questioned. Aziel turned to find him sliding down a pole into the bottom floor of the chapel.

"Is that safe?" Aziel reluctantly asked, his body leaning against the rail as he glanced down.

"Just get down here, silly," Daniel ordered.

Aziel rolled his eyes, walking over to the corner of the balcony where Daniel had slid down. He hugged the dusty pole tightly and dropped his body on it, skating down slowly before his feet punched the ground, lifting a cloud of dust with them.

"It looks bigger from down here," Aziel uttered, eyes scouring the ceiling again.

"You mean my dick?" Daniel razzed, making Aziel giggle, their eyes meeting and their smiles merging in a comfortable silence. Daniel glanced around, then rushed for one of the stools and pulled a square-shaped piece of plastic, which he proceeded to extend on the floor along the aisle. Then, he lay down, stretching his arms and legs before tapping his hand on the plastic, signaling Aziel to join him. The boy obliged.

"He's so beautiful." Aziel exhaled, tilting his head to the side.

"What do you think is going on?" Daniel asked as he stared at the ceiling, finally allowing himself to dive into Aziel's stained glass fable.

"I think they love each other but can't be together for some reason." Aziel theorized.

"Why?" Daniel drilled, his hands sliding into his chest and landing softly over it.

"Because...the world doesn't understand them," Aziel uttered as the most beautiful light pierced through the ceiling, shining directly over his face. Daniel noticed it, his eyes locked on Aziel's glow.

"Is it tickling your pickle?" He teased. Aziel's mouth dried up, his groin suddenly pulsing.

"No." He lied, nervously swallowing as he watched, from the corner of his eye, Daniel's hand skating down his stomach and sliding inside his shorts.

"Wanna jerk off." Daniel invited, already rubbing his stiff prick.

Aziel pursed his lips, trying to cage his content smile from pushing through. But soon, his fingers were diving inside the waistband of his shorts, pushing them down. His pink shaft bounced up, his right hand grabbing it immediately. He let his head fall back and started stroking it, his eyes closing in ecstasy. But now and then, he would open them, glancing sideways at Daniel, whose body seemed to slowly shift over to him, the sound of the plastic ripping slightly under them. Soon, their shoulders brushed against each other, and they could feel their prickly skin sending shockwaves across their entire bodies.

Aziel glanced down, unable to contain his curiosity. His eyes locked on Daniel's cock, gaping in shock at the sight of it. Even at a young age, Danny's prick was already impressive. Massive, probably 8.5 inches, uncut and girthy. Aziel smiled, captivated by how his friend's foreskin moved up and down and how every time he pushed it back, a strange yet alluring fragrance spewed from the tip. The inside glistened even brighter with each stroke, covered with a translucid substance that seemed to pile around it, oozing down Daniel's fingers. Aziel's hand began to move slower, his full attention now wrapped around Danny's dick.

"Can I touch it?" Aziel whispered, his eyes flaring with surprise at his words and how effortlessly they flew out of his mouth. But he was even more surprised at his best friend's response.

"Hum... sure," Daniel uttered, his tone shifting from doubtful to intrigued. His hand slowed down and fell by the side of his body, his head turning to face Aziel. The blue-eyed boy's left hand skated along Daniel's leg, his fingers unhurriedly feeling the soft fuzz of his best friend's legs before it crawled up his thighs, finally stationing over his groin.

Aziel beamed as he realized that the feeling of his hand wrapped around Daniel's shaft was far too comfortable and familiar to ignore. It was as if his hand was merely remembering a place it had already been to but experiencing it as if it was the first time. He rolled his body to the side, inadvertently pulling his arm down, locking his elbow on the floor, his knees now touching Daniel's legs. His right hand landed on his friend's thigh, his eyes immediately shooting up to catch Daniel's expression. And he was there, looking right back at him, mouth slightly opened, chest moving up and down, and his breath trembling slightly.

"That's the first time I've seen you nervous," Aziel commented before his lips stretched into a smirk. His hand moved up, brushing Daniel's balls, and he grabbed the base of his friend's cock. It was warm, searing even. Aziel began to stroke it, slowly at first, his movements escorting these soft moans from Daniel's mouth. The blue-eyed boy seemed spellbound by his friend's meat but mainly by how their interaction made Daniel feel.

It was raw, exhilarating, and incredibly sensual. Their actions ushered in feelings still unknown to them as they drove further over the edge of the precipice. One they now seemed willing to hurl themselves off. Behind, they were leaving their innocence, their childhood.

As he pulled Daniel's foreskin back, Aziel's thumb skated over the tip of his friend's cock, smudging the precum with it, his tongue gliding over his lips in rapture. The sweet perfume was intoxicating. He leaned forward and took a deep breath, his nose harnessing the scent. But as he exhaled, his warm breath gently fired into Daniel's shaft, twitching immediately. Aziel dove even further, his spirit now unshackled from fear, and he kissed it, his beautiful plump lips hugging the soft foreskin.

"Oh...man..." Daniel mumbled, his head falling back and bumping softly against the floor.

Aziel pulled Danny's cock back and kissed the tip again, his lips now diving inside the pool of precum glazing it. His tongue followed the movement, eager to be part of it. And by God did his mouth rejoice at its profoundly satisfying flavor. It was sweet, with a punch of sourness at the end. Much like Daniel: a tender core inside a hard shell. Aziel was hooked, and until that moment, he never thought he could love Daniel more. But he was wrong. How wrong he was. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and unfurled his lips, dipping them around Danny's beautiful dick.

His whole body vibrated, a rush of blood to the head causing his mind to wander off, his soul now surrendered to his best friend's body. He could feel Danny's last shred of reluctance melt, his usual dominant nature withering into the floor. Soon, the boy's hands were climbing along Aziel's back, landing on his head, fingers sliding inside the blue-eyed boy's golden curls.

"Shit, your mouth feels so warm." Daniel whimpered, his touch as soft as a feather.

Aziel's tongue replied, wiggling slightly and inadvertently touching the shaft's gland, causing Daniel's pelvis to shiver in pleasure. Aziel's mouth seemed eager to learn, adjusting and accommodating Daniel's every move and moan, allowing his host to guide it. The blue-eyed boy's neck began to aid, bobbing up and down, helping the lips as they hugged the now stiff cock, its veins puncturing the stretched skin. Daniel's cock was so hard at this point, Aziel could feel it bloating inside his mouth. And so, as a response, he began to release these whimpers, struggling with Danny's blessed anatomy. He felt his throat lock, and he pulled out, coughing gently.

"Wow..." Aziel stated, breath heavy, mouth drenched in saliva as he stroked Daniel's spit-covered cock. He lingered there, looking at his best friend's mammoth, still reluctant to believe what was happening. That is until Danny's voice whispered.

"What the fuck are you doing? Keep going..." Daniel pleaded.

"Okay," Aziel immediately replied, diving eagerly back in. A new jolt pierced his chest and traveled through his slim body, but it didn't stop there this time. Daniel followed suit as if each discharge was a shared wave, enveloping their bodies in the same experience.

They were now one breathing body, their connection wholly established. And Aziel knew, at that moment, that nothing could ever make his lips detach from Danny's body. And so, stripped of remorse, fear, or internal conflict, that blue-eyed boy offered himself to his best friend. The person he loved most in the world, the one he idolized, worshipped, and longed for. A bright light punctured the stained glass again, and Aziel felt the warm sunlight brush the back of his neck. Even though he couldn't explain it, he knew a mystical presence was watching them. And so, comforted by that deep faith of belonging to a greater power, Aziel laid his head softly over Daniel's stomach and surrendered his power to Daniel.

The endowed boy's head fired up, his eyes glazed with an invisible layer, his expression hostage to the most unbearable eros. Danny's fingers gripped Aziel's hair, and he began to thrust his hips up and down, pushing his cock inside his friend's mouth. Immediately, a series of submissive whimpers and moans erupted from the blue-eyed boy's gaping mouth, his fingers digging inside Daniel's thighs as he struggled to take every inch of him. But soon and rather organically, they settled into an effortless rhythm. And like lovers, sharing the most profound intimacy, they lay there, their bodies encased in a passionate embrace. And for several minutes, Daniel fucked Aziel's warm mouth, his dick melting inside the boy's tender and inviting throat.

"We should have... done this...sooner," Daniel expressed, his words being cut off by his hectic breathing. His motions were extremely vigorous, mirroring his stellar stamina and youthful endurance. He could hear Aziel choke on his cock, but the tenderness of his friend's hands softly rubbing his thighs and balls served as a guide map for his threshold.

Daniel could feel his abdomen flare up and a gentle nudging sensation building right between his ass cheeks, inches from his hole. He knew it was coming, and so he flared his eyes. But when he did, the bright light punching through the ceiling cleared everything around him, and he suddenly fell prey to the angel drawn on the stained glass. And as his orgasm began to build, the angel's blue eyes started to move, locking with his own.

"What the..." Daniel muttered, feeling his balls contract.

Aziel moaned, surprised by the first shots of cum that were now firing inside his mouth. They were thick, reckless, and uninhibited. It was a joy to feel and a pleasure to taste, and soon, these animal-like growls surfaced from his glazed throat. And their lack of resemblance, both in energy and tone, to Aziel's own voice was steering both boys into a frenzy.

"Fu...ck...Danny..." Aziel moaned, his throat opening and closing as he desperately tried to swallow every single string of batter that spewed, with barely a pause, from Daniel's dick.

"Oh my God..." Daniel groaned, his pelvis shivering as he tried to keep steady during the final stretch. He could feel a few drops of his nut ooze out of Aziel's mouth and slide down his thighs, landing over the plastic cover. But what seemed to send him over the edge was the feeling of Aziel's warm cum, spewing over his legs, his knees being glazed with his friend's white, juicy, and sweet-smelling orgasm. "This was insane..." he whispered, lightheaded.

"Insanely good?" Aziel replied, looking up. Their breaths matched in both intensity and exhaustion.

"I...yeah..." Daniel conceded, unable to exude his usual cockyness. His mind seemed prisoner to Aziel's presence and his eyes hostage to his friend's gaze.

They smiled at each other and let their bodies melt, facing head-on the blinding beauty of what had just happened. A door had been opened, and there was no way of closing it again—neither did they want to. But an unspoken truth lingered between them, one they knew they couldn't avoid. Inside the chapel, they were protected, but once they broke through those walls into the real world, its cruelty would consume the pureness of their newfound feelings for each other.

"We should..." Aziel uttered, pulling himself away from Daniel's chest, a crippling coldness rushing between them. It physically ached them to part.

"Yeah," Daniel replied, his voice layered with hesitancy and his eyes trembling with sadness.

They dressed and climbed the rope back onto the balcony, squeezing out the window and down the ladder. As they cornered the church, Aziel's eyes locked on his bike, and his arms swung up in distress.

"Shoot." He exclaimed. One of the tires on his bike was down.

"We'll come back for it tomorrow," Daniel suggested, mounting his bike and tilting his head, calling Aziel over. "Hop on." He instructed.

Aziel threw his leg over Daniel's seat and sat down, his cock brushing his friend's crack. Even after their excursions inside the chapel, Aziel could already feel his insatiable prick twitching nervously and eagerly again. Daniel drove the bike through the small, central square, pedaling down the dirt road into the rural area of town. The sun was setting, so he hustled his legs, sprinting home, trying not to have Aziel miss his curfew.

There, as his arms wrapped around Daniel's waist, his crotch nudged against Daniel's back, feeling his best friend's chest beat inside his own, Aziel's eyes glistened with tears. He had never felt so unequivocally free, liberated, or filled with the deepest gratitude.

So, this is love, the boy thought. How marvelous a feeling. How deeply fulfilling.

Aziel's hands unlocked from Daniel's body, and as the bicycle glided over the road, he pulled back, arms stretching outwards. As Danny paddled ferociously, ushering a warm breeze through them, Aziel's eyes beamed, and his soul rejoiced. Every fiber of his being seemed eager to embrace this new and extraordinary feeling. At that moment, as the wind dusted his golden curls, he knew that whatever presence he felt in that church had latched itself to them, planted a seed inside their heart that was now guiding their spirits.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, they felt something hit the front wheel and their bodies being thrown violently through the air, falling on the dirt roadway. They were dragged a few feet across it, the soft skin on their arms ripped apart by the sharp peddles on the road. Everything went quiet before Aziel's whimpering moans woke Daniel from his shock. He pulled his face from the ground, his cheeks scraped and battered.

"Are you alright?" Danny questioned as he turned. But suddenly, he stopped, his eyes gaping in shock.

Further down the road, just a few feet away from Aziel, Arthur stood still, his two miscreant friends behind him. Arthur was holding a rifle in his hands.

"I told you this wasn't over," the bully hollered, his eyes locked on Daniel, who motioned forward but halted. Arthur lifted his gun and pointed it at him, interrupting Daniel's attempt to reach his friend. His arms rose, his expression of defiance shifting.

"This isn't funny, Arthur...put the gun down," Daniel advised, his voice surgical and methodic. Aziel's eyes trembled, and he stepped back, trying to move toward Danny.

"Don't take another step," Arthur ordered. Behind him, his friends glanced at each other, visibly nervous.

"Dude, cmon...you said we were just gonna scare them." One of the miscreants muttered.

"Yeah, man, it's dark. Let's get the fuck out of here." The other advised. But Arthur's eyes were locked on Daniel, the rifle barrel aimed straight at his head.

"Take it back," Arthur uttered, his voice cutting the air like a sharp knife.

"What?" Daniel questioned, glancing at Aziel, whose troubled expression drove Daniel to tame his overwhelming instinct to fight back.

"Take back what you said at the church," Arthur screamed, his hand shaking slightly with rage and aggression. Daniel stood there silently, his mind racing.

"Arthur, drop it. Let's just go!" One of his friends hollered. Daniel squinted, his eyes scanning Arthur's expression. Even as the night fell over their heads, the darkness clouding their vision, Daniel could see Arthur's eyes glistening with emotion.

"I see the way he looks at you," Arthur uttered, his eyes finally detaching from Daniel and zooming in on Aziel. "Are you guys in love or something?" He questioned, pointing the gun's barrel at Aziel's chest.

Daniel immediately stepped forward, his shoes scraping over the ground. But as he did, Aziel's hand came up, signaling him to stop.

"Arthur, it's okay," Aziel's voice whispered. His tone was eerily melancholic, as if his voice and words suddenly carried a divine weight and wisdom. "You don't have to be scared," he continued, soothing everything around him, including Arthur's arms, which seemed to falter as they held the weapon. "I know you don't want to do this. You're just hurt," Aziel continued, drawing closer to the rifle's edge. "And scared...You're just scared," he whispered, leaning into the barrel and pushing his chest into it.

"Aziel, what the fuck..." Daniel mumbled, his heart practically bursting out of his chest.

Aziel's hand crawled up Arthur's arm, nestling on the boy's shoulder. Arthur's guard suddenly dropped, and his head fell. His shoulders began to tremble slightly, and soon, a low sob erupted from his mouth. Daniel and Arthur's friends gazed at the scene, shocked and incredulous.

"I know what it's like to feel different," Aziel whispered. "But you're not alone," the boy finally uttered, motioning to embrace Arthur.

But before he could, the bully's right arm swung up suddenly and slapped Aziel's face, knocking the boy to the ground.

"I'M NOT A FUCKING FAGGOT!" Arthur yelled, pulling the gun back up and aiming it at Aziel's body. But as he was about to shoot, Daniel lunged at him, knocking both to the ground and forcing Arthur to drop the gun.

They were now wrestling, their bodies fused into a single mass, rolling on the ground as they punched and pushed each other. Soon, Daniel had the upper hand, pressing his knees against the other bully's chest and locking him in place as his fists beat his face into a pulp. Then, out of nowhere, Arthur managed to kick Daniel between the legs, and the boy fell to the side, hands grabbing his crotch as he groaned in excruciating pain.

Everything went silent and abnormally slow, and then it happened. Arthur rushed for the rifle.

"Aziel, run!" Daniel screamed desperately.

Aziel pulled himself off the ground and dashed off the road as fast as he could, cutting into the cornfield that surrounded them, the sound of his shoes racing further into the field. Arthur aimed the rifle and fired three shots, the sound echoing across the deserted road.

The world suddenly stopped, with it, the sound of Aziel's steps sprinting away.

"No..." Daniel uttered. "No, no, NO." He yelled, rushing for the tall cornfield, his hasty feet freezing as his eyes locked on Aziel's body, a few feet ahead, motionless. He lay on his stomach, his back drenched in blood.

"Oh fuck. Let's get out of here," one of Arthur's friends mumbled with sheer panic. They climbed onto their bikes, nervously sculling away. Arthur just stood there, eyes gaping.

"What the fuck did you do?" Daniel screamed, turning around and rushing towards Arthur. He yanked the gun out of his hands and punched the handguard up, hitting his face. Arthur fell back immediately, his back hitting the ground, blood spewing out of his nose. Daniel held the gun and aimed it down, pointing the muzzle at the bully's chest.

As he did, a loud thundering sound exploded, and the heaviest rain in weeks began to pour out of nowhere.

"Do it, you fucking pussy." Arthur whimpered before the most unsettling laughter spewed from his mouth, his face drenched in rain.

Daniel's finger pressed on the trigger, slowly pulling it back. But halfway through, he stopped, his raging eyes flickering at Arthur's sadistic grin.

"Get your bike and get the fuck out of here. If you ever come near us again, I'll shove a bullet between your eyes." Daniel threatened. Arthur's grin slowly melted, and his dark, soulless eyes lingered on him momentarily.

"Copy that, chief..." the bully whispered, his words puncturing Daniel's mind like an insidious foreboding. Arthur dragged himself off the ground, rushed for his bike, picked it up, and rode off. Moments later, he had disappeared into the dark.

Daniel dropped the rifle on the road and ran back to Aziel, sliding his battered knees across the soaked corn-covered field and falling over his friend's body, crying.

"Aziel, Aziel...please wake up. Please," Daniel prayed, his words lost in the heavy rain. I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," the boy cried out. "My angel...my love," he whispered, his words fueled by despair.

But Aziel's sweet voice, gentle words, and soft touch were no more. In its place, a lifeless body.

Darkness took hold, and despair fell over Daniel as he continued to call his best friend. But his pleas were now faint whispers.

His prayers being washed away with the rain, along with his tears.

(Present time)

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." The male voice whispered from inside the confessional.

"What sin have you committed, my son?" the pastor asked, his voice soothing and lacking judgment.

"I loved someone I shouldn't have," the man revealed candidly. The priest leaned back, taking a deep breath.

"Love isn't a sin, my son," he preached.

"Even if..." the man's voice stuttered, his words choked by sentiment. "Even if that love ended up causing suffering to a lot of people?" the man opposed. The priest's eyes scoured the grid. On the other side, he could sense the man's distress.

"God still loves the sinner despite the sin," the priest said. There was a brief pause, the man's breath filling the tiny space.

"This is a beautiful chapel, Father," he commented.

"Thank you, my child. It took a lot of effort to revive it," the priest said proudly.

"Somewhat different from what I remembered..." the man stated cryptically. The priest's eyebrows rose in surprise. "But I'm glad you kept the stained glass," he added.

"Have you been here before?" the priest questioned.

"Once," the man revealed. "I grew up over at old Tenner's farm. Back then, they called this place Devil's Haven," he added, his voice now layered with a peculiar and eerily gloomy nostalgia. Sensing this, the priest shifted the focus of the conversation.

"So...what's on your mind, my child?" he asked.

"I feel angry...all the time, Father," the man bluntly admitted.

"What's your name?" the priest questioned.

"Daniel," the man replied.

"What are you angry at, Daniel?" the priest inquired, his fingers crossing in prayer. There was another silence.

"Everything, Father," Daniel revealed.

"I see...well...talking may sometimes help ease the burden around one's heart," the priest counseled.

"I'm afraid that won't work with me, Father. Not anymore," Daniel admitted, forcing the priest to pull forward. His eyes squinted through the grid, captivated by this strange man.

"Then...how can I be of service to you, Daniel?" the priest questioned.

"Well, I'm actually looking for someone. I was told he still lives around these parts. I was hoping you could help me find him, Father," Daniel haggled, his tone becoming less vacant. There was intent in his words and an underlying angst.

"And who is this man you seek?" The priest finally asked.

Silence took hold, and this time, it seemed to linger purposely until Daniel's voice finally replied from the other side of the grid.

"His name is Aziel."

(To be continued...)