{ heavenly encounters | mammon & squall. }
He couldn't fall back asleep after such a terrible nightmare. His skin was still crawling from the images he'd seen, and with nothing else to do, Squall had taken to the corridors in an attempt to escape them. Perhaps it was not a smart idea, to be wandering the halls at such an ungodly hour. When the lights were dimmer, and the prospect of someone lurking around a corner to attack him became unfortunately more realistic. But perhaps that was also the point.
Life didn't seem like such an exciting idea after letting everyone down at her trial. It felt as if a stone had been tied to his neck, dragging him down with every step he took through desolate halls. The priestess was back, sure. And she had berated him for his thoughts, but it didn't stop the self-depreciation that continually crept into his mind. It was his fault they hadn't caught the third murderer. He didn't deserve the kindness that had kept him from death.
He turned down another corridor. Squall lifted his gaze. Blue eyes swept over the staircase to the second floor. He was just about to turn his head back to the ground and continue on his way, until he noticed a figure descending the steps. The mercenary froze in his tracks. Even from a distance, even in such terrible light, he recognized them.
For a split second he was back on the floor of the cafeteria, paralyzed by a blade lodged in his chest. He was breathing more blood than air. He was seconds away from another fatal stabbing when they appeared from nowhere, walking from an ethereal mist to carry Belphegor away. Squall could remember bits and fragments from the scene perfectly, especially the sight of a golden halo above their head. Whoever this person was, they were a savior from Hyne himself. And they were headed his way, cloak billowing behind them.
It must have looked strange, the way he stared at them with slightly widened eyes. Squall couldn't stop himself from taking a step forward to obstruct their path. Words were itching to escape his mouth. A rare occasion. "Wait." He dared not speak too loudly, not to the one who had saved his life. There was a brief pause before he inhaled, and finally made an important inquiry. One that made perfect sense, at least to Squall.
"Are you an angel...?"