Bitter (Pet #0.5)

by Akwaeke Emezi

The creature hummed a low sound. “The world changes when angels return,” it said. “All monsters must die.” Bitter could feel hot tears leaking out of her eyes again. How was she supposed to stop this? How many more of them were here? “I don’t want people to die,” she said. “Full of wants,” the creature said. “Blind with want, what does your world need?” It looked out of the window again, out to Lucille. “Vengeance calls.” It flexed its wings and went translucent, just as Vengeance had in Bitter’s room. “The hunt begins.” As the girls looked on in shock, the creature took flight, its body passing through the glass of the windows as if it was nothing, like a ghost. They watched it disappear, and then Bitter took a deep breath and turned to Blessing and Alex. “I have something to tell you,” she said, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt, trying to be brave. There were angels roaming Lucille, hunting the monsters. There was no time for secrets anymore.