Monica doubts it for a couple of seconds and then laughs while passes her hand through her hair messing it up a little bit.
– Ok, we'll go… what time is the party?
– At 10 p.m. – said Natalia as she stopped. Monica stops and looks at her watch on her arm, it was barely 6 p.m., so there were several hours left before going to the party.
– I'll drive. I'm sure you'll drink more than you should as you did last time. – Said Monica smiling. Last time they went to a party at Ginestra city, and Natalia got drunk so much that Monica had to take her car to her place, because Natalia lived alone, and had no one to wait for her and scold her or something like that. With Monica, it was not the same, because her family got her used to drink alcohol moderately; however, the day they had gone to the party, Monica and Natalia forgot about one important detail, they had spoken with their bosses (Monica worked at a jewelry shop and Natalia at a bakery), so that they would work on that day and take a week day off to go to the saloon.
– Ok. Then pick me up at 10 p.m. See you later! – Said Natalia giving one kiss to Monica on each of her cheeks and now walking on her way to her place. Then, Monica looks at her watch again, 06.02 p.m., she still had time to go to her place, tell to her family about the party, take a shower and get dressed.
1 hour later
Monica was watching TV in her bedroom lying on her bed when her sister Fiorella came in.
– How's that about you are going to a party without me? – She asks her putting her hands on her waist.
– You are under aged; I can't take you to a party where only adults will go. – She tells her while turning off the TV with the remote control and sat on her bed to then look at her.
– I'm 20 years old, I’m legal aged. – Fiorella said inflating her cheeks, Monica laughs: she used to find amusing that her sister behaved as a child. Then, Monica stands up and gets close to her sister.
– Not in Italy, remember legal age is not 20, but 21. – And without saying anything else, Monica leaves her room and starts walking; her sister sighs and walks behind Monica following her.
– Come on! Nobody will notice it!
Monica goes to the kitchen and fills a glass with water.
– Mom and dad won't let you go. Don't insist. I'm just going with Natalia, I promise that before 1 a.m. I'll be at home. – She said.
Fiorella tells nothing and leaves to her bedroom. She loved going to parties with her eldest sister, but Monica didn't want to take her along. What if they asked her an ID? She had to take care of her little sister and, for a moment, she just wanted to have fun with her friend, Natalia.
3 hours later
Monica was just finishing to get dressed to go to the party. She would look at her in the mirror; she was wearing a red dress whose length was above her knees. Monica said goodbye to her family and went to pick Natalia up in her car, blew the car’s horn several times, and Natalia came out locking the door with the key. She was wearing a short purple dress and had her hair loose, got on the car and closed the door.
– Monica, you're beautiful!
– You too, Natalia! – said Monica while starting the car.
Natalia smiles and starts looking out the car’s window. She was sort of excited for the trip to Maschito.
Shortly after, they arrived to the party, were asked their ID cards and got in. There were a lot of people and in the back some techno music could be heard.
– I told you we had to come! – Yells Natalia at her while passing through the people there.
They stopped and started dancing. A brown haired and blue eyed guy and another one with black hair and brown eyes approach to Monica and Natalia.
– I’m Luca. – Said the one with brown hair.
– And I'm Mateo. – Said the one with black hair.
– We are Natalia and Monica. – Said Natalia while looking at the ones who just arrived.
– Would you like to dance? – Asks Luca; Natalia looks at Monica as if she were expecting for approval and Monica agrees.
– Sure. – Said Natalia.
Natalia starts dancing with Mateo and Monica starts dancing with Luca, the four of them dance for a couple of minutes; then, they go to get some drinks, danced, chatted, and after four hours, they decided to leave.
– This party was so fun! – Yelled Natalia while dancing on her sit.
– Indeed. – Said Monica laughing while driving.
When they were passing by the cliff at the entrance of Venosa, just by the curve, the light of a truck blinded them, Monica moves the wheel to several sides, but she finally goes to the right, climbs the berm, twists and turns on some rocks and goes down the cliff in a clean jump falling to their fatal destination.
Chapter 2
– Monica, wake up! – Screamed Natalia from the dark… Monica opens her eyes and even like that, she can't see anything.
– Natalia? Where are you? Are you ok? – Asks Monica while trying to move her fingers expecting to touch Natalia, but she couldn't feel them. She couldn't feel her body and felt as if something was piercing her belly.
– I don't know! I'm scared, Monica! I don't want to die! I don't feel my body! – Screamed Natalia beginning to cry.
– Wait… I'm starting to feel dizzy… I think… I'm going to… – Said Monica before feeling the darkness took over her. The last think she heard was Natalia calling her desperately and how she was slowly shutting down until feeling only silence around her.
–
–
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– Monica?
Monica was lying on the floor which seemed transparent and begins to stand up slowly.
– Am I dead? – Asks Monica looking at the man who was wearing a brown robe.
– Yes. – He said while getting closer to Monica and walked down some stairs.
– And Natalia?
– She died too… Several hours passed before she could be rescued, and her wounds were so serious, though yours were deeper and died just a few minutes after the accident. – The man stops a few steps away from Monica, and she puts her hands on her waist starting to cry.
– Why? – She asked after crying for a couple of seconds.
– Just… It was your time.
– And who are you? – Monica asked him now crossing her arms.
– I'm Archangel Gabriel, messenger from God. – He said extending his arms and showing his palms.
– Where is Natalia?
– I'm afraid I can't answer that question to you…
– Why? Where is she? – Asked Monica stepping a little forward towards him. She couldn't deny she was very worried for her best friend.
– I'm sorry, but the only thing I can tell you is that she is now in a better place.
– And, why am I here?
– Because you have an assignment to fulfil.
–