“Yes, I’m scared.” I crossed my arms as I focused my mind on counting the roadkill instead of the nerves that were bundling inside my stomach. “What if we get kidnapped, or drugged? Did you know another girl went missing last week?”

Dawn turned to me and said, “Nothing is going to happen to us because we have our very own bodyguard to protect us.” Dawn patted Julian on the arm. “Ain’t that right, boo?”

“I ain’t about to mess this piece of fine art for ‘yo ass,” Julian said waving a hand over his face. “I spent two whole hours on this masterpiece.”

We all burst out in laughter for so long, the tension in my body relaxed.

“Seriously? Two hours on eyeliner and glitter?” I teased.

“Perfection takes time,” Julian flashed his gorgeous honey brown eyes at me.

Breathing deeply, I let go of the fear that stirred in my chest and allowed myself to have fun. Before I knew it, the scenery changed. Bright flashes of light dashed by me, a sign we were out of the mountains. I straightened myself as soon as I saw the highway stretched before me, its smooth black roads looping in different directions going places I could only imagine. A twinge of excitement swelled in my belly. In one year, I will be navigating those roads on my way back home to Los Angeles. Back to the life I loved, the life I was forced to leave behind when my family moved to Dixon.

The city skyline began to take shape deep in the horizon enveloped by shimmering lights. I couldn’t help but catch my breath and take in the sight.

“We’re here,” Julian’s sing-song voice brought me back to reality.

I gazed out the window in awe of the tall buildings of downtown Atlanta and its labyrinth of noisy streets. A billboard of a female angel model sporting the latest Calvin Klein towered above me. I marveled at her long jealous-worthy hair that came down to her hips; her tan flawless skin, high cheekbones, and unearthly translucent gray eyes. The model’s black wings were folded at her sides as she posed with lips slightly parted.

Right as we passed the billboard, there were numerous flyers plastered all over the city’s concrete walls with missing girls. Underneath, Templar crosses were spray-painted in black along with a quote: ‘Save Humanity. Save the World.’

My excitement faded and the hairs on my arms raised. I searched for my sister among the smiling faces, even though I knew she wouldn’t be among them. Priscilla ran away from home seven years ago. I hadn’t seen her since.

As Julian’s lime-green Volkswagen Beetle cruised through Peachtree Road, it was buzzing with energy and alive with people hopping from one bar to the next. Hungry musicians filled the air with their music while the owners of Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s sat on the hood of their vehicles parked at an angle perpendicular to the road, flashing diamond studded necklaces, designer clothing, and women.

“Oh my God, is that an angel?” Dawn gasped pointing out the window.

My eyes quickly shifted to the angel wearing a police uniform guarding the streets. I rolled down the window to take a closer look when suddenly, the angel spread his black wings then took flight. I watched as he disappeared into the sky.

“Holy crap!” I shrieked. “Did you see that?”

“Yes!” Dawn joined me with the same level of excitement. “Angel boys are way hotter than human boys.”

“If you say so,” I scoffed even though Dawn was right. The angels were better looking than humans, faster, stronger, by far the superior race on Earth but I wasn’t about to jump on the angel bandwagon and admit it.

“You don’t think so?” Dawn asked as she dropped the sun visor admiring her reflection in the mirror and slathered another layer of lip gloss. Dawn’s been one of my best friends since I moved to Dixon. Unlike me, Dawn had style and wore a little bit too much makeup. It was the result of watching too many YouTube makeup tutorials and following popular style bloggers. She was the curvy, blue-eyed bombshell all the boys wanted to date because she had big boobs, I, on the other hand, was the lean, athletic tomboy they avoided because I was too much of a ‘shit-talker.’ It wasn’t my fault I was brutally honest.

“Ugh. Pretty boys with wings?” I muttered. “No, thank you.”

“Good. More for me.”

“Don’t forget me, girl,” Julian said with a flirty voice. “I don’t discriminate.”

Like Dawn, Julian’s been my best friend since middle school. He had the build of a linebacker, but the personality of a unicorn. Together, we were the three amigos.

The loud music from the bars reverberated through Julian’s car, I closed my eyes and felt the chilly wind of freedom. I was so busy taking in the energy of the city, I hadn’t realized the car stopped.

My mouth dropped. I stared at the enormous Gothic structure before me when I realized, “It’s a church.”

“Oh. My. God. We’re going to hell,” Dawn said wickedly. She rushed out of the car to the cathedral’s entrance where there was a long line of college-age girls, maybe even younger, dressed in tight revealing dresses and pumps. I felt underdressed.