Aliya waited quietly for Daniel. She had already guided the animals she was assigned to bring across.
Her thoughts continued to wander, troubled once again by the questions forming in her mind.
What puzzled her most was this: whenever she visited that place to escort the animals, many of them approached her affectionately.
She wished she could remember what she had done in the human world that made them love her so much.
"Aliya?" Daniel called.
She met his gaze. He looked puzzled when he saw her waiting.
"You waited for me?" he asked.
She simply nodded. Daniel looked slightly surprised before letting out a soft laugh.
They began walking together.
"How are things?" she asked.
Daniel sighed as he looked at her.
"As I told you earlier, we must not interfere. They will decide for themselves what actions they should take," he said, shaking his head.
"Do you have somewhere else to go?" she asked.
"No."
"That's good. I honestly don't know how to deal with Isaac," she admitted.
She knew Isaac was a quiet and mysterious guide. He reported to those above them and handled matters beyond the responsibilities of ordinary guides like them.
Daniel laughed softly, making her glance at him.
"Is that why you waited for me?" he asked teasingly.
She only nodded.
"That's just how Isaac is," Daniel said, shaking his head.
"Daniel, did you know Isaac before?" she asked.
He stared at her for a moment but did not answer immediately.
"Why do you ask?"
"I've seen you two talking seriously sometimes."
"Ah. That's because he is above us guides."
"So… you didn't really know each other before?" she asked again.
Daniel smiled and shook his head at her persistence.
"You're very curious. Yes, we knew each other when we were still alive."
Aliya gasped softly.
"W–Were you friends?" she asked.
Daniel began walking ahead, leaving her standing there.
"Not exactly friends. We simply spent time together."
"Were you childhood friends?" she continued.
"So many questions," he muttered.
Aliya covered her mouth and bit her tongue. She realized she had become too curious.
"S–Sorry," she said.
He must be irritated with all your questions, she scolded herself silently.
"It's nothing," Daniel said gently. "Isaac and I weren't childhood friends. We met when we were already adults."
He forced a small smile.
Seeing his consideration toward her, Aliya decided not to ask any more questions.
Suddenly Daniel's watch began to glow.
"Do you want to come with me?" he asked.
She nodded. She had been waiting for her own watch to glow, but no signal had appeared.
As a guide, she was allowed to accompany others. The higher ones had said that guides could learn from observing each other.
Darkness swallowed them—and then released them again.
Aliya frowned.
A flood.
XXX
"Nature is collecting its debt from humanity."
Tiara watched the deep floodwaters with a faint smile. The water had risen past the tall buildings while heavy rain continued to pour.
"Tiara."
She glanced at the one who called her.
"Let me enjoy this moment, Isaac," she replied, ignoring his warning.
From the distance, she heard the cries of people trapped in the floodwaters.
She knew she had once been human too—but after witnessing what humanity had done to nature, she had come to despise them.
"Are the animals alright? Didn't their owners abandon them?" a worried voice asked.
Tiara turned.
Aliya.
I used to hate you too, Tiara thought.
"Humans are greedy. They can sacrifice lives they consider unimportant just to save themselves," Tiara said without looking at her.
Aliya sighed sadly.
"You're right."
Her watch began glowing.
She had a soul to guide.
They saw a dog trapped inside a flooded house.
The people were gone.
Terrified, the dog barked desperately as water rushed inside. It scratched frantically at its cage while the water continued to rise.
Nearby were the lifeless bodies of other animals that had already drowned.
Tiara sighed.
Innocent souls had become victims of nature's revenge.
She clenched her fist at the sight of those who should never have been dragged into this tragedy.
"I'll return for now," Aliya said as she carried with her the souls of the animals who had drowned after being abandoned.
Her companion silently watched her leave.
Soon Daniel's watch began to glow as well.
From the distance, Tiara heard desperate cries.
"Help! Someone help!"
A person was being swept away by the floodwaters. Mud mixed with the rushing current dragged them down.
"Help! Help!"
Nearby, a rescue boat floated on the water. It seemed the passengers had already been saved, and the boat was full.
No one tried to help the drowning person.
Those on the boat pretended not to see or hear.
Tiara shook her head.
In times of disaster, the true nature of people reveals itself.
"So they still haven't changed," she muttered. "They can still sacrifice their own kind."
The raging floodwaters roared beneath the pounding rain and the howling wind, as if nature itself were expressing its anger.
You must save yourself.
Tiara turned.
She saw a young man standing on a rooftop.
He was shivering as the wind grew stronger and the rain poured harder.
He held something tightly in his arms.
Aliya had returned, and her watch was glowing again.
You must leave us, said the creature in his arms.
The young man was holding two dogs and two cats.
Eventually, he will abandon them.
"I won't leave you," the young man whispered.
A rescue boat passed by, but there was space for only one more person.
The young man looked at his pets.
"Hurry! The water is rising!" one rescuer shouted.
Go ahead. You need to survive, the dogs barked as if encouraging him.
The young man hesitated.
"You can go ahead without me," he told the rescuer with a small smile.
"Are you crazy?" one of them asked.
He smiled again.
"They're the only family I have left. I will never abandon my pets."
"Don't blame us then."
"I won't regret it," he replied.
Without another word, the rescue boat left.
"We'll stay together in hardship and comfort," he whispered, hugging his four pets tightly.
Slowly, the water swallowed the rooftop.
"Don't let go of me," he said softly.
The cries of his pets became sorrowful.
Soon, the floodwaters engulfed them completely.
Tiara shook her head.
"Even if ninety percent of humanity is greedy, there will always be that one percent who still possess kindness," Isaac said quietly.
The soul of the young man soon appeared.
Though confused, he was happy to see the animals beside him.
But humans and animals could not remain together in the afterlife.
Daniel explained this to him.
Then Archangel Rafael appeared to escort the young man.
The man said goodbye to the animals, yet his eyes were peaceful.
Tiara waved her hand and returned to their world.
She saw Aliya guiding the innocent cats and dogs toward their paradise—a place where they could finally be happy.
"Even if goodness exists," Tiara murmured softly, shaking her head,
"this world is still being devoured by greed."