Guardian Angel
by jackwabbit

Author’s Note: For the Ancient Obsessions Advent Challenge – December 22 (Angel)

The arrow plunged through the event horizon like a diver entering deep water.

It continued on its course unerringly.

If it was gifted with sight, it would have seen its unwitting target directly in its path.

It pierced the next barrier to its target as easily as a hot knife slips though butter.

Unnoticed by anyone, the arrow was poised to deliver a killing blow.

The target’s heart beat steadily in the line of fire.

In a few seconds, that heart would stop, lanced by the arrow.

There was no way to avoid it.

The arrow was almost there.

But then, inexplicably, it jumped sideways and dove into a different tissue.

The target still fell, but there was no overwhelming outpour of blood from his wound.

There was no cardiac muscle surrounding the arrow’s wicked point.

Instead, the arrow found itself buried in the smooth meat of a large skeletal muscle.

And the man found himself with a painful, but not fatal, wound to the arm.

A masculine voice rang out.

“Everyone alright?”

The target groaned.  “Uh, no…”

And somewhere very far away yet very near, a boy smiled.

“You will be,” assured the boy.  “It’s not your time, Dad.”

The End