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It was—at least at first glance—a perfectly ordinary day in Tadfield. The sun hung warm in the sky, a few languid clouds drifted across the fields, and the air still held the scent of spring. A day when even the birds seemed to sing a little more happily, as if savoring the peace the world had painstakingly preserved. Adam Young sat in the grass behind the old oak tree, his legs bent, surrounded by his best friends: Pepper, brave and quick-witted; Brian, always full of energy and usually with something edible in his hand; and Wensleydale, clever, cautious, and constantly trying (mostly in vain) to stop the other two from getting into mischief.
The four of them had spent two full days together—sleeping over, eating, playing, laughing, telling stories, and sneaking chocolate from the kitchen. They had done everything children do when they have a little break from the "real world." Now they were romping around in the garden again, while Dog, Adam's faithful companion, jumped excitedly among them. Pepper ran laughing after Adam, while Brian tried to hit him with a small ball, which whizzed past several times. Wensledyle, meanwhile, crept up from the background to surprise the others, only to be promptly spotted by Adam's watchful eye.
It was easy to forget, seeing them like that, that one of them was the Antichrist and that the world had once almost been destroyed by him. Dog, the loyal four-legged companion, was right in the middle of the chaos. You wouldn't guess that he was secretly a sweet, well-behaved dog who loved to play, romp around, and cuddle with his owner. If you were to say that the little guy was actually a hellhound, the person would look at you strangely and label you as crazy.
Here, Dog the dog would jump for balls, chase after the children, and bark excitedly as he caught up with them. His presence made the game even more lively, and it wasn't long before all the children and the dog were chasing each other across the lawn, teasing and laughing. "Watch out, here I come!" Adam shouted, leaping over a small hill and landing deftly next to Dog, who ran barking to meet him. Pepper laughed as Brian disappeared a little further ahead, only to be unexpectedly overtaken by Wensledyle. Dog finally lay down exhausted on the grass, panting softly and closing his eyes. Adam sat down beside him, briefly resting his head on the dog's fur and sighing contentedly.
"One more round!" Brian called impatiently as he got back to his feet.
"We should probably take a break," Wensledyle laughed, but her eyes twinkled as if she already knew the children were practically unstoppable.
And so they continued to romp around, four children and a dog, wild, loud and full of joie de vivre – innocent in that moment.
Adam kept glancing up at the road that wound gently along the hillside. The sun shone warmly on the fields, and the soft chirping of crickets mingled with the rustling of leaves in the wind. But for Adam, there was something else in the air—a barely perceptible pull, a faint throbbing that drew him back to watch the road again and again. It was as if every step on the pavement could bring someone he'd been expecting. His eyes darted across the small country road that climbed the hill from the village, hoping to spot familiar faces.
"They're coming, aren't they?" he asked suddenly, in the middle of the game.
Pepper stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Who?"
Adam shrugged, a little embarrassed. "Well, you know... them. My uncles. My—" He thought for a moment, searching for the right word. "—Godfathers. Or something."
Brian stopped mid-run, still clutching the ball. “I thought they were busy. Doing angel stuff. Or demon stuff. Or some heavenly thing.”
Adam glanced back down the street, his gaze vague, as if he heard something only he perceived. “Yeah… but they said they’d come today, and… it’s not exactly Uncle Aziraphale’s style to be late.”
Wensleydale adjusted his glasses. “If they said so, they’ll do it. Probably. And I’m sure that Mr. Crowley guy has kept them on their toes again somehow, something even Mr. Fell could fix, or something like that.”
“Yeah… probably,” Adam muttered, but it sounded more like empty talk than certainty. Dog pressed himself against his side, and Adam automatically stroked his fur.
Adam let his gaze wander back down the street. The hill seemed longer, almost endless, and every stranger’s footstep seemed both far away and near at the same time. His heart beat faster. He couldn't shake the feeling that something, or rather someone, was about to find his way to him. His thoughts drifted to his godfathers. The idea of their return sent a shiver of anticipation through him.
"Maybe... they're already on their way," Adam murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.
She nodded slowly, her eyes scanning as if she could read his thoughts. “Perhaps, Adam. Perhaps…” Her voice was gentle, but it carried the weight of experience. “You know, some things don’t just happen. But sometimes… they appear when you least expect them.”
Adam felt a tingling in his fingertips, as if the air itself were reacting to his thoughts. Dog nudged him again, more forcefully this time, as if trying to jolt him out of his stillness. Adam smiled faintly, stroked the dog, and noticed the small details around him—the sun bathing the freshly cut grass in gold, the fragrant clouds of blossoming fruit trees swaying gently in the breeze, and the distant ringing of the village church bells, which acted as a metronome for his own anticipation.
Then he heard it—a sound, distant, but unmistakable. Footsteps on gravel, rhythmic, deliberate. Dog barked softly, jumping excitedly around him. Adam placed a hand on his loyal companion's head and took a deep breath. A voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Are you still waiting for her?"
Adam turned around. Leaning against the garden fence was Anathema Device, her arms casually folded, a warm smile on her lips. She often came by—not to keep watch, but simply to make sure that the boy who had once changed the world was indeed living a normal life.
Adam smiled briefly, about to reply—but then the air shifted, a change only he and the witch could perceive.
The laughter of his friends suddenly sounded distant, the movement of the trees slowed as if time itself were holding its breath. Which, as he later realized, was exactly what was happening. A soft, yet profound light began to permeate the world. It wasn't a harsh glare, but a warm, comforting glow, like sunbeams after a long winter.
Adam blinked, raising a hand to shield his eyes. "Um... huh? Who—?"
A figure took shape before him. Tall, serene, and surrounded by a kind of light that no shadow could touch. Her eyes held countless colors—and something in them seemed strangely familiar to Adam.
The figure smiled, a gentle, knowing smile, full of affection.
"Hello, Adam," she said, her voice like dawn—old, kind, full of gentleness. "It's been some time, hasn't it?"
Adam stared at her, his eyes blank. "And you are...?"
She/It/ smiled (if you could call it that) warmly at him. “Forgive me. It’s true, we were never properly introduced in the flesh. I am many things to humans, but to you I am more. In human terms, the word Creator is correct, and even more specifically in human language, I would technically be considered your Grandmother, God!”
The dog didn’t growl, but his ears flattened. Instead, the longer he gazed at the thing/someone/God, the slightly reddish glow appeared in his pupils. Adam placed a reassuring hand on his head.
“You have learned a lot, Adam,” she continued, and there was pride in her voice. “You have grown. You have learned to love. Learned to love this world, even though it also has many flaws. You have even protected what you love. I would say, young Adam, I am proud of you. But there are still many things that need to find their place. Decisions that are waiting to be made.”
“Well, uh… thank you, I suppose.” Adam frowned. “What do you mean by the last one?”
The light around them flickered like waves on water. “Play. Laugh. Live. The world needs you—not as a ruler, but as a guardian. I’ll see you again, Adam.”
Slowly, the light began to fade, the warmth receded, and with it, the sound of eternity.
Adam blinked. The sun was still there, but time seemed to be starting to move again. Only Adam stood still for a moment, looking where the figure had just been. Dog nudged his hand. “Come on, boy,” Adam murmured finally, a slight smile on his lips. “Let’s keep playing.”
-+-+-TimeSkip-+-+-
It had been three weeks since Adam had last seen either of them — the angel or the demon. At first, he hadn’t thought much of it. They were busy people — well, beings — with Heaven and Hell to keep in check, right? But three weeks was a long time. Too long. And now, the uneasy knot in his stomach refused to untangle. He was worried.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to look for them. He had. More than once. But it was as if the world itself was working against him. Every time he made up his mind to go, something stopped him.
First, his parents — they’d always find a reason. “No, Adam, not today. You’ve got school.” Or “It’s too far, it’s dangerous.”
Then there was school itself, piling up homework and unexpected projects that couldn’t just be ignored — not if he wanted to keep things “normal.”
And then, of course, The Them. His friends were always around — dragging him into football, bike rides, or impromptu adventures. Normally, he loved that. But lately, their laughter couldn’t quiet the growing sense that something was missing.
His ´cousins´ had dropped by for a week, too, and that had sealed it. He couldn’t leave home without someone calling his name every five minutes. And even when he’d tried — when the timing was perfect, when the house was still and the roads clear — the weather had turned. Thick fogs rolling in from nowhere, sudden downpours, or winds that rattled the trees as if warning him: Not today.
It was frustrating. Maddening, even.
So he decided to do what any clever boy might do.
He waited. He planned. He picked a time when no one would notice. Then, at dusk, when the sky turned gold and the fields shimmered in fading light, Adam quietly slipped out the back gate, Dog padding faithfully at his side.
“Come on, boy,” he whispered. “We’ll find them. No one’s stopping us this time.”
But before he even made it past the old stone wall, his pocket buzzed. Adam jumped, fumbling for the little phone his mum insisted he carry everywhere. The name flashing across the screen made his brows knit together: Madame Tracy.
That was unusual. She rarely called — unless she knew something. “Uh… hello?” Adam answered, glancing around. “Adam, dear,” came her warm, lilting voice, “it’s Madame Tracy. I don’t mean to worry you, love, but I had a bit of a feeling, you see. One of my little… premonitions.”
“Premonitions?”
“Yes, dear. And the thing that worry me is that it was about the Angel and the Demon, dear. You didnt saw them since a long time, right? Well, i do know, now!”
"You know where they are?"
Madame Tracy chuckled softly, though there was something serious beneath the warmth. “I do, dear. Not a map and compass sort of way, mind you. More of a—” she paused, searching for the word, “—a tug. A pull, right here.” He could almost hear her tapping her chest. “I’ve seen roads folding in on themselves, a city with too much light, and a shadow that shouldn’t be walking alone. I think they’re caught somewhere, Adam. Out of step.”
“Out of step?”
“Yes, dear. Like… they’ve been misplaced.”
Adam frowned, glancing at Dog, who had pricked his ears as if he, too, understood. “Then I’ll go find them. I have to.”
“That’s a brave boy. Just—be careful. Some things don’t like being looked for.”
“I’ll find them,” Adam said firmly, more to himself than to her. “They’re a part of my family.”
When the call ended, the world seemed still for a moment. The wind tugged softly at his jacket, the sky now shifting from gold to a muted violet. “Come on, Dog,” he murmured. “We’ve got work to do.”
-+-+-TimeSkip-+-+-
Finding someone like Aziraphale or Crowley was never going to be easy. They didn’t exactly leave forwarding addresses, and Adam’s usual “ask the universe nicely” trick hadn’t worked in months. But he was glad that he lives in a time where a phone can more than just call, send messages and play games at. His now best friend was the google maps. So now, with the help of the map, his bike and the train, he was in London.
London was loud and alive, the streets humming with energy, but Adam didn’t care. But he has to say it was very different from Tadfield. Normally he just visit such places for vacations with his parents or school.trips so he couldnt really say what he prefer. So he ignored everything and goes straight to his destination in his mind: Soho.
Adam crept along the small street, glancing repeatedly at the bookstore. He had hoped to find at least some reference to Aziraphale or Crowley here. The door was closed, the windows darkened, and a small sign silently announced: Closed until further notice.
Adam sighed and absently tapped on the wood. Suddenly, he heard a soft clearing of throats behind him. He whirled around and saw a boy a few meters away, looking nervously at the ground, then back at him. Dark hair fell across his face, his hands buried in his pockets. "Um... hi," the boy stammered, his voice quiet, almost embarrassed. "You... you're Adam, right? I... well, I mean, I think someone once told me about you..."
Adam blinked in surprise. "Yeah... uh, okay??? And you're...?"
“Warlock,” the boy answered hastily, scratching the back of his neck. “I… uh… I’m just here by chance. More like passing through. You know…”
“Okay… listen. I’m looking for someone. Two people, actually. They… they’re important. If you don’t have anything to say about the owner of this shop or his companion, please leave!”
Warlock hesitated, his hands clutching his pockets tightly. “I… I don’t know much. But… uh… if you want, I can… well, I could help you somehow. More than just standing around here by chance.”
Adam nodded eagerly. “That, uh, would be… amazing. Thanks…?”
A small smile flickered across Warlock’s face. “Well… then we’ll get started together. But… I have no idea where this will lead.”
Adam felt a familiar tingle as he looked at Warlock. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind, a memory flickered—Crowley had once told him something when they were alone. Something about a boy who'd been switched at birth, names, mix-ups… and there it was again: Warlock.
Adam bit his lip, chuckled softly, and shook his head. “Oh, that's too crazy,” he murmured, without explaining.
Warlock looked at him questioningly, embarrassed and uncertain. “Um… what's too crazy?”
Adam just smiled mysteriously, his eyes twinkling. “Oh, nothing, really. Let's just get started.”
-+-+-TimeSkip-+-+-
It took Adam and Warlock two days to discover that the bookstore had been closed for some time and that the owner, along with his unusual companion, was away.
Of course, they didn't spend every second searching. They would sit on the steps in front of the store, eat, and share stories. And sometimes they simply laughed at the everyday little disasters.
But it wasn't all so carefree. They constantly had to be careful not to be spotted by the police. Both sides—Adam's parents and Warlock's—had missed their children and were therefore on high alert. So they scurried through narrow alleys, hid behind parked cars or in the shadows of building corners, while simultaneously gathering information and trying not to attract attention.
The charade backfired, and in the most unexpected place: a small, unassuming café with the cheeky slogan above the counter: "Give me coffee or give me death." Warlock, who had already inhaled the cozy aroma of the café upon entering, pulled Adam inside after him. Adam opted for a Coke, while Warlock ordered at the counter.
But they had overlooked something: the possibility that someone might recognize them. The few customers sitting in the café at that hour ignored the children. They joined the queue at the counter and waited to order. They could already see the woman behind the counter. The woman behind the counter, who immediately stopped short when she saw the two boys. Her expression darkened, a scrutinizing, almost suspicious look crossed her face. "Good afternoon. And what are your names? Also, how old are you?" she asked, leaning towards the boys. Despite the two-year age difference, they both seemed more like fourteen or fifteen years old. Not exactly old enough for coffee or alcohol, according to most adults.
Adam felt his heart race. To be honest, Adam had never lied before (or at least only a few times to protect others), and this made him uncomfortable. "Um... Adam, fourteen," he said, and Warlock added calmly, "And I'm Warlock. I'm sixteen, though." This felt strange, Adam decided.
Before Nina could react, Maggi appeared from behind the counter, her expression slightly confusing the boys. Maggi heard the names and frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were weighing something. "Adam and Warlock... say?" she murmured thoughtfully. Then she looked up. "I have a question." She folded her arms. "Do you both have any connection to Mr. Fell or Mr. Crowley?"
-+-+-TimeSkip-+-+-
Since Adam's return, almost everything had been back to normal. Almost. He and Warlock learned that only the Dowlings had been looking for them. Adam's parents had assumed all along that he was staying with Anathema.
Neither his parents nor the villagers had asked many questions. His mother was convinced he had spent his time with Anathema, and his father nodded in agreement whenever the words "homework help" were mentioned.
Adam and Warlock had stayed in touch since then—at least in theory. They had exchanged numbers, but when Warlock texted, Adam usually didn't reply. It wasn't malicious, more like… a kind of repression. His friends—The Them—didn't know anything concrete about Warlock, only that there was "a buddy from the city" somewhere.
Today they were sitting together again, in the old garden behind Adam's house. Pepper, pushing a strand of hair from her forehead, was the first to speak.
"What are you guys doing this weekend?" she asked, looking around.
"I don't know," said Brian, who was lying on the grass. "And you, Adam?"
Adam hesitated, then smiled crookedly. "Well... spring break starts soon. I've been toying with the idea of taking some kind of vacation."
Brian sat up. "Sounds great, dude! But where to?"
Adam looked up at the sky, thought for a moment—and then said, “Uh… L.A.?”
There was a moment of silence. Then Pepper’s eyes widened.
“WHAT?!” all three of them shouted at once, their eyes wide with the proposal.