I am in a field.

I am in a dream.

The grass of the field is lush and a summer wind blows like a tide.  

There is a hill in the distance with a large tree.  The wind does not blow the leaves.

My back itches near the shoulder blades.  I am wearing a coat.  

The sun is hot, burning, a burden.  Every second my coat absorbs another Fahrenheit.

The wind changes directions and blows my hair into my face.  I have long hair that smells of Spring.

I start walking through the field towards the large tree.  Savior in shade.

I remove the coat.  It is leaden and my arm screams as I pull it off.  I toss it to the side.  The t-shirt I have on now is itchy pulling at something on my back.

The jacket begins to smoke.  

The smoke becomes dark and solid.  It is an airy liquid.  It bubbles and churns.

There is a presence there.  A substance.  A consciousness.

The smoke begins to draw in on itself.  Violently retracting.  Violently subsiding.

A shape emerges from the waste, it is a man.  A man with black, coiling smoke for wings.  He is naked with elaborate tattoos covering everything but his face.

He smiles at me.  He recognizes me.  I can feel his recognition but I do not accept it.

The Angel, for that is what he appears to be, reaches behind his right wing with his left hand and withdraws a sword.

The sword is flame.  The sword is death.

The Angel bends to one knee and offers the sword to me hilt first.

"My lord, the burden is too much.  The Choir harmonizes in agony.  Return to us, the Heavenly Pitch."

"What?  Who the fuck are you, where the fuck am I?"

"I am your brother, Gabriel.  I've taken the Flame in your steed.  But the time has come, he will return and you must be with us..."

"Huh?"

"You've been away for so long Samuel.  So long that you've forgotten who you are.  Take the Flame.  Dispatch the Justice and return.  You are the Apart.  The Vision.  The Burden is yours Samuel, I can carry it no longer.

"If you want to remember who you are, take the Flame and dispatch this soul..."

As the Angel says soul his wings move to the side and a young, husky youth is in the field hold a small stick with ten leaves.

"Samuel, lead the human home and return to us."

"This is crazy, I'm fucking dreaming."

I look to the sky, I look to the compass points, I look for an anchor to latch onto anything that doesn't have a naked man with wings trying to give me a sword.  What is going on?

"Take the Flame Samuel..."