Willow followed. "Are you sure?"

" not the first time nor the worst."

She then got in the car, and soon they were on the interstate, but there wasn't much traffic. Miles before they were even close to the church, huge signs started appearing on the side of the interstate: billboards with sparkling silver letters proclaiming, 'The angels can sav you! Church of angels, exit 8 west.' Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. There it was, that generic image so familiar from all the commercials, of the huge white church on a hill.

Alister had fallen asleep on the ride there, his head tilted up and leaned against the back of his chair.

"What would you say was worse?"

" when i tried to cut them off. i ended up cutting all of the flesh off."

She didn't notice. When they finally pulled into the mammoth parking lot, all she could do wa sit in the car and stare for a minute. Maybe it was the way the church sat by itself, rising up from a vast landscaped lawn, but the sheer impact of it was breathtaking. She took in the high vaulted roof, the stained glass windows glittering in the sun. Crowds of people were drifting into the church. She steeled herself as she got out of the car.

Alister stirred awake and wondered if he should follow, and before she got to far he said, " Want me to come with? "

"How did you heal?"

" it naturely heals, but only to a centemeter out. i have to cut it back aging to get them nice."