Thou Shalt Not Kill
Standing just at the front door, Elliot took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The day was hot that morning and he dressed more casually in a simple pair of slacks and shirt. It was strange to go out without a tie as his hand instinctively touched at his chest, expecting to find the missing article since leaving the house. A loud chorus of chirping sounded just behind him, as a small gathering of finches watched and waited, their dozen eyes boring a hole at his back. It had been a long while since any had seen the tall man and his presence was something of a treat for them that day.
Taking the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the door and walked quickly in, closing it behind him. Dark shadows greeted him first while stilled silence sat undisturbed over every inch of space. Not much had changed in the past year there. The last true visit he made was June of the previous year for his father had pushed him to go and pay his respects. It had been a quick stay and he departed the following morning. The day he went to get the music box was uneventful and nearly forgotten in his haste to enter and leave.
Now Elliot stood, just within the foyer, staring at all that was his to enjoy or despise. His inheritance from his mother had meant even less to him than he thought possible. Once or twice, he ventured to put the home on the market, unloading this white elephant from his life. Yet nearly a year later, it remained under his name and ownership, seemingly waiting for him to return and dispel the last of it’s hidden secrets. Most of the rooms had been closed off years ago, as Portia saw no reason to enter through all its doors.
As a child, he had free reign over all there, but now, he chose his paths carefully and passed many dark spots staying primarily in the light. Poking his head through the library, music room, parlor, morning room, he found the same emptiness that thrived there, the strangled hopes of all that had passed and never flourished within it’s former occupants. It was a dead house filled with cold graves as each room lay before him as coffins, waiting, wishing for new souls to fill what light refused to surrender.
His memories of staying there were so pocked marked, so tangled, that no clear picture filled his thoughts making his perusal of each room stagnant. Whether it was a forced forgetfulness or simply the glaring symptoms of childhood memories, Elliot felt as though he was viewing it all as a new arrival rather than a previous guest. Keeping his hands to his sides, he touched nothing. His sense of touch were halted leaving him to rely on sight alone as even that failed to stir any true remembrances. Deciding long ago to forget as much as he could, he had succeeded thoroughly for nothing appealed to him or welcomed him back home.
A good portion on the rooms on the second and third floor were also closed off and it came to him that he wasn’t quite sure what to expect or look for. Returning to the main living room, he sat down at one of the chairs by the fireplace, trying to recall any parts of his childhood that would be of help to him now. Having already ventured into his old room, he found nothing there to stir his memories, as was the case with all the public rooms on the ground floor.
It left of course, the closed and sealed ones he had passed. There were many of them and even Elliot had to admit, he did not know what was on the other side of many doors. Taking several deep breaths, he stood again and fingered the rows of keys in the chain. These were hers, retrieved from her personal effects at the police station earlier that year, and would unlock any door here. Pausing a moment to look through the many that hung there, he let them run though his fingers, feeling the subtle differences of each before choosing one and reading the markings etched on it’s side.
As was her habit, Portia marked each key with the name of the room it corresponded to, simplifying her steps. The book room was an offshoot of the library and he began there first as the door creaked noisily and he looked inside at the book lined shelves on all four walls. A quick memory found him and he remembered venturing there once or twice, but it was nothing substantial. A visit to the glass room yielded the same results as many of the vases and crystal figures there would have been off limits to a young boy. He left as quickly as he entered without taking a single step inside.
His mother’s sitting room there brought a small flood of memories as he came fully in and walked to her writing desk by the window. It was a room he had a vague recollection of during the first visit there. The image of Portia sitting at her desk was strongest there that he almost expected her to walk in and resume her favorite position at the desk. It was one of the strongest memories he had, watching his mother there and it made him frown for he couldn’t recall ever entering the room again when he left that first summer.
Another fireplace lined one wall as cherry wood bookshelves occupied another. Apart from a comfortable easy chair and small side table, only her writing desk and chair furnished the room. Smaller than the others he had viewed, it struck him with an odd feeling that this room apart from all the others was missing something substantial. Viewing the assortments of pictures on one wall, there was nothing significant or noteworthy there. Considering the small amount of space, it wouldn’t be hard pressed to imagine Portia had chose a much large room later on.
With the abundance of space offered to her, there was no need to give this room anything but a fleeting thought as she must have moved later on and sought better, roomier surrounding. Looking down at the writing table, he spied some old writing paper and envelopes and pulled a few sheets out, noting the paper had faded with age. At one time it would have been a pretty peach color, but old age had altered its hue away to something drab and nondescript. From what he could see, this was one of the few rooms predominantly green in most of its furnishing. Even the green curtains, which were of fine satin and brocade told him, this room was Portia’s as she left traces of herself everywhere.
How strange then that she would go through so much effort decorating it to her tastes then abandon it soon after. Looking out at the window, he had a clear, unobstructed view of the lake. It was a fine prospect as no doubt, it had been a part of the reason his mother picked this room to start with. The curtains were left open all this time at this window but were closed on the adjoining wall. He left it as such, not wishing to disturb anything and walked over to see what the other view afforded.
Instead of the familiar bordered glass panels, he came face to face with a small wood door. Behind the floor length curtains hid a plain, unadorned wall and locked door. Elliot nearly gasped in surprise and took a step back pulling at the curtains so they no longer covered the room beyond. For a brief moment another flash of memory flashed through and he could hear the small sitting room being referred to as an antechamber. Twisting at the doorknob, he had expected it to be locked, but surprisingly it open in his grasp and Elliot pushed the door open stepping inside to a large bedroom.
A smell in the air caused his nose to crinkle in response as his eyes searched all around, looking for the source. It was not the musty order of staleness, but a strong pungent smell, reminding him strangely enough of hospitals. The room itself was quite roomy with large bay windows that opened up to a grand view of the lake. Here too, the same green curtains adorned and took precedence as the color was spread liberally through the fours walls. Hues of soft peach were interspaced here and there, but here, green was the predominant choice. More traces of Portia lingered there as he walked over to her dressing table and saw various female articles left, now covered in layers of dust and cobwebs.
Like a large entombed coffin, the room slowly opened itself to him, letting Elliot see other small fixtures and reminders that could not be connected to his mother. While many of her personal items were in the room, he noted other things there and it caused a chill to enter his chest and hands, numbing them swiftly as he touched them, feeling the same coldness at his fingertips. When he approached the bed, it was there that the strongest recognition struck at him, for he noted, it was not rich or expensive but merely an old metal hospital bed, hastily brought in many years ago and left to rot in this dark room.
His carefully touched his hand on the railing, feeling the cold metal, then up at the wall seeing a clipboard hanging on a hook, empty and solitary, its siren call focused on him. A small, rectangular piece of paper had been taped just over the top of the clip, as he took it down and tried to read the now faded words written years ago. Most of it was eligible as time had erased what man made, but just a small group stood and it was enough, allowing him to read what was left behind.
“L, I, O… A, N, S…?” He narrowed his eyes at the faded letter, then bringing the board over to the window, tried reading again, as he strained to see the missing bits. “L, I, O… and P? No T! Liot?” Saying the word out loud it sounded foreign to his hears until his memory answered for him and he looked down with unclouded eyes and read his name off the paper. “Elliot Lansing, age 12”
It made a loud clanging noise when the clipboard fell to the floor and Elliot leaned down to pick it up. Instead of placing it back on the wall, he placed it at the edge of the bed as he sat down next to it. The first memories came slowly, before a large wave tumbled several in all at once and he needed to sit, to take it all in without fear of falling. Turning his head towards the pillows that were still nestled under the seats, he could almost see his younger self covered and sleeping, a smile of pain etched on his face as he struggled to a more comfortable position while his mother watched over him.
With each twist and
turn, he could feel the pull of the stitches and cried out in pain. Portia came
rushing over, slipping her hands beneath to help him sit up. No matter how much
medication they gave him, it was never enough and the pain lingered, it
centered at his chest and made him cry. He tried to be brave and strong, not
wanting anyone to see his tears, but sometimes it grew too much and he shamed
himself as they looked back on him in pity.
Portia’s eyes were
nearly always wet as she kept to his side during the past week. The nurse came
during the day, but would soon take additional shifts at night. More and more,
his mother needed extra help in the evenings as his restlessness and agitation
grew when it became dark. It was then that his fears were strong and he thought
death was coming for him. The first couple of nights he had called out for his
father, wanting him to ease the pain, but he was never there. It hurt him more,
feeling he was abandoned again though his mother was always near.
When she wasn’t in the
room with him, she would always be found just outside in the antechamber,
reading or writing, waiting for when his nurse took a break and she could take
her place by his side. The medication made him sleep in long stretches as most
of his days and nights became a blur. It was becoming habit to awaken and see
his mother sitting quietly next to him though he still turned his head away
should their eyes meet.
The events that
brought him to this point were confusing as he could only recall the events of
that morning and the visit to the tree house. The rest were stuck, trapped in
his subconscious and each day he lay in bed, wondering if his life would end as
the sun set, he tried to recall what happened just before the gun went off and
the bullet pierced his heart.
No one would tell him
anything but spoke only of his getting better and that the operation had been
successful. Portia told him one afternoon that his father had called, hoping to
speak with him, but he had been asleep and she did not disturb him. It made him
angry, that missed chance to speak with his father and he repaid her with a
mutinous look and silence for the next two days. Though he wasn’t up to much
movement, for every little effort was a strain, he still forced himself to at
least sit up when meals were served. The fact they he had to be fed like a baby
the first few time was shameful enough. Straining against the limits of his
energy, he forced himself to regain control of that facet of his daily keep, if
not to please his mother, than at least to boost his own morale.
Few words passed
between them as Elliot was still perplexed as to why he was here with her
rather than recovering at home with her father. The medical facilities were
more advanced in the U.S. as new methods for recovery were used on him, but he
had grown increasingly homesick and wanted nothing more than to go home. He had
listened in one morning, after the physician paid them a visit and proceeded
with his examination. His prognosis was good and he accepted the new heart
well, but it would be in his best interest that he remains for the rest of the
summer.
The strain in bringing
him there had already taxed his strength and he needed to be in better shape
before he could be allowed to go home. Portia had whispered in hush tones and
her son strained to hear of what she was speaking of as the doctor reassured
her, he would not suffer any repercussion from this.
“He is young and
strong… and there is no reason to fear he will not make a full recovery. “His
calm voice sounding very practical and monotone and Elliot wondered how often
the doctor had said similar words to other parents.
Portia was not so
quick to dismiss any permanent damage to her son. This had been a traumatic
experience and she knew it would take more than mere medication to be put all
behind them. “It’s not the physical healing I’m taking of, but the emotional.
What if he remembers all of it? He’s still so young… it might be too much for
him.”
“It doesn’t seem like
he remembers that much of it.”
“No. Not right now…
but I do think he is remembering more of what happened.”
“I know it’s hard not
to expect the worse, but my suggestion is to just wait. Children are very
resilient and quickly heal, forgetting events we adults would like to forget as
well.”
His mother took a
moment before answering, glancing back at him before turning around again.
“Would he feel guilt, do you think?”
“It’s possible,
considering the circumstances… he could feel a great deal of remorse.”
“I don’t want him to
remember any of it. It would be better if he never knew.”
“You can protect him
as much as you want Mrs. Lansing, but there is every chance in the world, he
will remember it all one day.”
“Someday doctor… when
he’s able to accept it.” She walked back to his bedside as Elliot had closed
his eyes and feigned sleep. She placed her hand over his brow and softly rubbed
at the skin on his forehead looking down at him. “Not until you’re ready.” She
told him in a soft whisper.
Standing just outside, his car hidden behind some thick shrubs, a Gabriel watched and waited for Elliot to emerge. He had trailed him easily and turned off to the side before the man could suspect he had been followed. There had been two instances when he had wanted to ask Lansing’s Gabriel why they didn’t just confront the man instead of secretly watching him. But his second Gabriel had not wanted their presence known to him just yet. The others were growing more restless and planned a meeting that morning, hoping a scare tactic would work more to their advantage. Hopefully they would be more successful than he, for it was too quiet and too uneventful where he was.
**********
She only had to work till early afternoon, before enjoying a relaxing rest of the day at home. Kayla had been very fortunate to get such an easy schedule that week. Considering she was putting up with Steve’s mood swings at home, she needed the extra time to rest up so she could deal with his ranting. Her routine was pretty standard the last couple of weeks and she was expecting today to be similar to the day before. Arriving just outside her office, Kayla was surprised to see her assistant was not at her desk. If she had called in sick that day, they would have told her downstairs, so assuming she was called in by a patient, she was expected back at her desk any minute.
What Kayla wasn’t expecting where the three men who waited for her in her office. Two stood just at the windows as though guards at sentry duty while a third lounged in her chair and gave her a piercing stare when she faced him. She recognized him easily as the man she who disappeared from the examination room two days ago. Now as he glared back at her, she felt something else, another memory sparks as he stood and towered over her.
He was dressed similarly as before in jeans and a shirt as the other two were. But it was in his manner and behavior that she caught something and her eyes widened in shock when she recalled where she had seen him before. Gabriel-2 nearly smiled as he saw the
recognition on her face. It never failed to thrill him when someone realized exactly who he was and what he was capable of. There was no doubt she along with the others had discovered enough information about them when they went through Lansing’s things. Though he was easily as certain that what they discovered had been minimal and the bulk was still undiscovered and unknown. Their security measures were nearly tamper proof so he wasn’t fearful she knew anything damaging.
She was really quite beautiful now that he was allowing himself a few minutes to admire her beauty. In her eyes he saw fire and determination as her expression was one of anger rather than fear. If he were given the chance, how much he would enjoy taking her and breaking her spirit. It sent a thrill through him and he felt a tightness in his belly. But recalling why they were there, he knew, now was not the time for such pleasures as he forced his need down and stared back, hoping to intimidate and scare her.
When Kayla saw the twisted smile she knew he was well aware that she recognized him. She had seen his picture only once but it was enough to know she was facing Lansing’s second Gabriel. His strange behavior and disappearance no longer seemed odd as it was probably planned as a means to see and judge her behavior. It made her wish she had inflicted more pain while tending to his wound and a small part of her hoped he was still in pain for refusing the medication she offered.
“Dr. Johnson… we meet again.”
“How did you get in here?” She asked his angrily as she wondered suddenly on the whereabouts of her assistant.
“The door wasn’t locked so we made ourselves at home.”
“I can see that. Well you can use the same door to let yourself out.” She all but raged without actual fire or venom and throwing her things on a chair, faced him across the desk. He came around to face her thinking she would back down, but the woman held her stance and he smiled again. Instead he took a few steps away as she watched him warily, her hand moving near the phone on the desk.
Her movements were so easily to figure out that he wanted to laugh at her puny attempts. She may have been brave, but she wasn’t a match for any of them. “We’ll leave after we’ve had a little talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you… to any of you.” She turned around and gave a quick look to the two by the window. “I just need to call security and you’ll be tossed out.”
“Now why would you want to do that? All we want is a few minutes of your time… surely you can spare us that?”
“I have nothing to say to you and I don’t care to hear anything from you. So GET OUT!”
“You know… you were much nicer a couple of days ago. You haven’t even asked if my arm is better.”
“I’m sure it’s perfectly fine and you’re wasting my time if you think I would help you again.”
“Now… that… was uncalled for. You should be more careful Dr. Johnson. There are some who won’t be as patient as I am.” Taking a few steps towards her, he could see she was slightly intimidated by his size but she was doing a fine job trying to hide it from him. That was one thing he could immediately sense in people, their fear. It was something they could never hide from him for he could sense it in their eyes. No matter how brave a front they put up, he would always know.
Giving him an angry stare, Kayla glared back as he stepped away again and watched her. “You really think you can scare me… well you haven’t. If you’ve got something to say, then say it and leave.”
“Ah…a woman who gets straight to the point!” He grinned at her and it made her stomach churn. Somehow a smile from the man came out disfigured. She was getting the sense that his smile was the wrong expression to get. “I like that. I like a woman full of fire. It’s so rare to find that combination, especially in someone as attractive as you.”
Tightening her jaw, Kayla just glared back, refusing to be baited as the man’s smile grew. He couldn’t help himself, he was so enjoying her reaction as it made his blood grow hot and his breathing wild. But he had to concentrate on the task in hand. It never helped him when he tried to mix business with pleasure. There was time enough to follow up later on tonight.
“I can see why Johnson would want to come back here. And to think he could have gotten someone like you… being deformed and all.” He said taunting.
“Shut your mouth!”
Ignoring her, Gabriel – 2 moved closer again as Kayla backed up against the desk, feeling the table dig into the back of her legs. “The man had potential… I’d given him that. Greyson loved training him, pushing beyond his endurance and he never cracked. It was unnatural really…” His voice appeared to change then and he had a strange, far off look in his eyes as he started talking about Steve’s training days. “…He could have been so… cruel… but he always held back… just a little. I kept watching and waiting for that day when he would finally SNAP!”
Kayla visibly jumped when he yelled the word out and he laughed at her reaction. “The things we could have done together… all those things… he just wouldn’t join me…”
Her heart started pumping wildly against her chest and Kayla could feel a deep-rooted fear spread throughout her body. She had seen eyes like that before, during her rotation in a mental hospital. It wouldn’t take much to convince her the man was stark, raving, mad, and that Steve was so close to becoming like him. The first tears started to form in her eyes as she realized how horrible those years must have been for her husband, with no possible means of escape and being subjected to people like him.
When he looked back at her, she saw he really wasn’t looking at her but through her. Gabriel –2 was lost in his own world, so far away from anything good and decent and for the first time that morning, she was really worried for her own safety. Moving her hand closer to the phone, she was going to make an attempt to call security when he saw her movements and stopped her. His grip was hard and her fingers were crushed in them as the pain likewise showed on her face.
“Now…now that’s not nice. I wasn’t finished talking.”
“Then finish…!” The strength was in her voice, but he could see some fear in her eyes now.
Leaning forward she felt him press up against her, his hard body pushing her backwards. Kayla’s eyes widen slightly as he looked into her eyes as if searching for answers in them. He reached with another hand and placed it at her neck, touching her skin as she gritted her teeth against his actions. The area burned, it recoiled as her body screamed in anger at his nearness. When he wrapped his hand around her neck, she tensed up feeling him close his fingers around her.
“Your skin… it’s just so soft… and smooth.” Entranced he tightened his grip and she let out a held breath and narrowed her eyes. He could feel her pulse just beneath his thumb, throbbing furiously while her eyes burned into his, the fire glowingly brightly and strong within them.
Taking a strong deep breath, he felt her chest heave against his and the need came again, stronger this time. It would be so easy to take her then. The other two were so used to his raving that they would just leave, not eager to see him destroy another woman. They almost looked in pity at the woman but did nothing since neither one have ever crossed the line with Lansing’s Gabriel.
When his eyes traveled down to her neck, he marveled at how small and fragile looking she was there. It never failed to amuse him that such frailty was so easily offered, that this was a flaw God had over looked when he created man. “Just here… “He told her, his voice dark and deadly soft. “… If I just twist this with the right amount of pressure… snap…” The word came out softly this time. “…You would be… dead.”
Kayla bit hard at her tongue and loosened her jaw to answer him back. It was back to this, intimidation and scare tactics. Giving him a look full of pure hatred, she reached with her free hand and wrestled his away from her neck. Surprisingly his hold had not been that secure as his hand gave way and the other releases her. She pushed at him, he hands shoving him roughly at his chest as he stepped back and just stared at her.
“If you ever touch me again… I’ll kill you.” She told him through gritted teeth. Kayla could feel her chest heaving from her anger as she continued to stare him down in response.
“It would be the only way… to stop me.” It was close, he thought to himself. If the woman had weakened a little more, his need would have taken over. There was no turning back when that happened. For a brief moment he felt the pressure churn and twist in his lower belly then quickly dissipate as though it had never arrived. “You distracted me from my purpose… I need to be on my guard when I’m around you.”
“What you need… is to go straight to hell!”
“An angel in hell? I believe there’s already one down there.” This time he didn’t laugh back and almost seemed to recover from his lapse in behavior. The hard, angry looked marred his features again as he motioned with his head to the two men who walked over to flank his sides. He gave her one more threatening gaze, his eyes nearly empty with emotion before preparing to leave. “Just tell your husband, we’re here… all of us… and we want what’s ours.”
Not giving her a chance to answer, he quickly turned and walked out the door, the other two Gabriel’s following at his heels. Kayla held up for as long as she could before slumping against the desk and burying her face in her hands, letting out the tears she had held in.
**********
It wasn’t his first choice, but Gabriel – 2 supposed the food was okay if a little substandard. Choosing to eat at one of the mall eateries was on secondary on his list. The main reason was and always had been to see what was out there for the taking should the need ever become uncontrollable. The nubile young woman paraded before him in a smorgasbord of plenty and he could practically feel his senses tingling. Most of his focus was on the fair-haired ones, though several dark beauties made him look twice before moving on to the next.
Checking his watch again, he was certain Johnson’s wife had tried contacting him already, letting the man know what awaited him. He figured a half an hour would do before he called himself to set up a meeting, but once he sat down at the table, his thoughts got sidetracked. For a while his thoughts parlayed from one young girl to the next, until he saw her and his loins quickly tightened and his breath quickened. She wasn’t alone, as another equally attractive blonde kept her company, but Gabriel – 2 licked at his lips seeing her come closer. When she drew nearer still and took a deep breath hoping to inhale her scent and smiled as she passed him.
“I guess a lot’s happened since I’ve been away. Huh? Who’d have thought you and Max?” Stephanie knew she all the time she had recently spent with Ben left Abby out of the equation, so when her cousin called to do the mall walk, she was more than happy to join her. Since most of her time was spent working, she admitted, evening buying lipstick or checking out the latest fashions were near the bottom of her list.
“Max and I… nothing! Aunt Maggie pretty much told him to keep his distance, as did my dad!”
“What’s Uncle Jack got against him? Max is a great guy!” Stopping just in front of a display window, Stephanie stared curiously at some jeans. They looked to be pretty pricey, but she was already contemplating buying it.
“Oh… it’s the age thing… like it’s going to matter in a few years.” Abby followed where here cousins gaze went and also found herself wanting the same pair.
Neither saw the man lingering just a few feet away, seemingly engrossed on his phone, but keeping his focus on them. His eyes watched them, sought their feminine curves from where he stood, letting it fill his senses as he took another tentative step closer. The scent of their perfume mingled together and tickled his nose. It was light and refreshing and suited both young women. Already his eyes were growing glassy and wide, the shape of their legs sealing his thoughts to one thing. They had yet to sense him coming near and kept up their chatter regarding parental interference and freedom.
“You know… the loft is always free is you ever want some time to yourself. I mean I probably won’t be officially home for another few months… so… if you ever need a place to just chill… of entertain…” Her hint wasn’t subtle in the list and Abby just giggled at the suggestion.
“I think Aunt Maggie will see right through that.”
“The woman can’t keep watch all the time, like when she’s at Chez Rouge, you’ll be… free to do what you want.”
“Yeah… but Max is holding back a little. You know?”
“No. I don’t. So he’s taking things slow with you?”
“Feels like he is… but Ben’s not that way. I can’t believe you’re spending a month with him in Italy. Damn, you lucked out with him.”
She should have felt as excited as Abby looked, but the idea seemed to grow less and less appealing now. What was the matter with her, she thought. She loved spending time with Ben, he was just so sweet and wonderful with her. Maybe she was inhaling too much gas fumes, she didn’t know. But the more she thought about going on a long vacation with someone, the more that person wasn’t turning out to be Ben.
“Well, it’s not set yet… got to see how I can fit work around it.”
“Ha! Bet you’re just itching to go.” Giving one last look at the display, both turned nearly at the same time and walked a few stores down. Gabriel – 2 waited until a little more distance came between them before he followed. Pulling out his cell, he checked for messages before looking up to see how far the two women were. He still had a good view of them as they stopped in front of another store while pulling up Johnson’s number from his list. His eyes focused a good long moment on Stephanie’s legs and her slender waist as the heat spread from his belly downward and he closed his eyes in bliss at what he wanted to do. The urge to lick his lips was so strong that he parted his mouth and feeling the dryness, rolled his tongue over his bottom lip.
It made him lightheaded and nearly faint, but the need just grew stronger. Perhaps he would give himself another few minutes to enjoy them from afar before he finished his business for that day. Seeking out a substitute tonight would be a big letdown after what he encountered today. Still Gabriel – 2 smiled at the thought he would eventually have the woman. It may not be that night, but he would have her and it made his senses tingle with anticipation and glee.
**********
All color drained from his face and he nearly dropped the phone to the floor. He looked out at the window towards the pier thinking he would see him there, but Gabriel – 2 just chuckled. His lunch hour wasn’t over yet and he had always been taught to clear his plate before leaving the table. In his mind Steve wished the man would choke on his food and as much as he wanted to say the words aloud, he said nothing and agreed to the meeting.
The man seemed to expect that Steve would be waiting for his call, but catching him unawares made him smile faster.
So far, it was only he at the office. The assistant they hired was on her lunch break too and Bo decided not to come in at all, but would catch up on things the following day. Steve paced nervously, deciding whether to tell Bo what was happening. Several folders went flying across the room and he slammed a chair against the wall knowing how bad the situation had turned in just mere minutes. Nearly yelling out in frustration, he had felt it all along, the threat to his family and his happiness, it was there again, just waiting to pounce on him.
He needed to call Kayla, warn her to be extra careful. In his haste to reach the phone, he tripped over his own feet and went flying, hitting the desk hard, moving it a few inches from where it was placed. There would be bruises all right, but they were the least of his concern now. Hoping to catch her before she left the hospital, he decided to tell her to stay there. It was a public place and no one would try anything with calling attention to themselves.
The ringing seemed endless before her voice mail picked up and Steve shut his eye, trying to calm his fears. If she wasn’t answering it may mean she was still on rounds he hoped. Almost impatient to record his message, he needed to sooth his voice so as not to worry Kayla and spoke as calmly as he could without alarming her.
“Sweetness? Baby? Something’s come up here at the office and I have to meet with a client, so I’ll be a little late. It shouldn’t be too long… maybe an hour… so if you want, just stay around the hospital instead of going home right off. Maybe you can catch up with some of your paper work and stuff or better still… get yourself checked up and see how the little dude’s doing. You know it’s better to keep tabs on him more … so it’s a plan huh? And I’ll see you in around an hour. Okay? Wait for me. I love you!”
Hoping he didn’t sound too nervous, he shut off his phone and tucked it back at his belt. A few deep breaths later, he could still feel how fast his heart was pumping and he ran a hand over his face, while brushing the hair from his eye. Each minute of the clock just ticked noisily by and he kept pacing about the room, steeping on some of the fallen papers. He wasn’t even in the frame of mind to pick them up, and felt the soft crunch as he left boots prints and dents.
Whatever recollections he had of Gabriel -2 had been lax, but suddenly, he could feel his stomach constrict in pain and vivid memories filled his mind, making his cringe and balk in fear. This one was different. His behavior always called into question as Lansing’s hold on him sometimes appeared flimsy. Perhaps it was the threat of being moved that kept him in line, for his attentiveness was never a hundred percent. Unlike Gabriel – 1 whose cruel tendencies were a natural result of his training, the second Gabriel was to be feared when he smiled.
The smiles were twisted, deformed and unnatural, masking the sickness that corrupted his thoughts, hiding the empty eyes that showcased his dead soul. When Gabriel – 1 killed, he did so under as duty dictated. When Gabriel – 2 killed, it fueled his blood, sending hot white pleasure to curse his veins, being nearly orgasmic in its supplication. Steve had avoided as much contact as he could, but there were times he himself could not escape and he was witness to the atrocities if his acts.
The bile rose to his throat and he found himself heaving, tasting the bitterness that rose to his lips. Instead of falling victim to his fear, tight closed fists struck against the desk top, sending sharp pangs of pain to distract. The man could do nothing to him, for he had already lived through his horrors and come out whole. Time could never erase all he had seen, but his own strength had seen him through the worse and would continue for that day which hopefully was the last time.
Shutting the door behind him, Steve locked it and proceeded down the stair, walking out of the building straight to the pier. Leaving a small note for their assistant, he gave her the rest of the day off, hoping his generosity would keep her out of harm’s way. Arriving minutes later, the pier remained clear, devoid of activity. Steve paced back and forth, checking his watch and looking over his shoulders, expecting the devil to show up at any second. It took less than a minute for his fear to return as the heavy set footsteps sounded behind him and he came face to face with Lansing’s last angel.
He walked with more confidence, rather than the stoic manner Steve remembered. As always, he barely smiled unless he was in a killing mood, then and only then was he to be feared. Comparing the two men, it was hard pressed to guess that they had worked side by side for years for the animosity that radiated from the smaller one was all consuming and abundant. Enough years had passed to dull his feelings regarding the man and the hopes that they would never meet again. If someone had asked Steve what he expected to happen to Gabriel – 2, his first and only answer was the man should be dead.
From the first mission they had been sent on, to the last he wish he could forget, the man courted death, letting it penetrate his skin along with sickening sensations of pain that always lingered just near the end. Steve couldn’t escape him, nor would Gabriel – 2 cease his taunting of all he could do, should opportunities fall in his lap. This meeting had been fated the day Steve returned to England to seek out the mysterious of his past life there. Now it was his turn to be sought and questioned. Some things should have been left alone, unless you were foolish enough to dig for them.
Steve tried to stare him down as he stood as erect and motionless as a stone statue. A lesser man would have turn tailed and run, but Gabriel – 2 didn’t scare at all. “I expected you would be dead by now. Someone… obviously… missed.”
Gabriel – 2 merely lowered his head a fraction before coming to a halt a few steps away. “You were never amusing Johnson… so spare me any of your sardonic wit. We’ve come to get what’s ours.”
“We? You’ve brought animals with you on this trip?”
“Once again. Not amusing. Your wife on the other hand… “
Steve’s own countenance changed rapidly at the mention of Kayla’s name and he took quick action, reaching for the man’s neck as Gabriel – 2 tried to deflect his attack. “Don’t even try to get within one mile of my wife.”
“I was much closer than that… not too long ago.” He replied as Steve lunged forwarded and wrapped both hands around the man’s neck. They both stumbled backwards against a crate as Gabriel – 2 held on to the man’s arms, holding him at bay as fingers tightened at his neck. “Such a beautiful woman… I congratulate you .”
“If you touched her… you’re a dead man! Do you understand me?” Steve watched as the man seemed to look up, almost uncaring of the pain he was inflicting. He had to remember how Gabriel – 2 loved the pleasure-pain sensation and tried to change his tactics. “You’ll never get anything from me, if you tried something… did something to my family.”
“Your pretty little wife… and daughter are safe for the moment… but I can’t vouch for the others.”
“Others?” It took Steve a moment to realize whom he was talking about and when it registered, he nearly fell back stunned at the news. “You’re all… here?”
“Did you really think we would just sit back and do nothing?”
Shaking his head, Steve released his hold on him and took a few steps back. The news that the other teams were there was terrifying and he knew he could not go up against all of them. At least ten others were left not including Gabriel- 2 and him. Even with Bo and John helping him, or the entire Salem PD, they were no match against the AA’s.
“What the hell… what do you want with me?”
“Are you really that dense? The Discs! The ones you and your friends took from Lansing’s home… we want them back!”
“I don’t have them.” Steve thundered back in reply. “Do you understand… I handed them over to the ISA before we left the U.K. They’re probably halfway through breaking the security codes by now.”
“Hardly probable.” The man just sat calmly, acting as though he expected Steve to just produce them out of thin air and hand them over.
The rapid rise and fall of his chest was pronounced and Steve took another step away trying to add distance between them. He should have expected they would come after the discs, realizing how foolish they were to take it without thinking about the consequences or asking for protection. The Gabriel’s wouldn’t leave until they had them and the only way to get them back was to have Bo contact the ISA for help.
“They’ll never break the codes… will they?”
“Have you forgotten how easily we trump their missions? You of all people should know how incompetent the lot of them are.”
“Wait… if you know the ISA has them… why are you going through me?”
“You betrayed us Johnson! You exposed all our little secrets.”
He bit hard at his lips and pressed them tightly until they formed just a line on his face. Steve watched warily as Gabriel – 2 stood and rubbed at the skin at his neck, before facing him again. “I did what I needed to… to survive.” Steve replied grimly
“Then you’d better think of your family… because their chances now are close to nothing if we don’t get those discs back.”
“Don’t try to threaten me! You know I never react well to threats… of any kind.”
“Oh I remember very well how you are… Gabriel – 3? But maybe it’s you who should remember who you’re dealing with.” When he smiled back, Steve felt his heart slam against his chest knowing how dangerous it was when they reached this part of him. “You have such a young and beautiful daughter… and I so love the young ones. They are just so full of energy and fight.”
“Touch her and I’ll kill you right now…”
Gabriel - 2 interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. “Kill me then… but will you be able to stop the others from going after her or your wife as you wait for me to die?”
Steve nearly rushed back, intending the choke the life from than man but stopped before he could take a step. He had to think calmly and not react the way he was expecting him too. The main thing he had to remember was they had done nothing yet or he would know. Gabriel – 2 would have shown him some evidence if his dirty work if he had already hurt Kayla or Stephanie. Not knowing how long if he could even get the disks back, he had to try. For now, he needed to stall, praying he’ll his family and himself out of this mess. “If I get your damn discs… are you going to leave us the hell alone?”
“First things first… get the discs back… then we’ll see.”
“I want an answer! Now!”
Gabriel – 2 walked around him, watching to see if anyone would interrupt their little meeting. Strangely it was quiet and deserted that day on the pier. Their only companions were the seagulls that alighted and perched down along the ends of the wood. “We want what’s ours. Get it… and you can return to your ordinary little life.”
“What guarantee will I get? I want proof you’ll leave.”
“Oh not to worry… you’ll know when we’re gone. But I suggest you hurry in getting those discs back. The others… have grown very impatient. It’s not something we’re used to experiencing.”
The hidden meaning wasn’t that obtuse. Once given the word, the Gabriel’s could rarely be stopped or deterred. Lansing’s death had placed him once again in center stage with the people and a life he so desperately wished he could forget. It was a never- ending vicious circle that forced him out of his comfort zone and back on the battlefield. Either way, someone would pay a dear price when it was all over. He nodded once at the larger man before Steve took a few steps towards him and gave back a threat of his own.
“If my wife and daughter are hurt… you will die! I will take your life myself… and I’ll enjoy watching you breath your last, knowing you’ll end up in hell where you belong.”
The larger man’s eyes seemed to sparkle then, almost looking forward to the idea that such pain and suffering would be inflicted on him. “One can only hope.” He said to Steve, anticipating the death he always knew the man would one day mete out. “To die with such intense pain… one can only hope and dream.”