Gabe ran through the conversations in his mind the past week. The concept of free will had been drilled into him over and over to the point that now it made him want to laugh. The idea of withholding the truth from him while stressing free will seemed absurd. Standing there he could feel the anger building again. Taking one last look around to ensure he was not being followed, he walked to the cliff side.
Gabe had never seen anything like it, water as far as the eye could see. He marveled at its beauty as it rolled in and broke against the rocks below. Gabe took a step back from the edge and walked along the border. He took in a deep breath, noting how he could smell and even taste the salt in the air from the water. Gabe’s hair twisted in the breeze and with each step he could feel his anger fleeing. Gabe walked and walked. Glancing up to see the position change of the sun, he thought he must have travelled several miles.
The anger that had kept boiling up inside of him flowed out of his fingertips to be carried off on the wind. Gabe thought about his life before this place, a life without friends, or purpose, and especially without Sophie. Gabe strode on, a smile starting to take form at the corners of his mouth. All at once, he heard the snap of a twig behind him. Gabe stopped and desperately looked around him but saw nothing. He waited another moment, but still nothing. Continuing on his path, frequently glancing around, Gabe tried to put his uneasiness to rest. But he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched.
Just ahead of where he walked, about twenty yards away, he saw a huge stone that was surrounded by a blue glow. Gabe ran up to it and reached out a cautious hand. His fingertips tingled for a moment as he touched it. He looked to the left and into the tree line he saw another glowing boulder. Gabe assumed the clerics must use them to help cloak the manor.
Impressed by the powerful magic, he wondered if someday he would ever be able to perform such a spell. The smile that had been toying with Gabe’s lips returned in full force as he realized he was already planning his future with these people. What he would learn, what he would become, Gabe knew his decision was already made despite the recent personal injury.
Gabe tried to refocus on clearing his mind and enjoying his time alone. He took a nervous hitched breath and attempted to step past the enchanted stone. He encountered no resistance, simply stepped beyond the boundary. When he turned and looked back however, Gabe saw a huge rock wall that appeared to be part of the cliff’s side. Gabe reached his hand out slowly to touch the wall. It slipped right through, as though nothing were there.
Cautiously, he took another step towards the wall. Stepping through the illusion, he found himself gazing at the glowing boulder once again.
Amazing
, he thought, still mesmerized by the clerics abilities. One last time, he turned and stepped past the boulder and onto the rocky path; past the safety of the clerics and their spells.
The path changed from rocky and difficult to navigate to wider and sandier, as he walked on. Finally, he reached the shoreline. Gabe hadn’t seen a beach since his parents were alive. He was surprised when a childhood memory that was long forgotten returned with force. Most of his memories of his parents had long ago faded into nothingness.
He remembered his father had taken a new job. Gabe couldn’t recall the details, but he knew that was why they had taken the trip. Gabe’s mother had explained to him that his father would no longer be working in an office, that his new job as a writer would allow him to spend more time at home with them. They had taken a trip to the shore to celebrate.
Gabe trotted down to the shore, picking up a few seashells along his path, brushing the sand from their grooves. He closed his eyes. It was almost as if he could see his mother; her raven hair peeking out from under her sun bonnet, the sun flaring around the edges. In her haloed beauty, Gabe remembered how she looked like an angel to him. Her perfectly straight teeth glowing as she smiled. He closed his eyes tighter trying to remember every detail.
He reached out in front of him as if he wanted to touch her rosy cheeks with his fingertips. In his mind, he could see his child sized fingers reaching for her desperately. Gabe stared at her deep brown eyes as she looked up into the sky at the birds, clasping her hat with one hand for fear the wind would carry it away. Gabe had never had such a vivid memory of his mother; he didn’t want it to end and kept his eyes closed tightly in hopes of having just one more moment with her.
Gabe watched his mother intensely, he listened to her soft words as they called out for his dad to come and join them. Gabe felt enchanted by the two, as he watched his father run up and scoop his mother into his strong arms. Her squeal of joy made Gabe’s heart ache with longing. He found himself laughing as he watched his parents race down to where the tides encroached on the shore. His father spun his mother around in circles, Gabe sighed as their memory faded into the water.
A second later, the last memory of his parents flashed through his head. The gunshots, the sound of his mother falling to the ground, his father leaping in an unsuccessful attempt protect her, the blood, the sadness and emptiness as he saw the life leave their eyes. “No!” Gabe cried out with all his power, trying to shake the memory from his mind. He ran down the beach, the sand kicking up wildly behind him. No matter how fast he ran though, he couldn’t escape what had made him who he was, the tragedy of his parent's deaths.
Just a week ago he knew his plight in life, he was an orphan that nobody wanted, unlucky and doomed to go through life alone. It wasn’t much of a life but it was his, and he understood it. Now he had come to Rampart Manor, met all these amazing people and they seemed to really care for him. The thought of this possible new family being ripped from him was too much. The loss of his parents had nearly destroyed him. Here he was developing relationships that could bring him the same pain if he lost them. Gabe was frustrated he had let himself ignore his rule that he never to allow himself to grow close to anyone. It was not only for their sake but for his as well.
Gabe could not ignore the truth that he had discovered amazing things about himself this week, abilities he never thought he could be capable of. He had met Sophie, a girl so beautiful she made Gabe’s heart race every time she came near.
What was even more amazing was that she seemed to have feelings for him as well. In just a week he could not say it was love, but he knew it was something exciting he wanted to explore more. He opened his eyes and tossed the seashells as hard as he could. His head was swirling with all the conflicting emotions.
With his next step, Gabe heard a rustling in the tree line behind the beach. He looked over but saw nothing. As if by reflex, Gabe instantly grabbed the locket around his neck and played with it for a moment. Still, he saw nothing and heard nothing so he meandered on down the beach.
Gabe regretted being so hard on Sophie back in his room. He hadn't even give her a chance to explain. Oh how he wished he had! He stopped on the beach. Looking out at the water, he decided he needed to go back and discuss things with her. He owed her that. Gabe turned back towards the manor. As he did, he felt terrible sharp pains in his stomach. He clutched at the pains while doubling over. A moment later, he fell to his knees in agony. The initial wave of pain rolled away. Gabe realized his palms were sweaty. A tingle ran down his spine. Gabe was filled once again with that all too familiar dread.
Knowing danger must be near. Gabe frantically searched for the source when he saw the trees rustling. Not just a couple bushes, there was a length of about twenty yards where the trees and leaves were shaking as if there were an earthquake beneath them.
Gabe watched in horror, helpless to prevent what was coming for him. Just as suddenly as it began, the shaking of the leaves ceased. He continued to watch, still on his knees, moaning in pain as a single man emerged from the trees. The sweat on Gabe’s brow dripped into his eyes. Using his sand covered hands, he did his best to wipe it away to try to see the man that approached him.
When at last the man reached the edge of the beach, Gabe was able to make out the blurred figure through stinging eyes.
“Anthony,” he whispered, confused.
Gabe thought about his visions of Uri. He wished he had asked the Oracle more about him and what Uri was trying to tell him. Gabe felt ashamed that he had been so focused on finding out about his own future he hadn’t given anything else much thought.
“So, the great Gabe Harwood actually remembers me,” Anthony said with venom dripping from his tongue as he walked closer to Gabe, coming to stand directly in front of him.
“I saw you in Michael’s office, the night you were attacked.” Gabe explained, his stomach still aching.
“Yes, attacked.” Anthony replied looking down at the sand. Gabe watched his eyebrows narrow as if he were angry.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Gabe asked reaching a hand out to touch Anthony’s arm.
Anthony pulled away before Gabe could touch him. He glared over at Gabe and barked, “You are so naive boy. You need to learn that everyone lies if it suits their needs. Even your precious Michael.”
“Anthony, I don’t understand. What are you…?” Gabe stopped, grabbing his abdomen tightly in an effort to comfort himself.
“Please, I wouldn’t say I was simply attacked, more like I was sent out to be slaughtered.” Anthony shouted.
“What do you mean?” Gabe moaned.
“Oh, Gabe, you of all people should know what I’m talking about,” Anthony said looking down into his eyes. Gabe turned away trying not to meet Anthony’s gaze. “Come on, think about it. Michael sits in his comfortable chambers and commands the rest of us to put ourselves in danger, knowing full well he is handing many of us a death sentence. He even asks you to lay your life down for his cause. I guess in your case he didn’t even share the truth with you, so he was willing to send you into a blind slaughter.” As the words spilled out of Anthony’s mouth, his lips curved into a sinister sneer.
“Michael told me it was my choice,” Gabe defended the man that just hours ago he was infuriated with.
“Some choice,” Anthony scoffed. “He tells you the salvation of the world is on your shoulders but it’s all a lie.”
“What do you mean a lie?” Gabe asked, a huge part of him not even wanting Anthony to answer his question.
“There is no future.” Anthony explained. “Michael’s God has already said all will perish and the earth will eventually be turned over to the creatures of hell. What’s the point?” Anthony said throwing his arms up at his surroundings. “We lay down our lives when no matter what we do the results are the same.”
“But why?” Gabe asked, confused, his hands now dripping with sweat.
“Because Michael is a self-righteous bastard who only cares about himself and his precious mission,” Anthony said, almost growling.
“But why be angry at Michael?” Gabe began, taking a ragged breath. “Mammon was the one who tried to kill you.”
“Gabe, you really don’t get it, do you? What Mammon did was to finally help me see the truth I had been blind to all this time. He offered me more than Michael ever did, a future free of fighting these pointless battles. Mammon offered me a chance to live out my days wealthy, happy, and free of Michael’s manipulation.” Anthony’s hands closed into tight fists as he spoke.
Gabe recalled that the Oracle had said Anthony was faced with a choice. “Anthony, please, I understand. I even considered going home after I discovered the truth, but Mammon is evil, causes harm. You have to see that.”
“Oh, I am seeing more clearly than ever, Gabe!” Anthony yelled. “Maybe you should think about where you stand. In the end, will your life mean anything? Just another pointless death in a long line of Michael’s martyrs?”
“Even if you don’t agree with Michael, you can’t want to help Mammon hurt people, Anthony.” Gabe pleaded.
Anthony was clearly agitated by their conversation as he began to shift in the sand. “I loved Michael like a brother and he sent me to my death. Don’t talk to me about hurting innocent people.” Anthony said as he lifted his hand in the air. Gabe looked up at him baffled. The leaves started to shake again as he watched Anthony in horror.
Gabe quickly looked over to the trees, terrified by what was unfolding before him. As he watched, he again felt those sharp pains in his stomach. When he finally managed to look up again, what he saw was much worse than anything he had imagined.
All along the tree lines were figures, contorted, twisted, gray creatures crawling towards him. Their bodies looked like a thin layer of muscle and skin had been stretched over skeletons. Some of them he could see inside their rib cages. Their eyes were hollowed out and there were simply black pits inside.
Gabe had never seen anything like it. As they continued coming towards him, more emerged from the trees who were riding on the backs of enormous black beasts covered in scales with heads that resembled rhinoceros’. They looked like oversized lizards, larger than the largest horse he had ever seen. They flicked their tongues as they walked. Gabe shivered in disgust at the site of them.
“What are you doing, Anthony?”
“I’m creating my own destiny Gabe, something you should think about doing.” Anthony replied.
“Anthony, Mammon is the Prince of Greed, he is just manipulating you. Please don’t do this,” Gabe begged.
“Mammon makes no pretenses about his agenda; at least I know who I am getting in bed with. It’s Michael and all his fairy tales that’s the real manipulation,” Anthony spat. “Come forth, Master.”
Listening to the words leave Anthony’s mouth Gabe could feel his breathing stop. He looked over at the tree line in horror as a towering figure emerged. Gabe squinted as the monstrosity came closer. The beast had a gigantic body that had a similar appearance of a man, its chest was broad and covered with more muscles than Gabe thought possible for one creature to poses. He looked up at the creature’s head and for a moment though it may be that of a man. As it came closer though he realized its face was more wolf like, a mane of salt and pepper hair flowed behind it.