The Prophecy (The Guardians) (2 page)

“Yeah, well it’s not you they are saying it about.”

“Gabe, I’m sorry.
 
You have to understand, people had a lot of hope for the protector.
 
Even though all of your friends still love you, there is going to be a level of disappointment you just have to expect from everyone else.” Uri continued.

“Why?
 
I never asked to be the protector.
 
I never asked for any of this, so why do I now have to live in hiding?
 
Why do I not get a shot at a normal life?” Gabe found himself becoming furious at the idea of it all.

“Gabe, you have been in your own private little world for too long.
 
Soon enough, nobody is going to have a shot at a normal life.
 
Not if Baal has his way.” Uri argued.
 
Gabe fell silent, hanging his head as he considered his friend’s words.
 
“Look, I’m running out of time.
 
I have been needing to talk to you anyways, I suppose now is as good a time as any.
 
I have a huge favor to ask you.”

“Oh no, here it comes.” Gabe replied in a snarky tone.

“Really?
 
It just keeps coming with you, doesn’t it?” Uri barked in astonishment as the two walked into the tiny cabin.

“Just saying, I figured out a long time ago that’s how things work when it comes to Guardians.
 
They tend to only come around when they want something from you.” Gabe explained, confident in his opinion.
 
“When you need them though, they are nowhere to be found.”

“You’re a Guardian whether you like it or not.
 
You left us, Gabe!
 
We didn’t abandon you, we respected your choice.
 
Do you think it’s been easy to stay away?” Uri was losing his patience quickly.
 
“I thought maybe you would have grown up a little in these past five years.”

“Excuse me?” Gabe asked, not disguising that he was offended.

Uri walked over to the pile of bedding and sprawled his long body out, resting his head on his hands and forearms behind his head.
 
“For your information, nobody else knows I’m here.
 
There is no big conspiracy to pull you back in.
 
Life went on without you just fine, and it will continue to.
 
I came here because out of everyone I have left, I trust you the most for what I was going to ask.
 
But it’s fine, if we are too much trouble to bother you with, I get it.
 
When Rachel gets back, we’ll clear out.”
 
Uri closed his eyes, the exhausting conversation taking its toll.

Gabe felt conflicted; on one hand, he regretted ever leaving Rampart.
 
He was young, a child, his feelings were hurt, and he wanted to escape it.
 
After he was gone for so long, he felt like he couldn’t go back, too much had happened for him to just slip back into that life.
 
He also felt bitter towards the Guardians, used and now unwanted.

“I’m sorry, Uri.” Gabe said quietly.
 
“I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on you.
 
I know you’re a true friend.”

Uri opened one eye, and with a cocked eyebrow asked, “What?
 
The great and mighty Gabe Harwood just apologized?”

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

Closing his eye, Uri didn’t move as he continued, “Gabe, you’re the one who left all those years ago.
 
I’m not really sure why you have a beef with me.”

Gabe didn’t know what to say.
 
He had thought Uri and Sophie were having a relationship behind his back at the time.
 
He had been so wrong.
 
There never had been anything between them, even though Sophie may have been interested in Uri during her confusion, Uri had been a true friend and not betrayed him.
 
Uri had never done anything to deserve the way Gabe treated him.

“Just tell me.” Gabe urged, wanting to change the tone of the conversation.

“Tell you what?” Uri asked, opening his eyes and looking at his friend.

“What you need from me.” Gabe explained.

“Nah, just forget it.” Uri dismissed.

“Come on man, are you going to make me beg?” Gabe pleaded.

“Hmmm… Maybe, begging could be nice.” Uri laughed.

Grabbing a nearby towel and flinging it at his friend’s chest, Gabe bellowed, “Forget it then.”

Sitting up, Uri started laughing, the mood quickly shifting.
 
Pushing himself back, he rested against the cabin wall and conceded, “Alright, alright.
 
I’ll tell you.”

“Gee, thanks.” Gabe responded, halfheartedly.

“So you know why Rachel and I are here, right?” Uri asked.

“Well, I assumed it was because of what you told me.
 
You two just needed a place to hide out for a couple of days.” Gabe began to wonder if he was in fact right, and there was more to this visit than Uri had let on.

“Yeah, that part is true.” Uri began.
 
“I need to get Rachel to a safe house and the last three we have tried have been compromised.
 
I’m not sure how Baal’s men are getting their information, but they seem to be one step ahead of us.”

“That really sucks, but I don’t see how I can help with any of that.
 
I have no contact with anyone from that world anymore.” Gabe explained.
 
He sincerely wished he could help Uri somehow.
 
Part of him wanted to prove to everyone that he was not a coward, that him leaving had everything to do with not wanting to be told how to live his life.

“That’s just it, Gabe.
 
You’re secluded, nobody knows where you are.
 
Every time I take Rachel out there, I’m putting her at risk.” Uri explained as he watched Gabe fidget nervously.

“Like I said, I’m not really sure what I can do to help.” Gabe said, careful to not make eye contact with Uri.

Uri stood and walked up to Gabe.
 
Getting uncomfortably close, he forced Gabe to look at him.
 
“I’m not asking you to come back to the life, Gabe.
 
That’s not what this is about.
 
I just need time.
 
I need time to find out who we can trust.
 
I need time to find a place where she will be safe.”

“I can’t, Uri, don’t ask me to do this.” Gabe pleaded.

“I know you’re scared, but—” Uri hesitated, unsure what to say next.

There it is
, Gabe thought.
 
The fact that everyone thought he was a coward staring him in the face.
 
He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that he was not afraid.
 
He wanted to shout for them all to go to hell.
 
That they had no clue what it was like to be him.
 
To be living your life, accepting you are an orphan, destined to be alone, and then people come into your life treating you with love and kindness.
 

They tell you that you are special; you have abilities many only dream of.
 
What they don’t tell you is that your future is tainted.
 
If you live out your days how they want you to, then you are destined to die young.
 
A life where they dangle love in front of your face and then it’s torn away.

Gabe thought of Sophie and everything they had been through.
 
He truly had loved her, as much as a boy could love someone.
 
He was prepared to give his life to protect her.
 
Like most things in Gabe’s life, that relationship had ended miserably.
 
He gave his all and it wasn’t enough.
 
She nearly died, and as a result of his trusted mentor, Michael, saving her, what they had together was lost forever.

Michael, another key player in the life Gabe had lost.
 
As he remembered the man, it was hard not to think of him fondly.
 
It angered Gabe that he still thought of him with such warmth.
 
He felt most deceived by the father figure who had brought him to Rampart under false pretenses.
 
He thought he was at the school to learn how to become a defender of good, but the entire time Michael had another agenda.
 
One that involved Gabe fulfilling a destiny as the protector, and sacrificing his life.

At last, Gabe spoke softly, “Wouldn’t you be afraid?”
 
He had never admitted to even himself that he was afraid, but in that second, with all those memories flooding back, he at last was truthful to himself.
 
He didn’t want to die.
 
Life had been far from perfect and held few joys for him, but it didn’t mean Gabe was ready to sacrifice it.

Uri thought about his question.
 
“I suppose, but there are some things that are more important than our own fear and desire for survival.
 
This is so much bigger than you or me.
 
Do you know how many have died for the cause?”

“Uri!” Gabe yelled.
 
“Don’t you get it?
 
You don’t know you’re going to die.
 
You risk your life knowing it’s a possibility, but you don’t know you will be killed as a certainty.
 
The prophecy tells me I will die.
 
I help, and I am giving my life.”

“That’s just it; I’m not asking you to do that.” Uri added.

Gabe shook his head looking at Uri with a puzzled stare.
 
“I don’t understand.”

“I’m not asking you to protect the prophet.
 
I’m not asking you to even stay involved.
 
I just need to leave Rachel with you until I figure all this out and find a place to hide her.
 
The prophet hasn’t been born.
 
Hell, she isn’t even pregnant; there is no risk to you based on the prophecy.”
 
Uri explained his reasoning.

“Except for the army of demons hunting her!” Gabe exclaimed.

“Alright, I admit, what I am asking is not without risk.
 
I wouldn’t ask you if I weren’t out of options.” Uri explained.

“You found me, how safe can it really be for her here?” Gabe asked, doubting Uri’s reasoning.

“The only way I found you was the trinket Dina put on your bag when you left Rampart years ago.
 
Had I not used that to track you, I don’t think I would have ever found you.
 
What are the chances Baal or any of his followers will discover you?
 
Think about it, it truly is the perfect hiding place.” Uri urged.

“I don’t know…” Gabe said.
 
A moment later, the front door creaked open.
 
Rachel stood there, clothes damp, simply staring.

“Rachel!” Uri gasped.
 
“Are you alright?”

“I slipped.” Rachel replied flatly.
 
The men looked to each other, each one unsure what to do.

Suddenly, Rachel burst out in a full and jovial laughter.
 
The men soon followed in a similar fashion, all amused by the humor of the situation.

“Come over here and get warm,” Uri said while motioning to the nearby stove that was still warming a pot of water.

As she did, Uri looked over his shoulder to Gabe who simply nodded.
 
With that unspoken agreement, Gabe would participate in the fight just a little longer.
 
He would watch over Rachel at his home until Uri could return and retrieve her.
 
Uri didn’t utter a response; instead, he walked up and patted his friend firmly on the back in gratitude.

Gabe could feel the joy in Uri’s presence.
 
He hoped his friend didn’t misunderstand his level of commitment.
 
He would make sure it was clear before Uri left.
 
He was willing to watch over Rachel for a short time, just long enough for Uri to find a place safe enough for her.
 
After that, he was out, for good.

“Remember, if there is any sign of trouble to head straight for Dina and the others.” Uri reminded giving Gabe a hug.

“Yeah, yeah,” Gabe chimed, smiling at his friend.
 
“I think I know by now how to take care of myself.
 
Don’t stay away long.” Gabe’s request was also meant to inform his friend that he did not expect to become the permanent care taker of this girl he had been saddled with.

“Don’t let him scare you, Rachel, he’s a sweetheart under all the prickly layers.” Uri advised looking at the girl.

“I think we’ll be just fine.” Rachel replied, a slight blush on her cheeks.

Uri smiled, cocked his head in the goofy way he was known for, and with a half wave he disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

“I don’t think I will ever get used to that.” Rachel said in reference to Uri’s transportation spell.

“I thought the same thing, but you do.” Gabe replied flatly, turning and walking back to the cabin.