The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,21

continued, “I don’t know, I suppose it hasn’t been exactly easy, but at the time I thought it was necessary.”

“That’s what I don’t get. What in the world would make you feel like you needed to go to that extreme, to isolate yourself to this extent?” Rachel prodded, her brow narrowing.

“It’s complicated.” he replied.

“Things with you often are, Gabe Harwood.” she returned.

As the two crossed over the hilltop, Rachel suddenly realized where they were. He had brought her to the carving of Sophie. She released herself from his arm, reeling her limbs in close to her body as if for protection. This had been what their initial confrontation unfolded over. Rachel forced a smile, unsure why he had brought her here. Gabe came to a halt; he looked into her eyes, and waited for her to speak.

For once, she was unsure of her words and chose to remain silent. The awkwardness of the quiet left her fidgeting. She decided to take a seat on the ground nearby to stare at the artwork. As the two sat there, enveloped by the empty air around them, Rachel realized what was happening. This was Gabe’s way of reaching out to her, his version of an olive branch. A sense of honor overcame her. She sat in disbelief that he would bring her to this place. He wanted to share something he had been so guarded about in the beginning.

Gabe took a seat next to his guest, it was clear his gesture was greatly appreciated. “Can I ask a question that might seem rude, but I really don’t intend it that way?” Gabe asked.

With a beaming smile Rachel nodded, choosing not to reply with her usual sarcasm she said, “Sure, ask me anything.”

“Why did you ever come with Uri?” Gabe questioned, hoping her answer would help him answer the same for himself. He still couldn’t figure out what compelled him to follow his friend all those years ago.

“I don’t know.” Rachel replied, hesitating. She was sure Gabe would not understand her reasoning.

“You don’t know? So you’re telling me you hitched yourself to a complete stranger and you have no idea why?” Gabe badgered.

Rachel stared at the carving; she dared not look Gabe in the eyes. All it would take is one glimpse and he would know she was hiding something. “I suppose.”

“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, and let me tell you, I have heard a lot of crazy things.” Once the words escaped Gabe’s mouth, he wished he was more tactful in such situations. From her body language, he could tell Rachel felt under attack.

“Not this crazy.” Rachel muttered under her breath.

“What was that?” Gabe perked up when he heard the whispering. At the hint of her secret, Gabe was again relentless in his pursuit of the truth. “Come on. Let’s hear it, what’s so crazy?”

“Nothing — never-mind.” Rachel protested, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.

“Trust me, no matter what it is, I have heard or seen stranger.” Gabe insisted.

“I doubt that.”

“Really, what is it? I promise, no judgment here.” Gabe pleaded, attempting to coax the story from the girl.

Rachel looked into Gabe’s eyes. Though his communication skills were not the best, she could see he was trying. She decided to take a leap of faith that he would not laugh her out of the valley. “Well… alright, but I warned you.”

“I mean it, no judgment.” Gabe reassured her once again.

“Alright, you promised,” she reminded him before continuing. “It started with these really strange dreams. They would wake me up, and then I had trouble getting back to sleep. It got so bad I started seeing a therapist. He tried putting me on sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, you name it. I was a walking drug store. None of it helped. Finally it got to the point that I was so exhausted it didn’t matter where I was. If I closed my eyes it was like I would slip into a dream state.” Rachel explained.

“What kind of stuff did you dream about?" Gabe asked, the familiarity of her tale unsettling.

“Usually I would be in this burned out city, everything around me was in ruins, blackness everywhere. Even though I was just dreaming, I always felt the urge I needed to hide. I don’t know what I was hiding from, but it felt like someone was watching me or, I don’t know, even hunting me. Sometimes I would hear this pulsing white noise all around me. I have no idea