The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,3

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