girlfriend.”
“Rachel,” Gabe interjected.
“Yeah, I know, I didn’t forget.” Uri scoffed. “Of course, with the two of you getting married, I guess that means one day you’ll be the proud papa of the prophet. I suppose being the kid’s mom means she does have some super natural properties as well.”
Gabe’s words stuck in his throat. What could he possibly say in response? He was going to marry Rachel. If they did have a child and the prophecy came true, Uri was right. The horrific truth Gabe did not want to admit to himself now stared him in the face. If the prophecy were true, either his child would die or he would. How could he live with that choice? Gabe felt himself spiraling back into his old behaviors, worrying about what might be, rather than what was right in front of him. He thought of Rachel, her smile, her voluptuous body, the happiness she brought him.
“I don’t really want to talk about it.” Gabe said at last.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Can we just hurry this up, I need to get back to Rach—” her name didn’t even clear his lips when the two rounded the corner and Gabe caught sight of Sophie’s fiery hair. He could have sworn it had been more of a rich auburn when last he saw her; perhaps his memory faded the vibrancy of it.
Uri looked over at his friend, puzzled by the abrupt interruption in his words. Choosing to disregard it, he continued into the room at full speed, approaching Sophie who was intensely studying a set of maps. “Where’s Michael?” he demanded.
“When did you get back?” Sophie asked as she looked in Uri’s direction.
“What’s it matter, I’m back.” Uri snapped.
“Wow, you’re in a mood. You look like hell too! What happened out there?” Sophie questioned.
“It doesn’t matter. Where is Michael? I have stuff I need to be doing, I can’t hang around here all day waiting for him.” Uri groaned in response.
“Cool your jets, he’ll be right in.” Sophie barked. Gabe remembered the way Uri and Sophie always had that sort of banter between them. He shivered looking at her, it felt like it was like the old Sophie that was standing before him, not the one who lost her memory and all sense of who she was.
Uri realized Gabe was still standing in the entry. “Hey Soph, you remember—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Sophie glanced up and did it for him, “Gabe.”
As his name slipped from her lips with a familiarity he hadn’t heard from her in such a long time, the maps fell from her fingertips.
“Hey, Sophie.” Gabe replied. “Long time.”
“Yeah, long time.” she replied, staring at him.
“What’s wrong with you?” Uri asked, walking up and nudging her firmly.
“Huh?” Sophie muttered before shaking her head as if coming out of a trance. “Oh, nothing, shut up dog breath.”
“Glad to see everyone is behaving so maturely in my absence.” A man’s voice called out behind them. The room felt a sudden burst of warmth as Michael strode past Gabe to the large round table at the opposite side of the room.
Haim followed close behind their leader, momentarily stopping to touch Gabe on the shoulder and whisper, “Good to see you man.” He then proceeded to join Michael at his side.
Sophie bent down and picked up the maps, giving Gabe one last glance before turning to face Michael. Gabe suddenly realized he must have appeared awkward, lingering in the entryway. With great haste, he scurried to Uri’s side and waited silently.
“So— let’s get started. I’m sure we all have somewhere other than here to be.” Michael said in a commanding voice. “Reports.”
“There was no sign of life at High Point when my men last checked in.” Uri answered.
“I’ve only heard the same.” Haim added. “Volunteers are still searching the ruins.”
“What are the human’s saying?” Michael asked openly to the group.
Sophie stammered at first before finding her words confidently. “Th—they have no clue. Based on news reports, some stations are saying it must have been some sort of chemical agent. They’re justifying the demon sightings as hallucinations. Other stations are actually reporting monsters attacked the city, either way, it’s chaos out there.”
“What about Baal? Any word on where his army has shifted?” Michael inquired.
“None yet, it was like they just vanished,” Sophie answered.
“That’s not acceptable. I want you all to get out there and figure out what the hell is going on. Report back here in four hours with everything you’ve found out. You’re dismissed.”
Gabe could