Gabriel clenched his fists, his mind racing. The room was quickly filling with smoke, the flames licking higher up the walls. He glanced over at Camella and Jessie, their terrified faces urging him to act fast. He had to find a way to save them, even if it meant facing the inferno. Vincent's mocking voice echoed through the burning building. "Don't bother yourself too much," Vincent taunted, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "None of us are leaving here alive."But Gabriel barely heard him. His eyes darted around, desperately seeking a way out. He stepped forward, only to be halted as part of the ceiling crashed down in front of him, blocking his path. The heat was suffocating, and the flames on the walls were now licking the high ceilings, spreading rapidly. Sweat trickled down his face, but his focus was sharp—he had to get his family out.“Give it up, boy. Your hero's journey ends here," Vincent mocked, infuriating Gabriel.With a roar, Gabriel turned and kicked Vincent hard,
Zoe glanced at Dan, who noticed the struggle and immediately ran over. Zoe signaled him to help, and together, they tried to hold Camella back as she pushed against them, her desperation giving her strength.“Let me go! I have to save my husband!” Camella shouted, trying to wrench herself free, her eyes fixed on the burning building as if willing Gabriel to appear through the smoke.“Camella, stop it!” Zoe said sharply, trying to keep her own fear in check. “You have Jessie to think about. You can’t go in there!”Dan, his voice calm yet firm, added, “Please, listen to Zoe. The firefighters will handle this. You have to stay back for your safety.”Just then, a burst of fire erupted from one of the windows, sending a wave of heat towards them. The explosion was loud and sudden, forcing everyone nearby to stagger backward. The flames leaped higher, licking the sky, and the onlookers gasped in horror. Zoe’s heart clenched as she realized how close the fire had come to them. “Everyone, mo
Gabriel looked down at his hands, watching sparks and light flicker between his fingers. The same energy that had saved him from harm was now at his command. Walter, seeing this, closed his eyes, bracing himself for what he thought would be the end. Gabriel just watched him, his eyes unreadable. He then knelt down and gently placed his hand over a large burn on Walter's neck. The sparks danced along his skin, and Walter felt a warm sensation spread over the burn. When Gabriel pulled his hand away, Walter opened his eyes, slowly reaching up to touch his neck, gasping in surprise as he realized the burn was gone. Gabriel stood up, watching him, feeling a strange mix of emotions. It wasn’t just that he could heal himself or disappear and reappear at will—abilities he was still trying to understand—but now, he could heal others, too. He looked at Walter one last time before turning and walking away.Walter struggled to his feet, staring after him. "You… you just…" he began, but the word
Gabriel hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “I... don’t know,” he said finally, his tone low. “Maybe it wasn’t as bad as we thought.”“Stop lying,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I saw the blood. I saw you...”Gabriel glanced at Tamara again, a silent exchange passing between them. Camella caught the look, her suspicion growing. “You’re hiding something,” she accused in a low tone. “What happened in there?”Tamara stepped in, her voice calm. “Camella, maybe we should talk about this later. Let’s get everyone home safely first.”Gabriel seized the opportunity to divert attention, standing up and moving away from the stretcher.Camella’s eyes were fixed on Gabriel, her mind buzzing with questions. She couldn't shake off the images of him, wounded and bleeding, just less than an ago. But now, there was no trace of any injury on his body, and it troubled her deeply. She needed answers.“Gabriel, tell me what happened,” she pressed, her tone a mix of concern and determination.
During dinner, Gabriel picked up his glass, taking a sip before setting it down. He looked across the table at Camella, trying to gauge her mood. "Camella," he began, his tone calm, "I need to let you know that I'm going to the capital tomorrow. There's some business I need to check out."Camella froze, her fork hovering mid-air. "What? You can't travel tomorrow, Gabriel," she said, her voice edged with concern. "You almost lost your life yesterday, and now you want to casually leave the city?"Gabriel sighed, trying to keep his expression neutral. "I understand you're worried, but I need to go. There are important matters that can't wait."Camella’s face tightened with frustration. "No, Gabriel. I don't understand. You barely recovered. This isn't the time to go running off on business trips."Before Gabriel could respond, Tamara, who had been quietly listening, interjected. "Don't worry, Camella," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "He will be fine. I’m going with him."Ca
Anna entered the visiting room in the prison, her eyes scanning the cold, grey surroundings until they landed on Jarod. He looked up, a smirk forming on his lips as she approached."I'm pregnant," she said, her voice trembling, trying to hold his gaze.Jarod's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Oh, really? Should I congratulate you?" He chuckled, leaning back. "You know, I always wondered how naive you were. And to think I even slept with you without protection… too easy."Anna’s face burned, and she felt a lump form in her throat. "I know. I was a fool. But what do I do now? Gabriel… hates me. He abandoned me. His family sees me as nothing but a plague," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Jarod’s eyes gleamed with a hint of malice. He saw an opportunity, a way to strike back at Gabriel. "Oh, poor Anna," he said mockingly. "You let Gabriel treat you like this? After everything? And now you’re just going to let him be happy, without any consequences?"She bit her lip, her
Tamara paused, her eyes still closed, her face focused. But when she opened her eyes and looked at Gabriel, there was no change. “What’s going on, Tamara?” Camella asked, her voice strained.“He’s not waking up,” Tamara said, her expression grim. “I think he’s already crossed over.”“No. This is nonsense!” Camella cried, standing up suddenly. “We should be calling a doctor, not standing around talking about realms and spirits! Father, get an ambulance!”Tamara grabbed Camella’s arm firmly, her eyes intense. “Listen to me, Camella. Nothing about this is scientific. This is magical. Fantasy. He is in a world we can’t reach, not with doctors or medicine. The place he is now is a battle of his soul, and nothing can pull him out except himself.”Camella’s face crumpled, and she slumped back down beside Gabriel. “There has to be something… anything…”Tamara softened, but her voice remained firm. “The only thing we can do is wait and hope he finds the strength to come back.” Camella’s heart
More machines attacked, but Gabriel was relentless, his mind focused on one thing: survival. He fought with a ferocity he didn’t know he had, each blow more powerful than the last. For every machine that attacked, he countered with swift, brutal precision, his eyes glowing brighter with every strike.As he stood amidst the shattered remains of the machines, his chest heaving, he heard Seraphina’s voice echo through the realm. “Impressive, Gabriel. But this is only the beginning. You will break, and you will serve me… or you will die.”Gabriel looked around, wiping the sweat from his brow, his breath ragged but steady. “I’ll never be yours,” he shouted defiantly, his voice echoing through the dark, empty expanse of Noctura. “I will find a way out of this place, and I will destroy everything you throw at me.”Seraphina's laughter echoed, dark and mocking. “We shall see, Gabriel. We shall see.”As the darkness around him deepened, Gabriel steeled himself, knowing that this was only the b