The Prophecy (The Guardians) (8 page)

Gabe shuttered at the familiar story.
 
Almost all of the students he met at Rampart shared the theme of a parentless upbringing.
 
Many of those parents had been torn away in violent scenarios, including his own.
 
“I’m so sorry about your mom.”

“Don’t be.
 
The cancer took years.
 
In the end we were glad it was finally over.
 
My dad didn’t stick around long after my brother was born, once mom got sick my aunt moved right in.
 
I guess it just became our normal.
 
We went to live at her house once my mom did pass away.
 
It just seemed natural, living with her.
 
She made us feel like we had a home and like we were wanted.” Rachel continued with her story.

“Your aunt sounds pretty amazing.” Gabe added.

“Oh she is. I want you to meet her one day.”
 
Rachel said.
 
The idea of meeting her family made Gabe blush for a reason he was unaware of.

“Does your brother still live with her?” Gabe asked.

Rachel hesitated, looking back out the front door to the rainy night.
 
“I’m not sure.
 
He was getting ready to head off to college when I left with Uri.
 
I haven’t spoken to them since that night, so I don’t really know what happened.

Gabe could hear the sadness in her voice.
 
When Uri had found him he was leaving nothing behind.
 
Gabe had no friends or family of any kind.
 
He never imagined how hard it would be for someone to leave when they had something to stay for.
 
“I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“What?
 
Don’t be silly.
 
You all are protecting me, I’m grateful.” Rachel replied.
 
Without hesitation she dashed out the front door, squealing as the cool rain fell on her face.

Surprised by Rachel’s sudden sprint into action, Gabe leaned forward and pulled himself to the open doorway.
 
Midway into the clearing in front of the cabin Rachel danced.
 
Spinning in a circle, her face and palms turned upwards, she was basking in the moonlight and embracing the rain drops.
 
Rachel’s tongue slipped out, mouth open, lapping up the water as it fell.

“Hey, crazy woman, what are you doing?” Gabe called out.

“It’s refreshing, you should join me.”

“Yeah, no thanks, I think I will stay in here where it’s dry and warm.” Gabe replied.

“Oh come on, you big wuss, live a little.” Rachel goaded, not shifting her gaze from the heavens.
 
“It’s beautiful!
 
The moon, the stars.
 
All of it.”

Using the door handle, Gabe pulled himself to a standing position with a groan.
 
“How is it you always do that?”

“Do what?”
 
Rachel asked, glancing at him for a brief moment.

“You look at everything with such a positive attitude.
 
It is pouring rain out there and you’re talking about how beautiful it is.
 
I wish I had been born with that ability.
 
I can move mountains, but I can’t find the silver lining in things.”
 
Gabe grimaced stepping onto the porch, careful to stay under the shelter of the roof.

Rachel stopped spinning and looked at Gabe intensely.

“What?
 
Is it something I said?” Gabe asked, glancing over his shoulder and acting confused.

Rachel didn’t say a word; she calmly walked up to face him.
 
Silently they stared at each other for a moment.
 
She leaned in and planted a wet and gentle kiss on his cheek.
 
“Gabe, it’s not something you’re born with.
 
If you want to be happy, then be happy.
 
You only need to make the choice to let go of your sadness.”

With that, Rachel walked past Gabe and back into the cabin, the rain water dripping from her drenched clothes that now clung to her curves, leaving very little to Gabe’s imagination.

Gabe realized he was standing there alone, with a goofy smile on his face.
 
Limping inside, he closed the door behind him, her words still lingering in his mind.
 
Gabe wanted more than anything to be able to choose happiness.
 
He wanted a rain storm to make him smile.
 
He desired that the simple task of cooking would make him dance.
 
To Gabe, however, it didn’t seem as simple as just making a choice.
 
He hoped her joy was contagious, because he was in uncharted territories.

Rachel awoke early, her chores nearly finished soon after sun up.
 
Gabe was used to rising early himself, but somehow Rachel always seemed to slip out hours before him.
 
Taking a deep breath, Gabe stretched his arms out wide, his chest flexing as he exhaled.
 
The tape on the bandages tugged at Gabe’s flesh as he did so, irritating him tremendously.
 
Carefully, he picked at the corner of the wrapping, pealing it back and revealing the scabbed wounds.
 
The bruises had already begun to fade and Gabe even impressed himself with the healing abilities he possessed.

Satisfied with his progress, Gabe pushed himself to his feet and decided it was time he started pulling his weight again.
 
Pressing the tape back into place, he grabbed a nearby t-shirt and stretched it on over his head and muscular frame.

“Rachel,” Gabe called out as he took a step outside the cabin.
 
He took another step and felt a shooting pain race up his leg and settle into his hip area.
 
Clearly he was not completely back to his old self.
 
Gabe grabbed the walking stick that was leaning against the frame of the front door.
 
Using it to displace his weight, he continued on his search for his caretaker.
 
“Rachel, where are you?”

The make shift cane was just another example of the way Rachel seemed to always be considering Gabe’s wellbeing.
 
He had been cared for by complete strangers in his past, welcomed into Rampart, given love when he did not understand how it was merited, but none of those instances seemed to compare with Rachel’s kindness.
 
He had been abusive towards her verbally, making it clear from her arrival that she was unwelcome.
 
Yet here she was, caring for him as if he were the most important person in her life.
 
The idea of her behavior confounded him to the point where he was enamored with her.
 
She was a puzzle he was determined to solve.

“Gabe?” Rachel called out as she approached the cabin, the morning sun just peaking over the top of it.
 
She wore a white tank top spotted with dirt that clung to her sweat covered torso.
 
As she approached she paused, bending at the middle and lifting the soiled, bohemian style skirt to wipe away the sweat from her brow.
 
“What are you doing out of bed?
 
I figured we would exercise soon, I was just coming back to wake you.”

Gabe blushed, shocking even himself with the image that flashed through his mind of the two of them engaged in a very primal form of exercise together.
 
A scene that seemed to be haunting him more frequently.
 
He couldn’t help but feel guilty about the natural urges, ashamed that while she had been caring for him, he had been violating her in his thoughts.
 
“I want to help.”

“With what?”
 
Rachel asked, clueless of the ideas running through his devious mind.

“Chores, maybe, I’m feeling much better today.” Gabe added, doing his best to block the other thoughts out of his mind.

“I’m sure you are, the way you seem to be bouncing back.
 
However, while you’re looking much better, I’m afraid I’ve already finished most on the list for today.
 
Except for cooking of course, interested in wearing the chef’s cap today?” Rachel grinned, already positive of what his answer would be.

Gabe had grown quite fond of Rachel’s cooking abilities; he had no desire to go back to his simple and bland dishes.
 
“Umm, that’s alright.
 
How about a walk then?”

Rachel laughed at the confirmation of her suspicion.
 
“Of course, a walk would be wonderful.
 
To the garden?”

Gabe’s stomach ached, the feeling then spreading to his loins at the sound of Rachel’s laughter.
 
He couldn’t explain his reactions to her suddenly.
 
Perhaps it was the fact that she had saved his life and nursed him back to health.
 
There was also the simple fact that he was a man who had been alone for quite some time and she was a beautiful woman.
 
Gabe convinced himself it must have been a combination of these factors, certain his desires were natural, and would fade when he no longer relied on her so much.
 
That or when he purged his carnal needs in some other way.
 
Gabe shook his head; he needed to focus if he wasn’t going to think about their naked bodies pressed up against each other all day.

“How about I take the lead?
 
It will be a surprise.” Gabe replied, careful not to let his eyes linger too long.

“Oh my, a surprise, huh?
 
Well alright, sir, lead the way.” Rachel said waiving her arms and bowing as if he were royalty.

Gabe had come to enjoy her frequently snarky responses.
 
He grinned and extended his arm in return.
 
Gleefully, she took hold of the offered appendage and the two began their journey.

“You know, I still can’t believe you have been out here on your own for so long.
 
I mean, I just can’t imagine what it must be like for you.” Rachel replied looking over at Gabe with a new understanding of him in her eyes.

Her gaze made him uncomfortable, “It’s not as bad as one would think.”

Gabe peered over to see if she had recognized his lie, it appeared she had not.
 
“I was only here a day alone and I thought I was going to go mad.
 
I am a bit of a blabber mouth, I guess my worry is if I didn’t have any one to talk to for a year, I’d go bonkers.”

“No, you?
 
A blabber mouth?” Gabe jested, slightly nudging Rachel in the side with his elbow.
 
“I don’t believe it.”

“Shut up.” Rachel snapped in return before giggling.

Gabe hesitated a moment, then 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.”