The Break (The Aesir Saga Book 1) (5 page)

              Twenty minutes later he was pulling up to Amber’s house. There was another car parked outside. A nice one he had seen many times before. “Son of a bitch!” Gabriel parked his truck and ran up to the front of the house. He began pounding on the white painted wood door, waiting a few seconds before pounding again. Amber opened the door, standing there, an angry look on her face.

“What do you want?” she said scowling down at him. 

“Amber, look, I know I haven’t talked to you lately, and it’s not because I didn’t want to, I’ve just had some new things come up.”

“Let me guess” she said, her eyes like daggers staring at him “you’ve been too busy hanging out with some bitch?”

“What?" Gabriel asked baffled. "Amber what are you talking about?”

“I saw you today Gabriel, at the mall, with that little brunette slut. Holding her hand walking around together. And what’s this” she grabbed his hand and raised it up, showing him the number on his palm. “Madison, and a phone number. I’m not dumb Gabriel, you obviously wanted something else. So go ahead and go slumming with this trashy bitch. I can't believe you would throw everything away like that. But that’s ok, because you don’t deserve me. We are so over.” She said, before slamming the door in his face.

              He stood there for a few seconds, trying to collect his thoughts on what just happened. He pounded on the door again shouting. “Amber!

Amber! It’s not what you think, you have to listen! This is a big mistake!” With no response, Gabriel gave up. She would cool down in a few days and he could explain it to her then. As he turned away, slowly walking to his car. She just needs a day to cool off, he thought, I’ll call her tomorrow and smooth everything over. Taking a few steps toward his truck he heard the door open. “Oh my god, thank you Amber, just let me explain” he said as he turned. There, in the door way, was Jacob, and standing behind him he could make out Amber.

“Amber doesn’t want you here anymore Hot Rod, so just go to your little truck and drive home.” Jacob explained, pointing to the driveway.

“Listen Jacob, I just need to talk to Amber for a minute and explain everything.” Gabriel said, taking a few steps closer to the house.

“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” Jacob said, his voice becoming angrier as he stepped out of the doorway, and onto the front step. “She doesn’t want you here, and if she doesn’t want you here, neither do I. Now go.” Finishing the emphasis of his point by pointing his finger down the road. 

              Gabriel took in everything that was happening. He was fighting with his girlfriend, who thought he was cheating on her. She had obviously taken comfort in the meathead jock, who was now trying to drive him away before he could explain. Gabriel took a step to the side, uncovering Amber from the Jacob's frame.

"Listen baby, it’s not what you thi-” suddenly Gabriel’s world was on its side. His face hurt, then he hit the ground and the rest of his head hurt too. Jacob had punched him mid-sentence, knocking him to the ground. Gabriel hopped up, hands in the air.

“Whoa, Jacob, what the fuck!” Everything looked ok, no double vision so no concussion, but his head was pounding. 

              Jacob was in what looked like a boxer’s stance, both fists up, leaning forward. “I told you to go fucker, if you don’t wanna fucking listen, that’s fine. I’ll fucking make you leave.” He swung at Gabriel again, barely missing him as Gabriel ducked under the punch. He was circling with Jacob now, hands still up.

“I don’t want to fight Jacob, let’s just calm down for a minute and talk.”

“We’re done talking.” Jacob swung at Gabriel again. Gabriel ducked to his left, but Jacob anticipated this and swung his right fist, connecting with Gabriel’s face, right below his left eye, sending him back to the ground.

              Gabriel was dazed, his left eye already beginning to swell. He went to a knee, one hand cupping his eye. Jacob was already turning to go into the house. “Amber, you don’t understand, I wasn't cheating on you. You have to let me explain.” 

              She looked over at him. "Ok Gabriel, explain. Why did some girl hold your hand at the mall and then write her name and number on your hand?”

              He stood up, but couldn’t think of how to explain his situation. He knew if he told her the truth, she would never accept him. There was no way to answer her without it looking like he was cheating on her. “Look, Amber, it’s hard to explain.” 

"Lies are hard to come up with when you're cornered huh?" Amber said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Jacob had turned around now and was walking back over to him. “You just don’t learn do you?” Jacob swung again, this time hitting Gabriel in the stomach, dropping him to his knees, knocking the wind out of him.

“That’s enough Jacob, come inside.” Amber called to Jacob, who turned and was walking back into the house. 

              Gabriel gasped for air, ‘fuck this’ he thought; he could feel his fingers itch. He went to a knee, still struggling for breath. “You know what,” Gabriel coughed “you’re just a scared little bitch. Why are you walking away Jacob? We aren’t done yet.” He got to his feet, both hands on his knees, his breath almost back. 

Jacob stopped dead in his tracks. Amber started pleading with him. “Jacob, just come inside, it’s over,”

Gabriel egged him on further, “Listen to her Jacob; you’re just her little lapdog anyway.” That did it; Jacob turned and walked over to him.

“I waited a long time to do this, so I’m going to enjoy it as much as possible.” Jacob pulled back his right fist, getting ready to strike. Gabriel was ready for him; he brought up both hands and caught Jacobs punch, falling back with the force, pulling Jacob to the ground with him.  When he hit the ground he let his anger loose, his hand igniting in a bright blue flame.

“Whaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!” Jacob screamed as he tried to pull his hand out of Gabriel’s grasp. Finally getting it free, Jacob crawled on the ground holding his hand.

              Amber came rushing over, kneeling down beside Jacob. “Gabriel?! Holy fuck, what did you do to him?” She began looking from Jacob's hand to Gabriel and back, trying to figure out how it had happened. 

“I tried to tell you Amber,” Gabriel stood up, flames rising from his hand. “I wasn’t cheating on you.”

“Oh my god! You’re one of them! Get away from me, leave him alone!” Amber had fallen back when she saw his fiery hand. She began scooting away from both of them, trying to get back to the house. 

“No Amber, it’s gone too far now. You wanted to teach me a lesson Jacob, and you did. It’s just not the one you intended.” Gabriel held his flaming hand out. She watched as the flames danced around the bracelet she had given him just weeks before. The fire seemed to get hotter, turning a bright blue. Amber watched as the bracelet started to melt, falling from his arm in droplets. The rest finally oozing off his wrist and falling to the grass.

Gabriel walked over to Jacob, who was curled into a fetal position, still holding his charred hand. He reached down and picked Jacob up, pulling him to his knees. 

“Now what was it you just said? Oh right. I’ve been waiting to do this a long time, so I’m going to enjoy it.” With that Gabriel grabbed Jacob around the throat, the flames dying down as they got close to Jacob's skin. 

“Any last thing you want to say to Amber, Jacob?” Tears rolling down his face, Jacob could only sputter out an imploring "please". 

“I'll take that as a no. Amber," Gabriel turned to look at her. She had been able to get herself onto her knees also. Her hands clasped together, fear and pleading in her eyes. "Anything you want to say to Jacob?”

She was crying as she watched “Gabriel, please don’t do this. Please, just go, we won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

“No no no,” he Gabriel replied shaking his head “you started this, and now I have to finish it." Gabriel looked back down into Jacob's eyes. "Goodbye Jacob” Jacob, looking into Gabriel’s eyes, could see the anger and pain behind them. They were the last things he would ever see.

              Flames erupted from Gabriel’s hand, Amber’s scream filling the air as the fire began devouring Jacob’s head. Gabriel watched as the fire burned away everything he hated about Jacob. Releasing his hold on Jacob's neck, the body fell to the ground. There were no remains of Jacob's head, only the charred stump of his neck and smell of burned flesh in the air.

“OH MY GOD!” Amber screamed, she fell to all fours, tears rolling down her face.

              Gabriel looked at the girl he had loved. What had he just done? Gabriel looked down at his hands, the fire fading and fizzling out. He had let his anger rule him, he just killed someone he knew. It wasn’t someone he cared for, but he had killed a person. Gabriel dropped to his knees, his hands coving his face. “Amber?" he pulled his hands away from his face. "Amber, I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.”

“You killed him you freak!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. She continued to cry, her sobs keeping her from standing up. “Get away from me; I don’t ever want to see you again! I don’t love you!” 

              Gabriel stood, looking at what he had done. He could hear sirens coming in the distance. He needed to leave, but he didn’t want to leave Amber in this state. ”Amber,” he began walking toward her.

“I SAID GET AWAY!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs. 

              Gabriel stood in shock. His head dropped as he heard the squeal of car tires. He turned expecting police cars, but instead saw a grey four door. The driver’s door opened and Madison stepped out. She looked at him, standing between the frame and the open door, still not fully exposed. He could see her survey the scene, and saw her face drop when she figured out what had happened. “Come on Gabriel, we need to go, NOW!” she said, jerking her head toward the car. Gabriel turned and started walking to the passenger door, his head low, disgusted with himself. As he neared the door it opened on its own. Gabriel didn't fully register what was going on as he collapsed into the passenger’s seat. Madison got in and started driving, “Put your seatbelt on.” Gabriel didn’t move, going over everything that had just happened. He sat there as the seat belt came across his body and buckled itself. He just looked at Madison, the puzzlement clearly written on his face. 

“You didn’t know what my ability was either.” she said, never taking her eyes off the road.  

“Can you read my mind?” Gabriel asked, worried if she had read his mind earlier that day.

“No, I’m telekinetic, not telepathic. I can only move things, but I don’t think it takes a telepath to read your thoughts right now.” 

“I, I just don’t know what happened." Gabriel said, looking down at his hands. "I just got so mad, and when I finally realized what I was doing….he was dead.”

“Gabriel, the Agency isn’t the only one who is following you. I saw the evidence of what you did. I don’t know what led up to it. But right now I need to get you to safety, and from there, we’ll figure out what’s going to happen. You heard the sirens, someone saw what happened, or they heard her screaming. Either way we’re running out of time.” the car stopped in front of his house.

              Gabriel looked out the car window. “How do you know where I live?”

“Gabriel, we don’t have time for me to explain every little thing right now, but I promise I will later. Right now you need to go inside, grab some clothes, and then we need to leave.”

              Gabriel got out the car, hurrying to his front door, Madison right behind him. He got the door unlocked and ran in, charging up the stairs to his room.

“Gabriel? I'm glad you’re finally home, I was getting…oh, hi." Mrs. Daniels stopped talking as soon as she came out from the kitchen, seeing Madison standing in her entryway. "Gabriel who is this?”

“Hello Mrs. Daniels, I’m one of Gabriel’s friends, can I talk to you for a minute?” Madison led her into the living room as he leapt up the stairs. Bursting into his room, Gabriel threw open his closet and grabbed his duffel bag. Next was the dresser, pulling the drawers open and stuffing whatever clothes they contained into the bag before moving on to the next one. With the duffel full, he looked around for anything else he wanted to take before shutting the door and running back downstairs.

              His parents and Madison were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for him. Reaching the landing, he stopped and turned to look at his parents. Gabriel could see tears in the corners of his mom’s eyes. She pulled him into a hug, whispering in his ear “I love you, be safe.” Finally letting him go, she stepped back so his dad could hug him. “Remember” his father said as he released him “be the good guy.” Gabriel was taken aback by the sudden emotion that his family was showing. They weren't harsh or unloving, but everyone in the family had seemed to just be aware that everyone loved each other, and there was no need to keep bringing it up. As Gabriel turned, his father blurted out one last "wait", pulling out his wallet and handing Gabriel a small wad of cash. “Take this with you, just in case.” Gabriel took the money without knowing how much it was, tucking it into his front pocket.

"I just wanted you guys to know I love you, and I'm going to miss you." 

“We have to go Gabriel.” Madison was already heading toward the door. Gabriel rushed out the door behind her. They ran to the car, Madison starting it up as Gabriel threw the duffel bag in the back. Soon they were accelerating down his street and making their way out of the neighborhood. Gabriel clicked in his seatbelt as the car sped through town, headed toward the interstate.