Free The Prophecy (The Guardians) by Wendy Owens Page B

answered quickly.
    “So you don’t believe in the prophecy?” Gabe pushed.
    Rachel hesitated a moment before replying, “No, after all the craziness I’ve seen, I suppose you could say I believe.   But I don’t think my child will die; I don’t think you would let that happen.”
    “Do you even get why I’m out here?   I decided not to be the protector; I’ve made my choice, Rachel.”
    “Yet, here I am.”
    Gabe was shocked by her candidness.   She was right, no matter how hard he had tried to avoid it, his destiny had found him.   Furious at the situation he allowed himself to be put in, Gabe snapped. “You do know that if I save your kid it means certain death for me?”
    “Uri told me.”
    “And you’re just ok with that?”
    Rachel looked into Gabe’s eyes, reaching up with a tender hand and running the back of her fingertips across his cheek.   “I’m not alright with you dying, Gabe, if that’s what you’re asking.   I don’t know what the future holds.   Perhaps there’s something that’s unknown about your path, something that doesn’t have to result in such a devastating end.   All I know is, the Gabe I have gotten to know this past week is not the type that would allow someone to die if he can save them.”
    Gabe rose to his feet and extended a hand, “Let’s walk more.”   Taking hold, Rachel stood and the two began strolling towards the creek bed, side by side.
    “I shouldn’t have raised my voice.” Gabe added.
    “I understand.” Rachel smiled as she tried to diffuse the tenseness.
    Gabe had been given many opportunities in his life to trust someone; it was very rare that he would seize them.   As he walked next to Rachel he thought about the way she had nursed him back from the brink of death, and about the kind words she had just said about him.   She believed in him, even when Gabe could not believe in himself.   She saw a light in him, a greatness he longed to find within.
    He decided it was time for him to trust.   “When I went to Rampart five years ago, I thought it was a miracle.   My parents had been murdered brutally when I was very young.”
    “Oh God, Gabe, I’m so sorry.”
    “I was there, I saw it all.   My parents and I were at a convenient store, wrong place, wrong time.   I was in the candy isle when it happened.   I didn’t know the store was being robbed, I ran to my parents, my arms full of sweet treats, begging to get them all.   They were just trying to protect me… When they went for me, the guy shot them— there was so much blood — so much.”   Gabe was surprised the memory still brought such feelings up in him as a man.
    “That’s terrible, Gabe.   I can’t imagine what that must have done to you as a kid.” Rachel offered.
    “Yeah, well, not a lot of people were eager to adopt a kid with a history like mine, that’s for sure.   I bounced from one foster home to the next.   Anytime I would get close to a family, something terrible would happen.   Evil always had a way of tracking me down, just another thing I can thank my heritage for apparently.   Eventually, I decided I wouldn’t get close to anyone.   That’s how I ended up in a boy’s home.” Gabe continued, surprising even himself that he was sharing all the messed up details of his past.
    “I’ve asked myself all these years why I went with Uri.   I think I’m just now realizing I wanted what he was selling.   I wanted so bad to have a home, a family, to know people just like me.   I guess I should have known they wanted something from me.” Gabe explained.
    “Doesn’t everyone?   I mean, I think people can still care about you, and hope to get something from you.   Think about any relationship.   When you fall in love do you want nothing in return?   Of course not, you want the same level of commitment and love.” Rachel gently replied.
    “When you fall in love the other person is not expecting you to sacrifice your life.” Gabe