Page 57 of Redemption
I took a step back and covered my mouth as a squeal escaped me. His wide eyes gripped me before he even started up the stairs. He took them two at a time, climbing them at a full sprint. He reached the top and stopped. He breathed heavily, blinking hard as if he couldn’t believe this was happening either. I tried to move past him, but he blocked my path. I shifted left and tried to run down past him, but he shifted with me,blocking my path again. I froze, staring at him in what felt like an eternity. A twisted grin curled on his face, and the crazed look in his eyes narrowed. I was powerless and trapped. He took a long step toward me, reached out, and grabbed my arm. I screamed, jerked my arm back, pulling it free, and fell back onto the hardwood floor. I squeezed my eyes shut as instinct took over and I kicked up at him frantically. Suddenly, my foot hit something soft. I opened my eyes, he was gasping for air, hunched over, holding his neck. I clamored to my feet. As if I were far away from myself, as if someone else were in control, I watched my hands as they scratched at his face, then gripped his flabby arms and pushed. He cried out as he lurched backward, swinging his arms in a vain attempt to grip something. He flew down the steep stairs in dramatic flips and tumbles, grunting at each hard blow against the corners of the wooden stairs before finally coming to a stop at the bottom.
I watched him from the top of the dark stairwell as he gasped for air, blood, flowing freely from his nose and the scratches on his face, each of his breaths accompanied by labored gurgling sounds. His arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, his eyes opened wide, staring at nothing in particular before closing tightly shut.
“Call...ambulance,” he wheezed, his voice barely audible.
But I didn’t move. I just stood there, watching him writhe in pain.
My disbelieving trance was broken when I heard the front door chime. "Help me," I cried out, but my voice was barely above a whisper, unplanned and desperate. Suddenly, Gabriel appeared beside Henry, his bewildered gaze shifting up to me. He must have seen my tear-streaked face, raw with fear and confusion. His expression darkened, and he looked down at Henry. "Did he hurt you?" His voice was calm, strong, in control. Safe.
“Almost,” I managed to say, my vision blurring with a new wave of tears. I collapsed onto the highest step, lifting a trembling hand to my mouth, watching the scene below. Gabriel lifted his foot and stepped on Henry’s stomach. Henry’s cries rose in pitch as Gabriel twisted his foot and increased the pressure.
He grabbed Henry by the neck and lifted him into the air with one hand, the muscles in Gabriel's jaws clenching as he stared death into Henry's bulging eyes. “What did he do to you?” Gabriel asked, watching Henry squirm. Henry peeled at Gabriel’s fingers, but they remained firmly in place around his neck. He kicked, but his efforts were useless. Gabriel looked up to me, taking the blows as if he were being hit with pool noodles.
“He hid a camera in my room. I found it. He came for me,” I stammered, unable to find the right words. Gabriel’s gaze darkened, then he slammed Henry into the wall and threw him to the ground. I buried my face in my hands.
Suddenly, Gabriel was next to me, holding me softly, his touch gentle and tender. He pressed my head to his chest, his heartbeat strong and comforting. I clung to him, my body quivering against his.
“I’m here,” he said in a low voice, his breath tickling the top of my head. His strong arms around me.
“I can’t believe this,” I mumbled into his shirt.
“Its ok, you're safe now. Focus on your breath, breathe steadily.”
I did what he said and somehow managed to calm down enough to stop shaking.
After a while, he pulled away slightly and looked down at me. His blue eyes were full of concern as they met mine. He smoothed a hand over my hair before pulling out his phone.
“I’m going to make a call.” Just as he said the words, Henry jumped up and scurried away. “Damn it,” Gabriel shouted while leaping down the stairs after him.
“Wait!” I sobbed. He didn’t stop, Gabriel charged down the stairs and was halfway down the hall.
“Gabriel!” I cried out, letting all the pain and sadness within me flow through my voice, He turned back to me, clearly torn between wanting to get Henry or stay with me. Through more tears and a weak voice, I pleaded, “Don’t go, don’t leave.” He slowly came back up the stairs and sat down next to me. He held my face with one hand, and I leaned into it, surrendering to him for the first time in what felt like forever.
“Please, Gabriel, I can't do this anymore.”
I threw my arms over his big shoulders and sobbed into his chest.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him deeper, then lifted me off the ground.
“I can't stay here.” My words were muffled against his chest, but he heard me.
“I know,” he said, his deep, strong voice soothing my raw fear as he carried me down the stairs. “We're leaving right now. You’re safe, I promise. I’m here with you, I always will be.”
Gabriel
“I’ve been living here with my brother.” Gabriel gestured at the mess. “This is all his doing. Take a seat on the couch, ill be back in a few minutes” I sat awkwardly on the couch as he disappeared into a room
“This is my brother, Damien,” Gabriel said as he returned to the living room with another man.
“Hi,” I managed weakly.
“Good to finally meet you. Gabriel never stops talking about you.” Damien smiled warmly, acting as if this were a normal first-time meeting. Gabriel gave him a disapproving look.
“Damien, start cleaning this up.”
“What? I’m only half responsible for this.”
“I don’t care. Start cleaning.” Damien sighed and whipped a trash bag into the air, opening it after a few tries.
