The Anatomy of Killer

Chapter 13 - Revelations (But Not in the Biblical Sense)

        My eyes snapped open and I tried to sit up, but pain ripped through my abdomen and forehead. I fell back on the pillows, spots dancing across my vision. Lying there for a moment, I remembered what had happened. Panic clouded my mind when I remembered my last glimpse of Noah. 

     "How are you feeling, Evelyn?" a voice asked from the direction of the large window to my left.

     I turned toward it. Standing there, looking down at the street below, was Gabriel. "I've felt better," I admitted. "How's Noah?"

     Gabriel pulled a chair toward my bed. "He's alive. He lost a lot of blood, so he's still unconscious, but he'll be okay."

     Guilt sank into my stomach. "I sent Lily after him. This is my fault."

     Gabriel looked at me curiously. "It's not your fault. How could you have known that she was the killer?"

     "I could've solved the case faster," I said miserably.

     "There's nothing that you could have done. She was from Downstairs. She had an advantage that you didn't." Gabriel placed his hand over mine.

     Reminded of the confusion I'd felt that night, I asked, "What was she talking about when she said that I shouldn't have been saved? I've wondered the same thing myself."

     Gabriel sighed. "Don't ever think that, Anita DeSantos. I chose to save you because you have good in you."

     I shook my head bitterly. "Oh, really? Is that it? Sure, the serial killer that's killed so many people is a good candidate for a second chance. Are you sure that you didn't have another reason for saving me?" I wanted to pull the truth out of him. I wanted to make sure that Lily wasn't lying when she talked about him being in love with me.

     I tried to push myself into a sitting position so I could be at eye level with him to read his expression, but the exertion was too much and I hissed in pain. 

     Gabriel noticed and pushed the switch that made the bed move into a more upright position. I nodded in thanks. "That doesn't mean that there's not good in you. Maybe it didn't show before, but it does now. Look at how much you care about Noah being all right. You do care about him, no matter how you might deny it." Gabriel reached up and tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind my ear. My heart jumped into my throat when he let his fingers rest on my cheek for a moment.

     "Was she right?" I whispered, my anger had dissipated slightly, possibly because of his touch. "When she said that you were in love with me?" I was afraid of the answer.

     Gabriel sighed and removed his hand from my face. Where his hand had left my skin, it felt cold.

     "Gabe?" My voice was barely audible. On a whim, I squeezed his hand in mine.

     "I can't be in love with you Anita."

     "But are you?" I squeezed his hand again.

     He pulled his hand out of my grip and crossed the room to the window. "Anita - "

     "Answer the damn question, Gabriel," I snapped. He was starting to frustrate me with his avoiding the question. It was possibly the pain I was in, but, either way, I was frustrated.

     "Anita DeSantos, you are insufferable. Yes, I am in love with you. I have been from the moment I was assigned to watch you. You always intrigued me with everything that you did and said. I always saw good in you, Anita. Always. Even when you did the horrible things that you did, I still loved you. But I can't love you. You are on a path that we have set and you can't stray from it. Your life has been planned every step of the way, and I had no control over it. Yes, I love you."