PURE

chapter five. » of sinners and gabriel saint.

THERE WAS A LONG SPACE OF REVERENT SILENCE in respect for altruistic man that sat before her. She was now halfway awake and gawking at the almost angelic man that stared at her intently, studying the features of her delicate face. Nestled on the couch of the unknown man, Grace sat up uncomfortably as he watched her every move. Something about him screamed benevolence and mystery.

"W-where am I?" Grace stuttered bringing her attention to the bandage that wrapped around her thigh and the clean clothes that she wore. The tattered, torn, and worn clothes that defined who she was, were now ashes in a luxurious fireplace. The unnamed man released a chuckle from his slightly parted lips and sat his half full cup of tea on the glass table next to his velvet chair.

"Well, I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you." He spoke dryly never breaking eye contact. Scooting away from him, her mouth opened ajar in shock. A small chuckle escaped from his lips as he watched her reaction. "Ah, no. I'm toying with you. You're in my home of course." He earned a slight scoff from her as she shook her head.

"Well, where is your home?" Grace crossed her arms over her chest quizzing him.

"The outside." He replied in a laconic manner suggesting his nonchalant attitude. Hearing the words slither out of his mouth, her mouth fell open ajar. Unable to utter a word, the man noticed her reaction and smiled.

"The outside. As in the outside of the pu-" he began.

"I know what the outside is I just...I just never thought about the chance of people actually living here. Azazel always said it was-"

"You should not believe anything that fool says. He feeds you lies every time he talks. His dumb ass doesn't even know how to count to three. How are you going to believe a slithering word that he says." The man snapped. "Would you like some tea though?"

"No thank you..." Grace trailed off furrowing her eyebrows at his sudden anger. An inference popped into her mind but she quickly brushed the bogus idea away. Despite her decision, the man continued to pour two cups of chamomile tea.

"You look like you need some anyway." His charming smile captivated Grace. She unconsciously smiled back at him as she took the warm cup of tea from him―she hated tea. Waiting for her to drink up, the man groaned slightly as he sat down in the same spot where he was previously sitting. Holding the rim of the cup up to her mouth, she took a small sip and hid the sour expression that crept onto her face with a suppressed smile.

"So good." She lied through her teeth. Grabbing his cup, he practically chugged it down but managed to still look proper as he did so. While the man wasn't looking, she quickly tossed the remaining liquid into the plant next to her and smiled as he set down his cup.

"Why don't we get down to business?" He began putting on his gold rim glasses.

"Business? I thought you were just here to help me!" Grace exclaimed.

"Nothing is free in this world. You give and you get. Remember that."

"Whatever, what is this 'business'?" She placed air quotes around her last word scoffing.

"I know you're trying to escape. You and your friends Alexander Cuello and Jordyn Day."

She froze becoming more afraid by every silencing second that passed. "How do you know about that?"

"You just told me. But don't worry, I am here to help. I want Azazel and My- I mean Qarinah, just as powerless as you do. I want to see people escape to the outside. Believe it or not, I'm not the only one who lives here. A few hundred citizens escaped before you were born. They had found a weak spot in the system. They escaped and now they're living lavishly like me." He paused waiting for her reaction.

"Wow. I don't know wh-"

"Don't say anything. Just shut up and listen." He silenced her continuing on. "I can provide what you need and who you need. But I want to see Azazel and his little minions dead. You're going to need allies. I have a guy for you. His name is Dallas Sanchez. He lives on the outside with me. Being the youngest and most recently escaped, he knows the city better than anyone. All the nooks and crannies that even Azazel doesn't know about. If you even want a small chance of escaping, you talk to him."

"How do I even talk to anyone from the outside? Is it even possible." She sat up stiffly listening to his every word.

"Of course, this is the 21st century. But if you don't want to get caught..." he trailed off digging in a small drawer in his desk. He pulled out a burner phone and flipped it open to make sure it still worked, "you use this phone to get in contact with him. Azazel or Qarinah will never know. There are only two numbers in here; mine and Dallas's. Only call me in emergencies." He handed her the phone with caution laced in his eyes and tone. She reluctantly agreed and took the phone from his tanned hands.

"What do I do next?" She questioned.

"Tell Alexander and Jordyn. But on the way, you'll be picking up two pures."

A lengthy groan came from Grace's petite busy. "Who?"

"Jamie Jettison and Daniel Spade."

"Why do they need to tag along? Why can't I just escape with my friends?"

"Don't worry about it. Everything I'm the dark will soon come to light." He grinned slyly.

"Well, can I leave now? I feel like I'm ready to escape." Grace stood, groaning at the throbbing sensation in her thigh.

"First, let me give you something for the pain." He grabbed two red colored pills off of his table and handed them to her with more tea. She mad a slight face that was unseen by him. She took the tea and gulped the pills down with it.

"Thank you. The tea is...delightful!" Grace continued on with her white lies.

"Great, take some home with you!" He handed her a box of tea bags and smiled. "To get home from here, just go behind that bookcase. There's a tunnel that'll lead you to the impure square." Grace nodded and thanked him taking the box of tea. As she reached the beginning of the tunnel, she turned on her heels and stopped the man.

"I never got your name." She held the box close to her chest as if she would actually enjoy the tea.

"Gabriel. Gabriel Saint." He said. "And I know you hate the tea." He winked and shoved the bookcase closed without another word.

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A/N: This chapter was short because it was another intro to an important character in the story. Excuse any mistakes.