Gabriel: Prequel

twenty four

[harper's pov]

It's probably turned past half past nine as the sky becomes deeply clouded, the blue of the sky eroding into a deep black. Crisp, sharp air swarms around me as I wait in an empty clearing, my knees slightly stiff as I stay in a fetal position. Just when I think my body can't take the cramping anymore, footsteps near me, crunching on the leaves beneath them. Instinctively, my eyes begin to water and my heart becomes heavier. 

The footsteps stop in front of me as he crouches down, taking away the large jacket around me, staring into my eyes. The sight of him urges me to want to heave but I retain from doing anything, just continuing to tear up. 

"It's true, then," Axel breathes, glancing down my body, settling his gaze on my stomach. Most likely referring to my bulging stomach, he isn't wrong. I'm more or less nine months and my body isn't hiding it. From the thinness of my face, to the opposite in my body, I'm unmistakably pregnant to everyone. Thankfully, he definitely notices it.

"Yeah, it is fucking true. And, thanks to you, I'm all on my own. You've ruined me, Axel," I continue to cry, glancing down on the ground. I don't expect him to offer his jacket, putting it around me. It is definitely working.  

"I'm sorry. I don't even think you're telling me the truth."

"What else do you need? I'm homeless, pregnant and lonely! I have nothing and I am no one. What else do you need?" My voice raises as I stare at him, praying for him to take my word. For months, we had been putting in immense planning, leaving nothing out of detail. After much dispute, it was decided that I'd be enough bait to lead him on my own. I'd told him that after he told my mom, she wanted nothing to do with me - something Rehan thought of, since he witnessed our last confrontation, we both knew she wouldn't deny it if Axel asked. The next part of the plan was to become so physically weak, that it'd be enough for him to see my state. We knew each other enough as enemies to know the other's pride, and he knew that if I would ever ask for his help, he would come on his own. I'm not stupid, however. Like myself, he has men behind him - but the men in my gang have a simple job of taking them out, until he's on his own. By now, actually, some of them should already be dead.

"I told you the consequences of messing with me that day."

"And now I'm paying the fucking price."

He crouches in silence as the only sound audible is the soft blowing of the winter wind around us. 

"It's only fair I compensate you, how much do you want?"

"I don't care, I'm just...fucking numb," I breathe, feeling my lungs fill up with hatred as he nears closer.

He rubs his face as he sighs, pulling us both up. "Harper-"

"Listen," I almost shout, staring at him right in the eye, "you reduced me to nothing and now I'm calling for your help. You know it's pretty serious if I'm asking you. All I want is a night of something. I'm tired of feeling like nothing. After this, I'm not your problem."

His face calm, he starts to edge closer, his fingers lightly touching my face. "You'll get rid of yourself after this one night."

"For sure. I'd rather commit suicide than live with myself after tonight," I murmur, our mouths barely a distance away.

He chuckles, a ghost smile on his lips, "Anything for you. I always compensa-" 

A bullet strikes him as he holds his wound, his eyes immediately glaring at mine, pure hatred glistening in them. "You dirty whore, I should've known."

"But, you didn't," I grin, throwing away his jacket as I signal to the others to come. It comes as no surprise as his other men emerge from the shadows, ready to pounce on mine. Immediately, they fall on each other like wild, starved animals, ready to prey. Axel gnarls his teeth, starving to kill me, stalking towards me. I feel for my gun in my pockets, clutching onto it as he comes nearer. The moonlight falls heavy onto the open clearing, basking us all in a hazy glow as bodies fall. I quickly glance around, counting our men to see any fatalities. There's a few that haven't made it but the majority stay safe. I whip out the gun, ready to fire. Axel's mouth widens to a Cheshire Cat grin as he detours, following to Gabe's direction, his hands grabbing and pushing him to the ground. At the sight of his foot being raised, I pull the trigger, but fall on the ground as one of his men push me away. Scrambling to my feet, I barge into him, tripping his feet from underneath, stepping on his wrist for good measure before checking my surroundings. Gabe barely manages to escape, his knife being plunged into Axel's leg gives him leeway to roll over the other side, dodging his attack. I pace faster to Rehan's side, confident enough in Nicholas and Darren's capabilities, and act as a shield to Rehan's back. He fumbles with his gun, making some misaimed shots but gradually firing at most of the men. Underneath the moonlight, bodies slump over around us, enclosing us in a circle of danger. A grunt signals for us to turn around as Axel lies on the floor, clenching his teeth and trying to reach for a stray knife. Not today, bastard. With the advantage of not yet being wounded, I grab the knife above him, my whole body shaking with anger.