Gabriel: Prequel

twenty nine

[harper's pov]

( probably like one/two years later btwttwtwtwtw)

Notes of melancholy and memories flood around the room as Gabe's fingers make work of the piano. Each note he hits causes Aubrey to giggle and dance around, her eyes twinkling with delight. At his cue, I cautiously strum the harp, wary of my inexperience, but letting my fingers glide against the strings. Surprisingly, we create harmony. Aubrey stops dancing, her eyes flicking between Gabe and I's music. 

After we finish, she squeals in glee, running to me, nestling her head against my arms. Stroking her head in bliss, I shoot a secret smile to Gabe, silently thanking him for the help. Over time, we perfected the lullaby that she knows better than we do, at this point, admittedly. He winks in return, flexing his fingers against the keys, accidentally hitting one - making Aubrey laugh. 

"It's time to go to bed now, Aubs," Gabe calls, scooping her up in his arms as he begins to ascend up the stairs. 

The image of the two warms my heart slowly, settling my nerves as I begin to make a call. I take a glance around the room, subtly smiling at the the array of instruments in the room. We had saved a damn amount of money to get a new house with a room specifically just for instruments - more space for any of our friends that wanted to come. I trail my finger against the smooth feel of the instrument shelf, retracting it sharply at the familiar point of a brown envelope. 

Reluctantly, I take my phone out and type in a number, dread lolling about in my stomach - a familiar sensation. The lack of response simultaneously results in dread and triumph inside of me, but I wait until I hear the fuss of Aubrey and Gabe, and leave into the rain pelting outside, right after I steal the envelope.

__________________________

"Is Darren home?"

The man standing at the front of the living room grunts, shaking his head. 

Rain drips off of me as I glare, standing defiantly, "Where the fuck is he? I don't have time."

"He doesn't wanna see you, girl, leave."

"Fuck that, I will see him. I will wait as long as necessary until he comes out," I snarl, the dread turning to anger as I'm refused once more. I scramble in my pockets to take out letters and envelopes, chucking them at his feet.

He looks down at the envelopes, cursing under his breath, leaving to presumably get him. In an arrogant glow, Darren glides down the hall, his lips upturned into a smirk. He dismisses the other man, grinning at the papers beneath his feet. 

"You sick bastard, Darren. I'm begging you to stop."

"It's been a while, Harper. Years, actually. What happened to running away?"

"What happened? I have a fucking family, Darren. I have a kid - a husband! I don't want to leave them, I don't want to be part of this life anymore, I'm begging you."

"I asked you then, Harper, to leave, to go out of town. You're a threat, constantly trying to undermine us, and you told me you would go. What was it? You were depressed, was it? You're still here, and time is up. After all, a family should value honesty, no?" Each word is coated in malice, being spat at me. 

"I don't want them to ever know," my voice drops low, but I refuse to look away.

"Not my problem. Unless you voluntarily leave. Choice is yours."

Before I can even help myself, my knees drop to the ground and my head hangs low. "I am begging you. Don't do this to them."

He doesn't even entertain me, and instead walks over my leg, into another room. Sheer humiliation and anger burn inside of me, my heart raging with frustration. My legs become weak as I force myself up, and I don't dare to even accidentally look at my reflection as my tears burn. I slip out of the door into the hammering rain as it coats me, drenching me as it pelts violently. 

_______________________________________________-

[ gabe's pov]

The clock strikes late in the night as Harper still hasn't returned. Her coat remains untouched on the cloak hanger, making me cringe at the thought of her being wet and alone outside. Slow, shuffled steps drag outside as the door clicks open, revealing a wet Harper. With her head hung low, she mindlessly takes off her shoes, silently walking past me to the stairs.

I intercept her direction, turning her to me as I peer into her eyes - once a warm, veracious brown, to a dull, lifeless colour. Mascara streaks down her face, patchy and wet, as she lifts her face to look at me before turning away. I grab her face gently, pulling her close as her body shudders at my warmth. 

Despite her being the one that sheltered me from all the violence and ruthlessness in her world, I cradle her away from her own demons, urging her to stay with me.