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By Robert B. Hazelton

Disclaimer: The characters within are used without permission for the sheer non profit enjoyment of fans of the Gabriel Knight genre.

Chapter 1

I awoke with a start, bolting upright. The visions of the dream circled within my mind for a few moments, my breath rasping through the humidity in the room. Sweat slid down my back, cold against burning skin and I trembled, bringing my arms to close about my body in a silent comfort. I clung desperately to my wits, glancing at the glowing green digits on my clock-- a subtle hope to draw some reality into the chaos my mind insisted on inhabiting. It read 3:30 AM... A pale moonbeam pierced my window and illuminated the floor before the bed and I glanced outside into the darkness, considering all that could be hidden behind the veil of shadow the night cruelly donned.

Tentatively, I tossed off the blankets and pushed myself out of the bed, my legs were numb and complained immediately upon feeling my weight. I steadied myself on the nightstand and took several deep breaths, fighting back a nausea that came over me in waves. For a moment, my vision dimmed to darkness and just as suddenly returned. Shaking off the cobwebs of sleep and fatigue, I stumbled my way into the shadowy bathroom. A pale beam seeped through the blinds casting writhing images across the floor and sink, the constant movement made my head swim and I hurriedly turned on the light to chase away the darkness, replacing it with the cold comfort of a yellow electric glow.

My eyes caught my own gaze in the mirror and my lips immediately sank into a deep frown. My hair was a frazzled mess of brown locks clinging to the sides of my head like vines of ivy. I brushed my hand across my face, the skin was unnaturally pale and my lips were light in color, almost blue.

I twisted the knob on the sink, hot water spilled from the nozzle and I immediately cupped my hands and brought up three splashes to my face. When I glanced back up at the mirror, water dripped down my cheeks, my bloodshot eyes were less irritated and I took a deep breath before turning toward the shower... And yet was stopped abruptly in mid stride, my eyes falling upon a horrible visage yet perhaps the most beautiful which I had ever beheld.

At first, all I saw was darkness... a black splotch against the white tile decorative nature of my bathroom. But then details began to present themselves, a white shirt covered by a long black coat. Pale skin framing perfect features, a sculpted face with deep set dark eyes and swept black hair. The red lips curled into something of a smile and before I could find the air to scream, consciousness swept away from me...

Gabriel leaned back in the diner's booth, regarding the greasy sandwich occupying the plate before him. His appetite waned somewhat and he heaved a sigh, glancing out the window into the quiet streets. Hardly a car passed by and the few people that were out seemed to be in quite the hurry. He frowned as he took a sip of his coffee, sneering as the harsh liquid found its way past his mouth.

A glance at his watch indicated that it was half past seven o' clock. He'd been in the stinky place for over an hour and had been the only patron since he arrived. Claudia had to be along anytime.

Claudia had been a very close friend of his from college, a music major. She had been working on a piano performance degree when they met and the romantic involvement they shared was the closest that Gabriel had been to love in his entire educational career. The destruction of that relationship was one of his biggest regrets-- a decision made out of fear of commitment and the claustrophobia he experienced at the thought of being tied to only one woman.

All in all, they were very happy during their relationship. She was a very open minded person and they held much in common. His creative mind was constantly challenged by her wit and for the first time in his life, he had found a woman who he could honestly admit to loving. He had missed her a great deal.

The last he had heard, she had moved away and took a job composing for a small dance company. He was happy for her. She had achieved the goal that she desired, even though she didn't quite make the performance circuit.

But now he wondered with mixed emotions why it was that she suddenly contacted him out of the blue and asked him to come and visit her. She wasn't an impulsive person in the least so it seemed odd that she would so frantically request his presence without good reason. He would've thought that had she wanted to become reacquainted, she would've called first and perhaps a few letters and conversations later, they would be making plans for a rendezvous. But in her brief letter, she hadn't even bothered to make reference to what it was that she wanted.

He shook his head and forced himself to take a bite of the cold sandwich. His last couple cases were getting the best of him and now he was becoming suspicious of everything that wasn't made black and white clear to him. She probably was just at a point where she wanted to meet with an old friend, exchange some stories. Nothing to be alarmed about.

But when he saw the woman that he had once loved, perhaps still did come through the door, his heart leapt and concern washed over him anew. She had changed a great deal from a young woman gorgeous in her plainness, to the exotic beauty that rapidly approached him. Her skin was deathly pale, long brown hair was neatly secured in a bun. Dark eye shadow gave her an oppressive look and her red lips were drawn into a thin line. A white blouse clung to her lithe body and was tucked neatly into a short black skirt. High heels clicked loudly on the dirty green tile and she offered him the briefest of smiles as she stopped before him and embraced him. "Hi Gabriel," She managed, her soft voice brushing his ear like an autumn breeze. "I'm so glad that you could make it..."

Gabriel took his seat and regarded her across the table with a stunned expression dominating his handsome features. "I'm glad to see you, Claudia... it's been a long time."

She nodded, shyly looking at her hands. "It has."

"So what have you been up to?"

"I've been very busy." She leaned back in the cushion of the booth and looked up. "There's been a lot happening at the studio."

He nodded. "I don't suppose you've noticed what I've been up to?"

Claudia smiled warmly at the pride in his voice. "Of course I noticed. I've read them both." She folded her hands on the table. "I wasn't in the least bit surprised that you did so well."

Gabriel returned the smile. "Thank you but as with others in the entertainment industry, my first success followed my hundredth failure." They chuckled as he brought his coffee to his lips. "So what about you? How's life outside the profession?"

"Actually, things haven't been too good." She looked out the window. "I need your help, Gabriel." Her eyes watered and a lone tear slid down her cheek, seemingly unnoticed.

He reached out and touched the tear before it escaped her chin. "Claudia, what happened?" Gabriel's tone was soft and his expression was filled with sympathy. His suspicion was replaced by worry and he took her hand and squeezed with reassurance.

"Gabriel, I think that I'm losing my mind." She kept her gaze averted outside her voice was tense and even. "I... I've been having the worst nightmares..." Tears flowed freely and she fiercely blinked in a vain attempt to keep them at bay.

"Shh." He moved over to sit beside her, placing his arm over her shoulder and pulling her against him. "It's alright." He whispered. "They're just nightmares." He felt something of relief come over him. "That's all."

She shook her head furiously. "No!" She cried. "I've felt so horrible... And I... I don't know what's wrong..."

He placed his hand against her cheek and withdrew it immediately into a fist. Her skin was icy cold and he creased his brows thoughtfully. "Have you been to the doctor?"

"Gabriel, I think that I was raped."

The statement stunned him a moment, first the implications followed shortly by the context. "My God Claudia!" He breathed. "Have you been to the police?" Then the rest hit him. "What do you mean you 'think' you were raped?"

"That's just it Gabriel! I can't remember a thing... but when it happened..." She composed herself before looking him in the eye. A strength had come over her, familiar in its intensity... The memory closed over his heart with a tightening grip and he cursed himself again for not having the presence of mind to have held on to her when he had the chance. "When it happened, I passed out before he touched me but I remember things... He was on top of me and there was pain. When I woke up in the morning I was on the bathroom floor."

"When did this happen?"

"It happened a few days before I mailed you the letter... you're the only person that I could turn to."

He frowned. "I see." He pondered a moment, mulling over his next question before looking down at her. "I'd love to help you, Claudia but... but really you just need to go to the police. Probably the hospital as well. You need to report this stuff."

Suddenly, she became cross, her eyes flaring in irritation. "Gabriel, if there wasn't something else afoot here do you think that I would've been so insistent that you come? If this was just a simple matter for the police, I would've done so but God damnit I can't go to the police right now! I'm beginning to feel that... that my dreams are more than that... that perhaps they hold something akin to reality."

"What are you trying to say, Claudia?"

"I'm trying to say that I think I've killed people, Gabriel."

Gabriel leaned back speechless. Suspicion comes round, bites the unwary hand... reminds the denying mind. A clear indication of what he was. Of what his inheritance promised. Wasn't it true that those with power attracted others with it? Perhaps the phrasing was off a bit but the general idea was there. His responsibilities seemed to be ever present, demanding a discipline that he didn't care for and certainly didn't want.

He sighed and returned his attentions to the present dilemma, leaving his reverie for another personal philosophical moment he was sure would come. Claudia claimed to have possibly killed someone. What was he to say? If she had been involved in a murder, what could he possibly do? More importantly, he wondered what she thought he could do...

"I'm sorry Claudia, I don't understand..." He struggled for a moment then shrugged. "It sounds like you need help-psychological help perhaps." He put his hands up as he noticed her crease her brows in irritation. "I'm sorry but really... I don't know what you think I could do."

"Gabriel," She started, putting her hand on his cheek. "I... I know what you are. I don't know how I don't know why... but I know."

He squinted at her tilting his head slightly to emphasize his apprehension. "What I am?" He questioned.

"Shattenjager?" The word made him straighten in his seat and he pursed his lips as if to respond but she interrupted. "I need you Gabriel. I can't explain what's happening to me but I know that you can help."

He took her hand from his cheek and turned away, running a hand through his mop of hair with a sigh. Why did everything have to be so complex? Suspicion aside, the thought that their conversation would lead to anything supernatural hadn't even crossed his mind. And now he was presented with a case-one by which he might inevitably be forced to condemn a friend, an ex lover. His path lead in strange directions. "Of course I'll help. You know that."

She leaned up and kissed him gently on the cheek pulling away with a smile. "Thank you." Despite his concern, he returned her smile and wondered just what he saw in her eyes. There was certainly the fear that she conveyed but something more... Longing perhaps? Regret?

When he first received the letter, the first thought was that she wanted to get reacquainted, perhaps more. Some part of him hoped that that would be true. But they had both changed so much him more than her he was sure. What could they possibly have in common with one another? But there was a more pressing matter... The fact that she knew he was a Shattenjager. Why disturbed him more than how and he figured it a safe bet that whatever it was that plagued her had granted her the knowledge. A trap set using an old flame? He'd certainly read of stranger in the library back home. Best to be on guard...

"I suppose that since everything that's happened occurred while you were asleep, I'll stay with you tonight." He considered what he had just said and quickly smiled and shook his head. "Rather, I'll stay up and uh, keep watch."

She chuckled and patted his leg. "I know what you meant." She started to slide out of the booth and he stood to let her leave. "I'll be right back." She strode off toward the restroom and he admired her as she walked... Almost twice as gorgeous as when he had last seen her.

He exhaled and shook his head, plopping back in the booth. His mind was floating between being responsible and wrestling with a part of his heart that he thought he had dropped years ago, now reemerged.

The waitress stopped at the table with his check and dropped it on the edge. Without a word she turned and wandered off toward the kitchen and he frowned at her a moment. Strange place Claudia chose to settle in. He paid the tab and waited by the front door, regarding the coming night with apprehension. Once again, into the fray.