So, some of you may know that a few days ago, my dear little cat Pandora was killed in a car accident a few days ago. Because of this, I'm not really sure if I want to continue writing for now. Pandora was always by my side on my lap I wrote, purring to her heart's content, trying to push my hand away from the keyboard to get me to stroke her instead, and it breaks my heart to write alone, however annoying she could be! So I thought I'd update today and then take a break.
Gabriel may seem to be set in his bitchy ways when it comes to interacting with old foes and friends, but has he finally started to grow up?
Gabriel watched Anthony flee with a panic-stricken look on his face, and then turned to look though the door at Shylock. The door had been left with a ten centimetre crack, just enough for Gabriel to peer through. He watched Shylock laugh, and then ring up Tubal. Gabriel heard the conversation that transpired, holding his breath so that he would remain undetected.
"I'll kill him...I'll make him suffer" he heard Shylock cackle.
Gabriel waited until he had finished, his breath hitched, before slipping inside.
"Shylock?" he asked tentatively.
Shylock turned to face him. His dark eyes were wild with passion and he seemed to be frowning.
"Shylock, you've got to stop this" said Gabriel firmly, although he felt himself shaking "This has gone too far. You've gone mad. You can't kill Anthony!"
"I'll do what I like" snapped Shylock.
"But, you can't kill him!" cried Gabriel "Please, listen to me. I understand you. I know how you feel. I've been there. But killing him is not going to make you feel any better about yourself. It will make things worse for you"
Shylock threw him a filthy look, but Gabriel went on.
"And look, I know he bullied you in high school, but you are a better man than he is. Don't stoop to his level. I once did. I tried to kill Demetrius, remember? It was your pal who I got the gun from, and no good came of that. My family almost disowned me. Most the Capulets hate me. Just stop, because this is a bad idea. A really, really bad idea"
Shylock snorted "I should have known you'd switch your side"
"What?" gasped Gabriel "No! I'm on your side! I'm your friend! Just don't kill him! Sure, he's an asshole, but you shouldn't kill people! It's against the law!"
"It's against the law!" mimicked Shylock, in a high-pitched voice that was meant to imitate Gabriel "You've done plenty of illegal things, Gabriel. And so have I. That didn't stop me then. And I won't stop now. Not until I see that bastard bleeding to death"
Gabriel cried "No!"
"Shut up!" snapped Shylock, slapping him. Gabriel clutched his mouth.
"You...you hit me? You're insane! You've gone mad! You can't kill him! That's wrong, that's sick!"
Shylock grabbed him by the arm, and dragged him out the office. Gabriel shrieked and struggled, protesting to be let go of. He stormed up the stairs to where Gabriel's room was, and threw him inside.
"I'm sick of your whiny little voice. And I won't let you squeal on me to the police. You're going to stay here until I can think of something to do with you!"
Gabriel squealed as he landed awkwardly. The door slammed, and Gabriel heard the rattle of keys. He darted towards the door, and tugged at it, trying to open it, but Shylock had locked him in. Gabriel pounded on the door, screaming to be let out, but to no avail. He heard further shouting downstairs.
"Launcelot! Jessica!" hollered Gabriel "Launcelot, Jessica, he's out of his mind! Let me out!"
When it became apparent that no one was coming, Gabriel launched himself around his room. He rammed his clothes into his case, tucked his possessions in, and shut Snooky in her pet carrier. He packed everything he had brought to Venice. He knew he couldn't stay here. Now that Shylock had gone mad, completely mad, he had to get out.
He had to warn Benvolio.
Sure, Gabriel still didn't like him. But he was no fool. He'd learnt his lesson. He knew what was right and what was wrong. Killing someone in revenge did not make things ok. It simply made you as bad as the perpetrator. Gabriel hammered as hard as he could.
"Let me out!" he screeched at the door "LET ME OUT! I'LL CALL ANGELO!"
Angelo! Of course. Gabriel pulled out his mobile and began to hastily dial his father's number.
"Angelo? Daddy? It's me, Gabriel. I'm sorry I didn't ring before, but I'm in Venice, and I'm staying with one of my friends, but it's all gone wrong, and I need you to come and get me-"
Then he gasped as he realised. He had no signal. He'd managed to ring Amparo ok when he first arrived, but any other time, his phone had clapped out on him. Gabriel cried out in anguish, and collapsed on the bed, sobbing. In spite of what had happened, Gabriel still cared for his older friend, and didn't want to see him in trouble about this. Shylock was a better man than Anthony, and Gabriel couldn't bear to see him stoop to such a level.
Gabriel sobbed. This truly was one of the worst days of his life. It was right up there when he'd been thrown out of La Scala, when he thought he had killed Tybalt, when he lost all his friends, when he found out what happened to Lavinia and when he saw her afterwards, when Angelo replaced him with Rosaline, when his mother walked out and left him...
