Chapter Ten
Gabriel
Till everything burns
While everyone screams
Burning their lies
Burning my dreams
All of this hate
And all of this pain
I´ll burn it all down
As my anger reign
Till everything burns
"What are we doing, Gabe? We can't kill him." Eleanor said as Gabriel drove. He didn't care, though, he was far too angry to care. Moose, Jared had hurt Moose, and now he was going to pay. Stopping by his apartment, he allowed Eleanor to get out of the car.
"Don't do this, Gabriel, you'll regret it." She warned him, "You won't just kill Jared, you'll kill Moose as well. You'll destroy the friendship you guys have and I've seen how happy it's made you. You're not all gloom and doom like you used to be. He's helped put a light back in your eyes and you've opened up a whole new world for him. And now? Now you're going to tear it all down because you're angry? Let Jared destroy himself, don't do it for him."
She stood there for a moment, hoping her words had sunk in before backing away and closing the car door. Gabriel gave her one last look before pressing on the gas and speeding off. She was right, he thought, Moose would never forgive him. But how could he forgive himself for letting Moose get hurt? Maybe asking him to be king had been a bad idea. Gabriel hadn't considered all of the risk involved.
Nevertheless, he had to see Jared. He wasn't going to kill him, much less hurt him. Instead, he wanted to talk. The only question now was, where could he find Jared? Smirking, Gabriel realized the answer to that was simple. Jared would find him.
Parking his car, Gabriel surveyed his surroundings before crossing the busy intersection and entering Central Park. It was beautiful day and he figured he would pay a visit to the Boat House. As he walked, his thoughts lingered on Moose. He hoped his friend was doing well. Camille was undoubtedly taking good are of him. As he neared the Boat House, he saw a flash of black in the corner of his eye. He had been right. Jared was here.
"Lunch is on me," Gabriel said as he took a seat in the outdoor part of the restaurant, "Unless you insist on paying."
Jared didn't say anything as he sat across from Gabriel. It was strange, Gabriel mused, just a day before the same guy sitting across from him had tried to kill him.
"He's your successor..." Jared whispered.
"Yes, it's not official yet but Moose will be taking over. Of course, I'll still be there, working behind the scenes. I always worked better in the shadows." Gabriel told him.
"I still can't believe he let me go, and the fact that you haven't shot me dead yet. Why?" Gabriel shrugged and leaned back. A waiter came over and took their orders before disappearing.
"He's not like us, Jared. We use force to exercise our authority, but not Moose. In some way he's born to lead and in other ways he's not. That's what makes him a good king. It would never be all about him." Gabriel explained.
"So what now? Do we just...call it quits? This whole thing? There are more like me, and just because you step down, they're not going to stay silent. You're putting his life in danger, don't you understand that? When I rebelled, I gave others the courage to do the same. I ignited a revolution that won't be contained, even if we make peace. They'll destroy him to get to you, because as long as the Grand Ball remains, you will always be the enemy." Gabriel didn't utter a word. When their food arrived, neither of them touched it.
"It sounds to me...like the Grand Ball needs some restructuring. You're right, a change in leadership isn't going to do anything, but it's a start." Jared nodded as he gingerly took a bite of his sandwich.
"It is, but what else are you going to do?" Gabriel smirked.
"I think it's time to just start over, rebuild the Ball from the ground up. We're going to lose a lot of patrons but we'll make it into the place it was always meant to be, a haven," Gabriel looked at Jared, "You may not be king, but we'd still need you. You know the grievances of the people. You understand what makes them tick. It's your choice, but I hope you choose to be an ally. I spared you once before, for Moose, but he's not here now. I can't promise you any mercy."
Jared thought this over for a few minutes before nodding. Gabriel, holding out his hand, smiled when Jared shook it. It was over, but not done. There was one more thing he had to do. Getting up, he tossed some money on the table and began to walked away.
"Wait!" Jared called and Gabriel turned to face him, "Tell Moose I'm sorry, I hope he can forgive me."
Gabriel nodded before finished his stroll through Central Park. As he walked back to his car, he ducked into a general store and bought a few bottles of lighter fluid and matches. The cashier gave him an odd look as she rung up his items.
"You're not an arsonist, are you?" Gabriel merely smiled and handed her a hundred dollar bill, telling her to keep the change.
Back outside, he put the supplies in his trunk before getting in the car and speeding in the New York traffic. As he drove, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. Eleanor was going to be absolutely furious with him when she found out, but he could honestly care less. This was right, he thought, this was going change everything for the better. As he reached the warehouse, he sighed as memories flooded into his mind. This place had turned from a haven into a prison, but now he was going change it back. Looking in his glove compartment, Gabriel pulled out an old CD of his and put it into the stereo. He then cranked the volume all the way up before getting out of the car.
I'll tell you now you can't win this
You're way too slow
I'll tell you now I'm gonna take this
Did you come here to watch me, watch me burn?
The first thing he grabbed was a titanium bat he kept in case he ever needed it. Clutching it, he walked into the Grand Ball. Letting the anger that he had quelled for the last few hours rise back up in him, he swung the bat and began to destroy the bat. The sound of glass breaking was music to his ears.
I'll let it show that I'm not always hiding
Come all the way down
And watch me burn
I won't let it show that I'm not always flying
So on the way down
I'll watch you burn
Chairs crashed against the wall and tables were overturned. Gabriel let out a yelled as he threw yet another chair and it crashed against the wall. His yelling soon turned to tears as he thought of every one of the lives he had taken because of this place. He ripped the couch apart, and even pulled out his gun, shooting the paintings and art off the walls.
So let me know just how to take this
You're way to cold
Now show me how before it breaks me
Did you come here to watch me, watch me burn?
He ripped down curtains and shredded them to pieces and left them in the middle of the ballroom floor. He then turned his attention to the dance floor. Moving back to the bar, he grabbed several barrels of alcohol. He poured them on to the floor and pulled out a match. Lighting it, he threw it and watched it fall and ignite. His eyes were alight as he watched the fire grow and burn.
I'll let it show that I'm not always hiding
Come all the way down
And watch me burn
Walking back out to his car, he grabbed the bottles of light fluid and poured them all around the building. He then pulled out another match and lit it, dropping it on the ground, and watched it ignite. A satisfied grin broke out on his face as he watched the place that once held him captive go up in flames. Every last bit of hurt, every bit of pain faded as the building burned and began to collapse in on itself.
I won't let it show that I'm not always flying
So on the way down
I'll watch you burn
After packing up all the evidence and changing into fresh clothes that didn't reek of smoke and light fluid, Gabriel climbed back in his car and headed back to Manhattan. Reaching over, he picked up his phone and found that he had seven missed calls from Eleanor. Still recovering from his sense of euphoria, Gabriel rolled down the window and threw his phone into the harbor.
He was finally free.
That was rather anticlimactic, don't you agree? It's not over yet, though. So don't get too relaxed. Keep reviewing though, and speculations are still more than welcome. You guys are awesome.
~As the Rush Comes~
Disclaimer: I don't own Step Up, Everything Burns by Anastacia, or Burn by Three Days Grace