*CHAPTER 3*I don't own GARGOYLES. I do own Gabrielle Garnette, and any other OC's you've seen thus far and will see in the future, like the old cardiologist guy and Werk and any other character that's not originally in the show/comic.
So, if you don't own it, don't steal it. Please and thank you. ^^
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A tiny voice in the back of Gabrielle's head screamed at her to not look into the city and realize how far up she was. She could barely believe that she had even come up the steps. Then again, she had worked so hard on helping Brooklyn that she couldn't have afforded to compromise her concentration. Retreating from the view of the sunrise, Gabrielle collapsed, shaking to the point that it was annoying and even painful.
Gabrielle rested the side of her head on Brooklyn's knee. Tears streamed down across her nose and onto the stone figure of her new friend. She hoped that he couldn't hear or see while he was in that state, for she would be most embarrassed if he could. She would hate it if he—if anyone—saw her in such a pitiful state. As a nurse, she was used to putting on the air of being secure and strong. Now, she couldn't even pretend that for the sake of others or herself.
Gabrielle felt bile rise from the pit of her stomach. She moaned, willing it to stay down. Gabrielle couldn't believe what was happening to her.
She was having an anxiety attack, plain and simple.
Gabrielle had always pitied those who had had an attack. But now, she was afraid if she was able to control it herself. If she couldn't, how far would it go?
Gabrielle took some deep but unsteady breaths to calm herself down and to slow her heart rate. When her worry subsided and her thoughts cleared, Gabrielle realized what she had to do.
She had to climb down the stairs.
Three full flights of stairs.
Gabrielle sighed and shook her head. She could barely hold back from asking herself out loud, "How did I even make it up here?" She held the back of her head, a headache forming from her episode of panic. Of course, she was still in a state of panic and slight hysterics, but she was starting to overcome it.
Blinded by her relentless tears (which she was somewhat thankful for so she couldn't see how high up she was), Gabrielle slowly made her way down the fire escape. For most of the journey, she was dizzy and clung to the railing. She was careful to not miss a step and trip, though she did anyway every now and again.
Her heart would speed up and she would quickly pray that she wouldn't die this way, and would then carry one bravely.
When she finally made it to the ground, she was tempted to kiss it. She saw the men that had tried to kill her earlier. One of them was just getting out of the dumpster when he saw her and froze. "That—that thing won't hurt us, will it?"
The one on the ground stirred at his companion's voice and sat up. He spotted Gabrielle and scowled. "What are you still doing here?"
Gabrielle, ignoring the tear stains on her face, did her best to pull herself together and to appear to have the upper hand. She waited until she knew her voice wouldn't crack, but forced her features to seem smug and at ease, like she was teasing them. "I should be asking you the same thing." She smiled thinly. "He's with me. If you're nice to me, I'll make sure he doesn't kill you. It'll be tough, because he really wants to." Gabrielle hoped that they would believe her bluff. She actually wasn't so sure about the last part.
She remembered that somewhere along the line the ancient gargoyles had made a pact of some sort with the first of the civilized humans. For a while they protected each other, but somewhere along the line, mistrust had plagued the minds of humans and gargoyles.
Though, Gabrielle thought, not so much gargoyles as for humans.
They both visibly changed. The plump one finally fell out of the trash. "You—you wouldn't really do that, would you?"
Gabrielle scoffed, hoping she wasn't pushing it. "Of course I would. It was pretty obvious what you wanted to do to me."
The thinner one paled. "Look, we just need to make a buck like everyone else in New York. You can't fault us for that, can you?" He stood, facing his palms upward as if he were at a loss. "I mean, there are so many people out there just like us. Sometimes worse. We're just trying to make our way through this world like everyone else. Just like you." His speech was too sweet, his voice too syrupy.
Gabrielle shook her head slowly, as if she were a teacher disappointed in a pupil. She realized he was bluffing, too. He was trying to make himself seem like a tragic figure, a victim. "No, I don't think so. I don't care. You didn't have to go that far." She placed her hands on her hips as if she were frustrated with a tedious task. "Just get out of here before I summon him again."
Then two exchanged a look of disbelief and fright and quickly ran off in the opposite direction of which Gabrielle was standing.
Gabrielle let her arms fall to her sides and her shoulders slumped from the fatigue of feigning confidence. "If I'm lucky, I'll be able to sleep again after this." She grumbled to herself, turning out of the alley to head up to her apartment.
Gabrielle took the elevator because she knew her legs would never have been able to carry her back up three stories. When she finally reached her apartment and flopped on her bed, she turned her head away from the mattress and stared blankly out the window. She saw the back of Brooklyn, frozen. He was hunched over and no longer flesh, but he was still not one to be reckoned with even as a statue.
She felt safer somehow, knowing that there was something—someone—to protect her. She was able to drift off to sleep, even after all that.
Please Read and Review. I truly appreciate them! They keep me motivated and confident :-D
So, R&R!
Thank you