The day passed with the same slow monotony as every other week that looked exactly like the last. Classes came and went in a blur of rustling paper, clacking keyboards, and monotonous voices. Gabriel listened with half an ear, jotting down the key points without caring to remember the rest. What he really wanted was to reach the end of the day and go home just like always.
Yet, as he left the lecture hall that afternoon, he felt that gaze on him again. Jane was sitting on a bench, a diary in her hand, writing with an almost aggressive focus. As he passed by, she lifted her head, glanced at him briefly, then went back to her notes.
For a second, he considered speaking to her to ask what she was writing. But he kept walking, as if curiosity was a weakness he refused to allow himself.
The hall was almost empty. The fading sunlight spilled through the wide glass panes, tinting the walls a soft orange. That's when a hesitant voice called out.
"Uh… excuse me…"
He turned. A young woman stood a few steps away, hands clasped in front of her, head slightly lowered as if searching for the right words. Brown hair, large dark eyes, a fragile air that contrasted with the determination he could sense in her stance.
"Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Sera. I... I wanted to tell you... I've been watching you for a while now and I think I like you" she whispered.
Gabriel didn't move. He had no idea who she was.
"I know it's out of nowhere, but… would you like to meet up tonight?"
He thought about refusing, out of habit, but something in her tone, in the clumsy sincerity of her words made him hesitate.
"…Alright," he finally replied.
She smiled, almost in relief, as if she'd feared public humiliation.
"Let's meet at 8 p.m., in front of Montlieu Park?"
"Fine."
The rest of the afternoon felt even longer. Back at his desk, he stared at his computer screen without managing to focus. Her words kept replaying in his mind, accompanied by that strange feeling that had followed him since morning as if something had been set in motion around him without his knowledge.
At 7:50 p.m., he was already at the park's entrance. The streetlights were just starting to flicker on, casting faint halos over the empty paths. She arrived exactly on time, wearing a light-colored coat. Her movements were fluid, almost silent.
They walked for a while, making small talk about their studies, the city, the places she liked to wander. Her voice had something calming about it, and Gabriel found himself relaxing, forgetting for a moment the constant tension weighing on him.
Then, as the hours passed, the conversation shifted. She began speaking of… stranger things. Her sentences became more peculiar, peppered with words that had no place in an ordinary exchange.
"You know… I think the world isn't what they told us. Maybe there are ancient, invisible forces some that guard, others that destroy…"
Gabriel frowned slightly but said nothing. She went on, her voice lower.
"Angels, demons, the beings they call the Fallen… I'm certain they exist. They're just… well hidden."
They stopped by an old bench beneath a gnarled oak. She looked him in the eye, and for the first time since they'd met, her smile faded.
"I suppose it's time."
She took a step back, rolled her shoulders… and in a single fluid motion, two enormous black wings burst from her back, their feathers spreading in a deep, resonant rustle. The contrast with the artificial streetlight made the scene feel unreal almost sacred.
Gabriel didn't move, surprised but not afraid. The stories, the legends, everything that seemed like fairy tales or religious myths… he now had proof before his eyes.
"What do you want? Why show me all this now?" he asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
Her smile returned, but it had lost all warmth.
"Your soul."
A heavy silence fell over the park. Gabriel knew instantly that if a fight broke out, he wouldn't stand a chance against her. And yet, he felt his muscles tighten. Something deep within him, an old and primal instinct, roared to life as if it had always been there. He was ready to fight. Even if it was useless. Even if victory was impossible.
She took a step forward, her wings folding slightly around her. Her eyes gleamed with something dangerous.
"Oh… what's with that look? Planning to defend yourself? We'll see about that…" she murmured.
Gabriel inhaled slowly and clenched his fists. He had no idea what was about to happen. But he knew he wouldn't back down.