The lights in her apartment flickered, and a chill crept through the air. Destini paused, the book in her lap, as a low creaking sound echoed from the hallway.
She stood, heart racing. "Hello?"
When no one answered, she opened the door. The hallway was empty, but the shadows seemed darker, thicker. She took a cautious step forward, and that's when she saw him.
Gabriel leaned against the wall a few feet away, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"I should be asking you the same question," he said coldly. "That book… it doesn't belong to you."
Destini instinctively hugged the book to her chest. "I found it in my apartment. What's it to you?"
Gabriel took a step closer, and she felt the air grow heavier. His eyes, sharp and unrelenting, seemed to pierce straight through her. "You don't know what you're dealing with. Stay out of things that don't concern you."
"Are you threatening me?" she shot back, trying to mask her fear with defiance.
"Call it a warning." His voice was low, dangerous. "This isn't your world, Destini. You'd do well to remember that."
And with that, he turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving her trembling and confused.