The next day, Destini decided to explore the building further. She'd overheard a neighbor mention a "restricted floor" that no one seemed to have access to. If Gabriel was hiding something, that was the place to start.
Armed with her phone and a shaky sense of determination, she took the elevator to the 13th floor—the one floor she'd never seen anyone enter or leave.
The doors opened to reveal a dimly lit hallway, the air heavy and cold. She hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to turn back. But then she remembered Gabriel's warning, the way he'd looked at her as if she were already doomed.
"Too late to chicken out now," she muttered to herself.
She stepped into the hallway, her footsteps echoing on the polished floor. The walls were lined with ornate carvings, strange symbols she couldn't decipher. At the end of the hall, a single door stood ajar, light spilling out into the darkness.
Her heart pounded as she approached, her hand trembling as she pushed the door open.
Inside, she found what looked like an old study—shelves lined with leather-bound books, a massive desk cluttered with papers, and a large painting on the wall that made her stomach drop.
It was Gabriel. Or at least, it looked like him.
The painting depicted a man who could've been his twin, standing in a dark forest with a blood-red sky behind him. But his eyes weren't brown—they were gold, glowing with an otherworldly light.
"What the…"
"Get out."
The voice came from behind her, sharp and commanding. She spun around to find Gabriel standing in the doorway, his expression colder than she'd ever seen.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"I was just—"
"I don't care," he snapped, stepping closer. "This isn't a game, Destini. You've crossed a line."
Her mouth went dry. "Gabriel, I—"
Before she could finish, the lights flickered, and the room seemed to darken. Gabriel's eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time, she felt the full weight of his presence.
It wasn't human.
"Go," he said, his voice like a growl. "Now."
Terrified, Destini turned and fled, the sound of the door slamming behind her echoing in her ears.