Gabriel raised his hand, and the shadows recoiled, hissing like snakes.
"Leave," he commanded, his voice resonating with a power Destini couldn't comprehend.
The shadows hesitated but eventually dissipated, melting into the walls.
Gabriel turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't have come here."
"I had to," she said, her voice trembling. "I know there's something going on in this building, and I know you're hiding it. Those… things… they're connected to you, aren't they?"
Gabriel's jaw tightened. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Then tell me," she pressed. "What are you so afraid of?"
He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"You think I'm protecting you," he said finally, his voice soft but laced with bitterness. "But the truth is, I should've killed you the moment you stepped into this place."
Destini froze, her heart pounding.
"Why haven't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel didn't answer. Instead, he turned and walked toward the door.
"Stay out of the 13th floor," he said without looking back. "Next time, I won't save you."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Destini alone in the dark, her mind racing with more questions than ever.