Page 31 of Drag You Down
I wonder if she’s looked in the compost.
I wonder if she’s seen the lamb.
I wonder if sheknowssomething.
It’s paranoia, all of it. At least, I need it to be, because the idea that she might know anything at all has me even more on edge.
I tuck everything into my shopping bag and turn, hurrying back into the crowd.
The feeling of being watched returns, and I stop short. A man bumps into me from behind, snarling out a curse, but he steps around me with a dark look before continuing down the street. I can’t bring myself to care about his irritation.
I look around me, trying to find where Gabriel could be hiding.
The Devil could be everywhere. His presence is ubiquitous, and no matter what I do, I can’t escape it.
I can’t escape him.
I clutch my bag tighter and jog the rest of the way to the apartment building. I try the door, relieved that it’s unlocked.
Had I locked it on the way out? I must have forgotten to do that.
I lock it now, sighing in relief when the door is firmly shut.
I look out through the door’s dusty glass pane.
Gabriel is standing on the other side of the street. He waves to me with a sinister smile, and I freeze in my tracks.
I have the sudden, bizarre urge to go back outside and confront him, to find out why he’s here — to find out what I need to do to get him to leave me alone even though I know it’s a terrible idea.
He’s dangerous.
He’sstalking me.
I need him to stop.
I square my shoulders and unlock the door, crossing the street before I can stop my feet from moving. Once I’m directly in front of him, I say with only a small tremble in my voice, “You need to leave. You need tostop.”
“What have I done?” Gabriel asks. He raises his hand. I need to back away, but I donothingas he gently strokes my cheek. “You’re all flustered, pretty lamb.”
I should pull away, but instead, I find myself leaning into his touch. “The businessman,” I blurt out. “You killed him. Why?”
“What businessman?” Gabriel asks. “What’s your last name, Levi? You never told me.”
“You know who I’m talking about,” I say, ignoring his question. “Why?”
Thou shalt not kill.
Despite what scripture he’d quoted at me, it doesn’t erase the fact that that’s the most important. Murder, adultery, taking the Lord’s name in vain… It’s allthere. It’s all indisputable.
Gabriel sighs softly. “I actually don’t know. When’s your birthday? So I can get you a nice gift.”
I remember the watch, and despite how much I wish I’d kept it, I know taking gifts from this man would lead to nothing good. “I don’t want your presents. And I meanthisbusinessman!”
I pull the newspaper out of my bag and shove it against his chest.
He takes several steps back, leading me out of the flow of foot traffic that has been going around us. We’re up against the building by the time Gabriel takes the paper and glances at the front page. I notice his lip curl in distaste.
“Oh. Him. Well, whatever happened to him, he deserved it.”
