𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤

32.''Darkness lets the stars shine bright.''

32. "Darkness lets the stars shine bright."

☆:*'¨'*:..:*'¨'*:.☆

Suddenly, a quiet rumbling noise ruptured the stillness of the night.

Startled, Gabriel mirrored my reaction, gently withdrawing his lips to peer into the encompassing darkness. The noise grew louder, coming from my right. My attempt to discern any shapes was futile; the impenetrable darkness concealed even the most menacing of silhouettes.

And then a light blinded us.

I gasped, as I remained motionless on Gabriel's lap, clutching onto him instinctively. His arm encircled my waist and pulled me deeper into the haven of his protective embrace.

It was a police car pulling up behind us, casting an intense spotlight that thrust us into sudden visibility.

Red and blue flashes erupted around us, engulfing us in a disorienting whirlwind of light. The blaring headlights thrust themselves into our startled faces. Panic surged - What was going on? Were we about to be caught?

"What do we do?" I gasped, frantically scrambling off his lap. In my haste, I bumped my head against the hood of the car, but I could barely register the physical pain amidst the overwhelming turmoil churning in my mind. Venomous worry consumed me. Fear raced through my thoughts - I was worried we would be thrown in human jail or worse, the chilling possibility that the Seven could discover us. The ominous threat of the unknown hovering over us was like an impending storm.

"Just relax, I've got you," Gabriel crooned, his voice a serpent's whisper, smooth yet carrying a hint of venom.

At the sound of the car door slamming shut, I shrunk back into the seat, nerves pricking at my skin.

A uniformed officer emerged, his flashlight dancing across our stranded vehicle.

"Follow my lead," Gabriel instructed, with brisk authority, and he certainly didn't wait for an answer as he seamlessly exited the car.

In a hasty attempt to compose myself before following him out, I discreetly checked my clothes, ensuring nothing had shifted from its intended place and that I wasn't about to be arrested for flashing a police officer.

"Is there a problem here?" A calm and authoritative voice called out. The bright light and the peaked visor cap masked the officer's face.

"No, Officer," Gabriel replied tersely, his jaw rigid.

"Well, it seems to me that there is a problem." The officer stepped forward, his hand resting on his holster. "You're driving a stolen vehicle."

My heartbeat spiked at his words, fear tightening its grip. We encountered an unexpected situation that was not in the scheme of things. All this time I was worried about the wolves that were chasing us, that I hadn't anticipated a threat from the human world.