The Man Everyone Abandoned

A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid

Elias struggled to get any sleep that night. Even though the room Gabriel had provided was warm, dry, and finally quiet, he couldn't stop thinking. For the first time since the fire, he could lie down without listening for footsteps in the hall, but sleep just wouldn't come.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his father's face and heard that final, terrible gunshot. He lay there staring at the ceiling and wondering why his dad had kept so many secrets about the Black Archive, the pendant, and Gabriel himself. Everything felt like a confusing puzzle he couldn't solve.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he sat up to see who it was.

"Who is it?"

"It's Gabriel," a voice replied.

Elias opened the door and found Gabriel standing there holding a cup of tea.

"You haven't eaten," Gabriel said.

"I'm not hungry," Elias answered.

"That's what people say when they're broke," Gabriel noted.

Elias frowned slightly. "I have money."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out the remaining bills. "This is enough for the room."

Gabriel looked at the money and shook his head. "Keep it."

"I can't," Elias insisted.

"You can."

"No, sir." Elias held the money out to him, feeling a sudden need to be independent. "I don't want to owe you anything."

Gabriel studied him carefully. "Why?"

"Because my father taught me not to depend on people."

Gabriel gave a faint smile. "Your father taught you that?"

"Yes."

"He taught you some strange things," Gabriel mused.

Elias frowned. "You knew him."

Gabriel's smile disappeared quickly. "I knew enough."

Elias looked at the money in his hand with determination. "I'll pay you."

"You've already paid."

"I haven't."

"You came through my door alive." Gabriel turned away, signaling that the conversation was over. "That's enough for today."

Elias shook his head, wanting to be useful. "Then give me something to do."

Gabriel stopped walking. "What?"

"Work," Elias said firmly.

"You want work?"

"I need it."

Gabriel turned around and looked him over. "You've never worked a day in this building."

"I can learn."

"You don't even know what needs fixing."

"Then show me."

For several seconds, Gabriel said nothing while he just looked at the boy. Finally, he sighed. "Fine."

He pointed down the hallway and listed several tasks. "The basement has a leaking pipe. The kitchen sink on the third floor is blocked. Mrs. Dawson's door doesn't lock properly."

Elias nodded, ready to start right away. "I'll fix them."

"And there's a pile of broken furniture behind the building."

"I'll handle it," Elias promised.

Gabriel stared at him with concern. "You know you can rest, right?"

Elias shook his head. "I've rested enough."

Something about that answer made Gabriel look away as if it reminded him of someone else. "Come downstairs after breakfast."

Elias smiled faintly. "Thank you."

Gabriel walked away, but after a few steps, he stopped. "Elias."

"Yes?"

"Your father..." He hesitated and chose his words carefully. "...would have been proud of that answer."

Elias's smile disappeared, and Gabriel continued down the hallway before the boy could ask what he meant.

By noon, Elias was covered in dust from repairing the leaking pipe, fixing Mrs. Dawson's door, and unclogging the kitchen sink. When Gabriel came downstairs later, he found Elias tightening a loose pipe beneath the sink and looked surprised.

"You actually fixed it," Gabriel said.

Elias wiped his forehead with pride. "You sounded surprised."

"I was."

Elias smiled. "How much do I owe you?"

Gabriel laughed. "Nothing."

"Then deduct it from my rent."

"You don't have rent."

"Then I'll work until I do."

Gabriel shook his head, looking impressed. "Stubborn."

"My father said it was one of my worst qualities."

Gabriel's expression softened. "Maybe it was one of your best."

Elias looked at him, wanting to ask more, but Gabriel walked away.

That evening, Elias sat alone in his room with a full stomach and sore hands, feeling slightly human again for the first time in days.

He pulled the pendant from beneath his shirt and let the strange symbol catch the light.

Why did Dad give me this?

He turned it over, but there was nothing besides the strange crest.

Elias sighed and placed it back beneath his shirt, having no idea that downstairs, Gabriel was staring at an old, faded photograph of himself smiling beside David Kane.

Between them stood an elegant woman whose face had been carefully cut away, and Gabriel's fingers tightened around the picture.

"You should never have been involved," he whispered, staring at David. "You promised me he'd never be dragged into this." A knock came at the door, and Gabriel immediately folded the photograph.

"Who is it?"

"Elias." Gabriel froze. "Yes?"

"Do you need anything?"

"No." A pause followed. "Goodnight, Gabriel."

"Goodnight."

Footsteps faded upstairs, and Gabriel waited until he was certain Elias had left before he returned his attention to the photograph. His eyes settled on the missing face.

For years he had kept it hidden and told himself the past was dead, but now Elias had arrived and the past had finally found him.

Gabriel walked outside behind the building and struck a match to illuminate his tired face as he held the photograph over the flame.

For a moment he hesitated, but then he let go and watched as the photograph caught fire. David's smiling face disappeared first, then Gabriel's, and the mysterious woman's body turned black.

Just before the flames consumed the entire thing, Gabriel noticed something written on the back, and his eyes widened as he quickly pulled it from the fire, burning his fingers.

"Ah!" He dropped it, and the remaining piece landed on the wet ground. Gabriel crouched and picked it up to see that only three words remained visible: SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

Gabriel stared at the words, his breathing unsteady. "No..." He looked toward the apartment building and the room where Elias was sleeping. Then he whispered, "David... what have you done?"

Above him, Elias stood silently behind his bedroom curtain, having seen the flames and seen Gabriel hiding something. For the first time, Elias wondered if the old man who had given him shelter could be trusted at all.