He couldn’t move and couldn’t speak; it was all stuck inside him.

Why was she gone? Why had she run away; in the beginning and again now? What did he do that was so wrong to make her want to have a new life, possibly with someone new? She’d never contacted him since that day that she left. Not a single phone call, not a letter. He couldn’t even sense her anymore. All his hopes of Gabrielle returning were slowly dwindling away.

He watched Gabrielle racing away, away from him. Hand in hand with someone, but he couldn’t make out who. He could feel her spirit slowly starting to leave him, maybe for good, a feeling he was beginning to dread. His spirit became more and more vacant with each step she took.

Raven pulled Gabrielle around the alley corner, running further into the dark street. Edge balled his hands into fists as he gazed back into the club. He took one last look down the empty alley and knew he had to try. Try to catch her to make her see how much he loved her and that they were to be together always.

Christian was discussing further arrangements concerning Gabrielle with Kael when he heard his name echoing through the club. He got up quickly, his body tensing as he hurried out to see Edge, knocking down a waiter in the process. By the tone in Edge’s voice, the fear in his gut; he knew something was wrong.

Edge grabbed Christian's collar pulling him further outside letting the bulky steel door slam shut behind him. "She was here…"

"What’s wrong, man? Who was - " the next minute seemed to happen in slow motion when Christian heard Edge say Gabrielle’s name. His body tensed as he stared at his big brother, wanting to ignore the look of fear on his face.

"Edge…" he stammered. "She’s been gone for a while, maybe you just think…"

He grabbed Christian by the scruff of the neck, squeezing tighter trying to quiet down Christian’s words. "I know what I saw. She was here." He let go of Christian, slowly taking a few paces forward. "She went down this way." Edge ran his fingers though his hair uncertainly. "She went down the block and then she was gone."

Christian kept an eye on his brother as he slowly headed down the alley, his step getting quicker with every second.

"Where are you going? She gone."

Edge never turned back to answer, never stopped. He thought that if he kept going, he’d be able to find her.

Christian swore through gritted teeth, chasing after Edge. He had to make sure Edge wouldn’t find her. He didn’t know how he was going to slow him down though. When Edge was this determined, nothing could stand in his way. Hopefully Raven had taken her home by now. That would buy Christian some time to try to convince Edge that Gabrielle wasn’t ever returning, then no one would have to get hurt or worse off… killed.

Christian’s adrenaline was pumping, the blood of his latest victim boiling in his veins as he approached Edge at an intersection. Edge studied all 4 corners, trying to get a better idea of which road she went down. Gabrielle could smell Gabrielle’s perfume and knew she was still close, close enough to be found.

He tried to calm Edge down and make him think about the situation, but it was no use. Before he could get out any words Edge was tearing off the road. "Gabrielle!" he called out frantically. "Where are you?"

Gabrielle stopped, jerking her arm free. "Did you hear that?" She could hear her name being carried over by the wind. She looked behind her but the streets were bare. Raven peered over her shoulder and saw no one but knew that they were close. He tried to grab at Gabrielle’s arm again but she pulled away. "We have to go."

"Where? What aren’t you telling me Raven?"

"I’ve told you everything," but before he could continue Edges call cut in closer.

Gabrielle looked back again expecting to see someone there, but turned back to Raven once more. "Then who’s that calling for me?"

"I’ll explain it all to you later," he promised. "But right now we gotta go."

"Explain it now," she pleaded, making sure she was far enough from him. "I’m not going anywhere till you do."

Ravens face became red with anger as he approached her, forcefully grabbing a hold of her arm. "I’m not playing games anymore and you don’t make demands. We’re leaving," he hissed, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "Now!"

Gabrielle remembered back to that night in the bathroom. Spider had warned her to watch herself, but from who? Did Spider mean from Raven or the unknown man calling her name.

"Gabrielle where are you?" Edge called out worried, slowing down at the next corner.

Gabrielle took a slight step back watching the fury in Ravens eyes and knew he would be angry at what she was to do next. She had to find out who he was and how he knew her. Maybe then she’d feel whole about her life before Raven. She called out to him softly. "I’m here…"

Edge stopped in his tracks, catching the faint call from his love, and burst down the road in her direction.

"You shouldn’t have done that." Ravens gaze almost burnt into her as he grabbed her arm tighter, dragging her furiously towards an abandon building. Gabrielle tripped over a fallen wine bottle, her knees getting scratched up beneath her. Raven helped her up swiftly, pulling her inside. He shut the door behind them, hauling her to the back of the warehouse. Gabrielle hid as he had ordered and watched him, sneaking behind a crate to get a better look out the window.

Gabrielle was getting scared. She’d never seen Raven this worried before and knew that if he were then something big was about to happen. "Raven, what’s going on? Who is that?"

Raven hushed her, examining their surroundings as he saw Edge near. He silently rushed over to Gabrielle scooping her up. He fixed his eyes on hers, covering her mouth tightly as he tried to slow his breathing. He clutched her tightly against him and pressed their bodies into a crevice in the wall. "I’ll tell you on the way home, but first we gotta get the hell outta here. He’s right outside." He glared into her eyes, shooting her a look of seriousness. "Now I’m going to take my hand off your mouth, and if you scream I will kill you. Understood?"

Gabrielle nodded, her body in both panic and fear.

They both held their breath as the warehouse door creaked open. Gabrielle closed her eyes worriedly as he called out her name. Raven pressed his mouth to her ear and told her to move towards the back entrance, slowly and quietly. He waited till Edge started looking through the other end of the warehouse and calmly let go of Gabrielle, Her body shaking beneath his.

Christian finally caught up to his brother. Stopping at the doorway to assess the situation. He watched for a brief moment as Edge began looking around corners and boxes for any sign of Gabrielle being there.

Christian ran his hand behind his neck, rubbing away the kink. This had all gone way to far and needed to be stopped soon. He felt trickles of blood running down his back as he dug his nails deeper into his skin. Why did Gabrielle have to love Edge? Why was it always Edge? Why did every woman they ever met go to Edge first and foremost? If Edge weren’t there, then nothing would stop Gabrielle from being able to fall in love with Christian. He knew what he had to do… to be able to love and be able to be sane again. No matter what happened, he’d be there to pick up the pieces. He watched as Gabrielle and Raven snuck out the back entrance, disappearing into the night, then turned his focus back to Edge.

Christian grabbed at his shirt, tearing off a piece into his hands. He bent down scooping up the half empty bottle of wine that was by his feet, stuffing the strip of fabric into the neck of the bottle.

A single tear ran down his cheek as he dug his hand into his pocket, pulling out a lighter. He took one last look at his brother before tossing the bottle inside, watching it shatter into a sea of flames.

He listened to his brother’s yells as he shut the door, the blaze dancing on his face.

He had done everything for his brother his whole life. Everything was always about Edge. This time. It was Christian’s turn to live.