Angel on a Mission

Chapter 18

Gabrielle's POV

My classes have finally come to an end, and after gathering my belongings, I took the time to clean my desk thoroughly before leaving the classroom.

Once I finished tidying up, I made my way to my locker.

As I walked through the hallway, several of my classmates greeted me warmly, and I returned their greetings with a smile and a cheerful response.

When I finally reached my locker, I placed a few items inside and took a moment to organize it a bit better.

After I locked it up, I immediately spotted Mika and Bella waiting for me.

"So, is this Art guy picking you up today?" Bella inquired, her tone curious.

I gave her a nod in response.

"He is. Why do you ask?" I replied, even though I had a pretty good idea of what was behind her question.

"Oh, we just want to catch a glimpse of him. Just to see if he really looks like a trustworthy guy," Mika chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at their enthusiasm.

"You want to meet Art?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Both girls nodded eagerly.

"Alright, that sounds like fun. I think Art would be happy about that," I said, my heart warming at the thought of them all getting along.

Mika and Bella each took hold of one of my arms, practically pulling me along.

"Awesome! Let’s go and meet him!" Bella exclaimed excitedly.

They half-dragged, half-escorted me through the bustling hallways and out of the campus, making our way to the parking lot.

Once outside, they began scanning the area.

"How long do you think it’ll be until he gets here?" Bella asked, her gaze darting around.

I scanned the parking lot myself and soon spotted a familiar vehicle pulling up.

"Ah, there he is!" I announced, smiling as I pointed in Art's direction.

Mika and Bella turned to follow my gaze, their expressions turning a mix of intrigue and excitement.

Art stepped out of the car and looked over at us with a friendly smile.

I glanced back at Mika and Bella, who were both eagerly staring at Art.

Returning my gaze to him, I saw that he was making his way toward us while waving cheerfully.

Bella’s mouth slightly dropped open in awe, and Mika's wide eyes were filled with a combination of admiration and surprise.

I chuckled softly to myself, enjoying the moment.

"Gabrielle!" Art called out as he approached.

"Hi, Art!" I replied, feeling my heart flutter slightly.

Art turned his attention to my friends, his expression friendly.

"And you must be Mikaela and Bella, right? It’s great to meet you both. I'm Art, and I'm a good friend of Gabrielle's, or as she prefers to be called, Elle," he introduced himself warmly.

I caught sight of Mika and Bella exchanging glances, both slightly taken aback, and I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

I nudged them playfully.

"Wow, okay, umm… yeah," Bella stammered, extending her hand.

"I’m Bella. Hi, it’s really nice to meet you!" she said as Art took her hand and shook it, her hair being tucked nervously behind her ear.

I watched in fascination, noting the thoughts running through Bella's mind loud and clear.

'Wow. He looks like a dream.'

'He really does look like an artist—a masterpiece, even.'

'Dang, he’s hot!'

I bit my lower lip, trying to contain my laughter as I looked down, amused by my best friend's train of thought.

Art appeared unfazed, but I could tell he was picking up on their thoughts as well.

He then turned to Mika, who was suddenly flustered.

Mika quickly averted her gaze and extended her hand with some trepidation.

"And I’m M-Mikaela," she introduced herself, her voice quivering slightly.

Art shook her hand, and I noticed she gulped again, clearly flustered by Art's presence.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard wonderful things about you. Thank you for being such great friends to Gabrielle," Art said with a genuine smile.

Mika and Bella both nodded, slightly bashful under Art’s attention.

He looked back at me, his expression thoughtful.

"Do you want to spend a bit more time with your friends? I can wait in the car; I don't mind," Art offered kindly.

The girls’ eyes met mine, silently urging me to stay.

"Well, we don’t really—" I was about to explain when suddenly...

"Bella!"

We all turned to see who had called her name and saw Alexander striding towards us, wearing a frown that made the air tense.

I noticed Bella's expression shift instantly.

"Uh-uh. Not today," she muttered while casting a nervous glance at me.

"You guys should probably go, but we can meet again sometime for a drink?" she proposed, her tone hopeful yet anxious.

Art nodded in agreement, and so did I.

Bella smiled appreciatively and then turned to Art, her face still slightly flushed.

"It’s nice to meet you, Art. Please take good care of our precious Elle," she emphasized, her tone playful yet protective.

With that, Bella grabbed Mika's arm.

"I need your help with this one," she said. Without another word, she dragged Mika along as they hurried toward Alexander.

Art and I exchanged glances and shrugged, a mixture of bemusement and amusement evident in our expressions.

"Shall we go? I don't think your friend wants us hanging around any longer," Art suggested, his tone teasing but understanding.

I nodded in agreement, grateful that Art was so considerate.

Together, we walked to his car, and he opened the door for me before climbing in himself.

Once inside, I spotted Bella trying to reason with Alexander outside through the window.

Art noticed and sighed, speaking a bit more solemnly.

"Yeah, that guy isn’t fond of me," he remarked, and I turned to look at him.

"He’s not fond of a lot of people; it’s just how he is," I assured him with a sympathetic smile.

Art nodded and started the engine. Just as we were pulling away from the school, I heard Alexander call my name.

"Martinez!" he shouted.

I turned in my seat, seeing Bella struggling to pull Alexander back.

"Should I stop?" Art asked, glancing briefly at me.

"No, it’s fine. Just go," I replied, appreciating that Art was respecting my desire to escape the situation.

Art nodded, and we continued to drive away from the school, the atmosphere in the car lightening as we left the tension behind us.

"Well, that was certainly interesting," Art commented, and we both shared a chuckle.

After a short drive, we finally arrived at his place.

"I'm just going to wash up really quick," I told Art as I stepped out of the car.

"Sure, no problem. I’ll prepare a snack for us since it’s still too early for dinner," he replied, waving as I walked away.

I nodded and went to the guest room, where I set my bag down before heading to the bathroom.

I quickly showered, dried myself off, and changed into an oversized knitted sweater paired with cozy pajamas.

After drying my hair with a towel, I exited the guest room and made my way to the living room.

To my surprise, I found a delightful array of snacks already set up on the table, clearly prepared by Art. Curious, I peeked into the kitchen.

Art was busy preparing drinks for us.

"I'm all done," I announced, causing him to turn around and glance at me.

He chuckled softly. "Great! I’ll be with you in just a moment," he said, offering a warm smile.

I nodded and returned to the living room, settling in as I waited for Art to join me.

Just then, my ringtone blared throughout the room, causing me to rush back to the guest room to grab my phone.

It was Bella calling, and I answered it, curious about why she was reaching out since we had just been together at school.

Reluctantly, I figured it might be important, so I picked up the call.

"Hello?" I greeted her.

"Hey! Hi! Um, sorry about earlier," she said, her voice sounding apologetic.

"What are you so sorry for?" I asked, slightly furrowing my brow in confusion.

"Oh, you know...my brother," she said, trailing off with an awkward laugh.

"Oh, Alexander. Is everything alright?" I asked, my concern growing.

"Kind of. Maybe? I guess?" Bella responded with hesitation.

"What happened?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"Oh, it’s nothing major. Anyway, let’s change the topic. Did you guys get home safely?" she asked, her tone shifting.

"Yes, of course! Did you all get home alright?" I asked back, genuinely concerned.

"Well, Mika just left, and I’m waiting for a ride since my brother won't be able to give me one," she replied, her voice reflecting her frustration.

"Oh. Why not?" I asked, puzzled.

Bella let out an awkward laugh on the other end of the line.

"Nothing really. Anyway, I wanted to talk about the possibility of us meeting Art again—together, of course," she proposed excitedly.

"Oh yeah, sure!" I said, smiling at the idea of them getting to know one another further.

"Nice! You were right. Art really does seem like a very trustworthy guy from the looks of it and the way he talks, stands, walks, and everything," Bella said, her tone dotted with admiration.

I chuckled, knowing exactly where this was headed.

Just then, a knock interrupted us.

"Yes?" I called out.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" Art's voice came from outside the door.

"Yeah, sure. That sounds nice," I replied enthusiastically.

"Okay, I’ll put one on and wait for you," he said before I heard him walk away.

I returned my attention to my phone.

"Oh, um, Bella, I need to go. Is that okay?" I said hastily.

"Of course! Let's talk again some other time," she said cheerfully.

"Absolutely! I’ll see you again tomorrow," I replied, feeling relieved that we made plans to meet again.

We said our goodbyes and ended the call.

Stepping out of my room, I rejoined Art in the living room.

"Your friend called?" he asked, glancing at me.

I nodded, feeling a bit guilty for having to rush her off the phone.

"She was just checking in," I explained, settling beside him on the couch.

Art nodded as we prepared to watch the movie together while enjoying the delicious snack he had set out for us.

Halfway through the film, Art’s phone beeped with an unusual sound that I recognized.

We exchanged worried glances and quickly stood up as he grabbed his phone, scanning the notification.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

"It's a joint mission," he said, showing me his phone screen.

Oh.

This was unexpected and serious.

"Let’s go," he urged, determination in his tone, and I nodded, feeling a sense of urgency as well.

Art grabbed his car keys, and we rushed out of his place.

We stepped into the elevator still dressed in our lounge wear, but once we reached the ground floor, we both transformed into completely different clothing, ready for whatever was ahead.

Art and I quickly dashed out of the building and jumped into his car.

With a swift turn of the key, he drove off without hesitation, pressing on the gas and expertly weaving through the streets.

In a matter of moments, we arrived at a park, where we both disembarked, scanning the surroundings.

"We should split up," he suggested, his expression solid and focused.

I nodded in agreement, feeling the exhilaration of the mission ahead.

"Gabrielle," Art called, and I turned to face him.

"Be careful," he reminded me, concern etched in his face.

"I will," I assured him with a determined smile before we each took off in different directions.

I glanced around, desperately searching for a familiar face among the crowd.

Then, I spotted her.

Walking closer, I noticed her scanning the area, a sense of apprehension in her demeanor.

Biting the inside of my lower lip, I approached her cautiously, my heart pounding.

She suddenly turned, and our eyes met.

Her brows furrowed deeply, and she took a step back, reaching for something concealed behind her.

I froze in place, panic rising in my throat.

Taking a deep breath, I glanced around, realizing there were far too many people in the vicinity.

So many.

In the distance, I caught sight of Art; he had successfully located his target. I was still focused on the woman in front of me.

"Hi. You must be Lilia," I said, attempting to sound calm and collected.

I watched her brows furrow even more.

"How do you know my name?" she demanded, suspicion clouding her features.

I offered her a gentle smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"It's a very pretty name," I complimented, hoping it might soften her.

Her frown deepened, and a defensive stance took hold.

"Who are you, and how do you know me?" she pressed, unswayed.

Stepping forward, I noticed her inching away, still keeping her hands concealed behind her.

"You're Lilia Brown, the first and only daughter of Ceasar and Leah Brown, and the sister of Larry Brown," I stated matter-of-factly.

Her eyes widened, a mix of fear and disbelief crossing her features.

"Who the f*** are you?!" she hissed at me, rage bubbling just beneath the surface.

"I... I'm not your enemy," I said softly, my pulse quickening.

Her glare softened slightly, but her defensive demeanor remained.

"I get that you're upset. You have every right to be angry," I told her empathetically.

For a brief moment, her expression faltered, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

"What are you talking about?" she retorted, still defensive but with a slight quiver in her voice.

"What I'm saying is it's not easy to lose your loved ones, and you have every right to feel sad, angry, and spiteful—" I paused, glancing at the hand behind her back. "But you don’t have to resort to violence."

Her stunned expression confirmed that I had struck a nerve.

"You don’t have to hurt these people just to express your pain. It’s not right, and it’s definitely not what your parents would have wanted," I said gently yet firmly.

Lilia looked at me, stunned, her eyes glistening with tears.

"You don’t know anything about my family!" she shouted, her voice filled with simmering rage.

"They were good people who were failed by the system. They died without receiving any justice for what happened to them," she snapped, her voice wavering as she spoke.

I felt my heart ache for her.

"I understand that you feel wronged; it’s heartbreaking. But hurting others is not the solution," I said earnestly.

She glanced around her as if searching for something.

"Do you know how many families are in this park right now?" she asked, her voice laced with venom.

"Three of them belong to individuals who failed my father. What a nice coincidence, right?" she added sardonically.

I gulped, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

She finally revealed her hand, displaying a small button.

"With just one press of this button, I can decide what happens to these people's families," she said, reveling in the power that lay in her hands.

"Just like they decided my father's fate," she added with a terrifying smile.

I shook my head, desperation growing within me.

"No, Lilia. Please don’t do this. You're risking so many innocent lives!" I urged, taking a hesitant step closer.

She stepped back, her eyes blazing with anger.

"You think I care? My father was innocent, yet he was punished for something he didn't do," she retorted fiercely.

"He was sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. My mother fell into a deep depression, and she ended up in a casket. My father, unable to cope with our loss, took his own life. All because he was wrongfully accused," she said bitterly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I am truly sorry for everything you and your family went through; I really am. This... this isn’t the answer," I pleaded, my voice steadier than I felt.

"I want them to hurt the way we’re hurting," Lilia said, a tear rolling down her face, leaving a trail of anguish behind.

"And then what? What happens after that?" I inquired, my heart racing.

She fell silent, her face caught between rage and sorrow.

"Will hurting them bring your parents back? Will it undo the injustice? Will you find peace after this?" I pushed gently, wanting her to reconsider.

Lilia bit her lower lip, trapped in a whirlpool of emotions.

"Lilia, this isn’t the solution. You know it deep down. This will only harm you and your brother in the end. Please, I’m begging you—don’t go through with it," I implored earnestly.

Her expression hardened once again.

"It’s too late now," she replied, pressing the button.

"No!" I yelled, my heart pounding as I lunged toward her, tackling her to the ground in an attempt to stop her.

We both tumbled down, eventually coming to a halt, and for a split second, I held my breath, expecting chaos to unfold.

Yet, nothing happened.

I lifted my head and looked around, confusion consuming me.

Then, my gaze landed back on Lilia, who appeared just as bewildered as I felt.

"No... no, no, no!" she murmured, her voice trembling as she scrambled to her feet.

She glanced around, panic etched on her face.

Then I spotted Art sprinting toward us alongside another familiar figure.

Lilia shook her head fervently.

"No! No! No! No!" she screamed, lunging toward her brother.

In an instant, she collapsed into his arms, the weight of emotions spilling over.

"I'm sorry," her brother whispered softly, holding her tightly.

"This isn’t what our parents would have wanted," he murmured, and she crumpled further into his embrace, tears cascading down her cheeks as she cried out her pain.

I let out a heavy sigh, approaching Art, who stood beside me.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, concern etched on my face.

He nodded, his gaze focused on the siblings.

"Where is it?" I asked, the panic returning as I thought about the potential bomb.

"The bomb?" he leaned in, whispering so only I could hear.

I nodded earnestly, my heart racing.

"I disarmed it and got rid of it," he said, relief flooding through me.

"You did well," he reassured me.

"No, I didn’t. She pushed the button! These people could have died!" I said, my voice trembling with remorse.

"You stopped her long enough for me to act. In my opinion, as long as everyone is alive and unharmed, we accomplished our mission," he stated firmly.

I sighed, feeling his perspective comfort me, and we turned our attention back to Lilia and her brother.

My heart ached for them.

They didn’t deserve to be caught in this web of tragedy. Yet, here we were, witnessing their pain unfold before us.

It was all just so cruel.