chapter one | genesis

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Where does it come from, this quest? This need to solve life's mysteries, when the simplest of questions can never be answered.
Why are we here?
What is the soul?
Why do we dream?
Perhaps we'd be better off not looking at all. Not delving, not yearning. That's not human nature. Not the human heart. That is not why we are here.

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Gabi looked in the mirror, putting her hair up in a ponytail, wearing a white singlet, black hoodie, skinny jeans and black and white canvas shoes. Gabi grabbed her large handbag and keys and left her apartment. She made her way down the street, her phone started to ring and she looked at it. Nathan Petrelli. The man who was campaigning to become the new Senator. She answered.

"Hey, Nathan," she spoke.

"Hey, you have a minute?" He asked.

"For you, I have 5," she smiled.

She could hear the smile in his tone as he chuckled softly before sighing, "My mother, shoplifted. Can you believe that? She has everything in the world, and what does she do? Shop lifts a pair of socks!" He sighed.

She chuckled. "Oh, come on, that's exactly why she did it, don't you think?"

He groaned. "Really? Peter said it was a cry for help."

"Peter huh?" Gabi stopped walking.
Peter. Gabi looked down, Peter Petrelli, the man she loved, the man she left.

"Sorry, I know your still, healing." His voice softened.

"Healing? Yeah I wouldn't call it that. More like, trying to move on." Gabi sighed.

"Look. I have to go, I have to keep this thing with mum buried, I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Yeah, all good. See you" Gabi closed her phone, she sighed and looked up and accidentally bumped into someone.

"Check where you're going –"She grunted but stopped when she saw his face. Peter Petrelli. What a surprise. "Peter?" She stood in shock.

"Gabi." He smiled, but you could see the pain behind it. "Long time no see, hey?" He stuttered.

"Yeah, yeah," She scratched the back of her head. "What are you doing this side of town, hmm?" She asked.

"I still work in hospice care,"

"Oh, really?" She sighed.

"Yeah, yeah, what about you? Still a watch maker?" He asked.

"No, no, that uh, didn't work out," She looked down.

"Oh, why not?" He asked.

"Long story," she looked at her watch.

"Oh okay. Hey look, do you uh, want to get coffee?" He smiled.

"Yeah, um." She looked down.

"I know, I know," He softly spoke.

"Look, I don't know - Pete -"She looked at him, the small smile at the corner of his lips, fading away. She sighed, "Sure, why not, huh?" She finally gave in.

"Do you have free time, now?"

She looked at her watch and sighed. "Yeah,"

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They made their way down to the local coffee shop, he ordered the coffee and sat down at a table against a window.

"So," Gabi started. "What have you been doing, since, you know?" She looked down.

"Busy, I've been busy, well, trying to be. It's harder than I thought, but I guess it keeps my mind off it all," He smiled.

The waiter came by and gave us their coffee, and she smiled and said thanks. They took a sip, and sighed.

"Why am I here, Peter?" Gabi broke the tension.

He looked at her, trying to read her face and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be the one apologising," She took a breath and sat back in her chair.

"What happened to you, Gabi?" Peter leaned in.

Gabi looked out the window, wincing at the memory. Then she looked back at Peter, "So much, Pete. I - I can't tell you, it's too much,"
She looked at him, scanned his face, saw the desperation in his eyes. She wrapped her jacket around her and sat back.

"Gabi -" Peter rested his hand on the table, "I'm sorry I wasn't there,"

"It's not your fault, I was the one that pushed you away, and -" She took a breath and looked into his eyes, "I'm sorry, Peter. I really am, I hate myself for doing that to you, -" Gabi rested her hand on Peters.

"Stop. It's okay," Peter softly smiled.

"Truce?" Gabi smiled.

"For now," he nodded and took another sip from his drink.

"Look, -" Peter took his hand away "I uh, wanted to talk to you about something, I'm just hoping you'll be open minded about this." Peter spoke slowly.

She looked at him confused but nodded. "What is it?" He reached down to his bag and got out a blue book. A far too familiar blue book.

"Where did you get that?" She whispered immediately.

"From the library, why?" He looked confused.

Gabi shook her head. "Don't worry," she stuttered and shook her head.

He took a breath. "I had this dream. Where I could, fly" He muttered the last word. "And that same morning, I woke up and as I get out of bed, I like hovered, for like a second, but doesn't that like, mean something?"

She took a breath and sighed. "Peter,"

"No, wait, look I know it's crazy, or you say I was just imagining it. I found this book, it has everything, everything about abilities, it even talks about human flight. Don't you think that's just a bit more than a coincidence?" He opened up the book and showed her a page.

"Peter wherever that book goes, trouble is not far behind, okay? My br – My friend, got caught up thinking he was special too, and became obsessed with this book. Something happened to him, and now, he's gone. Not dead, but just, gone." She sighed.

"What are you talking about? Gone?" He asked confusingly.

"He's missing, off the radar. And it's all because of that stupid guy who wrote that book!" She whispered loudly, then took a deep breath. "Look, just, whatever you do, please don't try and find him. Okay?"

"Gabi, I just want to find answers, I want to know if this is real, okay?" Peter reached out and put his hand on hers, she looked at their hands, then shook her head then took her hand away.

"Peter, I'm asking you as a friend. Don't go digging into this, you won't like what you'll find. Just trust me," she grabbed her hand bag and stood up.

"Gabi -" Peter started.

"Look, I uh," she looked at her watch. "I have to go, I'm late, for uh, meeting." She stuttered.

"Gabi - wait -" he got up.

"Pete - just do me a favour." She looked at him. "Throw that book away,"

"Gabi -"

"Bye, Peter," she walked out, and waved her hand out for a taxi, then she looked up and saw it.

The Solar Eclipse.

Then she felt it. A swarm of coldness, flowing through her veins. No, no.

A taxi pulled over and she rushed inside of it.

"Clifford Street please," she struggled to say, as a blinding headache hit her.

The taxi driver nodded and started to drive away. She put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples.

"Los-Los-Los Angles –Los Angles. Girl –Girl –"He whispered in her mind.

"Gabriel" Gabi whispered.

"You okay, Miss?" the driver spoke.

"Just a headache," she replied.

"Long day?" He asked.

"Somewhat," She sat back in the seat, and looked back in the window and saw the eclipse, finally going away. She sighed and they reached the destination and she got out of the car.

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This quest. This need to solve life's mysteries. In the end what does it matter when the human heart can only find meaning in the smallest of moments?
They're here. Among us.
In the shadows.
In the light.
Everywhere.
Do they even know yet?

•••
finally re-writing this book, all in third person, and changing it up slightly. Never really liked how I wrote it, but I have some great ideas!
Much love guys xo