Gabriel’s coming
by Henrika Pennanen

Pinhead’s day didn’t start very well. He lay sleeping in Dreamer’s chamber, and didn’t even notice that the gateway to earth opened. Someone had solved the box.

But Dreamer noticed it. Thank God.

- Pinhead! she hissed and tapped him, where he lay beside her. Pinhead, wake up!

But Pinhead sure didn’t want to wake up. He just jerked angrily, and brought about a mumbling, like: “Leave me alone...”

But Dreamer didn’t give up so easily either. She knew damn well that the leader cenobite had to be around when they were going up to earth to get a puzzlesolver. Leviathan wouldn’t be glad if Pinhead “shirked” again.

- No, Pinhead, up! She grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him. He turned around with a twitch and gave her a sinister glance.

- What do you want?

- Wake you. The gateway is open, Dreamer said in a exaggeratedly patient voice.

Then Pinhead suddenly changed from sleepy to panicking drowsy person.

- Shit! Why didn’t you tell me that right away! What if they leave without me!

- I tried to tell you. But of course they won’t go without you! Hurry up now.

She gave him a encouraging pat on the shoulder. But that didn’t make Pinhead calmer. He searched in panic for his leather suit, which had seemed to disappear in the commotion.

Dreamer sighed.

- Pinhead, she began. Pinhead...

- Where the hell is it! he hissed desperately. Dreamer!

- Pinhead, listen here, I...

- I gotto have my clothes! he shouted. Or do you want me to go naked, perhaps?!

- I know where it is! Dreamer called loudly to get his attention. Your leather-suit is here, on the floor, on my side of the bed.

She bent down, picked it up, and gave it to him. He snatched it to him with a twitch.

- Oh yeah? And what the fuck did it do there? I’m sure that you’d taken it, just to annoy me! she snapped furiously.

- I really hope that your humour has improved when you get back! Dreamer replied angrily.

- That was absolutely the last time I sleep here with you! she continued in an annoyed tone. I won’t be your lover anymore!

- That’s fine with me! Dreamer replied, who also had started to fly into a rage. If you’re so fucking grumpy after each time, I sure think that you’d better not be my lover anymore. You’re so very right!

Pinhead got dressed as fast as he could, and stared angrily at Dreamer, while he did it.

- Don’t blame me that you over slept! she said. Or was it my fault?

Pinhead began to soften.

- No, Dreamer, it wasn’t your fault, he said. I just got a little out of balance, with the gateway thing and all... I’m sorry!

He took her hand and kissed it.

- So long! he said and hurried outside.

Dreamer was watching after him. She liked Pinhead very, very much and didn’t like to fight with him. But lately it had been a little weird between them. They could be best friends one day, and lovers the next. What Dreamer preferred, she didn’t really know. And what Pinhead preferred she had no idea of. Now in rage he had said that he didn’t want to be her lover any longer, but maybe he wasn’t serious.

Pinhead over slept. She couldn’t help laughing at the thought. She wondered why he had begun to sleep so much lately. Herself, she had tried to sleep as little as possible, to get away from the dreams. That depended on those horrible dreams that came through, she had had about the child-murdered Freddy Krueger, a few months earlier. She hadn’t seen him any longer, but her feeling about dreams was forever ruined. Unfortunately.

Let’s just hope now that Pinhead came back with a new victim.

In fact, Dreamer wanted it to come a new cenobite to Hell. Because it hadn’t done that after Angelique and The Twins. Pinhead hadn’t found anyone “appropriate”. Surely he was afraid to take in some new, after the fiasco with Angelique. And two like Angelique, would just be too much to handle.

Pinhead hurried for all what he was worth. When passing, he tried to adjust his clothes, to look even fairly presentable. It wouldn’t be so good if he suddenly noticed that his suit was back to front.

No, he just had to stop sleeping with Dreamer. It just caused them all trouble.

The gateway, yes. It had been opened a few weeks ago by a quite boring person, who hadn’t been funny to torment at all. Let’s just hope now that this one was worth more, because Pinhead had been disturbed, and he didn’t want to be that for nothing.

Would he bring someone, the usual three, maybe, or should he go alone, for once? Maybe not a good idea. The last time he did, a tornado was waiting for him. But it would hardly do that this time, or what?

Pinhead would do all right by himself, but as a moral support, he brought with him, his cenobite-dog, The Chatterer Beast.

- Good boy, Pinhead said and stroke his pet over the head. Are you ready to go and rip some stupid human being into pieces?

The Chattered Beast yelped eagerly for an answer. Pinhead took it as a “yes” and brought the dog with him through the gateway. But if he had known now, what was on the other side, he wouldn’t even have gone through.

* * * *

Pinhead arrived to the earth accompanied by his dog, to get the puzzlesolver.

It was a man. He was in a large, abandoned house, and to judge by its size, it was a shut down factory.

The box lay on the floor few feet away from him. He stared at Pinhead, but didn’t start to scream in panic and neither was he paralysed by fear, like many people used to be. But he just stood there, entirely calm, staring at the leader-cenobite.

- Where did you come from? he asked then, not terrified or anything, just objectively wondering.

Pinhead got insecure. What was this? But he put a good face.

- The box, he said. You opened it, and now you have to come with me and taste my pleasures!

The man looked steadily into Pinhead’s eyes. His eyes didn’t yield, and he didn’t seem to be easy to scare.. Even his appearance was original. He was very beautiful, actually, Pinhead thought, who usually didn’t give a shit about his victims looks. But this man was special. In more than one way.

He was tall and slim, with a very, almost unnaturally pale face, and shining hair, black as ink, that apparently was quite long, but was stroke back. The dark hair made an sharp contrast to the pasty, almost white face. He had beautiful, high cheekbones, and his skin seemed to be smooth as porcelain. Another sensational thing about him was his eyes. They were wonderfully blue and huge, too big for his face. And in the faint light which came from outside, the eyes gleamed like silver. Despite of that the man was pale as a ghost, he neither looked weak nor unenterprising. He seemed strong. But however; Pinhead was going to tear his soul apart!

- You have to come with me, he repeated in a dark, sinister voice. He was ready to summon the chains and hook this man if he would try to escape. But nah. That wasn’t needed. The man didn’t move, and kept on staring into Pinhead’s eyes.

- I don’t think so...Pinhead, he replied.

Pinhead got all dumbfounded. How could this human being know his name? He really started to lose control here!

- How could you...he began.

- Or would you rather be called Elliott?

- No! Pinhead snapped reflectively. Elliott Spenser does no longer exist!

The he started to wonder, how the hell this human knew so much about him.

- How do you know my name? he asked in a chilly voice.

- You look like a Pinhead, the man replied calmly. So, let me ask, he continued, are from England, Pinhead?

Pinhead gasped for breath. Was this really possible?

- Yes. Yes, matter a fact, I am, he said slowly. But how could you know that?

- I didn’t know, but I can tell by your accent.

- Oh really? But since you seem to know so much about me, I assume you also know what happens to those who meet me!

- No, actually I don’t. I’m not afraid of you.

Pinhead laughed derisively.

- Either you’re brave, or a complete fool. Because you should be. You really should!

- I don’t think so, the man said in a low voice. Nice to meet you, Pinhead. My name’s Gabriel. If you excuse me, I’m out of here now.

He turned around to leave. But Pinhead couldn’t allow that. And he didn’t. He didn’t want his victim to take control of the situation.

- You’ll leave? Already? he called and let the chains float like cobras around the man, who said his name was Gabriel.

Gabriel stopped and gasped. By fear?

Pinhead laughed sneeringly. Now he finally felt that he had regained his control. He didn’t hurt Gabriel yet, but only let him know what pain was!

- We’re going to Hell! he called.

Gabriel turned around and looked into Pinhead’s eyes.

- No, he said loudly and clearly. I’ve already been there, and I’m not going back!

- Have you been in Hell? Pinhead asked sarcastically. I don’t remember seeing you there.

- And I don’t remember seeing you there, either, Gabriel replied in the same, self secure voice as before.

- Then you can’t have visited Hell, because no one who has, can forget me!

- Who ever you are, I don’t fear you! You can take that freak dog of yours and go back to Hell, because it’s obvious that you belong there, but you’re gonna have to do that without me!

- You’re a fool, Gabriel, and also you’re being insolent, it will be a pleasure to teach you what pain is! I’ll tear your soul into pieces...slowly...!

- I have no soul, Gabriel whispered.

- No? Pinhead said scornfully. Shall we find out?

- I have much that humans don’t, but I have no soul.

Now he sounded bitter.

Pinhead got uncertain. What did he mean “humans”? Was he no human? Pinhead had been told many times, not to drag any foreign objects to Hell, and ‘foreign’ mainly indicated extraterrestrials - but even Freddy Krueger was in counted.

Pinhead wondered how old Gabriel was. He was no youth, so much he knew, maybe he was in the same age Pinhead himself had been when he became a cenobite, but something told him, that Gabriel was older than he looked to be.

- No more games! Pinhead said abruptly. You’re coming with me!

The Chattered Beast yelped and snarled eagerly beside him. Pinhead grabbed the dog’s spike collar and gave it a harsh command to lie still. It started to get impatient.

- Make me! Gabriel said and looked Pinhead straight in the eyes.

A malign laughter slipped out from Pinhead.

- I will, believe me!

He swung the chains around Gabriel’s body, but didn’t hurt him.

Pinhead had gotten a brilliant idea; Gabriel was going to be a cenobite!

Pinhead was convinced that he did the right thing, when he brought Gabriel with him to Hell to make him to a cenobite. They didn’t take in new members very often. The latest were Angelique and The Twins. And Angelique was hardly any find.

But Gabriel would work fine. It had to. So he returned to Hell with Gabriel, who was held in a firm grip by the chains.

When they returned to the Labyrinth, Pinhead summoned the chains back and let go of Gabriel, who wasn’t prepared to be released, and that why he fell down on the floor. But he was back up on his feet again in no time, and, brushed the dirt of himself, and stared at Pinhead.

- Where am I? he demanded to know.

Pinhead was looking around and smiled faintly.

- Hell, he replied.

- This is not Hell, Gabriel exclaimed very determinedly.

- And what the hell do you know about it? he called back angrily.

- I know, because I spent 4 years of my life there.

- It’s really a shame if you don’t like this place, because you’re gonna spend a lot more than four years here, from now on!

- What are you talking about? Gabriel asked and crossed his arms over the chest.

- Yeah, my friend, you’re gonna become a cenobite!

- A what?

- A cenobite. A guardian of Hell.

- Who are you? Gabriel asked suspiciously.

- I’m Pinhead, leader of the cenobites. Come. Follow me. We have to take you to the transformation chamber, so that you can get your cenobitical status.

He reached out his hands towards Gabriel, but Gabriel didn’t take them.

- Never! he hissed and backed away from Pinhead, until his back hit the wall. Then he turned around and began to run along the everlasting halls of The Labyrinth.

Pinhead saw his black coat flutter behind him, when he disappeared around the corner.

Pinhead didn’t feel inclined to run after and chase him, it could take an eternity to catch him, so instead he called the Tunnelguard of Hell.

- Engineer! he screamed. Catch that human!

And Engineer, obedient as he was, began to chase Gabriel at once. The Tunnelguard of Hell, was a big, salamander-like creature, that hung from the wall in the halls of Hell. He had four arms with razor-sharp claws, a sharp, scorpion-like tail. And of course, a mouth full of teeth, sharp like awls. He was fast as a the lightning when he decided to be, and that could be needed, because his number one task was to protect the cenobites from intruders, but also to get escaped prisoners was a part of his job.

So to catch Gabriel was no match for Engineer.

Pinhead smiled deviously.

Gabriel was taken to the Transformation-chamber, where he was suppose to be remade to a cenobite.

- So you’ve actually brought a new cenobite to Hell? Dreamer said for the fortieth time.

- He’ll be just fine, Pinhead replied dismissingly.

- And how do you know that? Maybe he’ll be an Angelique number 2! Or worse, he might be like Dr. Channard, who tried to take over Hell!

- Stop fooling around! said Pinhead, who began getting annoyed. Gabriel is all right. And besides, Dr. Channard was Leviathan’s mistake, not mine!

- Gabriel? suddenly Angelique’s voice said. You’re so smart, Pinhead, she sneered. That new cenobite will be a fiasco!

- A fiasco like yourself, you mean? Pinhead said back.

Angelique grimaced at him.

- Shit, you don’t get it...

- Oh yes, I get it, all right! You’re just jealous, because you developed into such a “fiasco” yourself.

- Call it whatever you want, Angelique said. What does Leviathan say about him?

- Nothing. Leviathan had given me power to make cenobites how I want.. I don’t have to get his permission.

- All right...but you should have notified me...Angelique bitched.

- That something else I don’t have to do, Pinhead snapped. And don’t judge Gabriel out before you’ve even met him!

This referred Dreamer too.

- I just have a bad feeling, Dreamer said quietly.

- For once, I agree with Dreamer, Angelique agreed.

They were waiting for Gabriel to be finished. Dreamer kept on looking grumpy and Angelique continued to moan. At last Pinhead had enough. He told them to leave.

- When Gabriel, for the first time sees Hell with his cenobite-eyes, you two can’t be here to spoil his experience. Go on now. See him later.

Both Dreamer and Angelique walked away without protesting. At different directions, of course.

Then Gabriel came out. He was still beautiful, despite that his dark, thick hair had been ripped away, and despite that he had small meat hooks stuck in his scalp, which pulled his skin upwards, so that his face looked kind of like a mask. In his forehead he had a diamond; the symbol of Leviathan, which shone if any light was reflected it in. Those high cheekbones were brought out even more in his now even paler face. His lips were still thick, and his eyes were also still huge, ice blue and beautiful.

Before he had been dressed in black, tight leather pants, a white shirt and a black coat. Now he had the same pants, but another shirt, a sleeveless, with shoulder-pads.

The suit slimmed around his body, and brought out clearly how slender he was. Around his neck, he had barbed wire, which already had stung holes in the fine, plae skin, which still was smooth like porcelain.

Gabriel felt his new face with his hands. He seemed quite dismayed.

- What is this? he exclaimed. What have you done to me?!

Pinhead walked to him, and put his hand calmingly on his shoulder.

- You’re a cenobite, he said.

But that didn’t make Gabriel much calmer.

- Give me a mirror, he demanded. Now! Give me a mirror!

Pinhead did what he asked. It wouldn’t hurt, he still got to see it, sooner or later. And Gabriel had, according to Pinhead, gone through a small change, compared to some others.

So Pinhead took him to a mirror. At first, Gabriel just stared at his reflection for a while.

- This is not me! he stuttered and sounded chocked.

- It is the new you, Pinhead replied, who stood behind him. Accept it. You’re a cenobite.

- This is not true...Gabriel murmured.

- You should feel honoured. It’s an honour. Very few are that privileged.

Gabriel turned away from the mirror. It was obvious that he didn’t like his new self.

- What kind of a sick place is this? he asked.

- This is Hell! What did you expect; a palace from a fairy tale?

- What are you?

- I’m Pinhead, the leader cenobite. And now I’m also your new boss.

Gabriel smiled wryly.

- Oh really? Are you the once who rules everything here? Like God, or something?

Pinhead shook his head.

- No, no, that’s Leviathan.

- Leviathan? Who’s Leviathan?

- He owns this place. You should meet him. Don’t worry, he’s all right, as long as you don’t piss him off

- This is really a weird hell, Gabriel murmured fascinated.

- What?

- No, nothing. Are there any others here, except for you, me and Leviathan?

- Oh yes, we are...

Pinhead was interrupted by Engineer, that dashed through them.

- What is that...thing? Gabriel said.

Pinhead laughed dismissingly.

- That’s just Engineer, our tunnelguard. Don’t you mind him, he’ll leave you alone. He’s just here to watch hell and to catch runaways. But come on, now, we’ll introduce you to the others...

* * * *

Most of the cenobites were very curious about the new, and to them, intriguing cenobite. Especially Piston, who hardly could let Gabriel out of sight.

But Gabriel had a chilly reception from Dreamer, who also gave Pinhead an angry glance. But worst was still Angelique. She looked at him as if he’s been an insect; a dangerous insect that had to be crushed immediately.

- Gabriel, this is Angelique, my successor, Angelique, this is Gabriel, Pinhead said and introduced them to each other.

- Hi Angelique, Gabriel said half-heartedly.

- So charmed, I’m sure! Angelique hissed and stared at him with hatred.

Pinhead quickly brought Gabriel away.

- So, now we only have Leviathan left, then...

Pinhead was scared, or really terrified of how Leviathan would react. Pinhead himself thought that Gabriel seemed to have a will of his own, which could be a good thing here in Hell. But Leviathan’s opinion was still of vital importance.

But quite contrary to what Pinhead had thought, Gabriel had an almost warm welcome from Leviathan. it was great, of course, and even Pinhead got praised, for taking Gabriel here, who according to Leviathan, seemed ‘superb’. And he sure was.

Pinhead started so understand, why Angelique disliked Gabriel so much. He was a threat. But he couldn’t understand why Dreamer had been so dismissing.

But hopefully she would stop doing that. Hopefully.

He would have a talk with her later.

Later, when Gabriel had settled down properly, Pinhead went to Dreamer to have a chat with her. In fact, she seemed to keep away; Pinhead had at least not seen her since she gave Gabriel that chilly welcome.

Was she mad? If so, why?

- Oh, how nice of you to drop in! I thought you had forgotten my existance! she said sarcastically when he came.

- What now? What do you mean by that? Pinhead asked.

- Thanks a lot, Pinhead! You have practically ignored me all day!

- I have not! Pinhead protested angrily.

- Oh, you have; You want away with “Gabriel” and let me sit here alone and rot!

- Don’t be ridiculous, Dreamer, you know that Gabriel is new and needs some time to get settled.

- Oh, is he? Dreamer replied as sarcastically as before.

- Dreamer! Pinhead exclaimed. Come on! What’s the mater with you? Why are you so unfavourably disposed towards Gabriel?

Dreamer didn’t answer, and Pinhead continued:

- And you weren’t so nice to him before either! Can you tell me why?

Now Dreamer did reply, and she watched Pinhead gravely in the eyes while doing that.

- There’s something weird about him, she said fiercely.

- What do you mean weird?

- I don’t know yet. But I have a bad feeling about him. Keep an eye on him, I think.

- But please! Pinhead exclaimed.

- Dump him, Dreamer said quietly.

- Excuse me?!

- You heard me. He’s a weirdo. Believe it or not.

Pinhead grabbed Dreamer by the shoulders and shook her roughly.

- Now you stop this nonsense, he ordered. Understood?

Dreamer didn’t answer, but Pinhead let her go.

- Okay, Dreamer? Try not to hate him, please?

Dreamer pursed her mouth to a line and looked down at the floor. She said nothing.

- I can’t help what I feel, she said then.

- You still don’t think he’s worse than Angelique?

- I don’t know. Maybe not in every way. But Angelique I at least know where I have her. I don’t understand the new one at all.

Pinhead gave up. If Dreamer had decided to hate Gabriel, there was nothing to do about that.

- Leviathan seems to like him, anyway, he told her.

- Oh, Dreamer just said. But I’m not Leviathan.

- You told me that you don’t understand him. Talk to him and get to know him, and perhaps you do.

Dreamer didn’t reply, but Pinhead knew what she was thinking, so he went you and left the grouch alone.

A week had passed since Gabriel became a cenobite, and so far, he had been functioning well. At least Pinhead thought so.

But Dreamer was still grumpy and she didn’t seem to have changed her opinion about Gabriel. Pinhead thought that was a shame. Dreamer was his best friend. And he liked Gabriel very much also. So if the two of them didn’t get on well, it would be awful for him to get in between.

And the last days Pinhead had spent a lot of time together with Gabriel and little with Dreamer. That sure made him feel like a pig, but he could always blame that grumpy Dreamer not was much of a company. Which was true, of course.

Right now, Pinhead was on his way to Gabriel’s chamber to give him a present, which was a statue, which represented a grotesque human figure.

Gabriel had been devoted a nice chamber which was quite large, (larger than Angelique’s, which gave her another reason to hate him, that she had done already after seeing him the first time. It was “hatred at first sight”. If he only got near her, her delusive, blue eyes sparkled by fury.)

But what Angelique thought, Pinhead didn’t care about. She hated him too.

He knocked at the door.

- Gabriel? Gabriel, are you there? Open up.

When he got no answer, and no one opened, Pinhead did it himself, instead. Gabriel wasn’t there. Pinhead came in anyway, and looked around.

There were a lot of things in there. A big, full figure mirror hung n the wall and on a table there were a lot of little things standing. Pinhead put the statue there.

But the thing that caught Pinhead’s attention, was a big, thick book, with red covers. Pinhead approached the book and touched it with his finger tips. Next to it, there lay an old trumpet, which he really didn’t pay so much attention to. The book was the interesting thing.

It was nothing Hell had given him, and neither could the trumpet be, nor many other things be. They were things from his earth-live that he had collected.

Pinhead knew he shouldn’t, but his fingers wanted to open the book and read some in it. At first he checked around him, to make sure it was safe, and then he opened it. But he got disappointed. The pages were handwritten, but too badly in a language Pinhead didn’t understand, and not even knew what it was.

He put the book back. Gabriel’s diary? Maybe. He went on to the table with the little things. There were a bottle with some kind of fluid in it. He took the bottle and pulled the stopper. Then he smelled the fluid.

Perfume. Which kind he didn’t know; he never stayed long enough up on earth to learn any perfume products names. But it smelled nice.

Suddenly the bottle slipped out of his hands, and it was really lucky that he managed to catch it before it fell down to the floor and was crushed. But some of the content was spilled out on him.

- Damn it...Pinhead murmured and hurried to put the stopper back on and put it back on the table. Another thing that caught his attention, was an amulet that hanged in a chain to have around the neck. It had a big, green stone in the middle, and on the other side he could see a picture of an angel, which was engraved in the amulet.

Pinhead, and everybody else in Hell, hated angels, God and Heaven like the plague, but it was still a beautiful amulet, so Pinhead took it, looked into the mirror, and held the amulet to his throat and tried to imagine how it would look on him.

A little smile came over his lips but the smile disappeared rapidly when he saw the silhouette of Gabriel stand in the doorway.

Pinhead turned around with a jerk. He laughed nervously. He dropped the amulet on the table.

- I didn’t know you were home! he exclaimed.

Gabriel smiled faintly and let his eyes move sceptically across the room. The book , the trumpet, and then he let his eyes stop at Pinhead. He said nothing.

- I was...Pinhead began. I was...

He didn’t finish the sentence. All excuses suddenly seemed lousy.

- God, sorry. You haven’t been here one week, and I’m already in your room.

Gabriel wriggled himself unpleasantly.

- I was just about to go through your drawers, Pinhead continued and gave out a forced laughter.

Gabriel lowed his eyes against the table and picked up the perfume-bottle.

- You like my perfume? It smells nice, doesn’t it? I have a very keen sense of smell, he added then.

- I’m sorry, I happened to...I hope you didn’t mind, Pinhead murmured ashamedly.

Gabriel laughed warmly.

- No, no, of course not. Take what ever you want. We share like brothers.

- I don’t know anything about that. I was...only child, so... Do you have a big family? Pinhead asked then.

He always wanted to know something about his cenobite’s background.

- Just me...Gabriel mumbled and sat down in a chair. Or...it wasn’t always so. Once upon a time, I had a big family...But they...cast me out.

- Oh, that’s terrible...Pinhead replied compassionately.

- Yes, it is... Gabriel mumbled to himself.

It was obvious that he didn’t want to talk about it. No, no, Pinhead wouldn’t force him. He changed subject.

- So how do you like it here?

- Good...good so far. It’s a pleasure to get rid of the monkeys.

- The monkeys?

- Yes, humans. It’s nice to get rid of them.

- Yeah, they’re good for tormenting.

Gabriel didn’t answer. He had seen the statue which Pinhead had put on he table. He smiled happily.

- Pinhead! You didn’t have to...

He got up to take a closer look. He laughed.

- It’s beautiful...Thank you.

Pinhead smiled also.

- What do I owe you?

- Nothing....for get it. It’s just a house warming present.

Gabriel picked up the amulet that Pinhead had fingered earlier. Pinhead immediately understood his intention.

- No, no... don’t bother...

Gabriel put his finger over his lips as a sign to be quiet. Then he hung the amulet around Pinhead’s neck.

- It looks beautiful on you, he smiled.

- I can’t take that...

- A house warming present.

Pinhead turned towards the mirror and studied his own reflection. Gabriel looked forth from behind his shoulder. He was a little shorter than Pinhead. Not much, just one inch or so, but you could still notice it.

- It’s beautiful. Thank you, Gabriel, he said with s smile.

- No, thank you. You’ve really made me feel welcome here. And that Leviathan is really nice and cosy, don’t you think?

Pinhead let out a surprised laughter. “ Nice and cosy” was a new term to describe Leviathan in.

- You think? He’s all right. If you only just piss him off. Then he’s awful.

- I’ll try not to, because I really like it here, and I don’t ever, ever want to leave. Thank you for taking me here, Pinhead!

- No problem, Pinhead mumbled, who has seen another thing.

It was a scar. A scar that Gabriel had on the left side of his neck.

- How did that happen? he asked.

- What?

- That scar on your neck.

- Oh. I’ve had it my whole life. Almost. It’s a script.

- Really? Then what does it mean?

- I...I’d rather not talk about it, because...it makes me think of my father, and I’ve had it with him. He threw me out, so... But that’s okay now. Because you’re my new family? Great isn’t it?

Pinhead didn’t know what to say. Gabriel seemed to have adapted real quickly. Perhaps even too quickly...

Dreamer was sad. And angry too, bad mostly sad. Ever since Gabriel arrived, it hadn’t been the same between Pinhead and her. That was sad, Dreamer thought. She could do almost anything to get it well again.

But she didn’t know what to do. Because if she started to talk with him about Gabriel, he’d just be angry and wouldn’t listen.

Gabriel. She couldn’t stand him, and she was ashamed of herself because of that, since he’d never done anything evil to her. He hadn’t done anything to her, at all. But still she felt as she felt. Actually, she was afraid of him. She couldn’t explain why. He was calm and submissive, or at least, he seemed to be. They had almost not said a single word to each other since that time when Pinhead introduced them to each other. But she had felt his eyes on herself a few times, and it had felt unpleasant.

She couldn’t understand why Pinhead was so fond of him. Dreamer was jealous in some nasty way. But that wasn’t the only reason why she couldn’t stand Gabriel. There was something weird about him.

Did others feel like she did? Angelique couldn’t stand him either, she knew, but that was hardly because of the same reason as Dreamer. Angelique was just scared to lose her ranking, that Gabriel would steal it.

That so typically Angelique. That egoistic little bitch.

Suddenly Dreamer knew exactly what she’d do. She would write a letter to Pinhead, where she’d write things that she could never say face to face.

Yes, that’s what she’d do. She began writing immediately.

* * * *

Dreamer slowly went out of her chamber with the letter in her hand. It was a quite long letter. There were lots of things like how much she missed their close friendship, but also a colourful description of how nasty she thought Gabriel was.

That letter was for Pinhead. She wasn’t going to stay while he read it, no, she’d just give it to him and then leave, so that he could read in peace.

A good thing about letters is, that that you can write stuff in them, that otherwise would be impossible to bring out. So what Pinhead thought, he could at least not blow up her for it, because she wouldn’t be there in flesh.

So Dreamer went to look for Pinhead. On her way to his chamber, she met Angelique. Shit.

- Hi, Dreamer, Angelique fawned. What have you got there? she asked meaning the letter.

- A letter to Pinhead. Have you seen him.

- Let me see! Angelique called eagerly and tried to snatch the letter from Dreamer’s hand. She failed.

- Is it a love letter? Angelique sneered.

- Perhaps, Dreamer replied. Have you seen Pinhead?

- Love letter, you say... No, I haven’t seen him. But I guess he’s with ‘Gabriel’ as usually. I hate him, by the way. I haven’t seen a worse type! All I wanna do, is to stick out his big, fucking ugly fish-eyes and out them in a jar of glass! If you help me to hold him, so maybe we can do that!

Dreamer didn’t answer. She wasn’t going to tell Angelique how she felt about Gabriel. But besides her deep contempt, she had never thought about hurting him, like Angelique had.

- You’re not serious, are you? she asked in a frightened voice.

Angelique began to laugh.

- Dreamer! I wouldn’t doubt a second, if I only could get away with it, but you’re not forgetting Leviathan?

- No, of course not, that was stupid of me.

Dreamer passed her without saying anything else.

Angelique stared after her. Dreamer wasn’t herself. But what did narcissistic bitch Angelique care about that?

Dreamer thought that Pinhead might be in his chamber, and that’s why she went there. But he wasn’t.

Dreamer let out a disappointed sigh, but put the letter through the gap between the door and the floor. He’d notice it when he came in?

Then she went off.

Dreamer wished she could like Gabriel. But she couldn’t. She was frightened of him. And she couldn’t say she’d miss him if she disappeared. She felt terrible because of that.

Pinhead heard that someone was knocking on his door. he went to open, and expected to see Gabriel, but it was Dreamer.

- Hi Dreamer, Pinhead said and tried to give her a kind smile.

Dreamer smiled back and he went aside to let her in. The silence became unpleasant. It didn’t use to be that before. Dreamer was the once who finally broke the silence.

- So...how are you?

- Good. Pinhead replied. But I miss you.

- You do?

- Yes. Why can’t you accept Gabriel?

- You know why, she murmured.

- No, I don’t know, Pinhead said. Explain, please.

- It said in the letter why, she murmured again. I can’t give a better explanation. You’d better know that.

Pinhead didn’t understand anything. What letter? She hadn’t given him any letter, had she?

- What are you talking about? he asked sceptically.

The Dreamer exploded.

- You know what I’m talking about! she yelled. I wrote why I can’t stand Gabriel, but if you didn’t read my through letter, so blame yourself!

Pinhead sighed.

- I didn’t get any letter, he said. So I wasn’t trying to be mean by not answering it - I just didn’t get it.

Now it was Dreamer’s turn to be surprised.

- I slipped it into your chamber under the door! she said.

- Maybe you did, but how ever, I didn’t get any letter. What did it say?

- Forget the letter, Dreamer said resolutely. The point is, that I miss you. Can’t everything be like it was? Don’t you want it to be like it was?

- Of course I do, Dreamer, Pinhead said mildly. But you have to accept Gabriel. You have to. You can’t be working together like that.

- Stop nagging... Dreamer sighed.

- But it’s not just his fault, hey! Pinhead protested loudly. You can try to be a little more friendly yourself! Because i can hardly say that you have. Gabriel’s not mean, he...

- I didn’t say that he was mean, Dreamer interrupted. But he’s weird. Nasty. Keep an eye on him. I think that he...

Dreamer went suddenly quiet. She had spotted Gabriel in the doorway to Pinhead’s chamber.

- Am I interrupting? he asked worriedly.

- No. Not at all, Dreamer said shortly and almost ran out of the room.

- Dreamer, wait... Dreamer! Pinhead called after her. But Dreamer was gone.

- Did I scare her? Gabriel asked surprised.

- No, that’s okay, Pinhead replied tiredly. She’s being weird, don’t you mind her.

- Why was she that upset?

- It was because I hadn’t received that letter that she wrote, Pinhead aid, which was actually half the truth.

- That’s strange, Gabriel said. Have you any idea where it can be?

- No, absolutely not. I didn’t even know the existence of the letter before she told me, right this minute.

- Maybe someone took it, Gabriel suggested.

- Took it? Why? Pinhead wondered.

- I don’t know, it was just a thought.

- You haven’t seen it, then?

- No.

Then Gabriel smiled.

- Don’t you mind that letter, he said. If it said something important, she can say it face to face.

- Yeah, you’re right.

Suddenly the gateway to earth opened.

Gabriel obviously didn’t know what was happening, because he looked inquiringly at Pinhead. - What’s going on? he asked.

Pinhead replied eagerly.

- Some stupid human being has opened the box again. Now we’re going to get him or her here.

- You mean... opened the same box as I did?

- Exactly! But this poor thing won’t have the same luxury as you did. You got to be a cenobite. Would you like to come with me?

- Yeah...Gabriel replied slowly. But I don’t know how to do it.

- That’s okay, you’ll learn.

As fast as they went through the gateway, Pinhead felt how something grabbed him and threw him down on the ground very violently.

Incandescent pain spread through his body, when he hit the floor. He rolled round several times. until he finally hit against something hard.

And before Pinhead could get up, yes, even before he could realize what had happened, this someone grabbed him again and hit him so that he wouldn’t get a chance to defend himself, or to know what was going on.

Pinhead tried to scream, but all he could come up with, was a pitiful, wheezing sound.

Then he saw how two huge, muscular arms grabbed him once again and pulled him up on his feet. He got some nasty punches again, until his attacker was sure of, that he was too groggy to try any resistance. First then he got a chance to know what was going on.

Frank held him by the throat with one hand. It was Frank. Pinhead could see that, even if his look was a bit dizzy and unstable by the beating. Yeah, Pinhead would recognize Frank anywhere, anytime.

He looked kind of like last time they met, about one an a half year ago. Big body, muscular, very strong. Grinning.

In that very moment, he didn’t actually think of, that he had the chains to defend himself with.

And Gabriel. Yeah, just right, Gabriel. What had happened to him? Pinhead could from the corner of his eye see, that Gabriel stood a few feet away from them, all still.

In fact, he hadn’t moved from the spot since their arrival. He just stood there, with those huge eyes wide open.

By surprise? Fear? Perhaps both. Pinhead didn’t know. Frank saw him too he laughed scornfully.

- I would have preferred that you came alone, Pinhead, but he’s hardly gonna be any trouble, he’s just standing there like a statue! Ha ha ha!

What? Pinhead was dizzy, and he hadn’t really gotten back the control over himself, and couldn’t focus on any special thought, nor what Frank said.

Pinhead had put both his hand around Frank’s wrist and tried to make him let go of the grip, but in vain. Frank was too strong for him. far too strong.

And he didn’t think of the chains in this very moment.

It had passed 20, maybe 25 seconds since he and Gabriel arrived from Hell, and Gabriel had not yet moved.

Pinhead’s already blurry eyes became even blurrier, now hen he was about to be strangled. And the following movement, was mostly a reflex.

With a twitch he put his right knee in Frank’s groin. And it worked, just like it had done one and a half year ago, when Frank had shown up on earth to kill him.

Frank tumbled backwards with a roar, bent forward, with his hands pressed against his groin.

While he was doing that, Pinhead tried to crawl away, get out of Frank’s range, but he felt week in some funny way, like his legs hardly carried him. After a few seconds, when Frank had recovered, he get furious, of course.

- You fucking bitch! he yelled at Pinhead. You god damn, fucking bitch!

Pinhead coughed while he ran. He heard Frank’s insults from behind and tried to get his beaten body away from Frank. He had to.

What was Gabriel doing. Was he still standing still? What the fuck, had he been turned into a statue, or what? Didn’t he understand that Frank surely would attack him too?

Pinhead now knew that he should summon the chains, but to do so, full concentration was needed. And that’s something he definitely hadn’t when he was running for his life and didn’t even see clearly.

He heard Frank yelling “bitch” after him, and Pinhead took the risk and turned his head to see how far away he was.

And obviously Frank thought that Pinhead had gotten too far away to attack, so instead he grabbed Gabriel , who had not yet moved from that spot where he was standing.

* * * *

Frank didn’t attack Pinhead again, non, he had managed to crawl too far away. That fucking, stinking bitch!

Frank grabbed instead of Pinhead, the other cenobite, the one that hadn’t moved since their arrival.

When Frank snatched him backwards, he gave out a half-choked scream, probably it was a reflex.

Frank wrung the cenobite’s slim right arm behind its back, and put an arm around his neck, so that he’d be stuck in the grip. But he kicked backwards with his foot, scraped his heel against Frank’s lower shin, which caused almost unbearable pain, but Frank resisted and didn’t let go of his grip.

He strained his muscles in the arm he had around the cenobite’s neck even harder, so that he would get that Frank could break his neck any second, if he so wanted.

- I’ll rip your fucking head off! he hissed in a low voice.

This was anew cenobite; Frank hadn’t seen him before. And it seemed to be one who knew how to defend himself, so he had to be careful.

Pinhead had stopped and turned his head at his direction. He saw what had happened. Good. Frank gave a laughter of triumph.

- Okay, Pinhead, get your sorry ass over here, or this little sweet heart will lose his head! Is that clear?

He laughed again.

Pinhead didn’t move at first. He winked his eyes and stared at Frank.

- Come on now! he called again. Pinhead, we all know that you’re the one I want, so if you come here, I’ll release him. I swear I will release him. But if you don’t, this pretty cenobite will lose his head.

Frank hated Pinhead. Hated him so intensively. And the hatred grew stronger between the times they met. One and a half year ago, Frank had almost finished Pinhead, but the little bitch had held a knife in his hand. A knife Frank hadn’t seen. So he died himself, and Pinhead had escaped. But Frank had an ability to return from the grave. Thank god. But if Pinhead died, he wouldn’t need that ability anymore.

And look at that! Pinhead had actually begun to shuffle along at his direction.

- Good! Wise done, Pinhead! Come here, and let me take you, and I’ll release this one!

- Never, Pinhead replied tiredly. You’ll never have me.

Frank got frustrated. What did the damn thing say now? Then he realized. The bitch was going to summon his chains! No!!!!

- Don’t do it, Pinhead, he said sharply. Keep those fucking chains away from me! I promise, I’ll rip him to pieces. I will. No chains.

Frank wrung the cenobite’s arm even harder.

* * * *

Pinhead didn’t know what to do. No, really not.

Frank had Gabriel. He mustn’t kill Gabriel. But he couldn’t give himself to Frank. Never.

- No chains, Frank repeated. You hear me?

- All right, no chains, Pinhead replied with an over come voice.

- Good.

Frank was still suspicious, because he tried to bend down behind Gabriel, which wasn’t so easy, because he was almost twice as big.

Pinhead had been through this kind of situation before. It was when Freddy Krueger had Dreamer as a hostage. It was a terrible situation. Really. And his experience told him, that you shouldn’t always trust that the hostage was going to be released, even of the perpetrator had his will through.

- You’re lying, Frank! Pinhead said. You won’t release him even if you get me.

- I will! Frank screamed and twitched Gabriel. I will. You have my word. I promise.

His creams echoed. Pinhead knew they were in the same place where Gabriel had opened the box, about one and a half week ago.

Pinhead decided to try to stay calm.

- You want me? he said and looked Frank straight in the eyes.

Frank didn’t answer, but he faced Pinhead’s look, and his eyes were full of cold hatred. Pinhead decided not to care.

- If you want me, he repeated calmly but coldly, you’re have to come and get me.

Frank held Gabriel very firmly, almost spasmodically, and that was a clear sign of that he no longer was so sure of himself.

- Come and get me. But do it without hostages, conditions, and a lot of other shit. Take me by hand.

- Shut up, bitch! Frank hissed furiously.

He had started to shake now, and his face had gotten white by fury.

- You’re a coward, Frank, Pinhead continued impassively,. A big, fat coward that threats with taking hostages. You’re afraid of me, Frank. You don’t dare anything else than to try to lure me to you. You’re a coward...

- You bloody hideous bitch, shut up!! Frank cried. Now you shut up!!! Get it?!

He sounded all wild now, apparently on his way to hysteria. Pinhead made him insecure and nervous. That made Pinhead feel better.

- Just come here, Pinhead, and I’ll stick your eyes out and push them up to your ass!

- Come and get me, then. If you dare.

- Dare?! Frank practically shook by anger and frustration. His grip of Gabriel began to deteriorate.

- I’ll get you, Pinhead, and since you didn’t get here right away, I’ll kill your companion...what’s his name, by the way? Some cenobite-name?

- No, my name’s Gabriel, Gabriel said with a choked voice, because Frank held him by the throat.

- Gabriel? Frank grinned. Like in “archangel Gabriel”, or what?

- Precisely.

- Okay, Pinhead, you get it. His death will be the worst you’ve ever witnessed. And you can just stand there and hear every whine and every whimper that I can wring out of his slowly dying body! Well, Pinhead, will he live on or no?

- If you kill Gabriel, you have nothing to negotiate with , Pinhead said.

- I don’t need to, because you’re next!

- Not so fast, Frank. What do you think is stopping me from summoning the chains and hook you?

Frank didn’t reply. He hadn’t thought of that.

- Think now, Frank, Pinhead said. It’s Gabriel, don’t you think?

Frank still said nothing, but of course he knew that Pinhead was right.

- If you kill him, you can no longer threat me with anything. Do you want back to Hell, Frank?

- Shut up! Shut up now, You fucking bitch! Frank cried, totally furious by now.

Pinhead began to sicken of to be called bitch.

- I’m no more bitch than you are, he said.

Frank didn’t answer on that. He was too hysteric to be able to carry on a normal conversation. That’s when he made his big mistake.

He let go of Gabriel’s right arm, which he had been holding, to pull a weapon, probably a gun.

Frank surely was strong, but he was also clumsy and heavy, and as fast as he let go of Gabriel’s arm, Gabriel slipped put of his grip all the way out. But Gabriel didn’t run, like many others had done in that kind of situation no, he attacked Frank; kicked at his legs, so that he fell down on his knees, and then Gabriel tipped him over on his back.

He leaned over Frank, put his left hand over his face, then raised his right, drove it right through Frank’s chest and ripped his heart out!

Pinhead, who witnessed this, couldn’t do anything but stare.

Gabriel got up slowly, still holding Frank’s heart in his hand. He let it go with a bump. He sighed.

- That usually works, then he said, turned towards Pinhead.

- That was very impressive, Pinhead replied filled with wonder.

- I can be tough when I have to. How are you?

- I’m fine...Pinhead mumbled. What you did... Impressive. He could have split you in two!

- I just say... he was a coward, just like you said.

- Jesus, Gabriel, I hope you never get mad at me! Pinhead said, now even in a little bit frightened tone.

Pinhead sat down on the floor, and Gabriel was walking in circles behind him. They had been doing this ever since Pinhead told Gabriel that they couldn’t return without bringing someone with them.

Neither of them said anything. Pinhead had experienced this before, but Gabriel hadn’t.

Pinhead knew they should take some new human, but unfortunately this old, shut down factory was very secluded. Here was no one to take.

Frank was dead. He was lying on the floor, with his heart ripped out. Pinhead wondered, if he’s be able to return from the grave again. Hope not.

- Gabriel, suddenly Pinhead said.

Gabriel stopped wandering back and forth and came and sat down next to Pinhead.

- What? he asked.

- Hey, Gabriel, I think I owe you an apology.

- An apology? said Gabriel. Why do you think so?

- Because of this. Your first time, and this is what happens!

Gabriel sighed.

- Don’t you mind that, he said. It’s not your fault, or is it? Who was that guy, anyway?

- Who?

- Him. He who’s lying there with a hole in his chest.

- Oh. Frank. My archenemy since 13 years back. If I’d known it was him, I would of course not gone through the gateway at all.

Then Pinhead told everything he knew about Frank to Gabriel. Gabriel listened quietly, without interrupting.

- You’ve been very lucky who survived all these times he’s been after you, ten he said.

- Maybe. But I don’t know why he hates me so much. I was just doing my job. If you open the box, you can blame yourself.

- I didn’t know what the box was for, Gabriel said. Suddenly you just stood there. Boom!

- You were lucky, Pinhead replied. You got to be a cenobite.

- Yeah, I guess I was... and I like it there. I like it very much.

- Can’t you tell me something about yourself? Pinhead asked.

Gabriel sighed. it was an annoyed little sigh.

- What do you wanna know? he asked.

- I’d like to know something about your background.

- There is not so much to talk about, Gabriel said reservedly.

- I think there is. or don’t you wanna talk about it?

- I’d rather not.

- You can say something?

- All right. Ask me.

- Do you have any siblings?

- Many, he said.

- Parents?

- No.

- What do you mean “no”? I didn’t ask if you have parents, I asked who they were.

- I don’t have any parents. I was hatched from an egg. It is a miracle. Haven’t you heard? There’s even a city named after the event.

- Very stupid, said Pinhead.

- I didn’t expect you to believe me.

- Wait a minute. I suppose you were serious about your siblings. But then you gave me two stupid answer in a row.

- So?

- No you give me two proper answers.

- I’ll try. Come on.

- Parents?

- You’ve already asked that, Gabriel protested.

- Can you give me a proper response now?

- I had a fight with my father, and since then we haven’t spoken or seen.

- What was your fight about?

- Next question, Gabriel said abruptly.

Pinhead sighed. It wasn’t possible to get any answers from him.

- Okay. How old are you?

Gabriel didn’t answer directly.

- Come on now, Pinhead squeezed him. How old are you?

- How old are you? Gabriel said.

- I’ll be 120 this year. But I was 41 when I became a cenobite, year 1921. Your turn. How old are you?

- Thirty nine, Gabriel said with a little smile.

Pinhead didn’t have the slightest idea if that was true or not. It was not any silly answer, but Pinhead could still not believe it. Because Gabriel seemed older than he looked.

Where did I get that from? Pinhead wondered. He didn’t ask Gabriel about his age again. Instead he asked a new question.

- What about your name?

- What about it?

- Your name’s Gabriel.

- Yes, it is.

- I heard Frank say something about archangel Gabriel. Are you named after him.

- No, I can’t say I am, Gabriel replied with a little laughter.

- Is Gabriel your real name?

- Yes, of course. You do you ask?

- Well, Pinhead is not my birth name, as you may know.

- No, I know. It’s Elliott Spenser.

- Yes. By the way, how could you know? I mean, when we first met, you knew it already. How is that? Are you clairvoyant?

- No, no... absolutely not. It’s just...never mind, huh? Ask something else.

- Where are you born?

- At home.

- “At home”? Where’s at home?

- At home, Gabriel said stubbornly.

- But Gabriel!

- What?

- Give me a straight answer at least once!

- I will if I can.

- Are you in contact with your siblings?

- No.

- Not anyone of them?

- No, how could I be? They’re hardly where I am now.

- I meant before that.

- Not lately.

- You miss anyone?

- I’m fine now.

- That’s a “no”?

- I didn’t say that.

- Don’t avoid the question!

- All right. I miss my family sometimes, but not that I want back to them.

- And how about that scar?

- What scar?

- The scar on your neck.

- You think it’s repulsive? he asked and avoided the question cleverly again.

-No, no. But how did you get it?

- No answer.

- Did someone hurt you? Cut you?

- No.

Pinhead believed that. Gabriel’s scar wasn’t made by random, nor was it a surgical incision. It seemed to be an engraved script. Like some kind of tattoo.

- Do you wanna tell me how you got it?

No answer.

- Was it that horrible? he asked then.

- What?

- How you got the scar.

- Why do you think it was something horrible?

- I asked you once before. You avoided the question then too. I understand that you’ve been through something awful or embarrassing, something you just not want to tell me about. Is that accurate?

Gabriel turned his head away from Pinhead. And Pinhead knew he was hiding something.

- Maybe it would be good for you to tell, said Pinhead.

- Maybe, but that’s not possible. I can’t. You’d hate me, you’d never talk to me again...and I don’t want that. So stop bugging me, that won’t help.

Now he looked Pinhead straight in the eyes. Pinhead gave up.

- Okay. I won’t ask any more.

- Thank you, Gabriel said and sounded eased. I’d like to come out of here now. Wouldn’t you?

Suddenly Pinhead knew what to do. The box! Cenobites could in cases of need use it to send themselves back, if they didn’t find anyone to take. He took the box that Frank had opened and strew it to Gabriel. It had worked once before.

- Here. Close this, he said.

Pinhead and Gabriel returned back to Hell with a little help from the Lament Configuration. They returned without a victim, and Angelique was the first to notice.

- You just keep on surprising me, Pinhead! she mocked. What did really happen, the victim sneaked away? By the way, who beat you up? she added then in a quite different tone.

- What? No one...Pinhead mumbled confusedly and wondered how the hell she could see that Frank had beaten him?

- I think someone has, she said. You don’t use you have nosebleed?

Shit! Did he have a nosebleed? He hurried to wipe it out.

- So, who beat you up? Angelique kept going. Was it him, maybe?

She meant Gabriel, who had been smart enough to leave and didn’t listen to Angelique’s crap.

- No, it wasn’t Gabriel, if that’s who you mean, Pinhead snapped. And what’s that got to do with you?

- Oh yeah, my dear Pinhead, she chirped, I can imagine that even you can be that incompetent that you miss a victim like that. It’s obvious that he slows you down!

Pinhead decided to defence Gabriel as good as he could.

- Not at all. It possible, that I’d been dead by now, if he hadn’t been with me.

Angelique’s scornful facial expression was erased.

- What do you mean by that?

- Frank Cotton was there. He almost got me. Gabriel saved my life.

Angelique raised her eyebrows.

- Frank Cotton, you say? And you run away from him like two scared little mice?

Pinhead bit his lip and tried to hold his fury back.

- No Angelique, he spit out. He tried to kill me, but we beat him.

- I don’t know so much about Frank Cotton, but I sure know one thing. Leviathan would very much like him back here. Now was your chance, Pinhead.

- No, Pinhead replied.

- Why not?

- Gabriel killed him.

Angelique snorted.

- Smart! Really smart. You know what Frank Cotton’s worth. Just make sure Leviathan doesn’t find you... Angelique whispered. Then she turned away to leave.

Pinhead foamed with rage.

- But tell Leviathan then! he yelled.

Angelique turned towards him.

- No, not if you get rid of Gabriel.

- Forget it! Gabriel should have a promotion! He did exactly the right thing. Leviathan will think that too!

- Shall we find out? asked Angelique in a challenging voice.

- I won’t be in trouble, Pinhead replied.

- No, I know. But Gabriel will!

- Why do you hate Gabriel?

- He’s a little creep with the eyes of a fish. And besides he always wants to show how good he is.

- Are you scared to lose your position? Don’t be. Gabriel is happy the way it is.

- And what the hell do you know about that?

- Believe me, I know. So stop fighting him.

- You got it. I won’t tell Leviathan.

Angelique tilted her head and smiled deviously.

- So...I’ve noticed one more thing, that Gabriel has ruined. Dreamer and you. You’re not screwing her any longer, are you?

Pinhead sighed. He knew this would come!

- Yes, Dreamer’s and mine relationship has been deteriorating, he admitted. But that’s not in any way Gabriel’s fault. Dreamer’s the one acting strangely.

- She wants you to choose between her and Gabriel?

- I hope I won’t have to make that choice.

- Who’d you choose if you had to? Angelique asked.

- I don’t discuss that with you, Pinhead replied.

- Come on! Angelique bitched. Who’d you choose?

- Listen! Pinhead began to lose his patience. That kind of choice I can’t just answer like that. I’m hoping I won’t have to make it at all.

Angelique didn’t answer, but just blinked at him and went away.

Pinhead was walking with Gabriel in the never-ending passages of the Labyrinth. There was nothing to talk about, really. Pinhead was feeling a bit annoyed. He had an awful headache.

That was funny; he didn’t normally have. In case he wanted to go to his chamber and rest, but at the same time he wanted to ignore the headache. But what caused it?

The fight of the day? Had Frank beaten him that hard, that he still hadn’t recovered properly?

No, Pinhead didn’t think that. He didn’t tell Gabriel about it. Pity was the last thing he was after. No, he had to put up with it, then.

But the headache was increasing. Weird. It was worst in the back of his head. It felt like something was clawing its way through there. Yes, it was the same feeling he’d had a few months ago. And one day it had suddenly stopped, but now the feeling was back, worse than ever.

Pinhead felt the pain increasing, and soon it was unbearable. He pushed his hands against his head and began screaming hysterically because of the pain.

His legs failed him, and he would have fallen down on the ground, if Gabriel, who also had been deeply chocked by his sudden seizure, had caught him.

Pinhead collapsed and sank down on the floor, screaming, and Gabriel who was apparently also scared out of his senses, sat leaned over him.

Pinhead had never experienced this kind of feeling before. It was like he was pressed out of his own body. But because of the pain, he couldn’t really focus on the other feeling.

- Gabriel...help me...he whined, just the second before he lost his consciousness.

* * * *

This was the happiest moment in Freddy’s life, if you could say that he had a life. He had done it! Pinhead’s body was his! Finally! Pinhead was beaten. Freddy could control his body like a puppet.

With a howl he threw the other figure away, that was sitting leaned over him, where he was lying on the floor of the Labyrinth of Hell.

The cenobite, or whatever it was, flew into the wall violently, with a bang.

Pinhead was strong. Good!

Freddy got up, looked around with Pinhead’s eyes.

Magnificent! Now he could do what ever he liked, without anyone suspecting it was him. Should he start with killing the cenobite he’d thrown into the wall a couple of seconds ago? Sure. It would be great, but then it was the girls - was her name Dreamer- turn.

The new cenobite get up quickly, and stared at him.

- Pinhead! he gasped. Pinhead, what’s the ma...

Freddy let out a malign laughter. He got a little surprised when he heard himself. The voice wasn’t really his, of course not, this was Pinhead’s body, but Freddy made great efforts, that at least the tone of voice would sounds like his own.

- I’m not Pinhead, he croaked.

Freddy stared at the cenobite. It was a very beautiful cenobite, apparently male, with wonderful, huge, blue eyes, and pretty high cheekbones.

The cenobite stood still, and stared at Pinhead/Freddy. Had he figured out something was wrong yet? If not, Freddy would soon show that to him.

Pinhead was suppose ho posses control of the chains. He’d try if that was true. But how did you do? Was it just to wish them forth?

Freddy closed his eyes - Pinhead’s eyes - and focused on the chains.

And yes, it worked. Within a few seconds the chains came dashing out of nowhere and almost hit Freddy himself. Of course. He wasn’t so experienced. He could get the chains to come forth, but not really control them.

Another hook-tipped chain missed the other cenobite’s head with a few inches. Freddy swore. Why did he fail? But then he thought, that Pinhead was a little more experienced than he was. Freddy had to be a fast learner.

Another chain almost hit the cenobite who now tried to run away in panic.

Freddy swore by disappointment. He tried once more direct the chains against the cenobite, but missed again. He was aiming badly. The cenobite threw himself down on the floor and tried to crawl away.

- Pinhead! he cried. What are you doing? Stop!!

Then he managed to get up on his feet, and run around the corner, so that Freddy couldn’t see him.

Freddy swore again. He had to kill that cenobite; he could be a problem if he didn’t. So he went after him. But got surprised when noticing how hard it was to run in Pinhead’s body. That fucking robe made that he was staggering and almost fell down. It didn’t go very fast.

In his ordinary shape, Freddy also could teleport from one place to another, by using the power of his mind. But now in Pinhead’s body that was impossible too.

Suddenly he felt a powerful thrust. He knew what that was. Pinhead. He tried to take his body back, but Freddy pushed him away rapidly. He was psychically stronger than Pinhead. Hopefully. He mustn’t yield now. Now the had to stop the escaping thing.

Freddy could catch a glimpse of him about 20 yards away, ahead of him. He had to make it quick.

* * * *

Gabriel knew nowhere else to go than to his own chamber.

He was dangerously close to panicking. And he didn’t understand what had happened. Absolutely nothing. Pinhead seemed to have lost his mind completely. Gabriel didn’t get it. But he didn’t have time to think either, because now he had to try to avoid being hooked by the chains Pinhead had summoned to catch him with.

But why? Why?

Gabriel reached to his own chamber now, banged the door shut, and groped for the locking mechanism, but discovered soon after, that there was none!

The door was unable to lock. No. What? This was just not happening!

A strange, scaring noise sounded in the room. Gabriel looked around himself terrified, when he found out that the noise was just his own disjointed, uncontrolled breathing. He backed further into the room. There was nothing to defend oneself with, or even a place to hide. Pinhead would soon be here, and what would happen to Gabriel when he did, Gabriel did not know.

But what had made Pinhead freak out like that? Had he maybe...had he found out what Gabriel really was? That was one possibility.

Angels, neither fallen or others, weren’t very popular nor in Lucifer’s hell or here.

No. That couldn’t be the cause. Because even in a situation like that, Pinhead wouldn’t react the way he did now. Gabriel knew him well enough to be sure of that. Pinhead was rational, he wouldn’t start acting like a lunatic even then.

The door was ripped open. Gabriel could see Pinhead’s silhouette be outlined in the doorway.

Gabriel screamed and backed till his back hit the wall. he could hear his own heart pound like a whole machinery in the chest, and his whole body shook violently. But he was strongly determined not to be paralysed with terror. He mustn’t lose it now.

When Pinhead entered, Gabriel could see his face more clearly. And it wasn’t the Pinhead Gabriel knew. It didn’t seem to be Pinhead at all. His lips, his eyes, his whole face was twisted in a grin, which obviously showed, that this person was insane. Certifiable. And Pinhead wasn’t insane. So this couldn’t be Pinhead.

He was laughing. A sneering laughter, a dark, hoarse guttural laughter. Not Pinhead’s And Gabriel’s last doubt flew off when the Pinhead-creature began to speak.

- Come to me, little piggy! he said. The voice was dark, coarse and harsh and evil. Not at all like Pinhead’s low, scaring, calm tune, and cultivated British upper class-accent.

Or was Pinhead schizophrenic? Did he suffer from multiple personality disorder?

No. That couldn’t be it. If he did, he wouldn’t have been allowed to stay as the leader-cenobite. The only thing Gabriel could determine, was that this wasn’t Pinhead.

Gabriel tried to start breathing normally. Did he have any voice left at all.

- Get out of here! he said boldly, even if he didn’t feel like that. Whoever you are, leave me alone!

- Are you afraid? the Pinhead-creature sneered. You wanna know something? It’s nothing personal against you, but since you seem to know that I’m not Pinhead, I have to quiet you down, the Pinhead-creature croaked. I want those others to believe I’m Pinhead a little bit longer, until I get my vengeance. Okay?

Pinhead’s black eyes gleamed.

Gabriel gasped. So it was true! The creature stood here himself confessing that he wasn’t Pinhead! Then who was he? And what was that vengeance he was talking about?

Gabriel began to realize, that he wasn’t the only one in danger.

Gabriel didn’t know what to do. It had been a mistake to run in here, because from here h there was no escape. And he didn’t want to fight this creature if there was some way to avoid it. Because whoever he was, he seemed to posses Pinhead’s ability to control those hook-tipped chains, which Gabriel already had managed to avoid a few times, but he doubted he’d have the same luck again.

The Pinhead-creature took a couple of steps towards him, but then something happened, something that even Gabriel hadn’t seen during his whole existence.

The Pinhead-creature began to shake, he had suddenly stopped, and then another figure disentangled from Pinhead’s body! Pinhead, who obviously was the real Pinhead now, gasped for breath, and fell down on the floor, unconscious.

But the figure that had plopped out from his body, just rolled around a few turns on the floor, and was quickly up on his feet.

Gabriel just stared. But he instantly knew, that this was the one who had controlled Pinhead’s actions lately.

It was a man, he wore a read and green sweater, really dirty, and on his head he had a brown hat. he was horridly burnt and looked terrible. But what caught Gabriel’s attention was his right hand. he had knives for fingers. Or? What was he?

The man swore angrily. Horrible words. Gabriel loathed swearing.

Then he turned his eyes at Gabriel. He had steel-grey eyes. Cold as ice.

Gabriel didn’t wanna start fighting with him. he didn’t know exactly why not, the man wasn’t big, a bit shorter than himself, actually, and not at all very robust. But he just seemed to be dangerous. And who knew what incredible powers he possessed, who could take over Pinhead’s body. But what had made him leave it?

Pinhead by the way, lay unconscious on the floor, so if he had to fight this guy, he was alone.

The man with the knives had an expression on his face, that Gabriel earlier had seen in Pinhead’s face, before this creature had flown out of him. And Gabriel was almost sure of how his voice sounded. Dark, harsh and coarse.

The voice of a demon.

- Get out of here! Gabriel tried and tried to make his voice sound steady.

The demon, or whatever he was, just laughed and scraped his knives against the wall, and made a horrible sound. Then he suddenly went quiet. His eyes gleamed and he looked chocked.

- Gabriel! he cried. You’re Gabriel! The angel!

Gabriel didn’t know what to do. Who was he and how could he know.

The demon began laughing. Not a laughter of joy, but s mad one. It sounded scary. Hollow.

- So you’re here now? he croaked. How’s that? The archangel. That I didn’t see that until now! But no, in Pinhead’s body I’m not so focused. What are you doing here? Are you a prisoner?

Gabriel gasped. He wasn’t hysterically scared any longer, but more surprised, actually. Who was this demon, and how could he know all this?

Suddenly he screamed again, and shook his knives at Gabriel.

- You’re a cenobite! he cried. You’re a cenobite! Oh my god! Who made you a cenobite? Pinhead? Did Pinhead do it? Has he lost his mind? Think of this, I would have liked to be a cenobite, but no. And now, the ex-archangel gets in, but I don’t?! How long have you been here. How did you manage to get here? You’re an angel! An angel!

He talked without expecting any answer, really. And he got none. Gabriel stayed quiet.

Then suddenly a fiendish smile spread over his face.

- They don’t know, do they? They don’t know you’re an angel? Pinhead doesn’t know. Poor naive little bastard! H doesn’t know!

- But how do you know? Gabriel asked. His voice sounded shallow, like a little peep.

- How I know? the demon grinned. I recognize an angel when I see one!. You should be terminated, all of you!

He’s crazy, Gabriel established. He’s certifiable. What would he do if the mad man got violent?

- You should be terminated, the demon repeated.

Then he suddenly took a jump and attacked Gabriel. Gabriel, who was totally unprepared of that, was thrown into the wall, and got the demon with the knives over him.

Gabriel didn’t really know how vulnerable he was in this cenobite-shape. Bur being cut by 5 knives at once could never be a good thing!

The demon tried to strangle him, and Gabriel, who had experienced a whole lot of that kind of situations, easily disentangled himself, pushed the demon away, but didn’t attack him. He decided to try an escape.

Gabriel rushed towards the door, but it banged shut before he made it there. He grabbed the doorknob, but didn’t get it open. No, impossible. The door had no locking mechanism. How could it be?

Gabriel didn’t want to believe it was happening, so he didn’t hear the demon behind him, before he felt its hand grab him in the back.

- Now you’ve made enough trouble, you little bitch! the demon snarled and pushed Gabriel up against the wall.

- Pinhead! called Gabriel and hoped that Pinhead still would wake up and help him. But no.

- You think Pinhead would help you if he knew what you really are? the demon asked scornfully.

Gabriel tried to get away from the demon’s grip, but it was harder this time, since his attacker was prepared for resistance. He still managed to put his hand against his face and push him away from himself, and was in that very moment happy about his cenobite-strength. he was stronger now than before.

The knives of the demon scraped his arm and Gabriel became more angry than scared from the injury, and turned around to strike back. But his opponent was no longer there. Gabriel could here his mocking laughter from the other side of the room, and very well, he stood there, leaned against the door, waving towards Gabriel with his knives. Hoe he’d gotten there, was a mystery.

- You know, Gabriel, I don’t think I’ll kill you yet, because I wanna see Pinhead’s face when he finds out what kind of a thing you really are. See you in your dreams! Ta taa!

Then the demon disappeared. Just like that.

Gabriel was nonplussed, but happy that he was gone.

He took a look at the wounds he’d gotten from the knives. They bled a little, but the cut’s weren’t deep. Thank god. He went to see how Pinhead was doing.

- I can’t believe I didn’t see it coming! It was just so humiliating...

Pinhead sat in Gabriel’s chamber after what happened before with Freddy Krueger. He was still deeply harrowed, and was mumbling to himself all the time.

Gabriel sat next to him with his arm around him, trying to comfort him. Pinhead was still happy that he ha someone there with him.

- What I did...he kind of just took over...

- No, Pinhead. It wasn’t your fault, Gabriel assured him. You’re the victim. He should pay for this!

Pinhead shook his head.

- You don’t understand. We can’t do anything about him. The inly thing we can do is to hope he keeps away.

- Why’s that? Who is he?

- Freddy Krueger.

- Yes, that’s his name, but who is he?

- Was. He’s a ghost. A spirit. He died 28 years ago. He’s not real.

- This seems quite real to me, Gabriel said, meaning the wounds on his arm, Freddy had caused him.

- You know what I mean.

- Have you met before? Gabriel asked. You and this...

Pinhead let out a laughter and tried to keep his shaking hands still.

- If we have! He’s my archenemy number 2 after Frank. But that he’d do something like that... He doesn’t use to...

- Use to what? Gabriel asked.

- Nothing. Gabriel, listen to me. We mustn’t say this to anyone. About Freddy, I mean. No one must know, especially not Dreamer and Leviathan.

- But Pinhead...you weren’t responsible for his acts. Leviathan will understand.

Pinhead shook his head.

- That’s not the point. I don’t want to concern Leviathan. And Dreamer...absolutely not. She’ll freak out completely if she finds out. She just began to get her dreams in order... No you mustn’t say anything. I don’t want to think about it anymore.

- If that makes you feel better, Gabriel said and shrugged his shoulders.

- I does, Pinhead assured him. Then he came up with one more question. Hey, Gabriel... I was lying there, unconscious, so... did Freddy say anything to you that can mean something? I maybe not heard...

- No, Gabriel replied instantly. He didn’t say anything.

- Okay, Pinhead said in a melancholy voice, but he thought Gabriel looked a bit weird.

- Is that sure? he asked. Don’t be scared, if Freddy threatened you, you can tell me. it’s just good if I can know, so that we know where we have him.

- He didn’t say anything! Gabriel repeated. He sounded annoyed.

- All right, all right. So he just cut you and left?

- Yes.

- That doesn’t seem like Freddy. He always uses to mock his victims. Come with dumb jokes. To me, at least.

- He seemed angry because he’d been forced to leave your body, Gabriel murmured.

- Yeah, that can be it, of course, Pinhead murmured back. He was too utterly tired to think of that now.

He got up abruptly.

- I’m gonna go to my place now, he said to Gabriel.

- Oh... you want me to come with?

- No...no thanks, I’m fine. Thank you for your support, Gabriel.

He went towards the door. His legs still felt a little shaky, but he made great efforts to ignore it. Gabriel walked with him to the door.

- You can always come back if you’re not feeling well.

- Thank you, Pinhead replied. And remember, not a word about Krueger?

- No, you got it. I promise.

- Good.

Then he left. Pinhead hoped it didn’t show on him that he’d been through something terrible. And it didn’t seem to do that, because he met Barbie and CD, and they didn’t seem to notice anything, or they were polite, and didn’t show. Luckily, he didn’t face Dreamer, because she was an expert on interpreting him. And it wouldn’t be good at all if she found out what had happened lately...

Pinhead was asleep. Four days had passed since the Freddy-thing, and he hadn’t shown himself or come back ever since.

So Pinhead, who was exhausted by now, thought it might be safe to sleep now. Freddy maybe had forgotten about him.

But that wasn’t the case.

At first, he didn’t suspect anything. Pinhead didn’t use to dream at all usually, and he didn’t do that now either - at first.

But suddenly everything changed. Pinhead suddenly found himself in a decayed, mould-smelling room, which he knew was part of the Freddy-house. And the following second, the dream-demon appeared a few yards ahead of Pinhead.

Freddy was grinning.

Pinhead’s first reaction was the fear. Fear of an attack. So he raised his arms in front of him as protection, and screamed:

- You son-of-a-bitch, get out of here! Leave me alone! Don’t come here! Go!!

He could hear Freddy laugh sneeringly.

- Poor little Pinhead, the same, naive little fool as always!

Pinhead’s fear was now replaced by anger. Anger towards Freddy, and how he dared to intrude Pinhead’s well-deserved sleep!

Freddy continued.

- Pinhead, how odd this may sound, I’m not here to hurt you. I want to talk to you.

- Get out of my dream right now! screamed Pinhead furiously. Now he was more furious than scared, and the fury made that he didn’t really hear what Freddy said.

- Yes, I will, but I have something to tell you first, Freddy said in a excessively calm voice.

- Whatever it is, I don’t wanna hear it! Pinhead snapped.

- Oh, I think you will, Freddy grinned. We have a common acquainted; Gabriel. Did you know?

- You leave Gabriel alone! you got that! And Dreamer. If you come near them, you’ll be sorry for it!

- You wanna know something about Gabriel? said Freddy icily.

Pinhead looked into Freddy steel-grey eyes. They were cold and cynical. But it indeed seemed like he had something to say. About Gabriel.

Pinhead felt unpleasant. He didn’t want to hear this at all. Because if he knew Freddy right, he’d just say it to make trouble, not to help Pinhead.

- I don’t wanna know! Pinhead screamed. Go!

- Yes, you see, Gabriel...

Pinhead didn’t hear the rest of the sentence. He had compressed his eyes, put his hands over the ears and began to scream, so that he wouldn’t hear it.

He kept doing this, until he felt that Freddy had come forth to him, and started to pull his arms and shouting something in his face, to get him to listen.

Pinhead opened his eyes. He became all cold. His eyes dazzled. He was all foaming with rage.

Then he hit Freddy right across the mouth with his fist as hard as he could. Then he made a turn and began to run out of the room. He heard that Freddy was calling after him, but he didn’t care. he ran and ran. Through the house. From one room to another. Then he had to stop, when he just didn’t have strength to continue. Then he looked back to see if Freddy had run after him. But no. He saw no Freddy.

Pinhead moaned and sank down on the floor, in a sitting position. First now, he began to wonder, what Freddy really wanted to tell him. Surely just something he’d fixed in his own head to fuck with them. He didn’t know Gabriel. Not according to Gabriel, anyway. And Pinhead believed Gabriel’s version more than Freddy’s, who was his worst enemy, and besides that, he was loony.

Or? What he had to say wasn’t worth listening to, nor to believe in, Pinhead decided. Even though he wasn’t sure.

He hated Freddy, but still couldn’t help wondering what he had in mind to say.

Shut! It didn’t matter!

Pinhead sat down where he was, alone, and waited for himself to wake up.

Dreamer felt that she missed Pinhead. They hadn’t quarrelled with each other, but they didn’t spend much time together any longer.

That depended on one thing:

Gabriel. Yes. Pinhead was often together with him, and not so often with her. Dreamer couldn’t understand why. Wasn’t she an interesting person anymore? Gabriel then? Was he intriguing?

She didn’t know if his personality was, but at least his appearance was. He looked kind of like a cat, thought Dreamer. She didn’t consider him as ugly in any way. She wished she could do that, but she couldn’t. But his eyes were a little bit too big for his face, she thought maliciously. Cat-eyes.

He had been with them for a month now, Gabriel the cat. And she still disliked him as much as always. He was weird, and besides that, he’d gotten his claws into Pinhead. But what Pinhead saw in the cat, she couldn’t understand.

Now she hadn’t seen Pinhead for ages. At least not in a couple of days. He’d been in his chamber, obviously, because she’d seen Gabriel walk about alone, so he wasn’t with him.

Had they had a fight? She hoped so. But later she noticed what she really was hoping, and began to regret it.

“Yuck, I’m such a pig!” she thought and tried to get a bad conscience, for wishing such a thing. But she didn’t get it.

Dreamer sighed. Perhaps it was something else? Did Pinhead not feel well? Should she go see him? No Gabriel could perhaps be there, and she couldn’t take that. She wanted to like Gabriel, but she couldn’t.

“You fucking cat, leave Pinhead alone!” The thought wanted to come forth, but she repressed it. She felt mean. Jealous too, but she didn’t want to admit that.

“Well, some day you’ll come back to me, Pinhead” she comforted herself with.

Or maybe not. Now she had to be sure not to let him go all the way. If Dreamer could have chosen someone away, either Angelique or Gabriel, she would in fact have chosen Gabriel. Angelique was indeed provoking, but she hadn’t gotten her claws into Pinhead. No, those two hated each other.

Dreamer smiled by herself. It was maybe in some twisted way, good that Pinhead and Angelique didn’t like each other. Like that. It would of course be a lot easier lot everybody if they could get along. But Angelique didn’t get along with anybody; except for Eel, perhaps, but he wasn’t better than she was, so that didn’t matter.

Then Dreamer came up with how selfish she was. And jealous. She hoped she’d learn to stand out with Gabriel, eventually.

Pinhead didn’t feel well. He hadn’t done that ever since the body-swapping with Krueger, and after the dream, he felt even worse. He hadn’t dared to sleep sine that.

Perhaps Freddy would come back and terrorize him.

And besides he tried to convince himself that he didn’t care, he couldn’t help wondering what Freddy was going to say about Gabriel. It was something unpleasant, he knew that for sure. But what? What could it be? What did Freddy Krueger know about Gabriel, that Pinhead didn’t?

No, sure, Gabriel had been quite reticent about himself, but how could Freddy know anything about him? Gabriel hadn’t told him anything, that was for sure. That meant, that they had to know each other from the past.

Pinhead went to ask Gabriel. He met him outside Gabriel’s chamber.

- Gabriel, Pinhead said seriously.

- Pinhead. Hi! I haven’t seen you in a while, are you all right?

- I’m fine, Pinhead replied shortly. Hey, I must ask you something.

- Come on, ask, Gabriel said and looked questioningly at Pinhead.

- Can we go into your place?

- I suppose we can. Pinhead, something’s wrong, isn’t it?

Now Gabriel sounded worried, and Pinhead thought even; scared.

They went into Gabriel’s chamber. Pinhead sat down in the chair next to the table where Gabriel had his book with red covers and the trumpet. Gabriel sat down on the floor with his long legs crossed under himself.

- Gabriel, Pinhead began, if I ask you this, will you tell me the truth?

- Of course, Gabriel replied.

- Freddy Krueger...do you know him...from before?

Gabriel didn’t answer at once. He screwed up his eyes against Pinhead, and gasped.

- No, he said then. I had never seen him before. Why’d you ask?

“Because it seems like he knows you” Pinhead had the answer on his tongue, but swallowed it just in time.

- Just a question, he murmured instead.

He hadn’t mentioned the dream to Gabriel, and didn’t do it now, either.

Gabriel gave Pinhead an inquiring glance.

- That question seemed important, he said. Or what?

- Not at all, Pinhead replied as uninterestedly as he could. He didn’t know if Gabriel was lying, but he seemed to. But was his reason, if he did?

Someone was lying, either Freddy or Gabriel, and the strange thing was, that even if Freddy was Pinhead’s worst enemy, and Gabriel his (next( best friend, he doubted Gabriel more.

If Freddy was telling the truth, the reason was simple; Freddy knew something about him, that absolutely not could come out.

What?

Pinhead damned himself for not listening to Freddy. If only he had, he could have judged more easily who was telling the truth. he decided to test Gabriel.

- Did you know that Freddy have stopped terrorizing me? Pinhead said.

- Oh, Gabriel just said.

- Hmm. Did you know that he comes in other peoples dreams?

No, Gabriel had no idea about that, he claimed.

- Have you had any nightmares about Krueger? Pinhead continued.

- No, in fact not. What’s this about, Pinhead? Have you seen him again? After that time? Has he said anything about me?

Gabriel actually sounded worried. Pinhead’s suspicions grew stronger.

- I haven’t seen him, he lied. And why would he say anything about you? You guys don’t even know each other.

- You’re right. We don’t, Gabriel said, and looked straight into Pinhead’s eyes this time.

Was he lying? Hard to see.

- Gabriel, Pinhead continued, can you tell me one thing?

- What?

- Are you telling me the truth?

- About what?

- This. Freddy Krueger, and all.

- About me knowing him, you mean? Gabriel said. Believe me, Pinhead, I had never seen or heard of him before. Why do you think I’m lying? Why would I lie?

- I don’t know. But you act so strange every time I mention him. I just winder why...

- I’m scared of hi, that’s why! Gabriel exclaimed suddenly. Is that so strange?

- What did Freddy really do to you? Pinhead asked.

- He tried to kill me. First in your body, then in his own. But I got away. Luckily. You who actually know Freddy Krueger, should know what he’s like.

- Of course. I’m sorry, Gabriel, Pinhead excused., and tried to accept the cause Gabriel had given him.

- Anything else you’d like to ask? Gabriel wondered.

- No...yes, by the way, you haven’t mentioned what happened to anyone?

- Absolutely not. We agreed on keeping quiet.

- Good. because if Dreamer finds out...

- Yes, according to Dreamer...she hates me, right?

Pinhead sighed. There was no reason to conceal that fact.

- Yes, Gabriel, she hates you, Pinhead admitted. And Angelique does that also, but she’s a self-righteous fool, who hates everybody, so never mind her.

- I know that. But Dreamer is not, and she hates me anyway. You know why? I haven’t done her anything.

- No, I know, but she thinks you’re spooky.

- Spooky? Gabriel exclaimed. Why?

- Don’t ask me. She just thinks that.

- Are you two close friends? Dreamer and you? Gabriel asked.

- Yes, we are. Or, she stays away a lot now when you’re here, but that’s definitely not your fault, so don’t feel guilty.

- Isn’t it hard being “friend” with someone of the opposite gender? Gabriel asked.

- What, no? Gabriel asked surprised. What do you mean?

- Well, aren’t you guys more than friends, then?

Pinhead let out a surprised laughter. At the moment, Dreamer and he were absolutely not more than friends, or were they even friends?

- It depends on how you mean, he said. Do you have trouble being ‘friends’ with people of the opposite gender?

- No, I haven’t, but I’ve known some people that have.

- It works fine between me and Dreamer, anyway, Pinhead assured.

- Then you’re not sleeping with her?

Gabriel didn’t at all sound sneering or evil like Angelique did, when she asked questions like that. (Both Pinhead and Dreamer had to take a lot of shit from her because of that.)

Gabriel sounded curious, plain and simple.

- It happened, Pinhead laughed. But why...

- How is it, then? was the following question.

- How is what?

- Sleeping with somebody?

At first, Pinhead wondered, why Gabriel asked questions like that, but when he finally understood, he had to make great efforts not to laugh out loud.

- Gabriel...are you...are you a virgin? he laughed.

Gabriel didn’t answer, but Pinhead already knew.

- Oh, Jesus! he gasped. So you’ve...you’ve never had a girl?

- What’s so funny with that?

- No...no, nothing, I just think it’s a little unusual to be a virgin when you’re “thirty nine”.

- It can seem like that, but I have my reasons.

“I just wonder what that is.” Pinhead thought. But he didn’t ask Gabriel. That wasn’t any of his business, was his own opinion. Probably the cause was, that Gabriel didn’t care about women, or he had been to eccentric to catch anyone.

Never mind.

- Don’t worry...I won’t tell, Pinhead assured him.

- About me being a virgin? I’m not ashamed of it, if that’s what you believe, I’m very proud of it, if I may say so. It only points to, that I have a very good, self-discipline.

Pinhead shrugged his shoulders. What Gabriel was saying sounded crazy, but he didn’t began to argue.

- Okay, he just said.

- You believe me? asked Gabriel.

- What?

- Do you believe me when I say that I don’t know anything about Freddy Krueger?

- Yes, of course, Pinhead replied and left Gabriel’s chamber.

But he was lying. He didn’t really believe what Gabriel was saying. It was something murky about his relation to Freddy Krueger, and Pinhead wished he’d known what it was. Only if he’d listened to Freddy!

That’s so typical.

But he didn’t understand what Gabriel had to hide. He’d been a good cenobite. What did he care about something that obviously took place in his previous life. It was something. Something Gabriel wanted to keep secret. And Pinhead wanted to find out. But how?

Pinhead knew what to do. He had to find out what Gabriel was hiding. He just had to. He remembered that big, hand-written book with red covers very well, that Gabriel had.

He had already fingered the book once, but then it hadn’t been his intention to go prying. It was now.

He planned to sneak into Gabriel’s chamber and see if there were something that could revile Gabriel’s background.

The door was never locked, so all he needed was a good opportunity. Pinhead waited patiently.

When he thought he had a good opportunity - That meant at least a quarter of an hour, 20 minutes - he took the chance right away.

Very carefully he opened the door to Gabriel’s chamber and came in.

The book. He must examine that first of all.

Pinhead listened tensely for sounds that could indicate that Gabriel was back, but he heard none.

The book was old and the pages were frail. Pinhead couldn’t read the language it was written in, but now he knew what it was. Latin. Weird. If Gabriel was writing a diary, then why in Latin?

Except for the handwritten pages, there were some loose clippings from other books. And they weren’t in Latin, but in English. Thank god.

One of them had the head line “The Nephilim”. Pinhead didn’t know what a “nephilim” was, but when he read the text, the came up with the conclusion, that a nephilim was a hybrid between an angel and a human.

That’s strange. Why was just that clipping so important to Gabriel? Hmm. He kept on skimming through the book.

Another loose paper from the book was a page with the names Gabriel, Samayel and Danyael standing in a row. And after each name, there was a put a sign, and after Gabriel there was just the scar that Gabriel had on his neck.

Pinhead gasped for breath. He didn’t know what this meant, but he had the feeling that he had found something very important.

In the book, there were also many pictures of angels, demons, and much more religious crap.

He studied the texts written in Latin in the book, and even if Pinhead didn’t understand Latin, he recognized one word.

Mach´azareel.

He knew, this was another name of the Garden of Eden. What the hell was this about? Was Gabriel a priest, or something? Why else would ha have a lot of religious nonsense here?

But the weird thing was that scar on Gabriel’s neck. There was a sign exactly like it in the book, next to the name Gabriel. Gabriel.

Pinhead came to the last page of the book, and then came up with, that the pages in Latin had been written by someone named Thomas Daggett.

So Gabriel hadn’t written them himself? But who was Thomas Daggett? Pinhead had no idea.

Pinhead put the book back where he’d taken it. What else could he check? Yes, the drawers! Maybe there were something that could be a little more clear about Gabriel.

Pinhead went to Gabriel’s bureau. There were a lot of little things, so he had to be gentle when he pulled the drawers, so that he wouldn’t tip one of the little things, and expose himself.

Already in the first drawer he made an important revelation. There was a crucifix. Why the hell did he have that left? But there was another thing that caught his attention.

It was a letter. And on the letter, there actually was his own name; Pinhead.

Pinhead gasped for breath and snatched the letter to him. It had already been opened, sp there was no risk to be exposed if he read the letter.

It was Dreamer’s letter to him. The letter he had never gotten, even if Dreamer had left it at his chamber. Now he knew why.

Gabriel had taken it. That little thief! But why? He skimmed through the letter.

The were much about how much she missed him, but also how she felt about Gabriel.

Now Pinhead knew for sure that Gabriel had lied to him. He was someone else than he claimed he was. Who?

Pinhead sat there thinking, with the letter in his hand till he thought he heard foot steps outside the room.

Quickly he put the letter plus everything else back into the drawers and waited nervously.

Nothing.

He exhaled and approached the door, to leave the room. Just in case, he listened for sounds, but there were none. The coast was clear.

Pinhead sneaked out of Gabriel’s chamber and closed the door. He didn’t know what to do next.

On his way from there, he met Gabriel. Pinhead stopped him from walking any further.

- Gabriel, I must ask you something, Pinhead said.

- Okay, Gabriel said.

- Do you speak Latin, Gabriel? Pinhead asked in an unfriendly tone.

- Now, he answered. How come?

- You don’t? Pinhead continued suspiciously.

- No, no one does nowadays, Gabriel said, shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

Pinhead knew that he was lying. Why would he have a whole book in altin if he didn’t speak the language? Ridiculous!

Liar, Pinhead thought. You nasty liar!

Dreamer opened right away.

- Pinhead! What happened? she exclaimed.

- You got to help me Dreamer! You got to tell me what to do!

Pinhead didn’t know anywhere else to go than to Dreamer, and she let him in immediately.

- Come in and tell me, she said. What’s the deal?

Pinhead came in.

- I have something to tell you. It’s... about Gabriel.

- You know I don’t wanna hear...

- No, no, no. It’s nothing like that. I think you wanna hear this. I just have to tell this to someone...

- All right. I’m listening. Go ahead.

So Pinhead began.

- I’m starting to get really worried, he said. It’s Gabriel... he is... I don’t know what to do about him.

- It sounds serious, Dreamer said worriedly.

- It is. I found a book in his room. Written in Latin, so I couldn’t read it, but still. Nothing he told me was true. This scar on his neck... There was an identical picture of that scar in the book. And then he stole the letter you wrote to me.

- No he didn’t?!

- He did. He’s got it on one of his drawers. I have to do something.

- Get rid of him! Go to Leviathan. If he’s a stealer and liar, you got to get him out of here.

Dreamer sounded very resolute.

- You’re right, Pinhead admitted. I’ll talk to him. But i can’t just toss him out in the street. He’s lost and he needs help...

- He’s a lunatic, Pinhead. He’s got to go! Dreamer said abruptly. Do it tonight. Let’s go to Leviathan. I’ll support your version of the event.

- But I feel responsible for him. I’m almost the only one he’s got, Pinhead said cautiously.

- If he’s not out by tomorrow, I’ll go to Leviathan myself! Dreamer said.

- No, Dreamer...Pinhead sighed. No, I’ll rather just talk to him and try to make him tell me why he’s acting the way he is. I actually don’t know who he is, but I know he’s not who he says he is. I know that.

But he didn’t tell Dreamer that Freddy Krueger had woken his suspicions.

- Pinhead, you’re no shrink, Dreamer said sceptically.

- Then what do you think I should do?

- I don’t know. Are you sure you want to confront him?

- Yeah. He’s my problem.

- Of course. But you can’t let him continue like that. You know he can’t. Make sure he understands that.

- I’ll do my best. Thanks for you let me talk to you. It was a great relief.

Then Pinhead went away. He wasn’t looking forward to “read the riot act” to Gabriel, but that was his only choice.

It wouldn’t be easy.

Pinhead went with heavy steps towards Gabriel’s chamber. He didn’t really want to, but after what Gabriel had done, he had to.

But what would he say? What the hell would he say? But he had to be gentle, because if Gabriel was unstable, it wouldn’t be good to frighten him. No, it really wouldn’t.

The best thing would be to speak calmly and friendly to him, and at the same time explain that he...

What? Would Gabriel be kicked out? Pinhead didn’t want that. But if he kept on lying and stealing, he just couldn’t be left alone.

When Pinhead reached Gabriel’s chamber, he was just standing and watching at the door a long moment, thinking about what he’d say.

But then he finally knocked at the door.

- Gabriel?

The answer was long time in coming.

- What?

Gabriel sounded sleepy, and his voice sounded hoarse.

- Gabriel, are you all right? Pinhead asked.

No answer.

Pinhead opened the door carefully. Gabriel was sitting in there, crouched down in one of the corners of the room, with a blanket around him.

- Gabriel? I was beginning to get worried. How are you?

Slowly Gabriel turned his head up towards Pinhead’s direction, but he said nothing.

- Would you like something? Pinhead asked.

- No, Gabriel replied and stood up. He held his head down and walked slowly with shambling steps towards Pinhead.

- Gabriel, are you sick? asked Pinhead worriedly.

- I’m not feeling very well, Gabriel mumbled and gave Pinhead a quick glance.

- Are you very sick? Are you feeling very bad?

- Ah, I have just a little headache. It’s all right.

Pinhead definitely didn’t want to bring “that” up now when Gabriel also was feeling that bad, but he knew that it probably wouldn’t take place at all, if he didn’t bring it up now. It was now or never.

- Could we talk a minute? he asked in a friendly voice.

- About what? Gabriel asked and stood in the doorway, towards Pinhead.

- It’s a really important thing. And serious...he added then to see if Gabriel knew what he was talking about.

But Gabriel reviled nothing.

Suddenly the gateway opened. Pinhead cursed the moment, but was at the same time relieved that he didn’t have to deal with his difficult task.

- The gateway opened...he said. You wanna come?

Gabriel shook his head.

- No...

- Okay. Then we’ll talk when I return. Is that all right?

- Sure, Gabriel said with a shrugging of his shoulders.

Then Pinhead went through. And even if he didn’t think it was Frank now, he still brought three other cenobites, just in case.

Gabriel sighed and closed the door after Pinhead left. He had been lying about that he felt bad, but now it was actually true. Gabriel rubbed his forehead.

Now he knew that Pinhead knew. THAT THING. Why else would he ask things like if Gabriel spoke Latin?

No, it was over now. Or maybe not, anyway. But what else could have gotten Pinhead that serious? And why was Pinhead so convinced that he knew this Freddy Krueger?

He simple must have been awake and heard that lunatic yell out his hate towards angels. But why wouldn’t he say it out loud? That would have been much better.

Gabriel sat down in his chair. He was waiting for Pinhead. When Pinhead came back, he would ask him if he knew or not. What would happen next, there was nothing to do about, except for waiting and see.

Suddenly he heard someone knocking at his door.

Was Pinhead back already? Because who else would come see him? Pinhead was the only one he knew well.

- Pinhead? Is that you? called Gabriel.

No answer. But soon the door was opened, and this woman, Angelique stepped inside.

Gabriel got surprised. Very. He had never expected her to come here, of all cenobites!

- Hi, fish-eye! she said meanly and gave him a scornful stare.

- I’m sorry if my eyes don’t please you, Gabriel said shortly. What are you doing here?

- Leviathan! she grinned. He wants to see you.

- Did he say why? Gabriel asked.

- Nah. But I hope he’ll give you a blow off!

Then she went away. Gabriel sighed. He had no idea what it was about, but got up and began walking towards Leviathan’s direction.

When he got there, he stared at the big, diamond-shaped figure which was rotating above of him. He waited for Leviathan to say something. He did quite soon.

- Nice of you to show up...my angel.

Gabriel closed his eyes. Leviathan knew. He knew that denying wouldn’t help.

- So you know? he asked quietly.

- Yes.

- Did Pinhead tell you?

- N, Leviathan replied. I came up with this all by myself. I’ve known it quite some time now. But now is the first good opportunity to talk about it.

- So...?

- I want to speak with you.

- About what?

- About you being here. I don’t know if that’s a good thing. I think it would be best if you moved, Gabriel.

What Leviathan just said, made Gabriel lose all his energy. He tried anyway.

- Does it matter me being an angel? I thought you wanted me to stay?

- I’m sorry Gabriel, but that’s my business, I’m sorry, but it is, Leviathan replied.

- Aha...Gabriel mumbled and wrenched his hands so that they made a cracking sound.

- It’s me, isn’t it? Gabriel asked sadly. I knew it... I’ll change, Leviathan...I can change...

- No, it’s not that at all, Leviathan interrupted. Not at all. You’ve been a good cenobite. But you really don’t belong here. I think you know that.

- Can you leave that decision to me, please? Gabriel asked.

- Gabriel....Listen to me, I only ant what’s best for you. You’ve been good, and I care about you. But you don’t belong here. You’re an angel! You’re suppose to be with God! Not with me Only lost souls come to me. Not you. I want you to leave.

- I like it here.

- It might seem like that now, but if I let you stay, you’d be sorry later on. I know. Sweetheart, I know. So don’t fight me about this, it would be nice if we could come apart as friend.

Yeah, sure, Gabriel thought. As opposed to me and God!

- Sure, Gabriel sighed. I’ll leave as soon as I’ve gotten myself in order. I promise I’ll be gone in a couple of days.

- No, I’d prefer that you left before Pinhead comes back, Leviathan said.

Gabriel gasped for breath. What was this?

- You mean... you mean that I’m not allowed to say goodbye to Pinhead?

- I think it would be best if you don’t.

- But...why?!

- You’re pretty close, right?

- Yes, that’s correct.

- That’s the reason. He might not like that you leave.

- I still want to say good bye to him.

- Gabriel, no. Absolutely not. It’s best for all parts if you leave before Pinhead returns.

- But...my face and all? I’ll walk around on the earth looking like this?!

- No, of course not. I’ll take your cenobitical status away from you when I send you up.

- All right... but where did you have in mind that I should go?

- I’m sure you’ll find something. I promise, you’ll get a better life up there, than down here with me.

- If you say so... Some are gonna be happy when I disappear...

- I’m sorry, Gabriel, but this is the best for all of us.

Gabriel nodded.

- But what about my things...

- I’ll send your things with you. Don’t worry.

- My trumpet...

- That too. You wanna speak with someone special before you leave?

- Yes. Pinhead.

- Someone besides Pinhead?

- Nah. No, wait....Yes, I would.

- All right. You’ll have ten minutes. You know you’re suppose to be out of here before Pinhead returns.

The one Gabriel thought of, was Dreamer. He didn’t want them to separate as enemies. He hoped that Dreamer at least wouldn’t reject him now.

He knocked at the door to her chamber. She opened after a just a short while. Her facial expression expressed mixed feelings when she saw who had come to visit her.

- Gabriel, she then said.

- Hi.

Gabriel smiled at her, and was hoping that he looked friendly, not spooky as she thought.

- Hi, she replied a little awaiting. So...what do you want?

- I came here to say good bye. I’m quitting.

Dreamer looked at him with an amazes look on her face. Was she happy?

- Really? Why?

- Leviathan. He wants me to leave.

- Oh...

- So... farewell, then.

Dreamer just nodded her head. Gabriel didn’t know what to do. Leave?

- I know that you won’t miss me, but you can at least wish me luck?

- Of course, Dreamer said awkwardly. Good luck, Gabriel. When are you leaving?

- Right away.

- Oh? But what about Pinhead? Aren’t you going to say good bye to him?

- No. Leviathan thinks I’d better not.

- That’s fine.

- Can you tell Pinhead I inquired?

- I will. By the way, why does Leviathan want you to quit?

- Talk to him. I don’t think you’d listen to me...

- Okay.

- I doubt we’ll meet again.

- So do I.

Dreamer reached her hand out, and Gabriel stared at it for a while, before he understood that he was suppose to shake hands with her.

- Good bye, Dreamer, Gabriel said seriously.

- Bye.

Then she closed the door and that was probably the last thing he saw of her.

Gabriel bit his nails. He was nervous, but sad too, at the same time. Pinhead! Pinhead had been his best friend in a very long time, and he wasn’t even allowed to say good bye!

Dreamer was on her way back to her chamber.

Gabriel was gone now. Like his things. Leviathan had, shortly after that Pinhead had gone, gathered all the cenobites for a meeting, to tell them that Gabriel wouldn’t stay anymore.

He hadn’t really given a proper reason why, just that this wasn’t the place for Gabriel. But Dreamer suspected that Pinhead had told Leviathan what Gabriel had done, and that was the cause. But she had not asked.

But Pinhead, Female Cenobite, Butterball and the Chatterer didn’t know this. They hadn’t returned form the earth yet. But if Pinhead was the one who had wanted to send Gabriel away, it was all right.

Dreamer didn’t miss Gabriel. No, she was glad that he was gone. And she had a bad conscience for thinking that. Gabriel had even come to say good bye to her, and she admitted to herself that she hadn’t been too friendly. Now she regretted it.

Angelique had really been awful. She had found out that Gabriel had been fired, and mocked him and laughed wildly and sneeringly at him, and was gonna set up a party because she finally had gotten rid of him.

But she got a hard admonition from Leviathan, and there was no party, of course. Luckily.

Dreamer didn’t mock Gabriel, but she was glad that he left. Now she’d have Pinhead back. Hopefully. Yet still Dreamer had a bad feeling that everything wasn’t right. Why had Gabriel been forced to leave just like that?

Had Pinhead told Leviathan that Gabriel was s stealer and liar? Was he kicked out only because of that? It surely had been Dreamer’s own idea to send Gabriel away, but had Leviathan thought that also?

And, if that was the case, why wasn’t Gabriel allowed to say good bye to Pinhead?

Very, very strange.

Would someone miss Gabriel? Hardly. Not even Pinhead, now when Gabriel had stolen from him and lied to him. He had really gotten himself in a mess. And now he had to take the consequences. That was just what he deserved.

She was waiting for Pinhead to get back.

What would Pinhead feel about this? Because even if he’d been troubled of Gabriel’s way of behaving, he’d still liked him. Dreamer knew that.

So if Gabriel was sent away because of the stealing, then Dreamer knew, that Pinhead wouldn’t have let him go, before they could say good bye.

And Gabriel had literally said, that, that he had to leave before Pinhead came back. But why?

Gabriel arrived to the earth in the same way as he had done that time, with Pinhead, when that lunatic - was his name Frank - had been waiting for them.

The difference was now, that he would never go back. He was no longer a cenobite, but just Gabriel, a fallen angel who had nowhere to go.

Gabriel sighed, and felt his face. Did it look like it was suppose to do? Surely Leviathan said, that his cenobite-appearance would disappear when he came up to earth, but had it really done that?

Well, at least his hair was back, and he had no longer barbed wire in his scalp. But just in case, he was going to find a mirror and look for himself. If here was a mirror. He was at the same place, where Pinhead had picked him up, about a month ago.

It was, an old, shut down factory, and Gabriel had sneaked in there, because it was a secluded place, and he had wanted to investigate his latest finding, The Lament Configuration in peace.

Was the box still here, maybe? No. No, of course not, someone else had it now, when it had been opened, and Pinhead had gone to get that person.

Gabriel was freezing. It was cold, and those thin leather-clothes he wore, weren’t enough now, because it had turned cold on earth during the time he had been gone.

He was freezing. Best to go search for something warmer to put on.

So he went back to his things, and began to look in his bag for a jacked of some kind. At the same time, he checked that everything was there. Yes, the trumpet, his book, yeah. Leviathan had kept that promise, at least.

But what about his appearance? It sure felt normal, but he wanted to see it before he could be on the safe side. So he pulled out some sort of cardigan, and began to look for a mirror.

There weren’t anyone here. Gabriel went upstairs, to see if there were one on that floor.

He didn’t need to search long for a mirror. It sure had a long scratch, but hat didn’t make any difference.

Gabriel watched his own reflection. Yes, he looked like he used to do, all right. That was another promise that Leviathan had kept.

He didn’t like the way he looked. Not at all. he was no beauty, he knew hat, but the worst thing was that... he looked so...extraordinary. The dark black hair sure was beautiful, but together with his pale, almost white face and ice-blue eyes, it looked almost impropriate.

Otherwise his body was fine; long legs, straight back, tiny shoulders. His skin was soft, but too pale, and that brought out his cheekbones even more clearly. But then there were his eyes. They were the most sensational thing about him. His eyes were huge, too big for his face. And their strange colour didn’t improve it. Now he looked even worse than usually, because he had gotten big bags beneath them, which made them look like they covered his whole upper face.

Shit, how ugly!

Gabriel had several times heard people yelling “UFO” after him. At first, he hadn’t understood why, but when he saw pictures of those classic “Visitors”; little grey creatures from outer space, with big, onion-shaped heads and huge black eyes, he finally knew what it meant. After learning the meaning of the word “UFO”, he always just replied in a chilly voice: “I’d much rather be one of them, than one of you, who’re just talking monkeys.” to those who called him UFO.

And it seemed to work. Gabriel refused to be taken down by the monkeys, because according to himself, he was superior to them.

But if it had been his to choose, a little smaller eyes wouldn’t have done any harm... Never mind. His appearance was nothing to do about. And it was really nothing to care about. But he had been overjoyed when no other than Leviathan had called him “pretty”...

Gabriel sighed and left the mirror. Where would he go now? If it was his to choose, he’d more than happily stayed with the cenobites and Leviathan. He liked it there, and felt he had much more in common with the cenobites than with these stupid human beings who rule the earth.

Gabriel missed Pinhead. Pinhead, who he had hated at first, because he had brought him to Hell, had become his best friend.

Would Pinhead miss him? No, probably not. Not now when he had found out Gabriel’s origins.

One of the flaws the cenobites and Leviathan had, was that they shared Lucifer’s hate towards angels.

No. He might as well forget Pinhead.

Gabriel went back to the place where his things were, and decided to bring them with to his car, which he had parked at the yard outside the factory, when he first had gotten here.

But he got himself a nasty surprise.

The car was still standing there, but it had been demolished! The tyres had been taken off, the doors ripped off, and the engine was no longer there, but an empty, gaping hole was all that remained of the place where it should have been.

The car body was practically all that remained.

Gabriel gasped for breath. His car! No! Who did this!

He got all nonplussed. The car was all he owned, besides his trumpet and some rags of clothing. It sure was old and badly treated; a junk heap, but very important to Gabriel. And now it was no longer there.

The car had been good to have if it was cold or rained, and he had needed a place to sleep. Where would he be sleeping from now on? In some stairwell? In some alley under some cardboards? No! Or what was his choice? He hadn’t too many.

Gabriel went back into the factory. He sat down, leaned against a wall, and pulled his knees up towards his chin. He was miserable. Deeply miserable. Nowhere to go. All alone.

He remembered something that the archangel Michael had told him, a while ago, when they last met. “No one wants you, Gabriel. Not even Lucifer can tolerate you.”

At that time, Gabriel hadn’t cared so much about it. But now when he remembered it, and thought that it might actually be true.

“Am I so loathsome and repulsive? “ he thought. And then something happened, which had never happened before. Gabriel started crying. At first, he didn’t want to accept it. Hew, who always had bugged and nagged with those hopeless monkeys, that they should stop crying; that doesn’t make things better. Besides it turns you so...pathetic. Miserable.

To Gabriel, it was a new feeling. Help! I’m leaking! he thought. He wiped his eyes with his hand.

It didn’t help. Gabriel wondered what had made him do this. Gabriel had been able to take a lot of crap that the world had thrown down on him, and he had never wept. He’d become sad, miserable, angry, scared; you name it! But he had wept no tears! What caused this?

He sobbed a few times, made everything in his power to stop the tears from coming, but they just kept on and on.

if someone saw him now, he would rather die than admit that he was crying. Gabriel was still proud, even if he had nothing to be proud of.

No, in fact nothing.

- So, he thought. Now it’s just me and my bag, then, when the car’s no longer around.

Gabriel sat down until the most of the tears had dried out.

And what now?

Pinhead returned to Hell, followed by his three companions, and his ripped-open victim. It had gone very well this time, without any trouble. But Pinhead had one trouble ahead of him: His conversation with Gabriel. He was forced to have it now.

But how would he do it, without making Gabriel scared, angry or sad?

Pinhead directed his course to Gabriel’s chamber. Now he wanted to get this over-with. On his way there, he met Dreamer. She smiled when she saw him, but it was a sad smile.

- Dreamer, he said.

- Hi, Pinhead, she said. How are you?

- How I am? Good. What’s the...

- I want you to know that I’m sorry about...

- About what? Dreamer...

- Where are you going?

- To Gabriel. I need to speak with him about, you know...

- Pinhead, there’s something you need to...

- Not now, I got to go. We’ll take it later. Okay?

He gave Dreamer a pat on the shoulder an continued. Dreamer didn’t answer. But he heard her let out a troubled sigh. Something was wrong? What?

Pinhead approached Gabriel’s chamber. He took a deep breath and then knocked.

- Hi, Pinhead, Angelique’s voice teasing voice said from behind.

- Hi, Angelique, Pinhead replied reservedly. You don’t happen to know where Gabriel is, do you? Is he in here?

Angelique let out a malign little laughter.

- No, he’s not “in there”. she exclaimed. You don’t know yet, Pinhead, because you weren’t with when leviathan talked about it, but I’ll tell you.

- What did Leviathan talk about?

- Gabriel, of course! He’s been fired! He’s been sent back to earth. Can you imagine, my dream came through!

Pinhead couldn’t believe what he was hearing. What crap was the bitch making up?!

- What kind of horse shit is that?! he yelled to her.

- It’s no horse shit, Angelique assured him. He’s been sent up. You can go ask Leviathan if you don’t believe me. but it’s true.

- I will, Pinhead hissed and pushed his way pass Angelique.

Was it true? Had Leviathan really done that? Pinhead wanted to find out right now.

- Hallo! he screamed and looked around for Leviathan’s shape. Leviathan ! I must ask you something!

- Pinhead, good, you’re here, Leviathan’s voice said. There is something I’d like to talk to you about.

- What is that?

- Yea, you see, Gabriel has been transferred. He’s not here anymore.

- No! Pinhead didn’t know what to say. Angelique wasn’t lying! It was true. Gabriel wasn’t here anymore! No!

Pinhead felt the anger coming up within him. So Gabriel had been sent away. But who had told Leviathan what Gabriel had done?

Angelique? No, it couldn’t be her. She didn’t know. Dreamer! Dreamer, of course! She had seemed weird now, and besides she had all the reason in the world to want to get rid of Gabriel. Yeah, it was Dreamer, all right.

- Did Dreamer tell you? Pinhead asked angrily.

- Dreamer? She had absolutely nothing to do with...

- Leviathan , come one! Pinhead exclaimed. I know it was wrong of Gabriel to steal my letter and to lie, but that’s hardly anything to be sent away for?

- Letter? What are you talking about? Leviathan asked in a surprised tone.

Pinhead got equally surprised.

- Yes, the letter. It was because of he stole my letter that you sent him away. Or wasn’t it?

- The truth is, Pinhead, I have no idea about any stolen letter. The cause why Gabriel was sent away was a completely different one.

- And that is? Pinhead exclaimed.

- Gabriel’s origins.

- Gabriel’s origins?

- Yes. I creature like that I can unfortunately not have as a cenobite.

- What are you talking about? What creature?

- Pinhead, Gabriel is an angel. The Archangel Gabriel.

- An angel? Pinhead echoed. It took some time for his brain to translate the word. You’re saying Gabriel’s an angel? An angel like...

- Yes. I’m sorry. Do you see now why he isn’t left?

- I don’t know what there is to see...Pinhead murmured.

Now he understood why Gabriel had lied and why he didn’t tell so much about his origins. But Freddy Krueger had known. And tried to tell Pinhead to create trouble. Sure. But Pinhead had liked Gabriel. And he still did. Even if he knew now.

- So you sent Gabriel away because he is angel? Who told you that?

- Nobody. I can tell that by myself.

- Then what did Gabriel do wrong?

- Wrong? He didn’t do anything wrong. He’d been behaving very good. But you understand that I can’t have an angel here?

- But if he didn’t do anything wrong, why couldn’t you let him stay? You thought he was here to spy on us for God, or what?

- No, of course not. But don’t be so melancholy, Pinhead. I’m sure you see why!

- Gabriel can’t help his origins. He didn’t misbehave, and besides that, I think he liked it here. Why couldn’t you let him stay?

- You’re being unreasonable now, Pinhead. I don’t want any angels here. You still understand that, don’t you?

- Okay. If you didn’t like having Gabriel here, you have all right to dispose him, but I still think that I have the right to say good bye to him.

- And I think, that it’s best for you, or for both of you, that you didn’t see each other before he left.

- Then you think wrong! Angel or no, he was my friend, and I wanna say good bye to him!

- Not that tone, Pinhead. I demand that you respect my decision.

- I respect that you don’t want Gabriel here, but you can’t run me over like that!

- Pinhead, please, Gabriel doesn’t belong here. An angel can’t work here. I thought you were smart enough to understand that, Pinhead, Leviathan said coldly.

- Hmm! You did you let him walk away? Why didn’t you terminate him?

- He doesn’t deserve to be terminated. I’m fair, so i sent him away instead.

- I wanna see him, Pinhead claimed.

- That’s out of question, Leviathan said.

- I said, I wanna see him, Pinhead claimed determinedly.

- And I said, that it’s out of question. Forget Gabriel. That’s the best you can do.

- I will only if I can see him.

- You can’t see him. Accept it.

- Oh yeah? In case, I’ll get out too, and never come back! said Pinhead wildly.

- Calm down! You’re not thinking straight!

- I don’t huh?! Now you send me up to earth, Leviathan. Right now! I must see Gabriel.

- You can’t just give me orders like that! But now I’m ordering you to stop this nonsense!

- Well, then we’ll separate as enemies. I’m out of here, you know!

Pinhead’s eyes had gotten black of rage, and in that moment, he hated Leviathan. The fury had given him courage. Courage to defy Leviathan. And he wasn’t going to yield. Not ever.

Leviathan got uncertain. How would he handle this?

- Pinhead, you’re acting utterly infantile and immaturely. But since I’m fair, I’ll give you a chance. Two hours. That’s the time you have to find Gabriel. If you do or not, I don’t care. Are you pleased with that?

Pinhead didn’t reply, but neither did he object, which meant that he accepted the solution.

- But I will certainly not forget your behaviour. We’ll talk about this when you return.

- I’ll look forward to it, Pinhead replied with his lips pressed tightly together.

Pinhead had come of victorious from this dispute with Leviathan. He was sent up to earth and was allowed to stay for 2 hours. That was the time he had to find Gabriel. Pinhead thought it was far too little time. He had been so furious at Leviathan at that point, that none of Leviathan’s suggestions had been enough, just because Pinhead wanted to defy him.

But he had fortunately kept his mouth shut, and accepted Leviathan’s fair gesture. So much sense left, that he knew, that this was the best he could get from the Leviathan he knew.

Pinhead arrived to earth through the gateway which Leviathan opened for him. he came to a big backyard of a high, grey, decayed building which had gotten its windows crushed and that also had a lot of cracks in itself.

At the backyard a few hundred feet from him, there was a car wreck. Just the car body and the seats were left, but the strange thing was, that it didn’t seem to have been there very long; like, the metal hadn’t begun to get rusty, and the seats weren’t yet dirty and torn to pieces, but in surprising good shape.

Just as if someone had demolished a perfectly functioning car. Weird.

Pinhead rubbed his mouth. Then he noticed it. No nails. At first he got startled. Then he noticed, that all his nails couldn’t have fallen off at once. The cause why they were gone was a totally different one.

Since he was going up to earth in another purpose than to get puzzle-solvers, he had regained his human shape.

Of course. That’s they way it was.

Now Pinhead looked like he did before he had become a cenobite. Like Elliott Spenser. But his clothes were his usual. Pinhead knew he looked ridiculous. I human tends to do that in a cenobite’s outfit.

He didn’t care. So this was the place where he’d find Gabriel? Leviathan said, that he had dropped off Gabriel here, but even if that was the case, he could have gotten far away by now.

And two hours weren’t much time. And of those 120 minutes that he had, three of them had already passed. There was no time to lose.

Pinhead directed his course to the building itself. He knew what it was. This was the place where he’d picked up Gabriel about a month ago, and this was even the place where they had fought Frank.

It was the fall now, and cold outside, and the sun was setting down. He didn’t know where he was. Probably somewhere in the States, but that didn’t matter.

Finding Gabriel was the main-thing.

That went easier than Pinhead thought. As fast as he had entered the building, he actually saw Gabriel’s belongings lie scattered in mess on the floor. That indicated that Gabriel was still here. Because he wouldn’t leave without his belongings? Wasn’t that all he owned?

Pinhead saw that Gabriel wasn’t in that room, so he went through a doorway that led to another room. No match there either. Nor in the next room.

Pinhead knew that Gabriel was around here somewhere.

And upstairs his searching finally gave result. Gabriel stood leaned against a windowsill, and since his back was faced towards the door, he didn’t see Pinhead when he entered the room. And even if Pinhead couldn’t see his face, he knew directly that it was Gabriel. He could tell this by his carriage.

He approached him carefully, and even if Pinhead’s heals made a clear sound against the floor, Gabriel didn’t seem to hear it.

When there was only a meter between them, Pinhead thought he should revile his presence.

- Gabriel? he asked.

- Please, go away, Gabriel replied forcedly in a hoarse voice which sounded tired.

- It’s me, Pinhead, Pinhead said, a bit surprised by the answer.

Gabriel slowly turned around.

- Pinhead...? he said in a surprised tone and then turned around. Is it...I’m very sorry...But where did you come from?

Gabriel wore his cenobite-outfit, and a thin, grey cardigan, and big, dark sunglasses, that he took off while he asked the question.

Pinhead smiled.

- I came from Hell, of course. Are you amazed?

Gabriel shook his head and opened his mouth to say something, but he gave away no sounds.

- You...You looked like that when you were... human?

- Just right. This was me before becoming a cenobite.

- Yeah... Gabriel looked him up and down. Why did you come here?

- Why I came? To see you, of course. I had to bug Leviathan a whole lot before he gave me permission.

Gabriel nodded. He looked the same as he did before he became a cenobite, but still not the same. Now he no longer looked strong and vital as he did then, no now he was worn and haggard and pasty and shrunken.

His hair, that had been so shiningly black and beautiful, now hung tangled and scrubby like a low quality, old mop.

His tiny shoulders slouched, as if he didn’t have strength to carry up his own weight.

And then his face. The corners of his mouth had begun to point downwards, and the lines in his face had been deeper. Bags had appeared beneath his eyes, that in other respects were red and swollen and watery, as if he had been crying just a little while ago. No, Gabriel wasn’t well. Pinhead could see that.

- Gabriel, how are you? he asked worriedly. Have you been crying?

Gabriel jerked.

- No...no! It’s just my allergy that...

Pinhead knew that was a lie. Gabriel had been crying. He had besides red stripes after tears on his cheeks. And who the hell was allergic when it almost was winter!

Gabriel had cried, but denied it, and Pinhead pretended as if he accepted the answer.

- I see.

Gabriel looked ashamed.

- So now you know...? he asked quietly.

- That you’re one of the sky-people? Yes. Leviathan told me.

- You hate me, right? Gabriel said in a low and depressed voice.

- No. No, absolutely not. What made you think that?

- Yeah, I just...he pulled his grey cardigan closer to him. It seemed like he was cold.

- How are you? Pinhead asked again.

- Well, I’m not flourishing, as you may see...

- I’m so very sorry. If it had been up to me, I’d let you stay.

- Thank you, Pinhead. I didn’t want to leave this quickly...I wanted to say good bye to you, but...

- Yes, I know. Leviathan gave you no choice. That was really mean of him! Pinhead said furiously. He was just going to use you, and then dump you!

- No! Gabriel objected almost angrily. It was my fault, he said. I must have done something wrong, you know. I must have pissed him off! I always screw up everything!

- No, Gabriel, Pinhead said. It wasn’t your fault. It was about your origins. Leviathan doesn’t want anything to do with angels. He’s so stubborn, I’m afraid.

- No one wants to have anything to do with me! Everyone hates me! God, my brothers, even Lucifer!

- I don’t hate you, Pinhead assured him. By the way, can you tell me something about God? What’s he like?

- He’s all right. Just if you don’t piss him off.

- Did you do that?

- Yes. I’m sorry, I did. Ever since we have neither seen nor spoken.

- You lied about your age, didn’t you? You’re not 39 years old?

- No.

- How old are you?

- You don’t wanna know that.

- Yes, I do.

- I can say this; id you’ve lived as along as I have, you can count on that you’ll be pretty fed up with yourself eventually. You have the same problem, I’m afraid.

- I’m not fed up with myself, Pinhead said.

- No, you aren’t yet, but when you reach my age, I think you are.

- Don’t you wanna live any longer?

- If I really think about it; I don’t. I’ve been thinking about suicide many times, but I’ve been too coward to make it reality.

- Don’t think like that, Gabriel, Pinhead said. Suicide is no answer.

- No. Just a final, desperate way out.

- Get those thoughts out of your head! Right away!

- I’ll try.

- Where are you going now?

- I don’t have a clue. Some fucker has demolished my car, so I won’t get out of here.

- Is it your car outside?

- Yes, that was my car.

- I’m sorry.

- Don’t be. I’m used to misfortune.

- Can I do anything for you?

- I think not. But thank you anyway.

Suddenly the gateway which led back to Hell opened. Pinhead got surprised. Had two hours already passed?

- I’m afraid I have to go, Pinhead said sadly.

- I understand, Gabriel replied in an equally sad tone.

- But hey! Don’t look like that! We can still be friends. Let’s keep in touch.

- Yeah, okay, Gabriel replied, but he didn’t sound very convinced.

- Hey, I know! If you ever need me, you can call me anytime if you find the box. I promise I will come. Trust me.

- Sure, Gabriel replied, in a little better mood, this time. If I find the box, I will call you.

- That’s more like it! See you.

He reached his hand out towards Gabriel to say goodbye, but Gabriel didn’t take his hand. Instead he grabbed Pinhead and embraced him firmly, and finally even gave him a kiss on the cheek.

- Go now, Pinhead. Farewell. And don’t forget me.

- No I won’t. And remember what I said about the box.

- I will. See you.

- Yes.

Pinhead stepped through the gateway. He was pleased. He had see Gabriel and was no longer mad at Leviathan.

And when the wrath was gone, the remorse came instead. Pinhead knew he had to apologize Leviathan. Because even if Leviathan had done wrong, not letting Gabriel and Pinhead meet, Pinhead had behaved extremely bad and said a lot of insulting things.

No, I have to apologize, he thought.

Leviathan was mad, was something Pinhead was sure of. And he had said; “Let’s talk about this when you return.”

That meant now. But Pinhead was in a good mood, so he wasn’t really worried after all. They had had their disputes before too, Leviathan and he. This was surely something that could be worked out.

Pinhead also hoped that he soon would have a chance to see Gabriel again.

The angel.

Gabriel stood at the window a while after Pinhead had returned to Hell.

He felt a bit better now. Perhaps it was because of what Pinhead said. But where would he go? Without a car, besides. It had began to darken, so he would go nowhere today. Best to try to get some sleep, and be fit and thoroughly rested in the morning, when he planned to leave the factory.

Gabriel went down the stairs, to the bottom floor, where he had left his belongings.

First after opening the door and taken two steps into the room, he noticed that his things had been vandalized.

The few pieces of clothing that he owned, had been ripped out from his bag and striped to pieces. The old book about future prophecies, written by Thomas Daggett, hadn’t been left untouched, either. The spine of the book had been broken off, and the pages had been torn out and ripped to little bits. And the worst of all though, was the trumpet. It had been broken off in the middle and besides that been pulverized, by someone who had stamped on it.

- Oh shit, Gabriel mumbled when he saw that.

He never used to swear, never, but now it like came out of itself, like a reflex. before he could strain himself.

At first he stood there, like paralysed, but after a while the choked yielded for the wrath for what had happened.

He had only a few belongings, and now they were all shredded. The financial loss was in case not that huge, and didn’t trouble Gabriel, but some of the shredded things had a sentimental value, which was irreplaceable.

The trumpet bothered him the most. Gabriel had put a greater value at that, then at anything else, and now...

But who had done this? Gabriel’s first thought was Pinhead, but why he’d do it was just not understandable.

No, not Pinhead. But someone had done it, and probably during the time while he had been upstairs speaking to Pinhead, because Pinhead had in all probability went through this room, and seen his things. And if they had been shredded at that time, then Pinhead would have told him, or what?

But who? Who would derive profit from that?

Gabriel went further into the room, without really getting it.

Suddenly he heard a clinking sound from somewhere in the room. He stopped and listened.

Nothing. It was all very quiet. At first Gabriel got scared and shivered. Then he thought about it and became furious instead.

If it was that damn vandal he had heard, he wasn’t going to let him or her get away with this! Another sound. A cracking.

Gabriel turned around with a twitch.

No one. No one was there. Still Gabriel knew that what he had hear was nothing like a loose floorboard or anything like that. There was another living creature in this building. Probably the vandal. But where that person was, couldn’t be told.

Gabriel felt the fear come sneaking back. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. He couldn’t tell what it was. Even if he tried to convince himself that it just were some kids who had had in mind to destroy his things, he had a feeling that it wasn’t the whole truth.

Gabriel listened for more sounds. There were none. Only the pounding from his own heart, and his shaking breaths. Still he knew. He wasn’t alone. Someone else was here.

He hated himself for being so scared. What was there to be scared of? Some monkey? Was he, an archangel, scared of some fucking monkey?

Of course it was a monkey. Of course. What else could it be?

Gabriel pictured a creature; part human, part insect, part reptile and part something that couldn’t be identified, come dragging out of the shadows. It would have big jaws filled with sharp teeth, saliva a gore dripping along the corners of its mouth, amber-coloured gleaming reptile-eyes, long, crooked fingers, with sharp claws, where parts of his tattered clothes were hanging, and....

No, stop it! he thought and tried to repress the image of the mutated creature from his head.

Perhaps was the noise caused by something as innocent as a rat or a mouse. But probably not. A new image of the nightmare-creature began to form within him. That’s the problem about a vivid imagination. You always picture the worst thing in a situation like this.

Gabriel just now wished that he had been as unimaginative and logic as a robot. Then you wouldn’t picture the worst thing; just the most probable.

He tried to think logically.

If it against all odds was a creature that he had pictured in his head, it would most likely not sneak around and try to hide from him. But a vexing human being would.

Gabriel listened tensely. No sounds not either.

Gabriel began to think that the noise had just been a loose beam of the roof or something like that, and almost dared to exhale and relax, when a figure came forth from a winding on his right.

Not even something taken from Gabriel’s wildest fantasies, could have pictured what he the second after had to see.

- No! Gabriel said.

Chocked, he took two steps backwards. he heard his own hear pounding like a hammer in his chest. He shook his head. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

It can’t be.

Gabriel’s vocal cords had been completely paralysed by the chock, so he could say the words out loud, but he thought them, and that made no difference. Because what he saw in front of him, couldn’t be.

Totally impossible. Impossible.

It was a big man, wide shouldered and tall. He grinned at Gabriel.

It wad Frank. The man who had attacked Pinhead and him barely a month ago. But he was d....

When Gabriel saw him approach along the winding, he thought he was losing his mind. The man was dead! Gabriel could remember how he had ripped Frank’s heart out and seen his blood. But now he was still here, and not in a friendly purpose, it seemed. Probably here to finish what he started last month.

But he really couldn’t be there. Because dead men don’t walk.

At first Gabriel thought he imagined it all. A lame hope, yes, but he closed hi eyes and tried to make Frank disappear like that, as optical illusions are said to do. But when he opened his eyes he was still there.

Frank held a big and scarily sharp knife in his hand. Gabriel knew the moment he saw it, that it was meant to be used on him.

He couldn’t run, even thought he wanted. His body didn’t obey him. And Gabriel was convinced that even if he could move his joints, he wouldn’t have strength to run, but instead fall down on the floor.

Bright future prospects!

He thought he must be crazy. He must be. Totally insane. He knew he was neurotic and complex, bur he didn’t know that he was imagining things also! Still he knew that he didn’t. This “vision” was real.

What about a ghost? No. “Ghosts” like that weren’t real. But what was he?

Gabriel thoughts were interrupted by Frank who began to speak.

- So there you are! You cunt! Did you think you would get way with this?!

No he didn’t grin anymore. Now he looked furious instead.

Gabriel said nothing.

- Pinhead? Frank continued. Is Pinhead here? I thought I smelled him! Is he here?

Still Gabriel said nothing.

- I asked; is Pinhead here?! Frank roared again. If he is here, it’s no use for you trying to protect him! Well? Is he?

Gabriel didn’t know how, but he managed to squeeze a sound from his locked throat. A tiny peep.

- No...

Frank said nothing. He kept coming closer and closer, and he had now reached the rests of Gabriel’s stuff. He pushed them away with his foot.

- All right, then. Pinhead is not here. Good. Then it’s just the two of us, then.

Now there were only tiny four yards between them

- I’d love to take Pinhead too, but since he isn’t her, and since you killed me last time, I afraid that you are the first one on my death-list!

Frank came closer. Gabriel didn’t move.

- You killed me, Frank said threateningly. His eyes were pale blue and filled with cold hatred. Gabriel had seen the same wrath shine from them once before. But then it had been fixed on Pinhead. Now it was fixed on him.

- You killed me! Frank repeated.

- No, Gabriel said. No. No. No. Oh...

- Yes! he cried and shook his knife at Gabriel. You killed me! Don’t you lie! I know. Don’t you think I know? But know we’re trading places. Now I kill you!

Then suddenly it all fell on place. Gabriel remembered what Pinhead had told about Frank. About his ability to come back from the grave. But he hadn’t really taken the story seriously.

A human being? No? But now it was proved.

- I did not kill you, Gabriel said, who now at least had gotten his voice back. it was self defence! You tried to kill me!

Frank laughed scornfully.

- Maybe, but what I tried to do is not accurate. I don’t give a shit about that. I really don’t. But a little shit like you don’t do this to me, without getting caught. What happened to you? Did Pinhead get sick at you and kicked you out?

- I’m not a cenobite. I’m an angel. Archangel, Gabriel said, trying to scare Frank.

- Archangel? Frank snorted. That was... Then fly away, archangel!

Frank came closer, and piled himself up only an arms length away.

Gabriel was unable to move a millimetre.

Frank raised his knife. Gabriel stared paralysed at it. Just one, single well-directed stab with that thing, and he would never move again.

Gabriel screamed.

Frank held the knife over his head.

Gabriel thought it hung there for an eternity, that in fact were just a few seconds, but the terror distorted his conception of time.

The edge of the knife gleamed.

When Gabriel saw it come down, toward his face he began to realize, that there wasn’t much time.

Without thinking he raised his arm ahead of him, to protect his head. It was no well-considered action, just an instinctive movement, an attempt to block the hit.

The knife missed his chest, which had been the most obvious target, and instead penetrated his left shoulder.

Gabriel fell down the second after, with the knife stuck in his shoulder. Frank howled in rage. This was not the way he had planned it to happen.

When Gabriel hit the floor, the knife flew out of him, and landed a few feet away. he felt no pain at the time. He hadn’t time to do that.

Frank’s eyes moved between the wounded angel and the knife. After one seconds doubt, he reached out for his knife.

The Gabriel saw his chance. He tried to crawl his way up on his feet, and when Frank noticed it, he forgot his knife, and concentrated on catching Gabriel instead,

He reached out his big hands. Gabriel ducked, and stumbled on. Frank was heavy and slow, Gabriel was supple and light. But Gabriel knew, that if Frank caught him, he wouldn’t be much of a fight. Besides that, he was wounded. Nothing serious. His body healed injuries quickly, only if they didn’t include important internal organs.

The wound in his shoulder was just a flesh-wound, but still, and he would hardly derive any advantage from it.

Frank grabbed Gabriel’s hair and threw him into a wall. The push made Gabriel lose his breath and his eyes got blurry for a second.

Frank stood in front of him.

- Any new tricks? he said.

Gabriel tried to kick Frank in the groin. He failed. Frank caught his foot skilfully before it had done any harm.

Frank laughed.

- Good, try, my friend, but not enough. Sorry. Pinhead did that trick almost every fucking time, so I’m starting to get used to it now.

Gabriel had difficulties keeping his balance with only one foot in the ground. He hit Frank in the face with his fist once. Twice.

Nothing. The whole man seemed to be made of steel! Besides his shoulder hurt when he raised his arm. He was bleeding. He didn’t see it, but he felt it.

- Let me go! Gabriel cried.

Against all odds, Frank actually did.

- So. You wish anything else?

- Leave me alone!

- I’m afraid I can’t.

- You’ve never succeeded before. Why would you now?

- I haven’t with Pinhead, that’s right. You’re totally different.

- Why would you think that?

- You’re no cenobite. You’re just a human being.

- Wrong! I’m an angel!

- Oh yeah? Prove it.

- What proof would you like?

- Wings. Angels are supposed to have wings.

- I’m hurt.

- Where are your wings, angel? Frank sneered.

- Fuck that! You should believe my word.

Gabriel tried to keep the discussion going, in hope to gain some time to a move. He had noticed, that there was a bit of loose mortar in the wall. His healthy right arm worked feverishly trying to dig it forth.

- You’re no angel. You’re an UFO. You know that you have eyes large as plates? It will be a true pleasure to stick them out.

- You sound just like Angelique.

- Hmm! The only judicious cenobite. And besides that, the most good looking.

- And the most evil.

- True. I salute her.

- Salute me instead, Gabriel hissed, and had gotten out the piece of mortar, which he now hit into Frank’s head.

Frank was totally unprepared, so he tumbled backwards and gave Gabriel a golden opportunity to run.

Gabriel sneaked pass him. Frank reached out his arm and caught the sleeve of Gabriel’s cardigan.

Gabriel pulled himself out from the cardigan and left it in Frank’s hand. He ran towards the stairs. Frank tramped after him with heavy steps. He was fast for someone his size, and the range between them began to decrease.

Gabriel reached the upper floor. There was a top floor as well, but he didn’t want to continue there. Instead he sneaked into the room where he had been talking to Pinhead earlier.

He looked around for something he could block the door with. Frank’s steps sounded in the stairs. There wasn’t much time!

He took an upright wooden chair and put the back of the chair under the doorknob.

A few seconds later Frank’s angry panting could be heard when he tried to push the door open.

Gabriel ran to the window. His only chance. The bulldozer would soon mow down his barricade. The window was whole, but so dirty that he could hardly see through it.

Gabriel tried to get the window open. He didn’t know why, but there was no other thing to do. It went slowly. Probably it hadn’t been opened for years, and gotten stuck in that angle.

Gabriel took some deep breaths and gave the window a push. It slowly slid open with a screeching.

He swung one of the legs of his shaking body over the window-board, and then his the other leg too.

The wall sloped slightly, so he couldn’t see the ground. Gabriel turned around and grabbed the windowsill with his hands and leaned forwards. He tried to see how high up he was.

When he did that, his feet slipped on the slippery slope, and he almost slipped and losed his grip. But thanks to the healthy right arm, he managed to heave himself up again.

Gabriel looked down over his shoulder to the ground. It was already dark, so he couldn’t see much, but he there were outlines of something big and dark down there, which he didn’t know what it was.

Since he had his attention fixed at the ground, he didn’t notice that Frank had managed to get himself in the room.

Suddenly he just felt Frank grab his outstretched arm. He screamed in terror and tried to rip himself loose. Gabriel didn’t think right then, if that would be such a smart idea to make Frank lose his grip of him. Because if he did, Gabriel would fall without doubt.

What would happen if he fell from a height like this? He could figure out that it depended on where he landed. Grass would be good. Head first on asphalt would be pretty bad. The points of a an iron fence would be really bad.

Nor did he know what Frank’s intentions were; to pull him in, throw him down, or perhaps killing him right on the spot?

No one knows how it happened, but Gabriel slid out of Frank’s grip and fell. He was screaming while he fell, and landed the second after on something hard which wasn’t the ground.

White-hot pain pierced the very marrow of his bones, and his teeth clutched so hard, that he thought they’d fall out. Besides he hit his right foot against something hard, and right then he thought he’d broken his ankle.

It took some time for Gabriel to understand that the thing he landed on, was the roof of the car body on his own car, that someone - Frank probably - had demolished.

The fall had made him lose his breath, but he didn’t lie there and pity himself. There wasn’t time. He rolled down from the car roof to the ground, this time.

Gabriel forced himself up to his feet, and turned his eyes against the window he had fallen from. Frank wasn’t at it anymore. That could only indicate one thing: he was on his way down.

No.

The pain throbbed in Gabriel’s right ankle. It wasn’t broken, but sprained, and that was bad enough, because running is difficult if you have a sprained ankle.

Gabriel tried anyway. He had nothing to lose. He wasn’t able to stand entirely on his injured foot, so the result was staggering, not at all quick, steps of running.

He directed his course to the road. Not much of a hope, really, because Frank would soon catch up with him, but you can always try.

He could see Frank’s shape come running from the building.

Gabriel tried to increase the speed. The ran over the parking lot of the factory, and was only a few yards from the road. Why he wanted to reach the road, he didn’t know. But he thought he should feel safer there.

At first, the distance between Frank and Gabriel was more than 50 yards. Now it had decreased to less than 20. Frank would soon catch up with him. Just a matter of time.

They saw the car at quite the same time.

It emerged out of a narrow curve, so it wasn’t possible to see it, before it was only a couple of yards away.

Gabriel reached the central line of the road, and Frank reached Gabriel, just as the headlights of the car swept over Gabriel and he heard the brakes screech loud and angrily.

Gabriel threw down on his stomach and rolled several turns and first didn’t get that he wasn’t the one who had been hit.

But someone had. A bump and the sound of screeching brakes sounded in the night.

Frank. Frank had been hit by the car. Gabriel knew that already before he saw the outlines of Franks body lie at the side of the road a few feet away.

He got up an moaned.

The car was still there. The bright light coming from its head lights blended Gabriel. He got up on his feet and fixed his eyes at the car. The pain after the stabbing wound in the shoulder began to decrease, but the sprained ankle was just getting worse. He limped more than ever.

Gabriel screwed up his eyes, and caught a glimpse of a scared face of a woman behind the windscreen.

Now he saw his shot. This woman could help him. But he should be careful not to scare her. Because by a startled, lonely woman, even a pathetic, tousled, dilapidated creature like he could tend as threatening.

He limped forth to the passenger side of the car, and knocked on its window.

- Open the door! Please, help me!

The woman was blond, pretty, maybe in her late twenties. And to judge by the first glance she gave him, there might as well have been Leatherface with his chainsaw, as an injured, scared angel. But still she opened the door.

Gabriel ripped it open and threw himself in the passenger seat.

- Come on! Go! Hurry! he gasped.

The woman looked perplexedly and dubiously at him.

- But...it felt like I hit something. Didn’t I?

- Yes! Gabriel yelled. But don’t you care about that, just go!

- But he might be injured. Perhaps he needs help!

- No. Turn your car, and go. Right now. That man was after me, he’ll kill us both, if you don’t turn your car and go now at once!

The woman’s eyes moved from him to Frank’s body that lay at the side of the road.

- Please...do as I say, now!

The doubted a second, but then made a narrow U-turn and drove back towards the direction she had come from.

Several minutes passed before Gabriel could breathe normally again.

None of them said anything during that time. The young woman drove the car with her eyes stiffly directed at the road.

Gabriel relaxed. He was saved. At the moment.

- Thank you, he said. Thank you so much.

The female just shrugged her shoulders and said:

- No problem. Forget it.

- Thank you very much, anyway. Where are you headed, by the way?