The night air was thick with the scent of rain and garbage as Gabriel stumbled into a dark, dead-end alley. His body, once impervious to mortal harm, now screamed with every movement. Finally, unable to take another step, he collapsed against a grimy wall, sliding down until he sat on the damp concrete.

Gabriel's breath came in ragged gasps, each inhalation sending sharp pains through his chest. He pressed a hand to his stomach, where the worst of the pain radiated from, and felt something warm and wet. When he pulled his hand away and looked down, his eyes widened in shock.

Blood. His blood.

The crimson liquid glistened on his fingers, illuminated by a flickering streetlight at the alley's entrance. Gabriel stared at it in disbelief, the reality of his new existence crashing down upon him with the weight of millennia.

"I'm... human," he whispered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar to his own ears.

His once-majestic wings, now black and withered, refused to disappear as they once had. They hung limply from his shoulders, a constant reminder of his fall from grace. Gabriel leaned his head back against the cold brick wall, closing his eyes as waves of pain and nausea washed over him.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the alley. Gabriel's eyes snapped open, his body tensing despite the pain. A young woman ran into view, her red curly hair bouncing wildly as she looked frantically for an escape. But the alley was a dead end, and her pursuers were close behind.

The woman spun around, pressing her back against the wall near Gabriel. In the dim light, he could see she was wearing scrubs – a nurse, perhaps, just ending her shift. She was in her late twenties, with wide, terrified eyes that darted between the alley's entrance and the imposing figures now blocking it.

"Well, well," one of the men sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Looks like our little chase is over."

Another chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "You know, sweetheart, we love it when they run. Makes the hunt so much more... thrilling."

Gabriel watched from the shadows, disgust and resentment building within him. These were the humans he had sought to punish? These vile creatures who preyed on the innocent? For a moment, he considered letting the scene play out, a dark part of him whispering that this was what humanity deserved.

But as the men advanced and the woman's terror became palpable, Gabriel found he couldn't stand by. With a grunt of pain, he pushed himself to his feet. At his full height of 6'2", he towered over both the woman and her attackers.

Gabriel's wings, responding to some instinct he didn't understand, spread wide. They spanned the width of the alley, casting an enormous shadow that seemed to swallow the light. The attackers froze, their eyes widening in fear as they took in the imposing figure that had materialized from the darkness.

"Get lost," Gabriel growled, his voice low and threatening.

The effect was immediate. The men stumbled backwards, tripping over each other in their haste to escape. Their panicked cries echoed off the alley walls as they fled, leaving Gabriel alone with the stunned woman.

For a moment, Gabriel felt a surge of his old power. But it was fleeting. As the adrenaline faded, the pain returned with a vengeance. He swayed on his feet, feeling sweat begin to roll down his face. His curly blonde hair, once radiant and perfect, now hung in damp, sticky strands around his face.

The world began to spin, and Gabriel felt his legs give way beneath him. As he collapsed, he caught one last glimpse of the woman he had saved. She was staring at him, her expression a mix of awe and terror.

Then darkness claimed him, and Gabriel knew no more.

As Gabriel lay unconscious in the alley, the three attackers who had fled in terror found themselves catching their breath a few blocks away. The initial shock of their encounter began to wear off, replaced by a mixture of anger and wounded pride.

"Wait a minute," the leader of the group said, his brow furrowed in thought. "What the hell just happened?"

"It was just some tall guy," another replied, his voice gaining confidence. "Blonde, good-looking, dressed all in black."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The third chimed in, "Yeah, and those wings? Must be some kind of cosplay thing. We got spooked over nothing!"

Their fear gave way to embarrassment, then to a dangerous anger. The leader's eyes narrowed as he reached into his jacket, pulling out a switchblade. "We can't let this slide. Let's go back and teach that interfering bastard a lesson."

The others nodded, producing their own weapons. With newfound bravado, they began to make their way back to the alley.

Meanwhile, inside the alley, Sarah stood frozen for a moment, her mind struggling to process what had just transpired. Her mysterious savior lay crumpled on the ground, the enormous black wings spread out around him like a fallen angel.

Despite her fear, Sarah's nursing instincts kicked in. She cautiously approached Gabriel, her trained eyes quickly assessing his condition. "He's bleeding," she muttered to herself, spotting the growing stain on his abdomen.

Without hesitation, Sarah knelt beside Gabriel. She quickly removed her outer shirt, leaving her in just her scrub top, and pressed the fabric against his wound to staunch the bleeding. "Hey, can you hear me?" she called out, but Gabriel remained unresponsive.

Sarah knew she needed to get him out of the alley and to a hospital. Despite his imposing height, she hooked her arms under his and began to drag him towards the street. It was slow going; Gabriel was heavy, and his limp wings seemed to catch on every imperfection in the alley's surface.

Just as Sarah neared the alley's entrance, she heard familiar voices approaching. Her blood ran cold as she recognized the men from earlier. They were coming back, and this time, she caught the glint of metal in their hands.

For a moment, Sarah considered fleeing. She could easily outrun them now, leave this strange man behind and ensure her own safety. But something held her back. This man, whoever or whatever he was, had saved her. She couldn't abandon him now.

Gritting her teeth, Sarah redoubled her efforts to drag Gabriel. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she refused to give up. "Come on," she grunted, "just a little further."

The attackers rounded the corner, their faces twisting into cruel smiles as they spotted Sarah and the unconscious Gabriel. "Well, look who's still here," the leader sneered, flicking open his switchblade.

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest, but she stood her ground, placing herself between the men and Gabriel. She opened her mouth, ready to scream for help, when she heard it – the sound of a car engine, close by.

Hope surged through her as she saw a police cruiser rolling down the street. Without hesitation, Sarah shouted at the top of her lungs, "Help! Officer, please help us!"

The police car screeched to a halt, its lights flashing as the officer quickly exited the vehicle. The sight of the cop was enough to send the attackers running once again, disappearing into the night before the officer could get a good look at them.

"Are you alright, miss?" the officer called out, jogging towards Sarah and the unconscious Gabriel.

Sarah nodded, relief washing over her. "I'm okay, but this man is injured. He needs medical attention right away."

As the officer radioed for an ambulance, Sarah looked down at Gabriel's pale face. Despite the danger she'd been in, she felt an inexplicable sense of protectiveness towards this mysterious stranger. Whoever he was, whatever he was, she was determined to ensure he received the help he needed.

However, a new worry crossed her mind. How would she explain the enormous black wings to the paramedics or the police? Sarah glanced around nervously, then back at Gabriel's unconscious form. She had to do something about those wings before help arrived.

Hesitantly, Sarah reached out and touched one of the dark, feathered appendages. The texture was unlike anything she had ever felt before – simultaneously soft and unearthly. She tried to fold the wing against Gabriel's back, hoping it would somehow retract or become less noticeable.

"Come on," she muttered, her frustration growing as the wing remained stubbornly extended. "You need to go away!"

To her astonishment, the wing twitched slightly at her command. Encouraged, Sarah spoke more firmly, "Withdraw. Now."

As if responding to her order, both wings suddenly began to collapse. They folded in on themselves, growing smaller and smaller until, in the blink of an eye, they seemed to melt into Gabriel's back and disappear completely. Sarah gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Where moments ago there had been magnificent (if somewhat battered) wings, now there was just the back of a normal-looking man in tattered black clothing.

"Everything alright, miss?" the officer called, noticing Sarah's startled expression.

Sarah quickly composed herself. "Yes, officer. Just... worried about him," she replied, gesturing to Gabriel.

The officer nodded sympathetically. "Ambulance should be here any minute now."

As if on cue, the sound of approaching sirens filled the air. Sarah looked down at Gabriel once more, marveling at how ordinary he appeared now. Yet she knew that whatever he was, this man was far from ordinary.

The ambulance rounded the corner, its flashing lights illuminating the alley. As paramedics rushed towards them, Sarah steeled herself. She didn't understand what was happening or who this man really was, but she felt a deep certainty that her life had just changed irrevocably.

As the paramedics began to assess Gabriel's condition, Sarah made a silent vow. She would see this through, whatever "this" turned out to be. Something told her that Gabriel would need her help in the days to come, and she was determined to provide it.

The night air was filled with the bustle of emergency responders and the low murmur of curious onlookers. But for Sarah, the world had narrowed to the unconscious man being lifted onto a stretcher. Whatever happened next, she knew she was now part of something far beyond her understanding – a mystery that began in a dark alley and stretched all the way to the heavens themselves.