Garden of Eden - Chapter 2: A Snake in the Garden

The Snake in the Garden

I awoke to the ever-greeting darkness and the aromatic smell of apples, though to my surprise, the small amber of light still lingered in the distance. Desolated, I reached towards it but instead, I was met with a familiar warmth. As my hands searched its contents, I slowly began to realise its origin. Soft skin, the bridge of a nose and temptrous lips brushed against my curious fingers. Retracting my hands, I shuffled back but my movement was restricted by the silken claws that confined me to the billowing clouds below me. A bed? How? Where am I?

“They say the first thing you see when you wake up is colour. But you can’t see shit, so I guess your inapplicable to that statement.”

Though his voice was mellow, the words that came out of his mouth cut like a knife, an accustomed sensation I’d become familiar with, yet I could do nothing but cry.

“Come now, darling, would you rather me feed you lies?”

“I’d rather be alone,” I snapped.

“But then you wouldn’t know who I was, or why I’m here?”

I wiped away my tears viciously as I forced myself up and sat against the head of the bed. “I don’t care who you are! Just get out!”

A chair creaked as he stood, the alluring smell of apples drifting through the air as he approached the door.

“Give your family my regards when you visit them.” An Edmund-esque poke evoked my interest.

I narrowed my eyes, muddled. “Visit them?”

In the silence I could practically feel him grinning.

“Well, I best be off,” he parted as he opened the door but a beckoning cry from my lips halted him.

“Wait!” I yelled, despair layered in my voice. “What do you know?”

*****

I shook my head at his revelation but how could I deny it, when I held the bitter truth in my hands. The soil of their graves felt like broken glass against my palms, shards of a part of me that they’d taken with them. Tears streamed from my purblind eyes, showering their graves with my unconfined anger. I wish I could’ve seen them one last time, to say goodbye but God refused me even that. Damn him! They were there, in the car with me - I felt her - my mother-

Why me? Why did you have to be so greedy and take them all? Now I have nothing left, nothing but the darkness!

The once comforting warmth that rescued me from Death’s flames wrapped his arms around me, but I pushed him away - I didn’t want comfort, I wanted to feel the pain because it was the only thing that made me feel alive.

  “Death may be one of the greatest of all human blessings,” the man quoted. “Maybe that’s what this is - a blessing in disguise.”

I clenched my fists at his retort. “Don’t.”

His warm breath licked against my cold skin. “Or what? What are you going to do? What can you do, blind girl?”

There it was again - the sharp knife cutting my skin, only this time it only brought me pain.

  “What do you want from me?” I wailed.

His hand ran through my thick hair, tucking a loose strand behind my ears before placing a gentle hand on my cheek. “I want you to know the truth.”

  “I know the truth.”

  “You know only what they want you to know.”

My face screwed up, puzzled. “Who’s they? What are you talking about?”

He sniggered. “That’s not how this works, love. I need something in return for my services.”

Hastily, I slapped his hand away from me, confused and afraid. Services. The word sent me into a state of panic, uncertainty, which led me to ask- “Who are you?”

Hesitation ushered in the silence. “Someone - or no one, depending who you ask.” The vigour that was once in his voice dissipated into melancholy, as if my question evoked feelings that he’d kept locked away. “But you can call me, Damon.”

I could sense his hand hovering in the space between us, a gesture of goodwill but how could I trust someone that I barely knew, someone that thus far had only brought me pain.

  “Leave me alone,” I warned as I stood to my feet, the enveloping darkness causing me to stagger before I found my balance.

My eyes impaired, I trusted my feet to guide me home - wherever home was.