╚»★ 𝕷𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖍 ★«╝

TW: assault

Adam remains mute as his Eve just sits beside him, tending his wounds. I want to ask her what she even sees in this fool but then again, I suppose there is no choice.

Her cheeks are red and as I survey her, I see red marks around her wrists and her bare back. What happened to her? Did she fall somewhere?

I snort. In this flawless garden? Hardly. I feel an unimaginable hatred as I glance at Adam who's just lounging there on a bunch of hay and leaves as he shields his eyes and Eve who looks ready to dance to his whims.

"Hey," I call out as she avoids my eyes but nods." Why do you do this?"

She shrugs as she prods the herbs and bites her lips nervously, mumbling something. "I...don't know."

"Is it because you have nowhere else to go? You could...come with me," I reply hesitantly.

Eve looks at me with a smirk. "And be homeless?" she bites back scathingly.

I fumble for words as she smiles to herself but I see it slip off when Adam grabs her wrist, hard. "This is all your fault."

I feel my anger boiling as I wrench her arm away. "What is your problem? She's literally worshiping you and all you do is treat her like she's the ground you walk on."

"Worship?" he asked slowly as he got up slowly and made his way towards me. "If she did that, we would not be in this mess." 

"How is this her fault?" I hold my ground as Eve watches me and pleads with her eyes to stop.

"She ate the apple and she would have to pay," he enunciated slowly. "Or maybe she's too dumb to obey. Are you Eve? Are you dumb?"

I feel my anger boil but my knife is on the table and I feel powerless and absolutely stupid.

"Don't try anything Lilith," he growls and then laughs like a godforsaken maniac. Oh heavens, help this fool. I inch closer to my knife as I nod along and I'm one feet away when I see Adam look at Eve watch me. He lunges and we topple on the floor, the knife falling. I feel sweat drip along my brows as I kick and scream.

"Get the fuck off me, you vile creature!" I scream and thrash but the clothes I borrowed make it hard to move in this position.

"You're the fucking vile bitch and I'm going to teach you a lesson," he pins me down and straddles me and I feel an unimaginable fear grip my sides as my hands fall loose. My lungs constrict as I choke although he hasn't done anything yet.

Oh fuck, I can't breathe...

"Adam, stop! What, what are you trying to do?" Eve cries out. I know she doesn't really care about anyone other than her husband so this is a ...surprise.

Adam glowers at his wife, and in that split second I reach out and claw his eyes which are already wounded from our previous fight. He screams but doesn't move.

"Move or I'll cut your sorry head off this ugly body!" I shout but all he does is laugh.

I try to think of any way to get out of this mess as I feel my vision blur and his hands pressing a pressure point on my neck.

Cif...help. I can't do this alone.

Out of the corner of my eyes I hear a distant hiss and Adam's screams as Cif bites his legs and Eve comes forward hesitantly. I feel my world fade into black within seconds and I give in.

***

When I wake up, I'm still in the gardens but in an unfamiliar territory. I don't remember being here but I know it's different somehow. The light doesn't pass here as much and though the trees are abundant, the leaves are greyed and lifeless, almost. Like autumn, but without its bright fluorescent colours.

I wanted to venture further in, but I knew I had work. "Cif?" I called out, hoping to have some kind of companion before I went to collect stuff.

Something is off in the Garden of Eden. Eve knows it too. But what? How did I end up in a new place and not the Gardens? I could not remember, but I remember pick-pocketing gold from someone and buying what I needed.

I felt an awful large missing piece in my memories but I shrugged it off. Besides, what was done was done, and who cared?

"Eve?" I called out hesitantly as my voice echoed around. Best to get out of here...I suppose. Where am I?

I saw the skies get stormy which was weird, because this was heaven and everything was perfect here. Clouds swirled and heavy winds blew in my direction as I looked around for some comfort. Then I saw something that blew all my alarm bells in my head. The winds drew further and further behind, receding into the horizons but the clouds intensified and then, I saw the wind rush for me like a gaping void.

I ran as fast as I could, trying to take shelter under a massive oak but it uprooted and soon I was sprinting, trying to get away from the fallen tree. What is going on?

I panted, my lungs on fire, as my legs carried me as fast as it could and I felt the winds coil around my legs and hold me in place.

I hate asking for help...

My legs slipped as the winds started to disappear and the winds spat out something. A sand clock. "My clock!" holding it close and heaving with relief. I hadn't realized when it had fallen off.

"Lilith!" someone calls me and I see Eve rushing towards me. I want to thank Cif, but I don't see him anywhere.

"What...what are you doing here?" I ask her, locking eyes with her. I only notice now that her eyes are a brilliant shade of hazel and mesmerize me. It's so clear that I can see myself in it and my eyes travel to her cheeks and notice they're wet.

Eve says something but I do not catch it.

"Are you crying?" I ask her, reaching out to touch her cheeks but I retrieve my hand back.

She shakes her head and furiously wipes her cheeks with the back of her hands. "Adam..ah well..."

I survey her for any damage the asshole has done and I see her bleeding. "What, oh gosh, you're bleeding! We have to get you cleaned!"

"...maybe I deserved it," she mumbles as I take her hand and take care not to hurt her.

"No," I say roughly as she flinches and my grip on her softens. "Hey...it's not your fault."

She doesn't say anything as I find a safe spot and seat her on a patch of cold grass. I rush around to pluck herbs but I don't know anything and I see Eve smile and I curse. "Tell me which ones to pick."

She tells me and I pick the necessary ones and come to her side. "Hmm, maybe this won't be enough."

I tear out a piece of cloth from my dress and press it to her side. "Here, press it to the wounds. It'll stop the immense flow for a while."

I feel my heart racing. Eve doesn't mean anything to me but I feel...sad that she doesn't know anything other than abuse from him.

She groans in pain and closes her eyes and I hope she doesn't faint. Tearing another piece of cloth, I move her hand slowly and apply the juices on her skin as I wrap it around with the cloth. It quickly soils with red and I bite my lips in frustration as I feel the warm blood on my hands and her bruised skin. As I wipe the blood slowly, I see many more marks but faded and I raise an eyebrow at her but she avoids my gaze.

"It's okay...they'll be okay within a few hours. You've done a good job," she softly says and I nod. Her hazel eyes are dimmer now but shine with curiosity and her hand clasps mine. "Thank...you."

"Yeah," I responded, unable to look away. "Eve?"

"Yes?" she stares at our hands and into the distance where the storm was brewing.

"Do you...think they're hiding something?"