| "My existence is eternal! Your faith is not to falter, even in direst of need!" echoed the voice. |
| Adam awoke in a cold sweat from sleep. This dream, these words. They always came to him in his sleep. He feared that he might forget them and then all would be lost, but he never forgot. He made sure that he always had something to remind him, usually just looking at Eve as she lay next to him in serene sleep. He would think of the warning and hope that Eve would remember it too. |
| That day there was an overcast sky. The clouds on the horizon seemed to swell with deep blue-purples as if they were waiting for the final strike of a great fist from the sky to usher them towards the ground in thousands of tiny droplets of pouring rain. Adam thought that the storm may last for days to come and woke Eve early so they could get a head start on the storm. |
| The garden was bustling with activity when they entered. The giant beasts stampeded across the wide plains. The birds took to skies, flying towards the valleys where the wind would be the least. A vast silence overtook the Garden. All the animals seemed have left, even the tiny insects that carved holes into the fruits of the trees. |
| Adam and Eve quickly went about their business and began to prepare for the oncoming storm gathering wood and food for when they would be besieged by the howling winds and damp ground. Eve decided that the trees near Adam were not ripe and went further into the Garden. As she entered a glade a reptilian-looking hand grasped her arm and she screamed. |
| Adam heard the scream and ran towards the sound. Upon entering the glade where he had heard Eve scream he saw a huge man-reptile with black horns and a Trident across his back holding Eve in mid-air by the neck. Adam felt a sudden rush that he had not known before and charged at the horrid creature. It turned in surprise and snickered wickedly at the pathetic human. Flinging Eves body at Adam, the creature prepared for the attack. The attack never came. Upon seeing her form fall limply to the wet grass, Adam forgot all that he was doing and ran towards Eve. The dark clouds above began to cry and lightning fell to the Earth. |
| Lifting her body to the sky, Adam cried out, "Why Lord!?? Why?! Did you not say that if we remembered you and ate not from the Tree of Knowledge that all good would be true? Look what our obedience has wrought! Death of an innocent! If you must let one of us die, let it be me Lord!" |
| The behemothic creature heard this and answered, "Your God has left you. Look what he has permitted. Had you ate from the Tree of Knowledge, you would have foreseen this and never ventured out into the Garden on this day. Your wife would be alive and you would be happy, yet there is still a way for you to be together. Eat from the Tree of Knowledge and you will know how to bring Eve back to you." |
| Hearing this Adam looked at the Tree of Knowledge. Looking back upon Eves pale visage he realized he could not live without her, nor would he permit his God to let her die. Walking towards the Tree of Knowledge, he saw the forbidden fruit. Plucking it from the branch he walked back to Eves body and knelt down next to her. Then he looked up and asked the demonic monster what he should do. |
| The creature instructed him to break the fruit open so the juices may run out into Eves open jaw. Then he must eat the fruit himself to end the ritual. Upon his swallowing, Eve would breath again. Adam did this, and lo, Eve did breath again. They looked upon themselves and then upon the monster with new eyes and saw that they had been deceived. God then came and his voice echoed through the valleys and mountains so that all would know his judgment. |
| "You three whom I have loved best have now done each other great harm, and therefore must be punished. To you Satan, I condemn thee to Hades and banish you from my presence. Your treachery has made me sad this day, and now all must suffer." Turning to Adam God looked upon him with more compassionate eyes. "Adam, first of man. You have made me happy to look upon all this time until today. I realize you were tricked and did such a rash thing out of love, compassion, and fear. For this I will not let you die yet, but let your life dwindle until your body and spirit are shattered. Then you will be brought forth to judgment, as will all men to follow. Here you will be given to the hands of your Creator, or to the burning grasp of Satan." |
| "To prevent you from living as you once did, you are forbidden from eating of the Tree of Life which will be guarded and none may come near it. This Tree holds the Wisdom that you must achieve on your own. Your Knowledge will serve and betray you as did your emotions that questioned your faith." |
| Then God departed and left Satan and Man to their own devices. |