Eve

Part VI

    Eve opened her eyes lethargically, noticing she was in her bed, under the thick, wool blanket Abigail had given her earlier. She was shivering, yet her body felt as it if was covered in a thin layer of sweat. She had had another nightmare, however, this time, it had been so vivid, and her heart was still beating rapidly. In the darkness behind her, she heard something move. In a swift movement, Eve turned to face the obscurity surrounding her. 

-Who is there? She demanded fiercely. 

In the blackness of the night, where she had thrown the caplet earlier, appeared two glowing red slits. Slowly, her eyes began distinguishing a tall, thin form crouched in the corner of her room. 

-For a brief moment, I thought these pills had died with the priest. The cavernous voice she knew now well spoke softly as it raised its hand to gaze at the broken caplet under the yellow moon light coming from the small window. Nevertheless, you were a good girl; you remembered what I told you.

-It will be morning soon, I need to sleep. Eve replied silently, her gaze never leaving the creature.

The creature stood up slowly. Eve’s eyes now accustom to the obscurity, she noticed its body was now fuller, bulkier than before. Still thin, however, more substantial in form than before. It slowly crept closer to her cot, staring at her. 

-Tell me about your dream my pretty flower. The creature said softly.

-No. Eve replied voicelessly, looking away, tears in her eyes.

-Oh, alright. I’ll just leave then. The creature said coldly, turning its heels to leave.

-No. Eve begged as she reached out and grabbed its hand pleadingly.

The creature looked down at her, waiting. She let go of its hand lingeringly as she slid back on her cot, making space for it on the bed. She looked up at it suppliantly.

-Stay. She whispered voicelessly, tears escaping her melancholic eyes. Please.

The creature obeyed, sitting down on the thin berth and sliding under the thick blanket with her. Softly, it wrapped its long, lanky arms around her shoulders as Eve laid her head on its cold, thin, yet no more skeletal thorax. She closed her eyes sleepily, feeling the unnatural warmth emitted by the creature taking away the shivers remnant of her excursion earlier that night. She finally felt the warmth and comfort she had sought previously. With her still misty cheek pressed against the creature’s chest, soon, she felt into a restful, peaceful sleep, no mute prayers escaping her lips. The creature’s now thicker, blackened lips spread into a content smile. 

    A week had passed since Eve had spent the night in the creature’s arms. Eve was in the Contemplation chapel with Gabriella. Both bowed before the large, plaster crucifix before them, their forehead pressed against the cold, hard marble floor, they remained silent. Eve’s lips mouthed silent prayers, asking God for His forgiveness. 

    A week had passed, yet Eve’s thoughts could not help but reflect on what she had done. She knew that taking the creature in her room, welcoming it in her bed, this was a sin. She knew this very well and she hated herself for it. How could God ever forgive her? What a fool she had been, letting herself be tempted by what she knew for certain to be a fiend, a creature of evil sent by the Devil himself. She had been told of Sisters who witnessed apparitions of Jesus Himself. Her Lord, appearing to them, and granting them salvation. Tales of nuns who were witnesses to God’s grace.  She had only seen the Devil. A pale Beelzebub who fled at the sight of anyone else aside from her. Her own tormentor. Yet, deep within her, something called her to it, to her creature. Yet, in her heart, she saw it as beautiful and no longer did it frighten her. For this and this alone, she knew she had to repent. Before these feelings nested in her, grew inside her and became irreversible, she needed to prevent them, to pray for the light of the Lord to guide her to repel this beast; she knew her devotion needed to be for God only. He was the light, the eternal love, her Holy Savior. He had sacrificed Himself for her sins. She would pray, repent until her longing of the creature vanished.