Hope After Eden (MALE DEPUTY X FAITH SEED)

Chapter 1: Showdown in Henbane

It was done, the message was clear. Rook has brought the Herald Faith Seed's region to its knees. The Henbane finally smelled like the good ol' American South and less like a majestic and yet deadly bloom of the Bliss Flower that had plagued the area for months. Faith's control over the people was fading, but Rook was not done, with Faith gone, he could finally knock down the Gates of Eden into the fiery brimstone of Hell where they rightfully belonged.

But Faith was not so generous with her invitations as before. When Rook first entered the Bliss it felt like a loving intervention from the little sister of the Seed family. But now, Faith had grown tired and irritated by the Deputy's unwillingness to let Joseph's master plan swing into full effect on Rook's moral compass. No, Rook was stronger than the rest. The sort of mental strength that could only be a gift of a true and loving God.

Faith had not talked to Rook for some time. Normally apparitions of the woman in the white dress would appear before him with soft words that still cut deep into the Deputy. Rook ignored all the words, and Faith knew it was over. Rook and Faith now had the same plan, to erase one another.

Rook was ready, the last place where the Bliss flower had not been burned to the ground by a combination of Molotov cocktails and high-pressure fire from his flamethrower. If Faith was not going to invite him to the Bliss, he would kick the door open.

Rook walked into the flower bed, and his vision became blurry, but his mind told him to step back. Rather than the usual calmness that the Bliss Flower gave to rook, this time, the feeling was of dread. But Rook stayed strong and remained where he was.

"Fine, welcome to the Bliss"

Faith's words were cold and sour. She was not happy to open the door to her home, but she did begrudgingly. But it was not a close kiss with a breath of fresh bliss. It was a wall of it. Just as Rook knew he was entering he was hit by a wall of anger. He looked around, it was like something out of a dust bowl sandstorm that he learned about in Middle School.

Then it stopped, there was then nothing but the usual green mist, and an empty green field. Faith stood in front of Rook, angry, and on the verge of tears.

"I tried everything to walk you through the gates, I wish I had just tried to push you away now".

Faith was an emotional wreck as she fell to her knees. She could not stand to look at Rook. Rook did not know what to do, he was stuck in place. There was no calming music, just silence, and Faith's whimpers in the distance. Rook finally mustered the courage to step forward towards Faith. He came to a stop just in front of her as she continued to cry. Her head stayed down, looking at the ground, the dirt, which had become moist in tears.

Rook slowly sat down in front of Faith, and just looked blankly at her. Rook was expecting a battle, but instead, he has a crying woman who seems to want to even lay a finger on him.

"Father will end me today, and I will have nowhere to go," Faith said in sadness.

Rook was just stuck in confusion, he didn't know what to say. This was all so overwhelming. He had heard the calls to his mind before, that Joseph will not be happy, that he will do things to Faith.

Faith looks up at Rook, her faint and subtle makeup nonetheless blurred together from the tears still dripping down her cheeks. She lets out her hand.

"Just hold my hand Deputy, I am not taking you anywhere, I just need to feel love. One. Last. Time."

Rook holds her hand tight, clinching it, but not aggressively. He knows what is going to happen, but now, he wants to end it.

"Faith...Why don't I take you on a different path...Where you don't return to Joseph...Where you can feel love after this time has passed".

Rook gets close to Faith, who doesn't know what to do. He pulls her tight to him and embraces her with a Hug. Faith is shocked but smiles behind Rook's back. It was not sinister or cunning, it was the first real smile she had given any moment in her life since she was a child.

"I know, deep down, there is love in your heart. That Faith Seed can be a beacon for others. A beacon of hope". Rook says to her softly.

"Ok Deputy, I will follow your path".