SOUL SNATCHERS

Chapter 18

Rose found herself in front of a hill that was covered in green bushes and grass. The one hundred seventy-meter hill had a single tree on its peak, which stood out from all the other trees. The place was so beautiful that the scenic views she had seen on postcards couldn't compare to where she was now. The sky was clear, with hardly any clouds visible. The sun was shining brightly, but it didn't hurt her eyes. The temperature was cool, even though the sun's rays shone directly onto her beautiful skin. The place was incredibly quiet and peaceful. The overwhelming silence made Rose wonder if she was already dead and if the excruciating pain she had felt before was just a distant memory. This place might be heaven, she thought to herself, as she tried to explore her surroundings. But if she was truly dead, why was she all alone here?

She slowly turned her gaze around the entire area, taking note of the unfamiliar trees, plants, and the strangely calm wild animals that roamed around. The air was clean and fresh, filling her lungs with every breath. As she walked forward towards the hill, she could feel the leaves from the bushes brushing against her hands.

"If this is heaven, then I must be dead," she said to herself, feeling a tinge of sadness at the thought. But then her eyes widened in amazement as she witnessed the various flowers of different sizes and colors blooming and covering the bushes and grassy ground around her. The trees changed the colors of their leaves, displaying various shades of green, amber, brown, and red. Most of them were also bearing fruits that she recognized, while others were completely unfamiliar. She was awestruck as birds of different sizes and colors spread their wings and gracefully flew through the sky and from tree to tree.

Above the hill, where the single tree stood, Rose saw a man and a woman holding hands as they approached the tree. They were both naked. The man seemed hesitant, but the woman was determined to reach the tree. Eventually, the man followed her lead. As they got closer, the woman pointed at something on the tree. It was then that Rose realized she was witnessing the same story her father used to tell her as a bedtime story. She even remembered him telling it to Julius before he fell asleep in his bedroom. It was also the same story she had read in the Bible during her religious lessons. It was the story of the first man and woman, the story of Adam and Eve.

Rose watched as Eve pointed at the strange fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The fruit was red, unlike the typical apple often described in the story. It was the size of a human fist, bright red, and almost heart-shaped. What made it even stranger was that the fruit appeared to be beating, just like a human heart. The tree glowed as Eve touched the fruit.

Rose screamed, desperately trying to make Eve stop and refrain from eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, her screams went unheard. She wanted to run and talk to them, but her body was paralyzed, leaving her unable to move from where she stood. Tears streamed down her face as she helplessly watched the fall of mankind unfold in front of her.

Another man descended from the tree. Rose recognized him. It was Satan, deceiving Eve into picking the fruit and enticing her to eat it and share it with Adam. Satan's voice was captivating, akin to thousands of glasses harmoniously playing together, entrancing even Rose. Adam reminded Eve that God had forbidden them from eating the fruit of that tree, warning that doing so would be an act of disobedience that would result in death. However, Eve ignored Adam, listening instead to Satan's deceitful words. Slowly, she reached out her hand, gently plucking the fruit. The moment it separated from the tree, the glowing ceased.

"...taste it, and it will surely open your eyes..." Satan whispered. His beauty was undeniable, which explained why Eve fell under his charm. Eve stared at the fruit in her hand, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious, still-beating fruit.

"...eat the fruit. From the moment it opens your eyes, you will be like God. Like your creator..." Satan hissed with satisfaction, observing Eve as she took her first bite.