3. Eve
3
EVE
M y hands shake as I gather my meager belongings, shoving them haphazardly into a worn backpack. Vincent weaves between my legs, sensing my distress. I pause to scoop him up, burying my face in his soft fur.
"What are we going to do, Vincent?" I whisper, my voice trembling.
The demon - Mordakus, he called himself - waits outside. His words echo in my mind: "You're my prisoner now." The thought sends a chill down my spine, but strangely, it's not as terrifying as the prospect of leaving my sanctuary.
I look around the small compound that has been my home for... how long has it been? Days blurred into months, and months into years.
Time lost all meaning after my world fell apart.
A lump forms in my throat as my eyes land on the small shelf where I keep my most prized possessions.
My heart aches at the thought of leaving everything behind. Each plant represents hours of care, a connection to the place that kept me grounded when everything else fell apart.
"See this, Eve?" Dad kneels beside me in our backyard, gently cupping a budding plant. "Life finds a way, even in the toughest conditions. Just like us."
It's been months since the first reports of the demons emerging sporadically across Protheka. The world outside our little town is chaotic, but here, we've carved out a semblance of normalcy.
I nod, absorbing his words. "Is that why we're growing food?"
Dad's smile is tinged with sadness. "Partly. But also because it's good to create something beautiful, even when the world seems dark. Remember that, sweetie."
I blink back to the present, resolve strengthening within me. Dad was right. Life finds a way.
Maybe... maybe it's time for me to find a new way too.
Taking a deep breath, I finish packing, making sure to include Vincent's favorite toy and some of his food. Then, steeling myself, I step outside to face the demon.
He turns as I approach, his red eyes scrutinizing me. I force myself to meet his gaze, summoning every ounce of courage I possess, presenting my wrists to him ready to be restrained. "I'll go with you," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "But Vincent comes too, no matter where we go. He's... he's all I have left."
He nods, his expression unreadable. "Of course he can come. But remember, you're my prisoner. You follow my lead, understand?"
I nod, clutching Vincent closer. As Mordakus turns to scan the horizon, I take one last look at my garden. Tears prick my eyes as I silently say goodbye to each plant, each memory they hold.
"Thank you," I whisper to the little oasis that kept me safe and sane for so long. "I'll never forget you."
With a deep breath, I turn back to Mordakus.
"I'm ready," I say, even though I'm anything but.