Where the wildflowers grow

Authors note - Contains description of violence and described murder.

She flew through the forest in a strong-willed attempt to escape her attacker - or at least find somewhere to hide. The local council - they had recently cut down some dying trees, leaving the otherwise emerald green and flowering forest looking sparse.

As she moved with quickened pace, she found herself having to duck and dive through the lows of the trees, occasionally having to fold herself as she'd jump in one harmonious movement. All she knew was at that moment, she had to keep moving forward if she wanted to live.

She was too scared to turn her head out of fear of losing her step, so she continued to run to safety with such determination. If she knew her attacker as she thought, she knew it wouldn't be a quick death, and the thought of leaving behind her remaining family and friends was enough to keep her going.

Branches whooshed past her ears, pulling her thick brunette hair out of what had begun as neatly pulled-back space buns. Wildflowers would flatten under her feet despite her petit frame providing little weight as she continued toward the road. She knew it was around here somewhere. It was just beyond the lily pond where her mother used to take her, where the wildflowers grow.

She stopped for a moment to listen, it had dawned on her that there were no longer the sounds of twigs snapping behind her as her pursuers feet hit the ground beneath him, but given their history and how well she’d came to know him, she was well aware of how tricky could be.

The wildflowers she thought.

They were within sight, which meant the road couldn't be much further. She mentally prepared herself to move forward, but as a split second passed, instead lurched backwards with such force that she fell onto the ground. She felt the damp of the moss begin to seep through her clothes, adding to the chill of knowing what was coming. A feeling of regret began to wash over her turning her stomach in fear.

Her eyes closed tight as she lay there thinking about what would happen next - what fate did he have in store for her? Would he shoot her, stab her, strangle her? The thoughts of what was to come forced enough adrenaline through her body that she knew she only had one choice, and that was to fight.

As she opened her eyes and saw his 6 foot 4 build towering over her with a smug look on his face as he'd finally caught up with her. Had she barely blinked before she felt his thick fingers around her throat, lifting her from the ground with such force enough to take her breath away. The sheer strength she felt was insurmountable, but what more could you expect from an angel of death.

“Good to see yah again eve. Such a shame to be havin' to do things this way, but I have a job to do and you bein' a career girl an' all, I'm sure you understand. I was rather 'oping for somethin' quick an' easy but there we 'ave it"

His large unkempt hands still wrapped around her throat, he began to drag her on her back through the moss and the wildflowers as she clawed, scratched and kicked against him. He was heading towards the lake that she should have been well past now. If only she had continued to run she thought.

As they reached the pond before the clearing, rather than go around, he took a large step in and began to wade through the water with his prey still clutched and in tow.

"Now, eve. Like I said, I'd rather have done this quickly bein' as I like you an all but you've really given me no choice. Just remember that Azrael sent you a'right. Really important. I know you're the one they're after. I know it's you and I'm really sorry but you're more important than you realise."

Eve was more confused than ever, she knew Azrael was unwell but never could've imagined the extent of which. The one date they'd gone on combined with the topic of discussion made her feel so uneasy that she'd decided against a second but it would later turn out that Azrael had what appeared to be psychotic tendancies. He'd stalked her for weeks before today's chance encounter.

She began to kick her legs in the water and scream in hopes that someone nearing the road would hear her. It wasn't that far after all and if she was lucky, maybe there were a few hikers near by. Perhaps the presence of even one other human would scare Azrael off.

"Come on now eve, we've talked about this."

He wasn't wrong, he'd made her uneasy on their first date with how much he'd mentioned her being the one, but not quite in the context that you'd expect. His exact words were -

You're the lightbringer eve.

It'd taken her days to shake off the chill in his tone and that was only until she'd spotted him outside her home nothing short of a week later. Just standing. Alone and in the dark.

He took his other hand and began to pull her by the throat and place her right in front of him. The water went still as they locked eyes for a mere second, hers beaming with fear whilst his had a certain sense of empathy for her situation. A situation he was himself responsible for.

"Please don't do this" She begged.

"I'm so sorry Eve. It's you. You're the one." he replied.

She knew she would never be strong enough to escape. She was faster than him, sure but when it came to a battle of strength, he was the all round champion and he knew it to.

"Don't fight a'right. Please don't fight"

With both hands around her throat and Eve placed in front of him, her shoulders just above the water, he took to his knees and began her slow descent under. He was almost gentle and filled with sorrow.

For a second she thought about playing dead, holding her breathe for as long as she could. She'd seen people drown in movies before, could she fake hers?

Her lungs began to burn with what felt like the weight of her breath and in that moment she knew there was no faking it. She began to flail, one limb at a time soaking Azrael with pond water as she did. Bubbles rose to the surface as she struggled to hold onto her last breathe until she stopped.

Placing one hand on his knee, he lifted himself up and began to step backwards slowly.

"My god I hope she's the one." he muttered to himself. He'd spent centuries waiting and searching for the right one to walk the earth. The one true lightbringer.

Nothing.

She floated in the water, surrounded by the greens of the lily pads and the florescent pinks of the flowers. Her hair moving with the ripples they'd created in the water during Eve's death.

Nothing.

As the minutes passed, he became increasingly more concerned with his actions. Guilt and shame began to sink in as he'd made his way out of the pond, keeping his eyes wide open and on Eve all the while. Minutes began to feel like hours. He'd never done this before, had he gotten the wrong girl. What if she wasn't the one. His father would be furious given that he'd had one task to complete on his behalf.

Just as Azrael was beginning to give up hope, the sun began to shine through the trees reflecting off the pond water when suddenly, Eve's body burst into the air. She lay there lifeless, water dripping from her torn, moss stained clothing. Her arms and legs hanged in the air, her head laid backwards as the sun began to shine brighter and brighter across her body. So bright that Azrael had to cover his eyes with his large forearms so as to protect them from it's rays.

A beam of white light lit up the forest right where Eve was laid in the air, blinding him and causing his eyes to water until he could no longer see his hands in front of him. He flinched and turned his head until the light began to dissipate.

Eve was gone.

His work here was done and he knew that new beginnings were on the horizons. Especially for Eve.

As Eve opened her eyes, she realised she was no longer in the forest anymore, but had rather herself laid in a field of wheat, underneath and apple tree. The sun shone, the birds sang and the breeze in the atmosphere created the most perfect temperature.

Confused, scared and alone she turned her head at the sound of movement through the wheat field to see a man with dark hair, well groomed and well dressed walking towards her. She sat herself up and cowered backwards towards the tree, the adrenaline still rushing through her body after having been murdered.

The man began to inch towards her. Slowly and delicately he kneeled in front of her and smiled the warmest of smiles.

"You must be eve. Welcome to Eden, my name is Adam."