The quarrel between the boy and the snake that took both Adam and the Talking Serpent to the limit.

Their conciliation along with Nachash joining the group.

These events are pages of a book which tells a story still ongoing. It’s up to us to turn the page, one by one... until its unchangeable end.

This is the continuation of their tale...

10 days later

The trio spent the time relaxing… aside from the fact Adam and Nachash were always arguing. That’s when Adam himself had an idea.

“Hey... why don’t we give it another shot?”

The lad was next to the Tree of Science. Eve went to gather flowers somewhere far away, Nachash sat above Adam in the tree.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, yeah, you weren’t with us yet.”

“I’m back.”

Eve arrived holding a dozen of gardenias, half in each hand. The girl put down the flowers beside the amaranths.

“Hey Eve, let’s go there again, right now!”

“That place?”

Nachash fell on the ground.

“What are you two talking about?”

“You will understand when you get there” Adam left Nachash up in the air…

...

“So... what are we hiding from?” Nachash asked a bit loud.

“Shuu... get closer” Adam said.

“A second tree...? And... people...?!”

The “Tree of Life”.

Indeed, he was only aware of one tree, the Tree of Science, and believed that there was no one else in this world besides them.

“Well... people… I’m not sure. When we first saw them, we thought they were statues” Adam remembered.

Eve nodded, convinced those were works of nature, so much their ignorance about the world.

“Anyway, that’s not what we came for. Look, in the tree.”

A single red apple was hanging up in the Tree of Life.

“An... apple? What’s so special about it?” Nachash said.

“To be honest, I don’t know either.” Adam replied.

“Huh?” Nachash was confused.

“The apple being watched is what makes Adam think it’s special” Eve giggled.

“Yep.” Adam said.

“Just a gut feeling then…” Nachash sighed. “So? What’s the idea?”

“Simple. We’re gonna steal it” Adam declared.

…

Everyone was ready. Each person in his own position. Operation “Apple Theft”.

…

Five minutes ago

“My plan: while Nachash draws their attention, I nab the apple. As for you, Eve, it’s safer to hide in the bushes” Adam suggested.

Nachash, dumbfounded, didn’t find the plan reasonable at all. The one truly dissatisfied with her task was Eve, however that feeling wouldn’t be noticed.

“In other words, I’m the bait just for you to get all the laurels. Unacceptable.”

“How selfish!”

“You’re the selfish one!”

“Hum, I think Nachash in his snake form is better for low profile. Sorry, Adam, but you’re the best bait” Eve concluded.

“Eeeeeh? No way…”

“Hehe, spot on.”

Adam lost the leading role, but quickly recomposed himself...

“First of all, you guys tried to steal when you came here?” Nachash asked.

“Aye, I mean, can’t really say we tried. To tell you the truth, we couldn’t even get close to it. I just had the feeling... that it was too dangerous” Adam put his hand on the chest as he recalled.

“Adam... giving up on something?” Nachash thought.

“But this time it’s different. This time we have you, Nachash!”

Nachash smiled at him, naturally forgetting his thoughts. Eve let out a smile as well, the three in unison.

...

Adam 20 meters away from the hooded; Nachash, in his reptilian form, in the bushes to the left of Adam; and Eve behind.

“Yo! It’s been a while, huh?” Adam greeted the individuals.

No response. Adam picked up a stone from the ground and threw at the sixth guy lined up. The boulder passed through his body…

“Through him...?!”

Nachash was the only one who hasn’t witnessed the phenomenon yet.

“Ah! I had my doubts, but it looks like I was right. Ghosts, aren’t you?! You’re out of luck though, cuz’ I’m not afraid of ghosts! I’m not afraid of snakes… I’m not afraid of ghosts... I’m not afraid of anything!”

Eve had a bad feeling. A chill went down her spine. Danger.

“Stop, Adam” Eve thought, but she knew he couldn’t hear her thoughts.

“On the contrary, you should be afraid of me!”

Nachash. They already noticed him. Eve herself had to act, otherwise…

“Open that goddamn mouth and howl before the great Adam!”

Eve followed her instinct and rushed off, taking Adam and Nachash by surprise.

“Eve?! What are you doing?!” Adam asked.

The second figure from the left suddenly moved at a ghostly speed and reached Eve.

“Eve!” Adam rushed to her aid without thinking twice.

Nachash decided to carry on with his mission. This is the time when you should believe in each other.

The third hooded from the left barred Adam’s way. The kid stared at him fiercely, unable to see his eyes. Strangely, Adam couldn’t feel evil intentions. What did that mean…? Anyway, it wasn’t the time to get lost in thoughts!

The cross around the neck glowed like in the fight against Nachash. The necklace resonated with the mystic energy that clad the body, the scarlet eyes turning white.

“Out of the way.”

Adam knocked him down instantly with a punch in the stomach. However, the intangibility didn’t trigger. A skill of that particular hooded? Or did something counter it?

The leader didn’t hesitate despite the fall of one of his comrades; remained cool and wary. The fourth and fifth hooded from the right landed on Adam.

“Eve! Run!” Adam shouted desperately “Damn it! Let me go… huh?”

Adam's protests ceased when the lad saw the one he hit before standing up…

“How...? I-I hit you with all my strength. You... don’t feel pain?

Adam’s eyes lost the vigour of the white light and slowly regressed to the standard red.

His heart pounded. The powerful aura that enveloped Adam dimmed… His fearless spirit feared. At last, his soul completely broke.

The cross stopped waving. The sound of a tear echoed.

...

Low-profile Nachash got past the remaining eight hooded. To be caught in the act would imply wasting the chance Eve granted in exchange for her safety.

It’s fine. Adam was there, Nachash knew he could count on him. The snake peeked out of curiosity and watched Eve frightened before the enemy, Adam down.

“Adam is... crying?”

Bit by bit, time ran out for Adam, Eve... and Nachash.

...

A monster. Something they shouldn’t have messed with.

“They”? They who? Adam, Eve and Nachash? Or just him...? Or just Adam?

In the first place, it was the red-haired boy’s idea. Yes, from the beginning, Adam overlooked the danger and brought them to the abyss. His naivety, his inaptitude to consider the results of his own actions would cost dearly…

“E-Eve... run... quickly...”

Despair, a consequence of fear. Fear... of losing the most important people, right in front of him.

...

The tree was seen a few meters ahead.

One. Two. Three steps. The hooded got closer to Eve, subdued by the terror of death. Nachash must make a decision. The mission or the friend?

...

In a second attempt to muster the lost strength, Adam strove to call upon that mysterious power. However, it didn’t come up. It was already... too late.

“EVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Adam bawled.

In the most important second, Nachash appeared!

“Don’t touch.”

A large, long spiritual snake emerged from Nachash's back and strangled the hooded fiercely in midair. No one expected that. Nachash managed to glance behind the hood…

“What the hell... are you...?”

The two hooded blocking Adam retreated, joining their nine comrades arranged in line. The one assaulted by Nachash broke free from the constriction. Adam rushed to Eve.

“Eve! Are you okay?!”

“Yes…”

Adam turned to Nachash, who no longer had the snake attached.

“Nachash, you...!”

“We chat later! Now isn’t a good time.”

The three faced the uncanny people. The leader simply pointed the little finger at Nachash… A strong wind threw dust over the children's eyes. The hooded withdrew.

“They're gone...” Eve remarked.

Nachash couldn't forget the sight under the hood. Adam, crestfallen and clenched fists, wanted to say something…

“Eve, Nachash. I’m sorry. It’s my fault. If I hadn't thought of such a stupid joke, you wouldn’t have… I really hurt you. I hurt... my precious friends.

Adam couldn't look them in the eyes. Nachash slapped him on the head.

“Ow!”

“Idiot. We chose to do it on our own. The guilt of everything that happened to us, belongs only to ourselves.”

“Nachash...”

“C’mon, an empty-headed like you forcing someone? Never in life.”

“Hey!”

“In other words, don't blame yourself for the decisions of others, but for your own decisions. If there’s a decision you regret, then be sure you don’t make it again.”

“Keep being who you are. Ah, but not so carefree... sometimes you better worry a bit more about things!” Eve said.

Nachash chuckled.

“Eh?! What do you mean, Eve? But...” Adam tilted his head, wiped the tears and grinned “Yeah!”

...

“And now that all’s settled…” Nachash pulled a red apple out of the clothes.

“That’s...!” Adam startled.

“Nachash! When did you get it?!” Eve asked.

“Before I went to help you.”

When Eve was about to be tackled by the hooded, Nachash grabbed the fruit and immediately returned to his human form in order to aid her.

“Good job, Nachash! Just this once, I'll let you have the laurels!”

“Tss…”

Eve recalled the hooded leader pointing a finger at Nachash…

“’He’ meant the apple?”

“Anything else?”

“No, it’s just too weird. Those people were protecting the apple, right? If they truly realized Nachash took it, then... why didn’t they try to get it back?”

What were the true intentions of that group? It’s like… they were testing them. The silence was broken by Adam, who snatched the apple from Nachash.

“Give it back!”

“Alright! I’ve made my mind! I won’t eat it. I’ll keep it!”

“Huh?”

“And I already got a name!”

“A name too? Seriously...?”

Adam held the fruit as if it were a baby.

“The apple is mine, so I’ll call it... ‘Adam’s Apple’!”

“What’s that? It’s so like you, Adam!” Eve raved.

Nachash sighed. That's when the apple suddenly shone, scaring them.

The Adam’s Apple turned golden. The glow became brighter and, in the end, swallowed the entire place.

...

The trio opened their eyes. The dazzling light no longer hit them. The apple was red again and stopped shining. What awaited now was a supernatural drawing… Around, several types of living things: goats, sheep, pigs, cows and even people! A real gift from nature – new life.

“I-I don’t know what happened, but... it looks like we’re not alone anymore” Eve didn’t hold back the tears of joy.

“Hm” Nachash smiled calmly.

“Yeah” Adam nodded.

...

They sat on a cliff. The photographic horizon with the quiet waves of the sea accompanied by the sunset…

“Nachash” Adam called his friend.

“Hm?” Nachash didn’t look away from the splendid view.

“When you showed up to help us, for a moment it looked like you saw a ghost. What... exactly did you see?”

What hid the hood of the hooded. The question made Nachash sink into his dark memories as the snake shuddered…

“Nachash?”

“Huh? Ah... that was just my imagination.”

“Hum... one more thing...”

What the young now wanted to ask was about that power Nachash manifested…

“Nothing... never mind...” Adam bent his head “Hey... don’t change.”

Nobody imagined that dread was the harbinger of a great misfortune about to fall upon the three... and leave them all alone again.

This is a story that goes back to the beginnings of mankind, a time when nothing existed.

Nothing, except three young goldfinches that spread their wings and, little by little, as they grow up, continue discovering themselves.

Their tale would go on and, eventually, end.

________________________________________________________

This is a story that goes back to a time that was yet to come, which wouldn’t have come if other ages hadn’t forerun it and past stories originated the plot of this new story.

This is a tale that began long before its protagonist was born and shall only end when all the pieces are assembled correctly.

A blonde-haired kid dreamed: two boys — one with red hair and another with green hair — and a girl amidst them. Who were they...?

The 16-year-old boy, average height and dark green eyes, awoke from his slumber. Beside him stood a tall man in his thirties. The teen rose from bed. A black cross popped up around his neck as the dark room brightened with its vividness.

That, too, was a prelude of what’s to come…

________________________________________________________

An 8-year-old boy unconscious on the grass field of a park. Light green eyes and inky hair, tattered clothes, scars on his forehead and arms.

Judging by the wounds all over the body, anyone would think he was a war survivor or a victim of some sort of major catastrophe. Regardless of why and how he got there, questions to be naturally answered over the course of time, we must realize that nothing happens by chance.

Destiny is reserved for those who are chosen.

And the innocent little boy, just like those who came before him and those who currently spin the wheel that moves the world, will have his own role in this story.

He’s our main character and this is the beginning of a “lie”, an adventure in search of the truth.

His name is...

[End of the Prologue]