Discovering Eden
Prologue B: Losing Sight
Her breath came in shallow puffs of air as she looked around her, eyes taking in every possible escape route. An arm pulled her children closer to her, hiding them slightly in her coat, the other hand wrapped around the cool metal handle of the gun strapped to her coat. The cool and familiar, yet unwanted piece of metal, sending ripples of disgust through her being. While planning her escape, she had wanted to leave everything and anything that reminded her of this life behind, but she was not naïve enough to leave behind the vile firearm.
And that newly awakened side of her wished she was, wished that she was naïve enough to walk freely in a park at night with no thought of the danger lurking on every corner. But she wasn't, and she was more than ready to use the pistol to protect her children. That sick pleasure of satisfaction when seeing the bullet hit their intended target no longer affected her. Never had she thought of what she had been doing was wrong. Never had she felt any guilt for the countless lives she took, old and young, men, women, and even children sometimes. It was always necessary, the only way of survival. Yes she had been blind before, a cold heartless killer, but now here she stood, all the glory and pride gone from her stance. She was weakened, and she knew that her enemy knew this also by the way he was smirking at her, that evil heartless sneer similar to the ones she gave her victims.
"Ah, what do we have here?" His voice was mocking as he spoke, "The rumored beauty, whose looks as disarming as her skills?"
He was closer now, his gun lowered, but it mattered not because his followers were still standing menacingly close. He stepped so close to her, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek, and she fought the urge to slap his hand away. She couldn't provoke him now, not when there was so much at stake. His cold amber eyes, lifeless as it had been when she last saw him.
"Could it be that Sero's slut is standing before me?" His voice was menacing, and his eyes flashed as he spat out her husband's street name. And she closed her eyes, her heart transporting her back to a time when that same hand that was grasping her arm so tightly, bruising her in the process, had once ran over her flushed body in soft caresses.
Those solid amber eyes soft and glowing with love for her, and she looked away. It was so long ago, she had only been fifteen when she had met him, falling for him and believing that he was the one for her. Bit it was not to be, their fathers were enemies, and thus they were too. Still, the secret meetings never ceased not until the day she laid eyes on her sandy haired husband, the person named to be her father's successor. It was love at first site, and the rest as they say was history.
Back then she thought nothing of it, and the last time she had seen him before was the night before her marriage when he had come to her, to plead for her to return to him, but she was far too gone, and had found the one that was her soulmate. Later as her marriage prospered, she had heard that he had taken his father's place and a bride. Her cold heart thought nothing of the pain she had caused him, but now as she stared into his eyes, remorse filled her to the core.
"Please…let me go." She never had to beg for anything in her life, but for the sake of her children, it was all she could do as her mind searched for a plan of escape. His eyes softened momentarily at the vulnerability in her voice, but hardened once more as his grip tightened, and that was when he heard the small muffled sob coming from behind her. Looking down he saw the precious little girl with hair as silky and dark as her mother's, doe eyes innocent and full of fear and unshed tears. Looking over he saw that the little girl was holding a little boy's hand not much older than herself, his brown eyes fixed on his sister in concern, his sandy spikes ruffled.
"Ah, Eve, these are your bastard children I presume?"
She held back the urge to slap him, and her heart stopped when she realized that he hadn't called her by her real name, but by her street name. But when she heard his remark about her angels, she snapped and her hand was drawn, blade in hand slicing his face. He let out a yelp of pain, grabbing his face, eyes blazing with flaming passionate loathe, but she saw the small tint of love buried beneath all that anger. She always knew him that well, and he could never hide anything from him. His men leapt forward at her, but his hand stopped their movement, and he looked back at her, rubbing his cheek.
"Dearest Eve, you are a foolish one. You should have stayed with Sero…because out here…out here you are…are vulnerable to sudden ambushes."
Eve was silent as she stood looking at her ex-lover, her thoughts only on her children, the only reasons she was even still living. But before he could continue, one of her nemesis's men came running up, wounded by a bullet.
"Larek!" He yelled to his leader, "They's coming. Sero's men is coming!"
Eve took this distraction as her chance for escape, and fled with her children in her arms, she ran. Larek looked back, and his face contorted in anger, "Idiots! You handle Sero and his men…distract them, kill them whatever, just don't let them come after me."
With that, Larek was off after his love, only vengeance in his heart, wanting to take away what mattered most to his enemy, just as he had stolen her before, he would steal her back and claim the money that was rightly his.
==========
"Mommy….mommy, my fweet hwurts." Her daughter whimpered, and Eve turned around to see that her daughter had cut her foot with a jagged rock.
Eve swooped down with her son by her side, and tried her best to help her daughter and ease her pain. Gunshots were heard, and Eve spun around to see Larek and some of his men searching an area not far from where they were hiding. Looking down at her children with tears in her eyes, Eve pulled her daughter and son into a big embrace, knowing this would probably be the last time she would hold them in her arms.
"Mommy has to leave you here ok baby? I want you to hide right here until daddy finds you ok? He'll take care of you. Promise mommy that you won't leave this tree until she or daddy calls you ok?" Her son and daughter nodded, in silent agreement, confusion, but also love in their innocent eyes.
She pulled her son closer, "Michael, baby, I know you'll be a great man one day, handsome and intelligent, a great man."
Michael nodded, sniffing up at his mom.
"Promise me one thing ok sweetie? Protect your sister for me? When your daddy and mommy can't be there, promise to love and protect your sister."
Michael nodded again, his grip on his younger sister tightening. Eve smiled and kissed his spiky head before turning to her daughter, a smaller version of herself, and tears would not stop as she said her goodbyes to her daughter.
"C'mere precious." Liz walked into her mother's embrace. "Baby, I know you're not old enough to understand anything that is going on, but no matter what happens, no matter the way your life turns out, remember that I'll always love you, and I'm proud of you."
Eve took off the necklace she wore around her neck, and clasped it around Liz's neck. The pendant, on one side had five stars aligned in a 'V' formation while the other side had a small whirlwind galaxy emblem.
"Follow your heart Liz; it will never lead you astray." Kissing her daughter on the forehead, she stood up and pushed her children further into the bushes.
Faye Parker, loving mother and wife now disappeared to again become the cold-hearted killer Eve, the silent assassin of her husband's gang. Glancing back at what she would be leaving, she felt what was left of her heart shatter, and the tears came endlessly, but she wiped them away with an emotionless mask.
==========
Michael Parker watched his mother's retreating form and then looked back at his younger sister who was crying endlessly. He sat down, and pulled her into his embrace, seeing that even though his mom had removed the rock and had treated her wound, she was still in pain, not only from the wound, but also from her confusion of seeing her mother leave her.
"Shh… it's ok Lizzie, mommy will be right back. She had to go find daddy." He explained, his innocent five-year-old mind coming up with that solution as he stared pensively at where his mother had once stood. Suddenly he was up on his feet, and Liz looked up into his eyes, to see that his face had changed and he now had a determined look on his face.
"Stay here Lizzie, I'm going to look for daddy too."
Liz shook her head, tears coming even more as she grasped at her brother's hand in fear. Michael tried to pull away, but upon seeing the fear in her eyes he stooped down and smoothed back her hair affectionately.
"I'll be back, I promise. I'm going to find daddy and mommy and we can all be together again." With that he was off, his feet carrying him faster than Liz's toddler feet could keep up with and she staggered after him tears in her eyes as she called his name.
Running until her little feet couldn't last anymore, Liz fell down and tears pooled in her expressive eyes when she realized that she truly was alone.
Hearing footsteps, she froze, fearfully on the ground, too scared to move.
"Hey!" A soft masculine voice called out, and Liz looked up to find herself lost in a sea of amber, and something in her childish heart clicked. The little boy, who could be no older than Michael had his arm extended to her, concern in his little eyes. She hesitantly took his hand, and he pulled her up.
"You ok?" He asked as he did a quick sweep of her body, "What are you doing out here so late? Where's your mommy?"
Tears came to her eyes at the thought of her mom, and the five-years-old boy
panicked when he realized this. "Hey, I'm sorry, don't cry. I'll help you find your mommy."
His little heart broke with each tear she shed, and he was relieved when she stopped crying. Suddenly, he pulled her to him, covering her mouth as he hid them both behind a small tree. Glancing around, they saw the members of both gangs running towards the bridge. His serious eyes told her not to make a sound as he assessed the situation, keeping them both from harm.
As the footsteps became softer and softer, and his hand gently moved away from her mouth, and he stepped back. He took her hand, and together, they braved the dark of night as they walked through the silent park.
Liz trembled as they walked along, and he, noticing this, stopped them and took his scarf off and wrapped it around her form. She smiled brightly at him, and they continued their long journey in finding their parents.
"Momma!" Liz's ears perked up at the distant sound of her brother's voice, and she let go of her grip on the mysterious boy's hand, and ran towards the sound excitedly, forgetting about her little savior. And he just watched as she ran off, his amber eyes darkening with the sense of emptiness inside him as he headed of in the other direction, in search of his own father.
==========
Liz ran, forgetting the pain she felt in her right foot as she raced through the trees, towards the bridge, where the voice had been coming from.
"Momma!" Hearing her brother's voice again, her little feet carried her faster through the darkened night.
==========
Eve walked stealthy through the night towards the bridge she knew that Larek's men were stationed. If she could cause a distraction, perhaps her husband would then be able to find their children. Nearing the bridge, she heard the distant sounds of guns and yelling. Dropping down into the bushes nearby, she saw not only Larek, but also her husband fighting along with the other members of both gangs. So many were lying on the ground, either dead or on the verge of death.
"Momma!" Eve's heart dropped when she heard the distant call of her son's voice. Looking up, she saw him, running right towards the carnage and destruction, and again he called.
"Momma!" Not knowing what danger he was putting himself in, he continued to run, and this caused Sero to stop and look at his son, fear running through his veins. At this point, one of Larek's men had seen the child, and the gun was off before anyone knew anything, and in the blink of an eye, all was over as the resounding wail of an innocent girl could be heard.
==========
Without a thought to her actions, or the consequences, she soared through the air, and she felt the tear to her heart, but a smile continued to play across her face. Sorrow and happiness seeping through her as her form hit the pavement. Sorrow for leaving the ones she loved so soon, happiness and acceptance because alas, she was finally at peace. And she felt the light fading as death swept across her being, but she felt no fear, only content, and in the distant she heard the sobs of her daughter. Though it tore at her, she knew…she knew that everything would be ok. In the end, everything would be ok. Closing her eyes for the last time, Faye Parker Guerin, a redeeming soul left behind her a stricken husband, and two mourning children.
==========
Liz neared the bridge, and she looked over it, her eyes searching for her family in the midst of all the battle, and she heard her brother's voice as her eyes located him, and in the next instant her world was turned upside down as the bullet meant for her brother, went straight through her mother's heart. The wail that escaped her lips echoed throughout the abandoned park, and the distant sounds of sirens could be heard as she watched the strangers all scatter, running away from the scene. She watched as her older brother ran to his mother's side, and tried to wake her. Tears ran down her face, because she knew.
Her young mind knew, just knew that her mom would never open her eyes again. Would never smile for her, never sing to her again. She watched as her father ran to her mother's lifeless body, and she saw his façade disappear. Sero was no more, only Kevin Guerin, loving husband, grieved for his beautiful and now lifeless wife, the fallen angel Faye Parker Guerin. Liz took this all in, and in one instant, her loving heart was turned to ice, and her innocent and trusting nature all but disappeared as she wept and mourned for the one woman was always trying to make it right. The one woman who was trying to save her.
It's not easy
Trying to understand
How the world can be so cold
Stealing the souls of man
Cloudy skies rain down
On all your dreams
You wrestle with the fear and doubt
Sometimes it's hard, but you gotta believe
There's a better place
-There Will Come a Day Faith Hill
tbc…
A/N: Unexpected was that? Ok, let me explain something with the names. Basically, Sero, Larek, and Eve are just street names, gang names you know? They have real names that only their enemy and their close friends know.
So recap:
Eve: Faye Parker Guerin
Sero: Kevin Guerin
Larek: Well…you don't know his name yet, but you will know soon.
Hoped that helped, I know that seemed confusing, but I'll try my best. Really, I only use the gang names briefly. Barely even. So what do you think? Should I continue?
Last time:
A clicking noise was heard, and she flew around to stare, not into the eyes of
her husband, on the contrary, but into the eyes of her husband's enemy…the
leader of the enemy gang. And a gasp escaped her lips as her grip tightened on
her now cowering children as she realized that she was surrounded, and death
seemed nothing but a breath away, and freedom and hope had faded as his gang and
he pulled out various weapons.
Her breath came in shallow puffs of air as she looked around her, eyes taking in every possible escape route. An arm pulled her children closer to her, hiding them slightly in her coat, the other hand wrapped around the cool metal handle of the gun strapped to her coat. The cool and familiar, yet unwanted piece of metal, sending ripples of disgust through her being. While planning her escape, she had wanted to leave everything and anything that reminded her of this life behind, but she was not naïve enough to leave behind the vile firearm.
And that newly awakened side of her wished she was, wished that she was naïve enough to walk freely in a park at night with no thought of the danger lurking on every corner. But she wasn't, and she was more than ready to use the pistol to protect her children. That sick pleasure of satisfaction when seeing the bullet hit their intended target no longer affected her. Never had she thought of what she had been doing was wrong. Never had she felt any guilt for the countless lives she took, old and young, men, women, and even children sometimes. It was always necessary, the only way of survival. Yes she had been blind before, a cold heartless killer, but now here she stood, all the glory and pride gone from her stance. She was weakened, and she knew that her enemy knew this also by the way he was smirking at her, that evil heartless sneer similar to the ones she gave her victims.
"Ah, what do we have here?" His voice was mocking as he spoke, "The rumored beauty, whose looks as disarming as her skills?"
He was closer now, his gun lowered, but it mattered not because his followers were still standing menacingly close. He stepped so close to her, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek, and she fought the urge to slap his hand away. She couldn't provoke him now, not when there was so much at stake. His cold amber eyes, lifeless as it had been when she last saw him.
"Could it be that Sero's slut is standing before me?" His voice was menacing, and his eyes flashed as he spat out her husband's street name. And she closed her eyes, her heart transporting her back to a time when that same hand that was grasping her arm so tightly, bruising her in the process, had once ran over her flushed body in soft caresses.
Those solid amber eyes soft and glowing with love for her, and she looked away. It was so long ago, she had only been fifteen when she had met him, falling for him and believing that he was the one for her. Bit it was not to be, their fathers were enemies, and thus they were too. Still, the secret meetings never ceased not until the day she laid eyes on her sandy haired husband, the person named to be her father's successor. It was love at first site, and the rest as they say was history.
Back then she thought nothing of it, and the last time she had seen him before was the night before her marriage when he had come to her, to plead for her to return to him, but she was far too gone, and had found the one that was her soulmate. Later as her marriage prospered, she had heard that he had taken his father's place and a bride. Her cold heart thought nothing of the pain she had caused him, but now as she stared into his eyes, remorse filled her to the core.
"Please…let me go." She never had to beg for anything in her life, but for the sake of her children, it was all she could do as her mind searched for a plan of escape. His eyes softened momentarily at the vulnerability in her voice, but hardened once more as his grip tightened, and that was when he heard the small muffled sob coming from behind her. Looking down he saw the precious little girl with hair as silky and dark as her mother's, doe eyes innocent and full of fear and unshed tears. Looking over he saw that the little girl was holding a little boy's hand not much older than herself, his brown eyes fixed on his sister in concern, his sandy spikes ruffled.
"Ah, Eve, these are your bastard children I presume?"
She held back the urge to slap him, and her heart stopped when she realized that he hadn't called her by her real name, but by her street name. But when she heard his remark about her angels, she snapped and her hand was drawn, blade in hand slicing his face. He let out a yelp of pain, grabbing his face, eyes blazing with flaming passionate loathe, but she saw the small tint of love buried beneath all that anger. She always knew him that well, and he could never hide anything from him. His men leapt forward at her, but his hand stopped their movement, and he looked back at her, rubbing his cheek.
"Dearest Eve, you are a foolish one. You should have stayed with Sero…because out here…out here you are…are vulnerable to sudden ambushes."
Eve was silent as she stood looking at her ex-lover, her thoughts only on her children, the only reasons she was even still living. But before he could continue, one of her nemesis's men came running up, wounded by a bullet.
"Larek!" He yelled to his leader, "They's coming. Sero's men is coming!"
Eve took this distraction as her chance for escape, and fled with her children in her arms, she ran. Larek looked back, and his face contorted in anger, "Idiots! You handle Sero and his men…distract them, kill them whatever, just don't let them come after me."
With that, Larek was off after his love, only vengeance in his heart, wanting to take away what mattered most to his enemy, just as he had stolen her before, he would steal her back and claim the money that was rightly his.
==========
"Mommy….mommy, my fweet hwurts." Her daughter whimpered, and Eve turned around to see that her daughter had cut her foot with a jagged rock.
Eve swooped down with her son by her side, and tried her best to help her daughter and ease her pain. Gunshots were heard, and Eve spun around to see Larek and some of his men searching an area not far from where they were hiding. Looking down at her children with tears in her eyes, Eve pulled her daughter and son into a big embrace, knowing this would probably be the last time she would hold them in her arms.
"Mommy has to leave you here ok baby? I want you to hide right here until daddy finds you ok? He'll take care of you. Promise mommy that you won't leave this tree until she or daddy calls you ok?" Her son and daughter nodded, in silent agreement, confusion, but also love in their innocent eyes.
She pulled her son closer, "Michael, baby, I know you'll be a great man one day, handsome and intelligent, a great man."
Michael nodded, sniffing up at his mom.
"Promise me one thing ok sweetie? Protect your sister for me? When your daddy and mommy can't be there, promise to love and protect your sister."
Michael nodded again, his grip on his younger sister tightening. Eve smiled and kissed his spiky head before turning to her daughter, a smaller version of herself, and tears would not stop as she said her goodbyes to her daughter.
"C'mere precious." Liz walked into her mother's embrace. "Baby, I know you're not old enough to understand anything that is going on, but no matter what happens, no matter the way your life turns out, remember that I'll always love you, and I'm proud of you."
Eve took off the necklace she wore around her neck, and clasped it around Liz's neck. The pendant, on one side had five stars aligned in a 'V' formation while the other side had a small whirlwind galaxy emblem.
"Follow your heart Liz; it will never lead you astray." Kissing her daughter on the forehead, she stood up and pushed her children further into the bushes.
Faye Parker, loving mother and wife now disappeared to again become the cold-hearted killer Eve, the silent assassin of her husband's gang. Glancing back at what she would be leaving, she felt what was left of her heart shatter, and the tears came endlessly, but she wiped them away with an emotionless mask.
==========
Michael Parker watched his mother's retreating form and then looked back at his younger sister who was crying endlessly. He sat down, and pulled her into his embrace, seeing that even though his mom had removed the rock and had treated her wound, she was still in pain, not only from the wound, but also from her confusion of seeing her mother leave her.
"Shh… it's ok Lizzie, mommy will be right back. She had to go find daddy." He explained, his innocent five-year-old mind coming up with that solution as he stared pensively at where his mother had once stood. Suddenly he was up on his feet, and Liz looked up into his eyes, to see that his face had changed and he now had a determined look on his face.
"Stay here Lizzie, I'm going to look for daddy too."
Liz shook her head, tears coming even more as she grasped at her brother's hand in fear. Michael tried to pull away, but upon seeing the fear in her eyes he stooped down and smoothed back her hair affectionately.
"I'll be back, I promise. I'm going to find daddy and mommy and we can all be together again." With that he was off, his feet carrying him faster than Liz's toddler feet could keep up with and she staggered after him tears in her eyes as she called his name.
Running until her little feet couldn't last anymore, Liz fell down and tears pooled in her expressive eyes when she realized that she truly was alone.
Hearing footsteps, she froze, fearfully on the ground, too scared to move.
"Hey!" A soft masculine voice called out, and Liz looked up to find herself lost in a sea of amber, and something in her childish heart clicked. The little boy, who could be no older than Michael had his arm extended to her, concern in his little eyes. She hesitantly took his hand, and he pulled her up.
"You ok?" He asked as he did a quick sweep of her body, "What are you doing out here so late? Where's your mommy?"
Tears came to her eyes at the thought of her mom, and the five-years-old boy
panicked when he realized this. "Hey, I'm sorry, don't cry. I'll help you find your mommy."
His little heart broke with each tear she shed, and he was relieved when she stopped crying. Suddenly, he pulled her to him, covering her mouth as he hid them both behind a small tree. Glancing around, they saw the members of both gangs running towards the bridge. His serious eyes told her not to make a sound as he assessed the situation, keeping them both from harm.
As the footsteps became softer and softer, and his hand gently moved away from her mouth, and he stepped back. He took her hand, and together, they braved the dark of night as they walked through the silent park.
Liz trembled as they walked along, and he, noticing this, stopped them and took his scarf off and wrapped it around her form. She smiled brightly at him, and they continued their long journey in finding their parents.
"Momma!" Liz's ears perked up at the distant sound of her brother's voice, and she let go of her grip on the mysterious boy's hand, and ran towards the sound excitedly, forgetting about her little savior. And he just watched as she ran off, his amber eyes darkening with the sense of emptiness inside him as he headed of in the other direction, in search of his own father.
==========
Liz ran, forgetting the pain she felt in her right foot as she raced through the trees, towards the bridge, where the voice had been coming from.
"Momma!" Hearing her brother's voice again, her little feet carried her faster through the darkened night.
==========
Eve walked stealthy through the night towards the bridge she knew that Larek's men were stationed. If she could cause a distraction, perhaps her husband would then be able to find their children. Nearing the bridge, she heard the distant sounds of guns and yelling. Dropping down into the bushes nearby, she saw not only Larek, but also her husband fighting along with the other members of both gangs. So many were lying on the ground, either dead or on the verge of death.
"Momma!" Eve's heart dropped when she heard the distant call of her son's voice. Looking up, she saw him, running right towards the carnage and destruction, and again he called.
"Momma!" Not knowing what danger he was putting himself in, he continued to run, and this caused Sero to stop and look at his son, fear running through his veins. At this point, one of Larek's men had seen the child, and the gun was off before anyone knew anything, and in the blink of an eye, all was over as the resounding wail of an innocent girl could be heard.
==========
Without a thought to her actions, or the consequences, she soared through the air, and she felt the tear to her heart, but a smile continued to play across her face. Sorrow and happiness seeping through her as her form hit the pavement. Sorrow for leaving the ones she loved so soon, happiness and acceptance because alas, she was finally at peace. And she felt the light fading as death swept across her being, but she felt no fear, only content, and in the distant she heard the sobs of her daughter. Though it tore at her, she knew…she knew that everything would be ok. In the end, everything would be ok. Closing her eyes for the last time, Faye Parker Guerin, a redeeming soul left behind her a stricken husband, and two mourning children.
==========
Liz neared the bridge, and she looked over it, her eyes searching for her family in the midst of all the battle, and she heard her brother's voice as her eyes located him, and in the next instant her world was turned upside down as the bullet meant for her brother, went straight through her mother's heart. The wail that escaped her lips echoed throughout the abandoned park, and the distant sounds of sirens could be heard as she watched the strangers all scatter, running away from the scene. She watched as her older brother ran to his mother's side, and tried to wake her. Tears ran down her face, because she knew.
Her young mind knew, just knew that her mom would never open her eyes again. Would never smile for her, never sing to her again. She watched as her father ran to her mother's lifeless body, and she saw his façade disappear. Sero was no more, only Kevin Guerin, loving husband, grieved for his beautiful and now lifeless wife, the fallen angel Faye Parker Guerin. Liz took this all in, and in one instant, her loving heart was turned to ice, and her innocent and trusting nature all but disappeared as she wept and mourned for the one woman was always trying to make it right. The one woman who was trying to save her.
Trying to understand
How the world can be so cold
Stealing the souls of man
Cloudy skies rain down
On all your dreams
You wrestle with the fear and doubt
Sometimes it's hard, but you gotta believe
There's a better place
-There Will Come a Day Faith Hill
tbc…
A/N: Unexpected was that? Ok, let me explain something with the names. Basically, Sero, Larek, and Eve are just street names, gang names you know? They have real names that only their enemy and their close friends know.
So recap:
Eve: Faye Parker Guerin
Sero: Kevin Guerin
Larek: Well…you don't know his name yet, but you will know soon.
Hoped that helped, I know that seemed confusing, but I'll try my best. Really, I only use the gang names briefly. Barely even. So what do you think? Should I continue?
