Of Man's First disobedience, the fruit of the forbidden tree, who's mortal taste

brought death into the world, and all of our woe-Paradise Lost

"I'm home"yelled Kari stepping inside. She slid out of her sandles, no response but the rining of the wind chimes just outside the front door. Her mom was still out, as was usual. Her mom's work schedule was back and forth, it was a miracle if she was home for more then four hours. With a sigh she headed to the living room, feeling monsteriously tired. Her eyes grew heavy as she sat on the couch. She began seeing quick flashes of light, feeling herself being gently pulled not physicaly but by her soul. It was like her soul took on wings of it's own and flew up high into the sky. In fact she could see the sky now, the clouds sparkling.

"Wake up Kari"

4 year old Kari gave a big yawn and stretched her arms out, being tapped by her father.With short black hair and in a typical work outfit, he looked as kind as could be. "You feeling allright?"he asked. She nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Did you have fun with Tai?"he asked. "Yes daddy"she said. "Still tired?"he asked. "I guess so"she said. He picked her up in his arms, walking her up the stairs with ease. Her eyes were growing heavy once more, her arms holding onto his arm. Looking up into his eyes, she let out a loud gasp when she saw his head was gone, then his whole body dissapeared. "DADDY!"she cried out. A pit of spikes opened up below her, she was falling fast. No wings this time, in fact she couldn't slow her fall at all. The spikes were coming closer, her heart beating hard against her chest.

"AGH!"

Kari sat up, putting a hand on her forehead. Her heart was going kamakazi against her chest, sweat pouring. She wiped it off. "Just a dream, thank God"she said. Standing up, she let out a loud yawn, stretching her arms out. "So you're up"said Tai stepping in. "Hey Tai"said Kari. "You're sweating, did you have a bad dream?"asked Tai. "Dad"said Kari. Tai walked over to her and hugged her tightly. "We'll see dad again, he's fighting hard Kari. We'll get a rehab report soon. He loves you Kari, me too but you especialy. He always said you were his little angel. He'll fight any addiction to be with you again"said Tai. "Thanks"said Kari. "So you made some new friends I heared?"asked Tai. "Yeah, good friends"said Kari, dissapointment in her voice. She wanted Katsuya so badly("Pick up the apple please")but Katsuya's lust for T.K proved she was not a "homo" like her. Still, for that moment she got to touch Katsuya while she was binding her, was a moment she'd never forget. Realizing she would probaly never get another chance, made a weight drop in the inside. "Dinner's ready, how does Yaki Soba sound?"asked Tai. She put on a small smile. "Sounds great"said Kari.

After dinner the phone rang, Kari the one to awnser it. It was Katsuya, she thought she would faint. The two had exchanged phone numbers so they could keep in contact. "Sure you're allright?"asked Katsuya. "Yeah, I'm fine"said Kari. "Allright, I'll see ya tomorrow"said Katsuya. "Buy"said Kari. She hung up with a big smile. "Who was that?"asked Tai. "Oh, a salesman"lied Kari. She didn't feel like telling Tai about Katsuya yet. Tai was comepletely oblivious to the fact Kari was a lesbian. Kari knew Tai would hate her if he found out, she knew it.

Her eyes were attacked by a single beam of light. Not just attacking, almost like raping the eyes. She had to keep blinking to adjust her eyes to the light. Despite the radiance, the place she was at was merely black and white all around, it was some sort of small island. She was on shore, nothing behind her but a tall mountain which seemed to stab the sky. There was a dark narrow tunnel and in front was nothing but endless ocean. "I remember this place, I was in the water last time thought"said Kari standing. She put a hand above her eyes, also squinting to look past the sun hopefuly to see a boat or some chunk of land but her eyes could not travel such a distance. "Just calm down, this is just a dream. Yeah, I bet-

Pulling her glove down, her expression changed to utter fear, seeing her arm just as it was in real life. She pulled the glove back over. She was shaking badly now. "This isn't a dream, this is real"she said. She took some quick and deep breaths. "Allright calm down, maybe it's just a realistic dream. There has to be a way out of here"said Kari. Two strong hands clamped down on her shoulder but she didn't even flinch. An instant before they came down she felt his warmth:her father. "Dad? What are you doing here?"asked Kari looking up at him. "I came to pick you up"he said. She hugged him tightly, her head buried in his stomach and staining his shirt with her tears. "I missed you, so did Tai, even Mom"said Kari. Her rubbed his hand in her hair. The expression on his face was pure joy, and he too put his arms around Kari though while Kari was squeezing with all her strength, he was using little if any. Kari's father of course wasn't hurt at all, it took all of Kari's strength to make a half decent hug. He let go as did she, her father taking a seat with his feet inches from the shore. Kari sat right down next to him, with her tears wiped away. She had a huge smile staring up at him, hugging her legs close into her body.

"What's it been, five years?"he asked. Kari nodded, her smile fading. "So, did your mom move?"asked her father. "Yeah"said Kari. He had a few breakouts at the rehab trying to hunt them down. The lack of alchohol and drugs had driven him insane so he asked them to move far away until he got over it. "Never get into alchohol or drugs, especialy not both. Rehabilatation's hell, no matter what clinic you go to. It's not the clinic's fault, it's just damn hard on ya when trying to get off it"he said. "But you're all right now"said Kari. "Yep, so how's your mom and brother been doing?"asked her father. "Good, Tai's even driving now"said Kari wiggling her toes. The splashing of the water onto shore was so soothing, especialy since it was the only non talking sound to be heared. "Fuck I've missed a lot, pardon my language. So tell me, how've you been doing?"he asked. "I'm fine"said Kari. He took a deep breath, lying back using his hands as a pillow. "So, you make any new friends?"asked her dad. "A few"said Kari. "Virgin still?"he asked. "Dad!"said Kari blushing. He had a big laugh and Kari couldn't help but giggle with him. He stood himself up. "Gotta go now"he said. "Where? You said you were here to pick me up?"asked Kari. Blood began trinkling out of him, lacing itself around the outline of his body. His jawopened up with chin and teeth missing. Kari covered her mouth gasping. He took a blade out from his pocket. She barely could get a step back before he clutched her small wrist. She tried pulling away, screaming loudly with tears flowing but his grip only got tighter. He broguth the blade to her chin. "Dad"she sobbed.

"I'll slice out your tounge so no one can hear you scream, then I'll cut ya in the chest, rip out your heart and see how long you can live"he said. His voice was very mutant. He yanked her into him, using the arm he used to hold her wrist to hug her close to him, her face facing the same direction as her father's, the blade inching down towards her. She couldn't push his arm off at all. "I'm being so rude, I'll let you decide. I could let you go ahead with my idea, or maybe I could cut your fingers off and hold you until you bleed to death"he said. The whole time Kari was thrashing to get herself free but he had her in his grip. "Why are you doing this?"she asked tired now, merely slumping in her father's grip. "Look over there"he said. Kari lifted her head up, the creature that grabbed her before was there, but now there was a dozen of them. They were humanoid, just an inch or two smaller then Kari hunched with dangling arms like zombies. Their eyes were yellow with black pupils and their body had sharp looking scales.

"What are they Dad?"asked Kari. She gasped when her father morphed into a creature like the others. Even though it was as small as the others, it's grip was just as tight, now holding her with both arms. Kari again thrashed and kicked but it was all in vain. She quickly grew tired and surrendered with a sigh, looking at the creatures with defeated and tearful eyes. "That is your father's cruel nature"said the creature restraining her. Their voices were adult male ones which sounded drone like. "NO!"screamed Kari. She finally slid down out of his grip and kicked it in the shin. It fell forward slightly but little else. She snapped her head behind her, the creatures from behind were retreating. Looking back, the one in front of her was walking to join them. Kari stared them all down until they were all gone. The last one took it's time, locking eyes before it fully went under. Once they were gone, Kari fell to her knees, covered her eyes as she began sobbing her heart out.

The rining of her alarm clock woke her. She lay in bed for several minutes staring at the ceiling, letting the tears come out.

She had wiped the tears away before breakfast and leaft on her own. The breeze was very refreshing for her. She walked again looking at the ground. All she could think about was her dream. "The nightmares I had as a little kid were scary then but none were ever as realistic as that, or intense. No, it was more then a dream, I know it"she thought. She stopped just before the crossing, still staring at the ground. "What will happen when Dad get's out of rehad? Will he be sweet like that, like he was before? Or will he fall back?"thought Kari. Lifting her head up, she walked across without even looking. "Hey Kari!"called Katsuya. She looked over, Katsuya waving to her from just outside the school. Kari made a weak smile and went over to join her friend.

"Hey Kari"said T.K. T.K sat last of the two and he wasn't nervous at all. "Uh, hi"said Kari weakly, not even looking at him. "Something wrong?"asked T.K. "No, I'm fine"said Kari. T.K kept looking at her all class. Kari was soi nervous, she wasn't attracted to T.K plus he knew Katsuya wanted him. When class was dismissed for lunch, Kari was so grateful. She met Katsuya in the hall. "I'm sorry"said Kari. "It's not your fault. I've never seen T.K act like that over any girl, he must REALLY like you"said Katsuya. "You think?"asked Kari. "You bet and if T.K won't go out with me then the least I can do is get you two together!"she said. "T-thanks"said Kari. She was flattered Katsuya would do that for her, even though Katsuya was the one she wanted. "Just no staged kidnappings this time"said Kari. "It's a known fact the DID scenario sparks romance like no other"said Katsuya. "DID?"asked Kari. "Damsel In Distress. We just put you in a supposed life or death situation and have him save you. We could have you bungee jump off a bridge, tied to railroad tracks, haning by a finger from a house roof"said Katsuya. "A rape scenario?"asked Kari. She mentaly kicked herself for letting her hormones get the best of her. "A what!"said Katsuya. "Nothing"said Kari. "No wait, you're right, that would be perfect!"said Katsuya. "Really?"asked Kari entrhalled. "Yeah, but where would we get a boy to do it?"asked Katsuya. Kari groaned on the inside. "You could dress up and do it"said Kari. "Yeah, we could do the jealousy scenario. Perfect, let's let Kag and Ali know"said katsuya. Kari's smiled could barely be hidden. "I'll treasure this even more"thought Kari.

TBC