The Break

I don't know if this qualifies as flash fiction, but it's creative writing and it's 500 words. So, I'll take it.

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It seemed so harmless.

The fruit wasn’t as delicious as some of the others she had tasted. It was crisp and cool, but more tangy than sweet. She suddenly realized she preferred sweet, but she took another bite anyway. It was pretty fruit, after all. And new.

And she felt sort of….funny eating it.

An icy thrill shot through her, an unfamiliar feeling that had a sort of edge to it. She didn’t know if she liked it or not. It was pleasant at first, but suddenly she had the urge to look over her shoulder. She felt watched. Nervous. Exposed.

He approached her, and she cast her eyes away from his. A tingling laced up her back. She glanced around for the serpent, finding him gone. It was just her. By the forbidden tree. Holding the half eaten fruit.

She could find no explanation that seemed satisfactory for what she had done.

And in an instant, she knew what she must do.

With feigned boldness, she took a step toward him, lowering her chin as she fluttered her eyes up to him. She forced a half smile on her lips despite the look of confusion he wore, letting her body flow fluidly toward him. When she reached him, she placed a slender hand on his chest.

“What is this? What are you doing?” he floundered. She felt his heart thump rapidly under her palm, and knew her plan was working. She let her fingers trace the muscles of his arm.

Inwardly, she hesitated at her next step. But she had no choice. She would not be alone in this.

Her eyes never leaving his, she slowly took another bite of the fruit, then lifted it to his lips.

“Taste it.” She whispered.

He seemed reluctant, his eyes widening in an expression she didn’t recognize. Standing on tip toes, she brought her lips to his ear and whispered again, “Taste it.”

He grasped her hand holding the fruit and took them to his mouth, biting off a generous portion of fruit.

And so it was done.

They stepped away from each other quickly, the remains of the fruit dropping to the grass at their feet. Their breathing accelerated. Their pulses raced. A chill seemed to sweep through them on the breeze and a cloud darkened the cheery sun.

They were afraid.

She wrapped her arms over her chest. He turned away from her. They shared an uncomfortable silence. A strange lump filled her throat and her eyes moistened. He felt distant from her now, like a stranger. Dozens of new thoughts raced in her mind. He doesn’t like how I look. He doesn’t want to be around me anymore. Maybe I should seduce him again. I want to feel in control right now.

But before she could act, he fled away from her, racing for a wooded area nearby.

She sank to her knees, letting the tall grass hide her from view.

In a moment, the world had been broken.