The Curse Of Eden

The silence was intense, and Collette found herself squirming under the tension filling the room.

Adam was sitting at the edge of the couch beside her, his entwined arms resting on his knees as they gave support to his face.

"How come you never told me anything about this Collette?" He finally broke the silence but his eyes never broke its contact with the ground. She let out a nervous breath.

"I." She sighed. "I spent the last seventeen years of my life trying to bury it to nothingness. I wanted to erase that part of my life like it never existed before and not speaking about or mentioning to anyone proved helpful. I never wanted to go back there Adam and I figured my life would just go on normally with that part deleted." Her voice cracked into a barely audible whisper at the end.

She snaked a hand towards her husband, holding his arm tightly as she got closer.

"Adam please. My father he-"

"Did he really die in an accident Collette or is he..." He gazed up at his wife, afraid if he said the word out loud he might scare her. He didn't want to open up the possibility of him still being alive but he had to make sure. Collette shook her head. "He's dead as dead could be. But...not from an accident." She spoke. "He was murdered." Her voice whispered.

Collette didn't know what to expect from Adam as a reaction upon hearing what she said but when he pulled her to his chest, holding her tightly, she felt the tons pulling down at her shoulders being relieved. She heard him let out a deep breath as he tightened his hold.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all this baby girl."

Collette pulled slightly, only enough to look into her husband's eyes.

"I want in Adam." She spoke with sudden determination. Talking about her past made her realizes how deep down it was actually pulling her instead and all she wanted to do was untie the anchor wrapped around her ankle and be set fully free from it.

Adam pulled back more to look at his wife's face with a dumbfounded expression.

"What?"

"I want in Adam. I want to be a part of this investigation." She repeated.

"No! There is no way on earth I'm getting you involved in this!" The detective shot up from his place on the sofa, taking a couple of steps around.

"Why not? Adam I've been hauled up at home like the vase in our living room, being absolutely and utterly useless for the past year now. I'm your best shot at going somewhere with this case because not only am I professional at what I do I'm also in a way directly related to it." Collette debated as she stood up in pursuit of her husband.

"No Collette and that's final! Don't you remember how you became in that last case? I'm not letting you go through something similar again." Adam snapped as he turned around to face his wife once again.

Collette felt her anger bubble up at his attempt of control but she kept it at bay, understanding completely where he was standing at.

What happened wasn't easy and she didn't take it well. It was hard on the two of them.

"Adam I need you to understand." She began calmly as she approached him. "This killer is obviously targeting men of the same cult that my father was in. The same cult that was the cause of all my childhood nightmares. I need to get to the bottom of this. Maybe then I'll know what happened to my father." She spoke the last line in a pleading whisper.

"It could've been E too for all we know."

"I was 10 at the time Adam. That was seventeen years ago. Plus, the police found no letters carved into his skin, nor were his wrists slit." Collette dismissed her husband's idea. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with E."

Adam remained silent for a while and when he sighed and closed his eyes, Collette knew a shake of his head in refusal would follow.

"If you didn't let me join in, I won't give you the lead I have for you to work with." She bargained with her hands folded across her chest but knew all too well that it was as weak as a twig.

"Knowing that all the victims belong to a cult is a good enough lead for me to work with pumpkin." Adam stated playfully with a raised eyebrow, mimicking his wife in crossing his arms. "True, but I know where my father kept his stuff." She competed with a humph.

"What do you mean?" Adam was turning serious again.

"He used to be one of them remember? He must have information that can help you with the investigation being some sort of leader there. And Adam please use some logic. My father was one of them so I know exactly how they think and what they do. It will help us understand what E is doing and why he's killing them."

Adam sighed. "And you have those ledgers?" Adam's defense mode was slowly turning to one of anticipation.

"Maybe." Collette teased childishly with a nonchalant expression. She didn't really know if her father even had anything recorder down on paper but it was a risk she was willing to bargain with. She was almost sure he would've kept something. Adam on the other hand, didn't have to know that she herself didn't know.

"Oh come on baby girl."

"I want in Adam."

"No Collette. I can't let you get hurt. Not again."

"I won't. I promise. I'll only be involved in the safe matters. You do the dangerous work. Please." She begged again with both hands holding onto her husband's folded arms. Adam sighed but this time, Collette anticipated the agreement to his proposal.

"One impulsive move on your part that would put you in any harm, you'll be out with no further argument." He warned his wife who nodded her head happily.

"What have you got for me?" She smiled and Adam groaned.