Chapter Text
.::.~+~.::.Southern California, October 31, 1989.::.~+~.::.
“What?! No! Isn’t there any way you can like…stop it?”
“I’m sorry Sir, she’s too far along. The baby is coming now.”
“But it’s 3 weeks early!”
“I’m sorry Mr. Williams, but babies come when they’re ready and this baby is ready.”
“But it’s Halloween!”
“Well, I guess you got a treat on Halloween then, Mr. Williams.” The nurse said, walking away with a smile.
“A treat? More like a trick. This baby is going to be cursed.” Mr. Williams muttered to himself.
.::.~+~.::.
“Mr. Williams, your wife is losing a lot of blood. I’m sorry, we can’t save them both.”
“Then save my wife!” The doctor looked at him and nodded, solemnly.
“We’ll do our best, Mr. Williams.”
.::.~+~.::.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Williams, but we couldn’t save her.”
“What about the baby?”
“A healthy baby girl.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Sir…”
“No. That thing killed my wife. I don’t want it.”
.::.~+~.::.
“Shawn, this is *your baby*.”
“No, Mom, it’s not a baby, it’s a monster.” He sat in the hospital room. Elizabeth’s corpse had been taken away for processing.
“Bite your tongue! This baby is my granddaughter!”
“She was born on Halloween. This baby is evil.”
“You are not putting my granddaughter up for adoption!”
“I don’t want it.”
“Your father and I will help you.” Lillie said, feeding the baby a bottle of formula.
“Sure. Until she kills you, too.”
“It was an accident, Shawn! Elizabeth knew the risks. She still carried this baby. It grew inside her. You two created this child together. She’s God’s blessing.”
“This baby wasn’t sent from God. It was sent by the devil himself.”
Lillie carefully set the baby down, walked over to her son, and slapped him. “Stop it. Every life is precious. Women die in childbirth all the time, even in today’s modern world. This baby is innocent. Death is a risk that all women take when we birth children. It’s our burden. And Elizabeth would have wanted it this way. If she had the choice, she would have happily told the doctor to save her baby’s life over hers.”
Shawn rubbed the side of his face where his mother had struck him. “Fine. I’ll keep her. But I expect you to step up. Taking care of this child was never mine and Lizzie’s agreement. It was supposed to be her.”
.::.~+~.::.1996.::.~+~.::.
“But Gramma! I don’t wanna go to church!” Eden whined, rolling over in bed. “It’s too early!”
“Don’t be like that. You know how Daddy is about you going to church. Now come on, lets find you one of your cute dresses.”
“Can I eat breakfast first? Daddy always gets mad when I eat in my dresses.”
“You’re not eating breakfast today, Sweetie. Daddy wants you dressed so we can leave very soon.”
“But I’m hungry!” Eden pouted.
“Eden, enough!” Lillie scolded. “You’re going to put on one of your pretty white and yellow dresses, you’re going to go say good morning to your father, you’re going to watch Veggie Tales on TV, and then we’re going to go to church.”
Eden frowned and looked down. “Yes Gramma…”
.::.~+~.::.
“All right, kids. Do you have any questions about the story we read today?”
Cautiously, Eden raised her hand. The Sunday School teacher smiled kindly at her and nodded. “Yes, Eden?”
“Why was it bad for Eve to eat the fruit?”
“Because God told them not to.”
“But…why did he tell them not to?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Why couldn’t they eat the fruit?”
“Because God said no, and they disobeyed, so they were punished.”
“But…the fruit was from the tree of knowledge, and if knowledge is good, then why was eating the fruit bad? Did God not *want* Adam and Eve to know things?”
“God wants all of us to know things, Eden.”
“So then…why was eating the fruit bad?”
The Sunday School teacher was losing her patience now. “Eden…how about we talk about this *out* of class, ok?”
Eden nodded and looked back down at the floor.
“Are there any *other* questions?” No one raised their hands, so class continued.
.::.~+~.::.
“Mr. Williams, you need to sort your daughter out. She was *very* unruly and rude in class today. She spoke when she wasn’t spoken to, she kept interrupting class by asking questions, and she wouldn’t listen to the story that she was being taught.” The Sunday School teacher said.
Eden could hear the shouting through the door, her grandma was sitting next to her, clearly annoyed. “Gramma, that’s not true.” Eden said, softly.
“Are you trying to tell me that your Sunday School teacher is *lying*?” Lillie scolded.
“I…well…yeah…I guess she is. Because she’s saying things that aren’t true.”
“Sunday School teachers and pastors *don’t* lie, Eden.”
“But Gramma—”
“Enough!”
Eden sighed softly and looked down. “Can I go play on the playground Gramma?”
“Fine.” Lillie said, irritably.
Eden got up and went outside to play on the playground. Before she sat down, she took off her church shoes and her tights so they wouldn’t get ruined, then ran over to go play on the slide. As she was playing, a little boy with dark black hair and bright green eyes walked over to the swings. Eden smiled after sliding down the slide, then ran over to talk to him.
“Hi!” Eden said, excitedly.
“…h-hello.” the little boy said, shyly. He was wearing an all-black suit and a black dress shirt. Eden got on the swing next to him and started swinging with him.
“Do you go to church here?”
“…no. I go to a different church.”
“Oh. Then what are you doing here?”
The little boy nodded. “I’m here for the funeral.”
Eden looked over and tilted her head to the side. “Oh. I didn’t know there was a funeral here. Did you know them?”
“Just his name and his age. His name is Kevin Willis, he’s five years old.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘was?’” Eden asked.
“What do you mean. Well, you talk about things that have passed as ‘was’. Like, ‘yesterday *was* Saturday.’”
“Just because he’s not alive anymore doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist now.”
“Huh?”
“Well, don’t you know that people still exist as long as their souls do?” The boy asked.
“Ohhh…so until his soul is gone, he’s still here?”
“The little boy smiled and nodded.”
“Well…how do we know he’s still here?”
“…I can show you.” he said, hesitantly.
“Huh?! Ok!” Eden said, excitedly.
The boy held out his hand and Eden took it eagerly, and they walked together to the funeral.
.::.~+~.::.
Shawn and Lillie walked out of the church, and Shawn was fuming.
“Should have put the little brat up for adoption like I wanted to.” Shawn said, angrily.
“Maybe she acts out because of how you treat her!” Lillie yelled.
“Shawn turned on his heel and looked Lillie dead in the eye. “Dad is dead. I’m in charge of you now, Mom. And I’m not afraid to discipline you like he did.”
Lillie immediately stopped talking and looked around, but she couldn’t see Eden anywhere. The girl’s tights and shoes were folded into a neat pile on the bench, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Where did she…?” Lillie said aloud.
“Good riddance. Hopefully she doesn’t come back.” Shawn said out loud.
“Shawn, we *have* to find her. She could be in danger. She’s—”
“If you call that thing my daughter one more time—”
“My granddaughter.” Lillie interrupted. “And I need to find her.” Then Lillie took off to look for her, while Shawn begrudgingly followed her.
.::.~+~.::.
“Hey…you still haven’t told me your name yet.” Eden said, with a smile.
“…it’s Thane. What about you?”
“Eden.”
“Like the garden?”
Hesitantly, Eden nodded. Thane looked at her curiously.
“You don’t like it?”
“Why should I?”
“Why wouldn’t you. You’re named after the garden of eternal paradise, aren’t you? You know, people have searched for that place for a really long time.”
“I shouldn’t be named that though. My Daddy says I did something really bad when I was a baby, and I don’t deserve such a pretty name.”
“If that’s true, then why is it your name?”
“Gramma says it’s what Mommy would have wanted.”
“Would have? So, your mommy is…”
“She died.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok. I didn’t really know her anyway. But she’s in Heaven now. Maybe I’ll see her again one day.”
“Maybe?” Thane asked.
“Daddy says that I’m a very bad girl and that I have to go to church for the rest of my life and always pray for forgiveness for what I did if I ever wanna see Mommy again.”
“D-did he ever tell you what you did?”
Eden shook her head and quickly wiped away unshed tears. “No…so it must have been really bad if he won’t tell me, right?”
Thane stopped walking and stepped in front of her. “Eden.”
“Hn?” Eden was looking at the ground while she walked.
“Look at me.”
Eden looked up at him and tilted her head to the side. “Hn?”
“Your dad is wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing that you could have possibly ever done as a baby would require you to go to church all the time and pray for forgiveness every day.”
“But the bible says—”
“The bible says that every single person is born a sinner. So why doesn’t everyone else have to pray for forgiveness for their sins every day? Why just you, Eden?”
Eden stopped and stared at him; she was speechless.
“Because your dad said so, right?”
Eden nodded.
“So doesn’t it seem more likely that your dad is wrong?”
“But…” was all Eden could get out before they arrived at the funeral.
“We’re here. You see the woman over there in the front? You should go sit next to her.” Thane said.
“Huh? Why?”
“She’s Kevin’s mom…and there’s no one next to her to comfort her.”
“What about you?”
Thane nodded toward a small group of three adults. A broad shouldered man with black hair and blue eyes, crying silently, wearing a black suit, with a woman who had long curly black hair and was also wearing a black dress; she was hugging the man and stroking his hair. They were both sitting next to a woman with long braided blonde hair, wearing all black, and a leather vest, with blue eyes. The seat next to her was empty. “I came with someone.”
“Oh…ok…then…I guess.” Eden walked over to Kevin’s mom with some silent encouragement from Thane.
“E-excuse me…Mrs. Willis…sorry…but…can I sit here?”
“Eden?” Mrs. Willis said, surprised. “What are you doing here, Sweetie? Where’s your father?”
“He’s talking to the Sunday School teacher. I was playing alone on the playground and a little boy told me I should come here and sit with you.”
Mrs. Willis looked at Eden, dumbstruck, but then nodded slowly. “Yes…yes, you can sit next to me, Eden, thank you.”
Eden smiled, nodded, and sat down next to her. Mrs. Willis made a mental note that she wasn’t wearing her tights or her shoes, but then turned her attention back to the funeral service that was about to start.
.::.~+~.::.
After a while of searching, Lille and Shawn came across the funeral behind the church. It was the only place they hadn’t looked yet, so Lillie decided to go in and look for Eden while Shawn begrudgingly followed her. What they both saw left them surprised. Eden was sitting next to Mrs. Willis, hugging her, while Mrs. Willis cried into her shoulder. Shawn narrowed his eyes and stomped over to Eden, and roughly yanked her by the arm off the chair.
“And what do you think you’re doing here?!” Yelled Shawn, angrily.
“Daddy! I’m sorry! I promise, I won’t do it again!” Eden shouted immediately, trying to appease her father.
“You sure as hell won’t—”
Mrs. Willis stood up and looked Shawn straight in his eyes. “I invited her here.”
“And you the hell do you—”
This time the pastor interrupted. “Shawn.”
Immediately Shawn stood up straight and turned around. “Y-yes...Pastor?”
“I think we should let Mrs. Willis explain, don’t you?”
“Y-yes Pastor.”
Mrs. Willis nodded a quite ‘thank you’ to the pastor. “Eden was playing alone on the playground. I waited with her for a few minutes and then I asked where you were. She told me that you were in a meeting with the Sunday School teacher, and she wasn’t sure how long you would be in there for. And since we can all agree that leaving a child to play by herself on a playground…no matter how safe the place is…is not a good idea, then I invited her to stay with me, so I could supervise her until you were finished. I should have reminded her to put her tights and shoes on, but as you can see, Mr. Williams, I’m at my five-year-old son’s funeral. My mind was preoccupied.”
“Of course, Mrs. Willis, we all understand. It was just a simple misunderstanding.” The pastor said. “I’m sorry you were worried, Shawn, somebody should have told you. You can take Eden—”
“No, Pastor, it’s all right.” Mrs. Willis cautiously pulled Eden out of her father’s grip. “If Eden wants to stay for the rest of the ceremony, and the wake, after the service, then I’ll be happy to have her here. Is that what you want, Eden?” Mrs. Willis asked, gently.
Nervously, Eden’s eyes flickered over to the group. The man looked like he was about to jump up and hurt someone, and the woman was holding him back. The blonde woman looked like she was about to do the same, and Thane, smiled softly at her and nodded in encouragement.
“Y-yes…if it’s ok, I want to stay.” Eden said, quietly.
“It’s not—” Shawn started, before Lillie spoke up.
“It is ok, Eden.” Lillie said, handing her, her tights and shoes.
“Lillie, you can stay as well.” Mrs. Willis said, gently.
Shawn shot her a death glare and Lillie shook her end with a sad smile. “No…it’s ok. I’ll go home with Shawn.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Eden could still see the man in the black suit trying to stand up from his seat, and the woman still holding him back, and Eden vaguely wondered why no one else noticed, but then she was brought back to her senses by a gentle tuck from Mrs. Willis.
“If you insist, Lillie…but you can stay.” Mrs. Willis said, again.
“No, it’s fine. I have to make lunch when we get home.” Lillie said, with some strain in her voice.
“Good luck.” Mrs. Willis said to her, and it was as if something unspoken passed between them.
Something that Eden didn’t understand, but that she noticed, regardless. Mrs. Willis pulled her back down to the chair and instructed her to put her tights and shoes back on, while Lillie and Shawn walked back to the car to go home. When they were gone, it seemed as if the tension that everyone was withholding at Shawn’s interruption seemed to dissipate, and the funeral went on with no more interruption.
.::.~+~.::.
When the funeral ended, and people were getting up to pay their final respects to Kevin, Thane sat down next to Eden.
“Don’t talk to me and don’t look at me.”
Eden was confused but nodded.
“I can’t explain why, but you’re the only one here who can see and hear me. I don’t know why. But since you’re the only one who can see and hear me, and my friends, then I need you to do something for me. Squeeze my hand if you understand.”
Eden lightly squeezed his hand.
“Bend your head down and close your eyes like you’re praying.”
Eden did as she was told and after a moment, she felt a soft kiss on her cheek. She blushed slightly.
“Now you can look back up. Do you see him? Do you see Kevin? Squeeze my hand if you can.”
Eden looked back up, and she saw two Kevins. On lying inside the coffin, his eyes closed, and a red rose clasped in his hands, and a spiderman plushie next to him. The other was sitting on a chair next to the coffin, and he looked like he was crying. Eden squeezed his hand again.
“Good. Now wait until everyone is gone, and then walk up to Mrs. Willis. Tell her to talk up to the coffin and tell Kevin that it’s ok for him to leave.”
Eden glanced at him curiously.
“He’s afraid.” Was all that Thane explained. “He thinks he needs to stay to protect her. He won’t leave her side. She needs to reassure him that she’s safe.”
“…is she?” Eden asked, as quietly as possible.
“She is now, and that’s all you need to know.” Thane said.
“Eden?” Mrs. Willis asked her quietly. “What do you see over there?”
“Tell her you saw a rabbit.” Thane told her.
“I-I thought I saw a cute bunny. I wanted to go over there and get a better look…but it disappeared.”
“Do you like bunnies Eden?” Mrs. Willis asked, curiously.
“Yeah, I do.” Eden turned back to Mrs. Willis and smiled softly. “They’re cute and fluffy.”
Mrs. Willis nodded. “I like them too.” She said, with a smile. “…Eden…?” Mrs. Willis asked; her voice sounding shaky. “Were you telling the truth earlier?”
“Huh?” Eden asked.
“You said you saw a little boy at the playground who told you to come here and sit with me. Were you telling the truth?”
Eden nodded.
“…was it Kevin…?”
“Tell her yes.” Thane said. “Don’t worry about it. Lying is ok sometimes if it brings comfort to those left behind.” He added, softly.
Eden swallowed nervously and nodded. “Y-yeah…I think it might have been…” Eden said, softly.
“Is he still here?”
Eden nodded softly again, and Mrs. Willis started crying again. Eden hugged her tightly. They sat like that for a while until everyone was gone except for Eden, Mrs. Willis, and the five people that only Eden could see. When Eden was sure that no one else was around, she looked at Mrs. Willis.
“Mrs. Willis…” Eden said, shyly, quietly.
“Yes, Eden?” Mrs. Willis said with another sniffle.
“You need to say bye.”
“Huh? I already did…”
Eden shook her head. “No…you didn’t. He’s still here. He’s afraid. You need to tell him that everything is ok, and that you’re safe. He’s scared about something, and he wants to protect you from it, so he won’t leave. You need to tell him that you’re ok.”
“…did Kevin tell you that?”
“…Kinda…?”
Mrs. Willis nodded, then stood up and walked back over to the coffin. “Kevin…Baby.”
Suddenly Kevin jumped up from where he was sitting and ran over to his body, staring at his mother. Eden’s mouth dropped. Thane came up next to her and held her hand.
“Go walk up behind that coffin and look at my friends.” Thane said.
Eden nodded and did what he told her to, and Thane walked over and stood next to her. Thane looked at Kevin, while Eden looked at his friends.
“Kevin…I’m ok. Do you understand, Baby? Mommy is ok. Mommy is safe, ok? You already protected me. Daddy can’t hurt me anymore, ok? Mommy is safe. Everything is going to be ok from now on…as long as you be a good boy and go where you need to go now, ok?” Mrs. Willis’s composure broke. “M-Mommy will always love you.”
Hearing Mrs. Willis caused Eden to also lose her composure. She blinked away tears that were threatening to fall and wiped her eyes furiously to stop herself. Just then, Kevin turned around and looked at her.
“It’s ok.” Kevin said to her. “Thank you.”
Thane held out his hand for Kevin. “It’s time to go where you belong now, Kevin.” He said with a smile. Kevin nodded and walked over to the group with Thane. Before he left, he looked back, smiled, and waved at Eden. Eden smiled and waved back, tears still falling.
Mrs. Willis saw the change and looked up quickly, looking back to see what Eden was looking at, but she couldn’t see anything.
“Eden, what is it? What do you see?”
Eden opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Kevin took the blonde woman’s hand, and suddenly angel wings popped out of her back, and Eden’s mouth fell open, and her eyes went wide. Then the woman and Kevin flew up into the air and disappeared. When she looked back down, the man and woman had gone.
“Eden! What did you see?!” Mrs. Willis asked, louder this time.
“…I…I…I think I just saw an angel…” she said, quietly.
Mrs. Willis hugged the little girl tightly and cried. “Was Kevin with her?”
Eden nodded slowly and they both cried harder. They both stood there for a long time, upset, and not ready to leave, and Thane stood off to the side the entire time, watching. When the two of them calmed down, Thane grabbed a program, and scribbled something on it with a marker, then slipped it into Eden’s hand.
“Look at it when you’re alone, Eden.” Thane said, then also disappeared.
When Mrs. Willis was ready to leave, they went to her house. The wake had long since already started, and Mrs. Willis fussed over Eden constantly, making sure she’d had enough to eat, trying to keep Eden happy. She even asked Eden what size clothes she wore. Eden wasn’t sure why, but Mrs. Willis told her not to worry about it. By the time the wake had ended, Mrs. Willis reluctantly took Eden home. Her father wasn’t at home, and her Grandma had locked herself in her room, so Eden went to the kitchen and got herself something small for dinner. She sat down at the dining table because Daddy got really mad if she ate anywhere else in the house, finished her food, washed her plate, and then went to her room to look at the program.
The front of the program was a picture of Kevin, smiling, and underneath it was written, “She wasn’t an angel.”