The snake that tempted Eve to bite into the fruit of knowledge was another one of God''s creations. To be more precise—it was another angel that had fallen from grace—


    The man switches off his phone. Wondering what he was doing, reading the truth he had refused to acknowledge all these years.


    His phone brightens, alerting him of a notification. It was his current favorite novel—[Fight To Crown]. There were around twenty-five chapters that were released. He licked his lips.


    He went to the refrigerator. On opening it, there was a pomegranate. And some rice.


    He sighed.


    He took the fruit. Cut it open, and along with that slashed his finger.


    "Damn it—where''s the bandaid?"


    When he couldn''t find it he decided to open the pomegranate, regardless.


    But as he was opening, he bled into the fruit and he could not tell which was the juice and which was his blood.


    He washed the fruit and kept it inside his fridge. The wound did not stop bleeding.


    He watches the blood slowly squeezed itself out of his body.


    He decided to go buy a bandaid, and something to eat. He took his phone, locked the door. Walked to a convenience store that was just a ten minute walk away.


    He reached the pedestrian cross. A few steps away from his snacks. His bandaid. But the wound had long stopped. He would know.


    If only he had looked away from the story. His phone had words he kept on reading. His eyes were bright under the blue light.


    He crossed the road, gripping his phone tightly. And the motorcycle crossed it at the same time. Hitting him right on his stomach.


    He flew away, slamming into the ground. And before he could wake up. A car crushed his head.


    People started murmuring. Some started recording. Some ran over to him. But his story was already covered in blood and pieces of flesh.


    He was just a man.


    A man that had seen every fall and rise of mankind.


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    He only saw darkness. But he could feel the warmth and softness surrounding him.


    And so the man woke up on soft clouds. Far warmer and softer than his bed. Surrounded by large trees bearing the fruit of pomegranate.


    He sighed.


    He recognized this place.


    It was where he lost all his favor after all?


    "Shouldn''t you have sent me to hell?" He yelled. His voice was clear like the untouched waters. "If there is something like that."


    "I gave you a chance, and you have ruined it."


    "I lived for millennia on the human land—I truly doubt Ihave more to ruin." He scoffed, "And for someone preaching forgiveness, you sure never forgave me?"


    "Forgive you?" The voice thundered, "You who killed and deceived and lied to humans?"


    "Wow you sure love your sinners." The man laughed, "Except me and that Lucifer guy I guess."


    "And I was a good person for some centuries or so." The man mumbled.


    Then the silence rustled the branches and caressed the man''s wound. It healed.


    "Big deal." He stared at his healed finger


    "I understand your resentment—"


    "No you don''t. I only tested the first humans. To prove their faith in you." The man murmured without an ounce of apology.


    "Did I ask you to?" With those words, the world was rendered silent.


    The man stood up. Shaking off the dust. Then the man looked for his phone. Taking it he started walking.


    The wind screamed and the trees shivered. Leaves and fruits fell off. Blocking his way, at all sides.


    "I will forgive you one last time—"


    "You are going to let me read my life away here?" The man perked up!


    "Absolutely not." At this the man sat down on the ground and sighed.


    "I will let you do that—only once you have proven yourself to me." The man looked into the sky.


    "How?" The man asked.


    "I will let you return to me only once you prove that you are capable." God stated.


    "Again, How?" The man''s voice was confused, but he gripped his phone.


    "Live and I will let you know." God declared, and the man scowled.


    "What–"


    And suddenly the man fell through the clouds.


    He should have expected that—-were his thoughts.


    God was godly and merciful only in the books of those who believed him. But for people like him. For the fallen—there was no mercy.


    But it was said that man was created in God''s image. Then shouldn''t God have man''s habits too? Like a father trying to lean in closer to his son?


    So like humans wouldn''t God have his own favorite?


    For example an angel that had fallen?


    But he was definitely not a favorite


    He fell and fell and fell and then he felt stiff. As though the mountains weighed upon him. His body felt weak and tired. The emphasis of his blood''s lack of flow told him he was not well.


    As if the other things did not already.


    He opened his eyes. The sun pierced his eyes. He closed his eyes again.


    "Big brother?" A soft voice mumbled.


    He opened his eyes once again. A pink haired boy, aged around twelve. Stood beside his bed, with tears in his eyes.


    "Big brother Etienne—I beg you to keep your eyes open!"He wiped his tears away, they continued to flow despite that.


    "Tell me, what''s your name?" This question from the barely moving man startled the boy.


    "Pardon? It is Louis-Phil—"


    "Not your full name." The man muttered


    "As you wish…big brother." The boy stared at the man, confused.


    "Bring something to drink. Please?" The man begged, he found himself feeling extremely perplexed.


    "A drink? Why yes," Louis walked away in a sudden manner. Almost tripping over air.


    The man—newly named Etienne—sighed.


    "Is this your forgiveness? Or revenge?" He threw a pillow. It did not reach very far.


    Something fell on his head. It was a kernel of the pomegranate fruit.


    The man sighed.


    God would have been a successful comedian—as soon as he thought that, a pomegranate fell on his head.


    He rubbed his head. His head was throbbing due to the headache from who knows what and now this. He truly was an unfortunate soul.


    He leaned back into the bed. He sighed.


    He did not understand what God wished of him.


    Did God wish that he became an angel again?


    Or…did God wish for him to be redeemed enough to go to heaven?


    Another piece fell on his arm.


    He ate it. It was sour.


    Why would God even wish for his redemption?


    What does he gain from it?


    The man understood none of his God''s whims.


    Was he actually God''s favorite?


    He sighed and checked his sunlit room. Drapes of dark shades. Golden lining. He was currently very rich. He knew that.


    And Louis was a familiar name.


    Wait.


    What was his name? He wondered and his eyes widened.


    Etienne?


    Louis?


    No wonder those names were familiar.


    They were characters, of a story he was reading just a death ago.


    He was inside the novel—[Fight to Crown]


    Damned hell of a favorite he was.