Prompt: Rotting

I like this one a lot but I rushed it.

Three days without food or water now on this expedition. The two men walked side by side, not saying a word. It wasn’t worth it, every word turned into a snide remark which only led to an argument which neither one of them had time or energy for. They had to try and find their way back. They’d heard a rumor that somewhere in the Sahara desert the Garden of Eden hid. It was told that inside lay the tree of life, and if one were to eat an apple from that tree, they would gain all the knowledge of the world. Some people had speculated that the tree of knowledge was in actuality the fountain of youth, but these two knew better than to think that. It was knowledge that was gained, not agelessness. They’d be able to gain immortality through their knowledge of the universe. Finally all the arguments of theology and science would be settled with a bite of one apple.

“It doesn’t exist. We should try to find some help.” Thomas spoke up after a moment. His voice was raw. He missed water desperately. He knew they’d die in less than forty eight hours if they didn’t have any. It felt as though his throat were swelling and suffocating him all at once.

Paul didn’t respond, he just kept walking, adjusting the backpack on his shoulders which he only kept to distract him from the hunger pains that were becoming crippling. Paul didn’t want to fight with Thomas again over the same damn thing but he knew it was going to happen.

“Oh yeah? What should we do? Have you seen a single other person out here in this godforsaken desert besides us?” He mumbled. “Just keep walking.”

“I didn’t even want to come out this far you know. We should’ve turned back the first day we ran out of food.”

“We were close.”

“Oh clearly. God you’re so stupid! If we get out of this alive, I’m never listening to another stupid idea of yours again.” Thomas rolled his eyes but then stopped and stared beyond Paul who was still arguing with him.

“Me? My idea? Sure, who helped pay for the supplies and the plane tickets? Who got me a map of the Sahara and left it on my desk as a present? You good sir. My wife is going to kill you when we get back home, so choose wisely.” Thomas didn’t respond, he was still staring into the desert. “Hey, don’t you ignore me!”

“Shut up.” Thomas whispered, looking past his friend and shoving him out of the way. He started at a walk toward something in the distance than ran faster and faster as time continued on. He dropped to his knees, seeing the apple lying on the ground. One, singular, perfectly red apple. “Dear God…”

“What? What did you find?” Paul walked with a limp to catch up to his friend. Thomas turned to Paul, tears dripping down his cheeks, holding the apple cupped in his hands. Paul gaped at the beautiful, shining apple in his hands. He’d never seen a more perfect piece of fruit. Was this the fruit of the tree of knowledge? Was this what they had come all this way for? Where was the tree? Did someone grant them mercy with the fruit they had so long searched for?

“We found it… We found it Paul! Look at this! Even if it isn’t the fruit from the tree of knowledge, surely it’ll be enough sustenance for us to last a few more days so we can find help! Our bodies don’t need much! Oh Paul we’re saved, I’m sorry I ever said anything bad about you!” Thomas looked back down at the apple and went to take a bite of it, a small one so he could share with his friend.

He stopped, eyes wide as he got close to the apple. Blood dripped down over the back of his neck, down and over his shoulders. The sickening thud of the empty canteen was all that could be heard as it hit his head over and over. He fell to the side, eyes hollow and empty. Dead.

“It’s mine! It’s mine!” Paul shouted at the top of his lungs. He threw the canteen to the side and ran over to the apple. He pulled it close to his chest and held it there in his arms, hugging it like it were a lover. “I’ve searched so long, you’re everything I need!” He stopped and looked at the apple. One bite and he’d have everything he could ever desire. Money, power, women, luxury- everything. He brought the sweet apple to his lips, inhaling the scent of the natural sugars it would provide his body. Amazing how one little apple could give him so much.

Crunch. He bit into the red flesh of the apple. He coughed and spit and gagged on the inside of the apple. He looked down at it. This apple tasted awful. Upon closer inspection it was brown, filled with maggots.

Rotting. Like the corpse of the man he’d killed to get it.