The morning sun bathed Durban in a golden glow, painting streets and rooftops with warmth. The sky stretched wide above—clear, endless, the perfect shade of blue.
Just outside his apartment, Loyed stepped into the day, pausing to inhale the gentle summer breeze. It wrapped around him like a soft embrace, almost as if the world itself were offering comfort.
Eyes closed, a quiet smile tugged at his lips.
"Amazing… another beautiful day," he whispered to no one.
Seventeen, Golden-brown eyes with falling dreadlocks on his head, and quiet-minded, Loyed Stoner stood at the edge of the cracked pavement, backpack slung over one shoulder. Tomorrow marked the beginning of his first year at the University of Folkstone. Yet instead of excitement, a heavy weight clung to him—not nerves about classes or new faces, but something much larger.
The bus was late, as usual. The city hummed around him: car horns in the distance, a street vendor shouting about fresh fruit, laughter spilling from a nearby phone call. Yet Loyed's mind drifted far from the noise.
He looked up at the calm sky and muttered,
"This world is so full of beauty… and we destroy it for greed."
When the bus finally groaned around the corner, he climbed aboard and settled into a window seat. Buildings blurred past, but his thoughts sank deeper.
Even if one could change the world, power twists you. Greed consumes. The strong crush the weak.
His reflection in the dusty window stared back—young, uncertain, searching.
Someone like me… forever powerless. Meaningless to even think about it.
Outside, the city carried on, oblivious. Inside, a boy sat quietly, burdened with thoughts far too heavy for his age.
The bus hissed to a stop. Stepping onto the pavement, Loyed faced his new life. The university loomed ahead, towers and gates glowing under the afternoon sun.
He paused, taking it all in, a faint, nervous smile forming.
"Well… it's whatever, I guess."
Inside, life exploded around him. Students hurried past, voices collided, laughter rang, the air thrummed with energy. Loyed's chest tightened for a heartbeat, then he steadied himself.
Think. Approach someone alone—they'll understand. Less pushback. Common sense…
His gaze swept the courtyard, and then he found her.
She sat beneath a tree, a book in hand, untouched by the chaos around her. Light skin glowing in sunlight, hair cascading sky-blue, eyes brilliant and endless. Time seemed to stop.
"A perfect being…" he whispered.
Summoning courage, he stepped forward.
"Uh… hey."
"Hi," she said, calm and warm. "How's it going?"
His composure faltered, cheeks tightening. He clenched his fists, steadying his voice.
"I'm good… thank you. You?"
Her hand met his, warm and gentle.
"I'm wonderful. Thanks for asking."
Her presence pulled him in, oddly familiar, like gravity.
"I hope I'm not… bothering you?"
"No, not at all," she said sincerely.
"I'm glad you came over."
Her honesty surprised him.
"Surely you're joking. Someone as… attractive as you must get approached constantly."
A soft laugh, hand covering her mouth.
"A couple times today… but that doesn't mean I owe them attention."
"So… why me?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
She tilted her head, teasing.
"Hmmm… I dunno. It just felt right."
A playful smile tugged at his lips.
"You're… eccentric, aren't you?"
Her eyes glimmered with mischief.
"I have a feeling we're alike in that regard."
Their laughter spilled into the air, light and unrestrained. Names were exchanged—Loyed Stoner. Bella Goldberg. Conversation flowed easily, and by the time they walked across campus, their steps fell in sync.
"You were reading The Anatomy of Evil. Studying criminal psychology?"
"Yes!" she said brightly, then softened.
"I want to understand the mind of a criminal, how far cruelty can go, its roots. Maybe… if we know, humanity can purge evil at the source."
Loyed exhaled, impressed not only by her ambition but by the raw honesty. A girl like that—it was rare.
He admitted quietly,
"I study law. Not out of love, or grand ambition… just obligation. But I'll make a decent living, and that's enough—for now."
Her smile softened.
"Maybe you haven't found your purpose yet. But who knows… maybe you're meant to help me reach mine. Lawyers and criminals—plenty of connections, right?"
For the first time in years, Loyed felt truly needed. Warmth spread through him, a real smile breaking free.
"Well… I'm looking forward to it."
Later, as the sun set, Bella led him to an abandoned building. Ordinary from the street, but its rooftop offered a breathtaking view of the city. The skyline burned in gold and violet, streets shimmering like threads of light.
They stood side by side, shoulders brushing, fingers hesitating before intertwining. The world seemed to pause.
The sun sank, the moon rose, and Loyed whispered,
"Bella… I've fallen in love with you."
Her lips curved near his ear.
"I have a confession too… I am Beauty the Ripper."
Pain exploded in his abdomen. The knife came too fast, too sharp. Blood blossomed across the rooftop, and the world blurred.
"B… Bella… why?" he rasped.
Her grin was chilling.
"I told you to be careful. Watching someone fight, claw for life—that's beautiful. Nothing excites me more than hope dying… your struggle, your agony…"
Loyed trembled, strength slipping. The first time he had allowed himself to love, it had been a lie dressed in warmth.
"…Guess I was right all along," he whispered.
"Falling in love really was… a bad omen."
Above him, Bella stood bathed in moonlight, part sadist, part shadow of what might have been. Below, the city carried on, oblivious to the tragedy on the rooftop.
Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness.
So this is it, he thought.
Death.