For now, she wanted to have fun, not worry about this or that.
Who cared about the details, yeah?
She’d much rather enjoy her walk with him.
The one who always had a snarky comeback…
The one who made the world seem a little less cruel.
But it wasn’t real.
He could never truly go back to being ‘that’ Malik again.
This was just an act, a prize-worthy one for sure, but an act nevertheless.
Perhaps Jasmine had long since figured this out and chose to ignore it.
Chose to live in happy ignorance.
Malik didn’t know.
All he knew was what he could read off her face.
And that… it told him that he was doing quite well.
“Just answer t-the question.”
This did as well.
“Hahhhh…”
Malik let out a sigh, then reluctantly nodded his head.
“Yes, of course~… Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
“…Hmph! Of course they would!”
Though she knew his words were only said to appease her, they still made her happy.
Extremely happy at that. To the point that she didn’t realize his dodging of the question.
And so, they kept walking.
Their banter grew softer as the trees around them grew denser, taller.
The forest was alive with the sound of chirping critters and rustling leaves.
But to Malik, it all felt muted—like the world was holding its breath.
…Jasmine’s steps had started to slow.
Her breaths came a little heavier, a little shakier.
He noticed but didn’t say anything.
Didn’t have to.
When they finally stopped again, it was at a small clearing, bathed in the cool blue light of dusk.
Jasmine sank down onto the grass, leaning back on her hands.
Malik plopped down beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
“Nice night.”
“Yeah.”
Silence fell between them, heavy but not uncomfortable.
Jasmine was the first to break it:
“Thank you.”
Malik turned to look at her, confused.
“For what?”
“For this. For… making me feel normal, even if it’s just for a little while.”
His throat tightened, but he forced a smile.
“Well, you know me. Always going above and beyond.”
She smiled back, but it didn’t reach her dark gemstones for eyes.
“…It’s enough.”
And then she said it, the words that brought an end to their play.
“You should kill me before I lose control.”
Malik froze.
“I…”
His mind screamed at him to do something.
To say something, but all he could do was sit there, staring at her.
Like always, she wasn’t scared.
She wasn’t tired either, nor relieved.
No, she showed a whole new emotion.
One he hadn’t seen throughout all his attempts.
Content.
This time she was… content.
Without a word, Malik shifted, kneeling in front of her.
He pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly.
“M-Malik…”
Jasmine hugged him back, her fingers gripping his shirt as if she never wanted to let go.
“I l-love you… I—”
“I’ll remember you.”
His words cut through hers.
Firm, final, and heart-shatteringly quiet.
It happened too fast.
Faster than he wanted.
Faster than he could process.
One moment, they were holding each other.
Her warmth against him, her broken voice confessing love he didn’t deserve.
And the next, calloused hands found their way to the confessor’s neck.
They pressed hard, cutting off the blood flow to her brain.
Her body almost instantly went limp in the confessed one’s arms.
“I’m sorry.”
With utmost care, he laid her on the grass.
“Please…”
She couldn’t hear him, not anymore, but he continued to whisper.
“Forgive me.”
Then, his dagger did its job, quick and clean.
“Because I sure won’t.”
A trickle of blood stained the earth.
Jasmine’s chest rose and fell one last time before going still.
“…”
Malik stared at her for a while, unblinking.
Despite the veins marring her skin…
She looked so incredibly beautiful.
A dark flower, blooming defiantly in its final moments, fragile yet hauntingly radiant.
Her black hair was spread across the grass like a tree’s roots.
It was a sight that would’ve brought many to tears.
Yet he was silent, unshaken.
Gently, he closed her eyes, his fingers wavering as they lingered over her face.
His gaze fell to her lips, still curved into the faintest hint of a smile.
It was cruel.
That smile was cruel.
Because it felt like she was telling him it was okay.
That it was all okay.
It wasn’t.
She was gone.
And the world felt quieter than it ever had.
Malik pulled his hand away like her skin had burned him and stood up.
He walked a few steps and looked around, searching for a good spot for a grave.
Like his first time doing this, when burying him… his little brother.
The very one watching him right now.
This dirt seemed stubborn, packed tight from years of rain and erosion.
But Malik had grown stronger since then, much stronger.
A signal stomp softened the hardened surface and a kick dug out much of it.
He kicked repeatedly for a few seconds until more than six feet of dirt was out.
Then, he dropped down, fixed it up a little, removing the excess dirt.
Done with that, he returned to Jasmine, about to lift her body.
Unfortunately, though, his arms wouldn’t cooperate.
Malik just couldn’t find the strength to do so.
She felt impossibly heavy as if the weight of her loss had manifested physically.
“Hahaha…”
Malik let out a bitter laugh, collapsing beside her.
“You’re pretty heavy, you know.”
“You should think of losing weight sometime.”
“Maybe add that to your little bucket list…”
“You know, the things you’d do after getting out of here.”
“Besides being a ‘housewife or something.'”
“Heh… Ahahahah! Still can’t believe you’ve said that, ahahaha…”
The laughter quickly turned into something else.
“Ah… Jasmine…”
He turned toward her, his arms wrapping around her lifeless body, pulling her close.
“Jasmine… talk to me…”
Tears dripped onto her bloodstained shirt, soaking through the fabric.
“I’m Malik, you know… I’m Malik… I’m Malik…”
Malik repeated the words like a broken prayer.
His voice grew quieter with each utterance until only the faintest whisper remained.
Then, he looked up, his golden eyes empty. Dead.
“…Why?”
He asked the heavens, though he didn’t expect an answer. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire
“…Actually, don’t bother… just don’t.”
But then, just before he could look away, he saw it.
A massive crimson owl came into view, its pink glowing eyes boring into his soul.