Lukacs cut across the lawn in front of his impressive, palace-like villa, making sure to avoid the pond in the front garden surrounded by gargoyles. He had originally built the gargoyles to prank his guests, as these grotesque yet ornately designed marble creatures were equipped with motion sensors. If anyone got too close, a sizable jet of water would shoot out of their mouths, like a wild fountain. Zoé knew this very well and loved playing with them—sometimes she would trigger the gargoyles and run away, while other times she’d let herself be hit, so the ice-cold water could drench her.
In those moments, Lukacs saw her for what she appeared to be on the outside—a child. He found this frightening, which is why he now gave her a sharp look as she theatrically spun around behind him with a mischievous grin, carefully avoiding the activation zone of the gargoyles.
Lukacs reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a square gadget, about two fingers thick. He pressed a blinking button on it, causing the obsidian wall sealing off his two-story garage to rise. He hurried across the cobblestone driveway, casting one last glance at the granite steps leading to the front door and at the villa itself. The door was slightly ajar; Zoé hadn’t closed it behind her. Not that it mattered—Lukacs never locked it anyway. Everything he needed was always resting in the inner pocket of his coat. He instinctively patted the leather wallet pressing against his chest as he rushed into the garage.
The motion-activated lights flickered on as soon as he entered. Even after all these years, Lukacs still marveled at the sheer number of vehicles he owned, despite having bought every single one himself. Cars and motorcycles from various corners of the world lined the garage, representing countless makes, models, and years. Lukacs walked purposefully among them, heading toward a sleek, black, turn-of-the-century Impralla. He loved having such a vast space reserved exclusively for his cars, right next to his house—a space as large as an entire multi-level underground parking garage. He loved the thought that his power exceeded that of any fairytale prince.
From another pocket, he retrieved a car key. Upon reaching the shiny black Impralla, he pressed a button with a casual motion, and the car’s lights flashed eagerly in response, signaling it was ready for the ride. Lukacs stood beside the car, pulled the door open, and noticed he had forgotten to put on a watch. Annoyed, he turned around and slammed the door shut with full force.
“I can’t believe this!”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmEwBglQsS
Zoé looked up, surprised.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2NyyUUBrh
“What did you forget?”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtC3gjpDEb
“My watch.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CghBTMGHu
The girl shrugged, walked around the car, and climbed into the front passenger seat.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMbJMdJQMh
“You’re not officially supposed to sit there, you brat,” Lukacs muttered.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7slLYyYUY
“Want me to go back for your watch?”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3PJFeXbGf
“No need.” The man opened the door, slumped into the seat, pulled a cigar from his breast pocket, and placed it in his mouth. As he started the engine, he lit the cigar with one hand. When they reached the gate, he pressed a button on the remote, opening the way out. Once they exited, he closed both the garage and the gate behind them. He then pulled out his latest-model MyPhone and, with a bored expression, created a playlist, selecting far more songs than necessary for such a short drive.
As usual, the shopping mall’s parking lot was crowded with people, both young and old, many of whom instinctively turned their heads upon his arrival. Lukacs honked at a car backing out in front of him, causing it to stop abruptly. The driver, irritated, leaned out of the window and shouted something. Lukacs placed the cigar in his mouth, lowered his hand, and tapped his palm twice. Before his eyes, lines appeared, resembling battery-level indicators.
He raised his hand slightly, then lowered it again, tapping his palm twice more to make the lines disappear.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvz1txvfYX
“Not worth it?” asked the girl sitting beside him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRHj3cliUh
“Not worth it,” Lukacs replied.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC4G7DDV9S
The driver pulled out, giving them the finger as he passed. Lukacs muttered under his breath, “How about thanking me for your life, you bastard,” before parking the car.
Lukacs slammed the car door shut with an irritated gesture, then dropped his cigar to the ground and stomped on it.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyhOtWrjwc
“Still mad?” Zoé asked as she caught up to him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEKdzO0DAn
Lukacs locked the car with a careless motion and headed toward the shopping carts.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45YmGAtfYy
“Possibly,” he grumbled.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV0YxqCX3g
“You hate losing.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpqMg0tg4q
“Pretty much.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iONo4O4I0
Zoé chose not to press the issue, knowing she had nothing to fear from Lukacs.
Inside the mall, pushing a cart overloaded with items, Lukacs spotted a young couple. Zoé stopped beside him, clutching a plush warrior toy, reciting a list of all the things she still needed—so many trinkets that even three shopping carts wouldn’t have been enough.
When she noticed what Lukacs was looking at, she immediately understood what was on his mind. She grinned wickedly, fell silent, and lowered the plush toy to her side, preparing for what promised to be a highly satisfying scene.
Lukacs sensed the girl’s anticipation and repeated the same hand motion he had done in the car, all while keeping his eyes on the couple. The boy couldn’t have been older than seventeen, and his girlfriend appeared even younger. Both of them looked unbearably perfect, almost flawless, angelic. It was as if their love was on display for everyone to see, radiating a light they believed illuminated the entire universe, a universe consisting solely of the two of them.
The boy’s face was childlike, his hair softer than the sweetest word or the most beautiful lie. The girl’s body seemed sculpted, flawless, her midriff-baring top revealing a waist encircled by a delicate belt. The boy wrapped his arm around her and kissed her as she laughed so joyfully that she nearly dropped the cheap pair of sunglasses she had picked up—something she could only have grabbed in the spirit of carefree happiness and exuberance.
Lukacs closed his eyes briefly before focusing on the boy again. A blood-red teardrop-shaped mark appeared above the boy’s head—something only Lukacs could see. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
This was his favorite part—and Zoé’s too. The moment when the victim’s face contorted, the instant they felt the pain. Almost without fail, it was followed by a cry ready to burst forth, then the convulsion that seized the body. The boy clutched his chest, veins bulging on his hands as every muscle in his body tensed. Lukacs loved this part as well—watching them realize what was happening. He relished the moment when their entire life flashed before their eyes. He loved seeing and feeling their realization, the dawning comprehension that they had no chance.
The boy collapsed, and the girl caught him, screaming. Zoé burst into laughter but quickly stifled it, hiding her smile behind her hand. She glanced at Lukacs and saw that he was smiling too.
For a few more moments, they watched the distraught girl calling out to her fallen lover, witnessing the despair and horror that now consumed her being, forever altering her. No longer did she seem flawless—she now looked like nothing more than a cheap roadside whore.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FyFKOtDHa
