trilobyte

Saturday December 4th... 11pm-5am

From the overlook, he gazed out onto the city below. This place should not even exist, he thought. It is only through the marvels and perversions of man that such a wasteland could ever sustain life. Yet it does more than that - it thrives and it grows.

He's fascinated by the decadence of it all, and doesn't notice her approach. After a moment observing him, she finally spoke. "Are you an angel or a devil?"

He turned and stared quizzically as he tried to take her in. "Excuse me?" It took no time for him to tell she was exceptional. More than simply beautiful, there was something about her that was...more. Much more than he expected.

"Which are you?" she asked again. "An angel, or a devil?"

He smiled broadly. "I'm both."

"Both? But how can that be?

"I am both - for I am a true devil."

"A true devil?" she repeated. His words made no sense to her, and she was doubting whether she was hearing him correctly.

"Yes. Unlike those you've known who act in a devilish manner and profess to be devils, I am a true devil." He stared at her intently as his smile faded. "I've walked as an angel, and I've fallen. I've known the ultimate joys of goodness, but now I walk a different path."

She sensed both the power and the sadness in his voice. There was something about this man, she thought. "That sounds... sad."

"It is... bittersweet. I can appreciate the good in things not better than I ever could merely as an angel. But then I am driven to destroy it."

"Why?"

"Because," he said, stepping closer. "That's what I do."

She was intrigued and unafraid. As he approached, she held her ground. "You don't have to."

He smiled again. This one could very well be perfect, he thought. His desire for her was consuming him. "Oh, but yes I do. I want to. I need to. I've seen what lies beyond."

"Beyond what?"

"Beyond good. If you like, I can show you."

She suddenly felt fear, as if for the first time. "Is this some kind of trick? Are you going to try and corrupt me?"

"I promise you - I won't try," he reassured her. There was no need to try, he thought. She's already mine.

His words were reassuring, but she didn't feel completely relieved. This handsome stranger was certainly intriguing, but there was an element of danger in the conversation. "Can't you just tell me?"

He bowed his head slightly. "If that's what you'd like."

Something inside her told her she was on a path of darkness. But she was drawn to it, she was drawn to him. She should turn - turn and run away from this man as quickly as she could. Though she stood still, her heart was beating faster. "Yes," she whispered at first. "Yes, please tell me. What lies beyond good?"

He would tell her, and she would be his. With a single word, this angel would be corrupted. She'd deny it at first, and tell him that it was preposterous. But she is wiser than she is beautiful, and soon in her heart she'd know it to be true. And he would have kept his word - it would be her own heart and mind that corrupted her, just as he had fallen so long ago. "Are you sure you want to know?"

She knew this was her last chance, but she could not turn away. She knew that this man was a true devil, she knew it in her heart. She turned away from his eyes for a moment, and looked down at the city below. Looking back up at him, she knew why he was here. He was here for her. He was here to bring her the apocalypse. He'd been waiting for her this whole time. "Tell me."

odi omnes