Looks Can Kill

Prologue: Guilty of Murder

The night was perfectly romantic, with a touch of pink on the incoming clouds and the low sun casting a warm yellow glow over the city. The view from the window was alluring, but it's beauty could not compare with the sight of the ring before her. After so much, she had not expected this. Love, so obvious, and now it was asking her hand in marriage. Of course she would say yes.

She would find a way to step beyond her past and love this man despite the dark mask of sunglasses that would constantly cover her face. She would conquer her demons, maybe even tell John about them.

Of course she said yes.

That night, she was excited as she showed him to the door. She couldn't stop smiling as he stared into her face before leaving. She stared into his eyes, a little saddened that she would never be able to show him her own eyes. The eyes are considered the windows to the soul. But really, they were the doors. They allowed her to stare into the darkness of the soul. And her eyes were mirrors that reflected that darkness and destroyed the will to live.

But if she kept something- anything- between her eyes and everyone else, they would be safe. So she never took her sunglasses off around watchful eyes.

She would never be able to show John her eyes, but that would be okay. Their love would overcome that.

Her smile was natural as John paused at the door and faced her.

"Reusa. You are so beautiful." He leaned closer, making Reusa's blood pump faster. His hand reached up to her face, stroked her cheek. "I just want, this once..."

His fingers closed around the rim of the sunglasses and fear jolted around Reusa's spine.

"I want to see your eyes." John whispered and gave her a sudden kiss. Reusa gasped, her fingers closing around his wrist. No!

But she was too slow and John didn't see her fear. He pulled back just a little and the sunglasses came off. Reusa saw the depth of evil in his heart. A despairing, hopeless whimper escaped her lips. John gave a strangled gasp, his face morphing into a pained expression. His lips parted, his wide, horrified eyes dulled. He slumped to the floor, no life left in his heart.