Belle

A whole lot of years passed after the Guardians started rebuilding the human world. After humans temporarily suppressed the evolved beast, we can say humans went back to their glory days where they were the superior animals. With continuous tests, they discovered how to improve their powers and built academies to help raise future generations. Things were even better than before after they newly discovered their abilities. However, another calamity struck with the appearance of spatial rifts.

Ten years ago, what is currently named the spatial rift appeared in most parts of the newly rebuilt human world, claiming thousands of lives. Just like an apocalypse, it came suddenly. Every part of the world where the spatial rift appeared became a danger zone. Most counties that it appeared in were totally wiped out. Humans once again were hanging on tethers, but the little preparation they made after the apocalypse kept their sinking boat barely on the murky water surface.

Present Day

A loud argument was going on between two couples. "Ethan, you either kill that beast or you lose me," a woman of about twenty-eight to thirty years with red hair, eyes tinted with red, and a curvaceous shape said as she stomped her feet furiously.

"Lucy, he is just a boy," Ethan said, trying to give reasons. He was of the same age bracket as the woman, with light blue wavy hair, deep blue eyes, and an average appearance.

"A boy that survived a spatial rift that wiped out his whole county, Ethan! Do you even see that place? Not a single corpse was intact, both the rift monsters and the humans were all the same... Pools of blood with their body parts scattered in tiny bits," Lucy said as she raised her hands to caress Ethan's face. "You know I love you. I am only thinking about our future," she added.

"He is just ten. He looks lonely, he has no family," Ethan said, a bit sad, remembering he himself had no family while growing up.

"I know, but he is a beast, Ethan. Beasts don't have families. He just has a human appearance. You should deal with him now that he is still small and save humans from the scourge," Lucy said as she brought Ethan's head closer, kissing him on the lips.

"I understand," Ethan said, seemingly having made up his mind to listen to her.

"Give him a painless death. He is really pitiful, just that he is a beast," Lucy said gently, pushing Ethan away from herself.

"Okay," Ethan answered as he left the room, heading upstairs. *Click!* Ethan gently opened the door of the room at the extreme end upstairs. "Hey Belle," Ethan said as he went forward to sit at the bedside of a boy. The boy was ten, with silver hair and eyes that seemed deep. He was more beautiful than most fairies but very frail.

Hearing Ethan's voice, Belle, who was sitting on the bed, took a book from his bedside, scribbling something on it, then turning to show it to Ethan. "You have come to kill me, right?" Ethan looked at the book before looking up to see the face of the small boy, who had a bright smile looking at him.

"Who said that? Nobody is killing anybody," Ethan said as a tear slid down his eye. Seeing this, Belle took his book back, scribbling on it again for some time before showing it to Ethan.

"You know, I can hear things from a hundred miles if I wish to listen. Don't worry, go ahead and do it. I won't hate you. I don't have a family, I don't have anything to live for. Mom is dead, dad is dead, little sis is dead. I'm a beast. I understand sister Lucy's fears. You both are great. I love you both," Ethan read as more tears slid down his eyes.

"I am sorry, Belle," Ethan said as he slowly raised his hand towards Belle's head. Seeing his hand approaching, the little boy Belle only had a smile on his face as he closed his eyes. *Crackle!* *Crackle!* Something like purple lightning appeared on Ethan's hand as it touched Belle's forehead.

"Hmmmm!" The little boy breathed in hard but did not bother to struggle. He seemed to have willingly accepted death. Seeing this, Ethan cried even more. He couldn't think of anything bad the boy had done to deserve all this, to deserve being turned against. He made up his mind to stop, but just as he was about to raise his hand, he noticed the boy had given up the ghost. "Noooo!!" Ethan screamed as lightning cackled out of his body, destroying everything that contained electricity within a hundred-meter radius. "Belle, my little Belle," Ethan said as he cried. By this time, he was already snorting  while sobbing. He remembered how he had picked up Belle a few months ago, how the boy always tried hard to have that bright smile on his face, even after his family's disaster.

"It is something you have to do, Ethan. You are one of the protectors. It is for the greater good," Lucy said, noticing the pain that Ethan was feeling. She put her arm around his neck to comfort him.

"Was it worth it, being a protector, if I can't even protect the most sincere smile? Belle is gone now. Hope you are happy," Ethan said before carrying Belle lifeless body out of the building, Belle is gone, he can't resurrect him even though he regrets killing him.