Love Is War

“To become number one, you must have no weaknesses.”

Each day she reminds herself of this one fundamental ingrained into her at a young age. Morning or night, eating or talking, everytime she studies for her next class; she always reminds herself that being number one was the most important thing. Until she met him. Her emotions of love flew around, which lifted her off her feet, the chains of blood and iron dissolved when he smiled. He was her salvation. Even if it’s just until the end of the day, until the clock strikes 12.

Each lunch was full of memorable moments like the summer breeze that swallowed the grounds like a warm embrace. The graceful birds that fluttered outside perched on the lively, old birch tree that waved hello to them from the oval; and each morning it would gently be blown about in the summer breeze. The swing set across the road playing in the wind, back and forth, back and forth it swayed. The other students tramped through the school, all going different directions. The view was so beautiful from this particular bench in the grounds everyday, everything just went silent and all she heard was the wind whistling through the old birch tree and the birds tweeting then the swing set squeaking, Once again life had felt so perfect for them. 

He began to climb the ranking from 100th to 1st. As more time passed, the stronger his love was for her. The determination to show all his love and wanting to make her proud had grown each passing day; but all he had done was slowly boil the hatred within her. The more he tried to make her proud the more the bubbles boiled over.

She had slipped from first to second then second to third like her grades were getting pushed down a flight of stairs; her heart had sunk yet his face smiled gleefully. All the hours she had spent studying and her father who had forked out money to take her to this prestigious school she roams, was all for nothing? It swelled within her, pure anger as she stared at this “thief” that stole her place. All she needed was to remove the problem so she had devised that would’ve put her back up to number 1.

“I need to talk to you just after school in the Cooking Room.”

He smiled and agreed, wondering if she had noticed all of his efforts these past few months. The late night studying just to be up there on the board close to her, the note-taking and all the extra credit he had to take because he loved her. He even surprised himself by becoming the top of the class for that semester. 

‘Tick tock, tick tock.’

Each thought about the other. One full of passion and joy, the other full of jealousy and rage. The time ticked on as they waited for the end. The bell rang and they each headed to their fated end. 

He turned his head to the doorway as she seemingly entered the room a few moments after him, he greeted her with a smile of pure bliss but the gleam of iron caught his eye before her smirk did; within a moment he knew the ending to this story. She had built a throne of the bodies that were once her equals but that was the cost for acceptance and love from her blood. Although he was another body, he was grateful that she looked his way and decided to be together, they completed each other and created a false reality of hope for one another. 

“I love you.”

With tears in his eyes he reminded her of their love but it was too late, the blade slid out of his body as he collapsed to the ground. She stared down at her bloodstained hands and they stared back with discontent. She pulled him close as the stench of iron suffocated her, the blood seeped through her fingers as she suddenly realised the deeds she had done.

“Please forgive me, I love you more! I didn't mean to! My father-.”

Tears fell as she realized that her family’s mentality sliced a fatal wound on the one person who truly made her happy.

“To become number one, you must have no weaknesses…”

A whisper leaked out. A smile appeared upon his faded face, he knew her struggles and the pain she felt. He only wished to make her proud but also smile as she was the only one he truly cared for. He also had demanding blood to please but she was always first in his eyes. His love for her was more important than the grades his blood desired.  

“I love you most, my sweet Cinderella.” 

As the blood continued to pool the realisation set in. He is gone now. The warmth of his hand that had lit up her heart and her innocent smile. The guy that made her heart pound in her chest that she was surprised it didn’t jump away from her into his loving arms. The feeling of safety. Freedom. Bliss.  

Now gone. Forever gone… Forever broken, cold and alone. 

Everyday after her release she lingered with him at the graveyard, they would keep each other company when silence consumed them and blood demanded too much. She would tell him about her day and he would keep a close eye on her. 

Hours turned to days, days turned into weeks until eventually years had rolled by and nature had consumed his presence in society, his memory had been forgotten. She had tried to forget his warmth, his safety, his smile, his compassion for her but it forever lingered in her aching heart. It was time to let go as no matter how hard she tried she couldn't find a way to forgive herself in the end. The wind wisped around as she turned to go, one last time he spoke to her. 

“Goodbye, my sweet Cinderella…”