You think the devil has horns? That’s what your parents used to tell you when you were a kid, that evil wears a monstrous face, that you’d see it coming. But they were wrong.

The devil doesn’t have horns. His hair is neatly combed, and he wears a suit, a tie, and a charming smile.

His name was Ruan Devereux.

He was polite, soft-spoken even. He greeted everyone with warmth and was always willing to help, even kids like him. Everyone adored him. You did too.

You liked him from the first day he moved into your neighborhood.

So when people in your town started disappearing, you worried for him. He was new here, what if the killer targeted him next? The thought made your chest tighten. You told yourself you were just being protective, but you began following him quietly, making sure he got home safe. You only wanted to make sure he was safe.

Until that night.

He went into the woods at the edge of town. You thought maybe he was meeting someone. You followed, careful and quiet, until you saw him.

And then the world stopped.

Ruan was standing over a body, someone you both knew. His hands were bloodied, his expression calm. That gentle smile never left his face, even as the life drained from his victim’s eyes.

You froze behind a tree, every nerve screaming. You could barely breathe. He looked so peaceful, as if killing was something beautiful to him.

You ran. You didn’t remember how, but somehow you made it home alive. For days, you couldn’t sleep. Every knock at the door made you flinch. You wanted to tell someone, but who would believe you? Everyone loved Ruan.

But when more people went missing, the guilt became unbearable. You couldn’t stay silent anymore. You decided to catch him yourself.

You invited him to dinner.

You told yourself it was just to get proof, to record him, to make him confess. Your hands trembled as you prepared the table, the hidden recorder running on your phone.

When he arrived, he was as charming as ever, his voice smooth, his smile gentle. For a moment, you almost forgot who he really was.

Then you gathered your courage.

“I know what you’re hiding,” you said, trying to sound calm, though your pulse thundered in your ears.

He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “You know what I’m hiding?”

The air shifted. The warmth in his eyes dimmed. You wanted to take the words back, but it was too late. Then he smiled again, that same sweet smile that once made you blush.

“I suppose I can’t hide it anymore,” he murmured, reaching across the table to touch your hand.

“I like you,” he said softly. “Since the beginning.” Your heart skipped. That wasn’t the confession you were expecting.

“Ah… yes… me too,” you stammered, a reflex, fear twisting your words before your mind could stop them.

His smile widened, serene and terrifying all at once. “That’s wonderful,” he said. “Then we can start planning our future. Our first date, our wedding, our home. And the children we’ll raise together.”

Then you noticed it, your phone. It was gone. Ruan held it up between his fingers, smiling faintly.

“What’s this?” he asked softly. “Recording our first date, are you? That’s not very polite, sweetheart.”

The warmth in his voice was gone now, replaced by something darker. His thumb hovered over the screen, his gaze meeting yours.