The First Murder

Near the center of the universe, once existed a planet known as Waltalc IX, a water world of vast oceans and few landmasses. The sole sentient species of this planet called themselves the Cainablae. Newly evolved and scarce, they lived scattered across the endless sea.

One day, a female Cainablae swam through a patch of murky water. Her inners swelled, full of eggs, until she thought she might burst. She did. Her body exploded with new life as she drifted toward the dark ocean depths. Just before the shadows claimed her, she saw thousands of her eggs rising toward the warming light above the ocean.

Among those eggs were identical twins, Kla and Sa. In time, the two grew to adulthood, and rivalry brewed between them. They vied for the attention of the most attractive male in their region of the ocean.

Kla, determined to prove her worth, hunted and killed a massive fish, presenting it to the male. But he barely glanced at her offering before swimming away. Sa, on the other hand, plucked a fruit from an underwater plant and presented it to him. Pleased, the male swam off with Sa to discuss vegetarianism for the rest of the day.

When Sa returned to Kla, she excitedly described her encounter with the male and how she had swum through his murky waters. Jealousy boiled inside Kla as Sa recounted the upcoming plans to do so again. While Sa spoke of love and the possibility of fertilized eggs, Kla’s gills flared with suppressed rage. She had poured time and effort into hunting the fish, only to have it rejected in favor of a simple fruit.

That night, as the ocean grew still, Kla looked into the black expanse of water surrounding her. A strange sense of unease crept into her heart, like a cold current wrapping itself around her body. But she dismissed the feeling as weakness, focusing instead on her growing anger.

The next day, Sa’s happiness blinded her to the warning signs. She was caught completely by surprise when Kla struck her with a swift and crippling blow. Sa’s mouth gaped open in a silent scream as her wide eyes stared in terror. Kla darted forward, finishing the job. As Sa’s lifeless body drifted downward into the shadowy depths, Kla felt an intoxicating rush of triumph.

Later that day, Kla rendezvoused with the male, who was none the wiser. He made the water murky, and Kla swam through it, smiling with glee. But her victory was short-lived.

The male studied her intently, his gills flaring as he said, “You look and smell like Sa, but something is wrong. Her smile had a missing tooth and yours is flawless. What have you done?”

Kla’s triumph began to sour. “I don’t know. I’m not her keeper. But listen, I am a keeper. I’m a much better female than she ever was.”

The male’s gaze darkened. “Was?! Her blood wails from the depths! I curse you for what you’ve done and for deceiving me into this union!”

Kla’s rage reignited. Before he could curse her further, she darted forward, snapping him in half with her perfect teeth.

Though she had silenced him, Kla found herself unable to shake his words. An eerie stillness surrounded her as her body began to swell with fertilized eggs. When the time came, she burst open and drifted into the depths, her body spent. Yet, as she sank into the darkness, the weight of the male’s curse pressed on her mind.

***

Kla passed beyond the ocean’s depths and she found herself surrounded by shifting streams of light and shadow. Her crimes reflected in every ripple of her surroundings, with each moment laid bare. A voice thundered through the void, resonating like sonar.

“Kla of Waltalc IX, your deeds are undeniable. You betrayed and murdered kin, then used deceit to violate an unsuspecting male. For these acts, there is no redemption.”

Kla thrashed, her voice echoing in the void. “I was the better female! I triumphed over all who swam before me!”

But the light consumed her protests. She felt herself unravel, existence slipping through her fins like sand. Her final thought was not of triumph but of dread for her offspring: Did I mate with an attractive weakling? Should I have hunted a better male and left Sa to her own fate?

And then, she was gone.