The church was silent, save for the priest’s steady voice. Candles flickered, casting long shadows along the walls.

"You may kiss the bride."

He turned to you, his beautiful, perfect bride. Your dress was pristine, your veil delicate like spider silk. HIS heart swelled with love.

But as he reached to lift the veil, his fingers trembled.

Beneath it, there was nothing. No face, no head—just a jagged stump where your neck ended.

He staggered back, but the guests only smiled. His mother dabbed her eyes. His best man gave him a thumbs-up. No one else saw what he saw.

A cold hand grasped his.

"You promised me forever," You whispered from nowhere and everywhere at once. He gasped as invisible lips pressed against mine, cold as the grave. My vision blurred, my body grew heavy.

Then he understood...

He hadn’t married you today.

He had buried her.

And now, you had come to take him with you.