Little stories of love and joy.

Corpse Bride

Title: Veiled Hearts

Chapter 1: Unveiling the Shadows

Victor Van Dort woke up with a start, his heart pounding in his chest. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he tried to catch his breath. It had been months since that fateful day when Emily, the Corpse Bride, had left him at the altar. The pain still lingered, haunting his every waking moment.

He glanced at the clock on his bedside table, realizing he had overslept. Panic surged through him as he hurriedly got dressed, his mind clouded with thoughts of Emily. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake by marrying Victoria. His heart yearned for the love he had lost.

As Victor made his way downstairs, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the hallway mirror. The once vibrant and lively man had transformed into a mere shadow of his former self. His complexion was pale, his eyes sunken, and his body frail from the weight of his sorrow.

Victoria, his wife, noticed the change in him but chose to remain silent, hoping that time would heal his wounds. She had seen the dark circles under his eyes, the lack of appetite, and the distant look in his gaze. But she loved him enough to give him space, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness.

Victor stepped outside, his mind consumed by thoughts of Emily. He barely noticed the world around him as he got into his car and started the engine. Lost in his own despair, he failed to see the oncoming truck until it was too late.

The impact was sudden and brutal. Victor's world turned into a blur of pain and darkness. When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself in a strange and eerie place. The Land of the Dead.

Bo Jangles, a skeletal figure with a top hat and a cane, stood before him, his bony face etched with horror. "Victor!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "What happened to you?"

Victor touched his temple, feeling the gash that would forever mark him. "I... I don't remember much," he stammered, his voice trembling. "I was driving, and then everything went black."

As Victor recounted his accident, a joyful shout interrupted their conversation. He turned around, his heart skipping a beat. There stood Emily, the Corpse Bride, her eyes widening in astonishment as she laid eyes on him.

"Victor!" Emily exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and delight. She took a step forward, then froze, her gaze fixed on his wounded face. "What happened to you?"

Victor's heart swelled with a mixture of emotions as he faced Emily. He had missed her more than words could express, and now, here she was, standing before him. But he couldn't help but wonder how much she knew about his suffering.

Unbeknownst to Victor, the inhabitants of the Land of the Dead had been watching him closely since Emily's departure. They had witnessed his decline, his refusal to eat or play the piano, and the abuse he endured from Victoria whenever he accidentally called her Emily. They knew his pain, his longing, and his unspoken love for the Corpse Bride.

But Victor remained oblivious to their knowledge. What if he found out? What if he discovered that his secret pain was not so secret after all?

Chapter 2: Echoes of the Past

Emily's eyes searched Victor's face, her heart aching at the sight of his wounded temple. She had missed him dearly, but now, seeing him in such a state, her joy was tinged with concern.

"Victor, what happened to you?" Emily asked again, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Victor hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. He had kept his pain hidden from everyone, even Victoria, for fear of burdening them with his sorrow. But now, faced with Emily's unwavering gaze, he felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he could confide in her, share the weight that had been crushing his soul.

"I... I've been struggling, Emily," Victor admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Since the day you left, I've been living a lie. I married Victoria, but my heart has never truly belonged to her. It has always been with you."