Tracy's Pov -
I opened my eyes and it was dark as black. I had a severe pain at the back of my head. What is going on? I made an attempt to feel the spot where I felt the pain but could not move my hands. My hands were tied. I felt weak, dizzy and trapped. Where was I? I could feel it, my legs have been tied too. Am I in a dark room? Is it that I am blind or am I covered?
I made the effort to recollect any thing that I could and experienced the pangs once more. I struggled and made myself remember. The thought of a white dress came to me. A white dress! This morning I was in a white beautiful dress. But why?
Wedding!
Today is my wedding day!
At this moment I heard the bell jingling. It was the voice to say that the bride had arrived. Music began firstly soft at the beginning but gradually becoming louder as the band played. There was applause and shouts of happiness and their voices intermingled with the beat of drums. Although I was unable to see, I knew the bride has come in.
But how could that be? I'm the bride!!
Today is my wedding day!
I felt as though my heart was pounding through the chest. Had the bride come in? who was wearing my dress? Who was strolling down the aisle instead of me?
I tugged the ropes with my hands, but they cut deeper into my flesh. The room was dusty and damp wood. It was something, somewhere above me, I heard a little foot step, followed by laughter-- cold and far and wrong.
"Help!" I made an attempt to scream, yet I had a weak, broken voice. No one would hear me. The music on the outside was too loud and I was drowned.
Tears burned my eyes. I was smiling just this morning, I was with the family, expecting the happiest moment of my life. I was now imprisoned, and hearing another woman replacing me.
Then the bell sounded again, more distinctly. The crowd cheered louder. My whole body froze.
Something wasn't right.
Then I heard it- a soft low knock, near at hand. Not from the hall. From the dark room itself.
The knock was repeated, and deliberate and slow. My breath caught in my throat. Someone was here.
"Who's there?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
Silence.
Then a faint shuffle. Some hand rubbed the floor, and I could feel the scraping of the skin on the rough wood. My body stiffened.
"Please... help me. " I begged.
No answer. Rather, there was a chuckle, a low chuckle, I heard it, but it was quiet and yet sharp enough to sound like it was freezing my blood.
I attempted to take a step back, but the ropes could not allow. My head spun. Did I find myself entangled here with somebody? Or did they have me caged up and leave another prisoner?
The music outside increased in volume. I even caught the voice of the priest through the wall, the words of which I could not make out. The wedding was happening. My wedding!!.
Tears slipped down my cheeks. "Why are you doing this to me?" I cried into the darkness.
The figure shifted. I did not see them, I could sense it, somebody crouching near me, watching. Waiting.
Lastly, there was a murmur in the darkness.
"You shouldn't be the bride."
My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?" I replied in a shaky voice.- almost whispering.
The person didn't answer. They instead fled, and their foot- steps died away. Somewhere a door creaked, and I heard it bang closed, leaving me in silence once more.
But the words were still there, bouncing about my head.
" You shouldn't be the bride. "
.
.
The words kept echoing in my head.
You shouldn't be the bride.
The throbbing came again and i pressed my forehead against the cold floor, trying to catch my breathing. My chest rose and fell too fast. If I didn't focus, I'd lose it completely. My mind fought to hold on to something good, something that could drown out the fear.
And then it came — the morning.
Sunlight had poured into my room when I first opened my eyes. I still hear my mother's voice, soft and full of excitement.
"Tracy, today is your day."
I had laughed nervously, a shaky little laugh, staring at the white gown hanging by the window. It shimmered in the light, almost glowing- like it belonged to a dream. My heart raced with joy and fear all at once.
Friends had come in, teasing,cheering and laughing. They helped me dress, fixing the veil, brushing my hair. I remembered looking into the mirror — the girl smiling back looked like a dream.
"You're beautiful. " my best friend whispered.
And for a moment, I actually believed her.
My father had taken my hand before we left the house. His smile was proud, but his eyes were wet.
"You'll make a lovely bride." he said.
The memory burned bright for a second… until it shattered.
Now, instead of sunlight, I had darkness. Instead of laughter, I had silence. Instead of freedom, I had ropes biting into my skin.
Tears blurred my eyes again. How had I gone from that joyful morning to this nightmare?
And worst of all, if I was here, locked here, then who was standing in my place at the altar?