- 15 minutes ago
The Sacrificial Bride New
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00:00Three days before my wedding, my fiancé gave me a paper wedding dress.
00:05I knew a paper wedding dress was a ritual prop.
00:08Whoever wore it would swap souls with the dead.
00:12The living would die. The dead would come back.
00:16Who did my fiancé want to bring back?
00:19There was an old tale in town.
00:21If a bride married in a paper wedding dress, she could deceive the Grim Reaper.
00:26She would swap places with a corpse bride who wore the same dress.
00:30The corpse would return to life.
00:33Three days before my wedding, I found a paper wedding dress.
00:37It was among the gifts from my fiancé, Wendell Hickman.
00:41It was tailored precisely to my measurements.
00:44A tag was pinned to it.
00:45Bearing my full name and date of birth, a chill ran down my spine.
00:49Who was Wendirk trying to bring back by sacracing me?
00:52While I was still frozen in fear, I heard my father's voice from the study next door.
00:57The life-swapping ritual has started.
01:01Darla is coming home.
01:05I crept to the door and looked through the crack.
01:08Wendell was holding a memorial portrait.
01:11It was Darlene Hawley, my late stepsister.
01:15Wendell's eyes brimmed with undisguised affection.
01:19I had never seen him look at me like that.
01:22Darla, he whispered, his voice full of longing.
01:26I have endured three years of pretending.
01:30Pretending to be Veronica's loving boyfriend.
01:32You have no idea how disgusted it felt every time I was near her.
01:35On our wedding day, she will take your place as the corpse gride.
01:39She will be trapped in hell forever.
01:41On the altar table beside him sat white candles, a human skull, and rune stones,
01:46all arranged for Darlene's return.
01:51Watching the scene, I rubbed the engagement ring on my finger.
01:55Icy dread spread through my veins.
01:58You have got everything ready.
01:59I murmured under my breath.
02:02But Wendell, there is something I never told you.
02:06As I turned to leave, my foot struck something on the floor.
02:09The sharp, brittle sound shattered the silence.
02:13All three of them inside the study froze.
02:16Who is there?
02:17Wendell called out, his voice sharp.
02:20My heart hammered against my ribs.
02:23I quickly knocked on the door.
02:27Del?
02:28Have you seen Dad and Betsy?
02:31Dinner is ready.
02:32They emerged together moments later.
02:35Each wore a different expression.
02:38But all three of them fixed their gazes on me.
02:41The devastating truth nearly crushed me.
02:44My family had never loved me.
02:46My fiancé had never loved me either.
02:49But I could not afford to fall apart yet.
02:52I forced myself to breathe.
02:54I forced myself to stay calm.
02:58I touched my cheek and put on a smile.
03:02What is it?
03:03I asked.
03:03Is there something on my face?
03:07Why are you all staring at me?
03:08My dad, Stephen Hawley, relaxed.
03:11My stepmom, Betsy Lowe, relaxed too.
03:15Dad smiled softly.
03:16We are just finding it hard to let go.
03:19Knowing you are about to get married.
03:21Then Wendell crouched down to ooks me.
03:24Like he always did.
03:25His voice was doting.
03:26Full of false tenderness.
03:28It just rained.
03:30You do not want to get your shoes wet.
03:33Come on.
03:34Let me carry you to the dining room.
03:38At dinner, Wendell constantly refilled my plate.
03:43Dad and Betsy exchanged knowing smiles.
03:47The scene looked so harmonious.
03:49Other relatives watched with envy.
03:51You are so lucky, Vera.
03:54Someone exclaimed.
03:55I kept smiling.
03:57But inside, I was drowning in fear and heartbreak.
04:03No one knew the truth.
04:05Ever since I had seen that paper wedding dress, I could see things no one else could.
04:10Everything Wendell gave me was made of paper.
04:13The food.
04:14The clothes.
04:15Even the daily recessities.
04:17Everything.
04:18After I finally forced down the paper food on my plate, Wendell frowned at my rain-damped
04:23clothes.
04:26Vera, let me walk you back to your room so you can change.
04:29The wedding is in three days.
04:31We cannot have you catching a cold.
04:33Wendell and I had been in love for three years.
04:36He had friend over the smallest sniffle.
04:40To spare him from unnecessary worry, I had never turned down his care.
04:45Now, my throat tightened.
04:46I could not tell whether it was fear or despair choking me.
04:50I let him guide me back without resistance.
04:53The courtyard was piled high with wedding gifts.
04:56But I did not dare look at them.
04:58All of it was paper.
05:00The jewelry.
05:01The property deeds.
05:03Everything.
05:04That dress had given me the ability to see through the illusion.
05:08Back in my room, I started to undress with shaky hands.
05:13Wendell suddenly wrapped his arms around me from behind.
05:16He chuckled.
05:17He glanced at the paper wedding dress hanging nearby.
05:20Vera, babe.
05:22He whispered in my ear.
05:23Since you are already undressing, why not try on the wedding dress?
05:27I cannot wait to see my beautiful bride.
05:31Three months earlier, Wendell had flown to Italy to personally select the silk.
05:35He had stayed up night after night, overseeing every stitch of the embroidery.
05:39I had once believed it was proof of his love.
05:42I had counted the days until I could finally wear it.
05:46But now I knew the truth.
05:48The real dress was hanging in the study.
05:51What I held in my hands was just a paper replica.
05:54To survive, I did not dare to expose him.
05:57I lowered my head to hide the bitterness in my eyes.
06:00My voice trembled slightly.
06:02The dress is so complicated.
06:05What if I stain it?
06:07I think I should save it for the wedding day.
06:10Wendell chuckled again.
06:12You think it is too much trouble?
06:15I will help you.
06:16He reached out, but I quickly dodged, feigning shyness.
06:19I can manage.
06:21Then I slipped in the walk-in closet.
06:23Just then, a strange creaking noise came from the door.
06:28An eerie wind lifted the gazy curtains.
06:31I turned around.
06:32The paper wedding dress clenched in my arms.
06:35And I froze.
06:37Darlin was walking across the room.
06:40The same Darlin who had died three years ago.
06:43Her bloodless face was twisted with fury.
06:46Her eyes brimmed with venom as she glared at me from behind the curtains.
06:50A flicker of excitement flashed in Wendell's eyes.
06:53A look I had never seen before.
06:56He stepped forward, sounding anxious.
06:59Darla, your body is not fully formed yet.
07:02Why did you leave the study?
07:04Her red lips parted.
07:05Her tone was aggrieved.
07:06You think I am interrupting your moment with Veronica, don't you?
07:13Fine.
07:14I will go.
07:16Wendell quickly pulled her into his arms.
07:19Babe, I am just worried Veronica might see you.
07:22Only then did Darlene stuck out her tongue playfully.
07:27She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
07:30Every time you came here we made out right in front of her.
07:34And she never noticed, did she?
07:37There is nothing to worry about, Del.
07:40Raw desire flooded Wendell's deep eyes.
07:43I stood rooted in place.
07:46I watched Mr. Hickman and Darlene Hawley's bodies tangled together on the bed.
07:52My heart was shattering into pieces.
07:57People used to say, Wendell would not touch me because he cherished me.
08:03Because he wanted to wait until marriage.
08:06And I had believed that.
08:09But only now did I realize the truth.
08:11When he was with his true love, he could not hold back his physical impulse at all.
08:16By morning, when I woke up, Darlene was already gone.
08:21Wendell was about to head back to prepare for the wedding.
08:24As he stepped away, he looked back every few paces.
08:29Facending reluctance.
08:31Mr. Hickman, did Vera put a spell on you?
08:34You are completely smitten.
08:37Only I knew the truth.
08:38He was not looking at me.
08:40He was looking past me.
08:42Toward the study where Darlene waited.
08:44I tried to escape.
08:47But every time I reached the main gate,
08:50I would somehow end up right back where I started.
08:53When I was little, the elders told stories about this.
08:57Once the life-swapping ritual began, the circle was sealed.
09:02The only way out was to see it through.
09:05And then find another way.
09:08In other words, I had to wait.
09:11Only after the ceremony ended.
09:13Only after Wendell and Darlene got married,
09:16could I make my move and escape.
09:21Soon, it was the wedding day.
09:23Early that morning, the air was thick with fog.
09:26Guests who arrived early smiled and chatted.
09:29They said by noon the sun would be bright.
09:32It was perfect wedding weather.
09:33Meanwhile, I sat in my room,
09:36dressed in my wedding gown.
09:37The veil was draped over my face.
09:39An eerie song drifted through the heavy mist.
09:43Corpse bride on the fourth chime.
09:46The living's end.
09:48The dead's new prime.
09:49I was shaking.
09:51I was supported on either side to the living room.
09:54I had to serve tea to Dad and Betsy.
09:57One last time, before leaving to marry.
10:01They wiped away tears.
10:03They said how hard it was to let me go.
10:06Long before my own mother passed,
10:09Dad had already been keeping Darlene and Betsy on the side.
10:13Watching the scene, the guests sighed with emotion.
10:17You can call Betsy a homewrecker.
10:19Someone said,
10:20But ever since her daughter Darlene died,
10:22she has loved Veronica with her whole heart.
10:24I know, right?
10:25Another guest chimed in.
10:27She is genuinely good to Veronica.
10:31Even though they are not blood-related.
10:35Was Betsy genuinely good to me?
10:37I thought of the voodoo doll a few days earlier.
10:43I had dug it up under the tree in the courtyard.
10:46It had my name and birthday carved into it.
10:49The doll was covered in cuts and silver pins.
10:52The pins were Betsy's.
10:54The cuts were left by Dad.
10:55They could not stand to see me alive and carefree.
10:58Not while their own daughter lay cold and restless in the ground.
11:03Holding the tea I offered, Dad and Betsy choked up.
11:06They told me to build a life with Wendell.
11:08They hoped to see me happy forever.
11:10I smiled, but I did not nod.
11:13After all, they were not saying it to me.
11:15They were saying it to Darlene.
11:17Darlene stood behind me in her own corpsely wedding dress.
11:22When Wendell entered, his gaze kept drifting around me.
11:26It never settled on my face.
11:28He even walked straight toward Darlene at first.
11:33Only after Dad cleared his throat softly did he reluctantly took my hand.
11:39No one else could see the truth.
11:41His other hand was tightly interwaved with Darlene's.
11:46As we were getting into the car, Wendell said,
11:50Vera, where I am from, the bride rides in the front.
11:55The excuse was so flimby, I almost laughed.
12:00But I went along with it.
12:02I slipped into the passenger seat.
12:04I just wanted this over with.
12:06The thought of sitting in the back made my stomach churn,
12:10watching the two of them,
12:12one living, one dead,
12:14all over each other.
12:16At the church, Wendell spoke his vows,
12:19but his eyes kept looking past my shoulder.
12:22It was Darlene.
12:25She really completed the ceremony with him.
12:29Just as the priest was about to pronounce us husband and wife,
12:35Wendell suddenly said,
12:37Wait.
12:40He gestured to an empty seat beside his parents.
12:45Vila, according to my family's tradition,
12:48you must bow and serve tea to this empty seat.
12:52For the union to be complete.
12:57The confused guests murmured among themselves,
13:00But the seat is empty.
13:01Someone said,
13:03Who is Miss Harkley bowing to?
13:05Beneath my veil,
13:06my face went pale.
13:09Even though I knew it was all a lie.
13:11Even though I knew Wendell had never loved me.
13:15A sharp pain still cut through me.
13:19I realized then what Wendell was trying to do.
13:23He was trying to bind me to the Hickman family forever.
13:28No one else could see the truth.
13:31Darlene, who had just exchanged vows with him,
13:33was now seated in that very chair.
13:37She was waiting for my bow with a triumphant smile.
13:40If I went through with it,
13:41I would not just be acknowledging her.
13:43I would be accepting a role like a bondservant from the old stories.
13:48A corpsely subordinate.
13:51Even in death,
13:52I would be at her mercy.
13:55I stood frozen,
13:57fear tightening my voice.
14:00Del,
14:01that is not a custom where I am from.
14:03If this bow is required,
14:05then maybe I cannot go through with this.
14:08The church broke into hushed arguments.
14:12Guests urged Wendell not to force such a sudden,
14:15strange demand on his bride.
14:17But what scared me most
14:18were the small,
14:20shadowy poltergeists gathered around Wendell.
14:22They chattered excitedly.
14:25If Veronica will not bow,
14:28we will break her legs.
14:30Better yet,
14:31let us possess her.
14:33Then we can make her bow
14:35as long as we want.
14:38They started looking me over,
14:40pointing and plodding.
14:42Beneath my gown,
14:43my hands clenched into fists.
14:45I fought to keep my body
14:47from shaking.
14:49Just as despair began to take hold,
14:52I saw Wendell shoot a cold,
14:54warning look at the poltergeists.
14:58Shut up!
15:00Am using Veronica to bring Darla back.
15:04But that does not mean you get to hurt her.
15:06Seeing it was the critical moment for the ritual,
15:09Wendy could delay no longer.
15:11He sent a silent message to calm Darlene,
15:14who was fuming.
15:17Darlene.
15:18Darla,
15:19bringing you back is what matters.
15:22She can bow and acknowledge you later.
15:24That can wait.
15:26Darlene circled me a few times.
15:28She dropped me a vicious glare.
15:31Then she floated off toward the wedding home.
15:35The Hickman's villa sat at the top of the mountain.
15:39Besides the main villa up front,
15:41there were two smaller ones in the back.
15:45Ours was the one farthest behind.
15:48I had picked it myself,
15:50drawn to the quiet, secluded spot.
15:53I thought it would be a peaceful place to live.
15:56Now, I stepped on dry twigs.
15:58I stared wide-eyed through my veil.
16:00I looked at the run-down building in the distance.
16:04Calling it a villa was not right.
16:06It was a long-abandoned cemetery.
16:08The guests stayed in the front courtyard.
16:11Dad and Betsy walked with me to the wedding home.
16:14They held my arms on either side,
16:17not wanting any surprise.
16:19The poltergeists hopped along,
16:21cheering excitedly.
16:23A new bride for the Demon King!
16:26I stopped abruptly.
16:28The Demon King?
16:30So Wendell was not just swapping me with Darlene.
16:34He was marrying me off to a demon.
16:39Up ahead, Wendell turned,
16:42his smile gentle.
16:44Vera?
16:46What is wrong?
16:48Seeing that fake, gentle smile on his face,
16:51I was suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion.
16:54I pulled out the small notebook I had cherished for years.
16:58It was filled with 999 things Wendell had done for me.
17:03Elaborate breakfasts every day,
17:05giving me his only oxygen tank while scuba diving.
17:09I lifted my veil
17:10and held the notebook out to him with a smile.
17:14Wendell,
17:15I believe you loved me once,
17:17but let us call off this marriage.
17:20The moment I said it,
17:22Dad and Betsy tensed up.
17:26Wendell's eyes turned dangerous.
17:28His voice went cold.
17:30Why, Vera?
17:32I bit my lip.
17:34My hands gripped the hem of my dress.
17:37I said nothing.
17:38Around us,
17:39one of the poltergeists suddenly shouted,
17:43Something is off!
17:45She just looked right at me!
17:47Wendell, she knows!
17:49Wendell bent down to meet my eyes.
17:53His gaze was scrutinizing now.
17:56Vera,
17:57did you see something you should not have?
18:01Or hear something you were not supposed to?
18:07I said straightforwardly,
18:09Del,
18:10just tell me.
18:11Is it true that if I walk into that villa,
18:14I will be torn to pieces?
18:15Wendell froze.
18:17He snapped his head toward the cemetery.
18:19He let out a harsh laugh.
18:21So you really did see them?
18:23He dropped all pretend.
18:25Then he turned and roared at the poltergeists.
18:28Who attracted seven demons here?
18:32I said Vera only has to marry one!
18:35After cursing them out,
18:37he turned back to coax me.
18:38His voice softened.
18:40Vera, do not be scared.
18:41I only wanted one demon here
18:43to trick the Grimmy Reaper's agents.
18:44After all,
18:45you do have to marry a demon on behalf of Darla.
18:47But I will only let it have you for one night.
18:50Once Darla is back,
18:51I will send it away, okay?
18:52But now there are seven of them.
18:54To avoid any problems,
18:56I am afraid you will have to spend the night with them.
18:59Rest assured,
19:00I will not think any less of you after.
19:03I stared at him with tears in my eyes.
19:05My heart broke completely.
19:09All I could do
19:10was clutch the edge of his suit jacket.
19:13I whispered,
19:14Wendell, please,
19:16let me go.
19:18There is actually something I never told you.
19:21He cut me off with a cold laugh.
19:24A secret?
19:25What secret?
19:27Do not try to trick me.
19:30I am not letting you go.
19:33Inside, I was confused.
19:35Wendell and I had met first.
19:38When did he fall for Darlene?
19:40Dad and Aunt Betsy Lowe
19:42suddenly stepped forward.
19:45They grabbed me again.
19:48Veronica, give it up.
19:50Neither of us,
19:51and not Wendell,
19:52is letting this chance slip away.
19:54I looked up and asked,
19:56Why?
19:58I truly believed
19:59I had never made things hard
20:00for Betsy or Darlie.
20:02A flash of hardness
20:04crossed at Betsy's eyes.
20:06She spoke slowly.
20:07Darlene died,
20:09saving Wendell.
20:10And the heart and kidney
20:12Steven and I got three years ago.
20:16They came from Darla.
20:19So, Veronica,
20:21you have to die.
20:23My eyes widened in shock.
20:26I stared at the three of them.
20:28Wendell did not want to look at me anymore.
20:30He raised a hand
20:32and signaled to the polterfights,
20:34Take Veronica.
20:36Bring her to the bedroom.
20:38She does not come out until dawn.
20:40That night,
20:41I spent the night with seven demons.
20:43It was long and full of pain.
20:49By morning,
20:50the life-swapping ritual was complete.
20:52Wendell looked refreshed and satisfied.
20:55He brought Darlene to the rundown hut to see me.
20:58Darlene's eyes lit up with satisfaction
21:01when she saw me.
21:02I was covered in blood and grime.
21:06She reached out to help me up.
21:08Vera,
21:09you must have suffered.
21:11From now on,
21:12Darlene and I will take good care of you.
21:17When Wendell saw my exposed skin
21:19and the marks on it,
21:20a flicker of pain passed through his eyes.
21:24He pulled me tightly into his arms.
21:27Vera,
21:29from now on,
21:31you will be stuck in the borderlands
21:33between life and death,
21:35never crossing over.
21:39But being a corpse bride is not all bad.
21:42At least you can stay by my side.
21:46I let out a cold laugh.
21:48A corpse bride?
21:50Are you talking about me, Wendell?
21:55You lied to me
21:56for three years
21:58just to turn me into a corpse bride
22:00and trade me for Darlene.
22:03But the truth is,
22:05I have been keeping a secret from you too.
22:10Wendell scooped me up from the ground.
22:12His expression was gentle.
22:15The ritual is over.
22:17Darla is back.
22:20Vera, I am sorry I lied to you.
22:24But you do not have to make things up
22:25just to upset me.
22:27Staring at his face,
22:28I raised a blood-stained finger.
22:30I pressed it against his chest.
22:32My lips curled into a grim smile.
22:34I have not even said it yet.
22:37How do you know I am lying?
22:40Darlene,
22:40standing beside us,
22:42tried to cut in.
22:44Wendell raised a hand to stop her.
22:49Darla,
22:49we owe Vera this much.
22:52Let her say it
22:53so that she can get it off her chest.
22:56Darlene went pale,
22:57but she did not speak again.
23:00Seeing the panic flashing in her eyes,
23:02I sneered.
23:05Wendell,
23:06before I tell you that secret,
23:07I need to clear one thing up.
23:09Three years ago,
23:11I saved you in that car accident.
23:15Not Darlene.
23:17I walked him through everything
23:18about how I saved him.
23:21But he just chuckled
23:22and shook his head.
23:23He sounded helpless.
23:26Okay, okay.
23:27It was you,
23:28alright?
23:29Are you satisfied now?
23:30Darla is generous.
23:32She will not mind whatever you say.
23:34Say what you need to say.
23:37Now,
23:38are you ready to share
23:39this big secret of yours?
23:42My heart sank.
23:45Wendell did not believe
23:46for a second
23:47that I had saved him.
23:49I lowered my gaze.
23:51I wondered
23:52if it was even worth
23:53risking my life
23:54to tell him the truth.
23:56Seeing me go quiet,
23:57Darlene took a step back.
24:01She looked frightened.
24:03Del,
24:04not you see?
24:07Veronica is trying
24:08to turn us against each other.
24:11She wants to trick you
24:12into swapping me back.
24:15Maybe there is not
24:16any secret at all.
24:18Promise me
24:19you will not believe her,
24:20okay?
24:21Wendell nodded.
24:23He locked me
24:24in the second small villa.
24:26Vera,
24:27from today on,
24:28this is your home.
24:30When you are feeling better,
24:32come to the main villa
24:33and bow to Darla.
24:35With us protecting you,
24:36the Grim Reaper
24:37will not find you.
24:41I sat numbly
24:43in a chair.
24:44I stared out the window.
24:47I was unwilling to speak.
24:50What Wendell did not know
24:51was that from the moment
24:52I stepped inside,
24:54I had been looking
24:55for a way out.
24:57But the front door
24:58was deadbolted shut.
25:01The air outside
25:02had thickened
25:03into a toxic haze.
25:05A barrier
25:06I could not cross.
25:08There was still
25:09no escape.
25:13Around midnight,
25:14a sharp scream
25:15tore through the main villa.
25:17It was Darlene.
25:26her hatred is like
25:29a knife in my mind.
25:31It is...
25:32It is killing me.
25:35With a loud bang,
25:37Wendell kicked the door open.
25:39Dad and Betsy
25:41followed behind him.
25:43A middle-aged man
25:44was with him.
25:45He seemed like
25:46an exorcist.
25:48Dad pointed a trembling
25:49finger at me
25:50and roared,
25:51You monster!
25:55Darla is your sister!
25:57Are you trying to
25:58kill her?!
26:01Still in my wedding dress,
26:03I tilted my head.
26:05I studied
26:06the crimson stain
26:08on my fingertips.
26:09A cold smile
26:10curled on my lips.
26:13Kill her?
26:15She is already
26:16a corpse.
26:17How do you kill
26:18what is already dead?
26:21Betsy's face
26:22twisted with rage.
26:24I had no doubt
26:25she would strangle me
26:26right then
26:27if she could.
26:30Darla is human now.
26:32Wendell moved
26:33soughtly
26:34to block Betsy.
26:35He frowned at me.
26:37Vera,
26:38I get it.
26:40The newly departed
26:42often carry
26:43deep resentment.
26:44I brought an exorcist
26:46to help cleanse
26:47the darkness
26:47clinging to you.
26:51I turned
26:52and looked
26:53at the poltergeist
26:54disguised
26:54as the exorcist.
26:56Wendell,
26:58this so-called
26:58exorcist
26:59is one of the poltergeists
27:00around Darlene
27:01in disguise.
27:05Can't you tell?
27:06He frowned
27:08in displeasure.
27:09You have gone
27:10too far, Veronica.
27:11First you claim
27:12you saved my life.
27:14Now you say
27:14Darla sent a poltergeist
27:16to hurt you?
27:17Your soul
27:18is poisoned.
27:19You really
27:20do need cleansing.
27:21Then he nodded
27:22to the poltergeist
27:23in disguise.
27:24The poltergeist
27:25put on a show.
27:27Chanting curses
27:28meant to cause pain.
27:31Performing rituals
27:32designed to injure
27:34from the inside.
27:35I lowered my eyes.
27:36A faint smile
27:37touched my lips.
27:38Then I played along.
27:40I dropped to the floor.
27:41I wreathed
27:42like I was in agony.
27:45Only when I fell
27:46unconscious
27:48did Wendell
27:50carry me to a bed
27:51on the second floor.
27:54When no one
27:55was looking
27:55he leaned down.
27:58He pressed a slow
28:00relingering kiss
28:01against my lips.
28:06After he left
28:07Darlene slipped
28:08into the room.
28:11She raised her hand
28:13ready to smite me
28:14with a spell
28:15charged palm.
28:16You bitch!
28:19How dare you
28:21try to seduce
28:22Del!
28:23But the next moment
28:25her eyes
28:26went wide
28:26with shock.
28:27She did not
28:28dare move at all.
28:30A raven
28:30with golden eyes
28:31shot through the window.
28:33It blocked
28:34the strike
28:35meant for me.
28:37Darlene
28:38stumbled back.
28:39Her eyes
28:39were wide
28:40with disbelief.
28:41A raven?
28:43Is there
28:44a witch here?
28:45Her attempt
28:46to kill me
28:46had failed.
28:48With the raven
28:49guarding me
28:49she did not
28:50dare try again.
28:52She ran off
28:53in a hurry.
28:55After she was
28:56gone
28:56I slowly
28:57sat up.
28:59I cupped
29:00the raven
29:00in my hand.
29:01I stroked
29:02her gently.
29:04Jane
29:04you made it
29:06back.
29:08Jean
29:08vibrated
29:09with excitement.
29:10Vera!
29:11That paper
29:12wedding dress
29:13really did
29:14unlock
29:14your witch
29:15powers.
29:16Too bad
29:18we cannot
29:18touch Darlene
29:19yet.
29:22But those
29:23seven demons
29:24you left
29:24for me?
29:25They were
29:26a feast!
29:27She fluffed
29:28her chest
29:28feathers
29:29glowing
29:29with satisfaction.
29:31But my mood
29:32was still heavy.
29:33Noticing
29:34Jananne
29:35hopped
29:35onto my
29:36shoulder.
29:37She rubbed
29:38her head
29:38against my
29:39cheek.
29:39She tried
29:40to comfort
29:41me.
29:42Don't
29:42stress
29:42Vera.
29:43If telling
29:44your secret
29:45paints a target
29:45on your
29:46back,
29:46I will
29:47protect
29:47you.
29:48It had
29:49been so
29:49long since
29:50anyone cared
29:51about me
29:51like that.
29:52I was
29:53just about
29:54to pull
29:54Jananne
29:54into a
29:55grateful
29:55hug.
29:56She
29:57suddenly
29:57went
29:57still.
29:58She
29:59listened
29:59intently
30:00for a
30:00long
30:00moment.
30:02Finally,
30:03she spoke.
30:04Her tone
30:05was serious.
30:06Vera,
30:07that wretched
30:08Darlene
30:08just went
30:09to stir
30:09up
30:10Wendrell's
30:10parents.
30:12She is
30:13setting
30:13them up
30:14to kill
30:14you.
30:15I brushed
30:16the dirt
30:17off my
30:17wedding dress.
30:20I headed
30:21downstairs.
30:25Jean,
30:27the proof
30:28you have been
30:28gathering
30:29these past
30:29few days,
30:30it is ready,
30:31right?
30:32Let us
30:33show it
30:33to the
30:33guests.
30:36When
30:37Wendell's
30:37parents
30:38arrived,
30:38they took
30:39one look
30:39at me
30:39sitting
30:40on the
30:40sofa.
30:41They
30:41started
30:42trembling
30:42in fear.
30:44Gripping
30:44across,
30:45they gathered
30:46their
30:46courage.
30:47Veronica,
30:48don't
30:49hurt
30:49Del!
30:50If you
30:51want
30:51revenge,
30:52take it
30:53out on
30:53us.
30:54Let
30:55him go.
30:55I just
30:56smiled.
30:57I pointed
30:58at the
30:58TV screen.
31:00Craig,
31:01Carmen,
31:03wait
31:03till
31:03you
31:03watch
31:04this.
31:06It
31:07showed
31:07the
31:07whole
31:07scene
31:08of
31:08me
31:08saving
31:08Wendell
31:09three
31:09years
31:09earlier.
31:10When
31:11it
31:11ended,
31:11they
31:12slumped
31:12to
31:12the
31:12floor.
31:15Veronica,
31:15you
31:16weren't
31:16lying?
31:17You're
31:18the
31:18one
31:18who
31:18saved
31:18Del?
31:20Why
31:21didn't
31:21you
31:21ever
31:21tell
31:21him?
31:22My
31:22smile
31:22turned
31:23bitter.
31:23I
31:24couldn't.
31:24If
31:25I
31:25had
31:25spoken
31:26the
31:26secret,
31:27my
31:27life
31:27would
31:27have
31:27been
31:28over.
31:28Craig
31:29was
31:29the
31:29first
31:29to
31:29snap
31:30out
31:30of
31:30it.
31:31He
31:31pulled
31:31Carmen
31:32to
31:32her
31:32feet.
31:33He
31:33rushed
31:33for
31:34the
31:34door.
31:34We
31:34have
31:34to
31:35find
31:35Del!
31:36We
31:36have
31:36to
31:36tell
31:37him
31:37Bernonica
31:37saved
31:37his
31:38life!
31:39He
31:39has
31:39been
31:40thanking
31:40the
31:41wrong
31:41person!
31:42Arm
31:43in
31:43arm,
31:43they
31:43ran
31:44out.
31:44Watching
31:45them
31:45go,
31:46I
31:46felt
31:46a
31:46dull
31:47ache
31:47in
31:47my
31:47chest.
31:48Jean,
31:49still
31:49on
31:50my
31:50shoulder,
31:51rubbed
31:51her
31:51head
31:51against
31:51my
31:52chin.
31:52Vera,
31:53you
31:53kept
31:54them
31:54safe
31:54for
31:54three
31:55years.
31:55Don't
31:56feel
31:56guilty.
31:57Their
31:57time
31:58was
31:58just
31:58up.
32:01A
32:01thick,
32:02unnatural
32:03fog swirled
32:04around the
32:04main
32:04villa.
32:06In
32:07their
32:07panic,
32:08Craig
32:09and
32:09Carmen
32:09came
32:09almost
32:10within
32:10sight
32:10of
32:11Wendok.
32:12But
32:13Wendok
32:13did
32:14not
32:14see.
32:16Just
32:16a dozen
32:17meters
32:17away,
32:18Darlene
32:19shangled
32:19them
32:19to
32:19death,
32:20right
32:21in
32:21front
32:21of
32:21him.
32:22While
32:22Darlene
32:22was
32:23busy,
32:23Janie
32:24and
32:24I
32:24found
32:24the
32:24exit.
32:25We
32:26slipped
32:26out
32:26of
32:26the
32:26Hickman's
32:27villa.
32:28The
32:29moment
32:29we
32:29left,
32:30the
32:30furious
32:31Darlene
32:31put her
32:31act
32:32into
32:32motion.
32:33She
32:34cut
32:34her
32:34own
32:34arm.
32:36She
32:36collapsed
32:36to
32:37the
32:37ground,
32:37covered
32:38in
32:38blood.
32:39Her
32:39face
32:40was
32:40a
32:40mask
32:41of
32:41terror.
32:42Veronica
32:43killed
32:44Craig
32:44and
32:45Carmen!
32:46Wendok
32:46stared,
32:47stunned.
32:47Darla,
32:48what are
32:49you
32:49talking
32:49about?
32:50Darlene
32:51laid out
32:52her prepared
32:52story.
32:53She blamed
32:54me for
32:55the murders.
32:56Wendell
32:57began to
32:57shake so
32:58badly that
32:59he could
32:59barely stand.
33:02When he
33:03saw how
33:03miserable his
33:04parents had
33:05died,
33:06he let out
33:07a roar of
33:07agony and
33:08fury.
33:12his eyes
33:13turned
33:13bloodshot.
33:15The
33:16others
33:16stared in
33:17shock
33:17at
33:18Darlene.
33:18She
33:19was
33:19alive
33:20and
33:20well
33:20in
33:21front
33:21of
33:21them,
33:22even
33:23though
33:23she
33:23had
33:23been
33:23dead
33:24for
33:24three
33:24years.
33:26Isn't
33:27that the
33:27Holly
33:27family's
33:28dead
33:28daughter?
33:29She's
33:29alive?
33:32Where's
33:33Veronica?
33:34Why
33:34would she
33:35kill
33:35Craig
33:35and
33:35Carmen?
33:39Wendell
33:40locked
33:40himself in
33:41his room
33:41all night.
33:42At
33:42dawn,
33:43he walked
33:44out.
33:45Strouble
33:46shadowed
33:46his jaw.
33:47He
33:48made an
33:48announcement.
33:50Veronica
33:51killed my
33:51parents.
33:53I'm
33:54done
33:54hiding
33:55her real
33:55identity
33:56for her.
33:58The
33:59truth is
34:00Veronica
34:00has been
34:01dead a
34:01long
34:01time.
34:04She's
34:04an evil
34:05spirit.
34:05If any
34:06of you
34:06know
34:07capable
34:07corpse
34:08busters,
34:09send them
34:09my way.
34:10I'll
34:11pay
34:12whatever
34:12it takes.
34:13Word
34:14spread
34:14fast.
34:15Soon,
34:16the
34:16Hickman's
34:17Villa was
34:17swarming
34:18with
34:18talents.
34:19They
34:20laid
34:20magic
34:21circles
34:21and
34:21set
34:22traps.
34:23They
34:24were
34:24waiting
34:24for me
34:24to show
34:25myself
34:26so they
34:27could
34:27capture
34:28me and
34:28hand
34:29me over
34:29to
34:29Wendell
34:31for him
34:32to torture
34:32me.
34:35Meanwhile,
34:36in a
34:36small
34:37forgotten
34:37chapel,
34:38I was
34:38desperately
34:39trying to
34:39claw off
34:40the wedding
34:40dress
34:40feuded to
34:41my skin.
34:42Janine pecked
34:43at my sleeve
34:44with her beak,
34:44letting out a
34:45low,
34:46raspy
34:46caw.
34:47What is
34:48this thing?
34:49It won't
34:49budge.
34:51A stone
34:52statue in
34:53the corner
34:53shifted.
34:55Its eyes
34:56cracked open
34:57with a
34:58scoff.
34:59The marriage
35:00wasn't
35:01consummated.
35:02You
35:02didn't
35:03actually
35:04marry
35:05him.
35:06Of course,
35:08the dress
35:08won't
35:08come off.
35:10Jean
35:10and I
35:11looked up,
35:12surprised.
35:13Larry,
35:14you
35:15finally
35:16showed
35:16up!
35:16I
35:17said,
35:18Larry,
35:18a senior
35:19from the
35:20same
35:20forgotten
35:20mystical
35:21tradition,
35:22snotted.
35:23Oh,
35:24so you
35:25remember me,
35:25Veronica?
35:29I'm
35:29honored you
35:30came here
35:30instead of
35:31crawling back
35:31to your
35:32precious
35:32Wendell.
35:34Jean
35:35flew onto
35:36the pedestal.
35:38Of course
35:39she remembers
35:39you!
35:40Witch
35:41blood
35:41runs in
35:42her veins.
35:44She
35:44sees
35:45Wendell
35:45for what
35:45he is
35:46now.
35:47She
35:47knows
35:48we're
35:48the ones
35:48who
35:48really
35:49care
35:49for
35:49her.
35:51Pissed
35:52off,
35:53Larry
35:53let out
35:53a sharp
35:54laugh.
35:56Stop
35:57defending
35:58her.
36:00She
36:00caused
36:01her
36:01own
36:01mess
36:01by
36:02saving
36:02the
36:02wrong
36:02man.
36:04That's
36:04why
36:05she's
36:05hiding
36:05in
36:05a
36:05ruined
36:06chapel
36:06looking
36:06for
36:07a
36:07way
36:07out.
36:08Am
36:08I
36:08wrong?
36:09Embarrassed,
36:10I hung
36:10my head.
36:12My
36:12cheeks
36:12were
36:13burning.
36:14Even
36:14as he
36:15mocked
36:15me,
36:16Larry
36:16offered
36:16a
36:17solution.
36:17If
36:17you
36:17want
36:18that
36:18dress
36:18off,
36:18you'll
36:19have
36:19to
36:19marry
36:19Dominic
36:19Keenan,
36:20the
36:21sickly
36:21heir
36:21of
36:21the
36:22Keenan
36:22family.
36:23Of
36:24course,
36:24if
36:24you
36:24think
36:25that's
36:25beneath
36:25you,
36:25forget
36:26I
36:26said
36:26anything.
36:28I
36:29shook
36:29my
36:29head
36:30quickly.
36:31I
36:31don't.
36:32Only
36:33then did
36:33his
36:33tone
36:34soften
36:34a
36:34bit.
36:35Dominic
36:36has
36:36a
36:36unique
36:36fate.
36:38Marry
36:38him,
36:39and
36:40he'll
36:40keep
36:40you
36:40safe
36:41for
36:41the
36:41rest
36:41of
36:41your
36:41life.
36:42So
36:43even
36:43if
36:43you
36:43tell
36:44your
36:44secret
36:44after
36:45that,
36:45no
36:46one
36:46will
36:46dare
36:46come
36:47after
36:47you.
36:47Maybe
36:48it
36:48was
36:48my
36:48imagination.
36:49I
36:50thought
36:50I
36:50saw
36:50a
36:51faint
36:51blush
36:51of
36:52stone
36:52dust
36:52rise
36:53on
36:53Larry's
36:54cheek.
36:56I
36:57nodded
36:57eagerly.
36:58I
36:58agreed
36:59right
36:59away.
37:01We
37:02arrived
37:02at
37:02the
37:02Kenan's
37:03home.
37:04I
37:05thought
37:05things
37:05wouldn't
37:05be
37:05easy
37:06after
37:06that.
37:08But
37:09the
37:09moment
37:09we
37:09reached
37:09the
37:09gate
37:10and
37:10saw
37:10Dominic
37:10in
37:11person,
37:12at
37:12Jan's
37:12eyes
37:12went
37:12wide
37:13with
37:13shock.
37:15Larry?
37:18Larry
37:19was
37:20actually
37:21my
37:21cheeks
37:22flushed
37:22crimson.
37:24I
37:25wanted
37:25the
37:25floor
37:25to
37:26swallow
37:26me
37:26whole.
37:27Dominic
37:28brought
37:28a fist
37:28to his
37:28lips
37:29and
37:29cleared
37:29his
37:29throat.
37:30He
37:30explained,
37:31My
37:31fate
37:31is
37:31unique,
37:32so
37:33sometimes
37:33I
37:33cultivate
37:34by
37:35attaching
37:35my
37:35spirit
37:36to
37:36a
37:36stone
37:37statue.
37:40As
37:41for
37:41our
37:41marriage,
37:42don't
37:42overthink
37:43it.
37:44With
37:45my
37:45health
37:45the
37:45way
37:45it
37:45is
37:45I
37:46made
37:46peace
37:46with
37:46being
37:46alone
37:47forever.
37:51I
37:53bowed
37:54and
37:54thanked
37:54him
37:54sincerely.
37:56That
37:56very
37:57night
37:57we
37:58made
37:58it
37:58official
37:59and
38:00he
38:00was
38:00right.
38:01After
38:02we
38:02exchanged
38:03our
38:03vows,
38:04the
38:04wedding
38:05dress
38:05fell
38:05away
38:06on
38:06its
38:06own.
38:07I
38:07was
38:07so
38:07happy
38:08that
38:08entire
38:08night.
38:11But
38:12early
38:12the
38:12next
38:12morning
38:13at
38:13Jane
38:13squeezed
38:14through
38:14the
38:14gap
38:14between
38:15the
38:15door
38:15and
38:15frame
38:16in
38:16a
38:16panic.
38:19Mrs.
38:20Keenan,
38:20bad
38:20news!
38:21Still
38:22getting
38:22used to
38:22the
38:23new
38:23title,
38:23I
38:24smiled
38:24awkwardly.
38:25She
38:26seemed
38:26to be
38:27adjusting
38:27faster
38:28than
38:28I
38:28was.
38:30Catching
38:31her
38:31breath,
38:32she
38:32went
38:32on.
38:33Steven
38:33took
38:33your
38:33mother's
38:34urn
38:34from
38:34the
38:35Hollies
38:35home.
38:36He
38:37told
38:37Wendell
38:38that
38:38if
38:38you
38:38don't
38:39show
38:39up,
38:40he'll
38:40destroy
38:41it!
38:42It
38:42was
38:43inevitable.
38:43I
38:44said
38:44a
38:44quick
38:44goodbye
38:45to
38:45Dominic
38:45and
38:45left
38:45the
38:46Keenan's
38:46home.
38:47Just
38:48as
38:48I'd
38:48expected.
38:50To
38:51avenge
38:51his
38:51parents'
38:52awful
38:52deaths,
38:53Wendell
38:53had laid
38:54an
38:54airtight
38:54trap
38:55meant
38:55just
38:56for
38:56me.
38:57The
38:58moment
38:58I
38:58stepped
38:59into
38:59the
38:59main
38:59hall,
39:00every
39:01corpse
39:01buster
39:01in
39:01the
39:02room
39:02raised
39:02their
39:03weapons.
39:04The
39:05air
39:05was
39:05thick
39:05with
39:06tension,
39:07one
39:07of
39:07them
39:08not.
39:08Whatever
39:09you
39:09are,
39:10you're
39:11not
39:11leaving
39:11today.
39:14Wendell
39:15watched
39:15me
39:15from
39:15across
39:16the
39:16room.
39:17Pain
39:17and
39:18hate
39:18were
39:18mixed
39:19in
39:19his
39:19eyes.
39:20Veronica,
39:22why did
39:22you kill
39:23my parents?
39:24All I
39:25did was
39:25find another
39:26way to
39:26keep you
39:27with me.
39:28What
39:29was so
39:29wrong
39:30with that?
39:31Beside
39:31him,
39:32Darlene
39:32stirred
39:33the pot.
39:33Del,
39:34have
39:35the
39:35corpse
39:35busters
39:36finish
39:36her
39:37for
39:38Craig
39:39and
39:40Carmen.
39:42Dad
39:43and
39:43Betsy
39:43echoed
39:43her.
39:44You're
39:45a corpse
39:45now,
39:45Veronica.
39:48To
39:49stop you
39:49from hurting
39:50anyone else,
39:51you need
39:51to be
39:51put to
39:51rest
39:52for
39:53good.
39:54For
39:55a split
39:55second,
39:56Wendell
39:57looked
39:57torn.
39:58Then,
39:58thinking of
39:59his parents,
40:00his expression
40:00hardened.
40:01He said to
40:02the corpse
40:02busters,
40:03Do it.
40:04I looked
40:05around at
40:05the circle
40:06of so-called
40:06masters
40:07and almost
40:08laughed.
40:09You've been
40:10here for
40:10days.
40:11Haven't
40:12any of you
40:12felt
40:13something
40:13off?
40:14Not
40:14even a
40:15little?
40:15The
40:16corpse
40:16busters
40:17poised
40:17to
40:17strike
40:18exchanged
40:18uneasy
40:19glances.
40:20Dad
40:21put on
40:21a
40:21heartbroken
40:22face.
40:22You
40:23wicked
40:23girl!
40:24You're
40:25already
40:25dead!
40:26Don't
40:26try to
40:27stall!
40:28Just
40:28accept
40:28your
40:29fate!
40:30He
40:30even
40:31wiped
40:31away
40:31a
40:31fake
40:31tear.
40:32Wendell
40:33sneered.
40:34Your
40:35time
40:35ends
40:35here
40:36today,
40:36Veronica.
40:37No one
40:38seemed to
40:38notice the
40:39flash of
40:39panic on
40:40Darlene's
40:41face.
40:42She
40:43shouted,
40:44her voice
40:44tight with
40:45anxiety.
40:46Del!
40:46Now!
40:49Before
40:50it's too
40:50late!
40:51Hearing her,
40:52the corpse
40:53busters
40:53lunged at
40:54me,
40:55chanting.
40:56Janine
40:56shot from
40:57my pocket.
40:57in a
40:59few
40:59quick
40:59moves,
41:00she
41:00frozen
41:00every
41:01single
41:01one
41:02of
41:02them
41:02where
41:02they
41:02stood.
41:05I
41:06turned
41:06a
41:06cold
41:06gaze
41:07on
41:07a
41:07shocked
41:08Wendell.
41:10Then
41:11on
41:11dad,
41:11who was
41:12shielding
41:12Darlene
41:13behind
41:13him.
41:15You
41:15really
41:16think
41:16the
41:16life
41:16swapping
41:17ritual
41:17worked?
41:18That
41:18I'm
41:19a
41:19corpse
41:19now?
41:20You
41:20talented
41:21corpse
41:21busters
41:22should be
41:22ashamed.
41:24You
41:25can't
41:25even
41:25tell
41:26who's
41:26alive
41:26and
41:27who's
41:27dead.
41:29I
41:30gave
41:30a
41:30slight
41:30wave
41:30of
41:30my
41:31hand.
41:31I
41:31used
41:32a
41:32trick
41:32Dominic
41:32had
41:32taught
41:33me.
41:33The
41:34lights
41:34in
41:35the
41:35vast
41:35living
41:35room
41:35dimmed.
41:36The
41:37frozen
41:37corpse
41:38busters
41:38eyes
41:39widened
41:39in
41:40sudden
41:40dawning
41:41horror.
41:42How
41:42can
41:43this
41:43be?
41:45No,
41:46it's
41:46impossible.
41:47Furious,
41:49Wendell
41:49demanded
41:49to know
41:50what I'd
41:50done
41:50to
41:50them.
41:51I
41:52smiled.
41:53I
41:53was
41:53finally
41:54ready
41:54to
41:54speak
41:54the
41:55truth
41:55I'd
41:55buried
41:55for
41:56years.
41:57Wendell,
41:57the
41:58life-swapping
41:59ritual
41:59is
41:59real,
42:01but I
42:01used
42:02it
42:02three
42:02years
42:02ago.
42:04You
42:05are
42:05the
42:05corpse
42:05groom
42:06I
42:06brought
42:06back.
42:07You
42:07died
42:08in
42:08that
42:08crash.
42:12I
42:13cut
42:13a
42:13paper
42:13figure
42:14and
42:14staged
42:14the
42:15ritual
42:15to
42:15trick
42:16the
42:16Grim
42:16Reaper.
42:19I
42:19pulled
42:19you
42:19back,
42:20Dad,
42:21Betsy.
42:21you
42:22were
42:22both
42:22badly
42:23hurt
42:23too,
42:23like
42:24Craig
42:24and
42:24Carmen.
42:25I
42:25used
42:26a
42:26witch's
42:26art,
42:27substituting
42:28goat
42:28hearts
42:28and
42:29kidneys.
42:30That's
42:31the only
42:31reason you're
42:31still alive.
42:32I did
42:33everything I
42:34could to bring
42:34you all
42:35back,
42:35and in
42:36return,
42:37you want
42:38to destroy
42:38me.
42:42Jackson
42:43came the
42:43most desperate
42:44move of
42:45all,
42:45forced
42:46Jessie to
42:46terminate
42:47the
42:47pregnancy,
42:48and even
42:48had someone
42:49deliver the
42:50medical
42:50record to
42:50me.
42:51Stained
42:51at the
42:52corners
42:52with
42:52fresh
42:53blood,
42:53I
42:54was
42:54disgusted.
42:55Around
42:55that
42:56time,
42:57Jordan
42:57started
42:57grooming
42:58me as
42:58the
42:58next
42:59successor
42:59of
43:00the
43:00Fletcher
43:00group,
43:01and the
43:01first
43:02challenge
43:02I
43:02set
43:02for
43:03myself
43:03was
43:04to
43:04bring
43:04down
43:04the
43:04Stainberg
43:05group.
43:05After a
43:07series of
43:07calculated
43:08strikes,
43:09their
43:09stock
43:10plummeted.
43:11I
43:11seized
43:12the
43:12opportunity
43:12and
43:13bought
43:13up
43:13shares
43:14at
43:14rock
43:14bottom
43:15prices.
43:16Completely
43:17catching
43:17Jackson
43:18off
43:18guard.
43:19Backed
43:20into a
43:20corner
43:20and on
43:21the
43:21verge
43:21of
43:21bankruptcy,
43:22Jackson
43:23finally
43:23caved.
43:24He
43:25agreed
43:25to the
43:26divorce
43:26after the
43:27Friday
43:27market
43:27closed.
43:28We
43:29were
43:29finally
43:29officially
43:30divorced.
43:33The
43:34corpse
43:34buster
43:34swallowed
43:35hard
43:35before
43:35going
43:36on.
43:47And
43:48she'd
43:48face
43:48punishment
43:48for it.
43:49Mr.
43:50Hickman,
43:50it's
43:50true.
43:51You,
43:52Mr.
43:52and Mrs.
43:53Hawley,
43:54you've
43:54been
43:54dead
43:55all
43:55along.
44:00I
44:01arched
44:01an
44:01eyebrow.
44:02Maybe
44:03I'd
44:03underestimated
44:04those
44:04corpse
44:05busters.
44:05A few
44:06of them
44:06actually
44:07knew
44:08what they
44:08were
44:09talking
44:09about.
44:10Still
44:10struggling
44:11to believe
44:11it,
44:12Wendell
44:12grabbed
44:12Darlane's
44:13arm.
44:13Darla,
44:14look at
44:15me!
44:17Am I
44:18dead?
44:20Darlane
44:21fell
44:21silent.
44:22Just
44:23then,
44:24a familiar
44:24voice spoke
44:25up for me.
44:27Del,
44:27Vera
44:28is telling
44:28the truth.
44:29Craig
44:30and
44:30Carmen
44:30stood
44:31there.
44:31The
44:32grim
44:32reaper
44:33was
44:33beside
44:33them.
44:34Seeing
44:34them,
44:35Wendell,
44:36Dad,
44:36and Betsy
44:36went weak.
44:37They sank
44:38to the
44:38floor.
44:39Betsy
44:39shot
44:39Dad
44:40a
44:40look.
44:40He
44:40nodded.
44:41He
44:41clutched
44:42my
44:42arm,
44:42a
44:42desperate
44:43hope
44:43lighting
44:43his
44:44eyes.
44:45Vera,
44:45I'm
44:45sorry.
44:46I was
44:47wrong
44:47about
44:47you.
44:48I
44:48don't
44:48want
44:48to
44:48die
44:49yet.
44:49Please,
44:50think
44:51of
44:51something.
44:52Let
44:52me
44:52live
44:53for
44:53decades
44:53more.
44:55I
44:56pulled
44:56my
44:56hand
44:57away.
44:57I
44:58gave
44:58a
44:58faint
44:58smile.
44:59There's
44:59nothing
45:00I
45:00can
45:00do
45:00now.
45:01The
45:01moment
45:02you
45:02decided
45:02to
45:02trade
45:03me
45:03for
45:03Darlene,
45:04I
45:04couldn't
45:04keep
45:04the
45:04secret
45:05any
45:05longer.
45:06You,
45:07Betsy,
45:08and
45:08Darlene,
45:09you're
45:09the perfect
45:10family of
45:10three,
45:11aren't
45:11you?
45:11You
45:12can
45:12be
45:12together
45:13again
45:13in
45:13hell.
45:14Dad
45:15and
45:15Betsy
45:16were
45:16seized
45:16by the
45:17grim
45:17reaper.
45:19Their
45:20heart
45:20ranking
45:20screams
45:21faded
45:21quickly
45:22into
45:22nothing.
45:24Meanwhile,
45:26Wendell
45:26stared in
45:26shock at
45:27his
45:27parents.
45:28His
45:28eyes
45:28turned
45:29red.
45:29Mom,
45:31Dad,
45:33you're
45:34back.
45:36Craig
45:37and
45:37Carmen
45:37took
45:38his
45:38hands.
45:40Then
45:40they
45:40turned
45:41to
45:41glare
45:41at
45:41Darlene,
45:42furious.
45:43Del,
45:44you
45:44fool!
45:45You
45:45shouldn't
45:46have
45:46saved
45:46Darlene,
45:46she
45:46killed
45:47us!
45:48What
45:49a
45:49shame.
45:51Vera
45:51did
45:51everything
45:52to
45:52protect
45:52us
45:52for
45:53three
45:53years.
45:54And
45:54you
45:55hurt
45:55her
45:55for
45:55this
45:55wretch's
45:56sake.
45:57Face
45:57the
45:58truth,
45:58Del.
45:59Wendell
45:59clenched
45:59his fists.
46:01He
46:01looked
46:01up,
46:02his
46:02eyes
46:03fixed
46:03on
46:03me.
46:05After
46:05a
46:05long
46:06moment,
46:06two
46:07tears
46:07rolled
46:07from
46:08beneath
46:08his
46:08closed
46:09lidds.
46:10When
46:10he
46:10opened
46:11them
46:11again,
46:11he
46:12seemed
46:12to
46:12have
46:12come
46:13to
46:13terms
46:13with
46:13it.
46:14He
46:15walked
46:15slowly
46:16toward
46:16me.
46:17Then
46:17he
46:17dropped
46:17to
46:18his
46:18knees.
46:18He
46:19looked
46:19up
46:19with
46:19a
46:20plea
46:20in
46:20his
46:20eyes.
46:21Vera,
46:21I'm
46:21sorry.
46:23This
46:24was
46:24my
46:24fault.
46:26I
46:26hurt
46:27you.
46:28I
46:29can't
46:29even
46:29imagine
46:30how
46:30much
46:30it
46:30broke
46:30you
46:31when
46:32you
46:32found
46:32out
46:32I
46:32was
46:33going
46:33to
46:33trade
46:33you
46:33for
46:34Darlene.
46:35Vera,
46:36is
46:36it
46:36true?
46:37Will
46:38you
46:38be
46:38in
46:38danger
46:38now
46:39that
46:39the
46:39truth
46:39is
46:39out?
46:40Don't
46:41worry.
46:43This
46:44time,
46:45I'll
46:45be the
46:45one
46:45to
46:46protect
46:46you.
46:47I
46:48asked
46:48him
46:48what
46:48he
46:48meant
46:48to
46:49do,
46:49but
46:50he
46:50only
46:50smiled
46:51without
46:51answering.
46:52As
46:52he
46:53got
46:53to
46:53his
46:53feet,
46:54he
46:54moved
46:54as
46:55if
46:55to
46:55kiss
46:55me
46:55like
46:56he
46:56used
46:56to.
46:57I
46:57showed
46:57him
46:57the
46:58wedding
46:58ring
46:58on
46:58my
46:58finger.
47:01You
47:01have
47:01someone
47:02to
47:02protect
47:02me
47:02now.
47:03Stay
47:04away,
47:04Wendell.
47:05A
47:06complicated
47:06mix
47:06of
47:07feelings
47:07flashed
47:08through
47:08his
47:08eyes
47:08when
47:08he
47:08saw
47:09the
47:09ring.
47:10Finally,
47:11he
47:11bent
47:22away.
47:22Now,
47:23Darlene,
47:24Craig,
47:24and
47:24Carmen
47:25had all
47:25been
47:25taken
47:26by the
47:26At
47:26Grim
47:27Reaper.
47:28Only
47:28Wendell
47:29remained.
47:29Just before
47:30he was
47:30taken,
47:31he began
47:32to chant.
47:32The
47:33onlookers
47:33gasped.
47:34A
47:37replacement
47:37spell.
47:41How does
47:42he know
47:42that?
47:43He's
47:44taking
47:44on
47:44Miss
47:45Veronica's
47:45punishment.
47:47Janine,
47:48perched
47:48on my
47:49shoulder,
47:49let out
47:50a soft,
47:50playful
47:51caw.
47:52Larry ran
47:53into
47:53Wendell
47:54once by
47:54chance
47:55and taught
47:55him that
47:55spell.
47:57Said it
47:58might come
47:58in handy
47:59someday.
48:00So that
48:01was it?
48:02The
48:02spell took
48:03effect
48:03immediately.
48:04Starting
48:04from his
48:05feet,
48:05flames
48:06crept
48:06upward
48:07until
48:07they
48:07engulfed
48:08him
48:08completely.
48:09When
48:09they
48:09reached
48:09his
48:10neck,
48:10fighting
48:11through
48:11the
48:11soul-deep
48:11pain,
48:12he asked
48:13me with
48:13a
48:13strained
48:14smile,
48:15Vera,
48:16if there's
48:16a next
48:16life,
48:18will you
48:18give me
48:19a chance
48:19to make
48:19it up
48:20to you?
48:21Until
48:21the fire
48:22burned
48:22him to
48:22ash,
48:23I never
48:24gave
48:24an
48:24answer.
48:29When
48:30something
48:30was over,
48:31it was
48:32over.
48:32with
48:34love
48:34gone
48:35was a
48:36promise
48:37for
48:37another
48:37life
48:37really
48:38necessary.
48:38to
48:40love
48:40to
48:40love
48:40to
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