What do you mean, 'set it on fire?'" Maggot cried, recoiling in his fear.

"Downstairs is a mess," Emily said, "everything's up in flames! Victor, can you hear me? We have to get out of here!"

Victor seemed torn for an instant. "No!" he cried as the corpse bride tried to drag him towards the outdoors balcony, "I'll not leave Victoria. But—but I can't lift her, Emily. Will you help me?"

"No." Emily's tone was firm. "Out of the question. She's dead, Victor—and I won't encourage you to think otherwise."

They had a somewhat hurried staring-contest during which Maggot commenced the wildest fits, writhing and screaming with such panic that Emily was forced to attend to him. Cupping the worm in her hands, she made her way to the balcony and then turned.

"You're coming, Victor?" she said, watching as the faint glow of fire dimly lit the hallway just outside Victoria's room.

Victor was trying desperately to lift Victoria, but his efforts were wasted. Turning his head towards Emily, he replied, "I can't."

"Why can't you?" she spat. "You're still clinging to that old hope that she's alive? Don't be such a child, Victor. She's dead—grin and bear it, why don't you?"

It was harsh of her to speak thus, though she had not believed it so whilst she said it. Victor made no reply and seated himself quietly at Victoria's side, his head bowed.

"Why, you're suicidal!" Emily cried as she caught sight of the fire which now blazed merrily in the hall.

"It would be wrong of me to leave her," Victor said, "for if I believe her living, I have no choice but to believe that—that you won't leave me to die and will therefore help me carry her out!"

Emily had never before seen such behavior. With an awful grimace, she swung the balcony's glass doors open and stepped outside. The sight which met her eyes was not at all a pleasant one and she gasped, horrified; the whole town was on fire, save for the church, and a sizable crowd stood in the town square as they watched their houses fall to ruin.

Her eye fell unexpectedly from its socket and Maggot said, "What's going on? Why's everything burning?"

"Went back in, did you?" Emily said, a little dazed.

Victor was coughing violently behind her and she turned, her expression frozen, hoping that perhaps he would come outside of his own accord.

"He'll never leave, will he?" she whispered. "Will I be forced to—to—"

"Knock him unconscious?" Maggot interrupted. "That's a swell idea! But he won't ever forgive you for it, I'm afraid."

Emily closed her eyes for a moment as Victor's coughing grew exceedingly worse. Then she said, "I won't make him leave her."

"Then you're leaving him? To burn alive?"

"No." Emily swallowed audibly. "I'm—I'm helping him with that corpse."

Inside Victoria's room, Victor found things more than a little unpleasant. His breathing had become labored and he coughed with every breath as smoke blurred his vision, forcing him to shut his eyes. Holding both Victoria's hands, he prayed silently that Emily would have pity on him and offer her desperately wanted assistance.

Consciousness fast departing, he soon found himself lying beside Victoria, unbearable heat closing about him as rested between her and the raging fire.

"Oh, Victoria," he murmured, his long fingers playing with her hair.

Emily slipped her arms beneath him and lifted him before rushing towards the balcony. The moment his lungs were filled with fresh, cool air Victor seemed a little revived; he gazed about him in bewilderment as Emily climbed from the balcony, but then began striving weakly to free himself of her hold.

"What is it?" Emily said, irritated. Her feet finally resting on firm ground, she laid Victor down gently and paused as he gasped,

"Victoria—you haven't left her, have you? Say you haven't!"

The corpse bride threw up her hands in exasperation. Finding that her troublesome eye was lying on Victor, she caught it up swiftly and realized that Maggot had settled himself on Victor's middle; looking up at her, the worm said urgently,

"The house is burning pretty fast...if you're going back for that girl, you'd better go now. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."

Emily wasted no time in clambering back up the wall and onto the balcony. Victoria was not very heavy, either; it was hardly any trouble carrying her to safety. Victor caught sight of Emily as she returned, and as she deposited Victoria close by him he managed to whisper the corpse bride's name, whereupon she sat near him inquisitively.

"You want to say something, then?" she said, still a little put out with his past behavior.

Victor was not fully recovered and his body twisted with pain; groaning softly after every agonizing cough, he tried to remain still but could not. Emily scolded him gently for having spoken and, fishing about in his coat until she found it, stroked his damp forehead with his handkerchief.

"There will be plenty of time to talk later on," she said. "You're going to be alright, Victor. Don't worry—you're not going to die," she added with a smile, for he did seem somewhat panicked by his present state of health.

Emily's eyes strayed towards Victoria's unmoving form and she wished fervently that she could say the same to her.

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I should like to make an announcement before I continue with this tale. Pressing matters have occurred which render it impossible for me to continue writing frequently. Furthermore, I am not entirely certain that this story captures not only my but my readers' interest anymore.

Bidding you all a "very temporary" farewell,

Daniel Benson