I know I know it's been a while.
Yes I know three years BUT I FINALLY WROTE ANOTHER CHAPTER SO ONTO THE STORY.
Victor's body went limp, his arms slowly sliding off Sparky's back. It was impossible. It had to be! Victor looked down at Sparky and then wasn't so sure if it was all that impossible.
If it was true…it would explain a lot of things. Why everyone said they were cursed. Why everyone avoided him. Did the town think that what happened to father (if it was in fact true) would happen to him as well?
"How…it can't be true…," Victor breathed in disbelief.
His father smiled gently and held out his hand, urging Victor to take it.
"I want to show you something," he said.
"Outside of the house?" Victor asked, taking his father's hand.
"Yes."
His father stood up and Victor started to as well and said, "But I can't just leave Sparky here now that mother has seen him and I certainly can't take him outside."
"Just wrap him up in a blanket," his father said simply.
"But-," Victor said about to protest but decided if his father thought it was all right, then it probably was.
Victor quickly found a blanket and folded it around Sparky. He hoped what his father had to show him wouldn't take too long. He did really want to see whatever it was but the longer Sparky was outside the house, out in the open; the more likely it would be that he could get discovered.
They both exited the house and started walking through the town. Sparky wiggled, trying to get out from under the blanket, but Victor held onto him tightly.
Victor looked up at his father, seeing that he held a quite calm expression. He stood up straight with his hands clasped behind his back and a slight smile on his face. He strolled with confidence towards his destination. He seemed relieved. Happy to be showing his only son something, which Victor knew, would be important and very precious to him.
Victor looked away from his father and saw that they were approaching the town's entrance. He gave a puzzled look to his dad, who wasn't looking at him, and remained quiet.
"What about mother?" Victor questioned, worried since she hadn't reacted very well to seeing Sparky.
"I think your mother just needs some time to think things through. What happened so long ago...Still affects us to this day," his father expressed with a sigh. "It's completely understandable why she would be upset. All she wanted was to forget that one night, but this town will never let that be possible."
Victor stared at the ground and tried to remember everything he could about the old tale his father used to tell him. He wasn't sure if he could even believe such a story. He certainly couldn't believe that his father had accidentally married a corpse and got sent to some underworld full of dead people.
Cobblestone soon turned into dirt, and Victor realized that they had entered the graveyard outside of the town. Victor glanced at his father, concerned, but chose not to ask any questions just yet.
His father led him into the forest and through the cluster of trees. He appeared to know exactly where he was going, but Victor couldn't be sure. After all, no one in the town ever entered the forest.
Victor gradually grew more and more anxious the deeper they submerged themselves into the woods. They had been steadily walking for a few minutes now, and Victor hoped his father would be able to remember the way out. With confusion stirring around in his brain, he was suddenly jolted to a stop when his father raised his arm in front of him and stated, "We're here."
Before them was a twisted old oak tree. It was much like the one his father had described in the tale of the corpse bride. According to the story, this was where Emily had supposedly died. Victor turned to his father to see him kneeling down and placing his hand against the cold and barren soil.
"This was where I first met Emily," his father smiled sadly.
He patted the patch of dirt beside him, indicating for Victor to sit. Victor walked over and plopped down in front of him. He crossed his legs and looked at his father expectantly.
"There isn't really much more to say," he started, staring off into the distance. "I've told you the story so many times it's probably engraved into your head. The only part that I held back from you was the fact that it was true, and that I was the young man who found himself surrounded by the dead."
Victor remained silent, keeping his eyes focused on his hands settling upon his left knee. He had so many questions, but they all seemed ridiculous.
"You don't believe me, do you?" his father asked solemnly.
"It's not that I don't believe you...It makes sense, considering the way everyone treats us," Victor confessed. "I just…wonder how such a story could be true."
"It does seem unbelievable, but it was the most real night of my life. I was terrified, but that experience changed me in more ways than anyone will ever know."
Victor knew from the story that the groom had been a shy, stuttering, and all around awkward individual. A man who was nervous and fearful of everything. The one sitting across from him right now was nothing of the sort. His father was indeed quiet, but he was probably one of the bravest men he knew.
"Do you think it's possible," Victor asked, "for it to happen again? I mean, for the dead to visit the Land of the Living?"
"I'm sure it is," his father said. "I just think that they have no reason to visit us."
"Do...you wish to go back?" Victor asked hesitantly.
"Many times I do miss all of the wonderful people I met down there," his father admitted, "but I know I'll get to see them again eventually. Most likely not in my lifetime, but most certainly in the life after this."
Sparky suddenly interrupted them by trying to nuzzle his way into Victor's lap. Annoyed, Victor gently picked him up and placed him by his side, scratching the top of Sparky's head in hopes that that would calm him.
"So...that's really the reason why we're treated so differently? That's the reason everyone thinks we're cursed? All because of that one night?"
"Unfortunately yes," his father sighed. "The people of this town have never been particularly open-minded or open to reasoning. They fear what they don't understand. And I can't say that I blame them. All they saw that night was the dead walk the earth. They didn't experience what I did. They didn't meet the dead, they didn't befriend the dead, they never saw who they truly were."
His father paused, pondering something for a few moments. "I don't know the exact reason why they think our family is cursed. It could be a number of things. I think it was because I was the reason the dead came to the Land of the Living. I've overheard people say the only way it could have been possible would be if our family was closely tied to death."
Shaking, Victor vocalized a question he had been dreading to ask. "Does that mean that our family is cursed?"
"Absolutely not," his father stated firmly. "I see a curse as something bad that happens to someone. The day I met the dead was far from a curse. I wouldn't be the man I am today if that night had never happened, and it's one of my fondest memories. However...that night should have been entirely blamed on me. I'm devastated by the fact that it has affected our entire family. I can't express how sorry I am that this has negatively impacted you and your mother."
"It wasn't your fault. I don't blame you for the ignorance of others," Victor commented. "But if we're not cursed...then what about Sparky? I brought him back from the dead."
"Well obviously you don't see that as a curse, do you?" his father inquired. When Victor slowly shook his head, he continued. "I see these events as entirely coincidental and unrelated. And anyways, we're not the type to believe in curses, right?" he playfully smirked.
"But we're supposed to believe in an underworld where spiders and maggots can talk?" Victor challenged, raising an eyebrow.
"I guess it's simply a don't believe it until you see it situation," his father shrugged. "Anyways, I feel that I've said all that I can. Now, explain to me," he stopped to lean over and poke Sparky's nose, looking at Victor with a smile, "how this happened."
Victor excitedly told him how he had planned and successfully brought back Sparky from the dead. His father listened silently, amazed by his son's intelligence. His marvel soon turned into concern when Victor hold him that Lucas had discovered that Sparky was alive.
"How did he find out? You said Sparky had remained in the house at all times?"
"I have no idea. I always made sure the attic door was locked when I couldn't check up on him, so I'm clueless as to how Lucas knew."
"hmmm," his father mumbled, deep in thought. "That could be an issue. As long as Lucas doesn't tell anybody, it should be alright but Victor...If the town finds out about this…"
"I know. It wouldn't be good," Victor said, glancing down at Sparky who was happily looking up at him.
His father stood up, and Victor did the same. Sparky got up and enthusiastically started running around Victor's legs.
"It's getting dark. We should head home," his father noted. "Make sure Sparky is hidden."
Victor caught Sparky and struggled to hold him still long enough for him to completely cover him with the blanket. Once Victor picked him up and adjusted him so that he was comfortably settled into his arms, Sparky relaxed. Victor then followed his father out of the woods, contemplating on how often he had made these visits to know the forest so well. The walk back didn't feel nearly as long as it had when they had entered, and in no time Victor could spot the town through the mass of trees.
Victor froze when they exited the forest and spotted Pastor Galswells staring at them from the front door of the church. His father nodded to him respectfully, but the Pastor only glared at them with distrust. Victor hoped he wasn't suspicious of what his arms held. Pastor Galswells was the last person Victor wanted to know about Sparky. Once they reached the bridge, he heard the door to the church loudly shut behind them.
"Is there anyone is this town who doesn't hate us?" Victor snickered.
"There are a few believe it or not," his father said.
Victor's eye's widened in surprise. "There are? Beside's Lucas' family, I mean."
"Oh yes, actually. Not many, admittedly. That night, there were a few who saw the dead as who they really were. The main reason for that was they had found loved ones who had passed and got to briefly reunite with them. Many of them were older folks and have since passed, but there are still a few people left who stand by our family."
A few people came into mind when Victor speculated on who those people might be. Lucas' family of course, along with some of his father's co-workers. It was reassuring to know that there were at least a few on their side.
They made it back home peacefully, slightly relieving Victor of the fear that Sparky would be discovered. Unbeknownst to him however, just as they had returned four figures had silently crept away from the house, ready to recreate the small towns most frightening memory.
Hope you guys enjoyed it. No promises as to when the next chapter will be uploaded, but I have an idea as to what it's going to be about so hopefully soon?