The next night: Emily's P.O.V.

What else could I say?

"Sorry Barkis, but I'd sooner grow old and live with a group of tabby cats?"

No chance! I was grabbing my opportunity to happiness and freedom and I was taking the risks along the way.

Mother and father knew nothing of the affair. No one knew – just me and Barkis. It was all very secret and private. Just moments after I said 'I do', Barkis had the biggest smile on his face that I had ever seen – filled with relief, joy and happiness. I'd never seen anyone smile like him like he did in that moment. He promised me he'd buy me a proper engagement ring as soon as we arrived at the nearest jeweller that wasn't in the village. I had no idea where he intended for us to go. He told me that he'd organise a horse and carriage to take us away – tonight! – and that he'd find us a priest to marry us as soon as we laid eyes on a church.

So, needless to say, I objected saying I wasn't going to marry unless I had a gown. And at such short notice, where does a girl go to buy a wedding dress without raising suspicion until she has departed? There was only one option, and honestly, I didn't like it.

Mother's wedding gown. I adored it from the moment I laid eyes on it when I was a child – the way its white beauty seemed to illuminate the dull grey backdrop of her wardrobe, filled with dark, dingy colours but the dress – on its own – managed to enlighten the space like the moonlight radiated through my bedroom window at night.

So – with that in mind – I followed my instructions as to what had to be done and what was needed. It appeared to me in the form of a mental list:

Clothes, including shoes

Jewellery – family, preferably

Money – plenty of it

My wedding outfit – gown, shoes, veil, gloves and bouquet.

The list was very short, but therefore easy to remember. Barkis had agreed we should meet at a local point around 2am. I suggested the bridge but he said we'd be spotted by passers-by. "At 2am?" I had thought, but he insisted we met in the graveyard, by the old oak tree in the woods. He was constantly insistent about where we met, no matter how many places I had suggested: the bridge, the church doorways, the edge of the woods, by the village fountain, or even outside the old butchers (which I heard was soon to be converted in to a fishmongers by some local family-run business – Van Fort? Van Dert? Some name similar to that.) Anyway, Barkis decided – despite my objections – to meet in the woods. Five minutes after, he disappeared, grinning from ear to ear with excitement. In the time between us departing, I made a second mental list about what order to do things in:

Organise my clothes and possessions.

Pack some food for the journey.

Write a letter for Mum and Dad?

The last one was a question because I couldn't decide whether to do it or not. If I did, they would surely come after me and convince me not to go ahead. If I didn't, they would be left wondering where I disappeared to and why, worried to the core about if I was to return and if so, when? It upset me too much to picture my mother sitting in her armchair, grasping my letter and crying her eyes out, wishing she knew more. My father? I saw him as always, as if nothing happened but inside, deep down I knew he would be emotionally affected by it all. So that was it. I wasn't going to write a goodbye note. Besides, they would be too suspicious and immediately know that I disappeared with Barkis. I would only be adding more fuel to the fire by explaining it all on paper. Decision made: no letter.

So with time running out, I grabbed the dress before mother and father came to bed, prepared myself for the departure and counted down the minutes until I left behind my life for a new one.

And so, here I am. The time is 2.20am, and I find myself sitting by the old oak tree next to the graveyard, waiting for my lover. I was twenty minutes late but Barkis was nowhere to be seen…yet. He'd be here soon, I knew he wouldn't let me down. He showed up at the fountain today to accept our engagement, why would he depart from me now? He'll be here. He'd better be here soon! This wedding gown doesn't do any favours. A bare shoulders, strapless corset with a thin material skirt and no shoulder covering does not assist in keeping me warm. But the thought of that warm horse-drawn carriage made it all worthwhile. I could picture it now. A dark chestnut coloured wood carriage, plush velvet seats, white lace curtains complete with a light brown…white?...dark grey?...no, dark brown horse standing proudly at the front, awaiting its instructions to whisk away the happy couple.

And what if it was a black horse? Either way, as long as it has four legs and understands its driver's orders, I don't care. As long as it is warm inside, I don't care.

My suitcase sits beside me, almost bulging at the seams with the large amount of possessions stuffed inside. Clothes, jewels, money, bit and bobs of mine that I cannot leave behind. Childs toys that began to hibernate at the back of my wardrobe, diaries from my younger years, reading books, and little bits from fond memories that I kept behind to help me remind myself of those fun times: like the tickets from my first ballet performance on my eleventh birthday, or a single pearl that fell from my favourite bracelet. My favourite thing was a piece of paper, covered with pencil scribbles and doodles when my friends and I were stuck inside during a rain storm and all we had for our entertainment was that piece of paper and a single pencil. All the books were read, the jigsaw puzzles had been completed, the cooks refused to let us help them in the kitchen, the butlers were resting, mother and father were sitting by the fire reading and the hallway echoed with the sound of the grandfather clock ticking. What could three girls do at a time like that when there was nothing to do? So we had found that single piece of paper and began scribbling like our lives depended on it. Little childish scribbles like funny faces, woodland trees, the sun, a fish, a boat or a dog.

My friends Maggie and Helena were always very extravagant and eccentric when it came to art, so you could tell between their scribbles and mine – compare the wild to the elegant and precise sketches and you knew who drew what. Somehow that piece of paper made its way in to my memory box and had been there ever since. Who knew that such wonderful memories could be held on a single and simple thing as paper? I never knew it could, until I was reunited with the loveable thing just half an hour ago. Now I wondered where Maggie and Helena were now. Were they married, with children? Still bachelorettes at their age and living at home with their parents? Whatever they were up to, I hope they were happy.

Oh, where are you Barkis? It's nearly 2.40am and the cold isn't getting any warmer. It's unbearable. The cold and wondering where you are. The forest is dark, gloomy, mysterious and somewhat haunted. The fact that I'm sitting next to a bunch of graves isn't helping. I feel like I can sense the hands of the buried dead trying to reach out for free, clawing their way through wood and dirt just to grab hold of me and drag me down with them. Why am I feeling this? What can explain this idea? This reality nightmare? Doubts? Did I really want to do this? No. It's just the cold, playing with my mind. Making me think such absurd things. Just a little worry brought on by the cold…and the surroundings.

What was that?

I just saw something move. In amongst the trees, hidden by the dark. Something large and tall. Almost like a giant cloaked in inky blackness. Barkis? Could it be him? What other creature known to man would resemble a giant like him? Certainly not a squirrel or a wild deer. No, it had to be him. He's on his way. He's coming. I knew he would…but where did he go? I saw that shape move just seconds ago but where is it now? Now there's no one else out here except for me.

I turned around…and he was there! Standing behind me, towering over me like a predator after its prey, his eyes dark and clouded, his top hat adding to his monstrous height and his black cloak wrapped around him like a blanket.

"Aaaahhh!" I screamed in shock, my cries echoing across the woods like a resonating church bell, only more shrill and distressed. At the sudden sound of me screaming, he lunged forward, revealing his long, thin fingers from hiding under his cloak and clasped them over my mouth. Instantly, I was gagged and reduced to silence as he looked around the woods, suspiciously.

"It's me. Don't scream. People might here you."

I nodded in agreement, and felt as he slowly lowered his hand from my mouth, the cold winter air instantly hitting my lips.

"Barkis! Darling, you scared me."

"Apologies my dear. It seems the dark and cold do not do me any favours." He stared down at me, gazing all over my body. I then realised he was looking at my dress.

"You look so beautiful, my darling. The most beautiful bride ever. My bride."

I was flattered and touched by his words, a warm sensation rising in my belly as she continued to stare over me until his gaze dropped across my luggage.

"Did you bring everything required?"

"I did, yes. Have you organised a carriage?" I asked, eager to feel the warmth of that carriage that I had fantasised about in the last half an hour.

"I have" he nodded. It should be waiting for us at the edge of the woods by now. I came here to collect you, and to whisk you away to a life you never imagined could happen."

Such words of wonder! 'A life I never imagined'. How fantastic!

He turned his back to me as I bent down to pick up my suitcase, recollecting the weight of it and realising just how weak I was when my limbs were cold. I took hold of the handle with both hands, before seeing a shadow of Barkis' hand coming down upon my own. He settled it lightly on my hands, and I looked up to confront him as he gazed in to my eyes.

Those eyes that I came to love – so handsome and dazzling – were now dark, heavy and filled with evil. He looked at me with a gruesome smile painted on his face, the darkness of the night and shadows of the woods only making him appear more devilish and hideous. I was horrified at the sight of him, but when he opened his mouth, my fear of his appearance were nothing compared to the fear I felt at that moment when he said:

"You won't be needing that, my dear."

His voice made my skin crawl. It was like I was facing another man – a darker side of the gentleman I came to love. Yet though I was quivering with fear, I was mesmerized by his eyes and I found myself slowly standing up, releasing my hands from the grip on my suitcase. My feet started moving in sync with Barkis' – as he moved towards me, I moved back, step by step. I didn't feel the urge to scream or shout, I merely watched him creep closer like a stalking tiger. Step by step, he came closer.

"What are you doing Barkis?" I asked, trying not to sound scared but failing as my voice came out in a nervous shriek, like a mouse cornered by a hungry cat.

Several steps later, I was far away from my suitcase, still hypnotized by Barkis' eyes, before finding myself up against the tree. I couldn't go anywhere else. I was trapped. I snapped out of my trance to confirm how trapped I was. No space in front or to my sides to escape from him. He approached ever closer, closing the space between us.

In a quick sudden flash of movement, he was inches away from touching me. He thrust his arms either side of my head, smacking the tree trunk with an almighty thwack! I could feel his hot breath on my cold skin, then suddenly one hand on my cheek, roughly grabbing me before lunging in for a kiss. I was too shocked to notice this happening before it was too late. By the time my head had registered the kiss, he was pulling away and smiling devilishly.

Slowly sweeping aside his cloak, revealing his finely crafted waistcoat, he reached his hand in to a secret pocket tucked close to his chest…that concealed a very large knife. The blade of the knife glistened in the moonlight like diamonds, dazzling me. I knew what was going to happen, but still I didn't scream. Who was going to hear me? At this time of night? When no one knew I was here…not even my own mother and father. I was alone. Afraid, scared, cold and alone. And soon to be dead.

My legs lost all strength of holding me up, and slowly I started slipping down the tree trunk, becoming smaller in Barkis' eyes and watching him grow and tower before me. He never stopped smiling, and I knew why. He'd got me. He made me believe I was worthy of his love – if he had any feeling of love – and let me down at the point of no return. He had me believe that my fantasies of romance, love, marriage and eternal happiness would actually come true. No they wouldn't. Not now. Would they ever? Not unless my perfect man swooped in at this very moment, stronger than Barkis, saving me like the princess locked in the tower. I could picture him: tall, handsome, dark-haired and possibly skinny, with perfect eyes, a silky voice and manners so flawless. Would he ever rescue me? Would anyone ever rescue me? Would the damsel in distress ever find her one true love? I made a vow then and there, that in this life or the next, I would find my prince charming. Regardless how long it took, I will find him. Or he will find me? I hope so.

Barkis held the knife above me, like he was taking aim. I was now at the base of the tree, hot tears streaming down my face and my limbs quivering with the cold and fear. My fingers were numb, my lips were sore, my head was pounding with pain and my feet trembled as snow leaked in to my shoes. I was consumed with terror, with no way of escaping it – except in death.

And that's what came next. My death. Barkis took one last look at me, his eyes growing ever darker, saliva seeping from his mouth and down his chin, only adding to his demonic image. He grasped the knife with both hands and raised it high above his head.

"Sleep tight, my dear" he said, his voice cackling with evil.

In one last attempt to show my remaining strength, I raised my left arm high in a bid to block out the sight of his face, spreading my fingers wide, catching sight of the finger I imagine would hold the 'loop of love' – my wedding ring. It was bare, and always would be from now on. No wedding ring to glisten in the sunlight. Just a bare finger.

I was a lost soul, a fool in love, a girl manipulated with tales of promise and fantasy. I was inches away from being a bride, and now I would never reach that goal.

Face it Emily, you'll never be a bride.

Not unless some miracle happened between now and the end of my afterlife!

Sure, because a handsome prince was going to ride in and sweep me off my feet, riding off with me in to the sunset. Get rid of the fantasies, girl! It's only meant for books, not reality. There is nothing more you can do than accept your fate, and look forward to the afterlife. It seems now you have no choice.

"Goodbye" Barkis said, lunging towards me with great strength.

And so, with the tears running hot down my cheeks, the cold pricking my skin, my dress soaked by the snow, and my arm trembling with my remaining strength, I took my last breath, filling my lungs with all of the winter air I could grasp. I gave it all my might, filling the empty woods with the sound of my cries as Barkis lunged at me!

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

(Narrator)

And then there was silence. Blackness. Empty space. Cold air. Moonlight. Nothing more. A thin layer of snow blanketed the hard, earthy ground of the forest, dotted with thick chunky trees.

There was no one around to be seen, but signs of life showed in the snow.

Two sets of footprints. A large pair belonging to a man, and a smaller set of ladies heeled shoes. Though only the man's footprints showed him walking to the tree trunk and walking away in the opposite direction, bypassing a large rectangular shape outlined in the snow.

The ladies footprints stopped at the tree trunk, leaving the imagination to wonder where did she step next? But there was no sign of more footprints anywhere. There was nothing.

Just a large, old oak tree, covered in snow, its roots bulging at the ground.

No other sign of life.

Except for a thin gloved arm poking out of the ground.

THE END.

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