Chapter 1 - The Burning Secret
The silence in the bridal suite suddenly felt suffocating.
Sarah stared down at the open gold locket resting in her trembling palm.
Inside, replacing the faded photograph of her parents, was a tightly folded square of newspaper.
The date printed at the very top was from exactly two days ago.
Below the bold date was a handwritten message penned in elegant, looping cursive.
It was undeniably her mother’s handwriting.
The ink still looked fresh and dark against the cheap paper.
The message read, "Do not marry him, for his family knows what lies beneath this church."
Sarah felt all the blood drain instantly from her face.
Her mother had supposedly died in a tragic car accident three years ago.
Mark, her handsome and supposedly perfect groom, took a hesitant step forward.
His face was pale, his eyes locked intensely on the tiny piece of paper.
"Sarah, what exactly is that?" he asked.
His voice sounded incredibly tight, completely lacking its usual warmth and comfort.
Little Lily, the flower girl, backed away slowly toward the heavy oak door.
The child’s large brown eyes darted nervously between the two adults.
"The lady in the dark room said you have to hurry," Lily whispered.
Sarah looked up at Mark and searched his familiar face.
She saw something terrible flash across his dark eyes.
It looked like pure, unfiltered panic.
Before Sarah could ask another question, Mark lunged forward across the room.
He snatched the locket right out of her trembling hand.
"Mark, stop what you are doing!" Sarah screamed.
He didn't even look at her.
Instead, he reached into his tuxedo jacket and pulled out a silver lighter.
He held the flame to the tiny note until it turned into black ash on the carpet.
Mark looked up at her with a chillingly blank expression.
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"I am so sorry, Sarah," he whispered softly.
Then he stepped backward, pulled the heavy door shut, and the lock clicked into place from the outside.
