Chapter 1 - The Broken Casket
The crystal chandelier cast a cold, haunting light over the extravagant floral arrangements of the most expensive funeral in the city.
Hundreds of elite guests sat in absolute silence, mourning the sudden and tragic passing of the billionaire's young bride.
Richard Vance, her incredibly wealthy and much older husband, stood at the front in a perfectly tailored black suit.
He was playing the role of the devastated widower flawlessly, shedding silent tears for the flashing cameras.
Absolutely no one questioned the closed casket resting solemnly at the grand altar.
They completely accepted his tragic story that the terrible car accident was simply too horrific to allow a public viewing.
But the somber, respectful atmosphere was violently shattered when a frantic young man suddenly stormed the altar.
Tears streamed down his bruised face as he grabbed a heavy solid brass candlestick from the podium.
His dark eyes were burning entirely with desperate, unhinged terror as he sprinted past the screaming mourners.
He completely ignored the gasping crowd and the massive security guards rushing down the aisle to tackle him.
He raised his bruised arms and brought the heavy brass weapon down on the pristine white coffin.
A deafening crack echoed violently through the massive cathedral hall as the expensive wood splintered apart.
Richard lunged aggressively forward, dropping his grief-stricken facade instantly as sheer, murderous panic took over his face.
He desperately tried to physically block the view, screaming furiously for everyone to leave the room immediately.
But it was already way too late for the billionaire to hide his darkest secret.
The airtight seal was completely broken, and terrifying, muffled sounds began echoing from the darkness inside.
A pale, trembling hand desperately pushed through the splintered wood, entirely covered in dark bruises.
The terrified crowd completely erupted into pure chaos as they realized the young bride was actually buried alive.
The young man violently tore away the remaining wood, revealing Clara desperately gasping for fresh, clean air.
She was wearing a stunning white silk dress, but her wrists were tightly bound with thick plastic zip ties.
Richard quickly reached into his tailored suit jacket and pulled out a suppressed silver pistol.
He pointed the highly dangerous weapon directly at the young man's head without any hesitation.
He shouted to the crowd that this crazed lunatic had kidnapped his wife and he was simply defending her.
Before the corrupt security guards could execute the young man, Clara violently forced herself to sit completely up.
She looked directly at her wicked husband and then turned her tearful eyes toward the massive crowd.
She knew that if she exposed Richard right now, his heavily armed mercenaries would murder everyone in the room.
May you like
Clara raised her bound hands and pointed directly at the brave young man who had just risked his life to save her.
She declared loudly that the young man was a crazed stalker who had buried her alive for ransom money.
