Tales from the graveyard

Specter of the shoreline

And a bachelor begin stalked by his ghost bride

Lucas Bennett, the groom-to-be, is a tall, athletic man with an easy smile that masks an underlying unease. His hazel eyes betray a lingering sense of guilt, haunted by a past he's tried to forget. He exudes a magnetic charm but carries an air of melancholy. Dressed in casual beach attire, his movements are a mix of confidence and an occasional glance over his shoulder, as if expecting an unwelcome presence.

As the night deepens, amidst the flickering bonfire and laughter, Lucas notices unexplained footprints in the sand leading towards the waves, chilling whispers carried by the wind that seem to speak directly to him. Despite his unease, his friends dismiss these occurrences, attributing them to Lucas's pre-wedding jitters, unknowing of the sinister aura enveloping the beach. The flickering shadows play tricks on his mind, leaving him torn between skepticism and a growing, inexplicable fear.

"Guys, did you see those footprints?" Lucas's voice wavered as he gestured toward the imprints leading to the water's edge.

"Dude, it's probably just some locals messing around," Mike chuckled, taking a swig from his drink. "You're just nervous about tying the knot, mate. You're seeing things."

"Yeah, seriously, Lucas, you're letting your imagination run wild," Sarah chimed in, her tone reassuring. "Everything's fine. It's just pre-wedding jitters playing tricks on you."

Lucas nodded, attempting to brush off the unsettling feeling. But the whispers carried by the wind seemed to echo directly into his ears, heightening his sense of foreboding, unseen and unheard by his friends.

In the dead of night, Lucas, unable to shake off his suspicions, ventures to the beach alone. It's there he encounters Aurelia, the ghostly bride, emerging from the mist, her pallid form a haunting contrast against the darkness. Her hollow gaze fixes onto Lucas, freezing him in terror before she lunges, sending him running back to his room in a frantic sprint.

Desperate to seek refuge, Lucas struggles with the door, panic seizing his movements. As the ghost bride draws closer, a chilling presence at his back, he turns, only to find her vanished into the night. Initially dismissing it as an eerie prank, the intensity of her spectral appearances torments Lucas, plaguing his mind with haunting visions that refuse to be ignored. The line between reality and the supernatural blurs with each encounter, unraveling his sanity.

"Who's there?" Lucas's voice quivered as he scanned the mist-covered beach, his heart pounding against his chest.

Aurelia's spectral figure emerged, her ethereal form drifting closer, and Lucas stumbled backward. "What do you want?" he stammered, his voice a mix of fear and confusion.

There were no words from the ghostly apparition, just a hollow, chilling silence as she closed in on him.

"Stop it!" Lucas shouted, racing back to the room, his breaths ragged and panicked. His trembling hands struggled to open the door, the metallic latch seemingly fighting against him.

In a frenzy, he glanced back only to find the beach empty, the mist swirling eerily. "I must be losing my mind," he muttered, his mind torn between disbelief and a growing dread that etched itself deep within his soul.

During dinner with his friends, Lucas's paranoia intensified. He couldn't shake the feeling of a lurking presence. His friends noticed his escalating unease, attributing it to typical wedding jitters.

As they engaged in casual conversation, the waitress turned to take their order. To Lucas's horror, the ghostly apparition of the bride materialized in her place. Shock gripped him, causing him to stumble backward in his chair, the blood draining from his face.