Never Let Go Of Me | Corpse Bride x Male Reader

Chapter 8

The dance was a strange mix of joy and sorrow, a celebration of a love that could never truly be. With each step, I felt the warmth of her spirit seep into my own, filling the void that had been carved by my fear and guilt. Our movements grew more frantic, the music swelling around us like a tempest, our hearts beating in time with the mournful tune. The candles in her eyes cast a warm glow on the cold, lifeless faces of the spirits that surrounded us, a beacon of hope in a world of shadows.

But even in the embrace of the dead, the living world called to me. The thought of Victoria, her smile, her touch, her warmth, it was a siren's call that I could not ignore. The exhaustion of the night's events finally caught up to me, and my legs buckled beneath me. Emily caught me, her grip surprisingly strong despite her skeletal frame. "Y/N," she whispered, a hint of concern in her voice. "What's wrong?"

I looked into her eyes, the candlelight flickering with the intensity of my conflict. "I... I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice trembling with exhaustion. "I can't dance as long as you can...I'm still a living being after all, we tire pretty quick." I joked.

Emily's expression fell, the light in her eyes dimming slightly. She knew it was more than that. "You're not well," she said softly, her hand brushing against my forehead. "You're cold, clammy. Perhaps we should rest."

Reluctantly, I nodded, allowing her to lead me to a secluded spot beneath the twisted boughs of a willow tree. The branches sighed above us, the leaves whispering secrets that I was too weary to understand. She laid me down on a bed of decayed leaves, her skeletal form curling around me protectively. Her arms, cold and unyielding, offered a comfort that I hadn't realized I needed. "Rest," she murmured, her breath a cool caress against my cheek. "I'll keep you safe."

My eyes closed, the weight of the world slipping away with each shallow breath. The whispers of the spirits grew faint, the mournful music a distant lullaby. In the quiet, my mind raced with thoughts of Victoria, her gentle touch and her trusting eyes. The guilt that had been my constant companion grew into a monstrous beast, its claws digging deeper into my heart with each passing second. I had made a vow to her, one that I had shattered in the cold embrace of the grave.

As I was lying in the arms of the dead, I could feel the warmth of the living world slipping away, replaced by the icy grip of regret. The candles in Emily's eyes grew dimmer, their warmth no match for the cold reality that was setting in. This was a love that could never be, a love born of darkness and despair. Yet, in that moment, I didn't want to leave her side. Her cold embrace was a balm to my soul, a respite from the storm raging within me.

But the whispers grew louder, the echoes of my past and the promises I had made. Each one a reminder of the girl I was meant to marry, the girl whose heart I had shattered with my unfaithfulness. The girl who was expecting me, waiting for me, in the world above. The guilt was a noose around my neck, tightening with every second I spent in the arms of the corpse bride.