Twisted Memories (A Short Story)

Past- A Moment of Martial Joy

A few years later, still in college, Lucie was getting married to the man of her dreams. The man's name was Jeff, whom she had only met a few hours ago. She knew what she was doing was stupid, pointless, and illogical. She knew that all her family and friends would be horrified to know what she was about to do, but she was genuinely captivated with the man. Besides, ever since graduation, she had wanted to do something reckless and crazy in order to regain some part of the person she lost. That was why she was in a retro wedding chapel getting ready in a retro wedding dress. If she had to marry a total stranger, then that was what she was going to do.

The minister called out the time. Lucie let out a breath of air before leaving the closet to go to the chapel entrance. Jeff stood in his retro tuxedo. She set her hand into his and together they went up to the altar where the minister stood. There was no music, and the chapel was quiet. The silence disturbed Lucie. It was chilling and it was cold. Luckily, the minister quickly raced through the vows. Before Lucie knew it, she was married and kissing her new husband.

Then, there were celebrations and goofy, funny pictures. There had been drinks. Of those, there had been many. The time had passed quickly. The couple was cruising their way down a popular street swaying all over the place and vomiting every now and then. It was normal. It was accepted. In, fact they weren't the only ones and Lucie took comfort in that and relaxed. She was right to do so.

Nevertheless, it happened. For a second, Lucie felt warm and satisfied. She was at the top of the world with her new husband. All at once, she began to sweat. Her breathing steadily rose. She clutched at her chest and squeezed the bottle she held in her right hand. The pain was unbearable. She quickly sobered up and stopped walking. Her sense of hearing disappeared. It was silent all around and everywhere. Jeff stopped walking as well. He was immediately by her side like the great man he was. He really was a great man.

He grabbed a hold of her shoulders and asked her what was wrong. She gazed into his eyes, but she did not reply. His eyes were a beautiful brown with specks of gray in orbit. She could feel her heartbeat increase, yet she could not hear it. What was wrong with her?

In an instant, the eyes were gone. The body followed afterwards. He landed next to her feet. The bottle dropped to the ground with a loud clank and rolled away as if it wanted to get as far from Lucie as possible. Blood splattered across the ground.

Lucie's hearing returned. The streets were rambunctious; yet, nobody heard anything, but Lucie. Nobody saw the body, but Lucie. Nobody paid any attention to the bottle, but Lucie. Everyone ignored the body and the bottle, but Lucie.

Lucie knelt down. The eyes, which had been a beautiful brown, were glazed and forever frozen in a single horrified expression. One last glance, and then she closed them. She walked away without a single look back.

As she began her long drive home, Lucie listened to the radio. There was breaking news about a retro wedding chapel that had burned down to the ground. The infamous minister had been inside at the time. There was also news about a slaughtered body found in the middle of the downtown square. The city was in a panic.

Lucie pressed down hard on the accelerator.