Everything went black; it felt like I was at a party but drank too much pop and got sick after that (that really happened to me). I felt something cold holding my hand, like I was holding an ice cube, but more squishy. Gradually, I became aware of the presence of other people around me. I tried to open my eyes, but dizziness still clouded my vision.
I heard a voice saying, "Is she alright? Did she die?" followed by a loud slap, presumably someone being slapped for their comment. Then, another voice chimed in, "No, stupid. She just passed out. Now go get water for her." I heard footsteps moving away from me, indicating that someone was fetching water. I tried to focus and open my eyes, and this time, I was more successful.
My surroundings came into view, although still a bit blurry. I saw a figure in front of me and heard him say, "Oh my god, are you alright, dear?" Dear? Did he just call me dear? I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and my vision gradually became clearer. "Ugh, where am I?" I asked, trying to understand my surroundings.
A cold hand rested on my forehead, and a voice reassured me, "You're in a safe place, but maybe not for the living. But you're safe." The term "living" caught my attention, and as I looked at the figure, I recognized that it was the Michael Jackson ghost from my room. "What the fuck, get away from me!" I screamed, jumping to my feet and backing away from Michael.
He walked towards me with his arms raised in a calming gesture, "Hold on, calm down. It's me, you don't need to worry." I pressed myself against the wall, my breathing heavy and rapid. "Calm down?! You're dead! And why did you call me dear?" I demanded, still feeling a mix of fear and confusion.
Michael approached me with his hand extended, showing the ring I had practiced with. "Oh, you don't remember? You vowed to me. Well, you didn't do it perfectly, but you did your best and chose me to be your husband." My head was spinning in confusion. I had apparently vowed to marry Michael Jackson's corpse?
"I think I'm going to pass out again," I mumbled, feeling overwhelmed. Michael quickly grabbed a chair and said, "Oh, don't fall again. Here, take a seat." I sat down, trying to steady myself, while he crouched beside me, gently rubbing my leg to help.
A stranger entered the room carrying a glass of water. Michael took the glass and held it out to me. "Thank you," I said, taking the glass and drinking from it. "So, what's going on? How did all this happen?" I asked, looking at Michael.
He stood up, putting the chair back in its place, and grabbed another chair to sit in front of me. "Well, it's a long story." I finished the glass of water and placed it on the table. "Okay, but can you shorten it?" I requested.
"Sure, you do know how I died, right?" Michael asked me. "Well, yeah, doesn't everybody know?" I responded. Considering his fame, his death was widely known, making it hard not to think about it. "Well, they don't know the rest of what happened," he explained, settling into the chair comfortably.
"After I died in the hospital, they moved my body from America to Canada. They thought that if my body was in America, there would be grave robbers trying to take it. But just before I died, I was supposed to marry someone. I never got to have that wedding, though. Wife after wife, I never got the woman of my dreams. Even after death, I swore that someone would take me as a husband. And you found me. I thought that if I couldn't go looking for a lady, that lady would come to me. And you did." Michael showed me the ring again.
I let out a sigh and stood up. "I'm sorry, Michael, but that was just a practice vow. I didn't mean to marry you." Michael burst into laughter. "What do you mean you didn't mean to? You did it anyway!"
Feeling frustration and anger, I scanned the room for an exit. My eyes widened in fear when I saw someone there. The person was tall, skinny, and had no face. Terrified, I fled the room, desperately searching for a way out. I eventually found a cliff, but it had no bottom. I was about to jump, thinking it was the way out, when I heard shouting behind me.
"No! I wouldn't do that if I were you!" I turned around to see Michael running towards me. I got back on the ground, crossing my arms defensively as he approached. "And why shouldn't I?" I challenged him.
Michael leaned on the bars at the cliff's edge. "Well, that's the void. If you want to freeze to death and suffocate, go ahead." I glanced down the cliff. "Oh, that's what it is," I muttered, then slowly walked away from the edge. Michael followed me.
"Why did you run?" he asked me, concern in his voice. Remembering the faceless figure from the room, I replied, "No, what are you people?!" His eyes widened, surprised by my reaction. "You don't know what we are?" he asked, sounding as though I should be familiar with it.
"Your monsters?!" I exclaimed, trying to back away from him. He stopped advancing, understanding my fear. "You do know urban legends and scary stories?" he asked me. My confusion and worry grew. "Yes, why?" I replied, my fear intensifying as I anticipated the truth.
"That's what we are. We are those scary legends and spooky stories. We are nightmares." Shocked, I realized that all those scary movies and stories I'd read about were real. I felt like I was about to pass out, but Michael held onto me to keep me standing. "Thanks, but I can't be here. I need to be with my family," I said, trying to regain my composure.
Michael hugged me from behind, attempting to comfort me. "What are you talking about? This is your family now." I broke free from his embrace, feeling anger. "No, I mean the family I was raised with, the ones who took care of me."
Michael's expression faltered. "Oh, that family. Well then, I'll take you to them, and you can introduce me," he suggested. My eyes widened in fear at the thought of my mother's reaction. "No! Um, I mean, no, I should go tell them about you first. Then I'll show you. And besides, you don't even know my name," I replied.
Michael scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Oh, yeah. I wouldn't want to show up at your parent's house not knowing your name. What is your name, anyways?" I sighed and crossed my arms. "It's Bethany, but some people just call me Beth." Michael smiled and walked up to me.
