Forever yours

Prologue

Darkness wrapped around the mysterious figure that was climbing over the fence of the graveyard on top of the mountain hill right outside Home. The person was dressed in all black, their head covered by a black hoodie that was zipped until right under their chin. Under the hood they wore a skeleton mask that covered their identity.

The mysterious figure moved between the tombstones of the fallen town people. They didn't give them a single glance. Their target was further down the dark path of the graveyard. The place where the dim glimmering girl was hovering over her tombstone, that's where they were heading towards.

They walked closer to the girl, who still hadn't noticed the newcomer. They admired her beauty from behind one of the pine trees. They walked closer, stepping on the twigs lying across the earthly ground.

The chained ghost turned around as much as the chains allowed her.

"Who are you?" She asked with gritted teeth when the shadow stepped into her light.

"That doesn't matter, I'm just here to enjoy the show, Esmeralda." Their voice sounded far and low against the bony mask, their breathing low and rough.

"What show?" Esmeralda coughed out.

A pain strike shot through her body, making her whole body spasm. Her cry filled the silent night, birds flew from the trees in surprise and went looking for a more silent place to sleep.

The mask moved, like the person underneath was smiling.

Yet again, a sharp electrifying current reached Esmeralda's toes before it shot all the way back up to the top of her head. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, preventing her from screaming again.

A hollow laugh took the place of her screech.

"What a beauty you are, especially like this. The best part is that your dear Thomas isn't even aware of your suffering," they spit in a mocking voice.

If it hadn't been so dark, Esmeralda could've seen which color their eyes were, but all she could see were dark orbs that reflected her deadly white glow.

"It's not his fault, he just needs time and space to get over me. He'll be happy again, he'll find love again," she responded with a voice filled with love and despair.

Esmeralda got pulled down to the ground by her right chain. The masked person had it clenched in their hand.

"Of course, it's not his fault, you think he's the one who figured out how to chain you to the earth? Do you truly think it's just the loss of his precious fiancée that made him blind to your suffering?" They laughed again and even as a ghost, Esmeralda's hair stood on end at the deathly sound. "He's nothing, just a stupid farmer's boy that can't give you anything. Because of you, he'll suffer. And taking away his capability of truly seeing you will only worsen yours. You will forever be chained to this earth, you'll never find peace again. This is what you deserve."

They lashed out to her face but went right through it. The mystery person growled angrily and let the chain go.

"Please, whatever I did, leave him out of this. He's a good man. He's got nothing to do with whatever this is."

Her voice was becoming weaker and weaker. If only she could have a break from this excruciating pain.

"He's got everything to do with it. He'll search for your killer, but he'll never be able to finish the investigation. I'll make sure he ends up just like everyone else right before he figures out the mystery of his loving little town and his very dead wife."

The skeleton masked person laughed again with the same hollow sound from before.

"You're a monster," Esmeralda puffed out.

"I'm the monster? Have you ever looked inside a mirror, dear? You're not as pretty as your exterior makes you seem to be." A deep hatred sounded through those words. "You know what? Before I kill him, I'll make sure that he can finally see you suffer, I'll tell him that he made you suffer for months and when he's emotionally broken, I'll finish him off right in front of your eyes in the worst way possible."

The words were like bullets plunging into her chest.

"Who are you? What did I ever do to you?" Her voice sounded weaker and weaker with the minute, but that didn't stop her from letting her desperation seep through.

The masked stranger didn't even glance at her question, instead they took out a little knife. Not just any knife. It glowed in the dark like there was a fire burning inside. They grabbed Esmeralda's chains again and pulled her down until right in front of them. Her pointy nose almost touched the human skull mask.

She could hear the rough breathing against the bony mask clearer now. They were breathing rapidly, like they were nervous - or excited. Before Esmeralda had time to figure out other characteristics of the mystery person, a burning ache exploded in her stomach, making her light up from within.

If Esmeralda could still cry, she would have. She gasped, perhaps tried to beg or cry, but nothing came out but sobs and gasps. All she did was look down at the little knife, which was plunged deep inside her stomach. Her normal glowing white had turned a deep shade of red.

The mystery person pulled the knife back and hid it away in the pocket of their hoodie.

"Remember what I can do to you the next time I come by."

And with those words they turned around and left the graveyard.