VINDICTIVE

Episode 9

With a glowing smile on her face, Laura innocently brought out my dress. “I found it!”

she chimed, halting in the doorway at the sudden drop in mood. “-That. I hate that.” Amber nearly choked when she saw the dress.

“What the hell is that?!” Welcome to my world.

“It's got bloody handprints all over it!” Jenny gasped. Exasperating me further.

“Thank you I hadn't noticed.”

The room fell silent as I approached Laura, still holding up the dress. Sadly I touched the dress, it feels like such a shame. If it weren't for the grotesque bloody marks it could very well be my dream dress. “I can't wear this...”

A soft tap of glass on wood came from behind followed by a warm hand on my back.

“Sure you can…” Amber whispered.

Doing her best to comfort me.

“You love him don't you?” She asked.

Obviously expecting me to say ’yes’ but at this moment I just don't know. The other day I was so sure of what I wanted but… ever since we announced our engagement he's been different somehow. Planning all these things, buying all these things without any regard for how I might feel. Once we're married… maybe he'll go back to normal?

My long silence hung in the room like a corpse.

Laura, now looking very uncomfortable, seemed unsure if she was allowed to move.

“Sorry” She whimpered. Making me smile.

“Not your fault.” Walking to the table, I grabbed the bottle. Taking a deep swig. “It's not any of your guy’s faults” I took another, finishing the remainder of the bottle.

Uncaring of my protesting headache.

“In fact you know what? You all were promised a party. And damn it, we are going to have one!” I shouted. Taking Laura's party horn, I blew it loudly.

They only stared at me in uncomfortable silence as I ran for the bedroom closet.

In search of a more fun outfit.

“I just need to get over this. I'm being ridiculous.” I grumbled to myself.

”Liam loves me and I love Liam, that's it. That's all there is to it.” I'm going to marry him tonight dressed as a damn bloody bride and it's going to be fun. It's going to be great.

I'm happy, he's happy. Everything is. Damn. Bloody. Perfect.

Minutes later I reentered the room, wearing my fancy dark red silk top, and black tights. Matched with my new black heels. Thankfully Liam knew to pack them at least. “Alright girls, let's go see what this floating tin can has to offer”

Hesitantly, they all followed me down the hall like a bunch of lost ducklings. Amber soon came up beside me. “So ok, what do you want to do?”

She asked. A little unsure, I looked around for ideas. Not even sure what we can do. But I noticed now the majority of passengers are in costumes. Some convincing, some not. Some scary and some… just embarrassingly slutty.

Seriously, how are they not freezing?

Stopping in my tracks at the sight of an expensive looking spa, I smiled. “Well I'll tell you Ashley”

“Amber” She corrected. With a nod I entered the shop. Ready to relax, be pampered and get glammed up. The girls followed, all of them thankful when I offered to pay for they're treatments. “I've never been to a spa before” Laura laughed nervously as we entered.

Hours later after receiving the full treatment of massages, manicures and pedicures and getting our hair done, we all sat in our separate chairs, each of us with a staff member doing our make up for the night. “This really is life” Amber sighed.

The girls both agreed. Although I agree with them on that, I've never really known anything else so i have nothing to compare it to. But I'm glad at least I made them all smile. “Yea it is”

“Are you going to add any.. halloween elements to your make up?” Jenny asked as a woman worked on her eyeshadow. Picturing my dress made me shudder. All the red… the blood. It's just not right for a bride on her wedding day but I guess it can't be helped. If we were going to do this we would go the whole nine yards. “Yes actually I think I will”

At my request, the makeup artist did a beautiful job but also added a long red scar straight down my eye, from above my eyebrow to the middle of my cheek. Adding fake blood and stitches for a chilling effect. Around my neck she added another ‘gash’ stretching from one side to the other, short thick streams of blood oozing down to my collarbone. Liams gonna get what he asked for.

“Perfect” I smiled, satisfied with the woman's work.

Now early evening, we wandered back to the room. All giggling and talking as if we've been friends for years. I've forgotten what it's like to have friends. My parents never thought anyone was good enough and now Liam took all my time and attention. It's nice. And I'm going to have more of it.

“You ready to put the dress on?” Amber asked, checking the champagne bottle for any remaining drink.

“Well I look quite silly without it now don't I” she smiled. Laura and Jenny rushed forward, eager to help. “I'll hang back here, come show me when your ready” she called out as I rushed to the bedroom.

Jenny brought out the dress once more, holding it before me. Over such a short time I feel like this dress has been nothing but a wedge in my side, an enemy against the dress I've always dreamed of. Taking a deep breath I smiled, holding my head up. It’s not what I've pictured but it is the dress my love picked out for me and I'll wear it down that aisle if it kills me. Besides, he has the rest of our lives to make it up to me.

Gently the girls helped me slip into the gown. The silk fabrics and lace ruffling against each other as it slid into place. Jenny straightened out my skirt as Laura began to lace up my back. While they worked I glanced in the mirror. None the less I was indeed an absolute vision of a bride if I do say so myself. Just...a bride that has returned from the dead is all. With my eye and throat slashed and bleeding, my dress littered with fake blood splatter, some even in the form of handprints.