BRIDAL MISHAP

CHAPTER TWO

"Mabel!" The shriek left my lips before I could register the source.

I scrambled toward her, I could feel my cheeks becoming wet and my breath quickened. A feeling of dread shook every fiber of my being and I began to pull her out of where she had been lying under the bed.

"Mabel are you-" I was about to ask a million questions about how she was feeling or why she was lying there, but the trail of blood that followed as I dragged her out made me mute.

My stomach twisted and turned. I locked eyes with her brown hair which was now a darker shade because of the blood which soaked it. I felt goosebumps travel across my skin and the pain from the previous graze on my knee was completely gone and forgotten.

Loss had always been the scariest thing I had ever had to face as a child or adult, First, my grandfather died when I was eight, and then my father died when I turned seventeen, Now Mabel?

But how? Sh-he was fine when I left. I pulled her blood-soaked body to my chest and rocked back and forth. I could barely see as my vision had become clouded with tears, but her white dress had turned into a dark shade of red and I felt myself go nauseous at the sight.

I struggled to piece anything together at this point, I shut my eyes for a moment and tried to pull myself together, this could be a prank; Another one of those expensive jokes we used to pull as children.

"Mabel. Belle," I called softly, "This isn't funny anymore, you are scaring me now; I'm sorry, it's fine. You- You can get married to Sebastian. I - I won't get in your way anymore" I rambled and rocked back and forth.

"Belle, please. Please say something. I'm begging you. Do anything but please say something, speak to me. Speak to your Mello, I'll listen, I promise to listen this time." My throat went dry and I stumbled over my words. I wasn't sure if I made sense at this point, but nothing made sense anymore.

I pulled her up and placed my head on her chest - It felt stupid. I was smarter than this. I was no medical doctor but I had learned a thing or two during the time I spent with Jared, so my heart stopped beating for a moment when I could not hear hers in sync.

A sob bubbled inside of me and I felt my chest tighten, tears stung my eyes and I clenched my fist. My body trembled and I felt myself go numb for a moment. Maybe it was at that moment realization finally hit, maybe it was then I realized I had lost Mabel forever and it was all my fault. I had left her all alone with -

Two knocks pierced through my thoughts and a shiver went down my spine. Before I could register anything else; The door opened.

I swallowed. I didn't feel strong enough to face whomever it was, I couldn't feel anything, just the weight that was on me, the weight of Mabel; Mabel's body.

"-Ellie...?" I blinked when I felt a hand on my shoulder, my eyes darted up and the first thing I noticed was the scent of Jo Malone that filled my nostrils, there was only one person I knew in the entire world who wore that perfume.

I felt goosebumps travel over my skin before I found intelligible words to express my confusion, "J-Jared?" The moment I uttered his name, his face came into view, from his facial features; I could see his perfect brows arch in confusion and his lips part slightly. "Jared!" I sobbed but did not make a move or reach out to him.

"I kept calling your name, A-are you alright?" His voice sounded like it had been failing. His eyes held so much skepticism as if he was sure that any little move from him would make me fall apart. He had a point though; Because that was exactly how I felt.

I swallowed. "What happened?" he finally asked after a few long moments that seemed to last almost forever. My words were caught up in my throat and I didn't bother to look at him or ask him why he was there; Instead, I remained on the ground and pretended he wasn't there, or Mabel's body wasn't lying on me.

"Is she still breathing?" Jared asked and took the initiative to come closer, at first glance; One would think Jared was completely fine, His facial features were relaxed and his blue eyes seemed focused on Mabel. But at a closer look, you could see the small but noticeable bead of sweat crawling down his temple and his entire body stiffened.

"She's gone. Isn't she?" My voice came out raspier than I imagined, Jared glanced at me; Probably shaken up at the fact that I was initiating conversation.

"We need to call an ambulance and inform everyone. They are waiting for her down there — How did this happen?" Jared rambled and ran his hands through his hair, A cry left my lips and I whimpered, tears rolled down my cheeks and I swallowed another sob.

"I left for a few minutes and I came back to see the room completely bashed and she was under the bed; Someone hurt her. Someone did this. Someone killed my Mabel right underneath my nose." I didn't make any form of eye contact with Jared as I spoke, my eyes were fixed on the broken mirror in front of me.

I heard Jared sigh. "Melody..." He trailed off, "We need to tell everyone, and now."

"Didn't you hear me?" my voice was low and I made eye contact with him for the first time since he walked in. "Someone murdered my sister and left her to die here. And you want us to just go and announce it? Are you kidding me right now?!" I raised my voice.

"Well then what do you suggest, huh? That we stay here and hide this from everyone, From Mrs. Monroe and Sebastian—"

"Sebastian." The name rolled out of my mouth and my eyes widened, I scrambled to my feet almost immediately and tore off my corset that was stained with blood. "Sebastian was the last one in here," My eyes widened in realization and my insides twisted for the second time that day.

"What are you trying to say...?" Jared backed away from me and stared at me as if I had grown two heads.

I felt my facial features tighten and my heartbeat slow down a pace before I whispered in a pained tone; Sebastian murdered Mabel.