Bride In Flames

Chapter: 1 I am Mrs. Jayson Jackson. I still couldn't believe it. "You're smiling again," Jayson said. I looked up at him. "Am I not allowed to smile on my wedding night?" He smiled. "You are. I just like knowing I'm the reason." I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling. He walked toward me and gently lifted the long train of my gown from the floor. "You're going to trip over this." "I've survived worse.” Not tonight." He pulled me closer. For a moment, everything felt perfect. I rested my head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear. "We're really married," I whispered. "Finally." I looked at him. "You sound relieved." "I am." "Why?" "Because now nobody can take you away from me." My heart fluttered. Before I could answer, there was a loud bang down the stairs. Jayson immediately straightened. "What was that?" I pulled away from him. "I don't know.” Then we heard shouting. "Fire!" The security guard's voice echoed through the building. "FIRE!" My blood turned cold. Jayson grabbed my hand. Smoke began creeping beneath the door. "Jayson..." He opened the door. Thick smoke rushed into the room. I coughed and covered my mouth with my hand. "Fire!" the security guard shouted again. "Everybody out!" Panic exploded inside me. I reached for Jayson. "What are we going to do? I'm terrified." "Hold on to me," he said, breathing fast. He wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. "Stay close." The smoke became thicker. My eyes burned. I could barely see. Jayson looked around quickly. "This way." He dragged me toward the emergency exit. We ran. My heels kept catching on to my dress. I almost fell. Jayson caught me. "Take off your shoes." "What?" "Your shoes. Now!" I kicked them away. He grabbed my hand again. We rushed down the corridor. The heat became unbearable. Suddenly, a burning piece of the ceiling fell to the floor. I screamed, Jayson pulled me against his chest just in time. "Are you hurt?" I shook my head. "No." "Good." He looked toward the emergency exit. "We're almost there." But when we reached the door, Jayson pulled it open. Smoke poured in from outside. His face changed. "What is it?" I asked. "It's blocked." My heart dropped. "What?" He tried another door. Locked. He kicked it. Nothing. The building shook. I grabbed his arm. "Jayson, we need to get out!" "I know." His breathing became faster. He looked around desperately. Then we heard footsteps. Not running away from the fire. Running toward us. Jayson pushed me behind him. "Stay behind me." Several men appeared through the smoke. They were wearing black clothes. Their faces were covered by masks. My heart slammed against my ribs. Who are they?" Jayson didn't answer. One of the men raised something in his hand. "Jayson Jackson." Jayson stepped forward. "Who sent you?" The man didn't answer. Another man grabbed Jayson from behind. "Jayson!" I screamed. Jayson fought back. He punched one of them in the face. Another attacked him. I tried to help, but someone grabbed my arm and threw me against the wall. "Run!" Jayson shouted. I couldn't. I watched in horror as the men surrounded him. "Leave my husband alone!" One of them turned toward me. His eyes were cold behind the mask. "Your husband?" He laughed. "You were never supposed to marry him." My stomach twisted. "What did you say?" The man grabbed Jayson. I rushed toward him. "Jayson!" He reached for me. "Elena!" Our fingers almost touched. Almost. Then another man struck him. Jayson collapsed. "No!" I screamed and ran toward him. But the flames suddenly exploded between us. I stumbled backward. The heat burned my skin. A masked man grabbed him and dragged him away. Then I heard it. A woman's voice. Soft, Calm. Almost amused. "You were never supposed to marry him." I froze. That voice. It came from behind me. I slowly turned. A woman stood at the end of the corridor. I couldn't see her face clearly through the smoke. But I could hear her perfectly. She took one step closer. "Burn in hell." My heart stopped. The fire suddenly roared around me. The ceiling cracked. I looked back at Jayson. He was gone. "Jayson!" Something heavy crashed behind me. Flames swallowed the room. I screamed his name one last time. "Jayson!" Then everything went black. I opened my eyes. For a few seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. A white ceiling. A strange chandelier. A soft bed beneath me. I tried to move. Pain shot through my body. I cried out. A woman rushed into the room. "Don't move." I stared at her. "Where am I?" She got closer. She was elegant, calm and dressed in an expensive black gown. "You are safe." My breathing became uneven. Who are you? "Where is my husband?" The woman's expression changed. "What husband?" "Jayson." She stared at me. I pushed myself up despite the pain. "Jayson Jackson. Where is he?" The woman said nothing. "Please." Her eyes filled with something I couldn't understand. Pity. Anger. Sadness. "Your name is Elena, isn't it?" I nodded. "Yes." She sat beside me. "My name is Monica." "Please, Monica. Tell me where my husband is.” She looked away. Then she said the words that shattered whatever hope I had left. "Everyone believes you died in that fire." My body went numb. "No." "Elena..." "No." I shook my head. "Jayson is looking for me." Monica's eyes hardened. "No one is looking for you." "Why?" She looked directly into my eyes. "Because five years from now, Elena, the world will still believe you are dead." I stared at her. "Five years?" She leaned closer. "If you want revenge, you will have to become someone else." My heart pounded. "What are you talking about?" Monica reached for a photograph on the table and placed it in front of me. It was a picture of my wedding. My wedding with Jayson. But beneath it was another photograph. A photograph of a woman I had never seen before. Monica looked at me. "That woman is the reason you were almost killed." I stared at the photograph. Then I heard Monica whisper. "And she is much closer to Jayson than you think.”