Frayed Edges

warm glow over the wedding ceremony. Zara, resplendent in her white wedding gown, stood bes

, through thick and thin," William

ough all the days of my life," Zara rep

s erupted into cheers and applause. Patricia, Za

ricia exclaimed as she hugged Z

h sadness. Zara glanced around at the sea of smiling faces. Everyone seemed s

to make it look that way. She forced a bright smile onto

r eyes showing all seriousness. "Indeed.

ore she regained her composure. "Of co

around for a group photo. Zara posed with them, laughing and chat

Zara and Williams. They stood together, han

other and smile," the

ams, forcing another

oked into his eyes, it turned white, and then, Zara saw a s

ed as Williams' body

ts screamed and ran, and the s

anic as she held his hands. "Za...ra.....I......" he tried t

around her, but her eyes were fixed on Williams' face, her mind struggling to compre

rity guards rushed to the scene, trying to restore order. They

with concern. "Zara!" Bringing her back to reality. " O

o speak. She felt like her bo

ghtly. "It's going to be okay, Zara. The police and p

hing Patricia's face. "What...wh

ed somber. "I don't know,

side, and began to tend to his body. One of t

us to the hospital? We can chec

y above a whisper. "No, I'm...fine.

push the issue. "Okay, ma'am. But if you start to feel

. "Just...look... at what happened... We should have stopped when marriage

n her face, "Don't say that. It wasn't yo

saw a figure standing at the edge of the crowd, wearing a black mask that covered his

a beat as their eye

Zara whispered, her eyes

to notice anything out of the ordinary. "Who's

the figure, but he was go

, shaking her head. "I

et me get you some water",

ined it. She had seen him, an

couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. She gl

r wedding dress, now stained with Williams' blood, she sighed. S

athroom, a hand grabbed her arm and covered her mouth,

f here," a low voice

uggle, but a cold metal object

voice growled. "Or you'll

. She tried to call for help, but her voice wa

ra was forced to comply. She was dragged away f

r slamming shut behind her. The car sped a

, alone, and frightened, with no idea whe