The Lament of the Forgotten Bride

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the old, abandoned mansion at the edge of town. It was a place whispered about in hushed tones, a place where the line between the living and the dead seemed to blur. The mansion had once been a beacon of joy, a place where love was celebrated, but now it was shrouded in the silence of forgotten memories.

On the night of the wedding, young Li Wei was to become the new bride of his childhood love, Mei. They had grown up together, their bond as strong as the roots of the ancient trees that surrounded the mansion. But fate had other plans for their union.

As the clock struck midnight, Li and Mei stood in the grand ballroom, surrounded by family and friends. The room was filled with laughter and the sound of clinking glasses. Mei's dress, a shimmering white, seemed to glow in the dim light, her face alight with joy. Li's eyes sparkled with a mixture of happiness and nervousness, his heart pounding in his chest.

The bridegroom took her hand, and together they walked down the aisle, their steps echoing through the mansion. The guests watched, their eyes wide with anticipation, as the couple reached the altar. The pastor began the ceremony, his voice steady and calm.

But just as the pastor declared them husband and wife, a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, chilling the air. The candles flickered, and the guests gasped, their eyes darting around the room. In the corner, a portrait of an old woman with piercing eyes seemed to come to life, her gaze fixed on Mei.

Li looked at Mei, confusion and fear etching across his face. Mei's smile faltered, and she clutched Li's hand tighter. The pastor continued with the ceremony, but the guests' attention was elsewhere. They could feel the presence of something sinister in the room, something that was not of this world.

The wind howled again, this time with a louder, more sinister sound. The guests began to scatter, their faces pale with terror. The old woman's portrait swung from its frame, and Mei let out a scream as she stumbled backward. Li reached out to catch her, but his hands passed through her form as if she were a ghost.

Mei fell to the floor, her eyes wide with terror. The old woman's eyes seemed to burn into Li's soul, and he felt a chill run down his spine. The wedding was over before it had even begun. The guests fled, leaving Li and Mei alone in the room.

Li knelt beside Mei, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch her. But his touch passed through her body, and he felt a wave of despair wash over him. The old woman's eyes met his, and he saw the fire of vengeful anger burning within them. Mei's eyes closed, and she was still.

Li stood up, his face contorted with grief and rage. He turned to the portrait, his voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "You took her from me, and I will never forgive you. I will seek you out, and I will make you pay."

The portrait swung back into place, and the wind died down. Li left the room, his heart heavy with the weight of his promise. He knew that Mei's spirit would not rest until justice was served, and he was determined to honor her memory.

Days turned into weeks, and Li's search for the old woman's spirit led him to the edge of town, to the old, abandoned mansion. He stood before the portrait once more, his eyes filled with the same vengeful anger that he had seen in the old woman's eyes.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold, glassy surface. "I know you're here," he whispered. "I can feel you watching. But this time, you won't escape. You'll pay for what you've done."

The portrait began to glow, and the old woman's eyes seemed to burn into Li's soul once more. He felt a chill run down his spine, and he knew that the time for revenge had come.

Li's voice rose, filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "Mei, I promise you that justice will be served. I will avenge you, and I will make you pay."

The portrait shattered into a thousand pieces, and the old woman's spirit was gone. Li stood there, his heart heavy with the weight of his promise, knowing that Mei's spirit had finally found peace.

As he turned to leave the mansion, he looked back at the ruins of the wedding room, the candles still flickering in the windows. He knew that the mansion would never be the same, but he also knew that Mei's memory would live on, a testament to the love and the pain that had once filled its walls.

The Lament of the Forgotten Bride was a tale that would be whispered for generations, a chilling reminder of the power of love, loss, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice.