Chapter 4: A Living Corpse

Claudia 

“Stay back,” I warned, though my voice betrayed my fear. The rustling grew closer, and I backed up until I hit the door. My fingers fumbled for the handle, desperate to escape, but it wouldn’t budge. “Who’s there?” I asked again My voice trembled, betraying the confidence I tried to muster.

“You should know,” he said, the edge in his tone sharp and cutting. “Or are you just as clueless as they said you’d be?” The voice was deep and raspy, slicing through the silence like a blade. I froze, my fist still midair. I hadn’t expected an answer—certainly not from inside the room. My breathing hitched as I turned, pressing my back against the door for support.

I squinted into the suffocating darkness, but all I could see were shadows stretching endlessly. The faint rustle of movement echoed in the room, but it was impossible to pinpoint where it came from.

“Are you... my husband?” I asked hesitantly, the words foreign and heavy on my tongue.

A low chuckle emerged from the shadows, cold and bitter. “Husband,” he repeated, as if the word itself was a joke. “I suppose that’s what they’re calling me now.”

And then I saw him. For just a split second.

He emerged from the shadows halfway, his movements slow and deliberate. His frame was tall but scrawny, his shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world rested on them. I couldn't see him clearly but the small streak of light that sliced this darkness was enough for me to get a glimpse of him. His face was partially obscured by the dim light, but half his eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine

He stared at me intently. “It is really you. They’ve sent me a wife.” his words dripping with disdain.“What’s your name?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“Claudia,” I whispered.

He nodded slowly, as if committing it to memory. “Claudia,” he said, almost to himself. “You don’t belong here.” I wanted to agree, but before I could respond, he turned away, retreating into the shadows.

My heart raced. The man who had stood beside me during the rites wasn’t my real husband. This man—this shadow—was. But why had they hidden him away in this dark, suffocating room? And why did the air reek of decay, as if death had long since made its home here?

I took a cautious step forward, squinting into the gloom. “Why are you hiding in the dark?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why don’t you come out so I can see you properly?”

“Don’t,” he snapped, his voice sharp enough to stop me in my tracks. “Don’t take another step closer.”

I hesitated, my foot hovering midair before I let it fall back. “Why?”

He let out a heavy sigh, the sound carrying the weight of exhaustion. “Because it’s better this way,” he said quietly.

Better for whom? I wanted to ask but bit my tongue. Instead, I lowered myself to the ground, my back pressed against the door. If he wanted to remain hidden, fine. But I wasn’t leaving—not yet.

“What’s your name?” I ventured, keeping my tone soft. 

There was a long pause before he answered. “Call me what you like,” he said. “Names don’t matter anymore.” His words were hollow, laced with a bitterness that made my chest ache. 

“You don’t believe that,” I said. “Everyone has a name. A story.”

“Not me,” he countered. “Not anymore.”

I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Whoever he was, he carried the weight of something heavy—something that had stripped him of hope.

“Why are you here?” I asked, changing the subject. “Why aren’t you with the rest of the pack?”

He laughed again, a dry, humorless sound. “You don’t waste time, do you?” he said. “Tell me, Claudia—did your family hate you so much that they brought you here? That they married you to me?”

His words hit like a slap, and I stiffened. “Hate me?” I repeated, my voice shaky. “No. I mean—” I hesitated. “They didn’t have a choice. This was the agreement.”

“The agreement,” he echoed, the word dripping with disdain. “So they sold you off like livestock and called it duty. How noble.”

I bristled at his tone but forced myself to stay calm. “At least you’re not a monster,” I said, trying to ease the tension. “Things could be worse.”

“Worse?” He let out a bitter laugh that made my skin crawl. “You’re wrong, Claudia. Things are worse. They married you to a living corpse.”

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came. What could I say? The despair in his voice was palpable, suffocating. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint sound of his breathing. I shifted uncomfortably, my mind racing with questions. Why was he here, locked away like this? Why did he reek of death? And why wouldn’t he let me see him?

“Do you really believe that?” I finally asked. “That you’re a corpse?”

He didn’t answer right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, almost resigned. “Believe it?” he said. “I know it.”

Something inside me twisted painfully at his words. Whoever this man was, he was drowning in despair—and I was his lifeline, whether I liked it or not.

“You don’t have to stay in the dark,” I said quietly. “You don’t have to hide.”

He let out a humorless chuckle. “And let you see what I’ve become? No, thank you.”

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I didn’t care what he looked like, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I leaned back against the door, staring into the darkness. There was this disdain he had for me, it was clear in the way he spoke to me. I wasn't exactly innocent too, resentment grew inside me. I resented him for making me his choice and for everyone else involved in this.

“Why won’t you let me see you?” I asked, managed to be nice.

“Because some things are better left unseen,” he replied.

I sighed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You can’t stay like this forever,” I said. “You can’t just... hide.”

“Just shut the hell up for one second.” he said barked, making me flinch. “It would be in your best interest to stay out of my way.”

I closed my eyes, “You do not have to be rude towards me.” My voice was broken as I kept fighting the urge to scream. This wasn’t what I had signed up for. But then again, it seemed he didn't want this either. 

“I need the quiet. Can you give me that?!” 

“Fine,” I said after a long silence. “I’ll stay here and won't say a word. At least until you’re ready to talk.” He didn’t respond, but I could feel his gaze on me, even in the darkness. For the first time since entering the room, I felt a flicker of something other than fear—a spark of determination.

Whoever this man was, whatever had happened to him, I wasn’t going to let him drown in his despair.

Not without a fight.

“My name is Marcellus Nightshade.” He sighed. “I know you didn't want this but you are stuck with me now.”