Married the Dead; Broke the Living
As Jastrelle's golden girl, I draw lots to pick my groom, and fate finally hands me Felix Ledger, the childhood sweetheart I've wanted forever.
During the impromptu wedding, a funeral convoy belonging to a scion of a rich family in Jastrelle passes right outside. I hate the omen.
Felix laughs, pulls me into his arms, and places the veil over my head himself.
"I'll take it as a good omen. With you, I'm covered from first breath to last," he says.
His adoptive sister, Winnie Ledger, hears him, bursts into tears, and bolts outside. The funeral convoy runs her down, and she dies.
Felix barely reacts.
Three years later, Dad is framed, driven into bankruptcy, and falls gravely ill. He dies, and I lose everything.
At the funeral, Felix sends everyone off, shoves me into the open grave, and buries me alive.
He spits, "You rigged everything to get me. You left Winnie ruined. She bolted outside, and that funeral convoy ran her down. For three years, remorse has eaten me alive. I want you torn apart!
"With your last protector gone, I can finally make you suffer a hundredfold the pain Winnie felt and ease my hatred!"
When I open my eyes, I'm back at the groom-selection ceremony. Dad smiles as he hands me the lots.
I shake my head, look out the window, and point at the funeral convoy passing outside.
"I'm not choosing anyone. I'll marry that dead man!"