Stand-In Bride

In the dark night, in the silence, you can hear the subtle sound of water drops falling on the floor, ticking, ticking, like the slight footsteps of the God of Death. The wind rolled up the heavy curtains, bringing a burst of clear air and the faint smell of blood mixed in the air. "Why?" The voice was intermittent. In the corner, the huddled man looked like a tattered doll that had been run over by a car. His weak breath made people feel that he was getting closer to death. "Why do you want to kill me?" He gasped and finally spoke a complete sentence from the corners of his pale and dry mouth. Drop by drop of blood flowed from his hands and feet, slowly...