The Graveyard Bride

It was supposed to be a joke A simple dare among friends Spend one hour in the old graveyard at the edge of town Harith laughed as he accepted the challenge It was just a graveyard after all Dead people don't talk Right His friends dropped him at the broken gate It creaked as he pushed it open The air inside was colder Still Too still Graves stood like silent statues Old Cracked Some with names rubbed off by time Harith switched on his flashlight Its beam shaky but strong He walked deeper in Passing trees that whispered with the wind He tried to stay calm Even whistled But the sound died quickly Like the graveyard swallowed it Half an hour passed Silence Just silence Then He heard it A whisper A woman’s voice Calling his name Harith He froze Turned around No one Harith Again Closer this time His flashlight flickered And died Panic rose in his chest He pulled out his phone No signal Then he saw her Standing between two graves A woman Dressed in white Long black hair Head slightly tilted She was beautiful Too beautiful Her eyes lowered Her feet bare But not touching the ground Who are you He asked His voice barely a whisper She smiled Soft Sad I have waited for you Harith I have watched you Since you were a child His heart pounded He stepped back But couldn’t move far This must be a prank A setup No This was something else She took a step forward Still not touching the earth I am the bride of the graveyard She said You are mine You have always been mine Harith tried to run But the paths twisted No gate No way out She was in front of him Then behind him Then beside him He screamed But the wind swallowed it She came closer Her face changed Eyes turned black Skin pale and cracked Her mouth stretched into a grin Too wide Too dark You cannot leave She whispered Your place is ready She pointed to a grave Fresh But already carved with his name Harith bin Bashir He fell to his knees Shaking Begging Crying But the grave opened And darkness pulled him in --- Morning came His friends returned Laughing Calling his name No answer They found the flashlight And his phone Lying near an open grave A grave that wasn’t there yesterday They read the name Their laughter faded Harith bin Bashir He went in to win a bet But never returned And as they stood there The wind whispered Soft And chilling Harith