“You will not believe what I just learned,” Miss Hart said as she rushed to the side of her best friend Mrs. Ford. “The bride did invite her family. They refused to show up. I just confirmed it.”

Mrs. Ford fanned herself with a copy of the wedding program. “The rehearsal hasn’t even started, and you’ve already gotten the scoop, have you?”

“That's not the scoop. The scoop is the reason they aren't coming,” Miss Hart said with a grin.

After waiting a moment for Miss Hart to continue, Mrs. Ford said, “Alright come out with it.”

Miss Hart got close and, with a grin started to say, “It’s because—”

But as she did, a third person arrived in their company.

“Oh you incorrigible gossips are at it already aren’t you?” Mr. Greene said as he arrived next to them, carrying a plate of finger sandwiches.

“You’re one to talk,” Miss Hart said.

“I didn't say I wanted you to stop,” Mr. Greene said. "I came over here because I sensed there was an interesting conversation happening.”

“Well as it happens, I have just learned that poor Percy’s bride was almost married a time before. The wedding didn’t go through. Her family sided with her former fiance.”

“Is that why they aren’t here?” Mr. Greene asked.

“Hush, let her speak,” Mrs. Ford said.

“As a matter of fact, it is why they aren't here. The reason for the failed engagement is all the more interesting,” Miss Hart said.

Mr. Greene and Mrs. Ford were hooked. They waited eagerly for the reveal.

“Daphne, the bride, she had a former lover that hasn’t quite let her go. He began stalking her. That’s why her wedding fell through. The families on both sides blame her for her choice of men. And now Percy has been drawn into her grasp and the cycle is repeating all over again.”

“A stalker?” Mr. Greene asked. “Are we in danger?”

“Of course not,” Miss Hart said. “But then they did hold the wedding all the way out here in Snowblind for a reason. They did hire private security. But I am sure if there was a real threat they would never have gone forward with things.”

Mrs. Ford and Mr. Greene were aghast.

“I thought the security was normal for a wedding of this ticket price. That it was part of the Franklins showing off their wealth. I had no idea there were other reasons,” Mrs. Ford said. “I might have sat this one out if I had known.”

Miss Hart looked at her incredulously. “I have never known you to turn down a social occasion. Let alone a wedding.”

“I still might have stayed home,” Mrs. Ford said. “If I had known we would be put up in hotels at the bottom of the mountain instead of in the fancy resort because some psycho is on the loose.”

“I wouldn’t have,” Mr. Greene said. He glanced across the room as the bridal party started preparing for the rehearsal. He made eye contact with the groom. “I live for wedding drama.”

----------------------------------------

Percy loved a good Party. Before the action started, it was like a vacation. This time, it really was a vacation. A fancy venue, rooms with a maid, wedding preparations everywhere.

He had to enjoy it while it lasted.

The thing he liked the most, more than the pampering and the treats and the peace, were the memories.

They floated in the air, here. Reminding him of time spent together. Of whispered secrets in the dark, of 'I love you's and gentle touches and longing glances.

They weren’t his memories, but he could feel them in the pit of his stomach, on the back of his neck, in the quiver of his breath. Whoever this man had been, fictional or otherwise, he was in love. He had been a young man on the cusp of a great adventure with the love of his life.

Percy embraced these memories. That was the only way he had to live anymore, to focus on the person he could pretend to be for a time. Others ignored the electric prong of their character’s memories, most never even reported feeling them. Not Percy though. For a few short moments, he got to be someone else, somewhere else.

In this role, he got to be in love. He was going to get married. He wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to escape Carousel, if only in his imagination.

He was an imposter, but everyone was an imposter in this place. It didn’t matter. It was real to him for the moment.

But where was his bride?

“Percy,” Angela said. “They’re looking for you in the office.”

“They’re looking for me?” he asked.

Angela chuckled. “You are the groom.”

“Right. The groom. I’m important.”

“You’re the second most important person here, little bro,” she said.

He looked at her confused. “Oh, right. Show me the way, sis,” he said chuckling. In this story, she was his sister. He had almost forgotten.

She turned and waved him forward. As he walked past, she grabbed onto his arm and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “Stay sharp. You know we’re going to make sure everything works out, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, not so sure.

Angela laughed again as she showed him the way to the office.

----------------------------------------

“Come on in, son,” Mr. Franklin said as Percy and Angela arrived. “Sweetheart,” he said, holding his arm out for Angela, “You should be in here too.”

Mr. Franklin wrapped Angela up in one arm and held her there as Percy walked forward into the room.

In the office was a large table with papers laid upon it. Across from them, two men sat with serious looks on their faces. They looked at Percy and nodded as he walked up to the table.

Seated near him was a beautiful woman, who smiled when she saw him. She jumped up from her seat and wrapped her arms around him.

“It’s really happening,” she said. “We’re getting married.”

This was her. This was the woman he was in love with. He could feel it.

When a person goes too long without feeling deep infatuation, they forget what it feels like. The moment he saw her, every cell in his body rejoiced.

The last time he had felt this it had been in a dream that ended too soon. He didn’t want this one to end at all.

“Daphne,” he said softly, “There you are.”

The phrase, “There you are,” was the most romantic three words Percy knew. His real father had told him that is what true love felt like. It was a sudden revelation. You found the person you loved standing right in front of you. He had waited his whole life for it and when he saw her, in the throw of his character’s feelings, it just slipped out unintentionally.

“Here I am,” Daphne said. “I’m really sorry that we have to think about… this on our wedding weekend. You must regret me already.”

“Not at all,” Percy said without the faintest idea of what she was talking about.

They looked into each other’s eyes for a time.

One of the men across the table cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to put a damper on the weekend. The sooner we debrief you, the sooner the festivities can continue.”

The man was tall, with dark hair and a dark, stylish suit.

Mr. Franklin leaned forward. “Take a seat kids,” he said. “Detective Blackwood, go ahead.”

Percy and Daphne took seats next to each other. They held hands as the men spoke.

“You can call me Marcus if you are worried about your guests finding out why I’m here, though I'm certain they will find out soon enough,” Detective Blackwood said. He grabbed a file folder and opened it on the table. The first page was a mug shot. “Adrian Vale. We’ve been searching for him for months at your bequest, Mr. Franklin. Best we can tell, he dropped off the radar and skipped town before the hearing for the temporary restraining order that Miss Sinclair sought the year before last. No sign of him since.”

Mr. Franklin didn’t look pleased. “So we just wait for this lunatic to show up and ruin my son and future daughter-in-law’s wedding? Do you know how much this has cost?”

Detective Blackwood eyed him intensely. “I assure you, Mr. Franklin, if he shows his face anywhere near Snowblind, he will be arrested or hospitalized long before you or any of your party guests ever know about it.”

He slowly pushed the file across the table. “Everything we know is in this file. He hasn't used checks or opened a bank account in his own name in well over a year. The unfortunate truth is that a person can go without detection for years if they use even the slightest precaution. Purchase items with cash, take jobs that will pay you under the table, pay rent off the books.”

“Well he must be somewhere,” Mr. Franklin said. “He resurfaced last year when Daphne was set to wed the Steadman boy,” he looked down at Daphne, “I’m sorry to bring that up.”

He took out a cigar and lit it, something he often did when stressed.

“Yes,” Detective Blackwood said. “The threatening letters, stalking, and phone calls. Those were all problems fixed by choosing this remote location. The good news is he's not exactly wealthy enough to chase Ms. Sinclair across the country. Even if he found out where the wedding was taking place, it's unlikely that he could get here. He has no current driver’s license and he hasn't registered a vehicle with any state.”

“That doesn't mean he doesn't have a vehicle. He could have paid cash,” Mr. Franklin said.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Percy looked back at his character’s father. The man wanted his money’s worth. He wasn’t satisfied with the risks that this stalker represented. He felt he knew this man as well as his real dad. This behavior was typical. He was a sweet man to everyone except the people who took his money, be it waiters, employees, or private detectives. From them, he expected results.

“I just don’t think the information you have gathered is equal to your reputation,” Mr. Franklin said. “I was told you were the best.”

Percy tried to ignore them. He pulled the folder over to himself and began looking through the information that had been compiled. He stared at the man’s face, Daphne’s stalker, Adrian Vale. A big man. Percy couldn’t take him in a fight. Hopefully, he wouldn’t need to. He had his best man, Gus, for that.

He slid the mug shot of Vale over to Daphne. She glanced down at it and then looked back up at him with a look of apprehension.

“As it happens,” Detective Blackwood said, “I am developing a lead as we speak. One of my contacts is chasing down some information. I will report back to you once I know more. In the meantime, perhaps we should go over the security details for the wedding. I assure you that we have covered every possible detail.”

“Fine,” Mr. Franklin said.

“Let’s start with the plans for the rehearsal tomorrow…”

----------------------------------------

“And then I say ‘I do,’ right?” Percy asked.

“Ideally, yes,” the minister said with a smile as he walked the bride and groom through the ceremony. “Otherwise, some people are going to be awfully disappointed that they made the trip. Then I turn to the guests and introduce you as man and wife.”

The wedding party started to clap, as did all of the guests who had shown up for the rehearsal.

Percy and Daphne were still holding hands. He felt the urge to kiss her, so he did. She kissed him back.

“This is just the soft opening,” one of the groomsmen said. “Tomorrow’s the premiere. If our performance is half as good, we’re still going to bring the house down. Although, Percy, I do have some notes on the kiss.”

Percy chuckled.

“This is my wedding,” Daphne said, “Not a play. And I could see you making eyes at Angela the whole time, Benji.”

“Talk about a bridezilla,” Benji said. “She’s lying Angela, I would never make eyes at you without your express written permission.”

“Uh huh,” Angela said before changing her gaze to the muscular man in a tuxedo shirt standing between Percy and Benji. “I think the best man is supposed to keep the groomsmen in line.”

The man in the tuxedo shirt, Gus, said, “Don’t look at Angela, Benji. She doesn’t want to date you.”

“I would never,” Benji said. “Who could think about finding love at a wedding?”

“Oh my god, Benji,” Angela said. Turning to Daphne, she said, “We have to go meet with the caterer, remember?”

“Right,” Daphne said. “The caterer. The meeting we have with the caterer. We should go do that.”

They turned and left with the other bridesmaids, giggling as they went.

“What was that about?” Percy asked as he watched them leave.

“Bachelorette party,” Gus said. “Better watch out.”

Percy didn't respond. He was still too caught up with the sight of Daphne.

“I think she’s the one, guys,” Percy said with a laugh.

“Until she sleeps with a stripper,” Benji said.

“Where are they going to find a stripper in the mountains?” Gus said.

Benji shrugged.

“Same place they found all these snow bunnies,” he said, pointing out the large glass window toward the ski slopes below.

People were out on the slopes wearing neon jackets and snow pants of various hues. Some of them, women and men, wore fashionable outfits that drew attention from all over.

“I’m glad your fiancé has a psycho ex,” Benji said. “I wish my dad could rent out an entire ski resort for my wedding. Instead, he just gave me a pack of condoms and told me never to get married.”

Percy didn’t say much. He was smiling. Content. Hopeful.

“You have that look again,” Gus said. “You need to control that shit.”

“What?”

Gus was having trouble putting his thoughts into words. “You get those rose-colored glasses and you lose all common sense. All… urgency.”

“I’m fine,” Percy said. “Everything will be okay.”

Gus didn’t look so sure. “I hope you know what you’re doing. This isn’t exactly a situation you can just bail on if things don’t go as planned.”

“Oh, I know it,” Percy said. Normally he could. Running away was his strong suit. Being the center of attention was not. “I was trying to find some alone time and the… photographer. The uh wedding photographer followed me everywhere I went. Can’t get a moment alone.”

“Now you know what it feels like to be us,” Benji said. “The ‘photographers’ here have been pretty persistent, though, haven’t they?”

“It’s your big day, Percy,” Gus said, “You’re the star.”

They all had a good chuckle.

From across the room, Mr. Franklin called out, “Percy!”

“Here we go again already. I told you I don’t get a break,” Percy whispered to his friends. More loudly, he said, “Yes, Dad?”

“Have you seen that damn detective?” Mr. Franklin asked. “I have some things I want to talk over with him.”

Percy shrugged. “Not since this morning. Try the restaurant at the top of the mountain,” he suggested. “He might have gone there.”

Mr. Franklin looked up toward the peak of the mountain. “Thanks, son. I’ll check it out.”

Once his character’s father had left, he turned to his friends and said, “That should take care of him for an hour or so.”

“I don’t know what to do with you, Percy,” Gus said.

----------------------------------------

“How was the bachelorette party?” Percy asked.

Daphne smiled coyly. She was arranging chocolates on a small plate.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Percy got closer. “You know, alcohol, chiseled men in tear-away pants. Phallic popsicles or something.”

She stopped arranging the candies and looked up at him curiously, her onyx-black hair framing her face. “Aren’t all popsicles phallic?”

Percy laughed. “I don’t know. It’s just something Benji was saying.”

“You should never listen to anything that man says,” she said.

“Right.”

“You have to get out of here before midnight, you know that. We aren’t supposed to see each other on the day of the wedding until the ceremony.”

Percy looked over at the clock on the wall. “I have forty minutes.”

“You can wait one more day,” she said.

Percy didn’t want to. He knew the Party would be over soon and so would his vacation. He didn’t want to go to bed. He was like a kid trying to stretch his weekend by staying up late on Sunday. Soon, Monday would come.

“Let me stay a little longer, at least,” he asked, practically begging.

She smiled and his heart fluttered.

“Just a little bit longer,” she said with a laugh. “You’re really getting into this, aren’t you?”

----------------------------------------

“Percy,” Daphne said, “Wake up! You have to get out of here before anyone sees.”

“Crap, I didn't mean to fall asleep,” Percy said. “I'm sorry." He ran around the room pulling his clothes on. "I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Just go get ready. The ceremony is still six hours away. We’re fine. It’s going to be okay.”

Percy nodded as he gathered all of his things and headed out the door.

As he did, he looked down on the ground and saw a small comment card for the resort that had the words “I’ll love you till the day you die” written on it.

“Daphne,” he said, bending down to pick up the card, “Daphne, someone slipped this under the door.”

Curious at first, then terrified, she grabbed the note and flipped it over, looking for more writing but finding none.

“We go to the detective, right?” she asked.

“Right.”

----------------------------------------

They practically ran there.

“Wasn’t he supposed to be in the office?” Percy said, grabbing at the doorframe as he nearly lost his balance. He felt dizzy and ragged.

“Just breathe,” Daphne said.

Percy was having a hard time. His survival instincts instructed him to run, but that wasn’t an option here. They were in the mountains, and he didn’t have a vehicle. Even if he did, he knew the story would follow him wherever he went.

The office was empty.

“Let’s check the chapel,” Percy suggested. “Do you know what rooms everyone is in?”

“I can check the registry,” Daphne said.

They practically ran across the resort to the chapel. They didn’t see a single soul on their way. The resort was completely rented out for the wedding and the staff seemed strangely absent.

As they ran into the room, Percy’s attention was drawn immediately to the large window that overlooked the ski slopes.

“Oh my god,” he said as he stared out at the ski lift.

The lines had been cut. No cars were moving up or down.

“How do they get up the mountain without the lifts?” he asked.

Daphne looked out at the damage. One row of lifts had fallen to the ground. The other remained airborne but was sagging.

“I don’t think they do,” she said in a panic. “They said there was too much snow this year. The roads are impassable.”

Percy realized that the employees of the hotel, most of them at least, would not be able to get up the mountain.

“Percy, look,” Daphne said, pointing up at the wall behind the pulpit.

Percy turned to see the words, “I’ll love you till the day you die,” written out again in red paint.

“Oh my god,” Percy said. “We have to go get the others.”

First, they went about finding Gus’ room. When they arrived, the door was open and Gus lay in his bed. Blood-drenched feathers rested around his body.

“He was killed in his sleep,” Percy said, analyzing the scene. “Never even got the chance to get up.”

That wasn't completely true. Gus had tried to block the stabbing with a pillow, the only thing in reach at that moment. It had not been effective.

“I don’t understand,” Percy said in a panic, “It’s too early… It’s not even First…”

He stared off into his mind’s eye.

“We need to find Angela,” he said.

Daphne nodded. “I’m so sorry. I brought this all on you. Adrian was never going to let me escape.”

“This isn’t time for that,” Percy said, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go.”

They quickly made their way across the hall and found Angela’s room with the door open. Angela was nowhere to be seen.

Until they walked into the room and saw the balcony.

Angela lay outside on the small chair that was left out on the balcony. She was only wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Her skin was blue. There was snow in her hair.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Percy said. “She can’t be dead. It’s not possible.”

He pulled open the balcony door and examined her body. She was practically frozen to the touch.

“She can’t die before…” Percy said.

“Why would she not defend herself? Maybe she got drunk and fell asleep out there,” Daphne said.

“I don’t understand what is happening. This is too soon,” he said. “We’re in the Party still.”

Daphne's eyes widened as he said it.

Percy knelt on the ground and wrapped his arms around his stomach.

“Are you okay?” Daphne asked through tears.

“I’m dizzy,” Percy answered. “Where is Benji? Maybe—” he started to say.

“Percy, we need to lock the doors,” Daphne said. “Adrian’s going to be here soon.”

Percy could hardly hear her.

“I’m not supposed to be a main character,” he said in a panic.

“No,” Daphne said. “None of that talk. We just have to find somewhere to hide, right?”

She ran over to the door and shut it, locking it behind her.

“Percy, I love you,” she said.

“It’s too late,” Percy said. He started to scrunch his face and hold his stomach. “Gus and Angela… they’re dead.”

“Come here,” Daphne said, guiding Percy from the floor to the bed. Through tears, she said, “All that matters is that we love each other. Even if we only get to be together for a few seconds in the scheme of things, at least I got to be with you. I was so lucky when you came along, Per—”

Percy convulsed, falling off the bed in the process.

“Don’t interrupt me!” Daphne said, “This is my favorite part.”

She bent down and hoisted him back onto the bed.

“All that matters is that we love each other. Even if we only get to be together for a few seconds in the scheme of things, at least I got to be with you. I was so lucky when you came along, Percy. We were meant to be together forever.”

He looked at her through labored breaths, as if seeing her for the first time. The veil had been lifted. The rose-colored glasses were gone.

Who was this person? He was in love with her. Was she even part of his team? Why did he feel so sick all of a sudden?

“Chocolates,” he said with great difficulty.

“You love chocolate. I told you to leave before midnight. It’s bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony on the day of their wedding. You didn’t want to leave. What was I supposed to do?”

“How?” he asked. She had killed them all so soon.

Except he realized she hadn’t killed them soon at all. The Plot Cycle, which he swore had said Party moments before, now was much further along.

“The Finale?” he asked tears streaming from his eyes as he realized what had happened. She had tropes of her own and he had fallen for them wholesale. He had thought this story had a very long Party Phase. It didn't. They were all fooled.

The detective!

His father had been looking for the detective the day before. Had that been First Blood, Detective Blackwood's disappearance? Had they all slept as the story had passed them by, one phase at a time? They weren't prepared for this.

“I just want you to know,” she said, “That I really do love you.”

The story was all but over and he had failed. This was why he wasn’t supposed to be the main character. He wasn’t any good at it. He had fallen for her in every way possible. Love had betrayed him. He felt a pang in his heart. He didn't know if it was the betrayal or the poison.

Not like this. They had taken such a risk to come here. They could lose because of him.

“I don’t want to play anymore,” he said before he even knew what he was saying.

Daphne’s eyes once again got wide. She rushed to put a finger over his mouth and said, “This isn’t a game. My dear. I love you so much.”

Percy was beyond thinking straight as he felt another convulsion coming on. The poison Daphne had somehow gotten into his system, by confection or affection, had done their work. He would die. His team wouldn’t be rescued, not all the way out here.

“I quit. I don’t want to play,” he said. As he did, the Plot Cycle stopped.

“No!” Daphne screamed. “What did you just do?”

Daphne looked at him with fear and with… pity. He swore there was pity in her eyes. Why? What had he done? Was quitting the game actually possible?

She turned and looked out the window, past Angela’s body. The fear in her eyes was palpable. She started breathing heavily.

With a look back at Percy she turned to walk to the door.

As she opened it, she paused.

She drew a knife from somewhere hidden in the folds of her dress, a bejeweled, silver knife.

She walked across the room at once, trembling, but trying to fight through the fear.

“I told you, Percy,” she said tearfully as she readied her blade. “I’ll love you till the day you die.”

With another fearful gaze at something outside the window, she swiped the blade downward toward Percy’s neck and sent him to an early grave.

And with another flash of her knife, she joined him.

----------------------------------------

Introducing: Daphne Sinclair as The Homibride in Homibridal Part III: Widow's Peak