The Haunting of the Distant Bridesmaid

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the grand estate where the wedding was set to take place. The air was thick with anticipation and the scent of flowers, but for one woman, the joy was tinged with a sense of foreboding. She was the distant bridesmaid, a guest who had arrived late and was now standing alone in the vast gardens, her eyes scanning the grounds for any sign of her friends.

Her name was Eliza, and she had been invited to the wedding of her childhood friend, Emily, and her fiancé, James. The wedding was to be a grand affair, with guests from all over the world descending upon the estate. Eliza had been a part of Emily’s life since she was a child, but over the years, their friendship had grown distant. She had arrived at the estate with a heavy heart, not knowing what to expect.

As she wandered through the gardens, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She turned, but saw no one. The wind rustled the leaves, and the sound of a distant bird call echoed through the air. It was then that she noticed the old, abandoned greenhouse at the edge of the property. It was decrepit, its windows shattered, and its door hanging open, inviting her to explore.

Curiosity piqued, Eliza stepped inside. The air was musty, and the scent of decaying plants filled her nostrils. She moved cautiously, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The greenhouse was filled with rusted tools and old gardening equipment, but it was one particular object that caught her eye—a wedding dress draped over a wooden stand, its fabric faded and tattered.

Eliza approached the dress, her fingers brushing against the delicate lace. She felt a chill run down her spine, and she turned to see a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. It was a woman, her face obscured by a veil, but her eyes were piercing and filled with sorrow.

"Who are you?" Eliza asked, her voice trembling.

The woman did not respond, but instead, she raised her hand, pointing to the dress. Eliza followed her gaze and saw that the dress was adorned with a name tag: "Emily."

Confusion washed over Eliza. "This is Emily's dress," she whispered.

The woman nodded, and then, without warning, she vanished. Eliza's heart raced as she looked around, but the greenhouse was empty. She had seen a ghost.

That night, the wedding began. The guests were in high spirits, laughing and dancing under the stars. Eliza felt out of place, her mind replaying the events of the greenhouse. She excused herself and made her way back to the gardens, hoping to find some solace in the quiet.

As she walked, she heard a faint whisper, "Help me."

Eliza spun around, but saw no one. She shook her head, thinking it was just the wind. But the whisper grew louder, more insistent. "Help me."

Eliza followed the sound to the greenhouse, where she found the same woman, the one she had seen earlier. This time, the woman was standing in the center of the room, her veil pulled back to reveal a face etched with pain.

"Who are you?" Eliza asked again.

"I am Emily," the woman replied, her voice filled with despair. "I was supposed to marry James, but I didn't. I was killed before the wedding, and now I'm trapped here, watching over the estate."

Eliza's heart broke as she realized the truth. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I tried," Emily said, her voice breaking. "But no one would believe me. They thought I was just a crazy woman."

Eliza's mind raced. "But why are you here? Why are you talking to me?"

"I need your help," Emily said. "I need you to find out who killed me and why."

Tears filled Eliza's eyes as she nodded. "I will help you."

Over the next few days, Eliza delved into the lives of Emily and James, uncovering secrets and lies that she never knew existed. She discovered that James had a dark past, one that involved a series of mysterious disappearances. Eliza also found out that Emily had been trying to leave James before her death, which led her to believe that he was responsible for her murder.

Determined to bring justice to Emily, Eliza confronted James. He was a charismatic man, but his eyes betrayed his guilt. He confessed to the murder, explaining that he had been obsessed with Emily and feared she would leave him. He had killed her to keep her for himself.

Eliza called the police, and James was arrested. The estate was put under a cloud, but the wedding went on as planned. Emily's spirit was finally at peace, and Eliza had fulfilled her promise to help her.

In the end, the wedding was a success, but it was bittersweet. Eliza had learned that not all guests at a wedding are seen, and some are unseen guests indeed.