• Even though this little town was dull, one person brought out the life in everything. Her name was Emily Lovett, the most beautiful and lovely songbird in the town. She had a bright, delightful smile, such a lovely smile that when somebody would be walking in the streets alone and depressed, Emily would smile at them, and all their fears went away.
    Her family was wealthy, her father, Benjamin Lovett, was a hard working man. He came from many generations of Lovett’s, all of them wealthy. He played the violin, as well as his beautiful blonde wife, Johanna Lovett, who was a famous pianist. Johanna taught Emily how to play piano, and now she is as good as her mother. Sometimes Emily will perform in front of citizens.
    But this day would be her last day to perform… alive.
    * * *
    “Father, I’m going out to the garden.” Emily said to Benjamin.
    “Yes, dearie. Be back shortly. We’re having guests at our house tonight.” Benjamin said back.
    Emily shot out her front door, and ran to the garden. One part of the garden was for her mother, and one was her own. In Emily’s garden, her mother planted her favorite flowers, white lilies, and blue roses. Emily picked the flowers one by one, and made it into a little crown of flowers.
    She carefully tied one to another, lily, rose, lily, rose, until her flower crown was complete. She daintily put it on her soft brown hair. Then she just sat in the garden, looking thoughtful. Everything buzzed through her mind, father playing the violin, as her and her mother read to each other, dark stories of the north. Or mother playing the piano before Emily went to bed. Or even, Emily singing to the birds and butterflies that fluttered outside.
    “I think I’ll perform today.” She said to herself. She didn’t dare tell her father. Emily liked having her own secrets, and her father would not approve of her alone in the town performing in front of peasants and sneaky merchants.
    The gate in her front lawn was always locked, unless there were visitors. But Emily was thin enough to slide through the bars, and escape. She put the hood of her cloak over her head so nobody would recognize her. Then she started walking, heading for the town square.
    She passed drunken men that would surely try to hurt her. But luckily there were guards around so she wouldn’t be harmed. But, when a guard wasn’t looking, a stumbling man walked up to her, and put his hand on her shoulder.
    “Are you looking for something, lady? Well her I am and I’ll give you a--“ the man couldn’t finish the sentence, because he was laughing at her fear.
    “Get away from me!” Emily cried.
    The man chuckled.
    Finally, a guard snatched him, and took him away.
    “Don’t worry, lady! I’ll be back!” He yelled.
    Though Emily was frightened, she still kept going.
    After passing many drunken men and merchants, she made it to the town square. She stood next to the statue of a general who was killed by cannon. She took off her cloak to show her white dress that fit perfectly over her hourglass-like body. Emily started singing a little tune her mother had composed. One by one, peasants gathered around to hear her song. She took off her flower crown, and took it apart, throwing flowers to her fans. All her worries went away, and she let her voice flow. Her dark brown hair was blowing in the breeze, and everything seemed to come alive. Everybody sighed as they heard her lovely voice.
    “Oh, isn’t she lovely?” An elderly woman whispered to a short, plump man.
    “Indeed. That is Benjamin Lovett’s daughter, Emily Lovett.” The man said back.
    “That’s the wealthy Emily Lovett? Are you being serious, young man?” The woman asked harshly.
    The man ignored her tone. “I kid you not. Her mother, Johanna Lovett, plays the piano, and Benjamin plays the violin. That girl was born with talent.”
    “Don’t the Everglots have a daughter?” the woman asked.
    “Yes they do. Her name is Victoria Everglot. The poor girl is loosing money more than a horse could run.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Finnis and Maudeline spend money constantly, and now they have become very poor. If Victoria doesn’t get married, they will be forced, penniless into the streets. They might have her marry fish merchants, or something like that. I pity that lovely girl.” The man scoffed.
    Emily finished her tune, and everybody cheered. Emily took a bow, and threw more flowers out. She kept one blue rose to herself. People were migrating away, with smiles on their faces. Emily sat on the pavement and sniffed her rose. She then held it to her chest, and looked up into the gray sky, as if she were going to grow wings and fly with the doves.
    “My, my, what a performance!” A male’s voice said. Emily turned to look, and saw a tall man with his sandy brown hair slicked back. He looked so handsome that Emily had a hard time speaking.
    Emily quickly stood up, and said, “Th—thank you, sir.”
    The stranger walked toward her and exclaimed, “Why, if I had any money, I would give it all away, to you, my dear.”
    “I have all the money I need. There is no need to pay.” Emily said. “But I shall thank you.” Emily whispered as she handed him her last blue rose.
    The stranger accepted the rose, and picked up her right hand, and kissed it. “Bittern. Barkis Bittern.” He whispered.
    “Lovett. Emily Lovett.” She said back.
    “Ah, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman, Miss Emily Lovett.”
    “Why I’m flattered!” Emily sighed. “And a handsome name for a handsome man, Master Barkis Bittern.”
    “Would you care to take a stroll with me?” Barkis asked.
    “Oh, but I must get back to my father. He’s expecting me and—“
    “Please? Just a small walk? Just for awhile.” Barkis said sweetly.
    Emily gave in. They linked arms and started strolling.
    * * *
    “Barkis, what did you mean by, “If I had any money”?” Emily asked him.
    “Well, you see, I am a very poor man, only enough money for some clothes, and a month’s supply of food. So I do have money, but I need it for myself. Terribly sorry.”
    “Oh, Barkis. I have all the wealth in the world. You see, my parents are very rich. Lovett’s come down from many generations, every one of them have a special talent.”
    “Like you?” He asked.
    Emily blushed. “Sure. Like me.”
    They were silent for a moment, and night was just around the corner. Emily did not notice. She was too busy admiring Barkis, and trying to think of what to say next.
    “Ah, a church. Brings back so many memories.” Barkis said as they passed Pastor Gallswells’s church.
    “Don’t you have anyone to rely on? Anybody to help you?” Emily asked.
    “Oh, no. My whole family is dead. I have no one to rely on to aid me.” Barkis said sadly.
    Emily then thought of an idea for the poor man. To get him some money. For him to stay…
    To be together forever.
    * * *
    Emily busted through the door of her house. Benjamin Lovett was sitting in a red chair by the door.
    “Emily! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried! You escaped from the house, and missed the guest party! Explain yourself!”
    Emily stood there, shocked. “Father, what is the time?”
    Emily glanced over at the living room door, and saw Johanna Lovett peeking through. Her face was filled with terror.
    “Eleven at night!” Benjamin jerked upwards and pointed at her. “Where have you been?”
    She fidgeted with her hands and looked down. “I went to the town square to perform.”
    “You what!?” Her father yelled.
    Emily ignored the question.
    “I met a man, too. A nice man named Barkis Bittern. He’s very poor and—“ Emily hesitated. She saw her mother out in the open, her eyes wide.
    “And I want to help him! I want to marry him!”
    Johanna gasped, and Benjamin grew extremely pale.
    “Emily…” Benjamin started.
    “Father! Please! I fell in love with him! He’s a kind and gentle man that only has enough money for a month’s supply of food! The only way to help him is if I—“
    “Don’t say it! Do NOT say that! You only knew him for a day, and I don’t even know this man. He could be a compulsive liar! If you insist on getting married, I must know this man! Right Johanna?” Benjamin looked over at Johanna.
    “He’s not a liar! I can tell!” Emily argued.
    Johanna’s eyes filled up with tears, and she ran upstairs to her room.
    Benjamin sighed, and sat back down on the chair. He put his hand on his forehead.
    “I’m sorry, Emily, but no.” He whispered.
    Emily did not reply, but slowly walked upstairs. She walked into her room and sat on her bed.
    Tap, tap.
    Emily gasped, and looked out her window. There was a figure of a man, a very tall and bold man… then she realized it was Barkis.
    Emily ran to the window and opened it. She helped Barkis get inside.
    “I could not bear to take you out of my sight.” Barkis said.
    “Oh, Barkis.” Emily hugged him, and put her head on his chest. “I can’t. Father…” she started.
    “Oh dear. I have to leave town soon to visit any others. Unless I am married, I must leave this village.” He said back.
    “Shall we take a walk? A last walk together, before I leave? Let’s take a stroll to the graveyard, to be alone.” He asked.
    Emily opened her eyes, and looked up at him. “Barkis…” she managed to say.
    “Emily, are you all right?” Barkis asked her.
    “Barkis! We can get married ourselves. In the graveyard! No one will be there, so we can have our own ceremony!” Emily said happily.
    “Oh, darling, what a fantastic idea! How about midnight? Will you meet me there?” He said twirling her around.
    “Oh, yes!” Emily then heard footsteps, and didn’t dare take a breath.
    “Barkis, you must leave here. My father is coming!” She said silently.
    “Till tonight, my darling.” He said romantically.
    “Till tonight, my dear.” Emily said back.
    Barkis exited through the window just as Benjamin knocked. Emily shut the window and sat on her bed.
    “Come in.” she hollered.
    Benjamin entered the room. He opened his mouth as if to say something. Emily smiled at him.
    “Goodnight, Emily. I love you, you know that, right?” He said.
    “Of course father! I love you too.” She said as she hugged him tightly.
    Emily almost felt guilty that she was marrying Barkis without her father there, to guide her to the groom. To accept her with him. To say goodbye to his little girl… Emily shook the thought as Benjamin left the room.
    * * *
    At about ten minutes to midnight, Emily quietly entered her parent’s room. She saw Johanna, and Benjamin sound asleep. Emily smiled, and tip-toed to their closet. The hinges squeaked as she opened the closet door. She pulled out Johanna’s wedding dress, and closed the door.
    Before leaving the room, Emily stood next to the bed, and looked solemnly at her parents. She bent down, and kissed Johanna, whose face still look frightened. “I love you, mother.” She looked at her father. He looked like a wax figure, because he was so still. She kissed him, too. “I love you, father.”
    Emily brushed their faces, and left the room. She quietly pulled their door shut, and ran to her room.
    She had a hard time putting on the wedding dress on, but luckily, it fit like a glove. Emily blew out her candles, and crept out her window. She climbed down the vine that ran upside the house. She dropped right at her garden, and she made another flower crown and a bouquet for herself, of course, mostly out of blue roses.
    Emily glanced back at the house, and sighed. Something told her this was a bad idea, but she tried to get rid of the thought. Hopefully, her premonition was wrong.
    She slid through the gate, and started running toward the bridge. She would have to cross the bridge, past the church, and through the forest to get to the graveyard. She looked at the church, and saw Pastor Gallswells glaring at her through the window. Emily gasped, and started running.
    “Miss Lovett! What are you doing? Come back here!” Pastor Gallswells yelled out the door.
    Emily sped off, and soon, she wasn’t in sight of the Pastor. She breathed heavily, and started walking.
    The only thing she could see in the forest was the moon lighting up the path. She gulped, and clenched her fists. Should I do this? Should I let my parents suffer? She thought. Yet, she kept on walking, until she saw the graveyard in view.
    Emily sat under an old oak tree, and looked at the grave beside her. “Scraps” it said on it, “May he rest in peace”.
    “Must’ve been a dog.” Emily said to herself.
    * * *
    Emily waited for hours, maybe three, and she began to feel sleepy. She then heard a crunching noise… something stepping in the leaves? Another crunch. Emily stood up.
    “Hello? Barkis? Dear?” Emily asked, frightened.
    She heard cackling.
    Then, she felt a sharp pain in her back. But it wasn’t just sharp… there was so much pain that she could feel it, yet she couldn’t. Nothing could describe it. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. Emily tried to breathe, but she couldn’t.
    “Barkis.” Emily managed to say.
    Then, everything went black.
    * * *
    Emily heard a raspy, yet kind, feminine voice.
    “C’mon, dearie. Wake up.”
    Emily was no longer in pain, but she still couldn’t breathe. Yet, somehow, it didn’t affect her. She forced herself to breathe just to talk. “Who? What?” she asked.
    “There y’ go. It’s alright.” The voice said again.
    “Mother?” Emily asked.
    “No, no. I don’t think momma’s here. Don’t think I’ve ever met her.” The woman said. “It’s okay, open up.”
    Emily opened her eyes.
    There was a florescent like woman above her face. Her forearms were bare… like they were just bones. You could see her ribcage… literally. The woman was touching her, but Emily couldn’t feel it.
    “I’m Mrs. Plum. Don’t be afraid. You can ask me anything.” The woman said.
    Emily took a sharp breath, as if to scream, but Mrs. Plum put her hand over her mouth. “Don’t scream. You’re alright. Be calm.”
    Emily calmed herself down enough to ask, “Where am I?”
    Mrs. Plum puzzled. “Don’t be alarmed, sweetie, but…” she said. “You’re in the land of the dead. You’re dead, sweetie.”
    Emily looked at her arm. It was just as florescent as Mrs. Plum. Her dress was dirty, and torn. All her jewelry was gone.
    “Am I in heaven? Or hell?” Emily whispered.
    “No, no, no. You’re a…” Mrs. Plum thought a moment. “Living corpse? Though you’re not living, you’re dead. But, um… undead? I don’t know what to call it. Mrs. Plum isn’t very bright anymore, y’ know.”
    Emily just stared.
    “Oh, wait, you don’t know.” Mrs. Plum said quickly.
    “Corpse? Am I really dead?” Emily said to herself.
    “Yep, y’ sure are. It’s fine, really. It’s… nice here. Would ya’ like to meet the residents?”
    “Residents? Other corpses?” Emily gasped.
    They then heard a small yap. A dog? Emily turned her head, and saw the skeleton of a dog, but it was somehow… still alive, but not. “Scraps?” Emily whispered.
    “Come here, Scraps.” Mrs. Plum coaxed.
    Scraps ran over to Mrs. Plum, and glanced at Emily. Emily’s eyes were filled with fright, yet adore at the same time. Emily sat up to get a better look at him. Scraps pounced on Emily’s lap, and yapped again.
    Emily giggled. “For a skeleton, he sure is cute.” She petted him, even though there was no fur to pet.
    “Dear, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?” Mrs. Plum asked.
    “Emily. Emily Lovett.” She replied.
    “Is she awake yet?” they heard an elderly male’s voice come from the other room.
    “Yeah, Elder Gutknecht. She’s up.” Mrs. Plum called.
    There from the opening of the other room, a very, very, old skeleton walked out. He held an old wooden cane. Part of the plates that made up his skull was broken. His back was hunched over, and he had a long, white beard—probably made out of cobwebs.
    “Ah, here’s the new arrival.” He said.
    “Elder Gutknecht, this is Emily. Emily, this is Elder Gutknecht. He’s the oldest and wisest corpse here.” Mrs. Plum said.
    “Emily, what a lovely name.” Elder Gutknecht said.
    “Th—tha—thank you, s—sir.” Emily stuttered.
    “Oh, my dear. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you in the slightest.” He laughed.
    Emily giggled too.
    “Wow, people are so friendly around here. And it’s much more alive than my little town.” Emily said, still petting Scraps.
    “What do you mean by it is more alive here?” Mrs. Plum asked.
    “I think she means that her town is dull—not much fun as we have here. Is that right, Emily?” Elder Gutknecht asked.
    “Yes, but…” Emily hesitated. “It has more… color. In my little town—the land of the living,” She corrected. “It is all… browns and whites and blacks… mostly. Except for my flowers back at the garden. They are always colorful. Especially the blue roses.”
    “Like the ones you have there?” Mrs. Plum pointed at her bouquet.
    “Yes, exactly. Except… I think these ones will wilt soon. Then it’ll be as dull as my poor little town.” Emily sighed. “My little town.” She repeated.
    Elder Gutknecht looked at her with pity. “My dear, is there something wrong?”
    Emily took a sharp breath. “Mother and Father. They will be…” Emily broke out a tear.
    “Oh, Emily, Emily, dear. Don’t cry. Everything will be alright.” Mrs. Plum put her cold finger on Emily’s face to wipe of the tear.
    “They wi—will ne—never ever f—find m—me again.” Emily sobbed.
    “Not true, not true.” Elder Gutknecht coaxed.
    It took her a few minutes to calm down. She thought of happy memories, and what would be happening now if she didn’t go to the graveyard that night.
    I would be home, asleep, in my bed. I would wake up, smelling mother’s breakfast. I would go to the garden, and pick flowers for mother and father. I would be singing songs and playing a duet with my mother on the piano, while father played the violin. Then, later at night, I would tell my parents I love them with all my heart. Then we will all be having happy dreams, and none of this would ever happen. How was I so foolish to trust this man? All he wanted was my money, but he had enough. I wonder how many other females—or males—have been murdered by him? Well, being dead can’t be all that bad. I mean, everybody is nice. But what if their all like—She shivered at the thought of his name—Barkis?
    Emily looked into Elder Gutknecht’s eyeless sockets. Yes, she could see the trust. She looked at Mrs. Plum. The trust, she could tell, was in her touch, though Emily couldn’t feel it, or see it, she did believe it.
    Emily breathed heavily, and was calm enough to say, “I would like to meet the residents now. It will make me feel better to be around other people.”
    Elder Gutknecht and Mrs. Plum both looked at each other. Elder Gutknecht slightly nodded, and Mrs. Plum turned to Emily. “There may be worse looking people there than us. Are you sure?”
    Emily sat up, and smiled. “I’m sure.”
    * * *
    Mrs. Plum and Elder Gutknecht led her to a door. Behind it, Emily could hear music. Elder Gutknecht feebly turned the knob, and opened the door. The music was much louder.
    Emily entered the door, and saw many corpses. Some of them were plain skeletons, and some were close. There was a skeletal man—dwarf, I should say—that had a sword struck through his back, and out his stomach. Then another tall, skeleton man, that had a hole through his stomach—maybe from a cannonball, since he did look like a general. But he looked awfully familiar. One of the skeletons really caught her eye—Bonejangles, was his name. He had a massive under bite, and a black top hat. He also had one eye that would bob side to side as he swayed. Though he didn’t have a vocal box, he still sang on a stage with a skeleton pianist with sunglasses.
    Emily was a little frightened, but shook her fears away.
    Mrs. Plum stepped up, and yelled, “New arrival! New arrival!”
    Every corpse looked at her, and was silent.
    “I now present to you, our very first corpse bride, Emily Lovett!” Mrs. Plum moved out of the way to reveal the “corpse bride”, as she calls it.
    Everybody—even those without a body—stared in awe at the new arrival.
    “She’s so beautiful.”
    “How did she die?”
    “Is she still soft?”
    “Corpse bride?”
    “She looks like a rich woman!”
    Comments flowed from everywhere, and the room got louder with questions and comments.
    Emily giggled and blushed.
    Everyone crowded around her, filling her mind with questions. She tried to answer, one by one, but more questions came bombing at her.
    “Alright, alright!” Yelled Mrs. Plum. “No more questions now! She is very tired, and confused. Greet and meet her, but don’t over-do it!”
    One skeleton stalked up to her. “Nice for you to come, Emily.”
    The dwarf trotted over to the skeleton. “Lady Emily. She’s obviously rich. But someone must’ve stolen her jewels.”
    “Oh, really, just call me Emily.” Emily responded to the both of them.
    Bonejangles walked smoothly up to her. He lifted her hand, and kissed it, or, more of a peck, since he was a skeleton. He whistled, and Emily giggled.
    Two skeletal children walked up, no taller than her knee, probably no older than four. The male skeleton had a sailors outfit on, and the female skeleton had a pink dress with a red wig.
    “Up, up!” They chimed.
    Emily picked both of them up, and cuddled them.
    “I’m Sue Ann.” Said the girl.
    “I’m Brady.” Said the boy.
    “Aren’t those just adorable names!” Emily said sweetly. “Sue Ann and Brady.”
    The skeleton with a hole in his stomach came over.
    “Oh, I recognize you from somewhere…” Emily puzzled.
    “From where?” Asked the skeleton.
    Emily dug through her mind of all the stuff she’s seen. “Oh, yes! The Cannon-Ball General! There is a statue of you in the Land of the Living.”
    “Yup, that’s me! Louie Meriwether, the Cannon-Ball General.”
    Every corpse talked to her for hours, but soon, Emily wasn’t the center of attention anymore. And let me tell you, she was relieved.
    When nobody was watching, she walked out of the bar, and saw a piano in the hallway. She didn’t think anybody would mind, so she sat on the bench, and played her mother’s song.
    Emily thought of everything she had done with her parents—her birthdays, the guest parties, even just playing with them.
    Emily shed a tear.
    “I thought I heard you out here.”
    Emily got startled, and quickly stood up. She accidently tipped over the piano bench, and she picked it up. “Do forgive me, Elder Gutknecht.” Emily said.
    “No, please forgive me, Emily, for startling you.”
    “I forgive you.” Emily laughed.
    “You play beautifully.” Elder Gutknecht said.
    “Thank you. My mother taught me when I was a little girl.” She bit her lip at the thought of her mother.
    Elder Gutknecht sat on a couch, made from a coffin. “Come sit with me.” He said.
    Emily obeyed, and sat with him.
    They sat silently, until Emily spoke.
    “If only I could sit under that tree again, and wait for someone. Though I don’t know who I would wait for.”
    Elder Gutknecht sighed. “It’s not regular for me to tell you about this, but, I know of a way.”
    Emily looked at him, wide-eyed. “You do? Please tell me.” Emily asked.
    Elder Gutknecht turned his head for a moment, unsure of what to do. “Are you sure you want to know? I mean, really sure?” He did not sound like himself. He sounded… different in some odd way.
    Emily realized what he was feeling. “I don’t have to go…”
    Elder Gutknecht turned back to her, and took her cold hand. “You do whatever your heart tells you. I’ll accept it.”
    Emily thought for a moment. “I’ll do it.”
    * * *
    Emily followed Elder Gutknecht, until they came upon a very tall dwelling. There were stairs. Many, many stairs. Luckily, they were dead, so none of them could feel pain while walking upward.
    Inside of the dwelling were books—hundreds and thousands of books. Most of them were jammed on the wall, and some where in tall piles on the old wooden floor.
    Elder Gutknecht went up to one part of the bookcase, and search through the books. After a few minutes, he pulled out a big, red book, with a picture of a skull on the cover.
    He walked up to his pedestal, and set the book on it. He flipped through the pages, and paused on one page. He read the title: “Ukrainian Haunting Spell.” He mumbled.
    He carefully read the directions, and made the sound of a crow. Emily jumped.
    A crow flew over to his pedestal, and just sat there. Elder Gutknecht stroked it’s shiny, black feathers, and then picked it up cautiously.
    He suddenly clenched his hands around is body, and it squawked in terror. Then, an over-sized egg came out from beneath its tail. Elder Gutknecht let it go free. It flew away as fast as it could.
    Emily winced.
    “Once you return to the place you died, you may fall into a deep sleep. Then, when someone has found you, you will wake up, and the both of you will appear into the Land of the Dead. Do you understand?”
    Emily sighed, and then smiled her bright smile. “I understand.”
    Elder Gutknecht nodded his head once, and cracked open the egg. White smoke went all around Emily, and soon all the books, and Elder Gutknecht had disappeared. She gasped, and then the smoke faded. She was back, under the moonlight, by the oak tree.
    She stood still for a moment, and then smiled. Emily sat down against the oak tree, and slowly closed her eyes.