A chilling howl resonated through the graveyard as a lone figure stood beneath the last remaining shred of moonlight. His clothes blew gently in the piercing wind as he felt himself withdraw into the warmth of his overcoat. It was not long before another figure, a young girl, appeared before the boy, her demeanour soft and comforting in contrast to the otherwise ominous night.
“Alessa…” the boy whispered, the affection in his voice both strong and gentle at the same time.
“Marcus!” the girl replied, the smile lining her face as she rushed towards him, but she stopped before she reached the safety of his arms.
“What is it?” Marcus asked softly.
“I wonder…” the girl the girl trailed off, “would you still love me if you saw me for what I was…”
Marcus smiled, as gentle and as affectionate as he could muster, given the circumstances. Without saying a word, he pressed a button hidden beneath his coat, and the serene beauty of this graveyard was replaced with the harsh truth of its existence; a barren wasteland of death. He was in their world now; a world without safety, a world without creature comforts, a world without the lies and comforts of his fantasy. He was seeing the world for what it was; for the first time ever, he was seeing the real world with his own eyes. The girl before him had lost her serenity. She had lost her beauty. Her flesh was now a rotting green, but the love in her eyes was not lost. She looked at Marcus longingly, hoping he would see past her dead appearance, and into the heart she had given to him.
Marcus was taken aback by this girl’s real appearance, but he smiled weakly. He took Alessa’s hand, smiled warmly and kissed her, the warmth flowing through his body as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in close.
Without the safety of his shield, Marcus was now completely vulnerable to the spirits around him, but he had known that from the beginning. He felt the hand of creature rip into his body, and despite his desire to cry out in pain, he did not break the kiss. He refused to break this act of love until every last breath had been ripped from his body, for he knew, he would be with her forever. Death did not do them part; death would bring them together.