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- Herausgeber: Al-Mashreq eBookstore
- Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
- Serie: Dime Mystery Magazine
- Sprache: Englisch
Madman's Bride by Arthur Leo Zagat is a haunting tale of love, madness, and dark secrets. When the beautiful and innocent Annette becomes the bride of a wealthy, enigmatic man, she quickly discovers that her new husband's mansion is filled with terrifying mysteries. Whispers of his dark past, strange occurrences in the night, and a chilling presence that stalks the halls push Annette to the brink of sanity. As she uncovers the truth, she must confront the horrifying reality of her situation: Is she married to a madman, or is there something even more sinister lurking within the walls? Dive into this spine-tingling story where every shadow hides a secret, and escape seems impossible.
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Seitenzahl: 50
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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Table of Contents
Madman's Bride
Madman's Bride
I. — FEAR ENGULFS
II. — IN THE TOMB
III. — A GRAVE FOR TWO
Landmarks
Table of Contents
Cover
Madman's Bride
Madman's Bride
He had taken her to be his wedded wife—and now, on their wedding night, he carried her across the threshold of their home—into stark horrors beyond the wildest nightmare fancy!.
I. — FEAR ENGULFS
A GOLDEN light bathed the great banks of glowing, varicolored flowers piled high on either side of the altar, and seemed to pulse in time to the happy throb within Ruth Kane. Dr. Forbes' vestmented figure was a vague blur against that glory, the majestic words he intoned a stately rumble. Somewhere at the rail with her were dad, and Jack Storm, awkward in the unaccustomed dignity of the best man's role; and behind her, indicated now by a low, reverent murmur, was the seated host of friends and neighbors come to wish her well. But the only reality to Ruth was Rand's tall form beside her, the strong clasp of his fingers on her hand that he had not released after placing on it the ring, and the ache of her love for him. She had never known that love could hurt so much...
"I pronounce you man and wife!" Pent breath gusted like a great sigh from the congregation. The organ's first deep note pealed triumphantly through the vaulted spaces of the old church.
In that instant a smack, loud and sharp as a pistol shot, exploded in front of Ruth!
She looked up with a start, saw a spread hand dropping from Dr. Forbes' face. The black-clothed arm to which it was attached was Rand's! In the instant that had made them one he had leaned forward and viciously slapped the aged minister with all his big-thewed strength!
An outraged roar surged from the nave. Someone thrust Ruth aside. Now Jack and her father had hold of Rand and he was wrestling with them, was tossing them about in a blasphemous struggle on the very steps of the altar. Above their bobbing heads she could see his countenance, engorged with blood, contorted with a strange, berserk rage. His eyes were ablaze with a lurid, uncanny fire—and, horribly, his lips were retracted from their gums in a bestial snarl. He was growling, grunting, like some wild, foul beast...! A scream tore at Ruth's throat. But before she could utter it Rand was suddenly limp, the color draining from his cheeks, the swelled veins receding, his look dazed, bewildered.
"All right," he gasped. "I'm all right now."
He staggered as they released him, pulled a shaking hand across his forehead. "Sick..." he groaned. "So sick..."
An angry buzz zoomed around the girl from the sea of pale, gaping faces below; but the organ had commenced again, chanting the noble strains of Meyerbeer's Coronation March.
Rand's mouth twitched. "All dark for a minute. Dizzy."
Then he was turning to her, was reaching out for her, smiling—somehow wistfully. Quite evidently he had no recollection of the thing he had done. But something was in his eyes that chilled Ruth, some lurking, awful fear.
"Ruth," he said. "My wife!"
She came within the circle of his arms, was pressed close against him. His lips, avidly seeking hers for their bridal kiss, were icy cold, clammy. When she should have thrilled in the ecstasy of union at last with the man she loved, a shudder of revulsion swept through her. Past Rand's shoulder her father's face was gaunt, drawn, his bushy iron-grey brows beetling over irate eyes. She felt Rand's body quiver like a frightened child's, felt the pound of his heart against her breast, and suddenly pity for his distress flooded her, poignant pity and love reborn. Love redoubled because of his need for her.
"My dear," she murmured. "My own. My—husband." And she clung to him, warming his lips with the fire of her own...
"Congratulations, Mrs. Parker."—"You are lovely, that gorgeous ivory-white is so becoming to you."—"Kiss the bride."—"Leaving right away? We'll miss you."—"Kiss the bride."
A nightmare crowding around her, of twittering females, of whisky-breathed males. Of thin lips, and slobbering thick ones, of smooth faces and prickly, mustached ones engaged in the barbaric custom of kissing the bride. Kind people acting just as if nothing had happened. Acting almost as if nothing had happened. Flickerings of repressed horror betraying them. Pitying whispers that she was not supposed to hear. Cluckings of dismay. And a glimpse of Dr. Forbes, statuesque, his pure-white hair a saintly aureole and the scarlet stain of Rand's fingers lurid on his pallid cheek. When would this be, over? Oh Lord, when would it be over...?
A murmur, and heads turning. Mouths forming little o's. A break in the crush. Down there, just reaching; the door into the vestry room, Ruth's father and Rand, side by side but not looking at each other. Walking stiff-legged and rigid with anger, their faces set, carved out of white marble. What was happening? She must get to them. She must!
"Excuse me." Smile sweetly. Smile! "I'll be right back." Smile while dread squeezes your heart. "No, we're not going now. Not till after breakfast in the Sunday-school rooms."
Ruth's silk rustled down the plush aisle and she felt curious eyes on her, hundreds of eyes peering after her. But she saw only the little arched doorway in the shadows through which her father and her lover had vanished; she knew only that she must get there, that what was going on behind that door was vital to her
A dim figure was inexplicably at her side, a hand touched her arm. "Wait, Ruth," Jack Storm's voice said. "Don't go in there."
