The trail of blood was a dead giveaway to what I was going to find in the storage closet. I sighed, trying not to cry, wanting this day to be perfect. Our wedding day, and the morning was gorgeous. I hadn’t been outside yet, but could see through the drapes that the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. I drew the drapes shut tightly.

Matthew was sleeping at his best man’s house, as was tradition. We would see each other later that day, in our costumes - for that’s what they felt like. I wanted to call him to open the door for me. Thinking of this morning last night, it seemed so wonderful, but now … How had I not noticed? The little drops of blood crusted on the tile floor, leading to the room we never used. We had packed a lot of our items from storage in that room and then forgot about it. Or I did at least. But an animal must have gotten into there and died.

My hand trembled on the knob and as I turned it, I heard a faint whimper. I grimaced. The animal was still alive. Bracing myself, I opened the door to see a woman on the floor in a tight space between boxes. Her mouth was sealed with tape and her legs and feet were bound. Her knees were against her chest.

I rushed in and ripped the tape from her mouth without a moment to think. “What happened? I’ll cal 911!” I pulled my cell from my pocket.

“Thank you,” she sobbed and licked her lips. Her mouth was dry and her tongue was hard. I could tell just by looking at her. “I … he seemed nice … I don’t know …”

I stopped dialing the call. “He?” I listened as she described my soon-to-be husband.

With closed eyes, I took a deep breath. I looked at the woman one last time and decided to leave her mouth untaped, but her legs and feet bound. It couldn’t have been comfortable, but I had to look out for my husband.

‘Til death do us part, I thought, as I slammed the door shut and began to scrub up the dried blood he had missed. Her whimpers were drowned out from my radio. I would have to help him be more careful with his prey in the future.