Chapter 2

Last time, I followed the balloons exactly like she told me to. I followed them until I died, and I never found the chapel.

And yesterday at the rehearsal, I walked that road from Bella's house to the chapel multiple times. Every fork, every turn, I remember all of it.

But today, no matter which way I go, I end up at this graveyard.

When I tell Bella I have no idea where I am, she jumps in right away.

"Okay, stop moving! Just go back the way you came. I'll send Ryan to get you!"

I'm about to agree when I catch something out of the corner of my eye.

A woman in her fifties is walking toward me from down the road. She's wearing a red jacket and carrying a bunch of bags, gift bags with big red wedding prints all over them.

Relief floods through me. I rush over.

"Excuse me, ma'am, are you heading to the chapel for the wedding?"

She looks me up and down, then breaks into a warm smile. "Sure am! I'm the bride's aunt. Went back to grab some wedding favors."

She eyes my dress. "You here for the wedding too?"

I nod eagerly. "Yes! The bride's my best friend. I'm the bridesmaid. But I'm not from around here, and I got completely turned around."

She laughs. "Oh honey, don't worry about it. These back roads are a mess. If you don't know the area, it's easy to get lost. Come on, walk with me. I'll take you right there."

I nod over and over. The weight on my chest finally lifts.

With Bella's aunt leading the way, there's no way I can get lost this time. Right?

I text Bella: "Hey, I ran into your Aunt Diane! No need to send Ryan."

Then I grab one of the gift bags from her. "Here, let me help you carry some of these."

Aunt Diane beams. "Oh, aren't you sweet!"

We chat the whole way. She keeps saying how nice I am, asks if I have a boyfriend. I get a little flustered and change the subject.

"Aunt Diane, how much farther is it?"

She stops walking. Turns and looks right at me with this wide, toothy grin.

She lifts her hand and points ahead.

"Almost there. Just around that bend."

I look where she's pointing. There really is a curve in the road up ahead, and beyond it, lights. Bright, warm lights.

My heart leaps.

Finally.

I don't even wait for her. I grab the gift bag and practically sprint around the bend.

And then I stop dead.

"No. How is this..."

It's not the chapel. It's tombstones. Rows and rows of cold, dark tombstones.

My blood goes ice-cold. My mind goes blank.

Why? I was with her the whole time. How did I end up back here?

I spin around to ask Aunt Diane, and I nearly scream.

She's gone.

The woman who was chatting with me thirty seconds ago has vanished into thin air.

My heart slams into my throat.

"Aunt Diane?"

My voice shakes. The woods around me are dead silent. Not a single person in sight.

Then my phone rings. It's Bella.