The Bridal Shop

There was a sensory tapestry of musty, damp earth intermingled with the sharp tang of decayed organic matter. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and walls like blankets. Spiders criss-crossed the floors, not the usual ones, but those huge meaty ones that you find in jungles. I thought I saw a snake slither to the far side of the counter. Lingering notes of mould and mildew permeate the atmosphere, a testament to the shop's prolonged seclusion from fresh air. Not the sort of environment I expected from a bridal shop.
“Argh!”
I jumped into the air as a hand touched my shoulder. My heartbeat, already at the rate of an Olympic runner, increased to epic proportions as I spun around.
“What the…” I yelled as I realised it wasn’t a foot soldier from the army of the undead but Alice.
“Look over there, numbnuts,” she said pointing to the door at the back which was beginning to open. I don’t know if I imagined the creaking or just expected it.
So, you might ask, how did I get here? I’m not a brave person. I watch horror movies from an adjacent room, yet here I was exploring a shop in the middle of the night. You might guess then it wasn’t my decision but Alice’s. So let me take you back a few weeks. Picture us, if you will, perched atop a wall outside the library, waiting for a bus that may or may not come.
“That’s weird”, Alice said, looking across at the Bridal shop. The bright white façade, newly painted framed the windows. Above the door, a sign proclaimed The Bridal Box. Further signage over the large display window Bridal Boutique. A white sign with black lettering swung from its mount gently in the light breeze.
“So?” I shrugged.
“Look carefully, there’s a black wedding dress.”
She was right. In the window which had previously been noted for its white dresses was a black satin wedding dress.
“Ever noticed that the shops never open”. Alice continued, nearly having to shout above the guttural growl of a lorry exhaust.
I shook my head.
“Of course you haven’t, you walk around with your head in your phone, come on, let's see if we can get inside.”
The door was of course locked when we got there. On the door was a card. ‘Open by appointment only. Please ring for an appointment’ followed by a number it read.
“You know this place used to be a funeral director?” Alice asked, “and then a sandwich shop.”
“Hope they didn’t use the same fridges,” I replied.
“Wouldn’t it be so cool if they still had them?” Alice said, “wonder if we can get in and see?”
“How are we going to do that?”
Alice rattled the door in reply. It didn’t give, but just stared back at her with superiority.
Kicking the door in revenge, Alice walked away, just as our bus pulled up at the stop.
Later that evening, the phone went. Inevitably it was Alice.
“Well, you wanted to see inside that shop,” she started.
Before I could say it was her wish, she continued.
“I rang them and said I was interested in that black dress.”
“What did they say?” I reacted, knowing what was coming.
“We’re to go down at just past midnight, and yes before you ask it is a strange time, but it’ll be exciting.”
“For you maybe…”
So that’s why I’m in this spooky shop at the witching hour, being half scared out of my mind. So now we’re up to speed, let's recap, spiders, snake, cobwebs, a violent need to go to the loo and a door opening with an eerie groan.
A pale hand appeared around the door jamb. The person connected to it followed slowly.
The woman was dressed in a black dress which exuded a dark, mysterious, and elegant aura. The long, flowing black dress is made of rich, velvety fabric that catches the light subtly, adding depth to its inky hue. Her skin was pale, contrasting starkly with the darkness of her attire. She wore dramatic makeup, with smoky, kohl-lined eyes that intensified her gaze. Deep, blood-red lipstick that gave her a bold, striking look. Her nails are painted black, long and pointed and intimidating.
Yet it was the large snake draped around her neck that had my attention.
“And which of you is Alice…” The voice deep and seemingly menacing.
“I’m Alice,” came a timid voice behind me.
“So, you’re interested in my black dress… We also do a rather nice line in corpse bride dresses as well.”
I shivered at the thought of what they may entail. Images of rotting human flesh hanging out of dresses flashed across my mind.
“We can cater for any day or night ceremony. If you need a dancing skeleton, we can arrange that for a … special … price.”
“Dancing skkk…elleton?” Alice voice trembled.
“Oh yes, they’re popular at these sorts of weddings…”
“What sort of weddings?” I asked, my voice unsteady, my eyes on the snake which I’m sure had just winked at me.
“Oh, you know, goth weddings, like the one you’re obviously planning. Here let me show you our catalogue.”
“So, not weddings of the undead?” Alice stammered.
“Good god no,” the woman replied. As you’d expressed an interest in the black dress, I thought you’d want the full goth experience.”
“But why open at midnight?” I asked, still eyeing the reptile that gently hissed in my direction.
“Oh, don’t mind Elvira, she’s harmless. This place doesn’t usually look like this… I needed the time to decorate.”