I never thought I’d wear a wedding dress that wasn’t mine. But there I stood, in front of my sister’s full-length mirror, my hands shaking as I tried not to cry. The lace sleeves felt heavy on my arms, as if they knew this wasn’t meant for me. My heart pounded so loud I was sure it could be heard through the closed bedroom door. One hour earlier, my sister Ava had been here, laughing, tossing her veil across the bed, telling me I’d be next. She was always the bold one, the one with secrets glinting in her eyes. Now, she was gone. Vanished. One moment we were alone, just the two of us, getting ready for her fairy tale wedding. The next, she was missing, her phone left behind on the vanity, her perfume lingering in the air. She didn’t leave a note. She didn’t take her purse. She left only panic in her wake. I stared at my reflection, the soft fabric molding to curves I never wanted anyone to see. My lips were too red. My eyes, too wide. I looked like a ghost bride—terrified, out of place, desperate. Then the banging started. “Emily! We’re starting in five!” our mother called from the hallway, her voice tight with nerves. My throat closed up. I needed to find Ava. I needed to tell someone what was happening. But there wasn’t time—the guests were already seated, the music was about to begin, and the groom, Ethan, was waiting at the altar. The man my sister was supposed to marry. Panic caught in my chest. If I told the truth, everything would fall apart. My parents’ reputation. Our family’s business. Ava’s chance at happiness—if she was even still alive. My mother’s earlier words echoed in my mind: “We do not create scandals in this family. Ever.” Then her hand was on my shoulder, squeezing hard. “You have to go out there, Emily. For Ava. Just until we find her. You look enough like her. No one will know.” “But—” My voice was barely a whisper. Her nails dug into my skin. “It’s just a formality. You’ll walk down the aisle, stall for time. Smile. Say nothing. I’ll look for her. Please.” For a second, I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But I saw the fear in my mother’s eyes—the same fear I felt. Ava was gone, and no one knew what had happened to her. My mouth went dry. “Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll do it.” So I walked down the aisle in my sister’s wedding dress, my head spinning, my heart beating so fast it hurt. The church was packed. Everyone rose to their feet, eyes fixed on me, expecting Ava’s confident stride. Instead, they got me. Shaky, pale, and faking every breath. Ethan turned as I reached the altar. He looked… different. Not nervous, not joyful. Stiff. Serious. His blue eyes searched my face, and for a second I thought he knew. That he could see right through me. I forced myself to look at him, to keep my smile steady. “You look… beautiful,” he said quietly, his voice low. “Are you alright?” My lips barely moved. “I’m fine.” Liar. The vows blurred together, words floating in and out like bits of a dream. I barely heard the priest. I just stared at Ethan’s hands, the way his fingers curled and uncurled. He was tense. Not just wedding-day nervous, but something more. He squeezed my hand during the exchange of rings. Hard. I almost gasped. When he leaned in to kiss me, his breath tickled my cheek, but his lips were cold. It felt wrong—so wrong—but I let it happen. Cameras flashed. People cheered. I was married. To my sister’s husband. The reception was a blur. I avoided eye contact with everyone, nodding, smiling, pretending. My mother whispered updates in my ear—still no sign of Ava, no answers, nothing but worry and fear. I just kept moving, one foot in front of the other, trapped in a nightmare. Ethan barely spoke all night. He held my hand for the first dance, stiff and distant. His smile never reached his eyes. He drank more than usual, swirling his whiskey, watching the room like he expected someone to jump out at him. When the last guest left, my mother pulled me aside. “Go with him. Go to the hotel. I’ll keep looking for Ava. Just… don’t let him know anything’s wrong. Promise me.” I nodded, numb. The drive to the hotel was silent. The city lights streaked past, yellow and white, blurring together. I felt like a stranger in my own skin. Ethan’s jaw was clenched, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I wanted to ask him if he was okay, if he was scared too, but the words stuck in my throat. We reached the penthouse suite—my sister’s honeymoon suite. The door closed behind us with a soft click, sealing me in with a man I barely knew. I tried to keep my breathing steady, to remember why I was doing this. For Ava. For my family. Ethan didn’t turn on the lights. He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the carpet. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “You’re not Ava, are you?” My heart stopped. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. He looked up, eyes sharp, cold. “You think I wouldn’t notice? Ava and I… we had secrets. She’d never look at me the way you do.” He stood, coming closer. “Where is she, Emily?” The way he said my name—it sent a chill down my spine. I tried to back away, but the wall caught me. “I… I don’t know. She disappeared. I swear.” He studied me for a long, terrifying moment. “Liar.” He stepped even closer, until I could see the darkness in his eyes. “Did she run? Or did you help her?” I shook my head, tears burning my eyes. “No. I woke up and she was gone. I was just—” He cut me off, voice low. “Let me tell you a secret, Emily. Ava wasn’t the only one with secrets. You should have been more careful before taking her place.” My breath caught in my throat. “What are you talking about?” He leaned in, his lips almost brushing my ear. “You’re not the first person to disappear around me.” I froze. He pulled away, his face unreadable. “If you want to see your sister again, you’ll do exactly as I say. Starting now.” My world spun. My knees buckled. I saw stars at the edge of my vision. And then, in a voice so cold it didn’t sound human, he whispered, “Ava was never supposed to survive this wedding.” Everything went dark. ---