I do too.

 

Helpless.

 

"You're not the only one." Is my retort

 

Nothing can hurt me.

 

I am invincible.

 

My sarcasm is my biggest weapon.

 

More than once, it has sliced through the hearts of men.

 

Right now, I’m clinging onto it as my last resort.

 

He chuckles softly at my words and moves closer to me.

 

"I really don't want to use the Ultimate Insult on you.  You're so full of . . .  spark and . . .  life."  He stares at me almost lustily as he finishes his sentence.

 

Closer and closer still.

 

Get away from me you creep.

 

But even my glares cannot stop him.

 

He touches my face gently and gazes into my eyes.

 

I turn my face away and shudder, cold once more.  I won't look at him.  I refuse too.

 

"Why won't you love me?"  He asks quietly, his hand not moving from my face.

 

I turn back and look up

 

His eyes.

 

So . . . dead . . . and dull . . . and cold.

 

I must stay strong.

 

I MUST stay strong.

 

"Because I don't.  And I never will."  I glare at him and twist against the ropes that keep me from freedom to prove my point.

 

I will never love him.  I despise him more than I've ever despised anything in my whole existence. 

 

He tried to destroy my life.

 

Our lives.

 

Three times.

 

I vow not to let him attempt again. 

 

"I want you to marry me."  He strokes my face now, in an attempt to be passionate.

 

It makes me feel sick.

 

Why is he doing this to me?

 

Why must he torture me like this?

 

Hate.

 

My hatred toward him.

 

If I could, I'd kill him on the spot.

 

Except even death doesn't seem to stop him.

 

I want to see him in pain. I want to see him writhe and beg and plead for compassion.

 

Like he has done to so many others.

 

"I will never marry you, LeChuck."

 

I feel powerful telling him that.

 

Confidence.

 

It gives me hope.

 

A glimmer of hope for my bleak future.

 

He pretends to care, as if more for my sake then his.

 

"Nevertheless, you will become my bride.” His hand moves to my hair now. “You have no choice."

 

My hair is mine.

 

My eyes narrow.

 

No one touches my hair except for my husband.

 

Bitterness

 

I twist once more, daggers coming from my eyes.

 

Hate

 

Fear

 

Sadness

 

I can feel tears being on the verge of forming in my eyes.

 

Don't cry.

 

Elaine Marley-Threepwood doesn't cry.

 

Ever.

 

I blink and look out past him.

 

Out the window

 

Toward the stars.

 

The stars make me think of my husband.   I want him to be here next to me right now. 

 

I'm so sick of being strong.  I want him to be strong for me just this once.

 

I love him so much.

 

Guybrush, my heart aches for your arms around me.

 

I need you to keep me safe from this monster.

 

Where are you now?  What are you doing?  Please hurry.

 

I can't take this much longer.

 

The stars.

 

Look at the stars.

 

Our wedding.

 

A picture of him on that day forms in my mind

 

A picture I'll never forget

 

I want so badly to see him smile down on me like that again.

 

I must be strong, I must be strong for him and for me.

 

"No." I say defiantly, regaining my spirit "I'll never marry you.  I am Elaine Marley-Threepwood, and I will stay Elaine Marley Threepwood until the day I die."

 

His visage grows venomous as he grips my face tightly.

 

"You . . . will . . . be . . . mine." he hisses lethally

 

I love you Guybrush.

 

"Never." I declare back defiantly  "You've lost, LeChuck.  Even if you do marry me, you know that I'll never love you the way I love Guybrush. " 

 

He releases me angrily

 

And draws his arm back and slaps me severely across the face.

 

Guybrush, where are you?  Guybrush, where are you?

 

The stinging pain doesn't matter to me.

 

It doesn't hurt--it feels cold.

 

"Your husband is as good as dead as soon as he gets here, you know that as well as I do." He spits bitterly at me.  He hates hearing about my husband.

 

I will die for you, my love.

 

"Then kill me too.  I'd rather die with him than marry you."

 

More hope.

 

Kill me, take me. 

 

Just don't hurt him.

 

He is innocent

 

Don't hurt my Guybrush.

 

"Kill me! Torture me! I don't care!  Whatever you do to him--do to me.  I love him.  I love him.”

 

Fire lights up in my direction.

 

I can feel the monster’s rage burning in the orange flames that engulf what once was a man.

 

LeChuck knows how to hurt me now.

 

My weakness has finally become apparent.

 

I can see my invincibility crumbling to dust in his mind.

 

Oh no.

 

Cold.

 

"You will love only me." he growls venomously "Guybrush will die a painful, disturbing death!  And you'll watch every second of it!  Every second of his torment and suffering and anguish, all the while knowing that it was because of you.  Because you refused me."

 

Images swirl through my mind

 

Guybrush in pain

 

I can almost hear his screams of agony

 

The crys...the pleas...

 

LeChucks face lights up at my reaction

 

“Yes . . . yes . . . he will suffer deeply for your decision.” 

 

No.

 

“And you . . .  his loving, caring wife, will be the reason for it all!  Because of you!  He will die crying and screaming for mercy right before your very helpless eyes!  And you will know that it was all. Your. Fault!”

 

The images again...

 

No more.

 

Leave him alone.

 

He has dealt with too much pain in his life already.

 

I hurt more than he does.

 

No more, I plead to my mind

 

No more.....

 

Would he let this happen to me?

 

No.

 

He would be brave. He would do the right thing.

 

I love you.

 

Defeated

 

I am defeated.

 

I feel cold.

 

"Okay . . . "  I whisper softly  "I'll marry you."

 

"What was that?" the monster asks incredulously

 

"I'll marry you,” I speak up louder “But only on one condition."

 

Oh my god--what am I doing?

 

Guybrush, help me be strong.

 

"And on what condition would that be . . . ?" LeChuck asks.  Why should he agree to my terms?

 

He has to.

 

He must.

 

I take a deep breath.

 

"That you won't lay a hand on my husband."

 

LeChuck ponders this for a moment staring down at the cold, hard floor.

 

"You mean that you will willingly become my bride and stay married to me for the rest of eternity as long as I don't hurt your husband?"

 

"I will do all of the above willingly and happily."

 

I attempt a smile

 

I would do anything for you Guybrush.  That is how much I love you.

 

LeChuck stares me in the eye

 

"You will love me."he commands

 

"I will love you.” I declare

 

“Now . . . tell me why exactly it is that I should listen to you?” He says this with a slight note of humor in his voice.

 

He knows he has me in the palm of his hand, waiting to crush my last resort if I choose the wrong words.

 

You have to listen, LeChuck! You must!

 

I think fast

 

“If . . . ” I begin thoughtfully “ you hurt my husband, I’ll be busy caring more about his pain then my love for you.  LeChuck–he’d be a distraction to me.  A distraction away from you.  Is that what you really want?”

 

I look up at him.

 

Praying

 

His eyes narrow, I can see the wheels turning in his head.

 

Please....

 

Listen to me!

 

The monster grins slyly without warning

 

Surprise

 

"So we have an understanding...." he begins

 

I nod vigorously

 

“That you’ll love me in exchange for your husbands safety.....”

 

I nod again

 

Agreeing.

 

To it all.

 

Selling my soul to this creature.

 

My spirit.

 

Just don’t hurt Guybrush.

 

“It’s a deal . . . ” he proclaims softly.

 

I can barely catch his words.

 

He smiles lovingly at me before continuing

 

"My love . . . I'll go inform Mr. Mandrill and Pegnose of  the wedding plans." 

 

He runs his hand down my face, stopping at my chin to look into my eyes longingly before leaving the room.

 

I’ve never seen him give me that look before.

 

That look of deep yearning, deep wanting....

 

It’s the look of a man in love.

 

I shudder once he is gone.

 

I know that the monster won't keep his promise.

 

I know that there was some other motive

 

Hopefully, this will at least buy me some more time.

 

I will keep on fighting.

 

After all, I’m not married to him yet.

 

Maybe there is still a chance to escape

 

To run far, far away.

 

From this creature with no heart.

 

Guybrush, please hurry.

 

Please...

 

Please...

 

Hurry...

 

The wind howls outside as I turn and gaze out at the stars again.

 

Fear, for me and my husband.

 

Hopelessness for the situation I'm stuck in

 

Pain, for myself

 

And love, so much love for my husband.

 

My heart shatters.

 

Tears stream down my cheeks for the first time since I can remember.

 

The wind starts up again

 

I am alone.

 

Numb.

 

And cold. 

 

So cold, toward the world.

 

 

 

A.N. Yay!  Thanks for reading!