Marriage isn't the only way out

Jeannie was a demented child since she watched her brother die. She could not make friends; her mother often found her in her room looking under her bed, and sometimes even talking to whatever she thought was there. Jeannie's mother, Anna, was not the best at facing her problems. She mostly left her daughter alone and cried. Anna could not live a normal life being a poor widow without any sons. The town's people had to care for the two, much to their distaste.

Jeannie grew into a beautiful young woman but she was not normal. Watching someone die and having everyone blame you for the death makes a normal childhood almost impossible. She had many suitors but she knew her fate and refused all offers of marriage, friendship, and future. Although on Jeannie's eighteenth birthday Anna came home with a handsome young man who had paid for Jeannie's hand in marriage. Anna was in debt to the towns people and had to marry her daughter off to the highest bidder.

Without knowing of the plans for her, Jeannie braided her hair down one side tying it with a red ribbon and put on a cream dress with red sash around her waist. She looked lovely but her only thought was of her brother. "Sweet Jack, today is the day I become like you," Jeannie whispered to the crisp wind.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, "this will not be fun child. It will hurt. I am not Man in Moon. He takes those who die heroic deaths and gives them eternal life helping others. I can only take you if you die like I did, in a horrific way. You are a lively one and you look lovely in red, I think fire or blood is the way for you to go," Pitch spoke into her ear in a dark whisper that sent chills down Jeannie's spine.

Jeannie turned to face him but he was gone. "I am going to become like the Boogeyman." She laid her face in her hands. Tears rolled on her palms, causing them to become a tiny puddle under her eyes. She stayed like that until she felt another hand on her shoulder. She looked up immediately only to see two blue eyes looking into hers.

"Do you cry because of our wedding?" The eyes asked her.

"No, I did not know we were to wed," Jeannie said thinking of when she could have told anyone she would marry them. Still blinded by her tears she could only see those blue eyes. "Who are you?" Jeannie asked as she blinked the tears away, trying to take in the rest of the face inches above her own. Once she could see she knew who the eyes belonged to; he was the richest man in town. He was also the man who asked the most to be her husband and master. He was handsome and any other girl would love to spend the rest of her life with him but Jeannie knew the rest of her life is only a few hours.

"It is me Colin," he wiped a stray tear from her cheek. He was soft in his touch but she knew this was just his tenderness before he had her. Once men like him had their prize they were sick of it. This didn't bother Jeannie, she was going to the other side and his love was nothing compared to seeing her brother again. "I am here to marry you. I paid your mother's debt to the people and she gave me you. We will marry in an hour, since you are ready," Colin said looking at her lovingly and hopeful.

He seemed to only want her to be happy so she smiled at him and said, "Yes, that sounds lovely. The sooner we wed the better."

He smiled and kissed her cheek, then left her to finish preparing. Instead she sat on her bed and thought about how she would have to die. The Boogeyman thought she was fearless but she was afraid of him and his plans for her. Jack was always good, what if he didn't like her working with Pitch? Would she be able to tell Pitch goodbye or is their contract signed in her blood binding?

"Married? Wow. Could you even imagine a life with him? Oh, a life like that would just end in tragedy!" Pitch laughed. He sat on the bed next to her. "Good thing you are going to be away from here soon," Pitch looked at Jeannie, "You are not giving up are you?"

Jeannie looked at him, "Pardon?" She was thinking about her new life and her death.

"Do you still want this?" Pitch actually looked concerned. He used her nightmares to make something special but with her growing up as a normal human she was not strong enough to make his nightmares come true. He still needed her.

"Yes, I was wondering about Jack. I apologize for not listening. I am going to give everyone what they want then I think I will take a walk in the woods tonight. There anything can happen and I will be free to go with you," Jeannie looked at Pitch and wondered why she was so afraid of him, his hallow cheeks, shadowy eyes, and fangs made him scary but he was the only one who was kind to her after her brother's death. Is that not sad? She thought, a monster is the only one to show her kindness.

"Good, see you on the other side of your grave," Pitch said as he vanished into the shadows of her bed.

When Anna came for her at the end of the hour Jeannie was still sitting on her bed. Jeannie looked up shocked by the woman who stood before her. Anna had done her hair in a braided bun low on the back of her head and she wore a pale brown dress that fell over her thin figure making her look wonderful. Her sunken eyes were actually bright when she smiled. Anna, no longer in debt and watching her daughter go away to have a better life was happy.

Jeannie then thought about her mother for the first time. Jeannie knew her mother loved her but she did not think her mother would miss her. Looking into her mother's eyes she knew she was wrong. What would her mother do without her there to keep her going? Jeannie realized that her mother would die without her.

"Are you ready? I am sorry daughter; I have abandoned you in your time of need. Now I am selling you to someone you have not approved. I hope you know I love you, I only want what is best for you," Anna said as small tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I love you too, mother. I do not wish to hurt you. I will marry whomever you want me to. As long as you promise that you will be okay when I go," Jeannie said looking at her mother intently.

"You know I will! You are going to be away from this place!" Anna smiled at her and stood up, "It is time for you to get married!"