The sky was a greyish hue, clouds seemingly forming a blanket of grey blocking any avenue sunlight could potentially peek through. The leafless trees swung lightly in the gentle breeze that stirred the air. The surrounding woods lay dormant and lifeless. Despite the lack of colour or anything much to be seen Isla stared out the window stolidly her gaze unmoving as the empty trees blurred past them. His words still rang loud and clear in her head as if she'd only heard the mere hours ago:

"I will end you!"

As the car slowed to a stop the flurry inside Isla's stomach multiplied by a million andshe stepped out feeling as though a beehive had been set of inside of her. Shivering slightly in the cold November air she pulled her scarf around her tightly. The gates before stood tall and proud, arching with a formidable elegance. Each bar was adorned with a spear like spike at the top serving as a warning to any intruders. 

Isla stepped forward towards the gate her hand trembling as she reached out for the buzzer of the door. She flinched a little as the sharp sound cut the silence of the morning air and then waited, her eyes flitting frantically. Slowly, the gates parted and Isla heard the quick, crisp clicks of a heel as a blonde haired young woman not much older than Isla walked out of the brownstone building with a broad smile on her face. 

"Isla! It's good to see that you're finally here! Come along now, we must get you ready! The procession will start soon."  he said. She took Isla's arm and dragged her along with her. 

Isla remained silent, her eyes still searching the grounds of the mansion, whilst the woman beside her chattered away oblivious to the anxiety that was building up in inside Isla. Once she entered the house and was escorted to a room she finally saw the familiar face of her sister. Amy who stood dressed beautifully, in an aqua dress, her brown hair done up in a bun. Amy and the other woman passed Isla her dress and hurried her to get changed.

Isla followed their instructions obediently, her eyes rather distant as she looked at her reflection paying little attention the the two women as they busied themselves with her. 

After around twenty minutes or so they finally seemed satisfied and were soon called to the Main Hall. Isla could hear the bridal call playing and felt the anticipation bubble insde like lava in a volcano. She exhaled as she stood up and looked at her reflection one last time, before turning away from and everything it presented her to be.

Isla is no longer the frightened girl she used to be; she is a young woman who is going to get married. With that thought in mind she walked out of her room following the path that the pale cream carpet laid out for her into the Main Hall, where she saw her friends and family and fiancé soon to be husband, waited with broad expectant smiles. 

Isla walked down slowly but steadily, taking each step towards the person she saw as her haven, sanctuary and home...Everything is going to be fine. All she had to do was look out ahead of her where her future stood waiting patiently with a smile as disarming as the one he'd had when they first met. That smile gave her strength to continue on...it gave her hope and made her feel free. Isla wished she could step out at this moment and capture a picture of it, wanting to be able to remember cherish every detail around her...

Her thought was cut off abruptly by the sound of glass breaking. As she turned to find the source of the noise, she felt something pass through her. She then heard a piecrcing scream and someone point to her. A sudden warmth in her midriff made her look down and she saw the patch of deep crimson growing across her white dress. Her surroundings blurred slowly, the noise around her becoming fainter as though she'd had her head dunked under water. 

Isla had never before believed in the idea of one's life flashing before their eyes but as she lay stuck in a semi-conscious daze, she ghosted in and out of reality, the clatter of carts and shouting voices seeming to fade in and out. She saw vague flashes of familiar faces: her parents, Amy, her friends, her fiancé...but then her eyes refocused and all she could see was vague unfamiiar features. Soon her eyelids grew heavy and the bright light above her faded away as her eyes shut and she slipped out of consciousness.