The Ghost Bride of Berat: A Haunting Legend from Albania

The ancient city of Berat, Albania, was known for its stunning architecture, picturesque views, and rich history. However, it was also known for a ghostly legend that had been passed down for generations.

The legend spoke of a young woman named Elira who was set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Arben, on a beautiful summer day in Berat. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and had been pampered all her life. Her father had spared no expense in organizing a grand wedding for his beloved daughter.

As the wedding ceremony progressed, Elira grew increasingly anxious. She had not seen Arben for days, and he had not shown up for the wedding. She tried to quell her fears, thinking he might be running late, but as the day wore on, her hopes began to fade.

Late in the evening, when the guests had left, Elira's father came to her with the news that Arben had been killed in a tragic accident, and his body had been found in the river. Overcome with grief, Elira collapsed, and the news of her beloved's death drove her to madness.

From that day on, Elira could not let go of her wedding day. She continued to dress in her white bridal gown, adorned with jewelry, and walked the streets of Berat, searching for Arben. Her spirit was said to roam the castle walls, crying out his name in despair, looking for him in every nook and cranny.

The townspeople would often hear her mournful wails, and some even claimed to have seen her ghostly figure wandering the castle's halls. The ghost bride of Berat became a legend, and her story was told to children as a cautionary tale.

One warm summer evening, a group of tourists had gathered to explore the old castle of Berat. They had heard of the legend of the ghost bride and were eager to see if there was any truth to the story. They were a group of eight, made up of four couples, and a tour guide.

As they entered the castle's walls, they could feel an eerie presence, and the hairs on the back of their necks stood up. The castle was old, and the stones seemed to whisper secrets of the past. They explored the rooms and walked through the corridors, taking in the history of the place.

As they entered the grand hall, they saw a figure in a white dress standing at the other end of the room. It was Elira, the ghost bride of Berat, searching for her beloved. The tourists were terrified and ran out of the castle, not daring to look back.

However, one of the young women in the group, named Aida, felt a strange pull towards the ghostly figure. She felt as if she could hear Elira's cries for help, and she wanted to help her. She knew it was foolish, but she couldn't resist the urge to go back and find the ghost bride.

She snuck back into the castle alone and called out to Elira, hoping to calm her spirit. Suddenly, Elira's spirit appeared before her, her eyes filled with tears, and her body trembling with fear. Aida tried to soothe her, telling her that Arben was in a better place and that she should move on.

Elira's spirit seemed to calm down, and she even smiled at Aida, grateful for her help. Aida felt relieved, knowing that she had helped the poor ghost bride find some peace.

However, as Aida was leaving the castle, she heard a voice calling out to her. It was Elira's voice, pleading with her to take her place as the bride. Aida was horrified and ran out of the castle as fast as she could.

The next day, Aida woke up feeling drained and exhausted. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw Elira's ghostly figure in her mind. She tried to brush it off as exhaustion, but she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something wasn't right.

As the days went on, Aida's condition worsened. She became pale, weak, and could barely eat or sleep. Her friends and family grew concerned and urged her to seek medical attention, but she refused.

One night, as she lay in bed, she felt a presence in the room. She could hear whispers and felt a cold breeze on her face. When she opened her eyes, she saw Elira's ghostly figure standing at the foot of her bed, dressed in her wedding gown.

Elira's spirit spoke to Aida, telling her that she had taken pity on her and had offered her a chance to take her place as the bride. She begged Aida to help her find her Arben, promising to make her life beautiful if she agreed.

Aida was terrified and refused the offer. She told Elira's spirit that she wanted to live her life and didn't want to be haunted by her ghost. Elira's spirit grew angry and disappeared, leaving Aida in a state of shock.

From that day on, Aida was never the same. She became reclusive and avoided social gatherings, afraid that she would encounter Elira's ghost again. She would often wake up in the middle of the night, screaming and sweating, unable to shake the feeling of being watched.

The legend of the ghost bride of Berat lived on, and many who visited the castle claimed to have encountered her ghostly figure. Some believed that she was searching for her Arben, while others thought that she was looking for someone to take her place as the bride.

Despite the many stories and sightings, no one knew what had really happened to Elira's beloved Arben. Some speculated that he had been murdered, while others thought that he had simply disappeared. To this day, the mystery of the ghost bride of Berat remains unsolved, and her spirit continues to haunt the old castle walls, searching for her beloved Arben.