“Everything is ready Ms Lahey.” I heard Iris’s voice across the studio. I cleaned my hands from the dried paint, She walked to me with her checkboard at her hand, the noises of her high heels echoed in the studio. “Thank you Iris, would you mind if you brought me a glass of water, I’m a bit tired.” I explained with a warm smile, she nodded and corrected her adorable glasses. “Please stop using the girl as a maid, its kind of annoying.” a sweet and low pitched voice filled my ear. “Hello to you too Hailey.” I rolled my eyes in a sarcastic way. I felt her hands wrap from my back, I placed my orange juice on the bedside table. “I missed you so much. We could have a girls night.” Hailey offered, she seperated herself from me and played with my hair in a messy bun. “Sadly, I can’t. I have to get this painting done, its the only missing piece left from my collection.” I explained, she walked to the couch next to the stairs. “Oh come on Amanda, you’ve been painting this since last month, just draw a few lines and finish it. I don’t get why the hell you insist on not finishing it but forcing yourself. Its like a loop.” I knew that she was right, I just can’t bring myself to fully finish it. I sometimes feel like I am connected to this painting, if I finish it, I feel like something bad will happen. Of course I know that what I am saying is nonsense, But I just can’t help it. After a long talk with her she decided to leave the studio and call our other friends to have a sleepover. I didn’t notice that she had left her purse on my couch.
My grandmother used to tell tales about our family’s history. She told me that we came from a bloodline of witches. I should mention that she was diagnosed with multiple mental disorders. I grew into believing it since I was connected with my art this much. While I was staring at my painting, I noticed some certain trails I had done unintentionally. I quickly connected the dots and stroked my brush on the canvas. With that, I heard the elevator open and Iris walking to me, in order to hand me the water I asked for. I noticed that Hailey came back for her purse. There was a mirror at the top of the canvas. When my gaze accidentally shifted to there, I was frozen. The symbol I had just drawn was glimmering with light and a long black figure appeared behind me.”Amanda-” I interrupted when Hailey talked “Don’t… don’t budge an inch! Do not move guys!” I implied to both Iris and Hailey. I looked at the red eyes of the shadow figure. “What do you mean?” Hailey made a mistake to walk to me. I watched the shadow figure’s focus shifting to Hailey. It roamed to her, making her collapse to the ground. She trembled on the floor as me and Iris watched in terror.
The nurse yelled “We are losing her pulse.” oh, now I was back at my reality, not the fake one I had created. I had severe schizophrenia, I was convicted from the murder of my friends, Hailey and Iris. I had given up on life, I had swollen pills and overdosed at the mental hospital I stayed in. “Come on we have to save her!” the nurse once again yelled as the beeping sound became more violent and the lights slowly darkened. I didn’t even felt any pain, I was back into the reality I thought was real, after all, how do we know we are not reliving our memories at the verge of death?