The Painter's Fate (Book 3 of The Painter Trilogy)

Her Fate

Three days after.....

Riley's POV

Slowly, the marching goes.

The sad music filled the streets as people in black followed the car where the coffin is. Sobs and stifle of cries along with words of condolences are heard all over the place. The gloomy weather mirrored the heartbreaking scene in front of me.

Nobody expected this to happen. We all wanted a happy ending but I guess happy endings are just not for everyone. 

By the time we arrived at the cemetery, the rain started pouring. Everyone got their umbrella but I just stood still while looking at the coffin about to get buried. I dropped a rose as the men started to lower the coffin, then the rain poured hard. It drenched my black outfit but I stood still, not bothering to get shelter from the heavy rain as my thoughts run deep. I can feel the rainwater trickle down my chin. 

In the middle of my thought, a person stood by my side, covering me from the rain using her umbrella.

"Why are you letting yourself get wet? You haven't fully recovered yet." the girl beside me spoke. I turned my face towards her.

"I still can't believe this happened." I spoke to her as images of what happened the day we captured Dahlia flood in my mind again like a song on repeat. I thought we'll be able to capture and send Dahlia to a mental hospital just how Heather planned it but as they let their guard down, Dahlia stabbed herself multiple times hitting the vital parts of her body.

She was rushed to the hospital and all throughout, Heather never left Dahlia's side but she was dead on arrival.

"Me neither." Heather's gaze went from my face to the lowering coffin in front of us. 

"I guess that's just how it is." I uttered absentmindedly. Of course I am fuming mad at Dahlia for killing my cousin but that does not mean that I want her dead too. 

"You know what her last words were?" Heather released a long sigh as she looked at the coffin which is now being covered with soil. It must be hard for her too. Dahlia was her brother's fiancée after all.

I did not answer, waiting for her to continue.

"She said that she will be able to fulfil the promise she made to Brennon and that is to see him again. She loved my brother so much that until the day she died, my brother's name is the last word she uttered." Heather spoke as her grip on the umbrella tightened. I saw the tears streaming down her face. I gave her my hanky and patted her back.

"Are you okay?" I asked Heather with concern in my eyes. Dahlia's mom loathed Heather blaming her for Dahlia's death.

Aside from Hera and Jasmine's body, the police found the other bodies in the second floor of the gallery who were identified as Lavender Braise, Kath Mortenes and of course, Rocksien's body hid behind a big cabinet. Rocksien's parents were devastated. They find it hard to believe that their daughter is no longer alive.

With further investigation and with Heather's help, the policemen found the other ones that were buried behind the gallery's building further deep in the woods.

The paintings Dahlia made were confiscated and are now in the hands of the NBI. What are they going to do with it is up to them as Heather gave them permission.

"I will be. At least I can say that justice was served right? For your cousin and all the other people they killed. I bet Brennon is happy too." I tapped Heather's shoulders as my eyes returned to the image of the coffin being covered with soil in front of us.

"Rest in peace Dahlia." that was the last thing I said then Heather and I left the grave.

(Meanwhile)

Someone's POV

''Get those paintings, I don't care how you will do it.'' 

''But they are not complete, there are only eleven of them.'' someone replied 

''Then I will complete it!''