The Picture

The Picture: Chapter 2

When I got home from school that day I hung the picture above my bed and just laid there for a few seconds. The rain and bad luck was really putting a damper on my usually great mood.  The perky and happy Leslie was no more.  Now I seemed to be just a few steps above a pessimist.

            Eventually my mind drifted off and I fell asleep on my bed.  I awoke a few minutes later to the sound of someone calling me:  “Leslie.  Leslie!”

            I lifted my head and looked around.  No one was there.  “Leslie, come on.  Think outside the box.  I’m inside the painting!” I heard a voice say.

            I turned around and found myself face to face with the handsome young man from the party.

            “Move out of the way so I can come out.”

            I rolled off the bed and watched as the impossible happened (although I doubt the whole talking picture thing was possible).  Caleb came out right leg first, then his right arm, his head, left arm, and finally his left leg.

            “Do you have the crystal?” he asked. 

            I completely forgot where I’d put the thing.  Had I even kept it?  Maybe I left it at the hall or dropped it when we were leaving.

            “No, I…I forgot where I put it,” I said with a regretful tint, remembering my birthday months ago.

            “Not to worry.  I believe you have power over it.  Think about it coming to you and it will,” he said, examining my room.

            “Saywhat?” I asked in a sarcastic slur.

            “It will come to you.  I’m sure of it,” he insisted.

            “Don’t be ridiculous.”

            “Almost as ridiculous as me coming out of a painting?” he asked.  I rolled my eyes, not wanting to admit that he had a point.

            “You must begin to believe in the impossible,” he said to me with a stern face, but when I continued to look at him like he was crazy, he continued, “Just try…please.”

            I closed my eyes and wished for the weird crystal to come to me.  I found myself actually visualizing it floating out of my jewelry box (Oh my goodness, a crystal in my jewelry box, who’d have thought) and then floating over to me.  When I opened my eyes, it was right in front of my face.  I reached out and grabbed it. 

            Suddenly I felt an electric shock run through my veins and thoughts of incredible power filled my mind.  I shook my head to dismiss the feeling.  When I looked over at Caleb he exhaled sharply and had a strange look on his face.

            “Why do you look so relieved?  Was something supposed to happen?” I asked.

            “No, thank goodness.  You’re the right person.”  I must’ve looked puzzled because he began to explain his reaction.

            “That crystal can only be touched by a specific person.  The black smoke in there,” he began, pointing, “is nothing but raw power. Any other human would..,” he ended by mumbling something I couldn’t hear and looking at the floor.

            “Excuse me?”

            He sighed and looked up at me.  “Any other human would…not be alive right now.” At the second half of his repeat, he averted his eyes.