The Haunted Portrait • A Kim Seokjin Story

Chapter 1

First encounter.

As the talk of a new portrait began to roam around the city, there were many who attempted to steal the first glance of the portrait itself. Who would see it first sparked a debate upon townsfolk and inside of lingering businesses.

As one entered the museum, security heavily surrounded the velvet covered painting so that no one could feast upon it. There had been several attempts to unveil it and all ended in the removal of the citizen and a ban on visitation to Claude. It was becoming more serious everyday.

People often never left the museum until it closed. Creating stakeouts every day. Security was unbothered by it and people persisted.

Across the museum stood a girl. She was no more than two and twenty. She had burnt orange hair that flowed to her mid back. It was curly and non contained. Her skin was golden brown and her eyes reflected a light brown iris. Her cheeks stood high and her teeth glistened in marvel at the art all around her. Her name was Apia.

Apia like most women of her age was still finding herself in the world. She had often longed for journeys across the world, exploring art as she went along. But Claude by nature was her first home, her first love of art. There was no place like it as far as she was convinced. She admired this place in its renaissance white columns and gold accents that surrounded the museum and the art inside of it.

It was heaven.

Apia wanted to pursue art more. She had been blessed with the gift of it since before time began itself. Her mother oftener worried that it would not be enough to keep them supplied but it was enough for her. So as her daughter was happy was all that mattered. Apia and her mother had been alone since the passing of her father. It was quite and faint in the house weeks after his passing. Apia could hear her mother cry through the walls and often went into her room to lay beside and comfort her.

They were all they had for the time and it was okay.

Apia studied the art in front of her. The title of it was "Array" and it featured a single chartreuse button in the middle of an ocean. As someone in art, it made sense but to the naked eye not that much. Art was subjective but sometimes it could take a meaning of its own. Or in some cases not make sense at all. But because it was inside of Claude Eloise, there was something majestic about it.

The card next to it explained what was to learned in taking notice of the button. It represented feelings of disarray in the ocean of calamity that can surround the soul. Chartreuse meant an array of colors for itself. Youth, happiness, enthusiasm. Maybe the button was trying to signify all in wanting to hold onto that in the midst of disarray.

This made Apia happy as she sketched it down inside of her notepad. Taking into the detail the color, the pattern of the waves. She jotted down everything and was satisfied with her mock up of the painting.

She moved along and went to another painting but was caught off guard by the commotion from around the corner. She walked around and saw the crowd of people standing in impatience at this blue velvet sheet.

Were people really watching just a blue sheet?

She walked forward and was behind the crowd. She overheard conversations.

"I wonder what it will be like"

"Will be able to see it first?"

"I heard that the painting comes with a curse"

Curse? How could beauty of art be cursed? I had to ask. But just as Apia was about to people began pushing and shuffling in attempts to get closer. Security stood their ground and never budged. Apia never saw the people again. She looked around and around trying to find any sliver of the painting as everyone else did. She was unsuccessful in her attempts but she did spit a friend.

It was Jimin Park. They both attended the same art school and appreciated it all alike. Jimin focused his art on the more subjective and abstract side of things. Apia enjoyed realism. Their ideas both combined allowed them to pick ideas from one another that both appreciated.

Jimin didn't see Apia at first but as she moved and waved her hand above herself he caught notice of her and budged through the crowd to be near her. It was chaotic and he was pushed and smudged on his path but he finally got close to her.

"Jimin, what is this? Who is this painter and what is the painting", Apia said grinning at Jimin who was wondering the exact same thing.

"I'm not sure, A. I caught wind of it a couple of days ago by some guys talking about it inside of the barber shop. Apparently the painter is anonymous and no one knows anything", he kept his eyes in between the painting and Apia. She was more confused than ever. She hadn't heard of this painting snd Jimin caught sight of that in her current disposition.

"A, please tell me you've heard of this painting", he looked at her with surprised eyes but she didn't budge. "Sorry, I haven't yet. I'm surprised with this commotion. It must be a big deal", said Apia examining the crowd.

"It's a huge deal A. Everyone's been talking about it. I'm surprised you didn't know considering your love for art. But alas.m, we are here and there it is. It'll be soon enough when we get to take the beauty of it in", Jimin smiled at Apia and she returned the gesture. Apia still couldn't escape the prior conversation she just had about the painting being a curse. What did the person know?

"Hey, Jimin. I overheard someone saying that this painting may have a curse? Do you know anything about that?", she asked curiously. Surely if there was anyone who would know, it had to be Jimin. He knew much and often participated in gossip of the town. Apia appreciated it sometimes but not all. It often got him into trouble.

"Hmmm...I've heard speculation about their being some curse. Apparently this anonymous painter had some issues while creating this painting and was found dead in his town home soon after. No one has seen him ever since", he explained carefully.

A painter who suddenly died after creating his painting? It seemed so vast. How could people not know this nor want to understand?

"Oh wow. That's terrible. Hopefully someone will ex-", Apia was cut off by the sudden silent state of the museum following security fighting to get a patron out of the museum. He was shouting something.

"Everyone please", he said as he was getting forced out of the museum, "save yourself. Don't let your eyes gaze at this painting. You will die you hear me, your souls will never be set free". He was kicked off of the premises and never seen again. No one seemed to care and began shuffling forward to fill the empty space around where the man stood.

"Jimin if you'll excuse me I'll be right back", Apia left Jimin and  walked away as she pushed her way out of the crowd. She went to take a look at the man who was just removed but she didn't seen anyone. It was if the situation never happened.

What did that man know? What did he mean by staring at the gaze of the painting? Could people really die?

If so, how many people already have?