Empty Wishes -Wonderful hallucinations

The painting (Fantasy Story)

He was staring at the painting. For a really long time. I thought he was actually, for once in his life, paying attention to something instead of making fun of it. Good riddance, am I right? For once the joker shuts up and admires something as subtle as art.
Although what followed next, was unexpected for most people in the gallery.
Terrified, no, horrified he started screaming and crying, wailing for help, trying to resist staring into the void of the spirals that adorned the painting.
Some tried to help, threw water, tugged at him, tried to pull him away. Yet he wouldn't move an inch. He was petrified. Then suddenly everything went quite. The silence was indeed frightening for all of us.
His mouth gaping, eyes red with strain. And then a snap.
I didn't realise until later that the snap came from his neck.
It seemed as if his body was stiff all of a sudden contrary to all the shivers he was having a few seconds back.
His body tightened and twisted.
It was horrifying, too much to stomach for even the grown ups around us. Some started panicking, crying out, vomitting even.
I just stood there. Looking at him, my friend, the joker of our group, twisted and disfigured beyond recognition right in front of my eyes.
It was a moment of emptiness, I felt nothing. I felt numb, just staring at him being brutally murdered. I couldn't do anything. I wasn't afraid, just blank. Nothing in that stupid psychopathic head of mine.
It lasted a couple of minutes as he stood there until his legs twisted and his bones were too broken to keep him upright.
He fell to the floor, lifeless and awkwardly positioned.
People were running for the exits at this point. But I just stood there, even as the security personnel tried to move me, I stood there. Watching.
I knew there was no escape from this. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to go. I just accepted this fate. Fate, funny word, same as destiny. You never know what they hold yet you yearn to know it and when you finally do, let's just say it's not always pleasant.
When all this philosophical rambling was over, I realised my current position. Everyone had left the gallery. Oh sorry, I meant left this world.
Yes, they were all dead, just a pile of bodies by the door. I couldn't figure out how it happened until much later.
My friend, well, the twisted body in front of me was reaching its limits. Bones made their way through the skin, tearing apart whatever remained of the body's structure. Blood was starting to slowly seep out of the wounds. I knew the skin wouldn't hold for long. I made my way to a corner. By a fountain, exhibit 14A, it wasn't something extraordinary on the surface, just your regular old fountain. Except it was much, much more than that. I started reading about it, the description stated it was an essential part of some seance, some ritual to summon demons. Sure, I'll definitely believe that. I mean can't really argue after what I just witnessed.