The Shadow Painter

Chapter 04 : Lost in Canvas

Sorry for late update 🙇🏽‍♀️. 

As I watched the line between reality and the world of art seemed to vanish, an unsettling realization hit me like a thunder - the darkness that lingered within the painting was now spreading out in the gallery, staining the gallery with its dark presence and casting an eerie vibe all around. A deep fear gripped me, an emotion that words could hardly express. Though I wanted to escape this terrifying scene, I found myself paralyzed, as if an invisible force was holding me in place. I couldn't move, and intruding darkness seemed to surround me, pulling me in it. I tried to fight it, but it was like the darkness had a hold on me, making me captive. Letting me get drawn into this darkness.

The hold on my body slowly released, as if the mysterious force that had trapped me had let go. Still, I was stuck in shock , unable to move or make sense of what was happening. Everything around me was engulfed by darkness and I felt numb and confused. It was like I was in a dream that I couldn't wake up from.

Suddenly, the surroundings changed again. The darkness was replaced with the colors from the "Tormented dreams" artwork. Gray colored buildings surround both sides of the road, and the moonlight had a purplish hue against midnight blue sky. Without any doubt I knew, I was standing right in the painting I had created. But this transformation brought a new uncertainty: Was this temporary shift or new reality? Could I find my way back to the real world, or was I trapped here forever? These questions swirled in my mind, making everything feel chaotic and uncertain.

Even though the surroundings had turned into my painting, the man that I had drawn in this painting is nowhere to be seen. It was his whisper that seemed to trigger this change. I needed to understand how to navigate this strange place and find my way back. With determination, I started walking down the street, feeling a mix of fear and anticipation. I heard footsteps following me , and I stopped, debating over whether to turn around and face whatever is following me. When I was contemplating whether to turn or not, I again heard footsteps along with an eerie laugh. I quickly turned around just in time to catch the glimpse of a shadow disappearing behind a nearby building.

I turned and started to walk again, picking up my pace, driven by both fear and longing to escape this unfamiliar situation. But I halted in my place when I heard , " Where are you going? Aren't you excited to meet me? " I was paralyzed, my body trembling as I slowly turned around. The man that I had drawn in my artwork stood before me, his creepy smile sending chills down my spine. His gaze held a mix of emotions - sadness, disappointment, vulnerability and burning rage beneath the surface. His presence was both haunting and thrilling.

With a trembling voice I managed to muster the courage to ask " Why do you want to meet me?" As soon as words left my lips, his expression changed. The sadness and disappointment seemed to fade, replaced by growing anger that showed in his eyes. The atmosphere became tense and I immediately regretted opening my mouth.

He broke the silence with his voice, his words laced with unsettling calmness. "You really dare to question why I want to meet you?" he responded, his tone slightly mocking, though his face showed something much darker. I could see rage in his eyes.

"Do you really think you can escape from the darkness that you've put into me? The darkness you painted with your own sorrow?" He asked me, frustration can be seen clearly on his face.

"What exactly do you want from me ? How did you bring me here? In this painting?" I dared to ask with my trembling voice. My face must have shown my anxiety and I could clearly see that he was enjoying my frightened state.

He began to speak, with a scoff, "Well, I didn't bring you here on my own. You poured your sadness and shattered hopes into me, you painted your misery across my existence and yet you believe you could control the essence of your pain without consuming us both? ". His words made my fear grow.

"W...what..t ?I...I don't understand. .... What are you saying?" I asked while stuttering. I have brought myself into this trap? but how?

He let out a cold laugh, as if he was trying to intimidate me. "Don't you realize that your rage, disappointment, sadness, loneliness, the emotions once you felt when your dreams were shattered and you had put those emotions in while creating me. I am the outcome of your pure darkness and yet you don't know it? I must say that is something amusing." He smirked, while glaring at me.

A chill ran down my spine as his words sank in. "But I...I n..never intended for this," I stuttered, my voice shaking with a mix of fear and guilt.

His smirk deepened, bitterness in his eyes, "Intentions don't matter now. Your solace became my suffering, your darkness my eternal prison. You have pushed me into this tormented world, a world born of your own turmoil. You acted without any thought and now that you have entered this world, you are getting scared?" His words seeped into my mind like poison, taunting and accusatory. A sense of helplessness washed over me, my own creation has turned against me.

"Do you want to feel this darkness that you've poured into me and the world that you've put me into? " He asked while smirking, eyes burning with rage.

A wave of fear rushed over me as his words registered in my mind, though I should've thought before pouring my worst feeling into the canvas but I didn't imagine that it would turn out this evil. I felt a pang of regret.

My heart was rapidly beating in my chest, but to make the situation better for everyone I decided to ask him genuinely with my trembling voice, "Now that I understand that because of me you are living this tormented life, what should I do to get rid of this darkness? How could I help you escape from this tormented world?" Hearing this, he started to laugh hysterically, leaving me feeling scared and confused.

"You think you can control me now ? You've put me into your misery. Do you think I'd let it go this easily? Just because you are willing to help me escape from this world?" He asked while gritting his teeth. With each word he was taking a step forward towards me.

As he was taking each step forward I started to move backward, my whole body trembling with fear but I still decided to ask him with a trembling voice," I... If you don't want to escape from this world then what do you want? Didn't you summon me in the painting because you wanted to end your torment? "

"Why should I end this? When I can make others just like me?" He asked, his eyes shining with eagerness to put everyone in misery. "Thanks to you, I have gained the power to consume someone's soul with my darkness. So why should I end all this here? You might have started this, but you won't be able to end it," He said, advancing towards me with an evil smile playing on his face. It was clear he was enjoying my scared and shocked state.

"Everyone should be in misery just like me. Everyone should feel the hopelessness, loneliness, and the darkness that I live with. I will make sure everyone gets to live in the torment that I live in." He stated, his eerie laughter echoed through the air, sending shivers down my spine.

The world around us began to tremble and the shadows around him started to grow more dark. The pitch darkness began to creep towards me from behind him, and panic rushed within me. I turned and ran, desperate to find a way to escape from this world that is trying to consume me.

But then a ray of hope appeared. The moonlight intensified, emitting a bright glow. It was as if light was guiding me. With newfound determination I ran towards the bright light, hoping to escape from this suffocating darkness. As I got close to the light, its brightness forced me to squint my eyes. And the next moment everything in front of my eyes went black.

Had I managed to escape the grip of the shadow's world? Or was this darkness my new reality? Or is this the end of me? The uncertainty was overwhelming and I felt myself consumed by darkness.

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned for next chapter!

(I do not own the image. All image credits goes to their respective owner.)