A Horror Anthology

The Painting - @SheHopes

"Craig, look at this one!" Cindy Matthews held up the gold and silver package. It was of a rectangular shape about two feet tall and two inches thick. "Can you guess what it is?"

Craig pressed a finger to his lips, "Hmmm...could it be a new car? No? What about a boat? A pair of jet skis? We could've used those on our honeymoon."

"Very funny," Cindy laughed, leaning over to give her new husband a quick peck on the lips. "It's from your Aunt Louisa. The card says she bought it at one of her art auctions and that it's worth a pretty penny."

"Ooh...a pretty penny. Not an ugly penny but a pretty one?"

"Will you stop joking? I'm guessing it's a painting. The corners feel like a frame," Cindy began tearing at the matte paper to reveal the portrait of a beautiful brunette with bright green eyes looking towards the left. She appeared pensive, as though she had a lot on her mind. The portrait was ensconced in an ornate golden frame. Cindy leaned it up against their sofa.

Craig gave a wolf-whistle, "Where can I meet her?"

Cindy playfully shoved at him, "She is beautiful, isn't she? And her eyes...they're so...so piercing. I feel like she's looking right at me. She's gorgeous."

"Honey, I love you...but if you're secretly bisexual I won't stop you from acting out on your desires. As long as I get to watch," Craig laughed when his wife shoved at him again. "I'm kidding! I put a ring on it so you're mine now and I don't share." He pulled her into a hug as he continued to stare at the painting. He kissed Cindy's temple before asking, "So where do you want to hang it?"

"Nowhere."

"Nowhere?"

Cindy nodded, "Why would I want a painting of a woman I don't know in my home? Especially if she's prettier than me."

"Prettier than you? Impossible. You're the most gorgeous woman I know. Want me to prove it?" Craig leaned down and pressed his lips against his wife's. He deepened the kiss before she pushed him away. "What's the matter babe? You know I leave tomorrow morning and won't be back for two days."

"Nothing...I just feel like she's watching us," Cindy whispered.

"Who is?" Craig whispered back.

"The painting."

Craig chuckled, "Is my wife getting shy on me? You don't like an audience? I guess I'm the only pervert in this marriage."

"How about we finish this in our bedroom?" she suggested, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'll race you!" Craig winked as he shot towards the stairs.

Cindy giggled as she took a few steps to her right. She felt a sudden chill causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. She felt as though someone really was watching her. Cindy slowly turned around. Her eyes flickered to the portrait of the woman, narrowing as she peered at the green eyes that were now facing towards the right.

Weren't her eyes facing the left?

Cindy pushed the thought aside. It was impossible. Still, she couldn't help but look back at the portrait a few times more as she made her way up the stairs.

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Early the next morning after Craig had left for his trip out of town, Cindy decided to take a quick shower.

"Your lips...your lips are moving," she was humming the tune of some song she had recently heard on the radio, washing the last bit of shampoo out of her hair. Water splashed against the opaque shower curtain to her right while her hand turned the wet knob to turn off the water.