Three Eleven Thirteen

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

I was sitting at the table on my laptop. Four of my paintings had sold overnight, which is the most I have ever sold in such a short period of time. I don't usually sell that many in a week, l let alone a few hours. I'm not sure what happened, but I'm suddenly selling more paintings than I can produce, and I love it. 

I can't help but feel incredibly ecstatic. Despite my unprofessional lack of knowledge when it comes to painting, and the fact that I never took an art class in my entire life, people seemed to like my work. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to even view my paintings.

Ellie has been just as energetic as usual. I've become used to the noises he makes whilst trying to break free from the chains, it bothers me, but not nearly as much as it used to. If he ever gets too loud I just turn on my record player.

It's not too hard to drown him out.

With the sudden popularity of my paintings online, I've been more determined than ever to produce better paintings. I want my artwork to be filled with awe, along with the occasional question on what I, as an artist, was thinking.

I took out a piece of paper, and began sketching a new design. I wanted to expand my artwork out of my comfort zone, and so I decided on a painting with a man, holding the hand of his lover as they walked alongside each other on a bridge. The thought of painting something so emotionally filled makes me nervous, but nonetheless, I'm going to try.

I worked on the rough sketch for nearly three hours. I hadn't realize how caught up in my artist's zone I was until the doorbell rang, snapping me right back to reality.

I sat there for a moment, not sure why I seemed to be getting more visitors in the last week than I have since me and my father moved here twelve years ago. I wondered if they'd go away if pretended not to be home.

Several moments later, they rung the doorbell again.

They knew I was here. Damn it.

I definitely need to remember to get thick curtains to cover up the windows.

I sighed, and walked over to the front door, not bothering to seeing who it was, I opened it. Of course, there stood Levi, a boy I've never spoken too, and yet this was the second time he has been on my doorstep this week.

"Hey." He greeted, with a smirk that made me cringe. His teeth are extremely yellow for a boy who grew up middle-class. You'd think he'd spend his parent's money on a better dentist at least.

"Hi." I didn't even bother to sound interested, because I'm not.

"You're name is Ripley, right?"

I nodded in response. Of course he knows my name is Ripley, this wasn't the first time we've had an encounter.

He shifted awkwardly, "My mom wanted me to come over and ask if you needed anything? Or if you'd like to come over for dinner." Of course, his mother. Never in my life have I met someone as pushy and nosey as that woman. How she still doesn't understand that I want to be left alone is a mystery to me.

Poor Levi, having to live with a woman like her. I'd rather be alone than ever be owned by a mother who can't read body language if it meant her life. I wanted to scream, "Go away!" But that wasn't exactly neighborly, and I didn't want any more attention than I already seemed to be getting.

"No thanks." I said with clear un-interest laced in my tone.

The grin on his face fell, "Well, would you like me to bring you over some leftovers at least?" I couldn't help but stop listening to him when an all-too familiar noise seemed to pound in my ears.

Ellie.

The chains downstairs were making an awfully loud noise right now, more so than what they usually do. Was it because of Levi? Can Ellie hear all that is going on?

As weird as it sounds, could Ellie sense my disliking for Levi? I wanted to laugh at the thought. Ellie isn't an animal, he's got human qualities, he can't sense things like a dog. His brain is an actual human brain with mechanical parts. There's no way he could have the instinct to sense anything.

Still, something doesn't seem right with him. Every tug I hear down there make me more and more nervous. They sound angry, like he is desperate to get free.

He really sounds angry, and I'm absolutely not imagining it.

"Uhh. . . Ripley?"

I looked up at Levi, suddenly remembering he was still talking to me, "What?"

"Did you hear me?"

"Hear you? Oh -Oh, yeah, sorry, no thanks."

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when a loud banging came from the basement. It was so loud, it made the both of us jump. Me, knowing exactly what it was, made my heart drop to the floor.

"What was that?" Levi asked, as he slightly pulled me away from the door to look in.

"It was nothing." I say quickly, as I hopped in front of him and began to desperately try to get the door shut, "Just my cat, she's crazy. I should probably go see what she uhh, broke."

"Are you sure-"

"Yes," I shout, "bye!" I slammed the front door shut, and locked it. I then ran to the fireplace, and grabbed the basement and cell door key. I wondered if my face was pale like a ghost because I sure felt like all the blood had drained from my body.

I unlocked the basement door, and flew down the stairs. The first, and most concerning thing I noticed was the cell door was open wide, as if the lock had been broken right off of it. The inside of it was empty.

Of course, just as I had thought. Ellie had broken out of his cell.