The Mystical Portrait

The room looked rather gloomy and chilly.
The furniture remained untouched.

Cob webs were everywhere....a tell-tale sign that this building had been abandon for years.

I surveyed the area to look for more clues.
Perhaps this desolate building do have a colourful past or charming history to reveal ?

I accidentedly kicked a chair which made a loud thud on the entire building.
Hundreds of black flying objects emerged from the adjacent hall.
They flew towards me. I quickly lied face down on the parquet floor to avoid them.

When I realised it was a colony of bats, I began to fear for my safety.
"What if they belong to a dracula or witch?"
"Are these creatures poisonous?"
"Do they have venoms like those of snakes?"


I tried to calm myself down. Perhaps their serene habitat had been interupted by my presence.
They must have gotten a shock too and awaken from their comfort zone.

As I gained my composure, this peculiar portrait caught my attention. The gentleman in the picture was looking into my direction. I could sensed the sadness through his eyes.

Guess...he must be the owner of this dilapidated mansion. He seems like wanting to communicate with me. His lips looked as if he had something to tell....
He looked so real although it was merely a painting.



A word "John" was embedded at the bottom of the picture. I assumed this must be his name.

Judging from his picture.....John must be someone rich and famous.

Many questions were circulating in my mind.

A spell being cast onto John...and turned him into a painting.
Possible ?

John was murdered and his body was buried at the backyard.
Another possibility.

John became crazy after he got bankrupt over some business deals.
Possible too.


I was kinda obsessed by this handsome face.
I had never laid my eyes on such a masculine hunky figure.

I took out a hanky from my pocket. I wiped the dust on John's face.
I wanted to have a clearer view of him.


Suddenly, the chandelier came crashing down just a short distance from the spot where I was standing. The entire room was filled with dust which blinded my eyes for a moment.

When I gotten back my vision, John's picture vanished. All that left was a blank white canvas. John was no where to be seen. I searched frantically for him but failed.

I did not freak out although deep inside...I was scared.

"Hey, John is merely a painting...how could it disappear like that...?" I told myself.

The room was filled with a scent...a very soothing smell.

I could hear a faint squeaky sound coming from the balcony. It sounded like a moving swing....

There it was......

A figure which looked like John swaying on the garden swing. He was exactly like the gentleman in the portrait...muscular gentleman.

He vanished when I try to get closer.

Who is John.?


To be continue...