By: Shalini Nannapaneni 10B

“Yes sir”, “I’m nearly there, just give me five minutes”, Cee said putting her battered phone back in her pocket. The trees before her gave way to a clearing. There sat a large house, painted ivory white. The entire front yard was filled with rose beds. Smiling at the beauty of the house, Cee parked the car and stepped out into the lawn.

She took a deep breath taking in the sweet scent of the roses as she made her way to the door and raised her hand to knock. Whoosh! As if on cue, the door swung open before her hand had reached the knocker. The door revealed a tall, wiry man with a long moustache that awkwardly curled at its ends. “Come in”, he beckoned stepping aside. Then he turned around. “Everyone come down, she is here, and bring the stretcher for grandma,” he yelled in a high pitched tone. “For accuracy”, he said responding to Cee’s confused expression.

The living room was grand. It had a fireplace with real wood and a large oil painting hung above it. Several other portraits hung on the wall, each a different person. “Who are those people?” Cee asked. “Oh, just victims,” the grandma who sat behind her said. Cee raised an eyebrow. “Victims of death in our family’s history, dear”, the tall man quickly added. “Now why don’t we begin,” a large lady on the sofa said, beckoning Cee to the easel. “Yes ma’am,” Cee said smiling at her.

“Now remember darling, you only have us to tell you what the girl who passed away looked like”. “We expect only the most accurate painting, that is why we have chosen someone of your skill,” a man with a walking stick said. “Of course,” Cee nodded. “As I remember, she had light brown hair as a child,” the grandma said. “Yes, but it turned much lighter as she grew up, “ a little girl exclaimed. Cee dipped her brush in the brown. “Now she didn’t have my striking features, but she did have quite a sharp jawline, the fat lady said. Holding back her laughter, Cee added the detail. The painting began to take form, but night had descended quickly.

“It’s getting dark, I’ll come back tomorrow,” Cee said looking out of the window. “Oh no, you must stay for the night, darling,” the man with the cane smiled. “Sicilia here makes the best chicken pie,” he said winking at a skinny lady on the sofa across from Cee. “Also, there has been news of wild dog attacks around here at this time.” “It would be best for you to stay here for the night and leave tomorrow.”

Drawn by the family’s kindness Cee agreed to stay, and the food was just as great as it had been said it would be. The bed was a bit hard in the middle, but overpowered from exhaustion, Cee quickly fell asleep. “Hey, wake up,” a voice screeched. Cee woke up, to the grandma staring at her. Cee screamed. “Shhh,” the grandma hushed, sitting back in her wheelchair. “Come, finish the painting,” the old lady said. Cee glanced at the clock. It was two o'clock in the morning. “Now,” Cee asked. “It's best we get it over with before the children wake up,” she said. Unwillingly, Cee got up and followed the lady downstairs.

Strangely, the entire family except the children was already down, fully dressed. “Hurry up, sweetie,” Sicilia said glancing at the clock. Confused and tired, Cee sat down at the easel and began to paint. Detail by detail, Cee eventually finished the painting.

Stretching her arms, she looked at the finished piece. Her eyes rose high on her forehead. “Why, this girl I’ve painted looks exactly like me,” Cee exclaimed, her eyes glued to the canvas. The man with the cane grinned and stood up. He walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “No dear,” he started. He lifted his cane up behind her head and brought it down onto the back of her head with a deafening crash. Cee opened her mouth to scream but it was too late. She slipped off the stool and fell to the floor in a pile of meat and bones. “It is you,” the man finished wiping his cane on his pants.