《Paint with Me Among the Shadows (Book One, the Salvation MC Series)》17. I Need Your Help
Advertisement
Amber is fast asleep upstairs, but like always I'm wide awake and scurrying about in my art studio. It's storming outside and the sound of the thunder bounces off the walls as I stare at the empty canvas from earlier.
It's coming with every clap of thunder.
My brain is glass cracking with each loud roar.
I close my eyes and the next one is so loud it does the job. My body moves and my vision goes black as an image starts to morph. My finger touches the canvas and something in me awakens. My eyesight is restored and the image I want to paint is clear as day and no longer a mystery. Looking at my left hand barely touching the canvas there is no blue latex glove on it. I'm a searchlight that's been fixed and can finally see in the dark.
Smiling, I lose myself in the painting, not darkness. The texture of the canvas feels so good against my bare skin and instead of my body contorting and quickly jabbing around, I'm moving slowly along with it.
The night ticks by and my mind is peaceful, not numb anymore. The depression I had felt for the last few weeks slowly flickers away as I intoxicate myself into the thing I love doing the most in the world. My fingers are covered in thick paint and the latex no longer suppresses the expressions I've longed to connect with.
This unparalleled openness is something so foreign to me but freeing. My head no longer throbs despite the fracture. If anything, it's good like I'm realigning myself.
It's three in the morning and I'm on the last portion. My finger is adding shadows to an outstretched arm that looks as if it's being extended to its maximum capacity in a desperate attempt to beg for mercy or something. Once I accentuate the thick muscles I step back taking it all in.
Advertisement
It's black and white and despite the lack of color there's an angry and raw emotion to it that doesn't need pigment to expose it. The far left is a large image of half of a man's face that is cut off by the edge of the canvas. His mouth is wide open as if he's screaming in pain, anguish or some kind of despair with his head pointed up showcasing his long neck that is corded with strained muscles.
It's a still painting but oddly feels alive. Every fleck of skin coming off the man transforms into ash and seems to be in real time, not a fictional one created by whoever this girl is.
Wrath is the word that comes to mind. That this man either allowed his rage to destroy him or as if God had, had enough and is in the process of ripping out his soul.
It's eerie, especially as it seems like the man is disintegrating by how his skin is peeling off slowly as it floats upwards into ash. As I take in the beard and tattoos I realized the unidentified man I had originally thought of painting... is Adonis.
My eyes immediately go over to the portrait I did of his little sister. Inspiration hits me hard and I run over to dad's tool bench that's pushed in the far corner. I dig out a utility knife and cut the picture out of the canvas and step up tilting my head at the beauty of this man and how I captured it so well despite his demise in it.
I get to work and add her portrait and rearrange some parts of the painting. When the clock reads four I am finally done. JoJo's portrait is right on Adonis's chest and I painted it to become one with him.
Advertisement
Before I can appreciate it a hard knock comes at the garage door leading to the outside. Going over I open it and I immediately back away as two bodies stumble in knocking over some of my paintings.
Just by his shape alone I know Adonis is the one holding up the other guy. They're soaked and panting heavily. Drops of rain fall over Adonis's face and make his scar shine and pearl eye pop. His hair falls randomly in front of his face and his shirt is stuck to every piece of him. The night's darkness hides most of his face from me, but the way he holds this unknown person so tensely and raggedly tells me something is wrong.
"I need your help."
Advertisement
- In Serial121 Chapters
Children of the Plague
Aidren Alson has been stuck in The Walker Military Protection and Reintegration Facility for four years. Six months before his arrival, a deadly virus spread across the world killing most of the population. Aidren and others were told the virus caused the activation of specific abilities and were taken into protective custody by the government because they were dangerous to others. Told the activation of his powers caused his parents' death, Aidren was classified as a Carpenter, those who manipulate plant matter. The other classes are Welders and Sirens, who can manipulate metal and soundwaves. Plagued from recurring nightmares of his father’s voice and knowledge that his powers are different from others, he believes that he is being lied to and wants answers. New chapters with be posted on Saturdays. Check out my Patreon to read ahead 5 or more chapters!
8 196 - In Serial47 Chapters
Tale of Yashima
Tale of Yashima is loosely based on the Sengoku era of Japan. The power of the shogunate has crashed and the daimyos of Yashima are fighting for the survival of their clans and control of the land. However, they’re not the only ones. Yashima is a land where both man and yokai co-exist, and not always peacefully. As the daimyos are busy with each other the yokai are also planning their next move. The Night Parade is coming, and not everyone is going to survive. Published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
8 54 - In Serial31 Chapters
Murder in Heliopolis: A Solarpunk Mystery
A solarpunk murder mystery. A murder, a disappearance, and a seemingly infallible AI… In the sprawling and sun-drenched eco-city of Heliopolis, under the watchful eye of PATET, successful businesswoman Cassia Grove is murdered in her home. Detective Laith is put on the case, but right from the start there are layers upon layers, mystery behind mystery, and nobody is who they seem… [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 521 - In Serial18 Chapters
The Great Hero
A story of a hero being summoned to another world and defeating the evil demon king!A story of bravery.A story of chivalry as the good great and merciful hero exterminates the vile demons! Warning: Depiction or reference to graphic scenes will be in this fiction.Read at your own risk.website: http://tgh.rizza.zz.vc
8 88 - In Serial100 Chapters
Shut Up: You Nymphomaniac Evil Sword
A young philosopher ends up in a war-torn world, where he finds himself among the poor and needy rebels who fight against the humongous army of the corrupted and merciless Alliance government.The story follows the philosopher's journey along with his companion a Nymphomaniac Evil sword, through this modern and magical world, as he experiences different battles, adventures and his own personal dilemmas. Please bear with my English and Thank you all for reading Disclaimer :The cover picture doesn't belong to me, if the artist wants it to be removed it will be removed......
8 150 - In Serial14 Chapters
Fall of the Queen of Shadows
This is the backstory of one of my main antagonists in my D&D campaign. The story depicts the life and evetual Fall of the one to be known as the Queen of Shadows.
8 130

