(Chapter 2)

The Mysterious Artist

A week after the deaths came the trial and a week after the trial Vivina found herself scrubbing the floors of a fast food restaurant for some quick extra cash to help pay for her fines. Not that she was complaining, paying fines was much better than spending years in prison. Though her reputation was completely tarnished amongst society, the people that knew her knew how deeply regretful she was and how guilty she was feeling. She thought of dancing for the extra cash, but she was afraid that instead of money, bottles would be thrown on the stage at her.

Paine's car pulled up to the curb just in time for Vivina to come walking out of the restaurant. The smell of fast food filled the car as she sat down in the passenger seat. Paine hid her smirk, knowing that under the circumstances this may not be the best of times to joke with her friend about the smell. Vivina, who had gotten so used to the smell in the restaurant hadn't even noticed that she carried it with her that strongly.

"Thanks a lot, Paine for all you've done for me." She said as she got out of her friend's car.

Paine shook her head dismissing the unneeded thanks.

"See ya tomorrow."

"Goodnight." Paine said rolling off down the dark side street. Vivina turned towards her apartment complex noticing the cop car parked nearby. She met the officer halfway through the path to her apartment.

"A hard one to catch these days." He commented with a smile. Vivina managed a small smile in return.

"It's gonna be hard coming up with that kind of cash." She looked away with a sigh. Tonight was a warm, humid night. Vivina hoped whatever he came here to say was brief as the thick air made it hard to even breathe out there.

"I'd be happy to donate." he offered generously.

Vivina crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

He shrugged. "Is that a bad thing?"

She tossed her hair back and returned the shrug. "What's in it for you?"

He shook his head. "I'm not asking for anything in return. I just think you are a really great girl that has made an unfortunate mistake and deserves a break. That's all." She could not deny this man had a natural charm. Even without his looks, his charm alone was enough to win anyone over. But her heart was closed and would not be won over by some pretty boy in uniform.

"I appreciate your concern, I really do, but I can do this on my own. I'm a big girl; I wear the big girl panties now." She said with a wink as she walked past him. He turned to her surprised by her humor.

"Goodnight then, big girl." He said through a laugh. "And please do call me if you need me."

"Will do, officer." Vivina said as she started down the outdoor corridor to her apartment.

"Call me Preston!" he called in her direction. She didn't bother to turn back and look at him. She pulled the mail from her mailbox and entered her humble abode. She threw her mail on the coffee table and it lay there amongst other unopened mail. After she returned from a long shower to wash the fast food smell off her, she sat down on the couch to sort out her mail. The first two she didn't bother with as they were sent to her from the court. She noticed an unmarked envelope with no stamp on it in the midst of the pile. Her immediate instincts lead her to believe it was a letter from the dead. Her heart pounded as she slipped her finger under the corner of the opening. She traced her finger slowly across the paper, ripping open the sealed note. Right away she noticed the thicker sheet inside was drawing paper. She slipped the folded paper out of its enveloped and flipped it open. She dropped it and held her chest in shock.

It was a drawing of her!

Composing herself a bit she studied the drawing noticing how every single detail was captured with the upmost accuracy. There she was sitting on her knees in front of his grave, black tears running down her face, and in her right hand was the necklace that she clenched tightly in her hand. The only thing inaccurate about the picture was her eyes. Instead of staring down at the grave as she knew she was at that moment. Her eyes were focused on the viewer so that anyone looking at this picture would think the Vivina portrayed here was staring them in the face.

"Who would do this?" she asked herself out loud. Her boyfriend had never been an artist so even in death she doubted he could draw her like this. Plus now with her senses clearer, the idea of receiving a drawing from the dead seemed silly. It was definitely the police officer! She relaxed against her couch in relief. He had just come walking from this direction so he probably slipped it in her mailbox just moments ago. She pulled out her cell and dialed his number to be sure.

Within a few rings came his answer.

"Did you really draw this?" she asked through a smile.

"Draw what?"

"The picture that was in my mailbox." Her smile faded and she sat up stiffly straight again. There was a pause. "You didn't…"

"Are you ok?"

Vivina shook her head, then realizing he couldn't see her she spoke. "I…I'm fine. Goodnight." She hung up in a hurry and ignored his returning calls. Who did this?

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He clipped her picture from the newspaper. It was a small picture of her in handcuffs from the night of the accident. She looked so scared… so fragile. The controversial decision to let this young lady off disturbed many residents of the bustling town. She was a murderer to many and deserved her time behind bars. He knew this feeling very well. Similar clippings from a much older newspaper told a story of a different type of murder. One that was committed willingly and one that society shall never forgive.

As he lay upon the sheets of his bed in his pitch black room, he wondered if she'd gotten the picture. He wondered what she thought of it. He wished he could have seen her reaction. He hoped he hadn't scared her as that wasn't his intent. The delivery of the photo proved to be quite difficult as a certain police car continued to make its rounds frequently near the complex.

The image of her just would not leave his mind. Sleep was his sanctuary. Should it be up to him he would remain asleep for all eternity, but this curse would not allow it. And tonight, the thought of her would not allow it.

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Vivina took the drawing along with her as she left her apartment for her part time job. "Paine! Look at this!"

Paine took the paper out of her hands, squinting as she analyzed it. "Pretty good… Who's the artist?"

"I don't know… I found it in my mailbox yesterday. I already called that police officer that's been like practically stalking me and it wasn't him." She sighed staring over at the drawing. Paine seemed to be in deep thought for awhile.

"You know, there's a rumor that the East Midgar cemetery is haunted."

"N..no, no! Don't tell me things like that." Vivina looked out the window watching the people on the streets. Her friend spoke not another word until they arrived at the restaurant. She could barely concentrate on work wondering about this person who'd drawn her. Crying there in front of her lover's grave, she felt as if she were being watched. But her heart told her that from above it was her lover's gaze piercing her that way. Now she knew differently…

She pushed the wet mop along the tiled floor; her mind clouded with questions. Closing time was in less than an hour and she swore to herself that she would get out of here early. She tried hard to stay focused on what she was doing, but then there was that feeling again… Someone had been watching her and they were doing it right now. The rowdy late night crowd was still hanging around the tables. Hardly any of the groups were eating, only goofing off. A couple in a booth at the back of the restaurant hadn't stopped making out since they'd gotten here. Their food lay on their table half eaten. Vivina's eyes continued to scan the place. Her heart rate rapidly increased and the urge to take safety under one of the tables pulled at her.

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From the tree across the street, sharp eyes watched her as she slaved away at her part time job. He felt for her, knowing her agony. His quick hands sketched away as a new concept came to mind. There she was, visor pulled down low covering her eyes. To express the sadness and distress he knew she must be feeling he included a black tear rolling down her cheek. He knew she must feel she's in hell so all the people sitting at the tables were drawn as demons reaching out to her desperately. His brow lowered in concentration as he hurried to finish the drawing before the end of her shift.

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Finally she was out of that greasy, smelly place. She stepped outside pulling her visor off and letting her hair down. She stood at the curb and looked down the street where Paine's car was rolling up. A light breeze rustled the paper that was taped to the stop sign she stood beside.

Her heart tightened as she stared at the folded drawing paper. It was the same exact type of paper she'd received in her mailbox so she knew it was meant for her. With an unsteady hand she pulled it off the sign and opened it. She gasped and nearly dropped the paper. So he was watching her… She looked both ways down the street. Outside of Paine's vehicle coming closer, there was nothing. She spun around quickly. Nothing…

Paine's tire scraped the curb as she pulled up a little too closely. The noise almost sent Vivina out of her skin and into the ground. She pulled open the car door and sat down in a hurry, tossing the drawing into Paine's lap without saying a word.

"Another picture from your mysterious admirer?" Paine muttered the question softly as she looked over the picture. Vivina let out a shaky sigh. Her friend instantly turned her focus on her face making sure she was ok.

"What if it's not an admirer?" she asked. "What if this is the bad karma coming to get me. It's definitely a killer. Paine I'm going to get murdered!"

Paine let a rare soft chuckle slip. "I've never seen you so uptight." She handed her friend the drawing. "It could just be someone trying to scare you." Vivina sighed softly ashamed of her outburst and of her fear. She wasn't one to get so upset over things.

She nodded agreeing with her friend before relaxing against her seat as the car took off towards her apartment. Once inside she sat down on her bed with both drawings in her hands. Who would waste this kind of talent on me anyways?

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Tonight it was raining. A quiet thunder gently sounded in the distance. He sat on the edge of the wall over the river scowling into the green waves below him. Two blocks away in her apartment Vivina lay on her bed staring out the window at the rain. It had been three days since she'd received her last drawing, but the feeling of being watched came over her every once in a while. She made up her mind and after getting dressed set out into the now heavier rain.

She ran down the sidewalk with nothing more than a pair of torn jeans, a white T-shirt and a hooded black sweatshirt over it.

Through the sound of the rain, Vincent's sensitive ears picked up footsteps long before they were even within fifteen yards of him. He didn't bother to look up not at all expecting her. Vivina noticed a figure covered head to toe in black clothing sitting on the wall, but thought nothing of the person. She even sped up as she got closer. Time froze as she passed by less than a foot away from his back. Vincent's eyes snapped open as her scent consumed him. His head snapped in her direction, but she was already at least ten feet away.

He continued to stare down at the water knowing it didn't matter how close she was he'd never be able to talk to her. He'd never be able to touch her. Being wrapped in her scent was the closest he'd ever be to her. He was a monster with no right to interact with such a flawless human. He pulled his already low hood down further so that not even his nose was seen. Vivina wasn't the only one this society hated. If only they knew he was still around… Eventually he headed down to the cemetery where the only woman who he could be close to even if it was only in spirit.

Vivina searched all through the cemetery but saw no one. She'd wait here until dark. She had to confront this person. There was no way she could continue to live on with the fear and anxiety this was causing… A vehicle pulled up behind her.

"You're going to catch cold." The smooth male voice warned. She turned around suppressing the glare she wanted to shoot into the car.

"I'm fine, really. You don't have to keep checking up on me like this." There was an edge in her voice that made the officer a bit uncomfortable. He contemplated rolling off and leaving her be, but he felt he didn't have to leave her alone. She was standing here right now free because of him.

"Is it honestly so terrible that someone still cares about you?" he asked. The car shifted backwards as he put himself in park on hill. He got out and approached her hesitantly.

She sighed heavily resting her hand on her hip. She was now well dampened from the rain.

He looked down collecting his thoughts. "I'm sorry… I know you're probably… still upset. I've never lost a significant other so I don't know how you're feeling." He chuckled softly. "Call me ignorant."

She snorted softly and looked away.

"At least let me give you a ride home. They're calling for severe storms all night tonight."

There was silence for awhile until his radio cut in. He ignored it waiting for her to reply. She took one last scan around the cemetery listening hard for any sounds before taking a few steps towards his cop car.

Vincent had been watching the whole time. His eyes were more on the police officer than her. He squeezed his eyes shut damning himself for the torture he was about to put himself through. Nevertheless, there was another image for him to draw.

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Hours later Vivina stepped out of the warm shower. The room was filled with steam so thick her image in the mirror was only a blur of black hair and white skin. On the way to her bedroom she heard a banging sound right outside her door. Quickly she realized it had to be someone slamming her mailbox shut. She ran to the door in just her towel and ripped it open looking back and forth. Carelessly she ran to the end of the hall and looked both ways in that direction but there was no one.

Vincent was standing the second floor of the small apartment complex staring down at her. His lip twitched slightly with the unfamiliar urge to smile. Somehow he knew that she was in too much of a frenzy to think about simply looking up.

She sighed heavily returning to her apartment taking the paper from the mailbox. She didn't even hesitate to open it this time. Yet it shocked her once again just how perfect the picture was almost as if he'd taken it with a camera in black and white. There she was standing in the cemetery, damp from the rain, looking for him. She realized this was merely four hours ago and for him to have already completed such a perfect picture had to be some sort of supernatural phenomenon.