I realized that I made a stupid mistake in the previous chapter. It is 12 A.M., not 12 P.M. Guess I wasn't thinking straight. Thank you for pointing that out. I am a little bit sad though that only one person reviewed. Please review, they're inspiration! And I'm sorry for the long wait. Too many projects and exams… Plus there's Twilight! I love that book. If you haven't read that series, you really should go read it!

Killer Portrait – Chapter 4: Burn and Return

Suze's POV:

12:00A.M… (Again)

"Ugh…" I grunted as I climbed over the wall. "This sucks!"

Dressed in black from head to toe, we were breaking and entering, again, at midnight, for the second time now.

"Shh… Be quiet," Jesse warned me.

I rolled my eyes as I swung over to the other side, landing soundlessly.

"Not bad, querida," Jesse smiled, walking towards me. Whoa, he climbs fast. "A perfect ten."

"Thank you," I bowed.

"Come on!"

With that, we scurried over to the building. We nearly ran in with a security guard, but luck was with us.

"Whew, that was close," I gasped quietly.

"In here!" Jesse called, beckoning through a window.

We climbed inside quickly. These guys sure did have lame security. We headed towards the area with the portrait. We found it, still in its stand, covered with a white cloth. I got my Swiss Army Knife and started tearing it carefully from its frame.

"Here," I whispered, handing it to Jesse.

"I'll take care of this. Now, put everything back the way it was," Jesse directed, rolling the portrait up in a scroll.

I placed the white cloth back the way it was and checked everything again. Once I was sure everything was in order, I signalled Jesse that we could go now.

We quickly sneaked out, avoiding all the security. We climbed over the wall again, quickly running towards a dark alley nearby.

"Whoa… W- we should ne- never do that a- again," I panted, gasping for air.

"Can I have the lighter please?" Jesse asked, also trying to catch his breath.

I rummaged around by little black bag until I found it.

"Here," I said, handing it to Jesse.

"Thanks," he replied.

He unrolled the portrait and placed it on the ground. Looking at it, I shivered.

"Can you please do it faster? It creeps me out," I complained.

"Be patient, querida," Jesse said sternly. "Here, help me."

I held it as Jesse tried to make a spark. After a few moments, he gave up.

"Susannah, I have no idea on how to work this thing," he sighed in frustration.

I started giggling. "Jesse, did anyone tell you you're so cut when you're frustrated?"

"Hmmm," Jesse mused. "Nope… Now please burn this thing. It's starting to creep me out."

"My thoughts exactly," I grinned triumphantly. "So here's how you use this. First, you move this little circle here with your thumb. Turn it until light is produced… See? It's easy."

I brought the flame closer to the portrait and watched it catch fire. I dropped it on the ground and watched it patiently as the whole thing burned.

"There. All done," I finally said.

Jesse started scattering the ashes with his feet.

"What is that for?" I asked curiously.

"So that it won't be so obvious something was burned here. The ashes will soon be gone and will camouflage with the cement anyway," Jesse replied.

"Oh. Good idea," I shrugged, walking towards him.

"There. Okay, let's go back. We need our sleep; we wouldn't want to be walking zombies, do we?" Jesse teased. "Besides, tomorrow, since we've finished our task, I am taking you out on a date."

"Yes!" I squealed. Jesse's dates were super fun.

Jesse laughed. "Come on, I have an idea to where we're going. To a park, perhaps? Or do you want a fancy restaurant?"

"Both!" I answered immediately.

"So let's go back to the hotel now!" he exclaimed teasingly as he kissed me sweetly on the lips. I melted in this brief kiss. As he pulled away, I started to complain.

"Uh-uh-uh," he shook his head teasingly. "Sleep first, kissing later."

"Fine," I sulked. He's not getting his way that easily.

The next day…

As we made our way out, I was bubbling happily.

"OK, I have seen the perfect restaurant," I announced as an amused Jesse tried to keep his laughter in. I was practically jumping with happiness. "After we eat there, we are going to this beautiful park! I hear they have this really romantic garden," I said, pointedly looking at him.

"I give up, you win. So how about this. You tell me nothing about today's plans. You have to do your best in surprising me," he finally suggested.

"Deal!" I accepted.

His arm around my waist, we walked happily towards the restaurant I had in mind. We didn't bother taking a taxi, because one, we were getting short on cash, and two, walking with Jesse this way was much more romantic.

I was chatting happily as we waited for the sign to go green and we could cross. Across us was the gallery with a black Impala in front of it.

"And there's a fountain in the garden, and it is so-"

"Can't you guys do this right?" a huge voice boomed, startling us.

I yanked my eyes from Jesse's face to see a really tall –and really cute- guy shouting at two men who were trying to load a wrapped item in his Impala.

"This time, do it carefully," tall and cute guy instructed. "Be careful not to hit the top part and- Ugh! You guys hit the top again! If you hit the top of the car, you can't fit it in and it won't go in!"

"Seems to me that someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," Jesse nudged me.

One of the guys loading it removed one of his hands to scratch his head, and the white cloth covering the thing he was loading fell down. He quickly bent down to cover it again and once more pushed it in the car. Finally, he got it in. Getting in his car, the guy mumbled something and drove away speedily.

But I wasn't breathing. My eyes widened to their limits and my jaw dropped open.

"Susannah? Querida, what is wrong?" Jesse asked anxiously.

"It's not yet over," I blurted. "The portrait we burned…. It's back. I don't know how, but it is. Someone just bought it… And I'm afraid he's the next to die."

My chapters are gonna get shorter, in order to make the story longer… So I'm so sorry. On the bright side… TWILIGHT!!! I am seriously addicted to Twilight!

Jen