Author's Note: We're going to an art museum with Alfred. That's right, we're going for another round of Oze Juzo. The match just came out of nowhere and just wrote itself. Another character for Alfred to talk to just popped up here too. I think I am enjoying writing the story of Oze Juzo. Just who is he? I think I will add more about him and his artwork as this season and more side stories go along. Speaking of which, I already know what I am doing next week and this year's Halloween special. You are going to have to stick around and see what they are. For now, enjoy this week's match.
Match Fourteen: Greek Juniper:
Alfred got invited out to an art gallery. Not really his thing but Regina was the one who invited him out.
"It's just a stupid little thing," she said. "I have tickets to the event. I was going to invite my sister and her husband, but they bailed at the last minute. I couldn't let the tickets go to waste." The American man shrugged.
"Sure," he said. Regina looked so happy.
"Thank you so much," she said.
So, here he was. The American man looked out of place. Everything felt so stiff. There wasn't much to do around here. Alfred frowned. The people were walking around, staring at the paintings on the wall. Right now, he was in the Impressionist gallery. He didn't know. It all looked the same to him. If only Arthur and Francis could see him here now. They would probably laugh and make fun of him.
However, he was here for a particular exhibit. And what would that be? Why none other than Oze Juzo. That artist's name caught Alfred's attention.
"Who did you say?" he asked. Regina didn't look too comfortable to say that. She looked down at her hands.
"Yeah…" she mumbled.
"Are you still restoring his art?" Alfred asked. The woman shifted her eyes away from him.
"Why do you keep restoring his art?" he asked. Regina didn't have an answer. She looked more run down than when she first moved in.
"Are you feeling okay?" the American man asked. Regina took a breath before she forced herself to smile.
"Sure," she said. "I will be happy when this project is over." Regina laughed off his concern. The American man didn't look so convinced. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to push her like he normally would.
Well, here was here now.
Alfred looked at the pamphlet in his hand. The Oze Juzo gallery was on the other side of the building. The American man was being drawn toward it but he couldn't get rid of this sinking feeling of dread. Alfred walked over a couple staring at a small statue on display.
The exhibit would open around noon. He could just turn around and leave. Not like anyone was going to notice. Regina would understand.
Before he knew it, Alfred spotted a group of people dressed in black. They appeared in his peripheral vision. He turned to see them walking across the gallery. Some of the other people were looking up. Alfred had a good idea of where they were going. But still, he had to follow behind.
They looked like they were at a funeral. Some kept their eyes on the floor. One turned and looked over their shoulder and looked at Alfred. The American man froze in his tracks for a moment. The person in black turned forward. More people started to follow behind Alfred.
They made their way to the Oze Juzo Gallery. It was just as he predicted. The people in black waited at the closed doors. Alfred touched a girl dressed in black to him. She whipped around to him. The American man about jumped at the sudden movement.
"What?" she asked.
"Uh…" Alfred said. "You here for the exhibit?" The girl gave him a strange look.
"Yes?" she asked.
"So am I," the American man said. The girl just stared at him. Conversation died on his tongue. She turned back to the front. Alfred nervously laughed. Oh boy…
The doors opened at noon. Everyone started walking inside. Alfred walked along with the crowd. By now, more normal people started to follow him. Some of them didn't have tickets. Those were going to be turned away anyway. The guard at the door started to check for tickets.
"Ticket please," he said. Alfred pulled out his ticket and handed it over. The man looked over his ticket. He handed it back and stepped aside.
"Thanks," Alfred said. He walked into the wing. Those without tickets behind him were turned away. The American man didn't envy them at all.
Inside, the walls were painted black. The lights were all kept dim. Alfred shivered at how cold the room was. He noticed that the lights came on as the people walked by. Heh, the lights were motion-activated. They add a creepy effect to the pictures. Alfred walked around the gallery.
Yep. The paintings looked just as disturbing as ever. Alfred stopped in front of By Her Hand. The feminine hand reached for the bloody knife. He's seen this painting online. It's one of the top results in Google. Two more people were staring at it with him. The girl held the man's hand next to her.
"I love it," she said. She held her hand to her chest. Alfred slowly backed away trembling. He looked around him and heard the same thing. They were in awe of Juzo's paintings. Some even sang their praises. One girl looked ready to orgasm. What was this?
"Did I step into a cult meeting or something?" he asked himself. The American man wondered if he should slip away without being noticed. He started to look around for an exit. It didn't help that flashing lights made the paintings creepier.
He backed up into another person.
"Ow! What the hell, man?! Watch where you're going!" a woman shouted. Alfred quickly backed up.
"My bad!" he said. The woman who Alfred would say she was about twenty looked like a typical goth. She looked like she wanted to claw his eyes out. He started to back away from her. This time, the American man looked behind him.
He came near the painting called The Widow. The woman didn't have a face, but he still felt her sorrow. For a moment there, Alfred couldn't move.
"Isn't she beautiful?" the woman asked as she walked up next to him. Alfred looked down to see that she was much calmer now. That was fast, he thought. Instead, the American man looked at the painting.
"She has no face," he said.
"She doesn't need one," the woman said. "You can still feel her pain without it." She turned her head.
"I'm Judith," she said, holding out her hand.
"Uh… Alfred," the American man said. Judith didn't say anything as she turned back to the painting.
"I don't get it," Alfred said.
"Get what?" Judith asked. He pointed at The Widow.
"That," he said. "All of it." She looked at the paintings on display. That smile in the flashing smile made Alfred shiver.
"What is there not to get?" she asked.
"Just… why?" Alfred asked. Judith shook her head.
"I don't think anyone knows," she said. "And that's the beauty of it. Juzo leaves us no reasons. His art speaks to us." That sounded like cult speak. This had to be a cult. Alfred put up his hands.
"Look, I don't want any part of… whatever this is," he said. Judith raised her eyebrow.
"What do you think this is?" she asked. Alfred blinked at her.
"Huh?" he asked. They stood there, silent. The American man looked around at the people walking by.
"I don't know," he said. Judith stared at him.
"This is your first time here, isn't it?" she asked.
"Uh… yeah," Alfred said.
"Figures," she said. The American man looked confused.
"Was I that obvious?" he asked. Judith nodded.
"Yes," she said. Alfred gave her a strange look.
"How are you okay with all of this?" he asked. Judith threw back her head and laughed.
"I study obscure Asian artists," she said.
"You do?" the American man asked. Judith leaned in close to his face.
"Let's find Bliss first and then we'll talk," she said in a low voice. The American man froze.
"Bliss?" he asked.
"Come on," Judith said. She walked down the dark path. Confused and curious, Alfred followed behind.
Regina saw Bliss. Now, she can't unsee it. It's starting to haunt her dreams. Her coworkers are starting to see it. They are in the same boat as she is. Yet, they can't stop with this project. So much money on the table. Their boss wouldn't let them quit anyway. Speaking of which…
"Has anyone seen Alistar lately?" one of the art restorers asked. Regina lifted her head.
"No," another one said.
"I tried to call him but he didn't pick up," a third one said. No one said a word. Regina looked down at the painting in front of her. She could hear the black and red screaming at her. It wouldn't be long before she too fell to the madness.
Alfred…
Meanwhile, Judith stopped in her tracks.
"What is it?" Alfred asked. The woman walked and then started jogging toward the end of the wing.
"Judith?" he asked. The American man ran after her. The woman started to run faster. She didn't listen to Alfred shouting after her.
"Hey! Wait! Judith! Come back! Come back! Judith! Judith!" he shouted as he tried to keep up. He finally found her at the end of the wing.
"There you are. Why did you run off like that?" Alfred asked. Judith didn't answer him. She didn't even hear him. The American man turned to look forward and saw everything that he needed to know.
Bliss was hanging on the wall in all of its red and disturbingly seductive glory.