Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, after being surprised by Vivian Crane in the darkened gallery, Mrs. DeLorca introduced the painter to Mr. DeLorca and Mia Duomo. Mr. DeLorca suggested that Vivian look at the creepy painting of Sam and Jenny Colbert. Mrs. DeLorca agreed, knowing that her husband was hoping to see how Vivian reacted to the painting. They both suspected that she might have something to do with it. Vivian looked at the painting and seemed to be not bothered by it. Mia noticed that Vivian had white paint on her designer shoes—the same kind of shoes that had made the tracks around the painting—and pointed it out to Vivian. Mia stated she thought Vivian had painted the disturbing portrait. Vivian became very angry and shouted at Mia. What happened next? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 8: A Lift in Personality
by Joseph Crisalli

“That’s odd. Who would do such a thing?” Vivian asked. “Whoever did it seems to have tracked white paint on the floor.”

“Yes.” Mia glared. “Just like the white paint on your shoes! The very same kind of shoes that left these footprints!”

“Excuse me?” Vivian raised her eyebrows. “Are you accusing me of painting this?”

“Yes!” Mia shouted.

“Mia…” Mrs. DeLorca cautioned her friend.

“So, let me get this straight. Not only are you implying that I’m some sort of art-bully who wants to frighten strangers at a wedding reception, but you’re also implying that I’m a bad painter?” Vivian growled angrily.

“I am.” Mia said defiantly, shaking her blonde hair.

“I have never been so insulted in my life!” Vivian growled. “How dare you? You know nothing about me! Just because I have white paint on my shoes, you conclude that I painted…this? Did it ever occur to you that I walked through paint in the dark over there? No, I have never been so insulted!”

With that Vivian began to walk off, however before she could get too far, everyone stopped and turned to face the elevator which was making a strange noise! The elevator groaned into place and as the doors slowly opened, the DeLorcas, Mia and Vivian heard frantic voices and shouting.

“Help!” Someone shouted from the elevator. “Help us!”

“That’s some of the kids from Vista Falls Junior High.” Mrs. DeLorca said. “They’re the ones that help Mr. Jaquith at the Trotter Wildlife Sanctuary.”

“Claude Jaquith is with them.” Mia said. “And, so is Jeff Dinello, the art teacher.”

“Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca, we need your help.” Mr. Dinello shouted.

With Mia following them, Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca hurried over to the elevator where they saw several teenagers that they knew very well. One of them, Vera Molton, was passed out on the floor. Her twin, Lucy, was holding Vera’s hand.”

“My sister’s heart…” Lucy said with tears in her eyes.

Mrs. DeLorca nodded. She knew about Vera’s heart condition. Vera’s heart had been severely weakened years before. Any sort of upset that raised Vera’s heart rate could be very dangerous.

“I say,” Mr. DeLorca said quickly. “We’ll need all of you to get out of there so we can give the poor girl some air.”

“Lucy, you stay in here with Vera,” Mrs. DeLorca said as the remaining teens—TJ, Delia, Kate, Rick, and Ward filed out. Mr. Jaquith followed in his wheelchair. Mr. Dinello stayed behind.

“Packed in there tighter than sardines in a can…delicious sardines dripping with oil. What a treat for man or pelican.” Mr. DeLorca mused, adding, “But, we must stay focused for the sake of the young lady.”

Mrs. DeLorca knelt down next to Vera and checked her pulse. “Her heart rate is up. Joel, use your cell phone to call for an ambulance.”

“Of course, of course,” Mr. DeLorca said, taking his phone from his pocket. He quickly made the call.

“What happened?” Mrs. DeLorca asked. “Why are you even in the freight elevator? This is only used as a service elevator.”

“We found a strange painting.” Lucy sniffed, still holding her twins’ hand. “It was of Sam and Jenny Colbert.”

Mrs. DeLorca’s eyes widened. “So did we.”

“It’s right over there.” Mia pointed behind them, turning around. Mia gasped, “It WAS there.”

Mrs. DeLorca turned around the find the painting—and Vivian Crane—were both gone!

“That’s what happened to us, too!” Mr. Dinello said. “It was there one minute and gone the next. We were looking for it. Following footprints left from someone walking through white paint.”

“I say, that’s what we were doing, too.” Mr. DeLorca nodded, hanging up his cell phone.

“We came in the elevator and it got stuck.” Lucy began to cry again. “Vera panicked. She doesn’t like close spaces. And, then…” Lucy became too emotional to continue.

“When TJ tried to open the trapdoor in the elevator’s ceiling, this fell out.” Mr. Dinello said. He handed Mrs. DeLorca a rolled up canvas. Mrs. DeLorca unrolled it and shuddered when she saw the painting on it.

A portrait of Vera looked back at Mrs. DeLorca. In the painting, Vera looked ill—pale with dark circles around her eyes. Like the painting of Sam and Jenny Colbert, the background of the painting was nothing but faces in torment—crying, screaming, pained faces.

“It’s horrible.” Mrs. DeLorca said.

“It was all too much for Vera. She saw it and passed out.” Mr. Dinello said.

“Poor thing.” Mr. DeLorca shook his head. “The ambulance is on its way. Perhaps Mia can wait downstairs for it. Mia?”

“Where’s Mia?” Mrs. DeLorca looked over her shoulder.

“I don’t see her.”

“Miss Duomo walked down the corridor.” One of the teens, Delia, said.

“She said she had something to take care of. Some unfinished business.” Mr. Jaquith shrugged.

At that very moment, Mia Duomo was creeping down the back staircase of the museum. When she reached the bottom, she laughed, and said, “I knew I’d find you down here. I thought I told you that I never wanted to see you again. So, what are you doing in Vista Falls?”

The person to whom she was speaking did not answer.

“I want you to get out of this town.” Mia Duomo said sternly. “I won’t have you bothering my friends.”

Suddenly, Mia Duomo screamed.

From the upstairs gallery, Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca heard Mia’s terrifying screech.

What should they do?

Leave Vera and hurry to Mia?
Call Eben’s cell phone to ask him to check on Mia?
Just assume Mia is okay?

Email your thoughts.

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