Chapter 4: Inverted

Tiara McKenzie's Point Of View

I'm quite unresponsive these past few days. It feels weird. It's as if I don't know myself at all. The way I assassinated my last targets was quite brutal as if it wasn't me who executed the mission.

I can't feel I am enough that I started trying different things, thinking I might deserve a more peaceful life.

I stared at the canvas and tilted my head as I can't feel any connection with my art. There's this distant feeling that the colors doesn't jive with each other.

I sighed and then put my paint brush down. The wind played with my long white dress as I walk towards the shore. My hair is quite inconvenient as it is too long and I don't have a hair tie to put it in a bun.

I closed my eyes and fisted my hands as I think of the most brutal way to kill that bastard in the future.

I grabbed my phone out of annoyance which almost had me drop it into the water. I rolled my eyes before answering his call.

"What is it again, Eli?"

He laughed as if he's just an innocent angel trying to tame a lone wolf. Though, between me and him, he definitely is the lone wolf. A very dangerous one.

"I need you here right now, Tia," He replied in an angelic voice.

My face immediately turned into a ripe tomato out of irritation. "What the hell?! Fuck yourself, Eli! I'm busy!"

I was about to drop the call when he said something that picked my interest.

"I need you to paint me something. I didn't call for something dirty you are thinking about right now. Though, we can do that too if you can multi-task."

"Shut the fuck up, Eli! How much are you going to pay me when I do a commission painting?" My tone immediately shifted into professional mode as soon as I thought about money.

"Will you stop thinking about the money, Tia? Think of pleasure for once."

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Sorry, Sir. I think you called the wrong number," Was the last thing I said before dropping the call.

I tossed my phone to the table. I took off my dress, leaving me with just my swimsuit. Its gorgeous mustard color complimented my skin better under the sunlight. The blotches of paint on my skin looked like a piece of art along with the waves.

A soft smile crept on my lips. I just had an idea for my next masterpiece.

I traced the way towards the shore, walked into the water until its comforting coldness reached my waist. I looked up and then closed my eyes to feel the warmth of the sun before letting my body submerge into the water.

For once I felt like I have washed my body and soul clean. As if I my hands never had a blood on it. As if my body was untouched. It's as if the water brushes those off my being along the paints slowly being washed away from my skin.

My thoughts flowed with the salty waters. What if I my eyes were closed through out my childhood? I would have been a lot... more free.

I was stoned on my feet the moment I opened my eyes after resurfacing. My eyes slowly widened as the water suddenly felt much colder than before.

He was standing by the shore. His arms are crossed under his chest as he taps his foot onto the sand impatiently. His eyes are locked with my and all I want to do was avert my gaze. His eyes were cold as if he was staring straight into my soul.

A question suddenly popped up into my mind. What the hell is he doing here?

"Are you done enjoying the waters?" He asked in a baritone voice.

I was about to swim away when he started counting.

"Two, I want you on land after three, Tia. Swim away and I'll make sure your father will disown you."

A cold sensation ran down my spine as I stare back at his blank eyes. I fisted my hands as my blood starts to boil.

How dare he?

I found myself walking towards the shore with a stoic expression as if I was not nervous and mad. I tried my best to hide the loathe behind my pupils just so I could not trigger something in him.

"What now?" I asked with a fake courage while crossing my arms.

"I need a painting. Paint one and I'll pay you a million bucks."

I laughed in a sarcastic manner.

"I already wrote a check. Just go and try to deny this request and it will decrease along your father's trust in you."

I rolled my eyes. Even if he did not blackmail me, I still would have accepted his offer. Who would even dare reject a million bucks?

He started walking away as if he did not just blackmail me to get what he wants... again.

I watched his back as he walks away and for some reason, I was calmed unlike before.

I shook my head and went back into the water. Let me just... enjoy this for a little while.

MY EYES landed on the check sitting on my bed the moment I walked into my room. I picked it up and glanced at the painting I am working on at the corner of my room.

I sat on the floor, not knowing what I was supposed to paint as I stare at the unfinished painting. I just splashed paints on the canvas and it barely has details that could possible satisfy Eli.

I unconsciously picked up the brush, mixed colors, and let my hand do every stroke that will bring this piece into life.

I heaved a deep breath as I bite my lips. I just need to fill the extra spaces and I'll be done.

I left my watermark at lower left corner of the painting. I tilted my head as I try to think of a name that is suitable for this baby.

The scene on the painting looks serene as if it was a paradise the painter has always wanted when in fact I never depicted paradise as something this serene.

I poured every bits of anger and hatred I have towards Eli that's why I barely used warm colors. I don't see this piece as a paradise, to me, it looks like every petal that's playing in the wind are the pieces of me he has taken away. The way the grasses turns towards the wind's direction was my freedom being limited.

The gorgeous scenery from a little girl's perspective was the very opposite of what I wanted to say.

I smiled.

This is the piece I love the most since the day I started isolating myself. It looks like a poem wording every metaphor I could ever think of, every sarcasm I can't seem to voice out, and every screams I wanted the world to hear.

And so, I decided what I was going to call this piece.

I grabbed my phone and texted Eli that the painting was done before cleaning my room.

"Inverted." I muttered before turning away.