BAB 2 The NightMARE 1781

THE NIGHTMARE 1781

Two days later, they went to Dmitri’s office as agreed. As it turned out, the address of Dmitri’s office was not far from the hotel where they were staying.

Upon arrival, the office building looked like any typical office. The office only had three rooms: a workspace, an exhibition room, and a storage room. However, strangely, the front yard was so wide and overgrown with long wild grass, giving the impression that it was neglected.

Mother thought that this place might be where the building would be constructed, following the design her office had created.

Inside the office, Dmitri hosted his guests well; he served cups of tea and several traditional Russian snacks.

Dmitri also invited Kevin and Rina to look at the paintings in the second room first, while Mother was busy preparing documents for the presentation.

While Mother and Dmitri negotiated the project price, Kevin and Rina examined the paintings one by one.

Kevin’s attention became fixed on one particular painting labeled The Nightmare 1781.

This painting displays a unique and mysterious composition. On the right side, there is a figure of a woman in a white dress lying flat on her back in a deep sleep.

However, the uniqueness is further intensified by a figure resembling a small ape or a supernatural creature, which appears to be pressing down (or sitting) on the woman's chest, creating a chilling atmosphere.

Although the figures of the woman and the ape had already caught his attention, Kevin’s focus was instead drawn to a hidden element: a black horse peeking from behind the dark curtains, staring straight at the woman and the ape-like figure with an intense gaze. It was this element that piqued Kevin’s curiosity.

Kevin continued to stare at the painting…

Suddenly, Kevin jolted. A firm slap landed on his shoulder.

"Hey, Vin!" Rina exclaimed. Instantly, Kevin snapped out of his daydream and turned around.

It turned out that Rina was already behind him, accompanied by Mother and Dmitri, the host of the art collection.

"Are you interested in this painting?" Dmitri asked, a thin smile playing on his lips.

Feeling caught off guard, Kevin grew flustered. "Huh? Oh, not really, Sir. It’s just... strange," he answered honestly.

"Of all the many paintings you own, this is the only one I find so difficult to understand. What is actually happening to this woman?" he asked innocently, his eyes pointing back toward the painting.

"Kevin!" Mother scolded firmly, her tone carrying a hint of a warning.

She immediately turned toward Dmitri with a regretful look. "I am so sorry, Mr. Dmitri. My son really does ask too many questions."

Dmitri smiled understandingly, as if the apology were unnecessary. "It is quite alright, Ma'am. In fact, Kevin's curiosity could be a source of new knowledge for all of us," Dmitri replied graciously.

He turned his gaze back to the painting, inviting Kevin to refocus. "As you can see," Dmitri began his explanation, "this painting was created in 1781 by an artist named Henry Fuseli. It is very famous; its official name is The Nightmare. Looking at the details, it was painted using oil on canvas, and because of its dramatic and emotional theme, it eventually became an icon of the Romanticism movement."

Dmitri then pointed to the disturbing figure sitting on the woman's chest. "Now, look at this—the creature that looks like an ape. In mythology, he is called the Incubus demon."

He spoke in a low tone to create a horror-like impression.

"Legend has it, this demonic figure visits every woman who sleeps on her back. Exactly as shown in this image, with the intention of entering her dreams and performing..."

Dmitri cut his explanation short, as if he were hiding something.

"Hmm... it’s not yet time for you to know the details of this demon. The point is, the Incubus is the personification of sleep-related terror."

Kevin, who had been transfixed by that detail from the very beginning, took advantage of Dmitri’s pause to ask his main question.

"Then, Sir," Kevin asked quickly, his eyes returning to the dark corner of the painting.

"The horse—why is the horse there?"

Dmitri gave a short laugh, an unexpected response. "Hahaha, as for that, I don't know either," Dmitri replied jokingly.

"To this day, I am still confused myself as to why there is a horse there!".

The short laughter faded, and Dmitri resumed explaining the situation regarding his collection.

"Truthfully, I am only keeping this painting safe here temporarily. That is because we plan to build a museum on the front grounds of this property, specifically to display unique paintings like the one you mentioned earlier."

Kevin did not respond. He simply stared at The Nightmare for a long time. The details about the Incubus and Romanticism were now mingled with the unsolved mystery of the horse. His gaze was filled with a deep longing, as if he wished to possess it, yet was fully aware that it was out of reach.

...----------------...

THE REPLICA PAINTING

The twilight sky in Russia looked so captivating, as if it were holding them back from leaving, even though it was their final day there. Amidst the bustle of the souvenir market, their pace slowed, savoring the remaining time they had left.

Suddenly, Kevin’s eyes rounded with a joyful spark.

"Whoa, Rina, look at that!" Kevin exclaimed enthusiastically while pointing toward one of the stalls.

"This painting is exactly like the one we saw earlier at Mr. Dmitri’s exhibition!" Kevin said, standing before the artwork.

Rina stepped closer and observed it intently.

"You're right, Bro, it's almost the same. But the difference is, why is the woman's dress in this one black?" Rina said, looking confused.

Rina then asked Kevin to inquire about the price with the painting seller.

Kevin immediately asked the seller using a Russian language translation app.

"Сколько это стоит, господин?"

(How much does this cost, sir?)

The seller mentioned a price, '5,000 Rubles,' setting the price arbitrarily.

The high price for a replica painting made Kevin excited to negotiate the price using his translator app.

"Извините, можно за 2000 рублей? Потому что я знаю, что это подделка; я только что видел оригинал в офисе господина Дмитрия неподалеку.”

(Excuse me, could the price be 2,000 Rubles? Because I know this is a fake painting; I just saw the original at Mr. Dmitri's office nearby).

The seller, who knew Dmitri, did not interrupt and allowed Kevin to buy it for 2,000 Rubles.

With glowing faces, they showed the painting to Mother. They looked so delighted, as if they had just found a diamond they had long been waiting for.

Mother only smiled, seeing her children's happiness. She did not forbid it because, at the very least, the replica painting had managed to make her son and daughter happy.

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