The Lost Masterpiece: NYSSA
Days passed.
I had yet to walk into the art studio where the box was kept, and I wasn’t ready. Not yet. All day and night, I relaxed in the other parts of the house, somewhere far from the art studio.
“Why don’t you want to go?”
Kazmir joined me in the livin’ room, with a glass of water he handed to me. “Is somethin’ in the box makin’ you scared?” Relaxin’ next to me, he met my gaze and asked. “Do you want somethin’ besides the water?”
“No, nothin’,” I sipped from the glass and let out. “I’ll be there soon, but not yet,” I explained to the man who gave a nod, commentatin’ on the screen of the television before us. “I’m waitin’ to hear from Ariadne who says she has somethin’ to tell me, and then I’ll make up my mind to be there.”
“Are you serious, Nyssa?”
I met his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“All of that for nothin’, isn’t that what you mean?” He chuckled and there was me who heaved a sigh for the umpteenth time in less than three minutes. “You’re sayin’ my hard work and that of you and even Darius goes for nothin’? I myself, I’m curious and would love to see what’s in the box. So why don’t you show me?”
What was he tryin’ to do?
Make me change my mind?
He was right, after all.
“I’ll check it as soon as I get a call from Ariadne. I don’t need any distractions while I’m on it. I’ll love to see the beauty of each piece and that’s what it’s ’bout, do you understand?” I asked ‘im who relaxed his back on the couch once more after givin’ a nod.
My phone rang after a while.
At this point, I was better than many days ago. For all that I knew, Ariadne had everythin’ under control and there’s no way she would let any harm come to me – accordin’ to her words to me.
“What’s up, Nyssa?”
“I’m cool, Ariadne,” standin’ on my feet, I paced the space with a smile on my face. “What’s up? You said you had somethin’ to tell me. I don’t know but I’m worried there’s some problem and you’re yet to tell me ’bout it. So what is it?”
“Oh, Nyssa, you bother too much.”
From the other end, she chuckled.
“I was only callin’ to ask a few questions regardin’ the pieces you retrieved from the hunt mission. I wanted to know if you’ve unboxed and started with your task – and brain-recoverin’ mission. What’s the update? You haven’t said anything ’bout it.”
“Yes, I just recovered from the trip-” I explained to the woman who I imagined givin’ a nod from the other end. “I’ll do that before the end of the week, possibly today.” I added and sat on the couch again, close to Kazmir who adjusted a little.
“That’s alright,” the woman let out from the other end. “I wanted to let you know of a piece that has been missin’ for years. But the issue is we don’t know if it’s in the collection of pieces you retrieved or rather, lost forever. Only you can let us know when you’ve unboxed and gone through the pieces. Can you do that for us?”
“Sure.”
At least, a reason to be there.
“What’s this piece like? Do you know what it is, or rather, what it looks like so I can use this guidance?”
“Yes, but that’s not even the issue right now,” she said. I listened attentively to her next words. “Everythin’ there has the same color, if you know what I mean. This particular piece is different, painted with an odd color, and portrays motherly love. The pieces are many but you must not give up on searchin’. All the pieces must be checked, after all.”
“That’s right,” I mouthed, warmin’ up. “I think I’m ready already. But what do I do when it happens? What happens when I see it? You’ll come to get it, won’t it? Or is there somethin’ else besides comin’ to take it?”
“It’s yours-” she explained.
“We just need to see if there’s a second or third chance of retrievin’ this piece. And if we do, if you find it in that collection: it means she kept it for you and it’s meant to be yours. So, none of us can touch or come close to it unless you let us.”
“Thank you, Ariadne,” I greeted. “I’ll get to work right now and keep you updated.” After which the call ended and there was me who let Kazmir know ’bout the situation of things. “I should get to work already.” I mouthed and was goin’, but then turned around to meet his gaze. “Where are you goin’, Kazmir Draven?”
“I’m comin’ with you, of course-” he jumped on his feet and walked behind me.
“I am your husband and I care for you. So you don’t have to be worried ’bout me comin’ close to your pieces. I would have done that a long time ago if I wanted to, don’t you think so?” He was standin’ next to me. “Do you have a key to the art studio or do I grab it for you?”
In moments, my husband and I stood at the door of the art studio.
“Ready?” He looked at me and gave a nod. “Let’s get on with it already then.” Mouthin’, he unlocked the door and pushed it so that I could walk in before ‘im who walked after me. “Shall we, my wife?” Settlin’ on the floor, he placed the box before ‘im and there was me who sat in front of the box this time.
“I am ready.”
It was me who opened the box with the code I was given. And the happenin’s made me recall the safe and how Darius assisted with the code to open it. Does Kazmir know already that it was ‘im? Well, I didn’t tell ‘im and there also was no way the young man would do the same – unless of course, he was tired of his job which didn’t look like it to me.
We started the search.
I concentrated more on the pieces, admirin’ them one after the other. “This is beautiful, Kazmir.” Over and over and over again, I was mouthin’ these words. “What more is underneath? Who knows?” I would say sometimes and then get a hold of some other pieces I fell in love with at that moment.
As Ariadne said, the colors were the same. And from the look of things, it looked like the missin’ piece would not be found. What would I do if it wasn’t found? Nothin’ but concentrate on the other pieces.
I had lost faith in seein’ the missin’ piece when I caught sight of an odd-colored piece.
“I-”
I wanted to speak but on second thought kept mute the next moment. What if I wasn’t certain? What if this was a dream? I looked around and caught sight of Kazmir who no longer sat, but was on his feet and makin’ a video of me with his phone.
“Wh-what are you doin’?”
“Makin’ a video,” he answered. “I want the world to see what a genius my wife is. I think we’re ’bout to see a piece that has been lost for so many years, baby. Get on with it and don’t waste our time.”
I went down to it, lookin’ through the box and catchin’ a clearer sight of the piece we were lookin’ for. I wasn’t certain, but the odd color Ariadne talked ’bout was right there, starin’ at me. “It’s it.”
“That’s it right there!” Kazmir turned into a hype man and I didn’t know how. “She has found it! A piece that was lost many years ago. Is my wife not a genius?!”