A/N: Okay, this is just an experiment. It's really short, but I used it for a class essay and it had to be two pages or less. Tell me watch you all think and maybe I'll make it longer. Thanks! :)

Peculiar Things

A Short Story by Junon Adele

Sitting here in this art gallery was not what I wanted to be doing now. Random thoughts weaved in and out of my head, while my eyes stared blankly ahead at the painting of a young girl. As I gazed at her, the most peculiar thing happened. She blinked at me! I rubbed my eyes, assuming that it was probably the sleepiness that made me see an illusion, but there it was again! The shock bolted through my body and sent me tumbling to the ground, my mouth gaping open and my eyes wide. This could not be happening! It was all a dream! At least…I hoped was.

I glanced around the room, hoping no one had seen my fall, but interestingly enough, not a single person noticed. How peculiar, I thought. Quickly regaining my composure, I stood up straight and dusted myself off. Looking up, I was greeted with something very surprising. Slowly but surely, the girl in the painting began to peel herself from the canvas, her feet stepping onto the floor as I stood there in astonishment. Once she was fully out of the painting, she stared past me with a mischievous smile gracing her cherubic face. Without warning, she slid past me and ran out the gallery. It took me a few moments to realize what had happened, but once I did, I burst into a full sprint after her. Once outside, I looked in all directions, and I spotted her among the crowd on the sidewalk, weaving gracefully in and out between people. I ran after her, but I was not as graceful as her, so I managed to hit or bump into every single person I passed. I saw her crossing the street easily, as if there were no cars. So, gathering up enough courage, I ran at full speed into the oncoming traffic.

I dodged what seemed like hundreds of honking cars, but I made it across safely and hunched over as my body began to shake with the adrenaline rush. I glanced up and saw the girl from the painting standing not too far away from me, and when she saw me standing up, she took an involuntary step backwards. Unfortunately, this one step sent her colliding into the wall of the fountain. With her arms flailing about her, the girl stumbled backwards and into the water. When she didn't emerge from the water, my curiosity got the better of me and I walked over to look in. I was surprised with what I found.

The girl was a girl no more. The colors that created her now mixed and mingled in the water, making a small portion of the fountain murky. I reached forward to put my hand on the water to see if anything was left. Without warning, a painted, but slightly soggy hand shot out of the water and grasped my wrist. I screamed and jerked upwards. Panting, I realized that I was no longer in front of the fountain, but sitting in the art gallery. In front of me, the painting of the girl was still there; nothing had changed. It was only a dream, I told myself, as my heart beat wildly. I decided right then that I should leave. I took one last glance at the girl. She was still there. I sighed in relief, but as turned to leave, I saw it. She winked at me. I shook my head in disbelief as I ran out the gallery. It was much later when I realized it was silly that I ran away. I mean, after all, it was only a dream, right? A peculiar dream; A very peculiar dream, I assured myself.