The Bruised Woman

There has been this odd painting in the back of our museum for a while now. A painting of a woman with styled hair, now disheveled wearing a black kimono. She sits on the floor with her knees to her side as her right arm supports the uneven shift in weight. Her eyes look toward the viewer with indifference and exhaustion. As a long-time employee you've been curious, the painting has been there for years. It’s also the only piece that’s been placed on a wall, rather than being stowed away. Even if you ask around, the other staff are also clueless. Besides it being the only painting out in the storage room, there was something that felt off about that painting... [[Next->After hours]]

It was a cold tuesday night when you returned to your workplace. You needed to grab some last minute items so you walked toward the office. As you walked, you noticed something odd, the lights to the museum storage room were still lit. You quickly rushed over to the storage room to turn off the lights, and while you turned over to reach for the light switch, the same painting of the woman caught your eye. Still puzzled as to why it has remained hidden from visitors, yet so carefully hung in the back, you walked toward the painting. You pondered, lost in thought, until you come across an unfamiliar detail, a large bluish marking around her right eye. You let out an audible gasp, a new marking... An impossible occurance. The new detail resembled a bruise of some kind, as if her face had taken a hit. Taken-a-back, you searched for other details and noticed a blank plaque, an exhibition label, directly under the painting. You had been working here for years, so there’s no way for you to have missed the bruise or plaque. [[Collect your thoughts->Collecting Your Thoughts]]

The more you look, the more you feel pulled to the mysterious painting. Everything still felt eerie but, you were also filled with curiosity. If there are supernatural forces at play. it didn't feel malicious for now... Moreover, the appearance of the blank label seemed to hint at the painting's need for a name and description. Leaving you no choice but to solve this mystery. You begin your search by looking in the office cabinet for any old paper work. [[Search the file cabinet->File Cabinet]]

You peer in and find files of paperwork that no longer correspond to their file labels. You swiftly skim through the files for what feels like hours until you finally come across an interesting page from an old news article. A news article with an image of a painting on the front page. The painting on the newspaper was identical to the one hanging in the back room. Surprised, you pick the newspaper up to examine it further. The headline read *Landlord Donates Seien’s Untitled Piece to a Local Museum*. “It was reported that the infamous piece by Shima Seien was found in a vacated apartment by the landlord. The tenant's whereabouts are unknown, and their belongings have been, for the most part, left behind. Upon discovery, the landlord decided to preserve the piece, and it has now been donated to the Centralia Art Museum. “Following the discovery of Seien’s original work inside the apartment, speculations have been on the rise on whether Shima Seien, the artist herself, was a tenant occupying the apartment.” Finally discovering some critical details behind the painting, you take the newspaper and... [[continue checking out other drawers->File Cabinet-Postjam]] [[return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[look around the office->Office]]

In the top drawer there are various files of important documents including employee training manuals, insurance, and operation related papers, but nothing related to specific inventory items. [[continue checking out other drawers->File Cabinet]]

A large office space with minimal furniture. [[Search the file cabinet->File Cabinet-Postjam]] [[Return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[Open the desk drawer->Locked Desk Drawer]]

You stand in front of the pale green file cabinet. <img src="img/cabinet.png" width="50%">\ [[Open the top drawer->Top Drawer]] [[Open the middle drawer->Middle Drawer]] [[Open the bottom drawer->Bottom Drawer-Jammed]]

<img src="img/painting.png" width="90%">\ Back in the storage room, you stood before the painting once more, but this time with the newspaper in hand. Knowing there were supernatural elements to this painting, your first guess on proceeding was to hold to newspaper up to the painting. At first nothing happened, but to your surprise, placing the newspaper closer, onto the painting qued a gentle gust of wind to pull the newspaper from your hand and into the 2D realm, the painting. Where it swung back and forth in the air until it landed next to the woman. Some of the information on the plaque was then filled out. You leaned in closer and read: "//Untitled//" Shima Seien. Immediately prompting the painting to fall to the floor. [[Examine the painting->Dropped Painting]]

You pull the desk drawer but it seems to be locked. You try every key on the museum key ring but to no avail. [[Return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[Keep looking around->Office]]

You attempt to open the bottom drawer but it doesn't budge due to the amount of stuff crammed inside. [[Check out other drawers->File Cabinet-Jammed]]

You stand in front of the pale green file cabinet. <img src="img/cabinet.png" width="50%">\ [[Open the top drawer->Top Drawer-Jammed]] [[Open the middle drawer->Middle Drawer-Jammed]] [[Open the bottom drawer->Bottom Drawer-Jammed]]

You open the middle drawer to find inventory sheets of both permanent and limited exhibitions. Although there was an abundance of information, there was nothing that logged the work you were looking for. Seeing that the middle drawer opens, there may be a way to unjam the bottom drawer using the middle drawer compartment. [[Remove the middle drawer->Bottom Drawer-Unjammed]] [[Check out other drawers->File Cabinet-Jammed]]

After removing the middle drawer, you were able to get a glimpse of the drawer below where layers of paper were stacked on top of eachother. To help the drawer break free, you pushed the contents down, allowing the bottom drawer to be pulled open. [[Examine the bottom drawer contents->Bottom Drawer]]

You stand in front of the pale green file cabinet. <img src="img/cabinet.png" width="50%">\ [[Open the top drawer->Top Drawer-Postjam]] [[Open the middle drawer->Middle Drawer-Postjam]] [[Open the bottom drawer->Bottom Drawer-Postjam]]

You peer in and find files of paperwork that no longer correspond to their file labels. You swiftly skim through the files for what feels like hours until you finally come across an interesting page from an old news article. A news article with an image of a painting on the front page. The painting on the newspaper was identical to the one hanging in the back room. Surprised, you pick the newspaper up to examine it further. The headline read *Landlord Donates Seien’s Untitled Piece to a Local Museum*. “It was reported that the infamous piece by Shima Seien was found in a vacated apartment by the landlord. The tenant's whereabouts are unknown, and their belongings have been, for the most part, left behind. Upon discovery, the landlord decided to preserve the piece, and it has now been donated to the Centralia Art Museum. “Following the discovery of Seien’s original work inside the apartment, speculations have been on the rise on whether Shima Seien, the artist herself, was a tenant occupying the apartment.” [[Check out other drawers->File Cabinet-Postjam]] [[Return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[Look around the office->Office]]

In the top drawer there are various files of important documents including employee training manuals, insurance, and operation related papers, but nothing related to specific inventory items. [[Check out other drawers->File Cabinet-Postjam]] [[Return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[Look around the office->Office]]

You open the middle drawer to find inventory sheets of both permanent and limited exhibitions. Although there was an abundance of information, there was nothing that logged the work you were looking for. [[Check out other drawers->File Cabinet-Postjam]] [[Return to the storage room->Storage Room]] [[Look around the office->Office]]

After the painting fell, the back of the canvas was revealed and was covered in layers of papier-mâché. An odd choice to make, considering the papier-mâché didn’t seem to serve a purpose, especially behind a piece. [[Cut the papier-mâché to look underneath->Cut Through]] [[Return the painting to the wall and return home->Tap Out]]

After retrieving a sharp cutting tool from the office, you cut into the papier-mâché. Knocking around the area to ensure what you cut into is hollow. After opening up a jagged rectangle shaped hole, you discover an old red journal with a couple entries. [[Read entry 1]] [[Read entry 2]] [[Read entry 3]]

Witnissing the supernatural event, it further confirmed that you weren't just seeing things. Unsure of how to process everything you decide to head home for tonight as it was getting very late. [[Gather your items and walk toward the exit->Exit the Museum]]

As you walked toward the doors, you noticed that the street lamps were off, confused you walk faster. It was so dark, there was nothing, not a single light could be seen. You hurredly push the doors open and it all dawns on you. There really was nothing, no street lamps, no distant city lights, and the most chilling of them all, no moonlight. Sound seemed to have been lost as well, a deafening silence. It was as if you walked into a void of nothingness. Given no choice, you reluctantly return to the [[storage room.->Return To Storage]]

You stare at the painting, as it lay where you left it, on the ground. You decide the next course of action would be to investigate the papiermache. You go to the office to grab a sharp cutting tool. [[Retrieve Cutting Tool->Cut Through]]

You would think he suffered from amnesia the way he woke me up today. He seemed well rested and in a good mood, bidding me a sweet farewell from the kitchen. After he left for work, I quickly prepared myself and took the train over to my studio. This week I worked on my third piece in the series, a self-portrait,,,which will be unfavorable to the public I am sure, but is something I need to do. My only chance. For hours, I held a mirror to my face and at around noon, the piece started to come together. I usually can go on for longer, but my hands failed me today. [[Next Entry->Read entry 2]]

I chose an out-of-town event for my exhibition. I talked to the workers, and they confirmed my entry into the competition. There were two employees, the older worker had a kind smile, whereas the younger one looked at me with curiosity and excitement. He swiftly stated his excitement for my submissions to where I responded with reassurance. I promised him a great exhibition, as this piece was very real and personal. Silence overtook the conversation as the worker looked to me wanting to share something else. After a few seconds he finally broke out of eager silence to ask me how //he// was doing. I straightened up as I subtly looked around. I was now well aware of where I was, and that he's been here. Looking back I think I responded pretty naturally, talked about how he works in various exhibitions as of now, and walked away… I just can’t seem to escape him, it seems. [[Next Entry->Read entry 3]]

I submitted the piece,,,everything was inline and was supposed to go according to plan, but no one saw my paintings for what they were. Someone let him in, and he had his way once again. A charming smile and a few connections, probably. How through and meticulous he is to care for such pathetic details... The painting looks hideous now, the white paint around her eye covering the bruise no longer matches the what was suppoused to be soft skin. the jagged and uneven texture with the rushed addition was comparable to the works of a toddler. Not to mention how the other two works from the series were "lost". A final attempt now sculpted into something else entirely. The imperfections in the paint and the unconventional-at-the-time self-portrait ended up stirring some controversy, some questioned my technicality while others made snide remarks and suggested that I lost my touch due to how vain I was. [[ Close Journal->Close Journal]]

End of Chapter 1