ABOUT TO BEGIN

With eyes filled with tears, Frida asked "So, you mean...you mean. . . Amanda is not my sister?" 

"Not your biological sister. ." Doctor Stoll answered. "But she was to you more than a sister. . ."

Frida could now no longer control her tears as she allowed it pour uncontrollably. 

"Why then did Dad decided to turn back at her? I mean, she literally just wanted to be an artist. . ." Jane said with one hand on Frida's shoulder. 

"It was more than that. Amanda fell in love with an art boy over time. She got so caught up in her emotions as she could sacrifice whatever she could for him. The two got so entangled that no one at this point could separate them. Your father was not happy with their relationship. He wanted a wealthier man for his daughter. So, he tried all he could to break ties between him and her. He began to treat the young woman unjustly. He would destroy her artworks and gifts from her lover boy." Doctor Stoll answered. 

"I'll never forget how Amanda cries every night. It was just too unbearable for her. ." Frida recalls. 

"She had to run away to find her life. Away from her selfish father, to be with the one she loved. No one knows where she has been since then!" Doctor Stoll concluded! As he stretched his hands forward, took his glass of water and ran all down through his throat making his Adam's apple rise. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

"Hey, wake up. . . ." Nathan said tapping Orcus and Sindra who were already fast asleep. 

Scrubbing their eyes softly, the two young men stretched and leaped out from the bed. The sun was still young. 

"Nathan, where have you been? We've looked everywhere for you" Sindra retorted to say amidst his soft yawn.

"Hurry get up, follow me.." Nathan said. 

Sindra and Orcus followed Nathan as he led the way to the deep tunnel they saw when they were in search for him. 

The three of them walked swiftly into the tunnel and came out from the other end. Sindra was welcomed by a flashy light reflection in his sleepy eyes. 

"Oh my God.... What is....this?" Orcus who was admittedly flabbergasted screamed loud enough for Harry standing few meters away to hear. 

"Hey guys.." Harry waved 

"Harry, you are here too? How long have you known about this?" Sindra asked. 

"Just a few hours ago when I got here cold and naked."

"Cold and naked? Why? What happened?"

"Well, long story short, I left home. Guess it's no longer being conducive for my dream. Good thing is, arriving here, I felt revived." Harry said pacing his way towards the three.

"Alright guys I really apologise for have not disclosing this to you." Nathan standing in front of the four started. 

"Truth is, since I lost Amanda, I've been living in hell and I haven't moved on. My heart still bleeds. So, ever since the incident, I spent my nights here living in this hidden zone. All these paintings you see here," Nathan said and spread his palms in opposite directions. 

"I started the very first piece two weeks after Amanda's search was pointless. She.... was indeed... gone. And until now, I didn't stop." Nathan said and dropped to the ground allowing teardrops fall tingly down this cheek. 

"I wish I was a better man to her. I wish I had fought for her. I wish I never left her for even a second, because every second I left her counted and she felt....intense pain." Nathan moaned. 

"But all these are now wishes. She's gone.. .for good and I may never see her again" Nathan uttered bitterly looking at the portrait he made for her which was hung on the wall. 

Silence paved way into the big room where the four stayed. The drops of Nathan's tears could be heard. Regreta filled his head as he remembered all that had happened! 

"You were the best guy in Amanda's life. You were her warrior. And every minute you spent with her worth diamonds"  Harry finally said in attempt to console his friend. 

"Nathan, look here.." Harry continued "what do you think Amanda would've wanted you doing at this moment?" He asked. 

"She used her very own weapon to fight obstacles to our dream. Her one desire was for our dream, our goal to come true despite all odds from her father." Nathan slowly getting with help of Orucs lamented. 

The loss of Amanda explains a lot to why Nathan has been so eager in commencing with the painting, this is simply but historically because.......

"Then, that's what we'll do. That's what we do. We fight for our dreams. We fight obstacles and we win. That's what we do Nathan. We. Win." Harry ended. 

"And imagine the joy Amanda will feel if we won the competition." Sindra added. 

Wiping the tears off his eyes, Nathan walked slowly towards the entrance, rolled out a very huge box.

"For months, I've been so connected to each piece I made that I found something that I didn't believe" Nathan grunted as he opened the old creaky mystry looking box and started pulling out gold-looking brushes, different jars of old paints that looked like magic spells that was stored up for years leaving the other three startled. 

"The canvas?" Nathan requested..

"Here, it's a mighty one.." Grunted Orcus as he and Sindra lifted it off the wooden floor and unto the stand that Nathan had fixed. 

"This is the day fellas. This is the day we paint our victory. Look at me now." Nathan demmanded now facing the three busters.

"Which of you here believes in magic? Cause today we make magic. For years, you've all been working and practicing for this day. And today is the day. Remember, your mind should take the wheel" Nathan said as he brought out four black pieces of cloth long enough to go round someone's face. 

Nathan walked towards them and started blindfolding gently.