{Victoria}

"Are you trying to kill me?" I questioned as Walter and I stood at the bottom of the biggest hiking trail. Or at least it seemed big because I hadn't been doing any exercise in a while.

Walter snorted. "No, I'm not trying to kill you. Your Doctor said that it would help if you get out of the house a couple of times a week and do some walking. This trail isn't that bad. It's probably a trail that beginner hikers would take."

"Okay fine," I grumbled.

Before I could protest Walter grabbed my hand and started pulling me up the trail and once we started going he let go and I just walked with him side by side. When we started to head back to the car my phone started ringing. "Hello?"

"Hey Vic! What's up?" Megan said. Judging by the sound of her voice she was excited about something. "Did you check the website that announces the winners for that contest you entered?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. I've been checking it every other hour when my caretaker decided he was going to try and kill me by taking me hiking!"

"Hey, it's not my fault your Doctor wanted you to be more active," Walter protested. "Hey it's better than moping around the room driving yourself insane while waiting for the results of the contest to come out!"

Megan laughed, "Yeah he's not trying to kill you Vic, he just wants what's best for you just like a responsible caretaker would. Anyway, just check the website when you get home, okay? I'll talk to you later!"

She hung up the phone. As soon as I hung up the phone I practically raced towards the car. Poor Walter was wheezing when we got back because I ran.

"Now who's… Trying to kill…. Who?" Walter said, still trying to catch his breath.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. When we got back home I checked the website and it's a good thing that I was sitting down because the website named me as one of the winners for the contest! I also couldn't believe my eyes when the website announced what the prize would be. The artist gets their work published with a publishing company called: Luna Illustrations.

When I saw that I squealed in excitement. "Walter, come look at this!"

Walter looked at the website and smiled. "See? I knew things were going to turn out great! So the next step here is to show up at the exhibit this Friday. I'll come with you for moral support if you want?"

I looked at him. "Yeah that would be a good idea. I'm not sure if I want to bring any of my family members into this just yet. I might let them know what's going on but other than that…"

He nodded. "Oh I totally understand."

I sighed, "That also means I need to get a better dress than what I have now. Nothing too expensive, just enough to help make an appearance for the exhibit."

Knowing about the fact that I would have to wear a dress again I groaned.

Walter looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"I hate wearing dresses!" I said.

Walter chuckled, "Yeah I feel you on that one. I have a feeling that since I'm your caretaker I'll be going with you?"

I nodded. "Yeah, considering I don't want any of my family members to find out about this yet."

He shrugged. "That's fine by me."

Little did I know that something that would change my life completely was going to happen at the art exhibit.

***

{Walter}

I can't speak for Victoria but I was feeling pretty excited about the art exhibit. Before we left the house Victoria came out of her room and didn't look too happy about wearing a dress.

I don't understand Victoria's aversion to dresses. I mean I know they're uncomfortable but they can't be that bad can they?

As we drove to the exhibit I said, "Are dresses really uncomfortable to wear?"

She nodded. "Yup! Not only because it makes me feel exposed (even though I tried to go a bit modest without looking like a grandma) and you have to sit a certain way so perverts don't get a sneak peek at your lady parts even if you're wearing underwear."

"I see," I said.

We pulled into the parking lot on the exhibit and got out of the car. I looked over and noticed that Victoria already had her jacket on. It was slightly chilly out and another thing I've noticed about her is she's sensitive to the temperatures around her. So she put her jacket on and we walked inside.

Once we got into the exhibit we walked around for a bit and then we stopped when we saw Victoria's paintings hanging up on the wall in front of us and a crowd looking at them in awe.

The painting that Victoria did for the fantasy theme for the contest looked like an entire fairy kingdom with two fairies flying above a rainbow in the sky. The painting that Victoria did for the horror theme was something that sent chills down my spine. The painting was of a creature that looked like a mix between a bat and a human with it baring its fangs. Its claws were out and much longer than a bat's claws and it was on all fours hanging off the ceiling in the painting. The creature's blood red eyes stared at you as if it was looking into your soul.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"And there's the woman of the hour!" I heard someone exclaim.

Victoria's face lit up when she saw her art teacher coming towards us. "Hello there Ms. Rae!"

"Hello to you too! And who is this handsome young man standing beside you?" Ms. Rae said while batting her eyelashes at me.

I tried so hard not to roll my eyes at her attempt to flirt with me. I haven't been flirted with in a while but I'm not desperate for female attention. If I would want anyone's attention it would be Victoria's! I paused at that. What the hell? Where's that thought come from? Not to mention, I haven't known Victoria for very long.

"Ms. Rae, meet Walter he's my caretaker," Victoria said. She looked shy about mentioning that I was her caretaker which I understand.

"Oh that's okay honey, there's no need to be embarrassed about needing assistance," Ms. Rae said, giving Victoria a reassuring look. "I mean you're still young but sometimes younger people have issues too. At least you got a cute one and not a pot belly pig!"

I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh because that comment was hilarious! I composed myself, "I take you've seen that happen before?"

Ms. Rae nodded. "Oh yeah I have. Anyway, all Victoria has to do is go on stage and accept her reward and then after that mingle with the CEO of Luna Illustrations and set up a date to meet with his lawyers and you should probably bring a lawyer with you as well. Once the contract has been signed you're good to go."

"Okay then, sounds easy enough," Victoria said.

"As far as easy goes that's a yes and no thing," Ms. Rae said.

Before they could talk further an announcement was made. "Would the winner of the art contest Ms. Victoria Lee please come to the stage to accept the award?"

When Victoria stepped on stage to accept the award, that was when I noticed her beauty. She hardly wore any makeup she didn't need to in my eyes and her hair was naturally curly so she probably didn't do much to style it.

I tried not to gawk at her so I looked everywhere but the stage when I saw her smile for the camera. But I couldn't help it. She looked even more beautiful when she smiled.

"She's a beauty isn't she?" I heard someone say.

I turned around to see an older man who looked like he was in his forties. He was dressed in a black suit. He had a white shirt underneath his suit jacket and a black tie. He wore black dress shoes and he had a cane next him that he was sort of leaning on. He also wore a black fedora and almost reminded me of an old mafia boss. The only thing missing was for him to sit down on a recliner in the living room of his house smoking a cigar.

The man smiled. "It's about time I finally get to meet my daughter-in-law. She and her mother have a very toxic relationship and they're on a no contact basis now. I'm friends with the man who owns Luna Illustrations. Who'd thought it'd take her winning an art contest for me to introduce myself. I doubt she even knows about me."

I blinked. "Okay, forgive me if I sound rude but who are you?"

"My name is Frank Randal," the man said. He held out his hand and I shook it. "And who are you?"

"I'm Walter. I'm Victoria's caretaker," I said.

"Interesting," Frank said. "Victoria's mother did tell me that she had some issues but didn't say how bad they were."

Once Victoria left the stage she paused when she walked towards me. I tilted my head. "What's wrong?"

"What is she doing here?" Victoria snapped.

I had no idea who she was talking about until I turned around and saw the woman she was glaring at.

***

{Victoria}

Never in a million years would I think that I would run into my mother after I won an art contest! Of course she just had to ruin the mood.

Mom put on the fakest smile ever as she said, "My, my Victory! I didn't realize you liked art!"

"Of course she does, she's the winner of this art contest!" A man who was standing behind her exclaimed.

She frowned and turned around. "Louis, what do you mean by that?"

"You know those art pieces that you were just fawning over a few minutes ago?" Louis said.

She nodded. "Yeah?"

"Well they were painted by Victoria," Louis said with a grin.

Mom turned and glared at me. "What did you do to win? Did you sleep with Louis? Because I don't see how a piece of garbage like you could create such beautiful pictures like that!"

"Excuse me?" I snarled. "I won this contest fair and square and will NOT tolerate you disrespecting me just because I'm your daughter you bitch!"

"Well at least you found another meaningless hobby that you can make money with-" Mom started.

"SOCCER WAS NOT A MEANINGLESS HOBBY! IT COULD'VE BEEN A CAREER HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR YOUR OH SO PRECIOUS HOWARD WHO SENT ME TO THE HOSPITAL AND MADE ME QUIT THE TEAM!" I roared.

"How dare you!" Mom shrieked. She walked up to me and raised a hand and slapped me.

I heard the crowd around me gasp when she did. She looked around and gave a sinister smile. "See? This is what you do to your children when they have any other sexuality than straight! And get this, this piece of garbage has mental health issues-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Louis roared. "First of all, I don't know who you think you are causing a scene at my art gallery but it stops here! And second, I'm sure a lot of people would highly disagree with you about sexuality. It doesn't matter if Ms. Lee is straight, gay or whatever she's a talented artist and I didn't know anything about her until today! Also as far as mental health issues goes, there are a handful of famous artists who have mental health issues and they're able to produce wonderful works of art and I'm because of how talented your daughter is, she will go far with her art!"

"That's enough Louis!" Another man standing beside Walter said.

"But- But Frankie darling!" Mom started.

The man shook his head in dismay. "Wow, I've never seen a mother hate their daughter so much to the point where she doesn't believe in her."

Louis cleared his throat and turned his attention to me after Frankie managed to get Mom to leave. "I'm so sorry about that Ms. Lee-" His eyes went wide when he looked at me. "Oh crap! You're bleeding!"

I paused and touched my face. Before Louis could do anything Walter handed me a tissue. "I got it!"

"Thanks," I said.

"I have a first-aid kit in the car," Walter said.

"Okay," I said.

Louis turned around to the crowd of spectators. "Okay everybody! Nothing to see here, move along!"

Just like that everyone watching went back to what they were doing. Louis turned his attention back to me. "Sorry about that, we should probably finish this conversation in my office on Monday. Either way, congrats on the win."

I paused. "So, Mom was fawning over my paintings?"

Louis smiled and nodded. "Yup! Especially the fantasy one. She couldn't get over how cute the fairies in it looked. Then she found out who the artist was…"

I rolled my eyes. "Yup, that is so typical of her. Okay then, I'll see you on Monday then."

He nodded. "See you on Monday."

Without another word Walter and I left the art exhibit and went home.