Art Night (From the Dice Changers)

Kelly has always been drawn (pun most definitely intended) to historical portraits. The way an artist can capture details in a person's expression and put them on a canvas that used to be blank. There was something about the details in the figure's lips, eyes, and hairline and how it changes based on the historical context, culture, and personality of the artist and their model.

Knowing this her family brought her to an art museum filled with tons of self-portraits, portraits of historical figures, family portraits, and portraits from just normal models. Each one was unique in scope, detail, different exaggeration of body parts, and a sense of achievement when the artist was finally done. While staring deep into the eyes of one of the paintings, a man much taller and older than her stood beside her. "Ah, yes. The Monster in the Eye, by Katie Smith. It's one of my favorites." he said "Excuse what? That is not the name of that painting...It's" She looked closer at the plaque with the name of the artist and title of the painting and sure enough, it said The Monster in the Eye, by Katie Smith. 1989. "Huh, I guess you're right. I thought it was The Woman by Joseph Freeman," she said. "Yeah a lot of people do confuse the two, you know it is said that they might have used either the same model or they found her twin, but others said the models just so happen to be doppelgangers," he said. "Which do you theory i your favorite?" she asked. "My personal favorite is the idea that they were twins, but the most likely is just that both were doppelgangers," he responded. "Here let me show you another one of my favorites." The man walked to the other side of the room to a wall covered in paintings and pointed at one near the top. It was a giant portrait of a man wearing typical rich-man clothes from around the 1800s. "That one is The Noble by Paul Erman, no Sherman. Yes, that's correct," he said. "How could you forget the painter's name of your favorite portrait?" She asked. "Well, that's because things get really weird at night," he said, his stance stiffened and he seemed like he was becoming anxious about something. "What weird things happen at night? Do they come to life or something? Like how they are in Night at the Museum?" she asked a bit condescendingly. "In a way they do however, you want to see for yourself I could allow your family to come after hours because I am one of the night guards and it tends to get lonely here. It would be nice to have some company for once," he said. Kelly didn't know what to say or do. She just stood there awkwardly and said "Let me ask my parents and we'll see about your offer."

When she reached her parents and told them about the offer the nightguard made they were very confused but knew it might help her gain more knowledge about painting and learning more art history, so they agreed. They left for dinner and came back to the museum when it was about to close the Nightguard came to the family and shook hands with Kelly's parents. "I told your daughter that weird things tend to happen to the painting, it would be nice to see if it's just me or if there really is something up with this place," he said as he led them through the dark and empty hallways covered with all kinds of artwork throughout the centuries. Then they came across a man in rich-man clothing from the 1800s walking through he seemed to be lost "Ah, good day lads and ladies, could you tell me where I am, I appear to be lost. " Kelly knew it was the same man in the portrait of the Nightguard's favorite painting, but how is this possible? "Also what kind of lighting device is that, It's hurting my eyes." said the Richman. "Sorry, I was just showing these people around. Say you don't happen to have met Paul Sherman before have you?" asked the Nightguard. "How did you know I did?" asked the Richman. "I'm a fan of Sherman's work. If I had to guess I paid him because he can capture any facial insecurity and make it something more beautiful." said the Nightguard. "Who are you and have we met before?" asked the Richman. "I'm just a guy and yes we have met before, many times." responded the Nightguard. "Well, all be it then, but tell me, where am I then?" asked the Richman. "In an Art museum in Alabama." responded the Nightguard. "Alabama? In the US? How did that happen? I should be at home in England, " asked the Richman. "A question I have a hard answering as well." said the Nightguard he walked over to the Richman and placed his hand over his shoulder to comfort him. Kelly and her parents just stood there thinking it was some prank, or that they were rehearing some skit. "Well what do you remember?" asked Kelly. "Excuse me, what was that again?" asked the Richman. "What do you remember before you came here?" asked Kelly. "Well, I was being painted and Mr. Sherman was saying something under his breath. I thought he was talking to himself but he was also looking at me. Next thing I know I'm crawling out of a frame and into a dark room and I'm trying to get back home. Until I ran into you people. " answered the Richman. "Wait, how do you remember this?" asked the Nightguard. "I don't know, I just do." answered the Richman. "Does he normally not know?" asked Kelly's mom. "No, this is the most he ever said about what happened to him. I wonder what caused his memory to come back."

"Tis a simple answer." said a voice, it echoed throughout the hall. Everyone became spooked and jumped closer together. "Yes, it would appear that our lost soul was trapped by a binding spell. I've only seen it in another world, but this is the first I've seen it with the use of paintings." Then came a man in a simple red and black hooded rode. "Who are you, what do you know about what's going on here?" asked the Nightguard. "I am just a man. Nothing too special, other than being blessed with knowledge about otherworldly natures. Of which there are a lot of in this place. Many similar to your friend there." he pointed to the Richman. The Richman pointed at himself and quickly became afraid. "Now either come with me and I'll explain everything, or I'll just go through all of you one at a time." said the hooded man. "Are you really threatening a painting of a man, an art museum nightguard, and a teenager with her family?" asked the Nightguard. Before he could grab his taser the hooded man cast 3 bright magic missiles that went through the Nightguard one by one. Killing him instantly. Kelly and her parents blocked her from the man and moved to the side.

The hooded man went to the Richman but before he could do anything he was stabbed through the chest by a sword. An elfish face slowly peaked behind the hooded man "You're cult has fallen, stop this." whispered the elf. The Richman stepped back in horror. "What kind of fey creature are you?" The Richman asked. "That is Goldleaf, he typically doesn't do that, but he saw an innocent get murdered and thus brought justice. " said a voice. Behind the Richman was a tall and buff half-orc covered in armor. "What is happening right now,' asked Kelly. "Thank you." said her mother. The half-orc looked at everyone and the elf (he was walking toward the half-orc). "We are the Dice Changers, and it would seem that the same thing that happened to us happened to you. We were freed by a couple of kids who were given dice by an angel. You though, we don't know how or why you were freed. We will have to come back with the angel in order to sort this mess out." said the half-orc. "I'm sorry did you say angel? Like the people with wings and halos and harps?" asked Kelly. "Oh boy, we got ourselves some misconceptions with this one," said Goldleaf. The half-orc went over to Kelly. "No, well at least some don't. The one that works with us... does not as he is a lower-level angel and yet he still can be us in a fight without having to go all out." said the half-orc. "Wait so God does exist?" asked Kelly. "He does. He really does. Actually, you have similar talents and potential faith as our welders. You should meet them someday as well as the angel. All of them hang out at a game store downtown pretty much every day. They also attend a church called The United Bride of Christ. It used to be a cult but now recently got purged by us and now they're rebuilding." said the half-orc. "We'll keep that in mind, thank you for saving us from whoever that was," said Kelly's dad as he guided his family with their phone flashlights. "No problem, we don't know either other than he is wearing cultish robes, but I don't think it's from the one we fought." said the half-orc "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but what about me? I need to get home. I have a family feed and factories to run." said the Richman anxious to get back home more than ever. "First we to find which art pieces you came out of, then secondly we see what type of binding spell was used, then after that you should be able to go home, or you'll be stuck here like us." said the half-orc. "Wait, what? You said "binding spell?", which implies that magic exists, like witchcraft, also you said that angels exist proving once and for all God exists correct?" asked the Richman. "Yes, see why can't most other humans just give questions like these," said Goldleaf. "They do," said the half-orc. "That's not what I meant.' said Goldleaf. After looking around the trio found the Richman's painting and took it off the wall when they did several other people came out of the paintings all were confused and disoriented. "Oh no, we need the angel's help now more than-" But before Goldleaf could finish his sentence the angel appeared behind them. "You guys should've waited, now you've made a bigger mess. Don't worry it's a quick fix." Within a couple of seconds, the angel sent everyone back to the painted worlds they came from. After that, the angel looks at the half-orc and elf. "I believe you have some converts to help." said the angel. "Well, it's more like our welders and you. All we did was point them in the right direction." said the elf. "You're sounding like Nick and Arron each and every day. Just go home, I'll make sure the cameras got everything, except for us three." said the angel with a hint of annoyance. The duo left and went home. Kelly and her family soon converted and are now happily attending The United Bride of Christ.