Chapter 30 : Swallowed By Darkness

*Sophia’s POV*

Two days had gone by since we had spent an unforgettable day on Elba Island. Everywhere I looked, I could still see the distant glimmer of the white sand beaches and feel the mist of the pristine waterfalls we had explored. The memories of our hikes along the island’s winding trails stayed with me like a dream.

I returned to the workshop, which smelled faintly of sawdust and paint. The newly patched walls gleamed in the afternoon light, and I felt a thrill of anticipation as I set my tools up on the workbench. I knew my task wouldn’t be easy, but determinedly got to work restoring the damaged oil painting.

I cautiously stepped closer to Jacopo's mother's painting, my heart sinking as I noticed the angry gouges from where someone had tried to rip it. Clean tears ran down the canvas like a memorial of the mess that had been inflicted upon it, and I clenched my fists in frustration, wondering if I'd be able to salvage the once beautiful artwork.