After 10 painful minutes (as Polly described it) of Xurxus going on and on that he definitely saw something in the distance, they decided to end the search. After all, paintings aren’t that important anyways. Because Polly and Xurxus went into the woods and were so serious about the paintings, their parents believed them that they did do something while they were gone. They even had a little look themselves but didn’t find anything.
Polly was getting worried about Xurxus and it looked as if something was on his mind. When she asked, he didn’t reply. She got even more curious and asked him a second time, then he walked out the room and turned right to the corridor. She followed. But as soon as she looked right down the hallway, he was gone. He had disappeared just like that. She thought she was dreaming. Then all of a sudden, she awoke in her bed. Covered in bandages, plasters, ice packs and there were bruises all over her body. Xurxus, Xurxus’ mum and Polly’s dad were all gathered around her with worry on their faces. She had been told they found her outside battered and bruised, scarred and cut so they brought her inside. “I think she has been attacked!” said Xurxus. “By who?!” said Polly, “We live 50 miles away from the nearest town, we are completely isolated, and we haven’t even seen a person we haven’t seen before in weeks!” Xurxus was surprised by Polly’s answer, he had never, in the 15 years he had known her, seen her lose her temper like that. So surprised in fact he left the room. “Oopsie daisy!” said Polly. The parents looked at her like it was not an appropriate thing to say in such a serious situation even though Xurxus leaving the room was not super serious.
Confused as she was, she didn’t think about it and then got some rest. While she was trying to fall asleep, Xurxus came in and sat down on the bed next to Polly. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been so rude and left like that. I have just never seen you lose your temper before. Sorry.” He was genuinely sorry. She could tell. “It’s alright.” Polly said while sitting herself up to give him a hug. Then they started talking about what attacked Polly. Then Polly remembered a vast blurry rectangular object mumbling and throwing her about. She told Xurxus and Xurxus knew what it was. It was the painting…. The TALKING painting.