Portrait Gallery

I walk the gallery alone But every portrait's watching home Their faces shift from young to old Their painted mouths begin to unfold The first one whispers: "Turn away" The second: "You were born to stay" The third one laughs without a sound The fourth bleeds oil on the ground "I tried to burn it down — the house rebuilt itself..." "The blood is all it wants..." "We're still here, we're still inside the walls..." "You look just like I did, before the thorns..." Every face in every frame Carries secrets, carries shame Every portrait tells me this: "You'll hang here too when blood insists" Portrait gallery of the dead They're not gone — they're overhead Watching as I walk their path Waiting for the aftermath One portrait shows a wedding gown Soaked in red from veil to ground Another: children holding hands Around a fire no one planned A patriarch with thorns for eyes A matriarch whose portrait cries Real tears that drip and stain the floor I count thirteen — then there's more "We were promised power—" "—it cost everything—" "—the manor keeps its word—" "—but not the way you think—" "—join us—" "—RUN—" "—it's too late—" "—it was always too late—" Every face in every frame Carries secrets, carries shame Every portrait tells me this: "You'll hang here too when blood insists" Portrait gallery of the dead They're not gone — they're overhead Watching as I walk their path Waiting for the aftermath If I join you on the wall Will I forget I lived at all? Will I warn the next one too With painted lips and empty truth? "You'll remember everything That's the curse the portraits bring Frozen here but still aware Watching centuries from your frame's cold stare" Every face in every frame (Join us) Carries secrets, carries shame (One of us) Every portrait tells me this (Stay) "You'll hang here too when blood insists" (Forever) Portrait gallery of the dead (We're waiting) They're not gone — they're overhead (For you) I am walking their same path (No escape) There will be no aftermath (Welcome home)