Haunted Price Tag

There are some things in this world that money shouldn’t touch. But what if the more it haunts you, the more it's worth?

In a quiet European town, nestled between ancient alleyways and forgotten cobblestone streets, there was a small antique shop. Most of what it sold was harmless—dusty books, rusted clocks, cracked statues. But hidden deep in the back, behind a red velvet curtain, was a painting. One that seemed to breathe when no one watched.

It was a portrait.
A woman in a deep green dress, sitting stiffly with a blank expression. Her skin pale, her eyes pitch black. Her hands folded neatly. Harmless at first glance. But people said her eyes followed you—no matter where you stood.

The shopkeeper always said:

> “This one’s not for the faint-hearted. It sells itself. And it never stays in one place for long.”



The First Buyer

A wealthy collector from London paid $10,000 for it, intrigued by the painting’s mystery. Within three nights, he reported that the lights in his home flickered every time he walked by the painting. He heard breathing when he was alone. Eventually, he locked the room and left the house.

But he never threw the painting away.
He sold it—at a profit.

The price? $50,000.



The Second Owner

An art museum in Vienna displayed it briefly. Cameras caught odd things—shadows moving, frames shaking, visitors fainting near the painting.

One night, a security guard was found unconscious with scratches on his arms. “She spoke to me,” he said, eyes wide. “She said: Don’t look away next time.”

The museum removed the painting immediately. Again, it was sold. This time for $100,000.


The Curse... or a Gift?

The more the painting scared people, the higher its price went. Whispers began in online forums—some called it cursed, others called it “the smartest investment in horror history.”

One theory said the woman in the portrait was a noble executed for witchcraft. Before her death, she swore that her soul would live forever in her portrait, gaining power with every fearful glance.

If that’s true, then every person who fears her… feeds her.



The Last Sale

In 2023, a mysterious buyer from Dubai purchased the painting for $1 million. No one knows where it is now. Some believe it's hidden in a private vault. Others think it’s hanging in plain sight, somewhere—waiting.

And the strangest part?

The shopkeeper, the first one who sold it, is now gone. The shop is empty. The curtain remains. But the painting never came back.

The Question Remains:

Would you buy fear, if it meant fortune?