Chapter One
Ib's POV
I'm so excited! Not just because I'm visiting the gallery, although that's going to fun too. It's mostly that my parents are finally sure that I'm mature enough to handle Maddi, my three-year-old sister, by myself! So I'm taking her to the Guertena exhibit with me. I've actually been to this exhibit before, but that was five years ago, so I'm eager to revisit it.
It's strange, actually. I haven't thought about the exhibition in years, but last night I had this dream about it. There were two other people with me in my dream, but, because it was a dream, I don't really remember what they looked like. I woke up with this strange new urge to see it, and when I was reading the paper this morning, I saw an article mentioning the 5th anniversary of the Guertena exhibit.
"Mom?" I asked.
"Hmmm?" she replied through a sip of coffee.
"Can I go to the art gallery this afternoon? They're showing an exhibition of Guertena's work," I said, showing her the article.
"Oh, I was hoping you could watch Maddi, sweetie. Your father and I are going to visit a friend in a few hours."
"Oh… Could I maybe take her with me? I was really hoping that I could go."
"Are you meeting someone there or something? This is kind of out of the blue."
"No."
She paused, as if she were expecting me to elaborate.
"Alright then, let me think."
I remained silent, anticipating her response.
"Are you sure you can handle Maddi? She's quite a handful."
"Oh, yes. She won't be a problem."
In the end, she said she'd let me take Maddi with me, and left with my father after a few hours. She left me twenty dollars for admission, as a 'late 14th birthday present'. I hugged her and my father tightly and thanked them.
All that was two hours ago. I gave Maddi her lunch, and went upstairs to get ready. I brushed and played around with my chocolate-y hair before I decided just to leave it down like I normally do. I donned a white sweater and a red skirt, along with black knee socks and flats. I slipped a red headband behind my ears, grabbed my purse, and hurried downstairs.
Maddi was watching cartoons on the TV, giggling around mouthfuls of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I sat next to her, pulled her into my lap, brushed her dark brown hair, and tied it into a pair of pigtails. I gave her a tight hug, despite her squirming. She really was the cutest little thing. She, like me, had inherited my mother's pretty red eyes and dark hair. Everyone says we look exactly the same, despite me being eleven years older.
We watched the TV until the cartoon ended, and then I turned it off. I picked her up, stuffed a pack of crackers into my purse (just in case Maddi got hungry), and locked the door on my way out. I dropped the keys into my purse as I started down the porch steps.
"Eeby? Weah we going?" Maddi gurgled.
I giggled. The way she tries to say Ib is so cute.
"We're going to the art gallery, sweetie. You'll love it."
"Wheas my teddy?" Maddi sounded concerned.
I sighed. She was talking about her toy bear, that she couldn't be separated from for more than two minutes before she has a breakdown. Luckily, I hadn't forgotten it.
"Don't worry Maddi. Your teddy's in my bag."
"Okay."
My arms started to ache, so I hoisted Maddi up on my shoulders. She laughed happily.
We walked through the city. I looked wistfully at the subway station, but I knew it wasn't that far of a walk to the gallery, and that I didn't have enough money to afford a pass, anyway. We continued down the street. I love people watching in my city; there are so many interesting people to see! I saw a woman dressed from head to toe in neon green crossing the street, a guy with cute purple hair walking in front of me, and a homeless man with a sign that said 'Need money for ninja lessons' standing on the street corner. I stifled a laugh; I didn't want to be rude.
Suddenly, Maddi started to cry quietly.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" I asked concernedly.
"I cold." She replied.
She was right. The early November wind was bitingly cold, and was making me shiver despite my warm sweater. I took her down from my shoulders and held her tightly. She snuggled into me, and I smiled down at her. I dug her teddy from my purse and looked at it for a moment. One of its button eyes was loose and hanging down, its soft brown fur was patchy, and the ribbon Maddi had tied around its neck was ratty; there was no denying that it was well loved. I handed it to Maddi, and she hugged it close, sighing contentedly.
My teeth had just begun to chatter when I rounded the corner and saw the gallery. I hurriedly crossed the street and opened the ornate door. A wall of warmth hit me, blowing my hair back, making me shudder. Maddi, who had been dozing, woke, and squirmed around, cueing me to put her down. I grasped her hand firmly and approached the front desk.
Garry's POV
I wasn't ready to get up this morning at all.
I had had this horrible nightmare about a haunted version of a gallery I'd visited years ago, where paintings jumped off the wall at me and this young girl whose face I couldn't see. Needless to say, I hadn't slept very well. And yet, I had this strange urge to go back to the gallery. Weird. I threw my tangled bedclothes off of me, groggily rose from bed and stretched. I shambled into the tiny kitchen to start the coffee maker. I was definitely going to need caffeine today.
While I waited for my coffee, I walked to the front door of my apartment and opened it. It was very cold outside, and my ratty shirt provided little protection against the bitter wind. I grabbed the paper and quickly shut the door again. I unfolded the paper and scanned the first couple pages. Below an article about a robbery, I spotted a picture of a large deep sea fish. Puzzled, I looked at the article that went along with the picture. It was the same exhibition that I'd dreamed about, and it was celebrating its 5th anniversary.
I was just thinking that I'd check it out (it was my day off, after all), when the coffee maker dinged. I grabbed a chipped mug from the cupboard and filled it with steaming coffee. I added some milk until it cooled down a bit, then took a long drink from it. I read more about the exhibition while I finished off my coffee. It was already almost noon, so I figured I'd grab something to eat at the café a couple of doors down, and then head over to the gallery.
I'll have to walk, I thought, looking grudgingly out the window at the overcast sky. I don't have that much money to spare. With a resigned sigh, I stood from the table and walked back to my room. I changed from my pajamas into a green t-shirt and khakis. I know it's useless to try to tame my unruly purple hair, but that didn't stop me from glaring at my reflection. I put on my only coat, which was so worn and tattered that it really wouldn't shield me from the cold, so I tied a thin blue scarf around my neck before I stepped outside. It wouldn't help either. I needed new clothes.
I stepped outside, trying not to shiver too much as the wind picked up. I double checked that the door was locked, and started down the stairs. I rounded the corner and started down the sidewalk. I stopped at the café, and decided I had just enough money on hand for a little snack and admission for the art gallery. I glanced at the menu, knowing I should get something filling, but my eyes stopped moving once I reached the different flavors of macaroons.
Crap.
I ordered four macaroons to go, internally scolding myself as I ate them. I finished them too soon, and tossed the bag in a nearby trash can. I didn't have to go much further to get to the gallery, but I walked faster anyway, eager to get out of the cold. I thought I heard a girl crying from somewhere behind me. I walked even faster. The sound reminded me of far too many horror movies for it to pass beneath my notice. I finally spotted the gallery across the street and, ignoring the cars that were honking their horns at me, jogged across the street. I threw the doors open, and the warm interior of the gallery was a relief. I pulled my thin scarf off, stuffed it in my pocket, and went to the reception desk to pay and to grab a brochure.