"Ib?" Said Garry, touching the young girl's face. It felt cold; almost as if she was dead. "Please, Ib, this is no time for sleeping." Ib had suddenly started to open her eyes to the sound of his soothing voice. "Oh, thank goodness. You had me worried there for a second. Come on, we've got to keep moving." Garry took Ib's tiny hand and walked toward a large door. It looked as if it was made out of crayon. "Hm.." Garry touched the wall, stroking it with his long fingers. The area around them shook violently, causing Ib to fall down. "Ib!" She had knocked her head against the concrete. "Ack! Ib!" Garry had picked her up bridal style, pushing the loose strands of her hair away from her eyes. "Ib, are you alright?"

"..." Ib nodded slightly, but on the inside she was screaming. Screaming loudly... not because of the pain, so much... but because of the fear that has finally struck this young girl. Such a heavy burden to carry for a girl only 9 years of age. Thoughts roamed through her head. She closed her eyes and felt the hankerchief in her pocket. Will I ever escape? What's the point, though? I am only a bother... I've only ever held people back.

I can never learn to love, I will never learn to understand to be brave.

I am a fool. This is all my fault. With all these terrible thoughts quietly making their way from Ib's brain to her heart, a tear finally broke out of the cage inside of her, and glistened accross her cheek.

"Ib? Why are you crying?" Garry stopped walking for a little while, setting Ib down on a colorful yellow chair. He kneeled down in front of the crying girl who never spoke, wiping away her tears. "Don't cry... I'm here," he smiled. His warm smiled comforted her a little. Reassuring her that things were going to be okay. "Don't waste your tears right now. Save them for another day where you'll cry tears of happiness, instead of sorrow." He hugged her tightly, not expecting any movement from her. When suddenly, Ib raised her arms and wrapped them around him. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Garry..." she spoke softly. Her voice crackling. She closed her eyes and tears started flowing from her eyes. Garry pulled back. He knew it was wrong to look, but he couldn't resist seeing this young girl finally showing emotion. Finally showing feeling.

"Ib... tell me," Garry started, standing up. He scanned the paintings on the walls, the dark areas in the distance, the red eyes glaring at him from up above, and more eerie things that lurked in the shadows. "Can you speak?" Ib looked up at the man, with her big brown eyes. Her bangs pushed in all different directions and her hair in knots. Wondering why he would ask such a question, she stayed silent. "...Is that a yes or a no?" But she still kept silent. "Because I just heard you speak to me- Or at least I could've sworn you said my name." She batted her eyelashes at him, cocking her head to the side slightly. Garry blushed at the sight of this adorable young creature. "O-Okay! Whatever, whatever. A-Ahem.. let's keep going. Just.. Just don't cry anymore! I'm here, okay?" Garry picked up Ib bridal style once again, and headed off.

They had been walking for about an hour now, and getting nowhere. "Ib, I'm beat." Garry exhaled deeply, plopping down without thinking. He had forgotten that he was still carrying Ib. So when he had sat down abruptly, leaning his back up against the wall, Ib had fell down pretty hard right on his groin area. His face flushed red, and he let out a loud, "AIYAAHHHHHHH! OWWWAAAAH, SWEEEEEET MOTHER OF JESUS, THAT HURT." Garry rolled over to his side, holding the spot where she had made a 'perfect 10' landing. Ib looked to the side, seeming unconcerned. Garry turned around to her, speaking loudly and sarcastically."Uh, YEAH, Ib, I'm fine, thanks for asking." But Ib hadn't turned her head to him; it was like she hadn't even heard him scream. "..Ib? Ib, you alright?" Garry crawled over to her side, looking in the direction she was. "Ah.. looking at that painting over there, huh?" Garry picked her up again, carrying her over closer to it. "Hm." He squinted his eyes at it, scanning it closely.

"It says, 'The Newlyweds'. It's two people who just got married." Garry then noticed something odd. "Hm? That's odd." He saw a fashing red circle in the ring of the bride's left hand. "Strange art style, but.. art's art, I guess." Ib looked up at Garry, blinking at him. "What?" She looked at the painting, then back at him. "Wha- OH. Am I married? Is that what you're asking me? Well, no- Mmmfph." Ib interrupted his obvious statment by covering his mouth with her small hand. "Oh, that wasn't it? Well, what is it?" Ib, jumped down from his arms, and pointed at the painting. "Okay, the painting. Got it." She then raised both her arms up, signaling she wanted to be picked up. "Awwww, you're so cute, Ib!" He picked her up once again. Ib stared at the painting, scanning everything about it. She was constantly adjusting herself so she would match the bride's pose exactly. It was quite awkward for her though, since the bride in the painting was snuggling up to her groom very affectionately. "Hey! Haha, Ib, are you trying to copy their pose? Why didn't you just say so?" Garry soon adjusted himself to match the groom.

As soon as they matched them exactly, the ring on the bride's finger started to glow brighter and brighter. It flashed a bright red before both Garry and Ib passed out. Ib's mind was flooded with more and more thoughts she couldn't understand. Before she could gasp for air, she saw a pretty piece of pure white paper. Written on it was a letter; or really more of an instruction... or maybe a riddle. It said,

"Home is not so far away,

Although together you must stay.

Do not question fate,

and open the gate.

A promise kept by time,

'I am your's and you are mine.'

Two paths,

one you must take,

and one you must forget.

One full of light,

one full of anger and regret.

A device created by God,

allowing you to manipulate time.

So that you could forever be with,

that one on the other end of the

red string of fate."

And with that, Ib's mind faded into a deep deep slumber.