Ib - Lost in Dreamland
chapter 2
When Yellow Roses Turn Black
Mary stood in the meadow watering roses. Ib had no clue why. These roses usually took care of themselves. Ib jumped off the hill and ran toward Mary. Despite her cheerful tone, Mary looked awful. She had bags under her large, smiling blue eyes. Ib wasn't sure if Mary even slept, but she desperately looked like she needed to. Mary's skin was pale. She looked sickly and frail almost like she was... no, that couldn't be it. Could it?
"You look-"
"Tired. I know It's because of that" said Mary looking into the distance.
"Because of what?" Asked Ib.
Rather than give an explanation, Mary pointed to the far side of the meadow. At the very edge of the meadow were black roses. "How could you not see them?" Mary asked sadly. She plucked one of the yellow roses and sniffed it. She then carefully placed it in her hair. "Banished from one place to another" she said dejectedly "it's not fair." She looked like she was going to cry.
"What's wrong with black roses?" Ib asked. Mary stared at her blankly, as though the answer should be obvious.
"Roses aren't meant to be black, Ib. These are a parasite. They're killing this meadow... and me along with it." Mary said, her voice devoid of any emotion or power. She sat heavily, her navy blue skirt fanned out around her. Mary looked older. The years had been kind to her, for a twelve year old, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her curly blonde hair fell all the way down her back, even her clothes were different. Instead of the green dress, Mary wore a white short sleeved shirt with a black sailor collar and a little red bow. She had a puffy, navy blue skirt, white knee socks and brown doll-like shoes. Her nails were even painted a beautiful blue color. They glittered like sapphires in sunlight.
"Mary, have you ever tried to find an end to the meadow?" Ib had asked the question before, she knew the answer. It never changed.
"Of course, you know I have. I want to live with you and Garry in the real world. Not here by myself with no one to talk to but you on occasion. Not that I don't like talking to you. Ib, you know that you're the closest thing I have to real friend. But I wan't to meet real people, in the real world" Mary said sadly, clasping one of Ib's hands in both of hers. They weren't as warm as usual, but they weren't cold.
"What happens if the rest of the roses turn black?" Ib asked.
"I'm guessing I'll die or be moved to another prison again" said Mary, her tone once again emotionless "my new prison might not be this nice. I might not change anymore. I might not see you again" Mary said. "I really hope this sin't the last I'll see of you." Tears pricked Mary's eye, which were threatening to overflow.
"It won't be" Ib promised. "So where did all of the black roses come from?"
"I don't know but look what happens when I touch them" Mary said leading Ib over to where the black roses met the yellow ones. Mary knelt and simply touched one of them. It fell to ashes and got blown away in a sudden burst or wind.
"Why don't you just take care of them like that" Ib asked.
"There's too many for that" Mary said.
"Oh" was all Ib could think to say as it dawned on her that the meadow was endless, and the roses extended far beyond Ib and Mary's line of sight.
"I don't know how to take care of them" it was at this point that the tears fell down Mary's cheeks and she began to cry. Ib comforted Mary as they sat in the meadow desperately trying to think of a way to save it.
"I just don't know" Ib said after what must have been an hour.
"Oh, Ib" said Mary, who all of a sudden sounded urgent. "Don't trust-"
But Ib never found out who she wasn't supposed to trust. Her mother was shaking her awake. "Mary..." Ib said, still half asleep as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"No, sweeie. Mommy. Dinner's ready" Ib's mom said. "We're having pasta. Your favorite kind, too." Ib looked over at the clock. It read 5:45. 5:45! Ib sprang up from her bed. She went downstairs with her mother and ate dinner.
"Thanks mom, it was delicious" Ib said rushing back up to her room after putting her plate away from dinner. She knew someone who could help solve Mary's problem. If he even agreed to help. Ib pulled out her cellphone and the slpi of paper with Garry's number on it. She quickly dialed it and waited for him to pick up the phone. Please pick up, please pick up Ib thought.
"Hello?" said Garry.
"Garry?"
"Ib?"
"Garry. I need your help."
"You know I'll try. What do you need?"
"It's Mary."
"Mary!? What does she want now? Are you okay? Please tell me she doesn't know where you are."
"No. She's in trouble. I need help saving her."
"Saving her!? Ib, she tried to kill us, remember?"
"I know but-"
"Why would you want to save her?"
"She's saved me. Multiple times. She's not in the real world, if that makes you feel any better. Sometimes I talk to her in my dreams. At first, I was hesitant too but if she hadn't warned me I'd be dead right now. Please, Garry, I have to at least try and help her." Ib was begging now.
Garry's line went silent for a long time. "What's wrong with her?" It sounded as though he was talking through gritted teeth. Ib sighed relieved. She explained all about the meadow and the black roses. "I don't know, I'm sorry" Garry said apolegetically. "I'll think about it though. If I come up with anything I'll contact you." Ib gave Garry her cellphone number.
"Garry?"
"Yeah."
"Mary was trying to warn me about something the last time I saw her but... we got interrupted. I think that it's someone who's going to try and hurt me. Any ideas?"
"Once again, I don't know. Don't trust anyone though, okay. Keep your cellphone on you at all times. If anyhting happens, anything at all, call me. Got it?"
"Okay, thanks. Goodbye Garry."
"Goodbye, Ib." And they both hung up the phone. Ib spent the rest of the night pacing her room, searching the internet, looking in books, anything that could help her save Mary. Eventually, Ib got tired of her fruitless search and got ready for bed. She pulled on her most comfy pajamas and crawled into her bed expecting a nightmare.
Ib instead found herself very disoriented when she found herself in Mary's meadow. Mary almost never visited twice, but then again she hadn't finished her warning before. There was only one thing wrong with her deduction, Mary wasn't there. Ib searched all around her but Mary was simply nowhere to be found. Ib looked all over for her but to no avail. After searching for a long while Ib finally noticed why Mary wasn't there. Something else was missing from the meadow: the yellow roses. All of them as far as Ib could see and beyond, there were no more yellow roses, only black.
Ib went hysterical. "Mary! Mary! Where are you? Mary! Mary... where did you go?" Ib collapsed on the ground in tears. Mary was gone, the roses were black, and the meadow was dead. Could anything else go wrong?
When Ib's tears had cleared enough to see, she found one thing that gave her hope. Right in front f Ib, was a yellow rose. How could she not have noticed? It was just as beautiful and lively as Mary was, the flower in full bloom. It glowed with a soft light begging to be seen. Or more likely, begging to be picked.
Ib carefully plucked the rose from it's spot in the ground and sniffed it. Fresh tears pricked her eyes as she realized that the rose was real and alive. These tears however, were tears of joy, relief, happiness even. Ib held the rose close to her heart as the light it emitted enveloped her.
As expected, Ib woke in tears. It was still dark outside. Ib's hand were clasped over her chest, but when she looked to unclasp them she found that they were holding something. In her hands, was Mary's rose.