Garry sadly kept his hand locked with hers, as he was dragging her through, trying to escape before Mary could pluck a single petal off of her rose.

So help me, if one petal is taken off her rose, I won't really care if she's a painting or not anymore, I'll pound her into the ground… Garry kept reminding himself.

"Enh…"

Garry immediately spun around when he heard his companion whimper.

"Ib?! Ib, what's wrong?!"

She shook her head.

"I'm fine, just worried is all, Garry."

/

"I dunno what this is… But pulling it will get you cut…"

Ib thought for a moment, and suddenly thrust her hand into Garry's pocket.

"What are you doing?" He asked, startled by the sudden movement.

She handed him his lighter.

"Burn it?" He asked, guessing what she wanted.

She nodded, and he did as said.

"Hmm…"

They walked through the room, and found a shattered painting at the end of the hall.

"Mary…" Garry read aloud.

Some artificial yellow roses were on the floor around the painting, the rest were still stuck inside the canvas.

"Garry? Ib? What are you doing here? You need to get away from that painting now…" She said, her voice going insane at the end.

The palette knife was clutched in one hand, Ib's life in the other.

"Then… If you won't get away…"

Mary rose the knife. "I'll force you away!"

Garry did what he wanted to do the second he saw the painting.

He burned it, before Mary could touch them.

"NOOOOO!"

Her scream echoed around, and there was ash.

"Wow… Heh.." Garry wiped the sweat from his head, and turned over to Ib.

"That was quite frightening, but- IB?!"

She was arched over, her eyes hid under her bangs.

Garry gasped, and saw the blood staining her white shirt.

He look desperately through the ash, and then he found it. All alone…

The stalk of the rose, the top missing.

"No…"

He looked at Ib, which he caught before she fell.

"Ib… Answer me…"

Ib was practically stabbed, as her rose was.

She saw the top of it in the pile Garry had spread out.

The palette knife had pierced right through it.

"Guh…"

Ib felt tired, pain, and sadness, but happiness at the same time.

"Imagine… ehn… If that was… You, Garry… I wouldn't… GAH… allow that to happen."

He shook his head, over and over, wishing that it was a dream.

"Ib?"

He turned her on her back, and sat her in his lap.

"Ib…?!"

She smiled.

"Bye…"

Her eyes slowly closed, a smile still hung on her face.

"IB?! Please, open your eyes! Don't go…"

One of his fists slammed on the ground.

"She was only 9! Please, save her… Her family… She…"

He looked at his hands, stained red.

"She didn't deserve to go out like that…."

He softly brushed her bangs away.

His heart stopped beating when a voice came to his ear. So soft, and full of sweetness.

Garry… Find a way out.. For me, please…

He looked down at the little girl in his arms.

Her mouth hadn't moved.

"But… I don't wanna leave you here…"

He softly kissed her forehead, and set her down.

"Ib… Sleep peacefully, okay? I'm… I'll find a way.. When I do… You're going to feel as lively as you always do!"

He laughed, and a tear dripped on her shirt.

"Goodbye…"

He didn't move. He wanted her to look peaceful.

"Oh!"

His hand reached into his pocket, and pulled out his rose.

"I trust you, Ib."

He wrapped her fingers around his rose, and set them gently on her chest.

"Sweet dreams…"

He finally stood up, and walked away. Not wanting to ever look back.


Sorry if I made it sad, which I probably didn't.

Depressing. I am a depressing person.

Garry: HOW COULD YOU DO THAT YOU EVIL-

Me: -Shoves Garry away-

Me: Shut up, Garry, it's supposed to be sad! Now get out of my exit message.

Also...

I might make more of the story, and make it a little merrier!

Garry: -mutters- You better.

Me: WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT UP, GARRY?!

Garry: NO, YOU KILLED A WONDERFUL PERSON!

Me: Oh.. So I obviously didn't kill you.

Garry: -mouth gapes open-

Me: BUUUURRRRN!

Garry: ... Evil witch...

Me: -Shoves Garry farther away, and finishes what I was saying-

Jeez.. What an annoying person.

Laters!