Family is not an important thing, it's everything.

-Michael J. Fox

4

Once inside, the group let out a sigh of relief. "It looks like we'll be safe in here." Garry said. Ib's eyes widened as she caught sight of a painting on the wall. Leslie blinked as she saw it too.

Couples

"Ib…" Leslie began. "Are those your parents?"

"Yeah." Ib nodded. "Are those yours?"

"Yup." Garry and Maria walked over to them.

"What is it, you two?" Garry asked. Maria gasped.

"Mommy!" She cried. "Daddy!"

"Huh?" Garry blinked. "The people in this painting are your three's parents?" He looked at the painting then back to Ib, Maria and Leslie. "Well they do resemble you Ib. And Leslie, you look like your mom. But why would such a painting be down here?"

"Garry." Maria said. "Where are they?"

"Hmm." Garry paused. "Well, I can't say I know that either. But don't worry! They must be around somewhere!"

"If you say so…" Maria trailed off. Ib tried to leave, but found the door locked.

"Are you kidding me?" Garry asked. "The door was wide open." Ib backed up as there was banging on the door. "T-that sound! Is that coming from outside?" More banging. "There's something at the door! Be careful!" Maria hid behind Leslie as there was banging that seemed to come from all around them.

"Crap!" Leslie exclaimed. "We're surrounded!"

"D-Don't panic!" Garry said although he was on the verge on panicking himself. "Everyone stay together." A hole opened in the wall as a lady in yellow came crawling in.

"Think we can get out from there?" Leslie asked.

"Only one way to know!" Garry said. They charged past the painting woman out the hole. Outside, the doors were blocked by mannequin heads. And a horde of headless statues and painting women were coming towards them.

"Come on!" Ib called as a petal was plucked off her rose. "I think I know where the exit is!" They ran off following Ib to an open door. They raced inside as Garry slammed the door shut behind him. They ran halfway down the hallway until they stopped.

"Th- That should be far enough I think." Garry said, trying to catch his breath. "We certainly showed THEM!" Ib gripped her head.

"Ib?" Maria asked. Ib's knees buckled and she fell to the ground. "G-Garry! Leslie! Something's wrong with Ib!"

"I-Ib?" Garry ran over as Ib collapsed. "Stay with us, now! Ib! IB!" No response. Garry picked up Ib. "Come on you two." He said. "Let's get her somewhere safe." The three walked down the hallway until they came to a room with various bookshelves, a vase and a painting.

"Will this be alright?" Maria asked.

"I'll be look-out." Leslie offered. "Just in case."

"Thank you two." Garry smiled, placing Ib down far from the door. He took off his coat and placed it over her as if it were a blanket. He turned to Maria. "Keep an eye on Ib for me please." He said. Maria nodded.

"Sure!" She smiled and sat down next to Ib as Garry walked over to Leslie.

"See anything?" he asked.

"Nothing." She said.

"Make sure you let me know if you see anything." He said then went to read a book off one of the bookshelves.

"Garry!" Maria called. "She's up!" Garry walked over and knelt down to Ib.

"Morning, Ib." He smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"I had a nightmare." She said.

"I see," Garry said. "You poor thing. I can't say I'm surprised. Being exposed to such frightful sights, you know? I guess its good you woke up. I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier."

"It's okay." Ib smiled. "At least Maria knew." Maria giggled.

"Ib," Garry said. "Would you look in the pocket of that coat?" Ib put her hand inside the pocket and pulled out a piece of candy in a yellow wrapper. "That's some candy I was holding onto. Feel free to eat it."

"Thank you." Ib smiled. Garry stood up as Ib handed him his coat.

"Thank you, Ib." Garry smiled as he put it on. "We'll leave whenever you three are ready."

"I'm ready whenever to get out of this Hellhole." Leslie said.

"I'll leave when Ib's okay." Maria said.

"Just a sec." Ib said, placing her rose in the vase. A flash of light came and her red rose was healed. "Let's go."

"Alright!" Garry smiled. The four walked outside and down a flight of gray stairs that soon turned to purple. As Maria turned a corner, she halted as she heard knocking.

"Let's not go there, Maria." Leslie said, taking her little sister's hand. They soon saw a roped off place with three headless mannequins and paintings of various colored buttons. As they walked inside, the exit closed.

"Th-The exit's blocked?" Garry stuttered.

"This will not end well." Leslie muttered. They continued in and saw a mannequin in a yellow dress coming for them.

"Crap!" Garry swore. However, they swiftly dodged it and pushed a green button on the wall. The mannequin in blue started chasing them.

"Oh man!" Ib cried.

"Keep pressing buttons!" Leslie said. "Maybe one of them opens the exit!" Maria dashed out of her sister's grasp and jumped to push a blue button. Part of the rope vanished to reveal an exit.

"Let's go!" Garry said. "Hurry!" They made it to the exit, but not without a mannequin taking off a petal from Garry's rose.

"Th-Thank God." Leslie panted, feeling shaky.

"Is everyone alright?" Garry asked.

"I'm okay." Ib said.

"Leslie," Maria began crying. "I want to go home." Leslie hugged Maria.

"It's alright Maria." She comforted. "We're going to get out of here." But Maria just started crying harder.

"We'd better find a way out soon." Garry said as Maria calmed down. They continued on, until they walked into a room. Maria yelped as she saw a red dressed mannequin in front of Ib.

"It's okay, Maria." Leslie said. "It's just a statue."

"Step back a bit." Garry warned and moved the statue to the side. "There we go." He smiled as Ib pulled a cord from the ceiling.

"What did that do?" Maria asked.

"Maybe it opened up a place outside." Leslie said, shrugging. They walked back outside where they had first come through and saw writing on the wall.

What is the title of the large floor painting in Guertena's exhibition?

"Gah," Garry sighed. "It's a password. The big fish painting, right? Did any of you see it?"

"I saw it!" Maria smiled. "And Leslie helped me read it!"

"Ah, perfect!" Garry smiled. "What was it?"

"Abyss of the Deep." Leslie recited.

"Yes!" Garry smiled. "Abyss of the Deep. Good memory!"

"Good job." Ib smiled. They walked to a door after passing a mirror and found it locked by a password.

"This must've what that password was for." Garry said.

"I'll try." Ib volunteered. "Abyss of the Deep." She said to the door. An Unlocking sound was heard as Maria hugged Ib. They walked inside and found a red and black abstract painting.

Separation

"What an off-putting painting." Garry said.

"I know, right?" Leslie smirked at her attempt to lighten the mood. Suddenly, everything went dark.

"Wh-What?" Garry yelped. "The lights? It's too dark to see… Leslie! Maria! Ib! Are you there?"

"I'm here." Maria said.

"Me too!" Ib called.

"I'm not!" Leslie said, just as a joke.

"What are you saying, Leslie?" Garry said, recognizing their voices. "Of course you're here."

Heh, Leslie thought You mad, Garry?

"Anyways, stay right there." Garry said.

"Okay!" The girls agreed.

"But, this is a problem." Garry continued. "Oh, that's right! I forgot I had a lighter." The flame shown through the inky darkness until the lights flew back on. Messages were scribbled over the walls and floors as a mannequin head cried blood.

HELP

NO

STOP

DON'T

DON'T KILL ME

"Huh?" Garry blinked, looking around as Maria hid behind Leslie. "Wh-What is THIS?" He bravely took a step forward and looked around. "I don't think this is… good for our mental health."

"Let's get out of here…" Ib said as they hurried out of the room where a message on the wall and floor greeted them.

A notice to all visitors. There is a strict ban on fire starting implements in the gallery. We request that you please report the use of any matches, lighters, or the like. Should the use of such implements be reported to the staff… The rest was cut off. If there was any rest. The group continued on, seeing red footprints. Ib opened the door the footprints led to and…

"Aah?" She smacked into a blonde girl in a green dress, causing the girls to fall to the floor.

"Woah!" Garry said. "Are you okay?" He walked towards her. The girl yelped and took a step back. "Ah! Wait! Hey, are you…" He paused. "Could you be one of the visitors to the gallery?" The girl took on a look of surprise. "As I thought!" Garry smiled. Ib, Leslie, and Maria took a step forward to greet the girl. "I'm Garry." Garry said.

"I'm Ib." Ib smiled.

"I'm Leslie." Leslie smiled warmly. "And this is my little sister, Maria." Maria hid behind Leslie, not trusting the blonde girl.

"We were in the art gallery," Garry explained, "but then somehow found ourselves lost in this place. So now we're all trying to find a way out. Presumably you're doing the same?" The girl hesitated.

"I… I was looking to see if there was anyone else too…" she paused, "I wanted to get out… So I…" She faltered, not wanting to say anymore.

"Ah," Garry said. "I knew it! Well, would you like to come with us?"

"Huh?" The girl blinked.

"It's dangerous to be alone here." Garry said. "There are lots of strange creatures around. So will you come with us? I think it would be best if we all stay together." There was a pause.

"Yeah." The girl said. "I'll come!"

"Then it's decided!" Garry smiled. "Oh! What's your name?"

"Mary…" The girl said.

"That sounds a lot like your name." Leslie smiled at her younger sister, still hiding behind Leslie.

"Mary, then!" Garry said. "Nice to meet you!" Mary paused.

"Yeah!" she said. She walked to Ib. "Um… Nice to meet you too, Ib…"

"Nice to meet you too." Ib smiled. Mary giggled and walked over to Leslie and Maria.

"Nice to meet you!" She cheered. "Leslie and Maria!"

"Nice to meet you too." Leslie smiled. "Come on, Maria." She ushered her sister. Maria just waved.

"All right!" Garry smiled. "Now that we have more company, we can proceed with opur spirits high!"

"Yay!" Mary cheered and the five now went onward.

Writer's Comments

Sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoyed! :)