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Chapter 9: Fearless
I walked into what I had concluded was the green hallway. Seiran was trailing behind me, hands behind his head whistling. Somehow he had come to the conclusion to accompanying me on my quest to save Garry.
.
.
"Beware of Edges"
"Huh? What kind of message is that?" Seiran said, nonchalant like always. Rolling his eyes, he walked around the pillar to proceed down the hallway.
I remember this warning… Something was suppose to…
"Seiran! Stop!" I grabbed the sleeve of his coat and yanked on it as hard as I could. He toppled backwards, just as a black clawed hand shot out of the wall, right where he had been standing moments before. Shaking, Seiran got up off the floor. "Damn… I guess I don't know the gallery as well as I thought…"
I sighed pointing at the sign. "Beware of Edges. Don't walk near the walls. Stand in the middle."
"Y-yeah… Sure." He seemed a little scared to proceed again.
"Fine. I'll go. You sit here. You don't have to come anyways." I walked down the hall, black claws shot out at me from both walls, but I never strayed from the middle.
Damn. This girl has nerves of steel! She walked down the hallway with black claws shooting out at her like she was simply taking a walk in the park. She didn't even flinch when one popped out inches in front of her face. I can see why he's taken such a liking to the little lady… But then again who am I doing this for anyways? This is for him...
I grabbed the ant painting (Which I had noticed had been restored) and walked back to where Seiran was waiting.
"What's that for?" He gestured to the painting.
"We'll be needing this."
I walked down the hall to another door. This room seems to be the same. I thought. I laid the canvas down over the chasm creating a bridge. I walked along the boarders to avoid stepping on the ant. Seiran, however was not as careful. Once he checked that it could hold his weight he walked on the canvas without avoiding the ant, smushing it. We proceeded down another hall, towards another door. Carefully I opened it. In the room there was a headless statue with a green key at its feet.
I paused, remembering this situation. "Seiran, you know how the doors automatically slam shut immediately after you step through them?"
"Yeah. Your point?" he prompted
"I need you to hold the door open. Can you do that?"
"Sure."
I approached the headless statue and snatched the key at its feet. It jerked to life, just like I remembered.
"Seiran! Now open the door!" Silence. I didn't have a lot of time.
"Seiran?" I turned around.
"Sorry Ib." He gave a sly smile before stepping out of the room, leaving me with the statue. The door slammed shut, locking as it did. The statue, meanwhile, appeared to be stretching, rightening its joints.
"Seiran!" I yanked at the doorknob, pounding on the door. A dark shadow fell over me. I turned to see the statue preparing to deliver a right hook. I ducked under its arm, its fist made contact with a wall, punching a hole in it. It came after me again and again, swinging its fists. I managed to dodge each one. Every now and again, it would hit a wall shattering the portion, or at least creating a hole in it.
Brute strength.
That gave me and idea...
I lead the statue over to the door by dogging and moving towards it, until I was standing right where I needed to be. It swung once more. I ducked at the last second. Its fist made contact with the door, blowing it off its hinges. Yes! I bolted through the rubble and down the hall.
There were loud booms and crashes coming from the room. What on earth is that thing trying to do?! Wreck the whole gallery? There was a deafening crash and the sound of debris falling directly behind me.
"Aw Shit..." I turned to see that the statue had obliterated the door, blown it clear to the other wall. Before I could even move, Ib was off and running, tearing past me with surprising speed. Not far behind was the statue.
Oh...Not good.I'd better get going. I took off after Ib. she was already over and across the ant painting.
Shit, shit, shit! The statue was gaining ground; soon it was running side by side with me. Before either of us could do anything, there was a loud tearing noise.
We were both standing on the ant painting.
We were too heavy.
I felt the fabric give away...
I tried jumping to the other side, but the statue had grabbed onto my leg. I was hanging on the edge by a few fingers. Gods! This thing is heavy! I swung my leg out hard several times, forcing the statue off.
Crap I could feel my grip slipping. The last of my fingers left the edge...
Just as my grasp gave away a small slender hand shot out to seize mine. Ib? She's trying to help me up... But why?
.
I don't know how, but she managed to drag me out of the chasm. We were both on the floor, panting.
I looked up. "Ib? Why did help me– "
Slap!
"Owww~! What the hell was that for?!"
"Shut up! Don't ever pull a stunt like that again!" She was on the verge of tears. "You idiot! You almost got us both killed!" She cried. Streams of tears flowed from her crimson eyes.
"Ib..." Hesitant at first, I slowly put my arms around her. Just like that, I held her in my arms. She was shaking, her breath ragged with sobs.
"..."
"Ib? I... I-I'm sorry..."
For the first time I realized that I really was.
