A/N: Sorry for disappearing for a while... But honestly, I didn't have internet for the past week! I know how some people say that because they didn't want to write, but I seriously had NO INTERNET!

Because the internet was down, I had a lot more time on my hand... So I wrote A LOT during my free time.

I will post the next chapter as soon as I hear back from my beta reader.

Expect the next chapter soon~ and thanks for being patient!

Chapter 10: The Sacrifice

Garry's POV

Mary? What is going on? I know this place causes a lot of hallucinations, but I'm pretty sure Mary isn't a blue rag doll.

"Long time no see Garry," the doll mimicked Mary's voice, "It seems that you're doing well. How many petals left? Three? Two?"

Ib gasped and looked at me in surprise, and pushed me away from in front of her. Instead of me protecting her, Ib stood bravely in front of me, refusing to budge.

"Ib, still so brave aren't you." Mary mocked, "I was going to save you, but you proved to be a bad friend. And bad friends have to be punished.

"Who are you and why are you using Mary's voice?" I felt the uncontrollable need to change the subject.

The doll let out a chilly laugh that nearly gave me goose bumps.

"Who am I?" the doll said, "I'm hurt Gary. I thought we were friends. No matter, adults are dumb anyways; you can't even figure out who I am when Ib already said my name."

"Mary?" I asked skeptically.

"The one and only." Mary beamed. "My spirit lives and so will I. Getting rid of me won't be an easy task.

As Mary said this, she slowly reached into her back pocket and pulled out her palette knife.

"But you on the other hand," Mary spoke with a crazed smile. I pulled Ib to the door just as Mary lunged for us. Sadly, the door was bolted shut. I tried ramming the door with my body, but it didn't even budge. It seemed that the door we came in from became like a painting on the wall. I was not careful enough. I watched in horror as the first slash caught Ib on the shoulder, two petals fell gently from her red rose.

"Ib!" Mistake and I screamed simultaneously.

There was no time to waste. I gathered Ib in my arms and tried to escape, but since I lost too many petals, I fell to the ground in a grunt of pain. I carefully shielded Ib from the fall, but her face was filled with more worry than pain. I tried to get up, but my body was refusing my commands. She stood up in front of my collapsed body and faced the doll bravely. Mary smiled and walked to us slowly.

"We would have been such good friends Ib!" Mary's eyes glazed over, "We could have colored, played hide-and-seek, and play tag..."

"What do you know about being a friend!" Ib's voice sounded so spiteful and even reproachful of Mary, probably for the first time by the way Ib suddenly look much more intimidating. Mary stood there, stunned at hearing Ib respond to her in such a way.

"Good friends help out each other. Sometimes even sacrifice themselves for one another." Ib's voice broke into a sob, "What have you done other than manipulate and hurt us?!"

Mary's voice began to quiver, "No... I am a good friend... I..."

"You are never going to have a friend Mary!" Ib shouted at her harshly, "Because you don't even treat anyone like a friend! You treat us like nothing but toys that you can play with and throw away when they no longer work you want them to!"

"No... I am a good friend..." Mary held her head in confusion and stared down at the floor. "I'm been... No... I am... Stop...liar...Liar...LIAR!"

Mary snapped out of whatever state of confusion she was in and faced Ib with a demonic sneer. Her beady red doll eyes flashed with anger and uncontrollable rage. The ground near her feet spread fiery red cracks.

"LIAR!" Mary screamed for the last time before charging at Ib with a knife in her hand like a mad bull.

Ib's POV

Mary came running at me faster than I could dodge. Even if I could get away, it would only result in Garry getting hurt. Out of sheer panic, I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Ahhhh!" Came a scream from right in front of me. I gave myself a mental checkup: It didn't hurt anywhere. Finally I slowly opened my eyes again. I saw a stunned Mary holding a knife covered in blood, staring right into my eyes. In front of me, Mistake fell to the floor twitching with pain. Mary saw the gruesome scene; fear immediately flooded her eyes. She looked at me one more time, and ran up the stairs, into unknown territory.

"Mistake!" I yelled, more tears flooding my eyes. "Please be okay!"
Even Garry sat up, looking clearly hurt, and rested a hand on my shoulder in comfort.

"Ib..." Mistake coughed. The wound on his torso looked beyond saving and red paint poured from it at an alarming rate. I couldn't control myself. The tears just won't go away.

"Don't give up." Garry said firmly, "For Ib..."

"Ib," Mistake said weakly, " Don't be mad if I can't help you anymore, okay?"

"Of course I won't be mad!" I sobbed.

"I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough," Mistake whispered, his focus beginning to waver. "There is something you need to know before I go..."

I nodded eagerly between sniffles.

"There is one way you can get home," Mistake voice was getting more distant, "Legend has it that the creator of this place, Guertena, used only his glass paintbrush to make all of his art. Find it, and the painting may be patched."

"I will." I said determinedly, wiping away my tears, "Don't worry about me anymore Mistake."

"Garry, you take care of Ib," Mistake said in a barely audible whisper, "I can't be there to take the knife anymore."

"Don't worry about Ib," Garry nodded, "I will be strong for her.

"Smile for me one last time Ib," Mistake said as he grunted in pain.

I gave Mistake the bravest, specialist, most brilliant smile I could muster. I watched in horror as he became still, his lips no longer moving. Right before my eyes, Mistake's body liquefied, turning into piles of different colored paint in a shape of a human. In another half second, the paint lost the battle to gravity and splashed on the ground in the shape of my long lost friend. The paint dried up and tattooed itself to the floor, being a constant reminder of the brave, yet stupid painting that sacrificed itself to save me.

"Let's go Ib." Garry nudged me but I realized that I lost my ability to move.

"Ib," Garry started to say gently, "Don't let Mistake's sacrifice go to waste. We have to get you out of here."

Garry helped me up by giving me a little push and lead me up the stairs. I slowly went up step by step, still trying to blink back my tears. I refused to look back. I didn't want to see the reminder painted on the ground.

But I promise you Mistake, I will not let you go in vain.