A/N: Okay, I've had a bad week.
Now, let me tell you a story. So, last weekend, I started typing this before my supernatural marathon. I typed two whole pages then saved to the computer and turned it off. I figured I could finish it on Sunday and upload it Sunday night. When Sunday came along, I turned on my computer. Guess what? It wouldn't log on. Yup. I couldn't get it on. All week I have been trying to turn it on, but nope. Wouldn't work. And with me being a derp, I forgot to save it to my jump drive. So, yeah, now I have to start over. And my computer's busted still, so I have to use my mom's spare.
Jasper: You seem pretty POed. Are you alright?
Me: I'm fine. Just wonderful…
Jasper: Do you need some supernatural?
Me: …Yes, please.
Garry: What's Supernatural?
*Me and Jasper stare*
Me: You mean, you've NEVER seen it?!
Garry: No…
Jasper: What about Sherlock? Doctor Who?
Garry: *looks at us oddly* No. Never seen them.
*Me and Jasper look at each other*
Jasper: *smiles evilly* I know what WE'RE doing tonight…
Me: *smiles back* Definitely.
Garry: Oh, god. *sprints away*
Jasper: I got the tranquilizer.
Me: I got the duct tape.
Me & Jasper: AFTER HIM!
*Chase Scene Begins*
Carly: Yay! I can finally be in a note! :3
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN IB. However, I do own it in my world. It's a wonderful place where Computers never crash and there are more than 24 hours a day…
Carly: Enjoy the chapter!
Isa's POV
I don't understand. I can't get that girl out of my head. That girl, Mary.
My darling, Ib…
Ib… The longer I was in this world, the more that name became related to mine. That girl…her name was so familiar. Who was she? And why was she in that painting?
"Isa?"
I slightly jumped at garry's voice. I turned to look at him. "Garry…"
The more I'm with him, the more familiar hebecomes as well. Even though I barely know him, I feel such a connection to him. He's protected me through everything here: monsters, Mary, even from myself. Truthfully, garry is the only person keeping me sane. Yet, whenever I'm near him, I feel this undeniable pang of…regret? Sadness? Guilt? But…for what?
"Isa? Are you okay?" I feel garry's hands on my shoulders. "Are you still worried about what happened?"
God, he can read me like a book…
"… How can you tell?"
He chuckled. "Because, I may not know much about you, but you seem to braid your hair when you're nervous."
"Oh." I hadn't even realized I had made a long braid down my back while I was thinking. "I guess…"
After what had happened, we had stopped in one of the rooms when I couldn't walk anymore. I'm not sure when I passed out, but the next thing I know, I was up against the wall watching garry go through some books. He knelt down in front of me as he gazed at me worriedly.
"Are you sure you're okay? You still look pretty pale."
"I'm fine! You don't need to worry about me." I go into my bag as I retrieve a lemon candy from my secret stash. I pop one into my mouth as garry stares at me oddly. "What?" I take one from my bag and offer it to him. "You want one?"
He smiles knowingly. "Sure." He takes it from me as he continues to speak. "You know, these are my favorite, too. I used to always have one on me at all times, but, I used that one up a long time ago." With Ib… I smiled.
"Well, it's a good thing I have extra."
As I dig through my purse, I find something foreign. "Huh?" I pull an old metal lighter from the bottom of my bag. "What's this? I don't remember carrying one of these around…"
Garry takes the lighter from my hand. As he inspects it, his eyes go wide. "This…this is my lighter! But…I thought I lost it!" He looks towards me questioningly. "Where did you get this?"
"I…" I tried to remember, but… "I don't know. I don't even remember having one of these. Maybe I picked it up at some point."
I know that's a lie. I don't remember how I got it, but I remember having it at the bottom of my bag for years. Whenever I got a new purse, I always threw out my old junk, but I always remembered to grab that lighter. For years I've kept it with me, yet I never know why. Garry holds it like an old child from childhood.
"I…I haven't seen this in years…"
"If it's yours, you can have it." I smiled as he looked at me like a lost child.
"Really?"
I look at him sarcastically. "No. I'm going to take it and keep it for no reason."
Garry scoffed at me. "Quit being a smart alac. Come on, we need to get going soon."
"Alright. Let me just get my things and we can go. I'll meet you at the door."
He seemed to hesitate at first, but he eventually went ahead.
I begin to place everything back in my bag. That lighter… Was it really his? How did I get it in the first place? Did I find it somewhere? But, where? So many questions…and no answer in sight…
"Oh really, Isa?"
I turn and gaze in shock at the girl before me. Mary! Before I even realized it, I begin shouting.
"Garry!"
"Isa!" I hear him shout as he runs towards me. "Mary! Get away from her!"
She just laughed. "Not this time, garry." As she raises her hand, vines emerge from the ground like a wall. Garry grabbed at the vines, trying desperately to reach me. "No! Isa!" He shouts at mary. "Mary! Leave her alone!"
She ignored him as she turned back to me. "Now, where were we, my dear…"
I step back away from her. She steps forward. We continue this trend until I hit the wall. I gasp with nowhere left to go. I reach for my knife and find nothing. Dammit! Where is it?!
"Are you looking for this?" Mary took the knife from her dress pocket. "You dropped it before. How clumsy of you." She grabbed my neck as she tightened her grip, choking me. She smiled wickedly. "Wh…Why? Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?!"
Her expression darkened as she released her grip and I fell to the floor.
"What did you do?" Her smile returned. "Tell me, Ib, what did you do?"
My anger grew. "Stop calling me that! I don't even know who Ib is!"
She giggled. "So, you really don't remember, do you?"
What? "Remember what?"
She turned, eyes looking into mine. "You don't remember that day, Isa? That birthday when your dear parents took you to the art gallery?"
My mind was filled with clouds, my memories locked, until…
"Did you remember everything, Ib?"
"Oh, do you have your handkerchief? You know, the one you got for your birthday?"
What?
"You had wanted to go for months, so your parents took you for your birthday. Such good parents they are…"
"This is your first time at an art gallery, right Ib?"
"We're here today to see the works of the great artist, Guetena."
"I don't doubt that even you'll enjoy it, Ib."
…This can't be real, can it?
"You went off on your own. You came here. Then, you were really alone. Chased by monsters, statues, paintings… Only your little red rose for company, until…"
"Oh…The pain is gone…"
What?!
"Could you be…someone from the gallery?!"
Why?!
"My name's Garry. And you are?"
This is…
"I can't very well leave a girl to wander into danger, no, no.
…So, I'll go with you, okay?"
Is this…my memories?
"You stayed with him. He protected you. He took care of you like his own child."
"Ib, would you take a look in the pocket of that coat?"
That dream… Those memories flooded to me as well.
"Hey, are you…Could you be one of the visitors from the gallery?
Blonde hair… No! It's…
"I… I was looking to see if there was anyone else, too…"
"Ah! I knew it!Well, would you like to come with us?"
"Yeah! I'll come!"
"Then, it's decided! Oh, what's your name?"
"Mary…"
"Then you met me. What a trio we were…"
"Mary, do you have a rose as well?"
"Yeah, I do! A yellow rose!"
"Sadly, that didn't last, did it?"
"This is bad! Get away from the painting!"
"Are you two alright?!"
"Then it was just us. Alone, together…"
"We'll find a way around! Come on, Ib!"
"I think I'll hold onto this…for protection…"
"If only two of us could get out, who would you pick?"
"I'm sure we'll all get out together…"
"…Of course, Garry had to ruin it, didn't he?"
"Mary…I'm Mary…"
"In my way…In my way!..."
"Ib? Where are you going?"
"Why are you running?"
"You said we'd be together…but then you left me."
"Hey, Ib! Have you heard of macaroons?"
Macaroons…
"When we get out, let's get some together!"
Garry…
"You hurt me, Ib. So, I hurt you back."
"Mary, give Ib her rose!"
"Oh, this is Ib's?"
"Well then…wanna trade garry's rose?"
…no…
"Understood. Please give me Ib's rose in exchange for mine."
No…
"Loves me…"
No!
"Loves me not…"
No!
"Hurting you wouldn't do me good, so I hurt the one you held most dear…"
"Sorry, but…could you go on ahead?"
"N…No…"
"I don't want to lie…"
"Stop…Please!" I covered my ears, trying to block out the truth.
"But I don't want to tell the truth, earthier…"
"Please! Stop! Please!"
"If you need help…I'll come running…"
"No! No! It can't be true!"
"Go on ahead…"
Mary chuckled as she faded to black. "Welcome back, Ib…"
Tears streamed from my eyes. "No!"
"Ib! I was looking for you! You went off on your own!"
"No…No!"
"I said I'd catch up, didn't I?"
"No! No! No!"
"It's not here, it's over there."
Come on, this way.
Ib.
Ib!
Ib!
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
A/N: 7 PAGES! How's THAT for an update?!
Jasper: Wow. I'm impressed…
Me: Yeah, I am too… God, I'm tired… So, how's garry doing?
Jasper: He's fine. Just marathoning.
Meanwhile:
Garry: *sobbing uncontrollably* WHY DO THESE SHOWS HAVE TO BE SO TRAGIC!? *cuddles plushies on the couch*
"""""""""""""""""'""""
Me: *shrugs* Meh. That's fine. Just don't let him get further than me. I don't need that blabbermouth spoiling anything.
Jasper: Don't worry. I've got him on a timer. We still need him for chapters, too.
Me: Definitely.
Anyway, again, sorry for the late update. Also, since I spent 3 hours typing this and I still have homework to do, I don't have time to do review responses, but I will try next time! Also, Happy Easter to all who celebrate! And for those of you who still HAVE a spring break, I hope you enjoyed/ are planning to enjoy it. Meanwhile I get a long weekend instead because a certain blizzard was jerkish enough to cancel my school for a week the week before February break…
Well, enough ranting, see you all soon, my darlings!
Tootles! :3