Mary had been silent this whole time. "M-Mary...?" I asked unsurely, looking over at her. "W-What's... wrong...?" I asked her.
She looked down at her feet, "I... I'm not leaving. I've realized I've been pulling you two apart far too much, I just... I just can't... go..." She said quietly. It was almost too quiet to hear. Both Garry and I stared up at her. "I'm not like you. L-Like I said, I have nobody." She frowned.
"It doesn't matter that you're an orphan! I'm sure my parents would be fine to take you in, I-..." I stopped talking as she shook her head. "No, Ib. That's not what I mean, I mean... I... I'm not like you. Literally."
I stood beside Garry, wondering what she meant. I just let that sink in my mind for a moment, "I don't get it," I responded.
"Ib. I'm a painting. I'm one of those painting women you've seen all around these halls." She said, making both mine and Garry's jaws drop. "I... I know I should've said something, I just... I just... didn't know how you'd react. And I know, it was selfish of me. To... to not tell you. To expect you to let me leave this place with you guys. But... I can't. I realize that now."
Garry clenched his fists, "YOU ROTTEN LITTLE LIAR," He shouted, overcome with all the emotions. "Garry, stop!" I shouted, but he wouldn't listen. Not this time.
"You meant to hurt us all this time! You were only faking being nice! How could you?!" He shouted. I was over his tantrum. "STOP!" I yelled, and slapped him across the face. I know, it was unlike me. But I couldn't just sit there and let him yell at Mary. She stood there, staring at us in silence. "Before I go," She said quietly, holding out a pen. "You won't survive without this," She said. "You need it to make food, that kind of stuff. I want you to have it. I'm a painting, I don't need it."
"N-No. You keep it. You're gonna carry it for us, okay? Because you're coming with us." I said, but halfway through saying "us", Garry cut me off.
"No, Ib! What the hell are you thinking?! Have you seen what these damned paintings do?! I'm not letting Mary stick around with us, she'll try and kill us, you idiot!" He spat. I didn't cry this time. "I'm not an idiot." I said dully. "And if you don't agree that Mary's coming with us, then you can stay behind. I thought you were different, Garry. I thought you loved me,"
"Ib, he does. He's afraid for you. I don't blame hi-"
Garry pulled me away reflexively as Mary reached out to touch my shoulder, "Don't touch her."
I shook away from him, "Stop." I muttered, "I don't need you to protect me. Not from her."
He stared at me in surprise. "I-Ib..."
"If she was plotting something to hurt us, she would've done it by now." I stated. "Why do you have to... suddenly... you're just out of the blue so... unlike you." I mumbled. "I miss the old Garry," I mentioned.
His eyes widened. "Old Garry?" He asked. "What do you mean, Ib? I..."
"You used to be so bright and cheery, now you just mope around. I guess it's my fault for getting mad at you, but you're the one who lied to me. Why can't you two get over it and we'll all get out together? Why does it have to be like this? We can't just... just..." I stopped at another loss of words. "I love you both. Can't you two shut up and agree that we'll all get out?" I muttered.
The looked at each other and nodded.
And we went back to the same-old, same-old... walking.