Mary could hear a voice. She was sure there was no one else in the room. But she could hear talking even if the words were like a blur. Is someone trying to tell her something before her inevitable end? What could it be?
Mary shut her eyes and listened hard. The words are clearer now. Something about…lying?
"They lied to you."
She opened her eyes, the ceiling coming into view. She looked around her but there was no one.
"When you suggest drawing together, they only see it as an opportunity to snatch your dear rose away."
Mary shook her head and covered her ears. "They put on a convincing act and you let them get away with it." "No! Ib and Gary are…are my…" She cried.
"Gary wants to take Ib away from you. He hates you in secret and pretended to be your friend." The voice said so firmly that Mary slowly looked up and dropped her arms to her side.
"…Really?" She said with her voice and expression seemingly emotionless.
"That's right! He tricked Ib too into his 'plan'. He only cares for escaping this world and he got what he wanted." It pressed on. There was a pause, as if waiting to see her reaction. Mary merely nodded. The voice smiled.
"They just left. They couldn't be far, go and take back what's yours." It said. Mary stood up. Surprisingly, she was still intact.
She reached the door and just before opening it, her feet showed early signs of breaking, cracks. There was not much time left. She stepped outside and immediately shot towards the bloody path.
Meanwhile, Gary was giving Ib half of the spilt crayon. "Hopefully this will help us remember Mary when we got back." He said. Ib nodded. With their hands held, they faced the mural and were ready to leave.
Mary, as she ran, finally saw them. But they were far apart. She glanced desperately from Ib's back to Gary's. When her eyes fall on Gary she felt anger rising in her.
Ib and Gary took a breath. Mary gasped and put all her strength on to her legs. The two rose-holders jumped into the mural.
"No…" Mary hissed, grabbing Ib from her shoulders "...you…" and yanking her back "…don't." in time.
Ib torn from Gary, her hand slipping away from his. He turned to her, surprised, his eyes widening as he spotted Mary behind her. But it was too late.
Ib fell back into Mary's arms while Gary vanished into the mural. Mary smiled down at her. "You're alright now, Ib." She cooed as she wrapped her arms around her, surreptitiously taking the rose from her hands.
Ib was lying still, in a daze and soon drifted into unconsciousness with the image Gary's face mixed with different emotions the last thing she saw.
The piece of crayon lay nearby, unnoticed and forgotten.
Ib Ending