~ Ib sluggishly drifted back into consciousness. The different grades of light came in agonizingly slow waves. Was she dead? Her toes and fingers began to tingle as she regained her sense of touch. What happened? The feeling in her arms and legs were revived. She tensed and released her muscles, the movements seemed almost foreign. With excruciating effort, she strained to open her eyes. The harsh, nearly scorching, intensity of the light bombarded her Scarlet irises.
"Shit!" her hands shot up to cover her face. She let out a few moans as she watched the colors inside her lids pulse from the blow. As the pain began to subside, she gradually lifted her lids to a squint. The light still burned, but she endured the agony.
"Ugh. Ow…" The voice sounded as though it were 10,000 leagues under the ocean. It was so familiar, but barely audible. She turned her head to where she thought was the source of the groaning. Through the slits of her blurry vision, she could make out a heap next to her. It was nearly all black, except for the wild splash of purple on one end. She made an effort to sit up, but immediately collapsed from the pounding in her head. She smashed her palms to her ears as a piercing sound scorched her consciousness. Her legs twisted around one another as she writhed in pain.
"Gah." She clenched her jaw; the deafening ring grew weaker.
It felt as though she had never possessed a body before. All the knowledge of her body had been robbed from her. If this was what it felt like to be a newborn baby, she was glad she didn't remember.
She opened her eyes, once again- this time a little less hesitantly. The line of the object swayed a bit. Her vision readjusted and the back of a person came into view.
The purple was hair. Purple Hair. Garry.
She wanted to fling herself to his side so desperately, but she didn't have the strength. An overwhelming sense of elation lit her core on fire. He was here… He was here. Oh god, he was here. No. This would end badly for the two of them. The flame combusted in dejection and hopelessness.
She lay in the sickening stillness as the guilt dispersed through every nerve of her weak body. It wasn't directly her fault, but she couldn't help but feel partially responsible.
"I…Ib?" a frail cough came from her side.
She feebly turned her head to see Garry looking at her; his eyes barely open. She let out an incredulous breath. Even though their imminent deaths lurked around the corner, her heart couldn't help but buzz with static.
"Yeah. I'm here." She reached her hand out toward him, her strength returning.
With much effort, he reached his own arm out- only their fingertips could touch.
"I…(he cleared his raspy voice) I can't believe we got sucked in here again." He managed to give a morbid grin.
She tried to hide her looming horror, "Me neither." They weren't going to get out.
"Can you move?" He asked, with tangible concern.
"Yeah, I'm getting my bearings back. How bout you?"
"Same here. Okay- sit up on the count of three?"
"Yeah." She agreed, inhaling.
"1… 2… 3-"
They both let out violent grunts as they exhorted all their energies to lift their torsos.
Ib turned to him- both were entirely breathless. She slowly scooted over to him and brought him into her shaky arms.
"Team work." She snorted, while simultaneously gasping for air. They held each other a little while longer; their heart rates began to slow in unison.
"YOU." A mighty shout devoured the ephemeral safety of their embrace. The infuriated figure of Guertena towered over them, casting their quivering bodies in his shadow. His green eyes seemed to burn ferociously with blue flame- his rage was suffocating.
"YOU DARE TRIFLE WITH MY WORK?! YOU INFERIOR MONGREL! YOUR DESPICABLE ACTIONS CAST THIS WORLD – MY CREATION – INTO CHOAS. BECAUSE OF YOU, I LOST CONTROL OF MY OWN DOMINION."
He slithered closer, shrinking his volume to a hiss, never losing the wrath, "I will pluck each flake of skin from your sickly, famished body. I will strip each and every vessel within you, slowly and painfully; only to peel your flesh out far enough to where the blood pools around your exposed innards. You will feel everything, and death will seem a cruel and untouchable temptress. You have made the greatest mistake of your sad, puny existence."
Garry's frame was visibly shaken. Only a broken inhale staggered through his stone lips. All the feeling retreated from Ib's limbs- all the feeling regained had vanished with Guertena's menacing speech. The blood drained from both their quivering figures; they were mortified.
Guertena stood, hovering above them, his eyes engulfing theirs in violent, destructive flame. The horrifying silence smothered them as they failed to avert their stares.
"However… That would be too lenient." He straightened, turning his back to them.
"No… far too forgiving." He strode away from them and came to an abrupt stop.
"Nothing can equal the torment of decision. Especially when it involves the separation of two lovers."