Chapter 2
As the deafening bell announced break, Ib was still trying to figure out what the familiarity of Art had been due to. Suddenly, a group of younger students ran past Ib in the corridor, nearly making her books and herself tumble to the floor if it hadn't been for another, older student who had helped her.
"Let's play hide and seek! I want to seek! I want to seek!" A girl screeched.
"Are you okay?" The boy replied, but she barely heard. Her mind had already escaped to another world...
All of a sudden, the stick man disappears and something is scrawled in a thick yellow paint that could choke me, 'Play hide and seek?' I open curtains in blind desperation; my petals rip and the lights dim. Then, I open a curtain and see a painting. A painting of me being hanged. I crash onto the floor from terror, breathing rapidly. Then I realise there's only one curtain left. There's nothing left to lose. That's why I stand up and walk to it with determination. I press the button with a trembling hand. It's the right door, 'found me; you get prize.'
Ib resurfaced, feeling completely woozy and bewildered.
"Are you okay?" The words rang in her head many times, echoing across the boundaries of her skull. Then everything abruptly went back to normal and her head bolted up with a gasp.
"I'm okay, thanks," She said with a smile and walked off with a sigh as she heard a group of girls giggling. But Ib didn't mind; she knew many girls despised Ib with her beautiful red eyes and straight A's. My, if Ib spared them a thought she probably would too.
Ib sighed, her chin resting in the palm of her hand, her other preoccupied with flicking the pages of the novella they were studying in English, Of Mice and Men. It wasn't particularly interesting; after all, Ib was one of those students who actually try to get good grades but in this lesson, she was trying not to have a nap. Then again, reciting the different, far-fetched (to say the least) symbolic meanings and theories of the colour red is not the most interesting manner to spend an hour. However, there was one thing that made a light bulb finally illuminate in her brain; when the teacher started rambling about the flashback a character has: a certain incident in a certain place named Weed involving a certain...
'Lady in Red', I read aloud. It certainly fits that there should be a red painting to match the crimson walls. I start to feel a slight apprehension as I cannot find a key to the locked door. Then again, the apprehension is always here in this place. I haven't had a moment of peace amidst the terror of being the chased one. I turn away from the painting when I suddenly hear glass shattering and feel it cutting my skin. I run away from the hissing half-woman limping across the floor...
Only the third lesson and Ib already longed to be at home. Many aspects contributed to the feeling. First off, the weather: a constant downpour. Ib hated it. Then there was the fact that she couldn't walk a few steps without getting a strange sort of 'vision' (that was what she thought they were). And of course, the annoying reality that Biology was next.
"We will be continuing our study on cross-breeding, students," The teacher announced as everybody took their seats. Ib sighed inwardly: this was the fifth lesson on cross-breeding; she had hoped that perhaps after the holidays they would start a new topic but she guessed not. Ib could only assume it was a subject the teacher rather enjoyed. "So, take this blue rose..."
Blue rose...
I squeeze the key I got from the weird man as I notice the title of the empty frame: 'Lady in Blue'. The name seems familiar and I rapidly realise why: the terrifying link between 'Lady in Red' and this painting. But the painting isn't here. And there's petals and blood on the floor. What could possibly have happened? Biting my lip in apprehension, I slowly lift the key up and twist it into the lock. A sound. I wish that the key doesn't work. But the door has unlocked. Wishes aren't meant to be granted. That's why they're wishes, right?. I take a deep breath and open the door.
The sight I see is overwhelming for me. The 'Lady in Blue' looks up from the rose she is tearing apart and sees me. I freeze, hoping she hasn't seen me. It's too late; she's already chasing me and claws at my clothes and the rose in my pocket. I scream out as I feel a knife slice across my arm; but there's no knife – only a red petal on the floor. My frozen limbs unlock and I rush out of the door and shut it against the painting with a pant. I breathe for a minute until I hear banging. I jump up.
Suddenly, glass cuts my skin as it falls above me. I look up, wondering what it is and am stuck to the ground in terror when I see the painting leap out of an unseen window. I start sprinting away when I suddenly realise something. The Lady has no rose. Which means ... the rose is still inside! This is my chance! My heart tells me that it will be useful, so I dash back to the door and pick up the wilting rose. Without a moment to lose, I scurry out the door and to the exit, still sprinting even when I'm out of the death chamber.
I dunk my rose into the vase to reassure me and then an idea comes to mind. I slowly, cautiously place the blue rose into the replenished vase. It has healed. I tuck the rose back in my pocket with my rose and head back, walking until I come to an abrupt stop in front of the weird man...
Ib frowned, completely and utterly dazed. Unexpectedly (Ib thought she had had her hourly dose) she had another vision.
"Well, my name's Garry. And you are? Ib. Ib, you say...Now let's go Ib!"
A flash of blue and purple and then the man was gone along with the fabricated world her mind was creating.
Thankfully, Italian was next and since they were continuing a film in the lesson, Ib would be able to rest a little. She settled down in her usual place in the front corner of the classroom and leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, letting the clutches of sleep enfold her in its embrace...
And it was only the loud bell that made Ib bolt to a waking position. A wedding? I must have been asleep for a while, she thought. She decided to stay awake now considering it was nearly the end of the lesson anyway. The bride threw the bouquet of flowers into the crowd with a radiant smile...
What do I do with ring? What can I do with a ring? I already tried giving it to the scary blue painting but he only wants my flower and I can't do that. I walk around aimlessly to the wriggling hands and look at the paintings: the sorrowful bride and groom. I swivel back to the hands, my heart thumping. The ring! But...which hand? Where does the ring go? Where does mum have her ring? But mum has lots of rings. So what about dad? He...he has it on his left hand! I slide the ring onto the fourth finger of the left hand, which abruptly stops moving. Nothing happens. What do I do now?! Suddenly, the bride moves and throws her bouquet of flowers into the invisible crowd with a radiant smile...
"Nearly the end of the day!" Ib whispered to herself, longing to be at home. There was only DT, which was now, and RS and then it was the end. Today, Ib particularly wanted to be back in her bedroom, alone and comfortable. She settled down in her seat just as the bell rang and the teacher swivelled around in her chair.
"Good afternoon, class! This term you will be making milk puzzles! First off, does anybody know what a milk puzzle is?" The teacher seemed to have been expecting all hands up, because she looked slightly surprised upon noticing there was not one hand up. Suddenly, Ib lifted her hand up. That wasn't the surprising thing however; what was surprising was that she hadn't meant to. It was as if an unknown force had swung her arm up and permitted her mouth to speak; for now she was returning a full answer to the question asked.
"Well, as the name implies, it's a puzzle where all the pieces are white like milk," The teacher nodded approvingly, "Since there's no picture on them, they're much harder than regular puzzles. Very smart people can finish them in no time at all, but ... to be honest, they're not even exciting – since they don't even make a picture in the end. It feels much more worth it to do a puzzle of a picture you like." Blue and purple flashed before her eyes again. Silence.
"Thank you for that very in-depth explanation, Ib," The teacher said with apparent confusion after a few moments and Ib blushed. She didn't even know why the hell she had replied! Moreover, she didn't even know what the hell she had replied; she definitely couldn't repeat it now. She didn't even know what a milk puzzle was yet she had just spewed out an answer. It was certainly a strange day.
The last lesson of the day: RS. Ib really didn't get the point in that class considering most people doodled during it. They were studying Christianity that term, starting off with the Nativity. The teacher was explaining (in the natural monotone voice that teachers usually use) how Joseph and Mary had to leave Nazareth...or was it Jerusalem? Ib started to doze off; or so she thought. Because take a guess what happened when the teacher said 'Mary'...
"We'll get out together, right? Promise!" A flash of a blonde girl with a green dress. Then there was a palette knife. The light reflected onto it more and more until Ib was blinded by the bright light. Then, the palette knife suddenly burst into flames. "Ib, please! STOP!"
"Ib?" The teacher's confused voice brought said student back to the classroom. Ib widened her eyes as she saw that everybody was looking at her expectantly and scanned the board. There was a triangle with two blanks filled in at the corners and one question mark. The two filled in blanks said 'the Father' and 'the Son'. The Father...the Son...and the Holy Spirit.
"The third element of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit," She said quickly. The teacher sighed.
"Yes, Ib. You're absolutely right. But actually, I was just asking you to turn on the heating."
As the deafening bell announced the end of the day, Ib stood up wearily. She knew she needed to get some air. So she collected her things quickly and left before the teacher taking the register could realise a thing. Ib smiled as she walked out of school: it felt good not to follow the rules for once. Ib had certainly been right about one thing; the fresh air was definitely clearing her head from the fuzzy grip of confusion. And the familiarity of the walk home was also helping her return to her senses. She let herself relax and slow down in her stroll.
It was only when the acrid – to her, at least – smell of chalk reached her nose that the peace was shattered and replaced by psychedelic colours and haziness...
"Well, now...This is a significant change in atmosphere..." I look around us and find drawings that could only have been made by the hand of a child. The little bells chiming almost make everything seem better. Almost. Because it's the person beside me who's really helping me, "But nothing we can't handle. Let's go, Ib!"
The waitress writing the specials in chalk looked up as she heard a girl shrieking. She looked down again once seeing that the girl – who had fascinating red eyes – was fine; she had only tripped up. However, the girl had a strange look on her face; that of an estranged person. The waitress shook her head and sighed. If she slacked off and started day-dreaming, she would certainly get fired.
Ib shook her head and kept on walking. What were these visions? And now, they were threatening to wound her; she was tripping up on her own feet after having them for God's sake! Yes. She was definitely tripping. She had barely recovered from this when a little girl came up to Ib and asked her,
"Excuse me, can you help me find my toy box?" Everything faded away, even the colour of the sky, even the persistent voice of the little girl, even the feel of the ground under Ib's feet...
"This is the toy box?" He says as we look into the depths of the box, "It's rather big. But at any rate...It said there was a key in there...I can't say I see the bottom," He squinted, trying to see but to no avail, "Is there really a key in there, I wonder?" Suddenly, a shadow falls upon us and a voice breathes down on our necks.
"Wanna see?" Before I can turn around, a hand pushes me into the depths and darkness of the toy box.
"EXCUSE ME!" The little girl waved her hand in front of Ib's face. Her parents suddenly arrived.
"Annie! Didn't we already tell you not to cause trouble to other people?!" The father scolded. The little girl pouted.
"But she was going to help me look for my toy box, Daddy!" The girl complained. As the two continued to argue, the mother came up to Ib.
"I am so sorry; she wasn't too annoying was she? Are you okay?" She asked with a concerned look on her face that did not seem to be only for her daughter.
"No, she wasn't annoying," Ib replied kindly with a smile, "Although quite persistent."
"Well that's our little Annie," The mother said, sighing.
"I think it's good; I wouldn't budge from my mother's side or speak to many people for ages," Ib countered.
"My, I wish Annie was like that," The mother thought aloud, then added, "Thank you for not being mean about it."
"You're welcome," Ib said with a polite smile and departed. When she was walking away, she looked back and saw the family smiling and laughing and smiled herself for real, however, feeling slightly sorrowful. Worst was, she had no idea why she should feel sad, considering she had a wonderful family too. Yet she still felt like she had a hole in her heart for some unknown reason.
"Mum?! Dad?! I'm home!" Ib called as she slammed the front door shut. No answer. Ib sighed and dropped her bag at the entrance of her room, then went out in the garden. She found her mother getting angry at her phone and laughed quietly, "Are you okay, Mum?" Her mother immediately looked up from her phone and smiled in obvious relief.
"I was getting worried, Ib! You were taking so long and I was scared something might have happened-!" The mother hyperventilated until Ib stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Mum! I took five more minutes than usual!" She said with a confused smile, "Besides, I'm a big girl now!"
"Well you're still my little baby to me," Her mother said, pinching her cheeks playfully as Ib turned her head and sighed. Then, she saw a packet of cigarettes and turned to her mother with wide eyes.
"Mum! I thought you quit!" She exclaimed, shocked to find that her mother, after five years, had taken up the habit again. The mother laughed, as Ib simply stared, completely confused.
"Those are your father's, Ib!" The mother explained and then added, "Did you really think that I would start again after five years? He just went to get a lighter." Lighter. Lighter... The word rang in Ib's head several times before the now familiar haze of confusion swept over her mind...
"Burn them...It completely slipped my mind, even though I have a lighter..." He flicks the lighter and the flames engulf the vines, turning them into ash, "Success! It worked-"
"IB!" Her mother's worried voice snapped Ib away from the hallucination.
"What's the matter, Mum?" She asked and her mother sighed melodramatically.
"Your eyes looked vacant!" Her mother said with exaggerated worry. Well not exaggerated for her. Ib's mother was not the chill type, so to speak.
"I'm okay," Ib sighed inwardly, "I'm going to go do my homework; see you later!"
Ib ran up the steps two by two and into her bedroom. Closing the door, she picked up her school bag and placed it near her bed, which she flopped down onto. What the hell was happening to her? Ib was seriously considering medical advice until she thought about something else. Something else that had happened today that was strange. Ib took out the drawing of the rose that she had made in Art that morning. She looked at the strokes for a second and frowned. It still seemed familiar...Suddenly; she widened her eyes and gasped.
AN: Thanks for reading! Also, sorry for the late update - I just got back to school and it's already hectic. Next one in a day or two c:
