A/N: Wheeew. This is a long chapter... Well, as always, read, review, and enjoy! :D
This new room branched off into three sections. The one on Linda's left was a small room with little furnishings. There was a painting of a blue smiley face etched onto a black canvas, a completely white painting, and another weird writing desk. The odd thing about the room was that the blue smiley face in the canvas had a tongue that stuck out and wiggled back and forth. Linda decided to ignore that particular painting since she didn't want to deal with anymore corrupt ones. However, the painting clearly didn't like that because it spat a gooey blue glob at her when she attempted to walk pass it. Linda jerked back and avoided the glob just in time to watch it sail by and sink into the ground with a hiss. Okay, now I am DEFINITELY not going anywhere near that thing. Linda sidestepped around the glob and continued to the all-white painting next to it. Curious as to why anyone would display a blank painting, Linda walked up to before she could properly examine it, there was a scribble from the writing desk again. Linda turned around to peer at the book to see if the gibberish words had appeared again.
{A/N: Again. Greeeeek! You know what? Dramatic irony. There. XD}
Raven, Linda 003et2: Survived Trial Two
Linda didn't know much about what it said, but she did know that whatever it was, it was the first thing on the page. Flipping through the book, she saw many other symbols like the one she kept seeing. The first half looked like a name, but she couldn't really decipher what the second part meant. She just knew it was there for everyone else too. Linda came to the conclusion that the gallery was keeping a tab on the people who came through. I wonder how many of these people got out alive, Linda pondered as she flipped the book back to the page it started out on. Not really wanting to elaborate on that depressing thought, Linda turned back to the white painting she had originally intended to inspect.
The painting really was just white. Even looking at it from different angles didn't make a difference. Linda stared at the painting, puzzled, and just when she was about to give up, she noticed a small red speck of dust in the middle of the painting. However, when she tried to blow it off, it didn't budge. Linda reached up and tried to brush it off, but then she realized that it was actually a part of the painting. I guess it's not blank after all. It was a very miniscule thing and, squinting closer, Linda was able to make out a barely noticeable red 9. Hmm, that's weird. Why would they try so hard to conceal a number nine? I'm actually surprised I missed it. Red isn't exactly a subtle color… Linda made a mental note of the nine and then turned around to see if she could find anything else that was odd about the room.
After a minute or so of trying, Linda decided that there really wasn't anything else and she walked off in the opposite direction, passing a hallway perpendicular to the path she was walking on. She would go back there later. Continuing on her current path, Linda saw a red protruding object on the wall to her left at the very end of the hall. Then, out of nowhere, there was a scribble noise to her immediate left that made Linda jumped a little. She stopped to read what it said and saw what appeared to be a warning in glaring yellow paint.
"BEWARE OF LIPS" it read. What the heck? Lips? Linda furrowed her brow in confusion as she diverted her attention towards the end of the hallway. Sure enough, the protruding objects were actually lips. Linda approached it cautiously but stood at a distance. She didn't dare go closer. However, she didn't need to, since the lips spoke out anyways.
"Hungry… Give food…" It spoke in a booming voice. Then, without warning, it stretched out and tried to bite Linda. Linda jumped back, but, luckily for her, she was far back enough for it to miss her completely. The lips retracted into place and Linda stood still, baffled. She wasn't sure what it wanted, but she was sure as hell that she didn't want to be … Err lip food? Wall food? Whatever it was, it wasn't going to be her. Linda slowly slinked away as if to not upset the lips again. Once she was a good enough distance away, Linda turned around and walked towards the hallway she had passed up earlier. At the entrance, she noticed a little plaque causally scattered on the floor. Linda directed her gaze to the ground and read it out loud.
"Just when you've forgotten…" Forgotten what?! Linda looked desperately at the hallway in front of her and felt a small sense of déjà vu. The hallway in front of her was about the same size and had the same ominous air as…. as… as what?! Linda couldn't figure it out, but she felt like she needed to or she wouldn't make it out alive…. Or I won't make it out alive… Wait! Beware the edges! I think. Linda felt as if she just had the epiphany of the century, even though it was uncertain.
Tentatively, Linda walked down the middle of the hallway. Halfway through, Linda began to wonder if she was wrong, but then the familiar roar boomed through the hallway. She didn't even have time to think before the arm shot out from the wall. Linda only jumped a little bit, but she was glad to find that, like before, the arm couldn't really reach her when she stood in the middle. Linda let out a deep breath or relief and continued walking. At the end, Linda saw that the hallway split up into two paths. The one to her left had a door at the end wall, and the one on her right had realistic dolls hanging by their legs in an array of red and blue clothing. Yeah, no, that's not going happen. Then Linda thought a bit about everything that has happened so far. Well, at least it's not going to happen willingly. Linda immediately turned left and walked towards the door. When Linda got to the door, she noticed that there were yellow words painted on the side.
"The Liar's Room"
Linda wasn't sure what it meant, but she had a feeling she was about to find out. Linda tried the door knob and was mildly surprised that it opened. She was relieved though because she hated looking for keys or stinkin' pieces.
Inside of the room, there were six paintings of dark skinned figures clothed in different colored garments on the wall opposite to her. There was also a door directly in the middle of the paintings, evenly splitting it so that there were three paintings on either side of that door. Each painting had small inscriptions in yellow paint underneath them. Linda walked to the one of the far left, wary of the painting jumping out at any second. Up close, she could read the inscription. The first one was a dark figure clothed in green. The faceless figure looked friendly enough, or at least non-threatening. He, Linda was guessing it was a he, was standing there with one hand by his pocket and one hand frozen in a casual wave.
"Stand in front of the statue,
go west 3 steps, then south 1 step.
That's the answer!"
Linda wondered if all these paintings were liars or something, because she didn't see any statue. Nevertheless, she continued reading. The next painting seemed more aloof. He was standing there in a brown garment, which faintly resembled a sleeveless hoodie, with his hands casually hanging by his side. He didn't have a face, but if he did, Linda suspected it would be an indifferent one whereas the last one she saw would be smiling.
"Stand in front of the statue,
go east 4 steps, then north 2 steps.
That's the answer!"
The next one was dressed in yellow. His posture seemed like one of those soldiers. His arms were an equal distance apart from his body and his legs were pressed together. He reminded Linda of an arrow. It looked like he could be holding two weapons the way his arm leaned away from his body, but Linda brushed aside the thought as she read the inscription.
"The one in white speaks the truth!"
The one in white? Linda looked down the row and saw a dark figure in a long white dress. She, Linda was pretty sure it was a she, seemed to be doing a dance of sorts as one arm was lifted high into the sky and the other arm held the hem of her dress, frozen in mid-twirl.
"Stand in front of the statue,
go east 2 steps, then south 2 steps.
That's the answer!"
Where is this statue?! They are talking about? IS there even a statue? Then Linda remembered the door. There was a loud smack as her palm connected to her face. How could she forget the glaring door in the middle of the room? Dragging her fingers slowly off her face, she eyed the door warily. Did she dare? Yes. Linda hastily ran to the door and grabbed the door knob, turning it, before she could change her mind. In the room, there were small squares lined up on the floor throughout the room in a uniform manner. The squares seemed very loose, like there was something underneath them, but Linda didn't want to give in to her curiosity and end up dead. Because curiosity killed the cat, right? Linda directed her gaze towards the middle of the room where a gleaming statue of armor stood. Linda walked up to it and felt a cool breeze through the holes in its helmet. However, it wasn't just a nice breeze, it carried words from the statue to Linda's ears.
"There's an odd one out…" Linda finally understood. If there was an odd one out, that means that one of those paintings in The Liar's Room is a truth-teller, for lack of a better word. Linda ran back outside the room to read the remaining paintings. The one to the immediate right of the door was dressed in blue and had one hand tucked in his pocket, and the other hand was hanging loosely by his side. He seemed to be very calm. Underneath, it read:
"The only truth-speaker wears green!"
That means that the green one is a liar as well. Linda crossed off green and blue from her mental list. When she did, she felt the very air go cold. The paintings that looked down on her seemed to give off a malicious vibe. The chill atmosphere she got from the blue-clothed figure dissipated and she could've sworn the faceless face scowled at her. Linda shook the goose bumps off and moved onto the last painting, skipping over the white one. This last one was clothed in a red dress flowing to her knees. Her hands were clasped together to the side, as if she were holding invisible flowers. Or an invisible axe. Linda shivered as the thought crossed her mind.
"I agree with the one in yellow!"
The one in yellow, huh? Yellow agreed with White, so White, Red, and Yellow are all liars. Linda pondered the riddle with her makeshift names. That leaves…. The one in brown. The temperature got even lower as Linda walked back to the brown one. Every painting she passed felt like they were staring daggers into her back. However, when she got to the one with the brown hoodie, she felt the peace and warmth again. This is definitely the truth. Linda read his inscription again. When she had it memorized, she looked up into the blank face and couldn't help but feel a sense of immense sorrow. I may be getting way too attached, but why does it feel like I won't see him again? Linda reached up and touched the glass as a sign of gratitude. She felt the painting hum and the sorrow contained behind the glass. Thank you, she mouthed before walking to the door. Linda couldn't help but give the painting one last look before opening the door and walking in.
The statue of armor looked just like it had before. Linda walked up to the statue, counted 4 steps east, and 2 steps north. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up the tile beneath her feet and heard a click. On the back of the tile, there was a small purple 4. That's it?! Linda barely had time to think of a more lengthy response when all of a sudden there was a screeching boom outside her room followed in quick succession by slashing and choking noises and finally the sound of glass shattering. Oh no. Linda ran back outside and stumbled into a horrifying scene.
The liars were splattered in a bright crimson liquid. Linda walked around and noticed that each of the liars was holding a knife in their spare hand, except the red one. The yellow one had two knives and the red one was holding a sledgehammer. Besides the blood-like paint, those five paintings were in mint condition, but Linda couldn't say the same about the one who helped her. His frame had been torn off in more than one place and there was a large gaping hole in the bottom right of his glass. The hole splintered off and crimson paint covered his black face. The yellow quote beneath him was replaced by a large slash of blood-like paint. Though all the other paintings were splattered with the crimson paint here and there, the brown one was drowning in it. All the quotes underneath the other paintings had changed to one yellow word.
"Liar!"
Linda couldn't help but notice that on all of the murder weapons, there was that same crimson paint. They all killed him. But why?! Linda fumed. Because he told the fucking truth?! Because he didn't try to kill or ruin me?! She hated to see others hurt on her behalf. Linda walked up to the broken painting and she let her anger boil. She had to avenge him. She couldn't just let things end like that! Maybe he was just a painting, or maybe he wasn't even alive, but Linda KNEW she felt his warmth in the cold aura of malice, and she wasn't about to let that warmth die for nothing. Linda slammed her hand against the wall near the shattered painting and rested her head where his chest was. She felt the warm paint pour down onto her face. It felt so much like blood.
MURDERERS! They're all murderers! Linda pulled away from the painting and looked at the painting next to the broken frame. The featureless face seemed to be smiling smugly and mockingly at her. Linda couldn't take it. Pulling her fist back, she slammed it into the blank face. She could feel the smugness change into shock as her fist connected to the glass. Then, there was no more emotion floating around. The glass shattered as Linda rammed her fist into the painting. Shards of glass cascaded down and the gut wrenching pain told Linda that a petal had fallen off of her rose.
But she didn't care.
Blood dripped from her fist making a bloody trail as she moved from liar to liar. Five perfectly good paintings were shattered. All in the face. By the end of the ordeal, Linda had lost 5 petals and her fist was bleeding profusely. The numbness and adrenaline were gone and now the pain rushed to her. Linda pushed it aside and limped out the door, not once looking back at the carnage she'd just caused.
Linda sank down on the wall right outside the door and, using her teeth, tore her right sleeve off and wrapped her bleeding hand with it. She knew she needed to find a vase, but she didn't have high hopes for finding one. After all, she had JUST used one, and, after what she'd just witnessed, she was pretty sure this gallery wasn't very generous. Linda stayed there for a bit to catch her breath and let the pain subside before standing up. The pain had dulled enough to let her walk somewhat normally. Linda decided to brave the hall of dolls, seeing as how she had nothing left to explore, and trudged onwards.
There were a total of six strings, but only five dolls. The last string held a severed doll's foot dangling amicably from the ceiling. Linda didn't even want to consider anything about that. Linda walked past all the dolls and reached a golden door at the end on the hallway to her left. The door was surrounded by green foliage in an indent in the wall. Linda tried to open the door, but there was no doorknob. There was a little combination lock though. Linda saw three rotating dials set at 0 0 0. On top of the lock was a little clue.
"X x X + X = ?"
The large X's each had a specific color. The first X was green, the second red, and the last one was purple. Wait. I've found a red 9, and a purple 4. Am I just missing green? Linda looked around her vicinity. All that was left were the dolls. Linda walked over to the one nearest to the ground. All the other dolls were out of reach. The doll she walked up to was one of the red ones. Linda reached up to the doll to search on its clothes or something for a number. However, the moment when her hand touched the doll, a thud resonated behind her. Linda jumped, quickly turning towards the sound. The other red doll that had been hanging above now laid sprawled out on the ground. There was a white tag sticking out of the doll's clothes. Suspiciously, Linda walked over to the doll and inspected it. Sure enough, there was a green 18 printed finely on the tag. Linda walked back over to the door.
So 18 x 9 + 4 =… Umm. Linda pondered over the answer for a bit, casually writing numbers in the air, before putting i on the dial. Math wasn't her strongest subject, but luckily the door clicked and opened. Linda pushed the door and walked into a room full of trees. This isn't an exit. Linda thought, disappointed. She was sure this room was going to be a way out. She didn't remember where there were any other doors. Nevertheless, Linda looked around the room for clues, not allowing herself to give up. There was a large painting of a tree on the wall in the back, and in front of her was an apple. Linda walked up to the apple to look at it when it wiggled and fell out of the tree. Linda jumped back in astonishment as it landed with a thud. She carefully picked it up to examine it. It was a wooden apple.
Well, what use is this if I can't eat it? Then Linda remembered the wooden fish. That served as a key in the weird cat room, maybe this is a key somehow…Suddenly, Linda remembered something else that didn't make much sense. Well, not a lot of things made sense in this gallery, but they were all connected somehow. The small room at the front gave her the red 9, The Liar's Room revealed the purple 4, and the creepy hanging dolls gave her the green 18. The only 'thing' that didn't really do anything was the… LIPS! Linda quickly pocketed the apple and walked out. The lips were hungry, right? Maybe this wooden apple is the key to a hidden door or something! And as far-fetched as that is, I wouldn't put it past it that it'll actually work! Linda hurriedly made her way back to the lips. While going down the connecting hallway, she made sure to keep clear of the wall and good thing too, for when she made the trip back, an arm shot out from her right and scared the ever living crap out of her – again. Linda screamed and veered off her path onto the opposite wall. Panting, she slowly made her way back to the middle, all the while glaring at the unwelcomed visitor. Linda finished her trek to the lips with the utmost caution. When she got to the wall with the lips, she reached for the apple as it spoke.
"Hungry… Give food…" Linda pulled out the apple as, right on cue, the lips added, "That food… Give to me…" Linda extended her arm out to the lips and prayed that it wouldn't chomp her hand off in the process. The lips stretched out and bit the apple cleanly off of her hand then licked its lips – or it licked itself…? Whatever the proper classification was, Linda could hear the teeth grind the wooden apple to pieces. The crunches were loud and audible. Thank God it didn't eat my arm. Linda was sure it could've easily devoured her arm, bone and all. After it finished its meal, the lips spoke again. "This tasty… I let you pass now… Go through my mouth…" Wait, Linda thought, what? Why would I- she stopped mid-thought as the 'jaw', or whatever it was the lips were attached to, unhinged like a snake to reveal a passageway through the throat. Linda peered into the dark mouth suspiciously, but she could make out another room at the end of the 'throat'. Okay. This door beats the cat wall in level of weirdness by a long shot, Linda grimaced as her foot squished on the tongue and walked through to the other room.
A/N: Poor Linda XD I'd be grossed out by tongue-like floors too... So what did you guy think of my longer chapter? :D Also what did you guys think of Linda's burst of anger? Was it called for, justified? Or was it too random and dumb? :O
Thanks for supporting and reading! :D
Big thanks to my beta InuChimera7410! I lah you lots Jar B Kat! XD lessthan3 Go check out her great fanfic of Hiei X OC! (but be sure to come back to me because I love you guys! lessthan3)