Chapter 4
I awoke to what I could vaguely identify as singing. The words were mixing together and faint, and it was only until my mind tried to process the words when I could hear the voice distinctly.
Sitting up, I looked around for the voice. My eyes met with familiar brown hair.
Ib was singing. Her back was turned to me, and she was poised in front of a counter which was obviously too tall for her. She was platformed on a white stool, her hands busy with something I could only guess was cutting something.
Her voice was quiet, shy almost, as if she was afraid to be heard.
"If someone said three years from now, you'd be long gone. I'd stand up and punch them now. Cause they're all wrong. I know better, cause you said forever. And ever. Who knew?"
I smiled and rolled over, feigning sleep. If she knew I was awake, she might become more self conscious of herself than she already was. I knew the feeling.
"Remember when we were such fools, and so convinced, and just too cool? Oh oh, oh oh. I wish I could touch you again. I wish I could still call you friend. I'd give anything."
I knew who she was thinking about. Gary. The only other person in that god awful museum, the one person who gave her comfort and solace. Safety and warmth. Where was he now? She must be heartbroken to be without him.
"When someone said, 'count your blessings now, for they're long gone.' I guess I just didn't know how, I was all wrong. But they knew better, still you said forever. And ever. Who knew?"
She must be so lonely. They were incredibly close, and I doubt Misao or Aya, or even I, could fill that gaping hole Gary had left.
Another thought crossed my mind. If there was a chance to save Viola, then would that mean Mary is here too? But…her painting was destroyed. There was no way she could—
A loud noise, similar to that of many cannons firing at once, jolted my into a sitting position, and caused Ib to fall off her stool.
I hopped off the bed and dashed over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You okay?"
Ib nodded and hissed lightly, cradling her hand to her chest. "Mostly," she replied. She held out her hand to show me a large cut across her palm. At that moment, a red petal fell from her pocket.
"Oh no." She looked around frantically, her eyes suddenly widening. "No no no no!" She jumped to her feet and dashed to where a broken vase had fallen. She pulled out her rose and tried to catch it in the water seeping into the cracks of the floor, unfortunately coming up empty handed. "No no no, NO!" she cried. Ib fell back onto her knees and began crying. "No…" she sobbed.
I gingerly made my way over to her. Kneeling down, I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her up, cradling her to my chest. Ib's hands fisted into my vest like a lifeline.
"How many petals left?" I asked softly.
"T-two," she whimpered. "I-I was trying to make you something to eat for when you woke u-up…" She broke into another bout of sobs.
I rocked her in my arms gently, thinking for a moment before opening my mouth.
"Dancing bears, painted wings," I started softly. "Things I almost remember. And a song someone sings. Once upon a December.."
Ib seemed familiar with the song.
"Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm," she continued. "Figures dancing gracefully. Across my memory."
"Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart, used to know
Once upon a December.
"Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
"Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
"And a song someone sings
Once upon a December…"
I sat back down on the bed I'd been laying on earlier, shifting Ib so she lay more comfortably against me. Her eyes slowly closed, and soon her breathing evened out. I began running a hand through her hair, combing out the knots and uneven areas.
Only two petals left, I began thinking. Of course she'd be tired. We have to find a full vase soon, considering the other one…
I looked over at the porcelain shards scattered on the tile. Ib's only way of surviving on low health…
I heard a low chuckling from behind me. Turning, I immediately regretted that action. I had barely enough time to secure Ib in my hold as I took cover behind the bed, when the sound of several, if not more than earlier, cannons fired. Ib pressed her hands tightly over her ears, and I barely saw a beam of light in my peripheral vision above us.
"It's her," Ib whimpered. "She's out, she's out and we don't have help." She began sobbing again.
"Shh, Ib it's alright," I cooed softly, trying to mask my nervousness. Who is "she?" Ellen? Yoshino? My eyes widened when I realised who Ib had meant.
A high pitched giggle filled the air.