Chapter 5

I frantically looked around for an exit. If I was fast enough, I could get us out and begin searching for Misao and Aya.

"Ib?" Mary called. "Why did you leave?" Her voice kept changing pitch and tempo, causing Ib to shiver violently. I ran a hand through her hair once more, shifting to my knees. The door was only a few yards away. If I was fast, I could outrun the painting girl and preserve what little hope Ib had left.

Arms tightening around Ib, I crouched, ready to launch.

"Ib?" called Mary once more. "Where are you? You said we'd be friends! Why are you hiding?" Her voice was nearing, her shoes clacking on the tile floor.

"Hold on tight," I told Ib quietly. She nodded and complied, her arms wrapping around my neck and her legs wrapped around my torso. My hands settled on her body to support and shield her, and without a second thought, I dashed for the door. I felt Ib's face press against my collarbone.

"IB!" screamed Mary.

My shoes thudded dully against the long, winding hallway floor. I skidded to a stop at a fork. My breath was heavy, my chest hurt. But I knew I couldn't stop now. I had to protect Ib until this was over. All of them. I can't leave their sides.

"Left," Ib murmured softly. "Go to the left and keep right."

I nodded and stroked her back comfortingly. "Thank you, Ib. I promise we'll find a vase soon. Go ahead and rest." She nodded and I began brisk pace down the left hall, soon feeling Ib relax again. It felt nice, to have someone I felt like I could protect. Being an only child, sometimes you yearn to have a younger sibling to protect.

Following Ib's instructions, I soon came to a brightly lit area. Squinting, I could vaguely see Misao and Aya. My eyes adjusted to the sudden light and noticed we were in a garden. The two girls were sitting under a large tree next to a well and a small pond.

"We heard the noise," Aya said. "How many petals?"

"Two," I responded.

Misao reached into a satchel that sat at her feet, pulling out a vase delicately wrapped in towels and blankets. Walking to the pond, she filled the vase with water. "For some reason, vases immediately purify water for the roses."

I placed Ib at the base of the tree, next to Aya. Gingerly, rose in hand, I walked to Misao and placed the crimson flower in the vase. In a small beam of light, the rose fully bloomed. I heard Ib stir.

"Ib!" I cried. I knelt in front of the girl, whose ruby eyes stared into mine. I held out the rose to her, and she gratefully took it.

"Th-thank you," she murmured. "Aya, Misao, i-it's Mary. I think she may have released Ellen!" My eyes widened to the size of saucers.

Misao nodded. "Yes she has." She poured the water back into the pond and rewrapped the vase, placing it back in her satchel.

Ib looked at me longingly and held out her arms, indicating she wanted to be carried again. I happily complied.

After I had Ib settled on my back with my arms around her, and hers around me, Misao led us through a weed-filled patch of shrubbery towards a rusty gate covered in vines.

"Ib must trust you deeply if she wants you to continue carrying her," Misao commented lightly.

My face grew hot immediately, and I felt Ib bury her face in my shoulder. These actions made Misao and Aya laugh.

Walking through the gate, Aya led us through a dense wood, chainsaw in hand.

"We must be careful," she explained. "Viola might not know it's us. We'll have to find her."

"Wait," I started. "Are we—"

"Going to the house?" Misao finished. She nodded. "We need to let Viola know we can help. Ben, would you be willing to keep guard while Aya and I search rooms?" I tightened my grip on Ib and nodded. "Aya and I have agreed that if anything should happen to us," Misao continued. "You take Ib and run. Escape the house and find shelter." She dug in her satchel and pulled out a flare gun.

Where does she get these?! I wondered briefly as the gun was clipped to my belt.

"Fire this once you escape. A friend of ours is nearby somewhere. She'll see it and come find you," Aya explained.

I nodded, shifting Ib more securely against my back. "Hold on tight, Ib." I felt her nod against my back.

Misao pushed open the heavy wooden door and led us in.