"Can you help me find the real Gary also? I don't want to be..." he seized his jacket sleeve "...this anymore! I don't want to be a monster! I just want to be the old me- the Ib-hugging, art-loving, scary-thing-hating, cowardly Gary!" Gary started sobbing heavily. He screamed through the sobs, "I don't want to be a monster! I hate this monster inside of me!"
"... I HATE HIM!"
Ib felt hot tears fall onto her face. She gasped a small, quiet sob. Gary turned around. "Ib I-" Gary stopped and looked at Suzy and Damien. "... I don't want to see them like this... full of fear..." He murmured. He stood up abruptly. His eyes watered, then a single, small tear fell onto his distorted face. As soon as it touched his skin, it disintegrated with a small puff of smoke. Gary turned and ran off towards the doll room.
"I hate monsters. He reminds of my sister when she gets angry..." Suzy said softly. Damien coughed and cleared his throat. He hands balled into fists, nails digging into his palms. Damien gritted his teeth and looked up at the dank ceiling. "Ahh yes, about that..."
What's wrong, my lord?hummed the dolls. They tugged at Gary's pant leg, butted his heel, but that only made Gary walk faster. His face burned, his heart pounded hard, and his blood rushed through his body. His breathing turned to sharp, rough gasps. "Leave me alone!" he managed to wheeze. The Lady in Red looked down at him from her painting. She dropped an old sketchbook. Don't hold your feelings back, king. She said with a smile. Gary dropped down to the floor and seized the notepad. Gary ran his fingers through his hair, weeping heavily. "M-my f-friends h-hate me!" stuttered Gary. Were they ever truly your friends?she asked. Gary looked up. "Of course! I mean..." The Lady in Red smiled, showing her glistening teeth. She held out her hand. Join us Gary. Join the gallery. We can be here forever.Gary reached out when...
"Gary? Gary where are you? Help me! PLEASE! Gary!" a familiar voice called out in Gary's head. Gary drew back his hand. "I must go!" Exclaimed Gary. He ran off in the direction where he left Ib.
Dolls surrounded Suzy, Damien, and Ib. They grabbed at the kid's clothes, scratching their ankles, tearing bits of clothing. YOU HAVE ANGERED OUR KING YOU HAVE SADDENED OUR KING YOU HAVE ANGERED OUR KING YOU HAVE SADDENED OUR KING NOW DIE!
Suzy screamed out a long "NOOOOOOOO~" before the dolls dragged her under.
Gary rounded a corner to see the attacking dolls. "IB! NO!" roared Gary. Then, the lights flickered off. They were in total darkness for ten seconds. Then the lights flickered back on, and Gary met a horrific sight.
Suzy and Damien were hung by their necks in a scraggly noose. 偽りhad been carved into Suzy's chest, and 怒りwas carved into Damien's. Ib lay covered in scratches and blood, dolls gripping onto each limb. Ib called out urgently, "GARY HELP ME! THEY WANT TO HANG ME NEXT!"
Gary was quick to recover. He flung a doll off Ib's right arm and cried out "Mannequins, statues and Ladies in Red, blue, yellow and green, kill them! They have disobeyed their king!" Gary pointed at the dolls, which dropped Ib and tried to scramble off. Ib covered her eyes and collapsed onto the cold, blood-stained floor. She didn't move. Paintings and statues chased the dolls. Everything was in complete pandemonium. Gary felt the burning in his face subside, and his pulse settled down. He picked up the unconscious Ib in his arms.
He spotted a dark, shadowy figure kneeling next to the corpses of Suzy and Damien. The man cut them free from the noose, and stroked their heads. "No... not again..." he sighed a short, low sigh. "I guess I'm the only one left..." He raised his head and looked straight at Gary.
The man was rather tall, about 6 feet tall, with black hair with purple highlights and deep purple eyes. He wore a reaper's hooded robe over casual looking clothes. He stared a Gary mournfully. "W-who are you?" Gary asked. "Hmm? Oh, my name's Wraith. I'm a painting, just like my brothers and sisters." the stranger said in a silky voice. How straightforward... Gary thought. Wraith looked at the comatose Ib. "Hey, I know a room up ahead where she can rest." He said lightly. He pointed down a long hallway. "Next to the first doorway, go straight through the wall. There's a secret room with no dangerous stuff in it. Just books." He seems trustworthy... Gary mused. Gary nodded, shifting his weight to support the limp Ib. "Thanks." Gary nodded his head appreciatively. Wraith picked up a doll and handed him to Gary. "Here you go! Anyway, I have to go. But I have a feeling we'll cross paths again..." With that, Wraith walked off into the blackness, leaving his dead brother and sister behind.
Gary stared after him for a moment, then walked off to the hallway. Sure enough, there was a secret room filled with books, just as Wraith had said. Gary laid Ib down gently, set the doll on a bookcase and picked up a random book.
Gary read aloud, "'Guertena once created a family of paintings in secret. Four siblings, two boys and two girls. The eldest sibling appeared to be around the age of 20, while the youngest around 9. Here are the siblings:
Wraith of all that is true and all that is lies
"Guertena made this to honor a friend he said had died, it incompeces all the lies and truths that he had said over his life, quoted Guertena." the missing left hand represents the conseqence of lies"
The Hunter "Guertena painted this picture to show the pride and unity between a young man and his (tamed?) fox. This is signified by the suit the man is wearing and the white and red roses embroidering the painting.
Innocence "Depicted is a pretty girl who looks about twelve, with large golden eyes. It is said Guertena created her as companion to his other painting ..."
"? The rest of the page has been burned." Gary said slowly. Just then, Ib sat up sleepily. Gary crouched down and looked Ib straight in her eyes. "Ib it's me, Gary, are you okay?" Ib tilted her head. "Mary?" she asked. Gary shook his head. "No, Mary's gone remember?" Gary stated gently, putting a cold wet handkerchief on her head. Ib blinked shyly. "I'm sorry for burning you, Mary. I wanted to be your friend, I honestly did... but I don't want Gary or me to die either." Ib went silent, listening, then beamed. "You forgive me? Yay!" Ib abruptly stood up and hugged someone invisible. Gary grabbed Ib by her shoulders and shook her violently. "Ib! Ib, Mary's dead! There's no one there!" He shouted in her face. She's not giving me the silent treatment... she really doesn't know I'm here! Ib wandered over to the bookcases and picked up the doll off the shelf. Gary stood by her side, gazing at her worriedly. Ib smiled down at the doll. "Hmm? Gary's speaking to me? But there's no one here... well except for Mary and you..." She looked straight through Gary. "Where is Gary?"
Author's Note: Thank you The Dark Denizen for suggesting me the amazing OC Wraith! No seriously, thank you so much ^_^ Also, 偽りmeans 'falsehood/lies/fabrication' in Japanese, and 怒りis 'anger'.