"Wraith… he… he…" Ib lowered her head into hands, which were shaking. "Yes, honey? What did Wraith do?" Gary asked calmly in a low voice, patting her back gently. "He… he… DIED!" Ib wailed. Gary paused. Wraith? Dead? Impossible. "He died?" Gary said softly. Ib nodded, still sobbing.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that." said a low, silky voice from the doorway.
Gary looked up at the doorway. Standing there in his shadowy black robe, a smiling Wraith turned his head towards Ib. "Hello, Ib. Hello, Gary. Pleasure meeting you there." he said smoothly.
From around the corner, two heads poked out, a wide-eyed girl and a weary-looking boy. "Ib-chan!" cried the girl, and she stepped into the room. The other two also walked into the room.
The girl stood over Ib, smiling broadly, her white lacy tunic glittering with a strange, iridescent sheen. The girl knelt down, her sugar-brown hair sweeping over the side of her head and tickling Ib's nose. "What's wrong?" Ib glanced up.
Her eyes widened and she scrambled backwards hastily. "Y-y-you're supposed to b-be dead!" Her voice was bordering on hysteria, and the panic showed in her eyes. Suzy huffed. "Well that's not a very nice thing to say! And to think, I came back from the dead for you and this is the thanks I get?! Rude!" "Suzy, don't lie." Damien said quietly. Suzy batted her eyelashes innocently. "Sorry, brother dear!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Gary saw Wraith clench his fist and glare at Suzy. Wraith doesn't like Suzy? Gary thought. Damien silently walked up to Gary and tapped his shoulder. Gary flinched. "We're here to help you and Ib." Damien said softly. Gary nodded slowly, not sure whether to trust him or not. Suzy nodded in agreement to Damien. "We're here to help you get out of this hellhole of a gallery!" Damien patted Suzy's head softly. "No cussing, Suzy. It's not polite." She laughed.
"I-I don't understand… I saw all of you die right before my very eyes." Ib spoke slowly to conceal her fear. Wraith walked up to her and half-smiled. "Well, you can't hang a painting." He blinked, realized what he just said and laughed. Wraith's laugh seemed to break the tension in the air. Gary smiled and sighed. Suzy giggled. Ib seemed to ease up a little. "As for me… well, think of it as if that was only a part of me that died."
As if all her worries had disappeared, Ib nodded and gave a little laugh. Gary stared at her in amazement. How long had it been since he heard Ib laugh? Wait- did he ever?
As he was pondering this, Suzy took Gary's hand and smiled up at him. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. I promise!" Gary looked down at Suzy, staring at her bright, golden eyes. Gary felt a sinking feeling arise in him- was it unsettlement? Mistrust? He faked a smile and tried to pry his hand out of Suzy's grip, but she clung on. "I promise." She smiled broadly again. Gary felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. What am I thinking? She's a little girl! " … Just like Mary." A little voice in his mind whispered. Gary flinched.
Damien cleared his throat. "Anyways, the escape route you used to escape from the gallery before burned down. But we found another way." The three siblings closed their eyes in unison, and said, "We just need you to trust us."
Ib and Gary glanced at each other. After a 5-second silent exchange, Gary found himself nodding along with Ib. Suzy gave a shrill, little laugh. "Excellent!" She exclaimed.
Damien whistled, and moments later, a scarlet fox charged into the room. Gary shrieked "Why is there a fox in here?!" Damien gave a low chuckle. "Don't worry, he's tame. His name is Kitsuu." Damien stroked the fox's head lovingly. "He is my companion." Kitsuu licked Damien's hand, his tail thumping like a dog's. "He can guide us out."
Suzy tittered. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get a move on! See, Wraith's practically halfway out the door already!" Wraith flinched when he heard his name. Head held high, Suzy, Damien, and his fox Kitsuu marched out the door. As Gary followed them, he heard Wraith murmur "Don't trust them… if you value your life… and Ib's." Then Wraith slipped out into the hallway, and disappeared without a trace.