Luna: I'm changing this.

Ib: What?

Luna: This used to be really depressing and desperate, so I'm changing it.

Garry: Oh, right. The corner and mushrooms. You're improving.

Luna: Yes, yes.

Ib: I'm confused.

Luna: You seem to have an issue with forgetfulness, well in any case, just enjoy the chapter!

Ib: You still haven't explained.

Chapter 2: Arrival

'Tree...tree...tree...oh, a bird.'

I stare out of the tinted window as the blue jay soars overhead. I hadn't known blue jays were native to this area. It disappears from my range of sight, but I still look up at a sky dotted with blue and powdered in light gray. I wish I could fly.

As if triggering something, the contents of the dream rush to occupy the front of my mind. The clouds. The purple haired man. The vines and water. The countless times I've dreamt it and how it's kept me awake at night. Even the intense emotions. It makes me feel like something's creeping into my stomach, slowly turning it into a pit of worms.

A faint male voice starts calling me, and I'm confused as to where it's coming from.

Am I imagining things again? "Ib?" That one was louder...I begin to grasp onto the idea that someone is actually repeatedly saying my name.

"Ib!"

"Hm?" I look to the front of the car, not really focusing on anything.

"Did you hear your mother?"

Snapping out of it completely, I set my eyes onto the rear view mirror he's looking into.

"No, I'm sorry, what is it?"

"She asked if you have your handkerchief." His deep sapphire eyes switch back and forth between the road and the mirror.

"Yes, Father. I do."

Mother interrupts, "Good, make sure you have it on your person at all times. You never know when you may need it." She turns to my father, who motions for her, and leans in closer to hear his whispers. It's probably about my spacing out. Dang it, I really need to be more careful.

Meanwhile, in the pocket of my red dress lies the said handkerchief, and inside that sleeps two rose petals. As I begin to pull it out gently, there's another flicker, but from the window this time. I squint my eyes at a strange, white figure. What is that?

At first it didn't process, but then I realized that it wasn't moving away like the rest of the objects outside of the lead colored car. The white form was still.

The sun hid behind a building as we got caught at a red light, letting the light come in from behind me.

A thump resonates in my chest when I see it clearly. A mannequin head?! The car starts moving forward again into sunlight, messing up the reflection.

What the hell!? Without the petals, I take my hand out of my pocket and turn around expecting to find it. It's, not there...It was just...My hands are shaking a bit and my chest feels all jittery.

My eyes are on the spot where it should have been while I turn back around. Once I can barely see it out of the corner of my eye, I look to the window again.

I freeze along with my heart. The mannequin is right by my head.

My pulse quickens and I feel it in my ears. There's a cold breeze, like a breath, that brushes my right ear sending chills down my spine. The face starts to contort making the chills reverberate through the rest of my body-Blood trickles from it's completely dead white eyes and down its cheeks. Numbness is all I feel now. Fainting seems like a likely possibility, but instead my body reacts, spinning around in the seat. Everything rushes past me and black creeps around the corners of my eyes. Again, my eyes meet an unsettling and empty backseat. I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding in, and too loudly since my parents heard.

Their voices are barely recognizable over the ringing. "Is everything okay back there?"

"I'm fine, I just need a bit of air." I roll down the window taking note of my their worried expressions.

With the sensation of the cool wind hitting my face, both my anxiety and light-headedness begin to subside. Silkily, it flows over my mouth, my nose, my eyes, my cheeks. Every time my eyelids close, I can feel their warmth against the coolness of the naked eye. At the same time, a faint and refreshing scent fills my lungs. That scent of moist air is another sign that there will be rain, and soon.

I used to find rainy days strangely calming and peaceful. Just to have the sensation of water against my skin gave me a sense of security. But now, it's filled with unpleasant memories.

I suddenly feel the wind die down, as we approach a beige building.

It's the red brick wall and that black gate. I wonder how I remember those. We pass the gates, the wall, and move onto a cul-de-sac with a small fountain centered in it.

"A-lright! We're here!" My father declares, stating the obvious as he likes to do.

"Oh, darling, I'm so excited!...Just drop us off, you can find parking while we sign in and get pamphlets!" She sounds like a 5 year old going on a field trip, but I don't see the parking lot. Maybe I missed the turn for it. The car pulls up to the main entrance as my mom opens the passenger door.

"Well, the entrance sure is more refined than the last time we came here! Not to mention it's bigger. The renovations just go to show that Guertena's work is being recognized more now."

"Is it? That is, is it bigger now?" I ask while getting out from the back and observing the architecture.

"Yes, it is. They added the two columns on the side and made the arch higher and wider. I wonder what the inside looks like? I bet it's spectacular! Come along Ib, let's head to the front desk." She might-as-well skip to the double doors with her quick footwork, while Father drives off to find a place to park. I wonder if it's hard to find parking in a small area like this. I watch him go into an area secluded by high walls of bushes. So that's where it is.

"Ib, are you coming?"

"Yes, Mother."

She opens the door and I walk in after her into the cooler building. An old man hunches behind the mahogany desk off to our left, which we head toward.

"Hello and welcome, are you here to sign—My, is that you Adeline?"

"Yes, hello Mr. Kervensky. It certainly has been a while, how have you been?"

"Why, wonderful child. Please, drop the formality, there's no need." He chuckles softly. "As you may have been able to tell, I was able to renovate the place a bit. It was thanks to your effort that more now come to this place and enjoy the beauty of art."

"You're giving me far too much credit." I listen to the old man's quivering and gleeful voice reminisce with my mother while I look around. A music note in the corner of the room catches my eye. It sits on the other side of the stairs, which happen to be next to the desk.

"Hmm, is that Ib I see?" I look over to the old man. "My, my. You sure have grown haven't you. When your mother first brought you here you were a but a petite child."

I give him a polite smile, "Hello, it's nice to see you again." Even though I don't quite remember you clearly...and I haven't grown that much.

"Move outta my way!" All three of us look over to where the voice came from.

Two thug looking guys come from an area straight across from the entrance. The one that shouted has brown mohawk-like hair dyed blonde at the tip while the other has green spiky hair. I decide to call one Mohawk and the other Spiky.

They're next to the music note where a middle-aged woman and a young child moved aside as he demanded.

Mr. Kervensky went over right away to mediate the problem, "Please, if you could keep your voice down and not yell at others, I'm sure that there's no need for it. These people are just trying to enjoy the exhibit, they may be bothered by-"

Mohawk cuts in, all high and mighty, "Shut the hell up you old man, we don't take orders."

"I'm just trying to make sure that others are not bothered by it. I would like them to have a pleasant experi-"

"He said shut up you old fart. Are you deaf or somethin'?" Spiky moves in closer to Mr. Kervensky.

"Oh my..."

That is enough! I can't just stand here while an elder gets disrespected! I walk over and stand next to Mr. Kervensky, fumigating but not letting it show. Spiky looks at me, "What do you want, chick? You got a fuckin' problem with us?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do. You should learn some respect."

"That's right," my father's stern voice, startling me a bit, came from behind me, "respecting others is also a way to respect yourself. Which, judging by your actions, you have none, nor do you deserve any." He puts his hand on my shoulder to show his support.

Mohawk scoffs,"Whatever, who gives a fuck about you and your respect bullshit?"

Father glares down at Mohawk. There's a dangerous air surrounding them as they fight for dominance. Finally Mohawk looks away in defeat, "Come on J, we're leaving. There's nothing in this dump to take anyways." The thugs walk past us and I hear Mohawk tell Spiky, "Call Daron, tell him we're getting the fuck out."

Mr. Kervensky lets out a heavy sigh.

"What vulgar young men," my mother says with a hint of horror. I stare at the way the left.

"Yes well, you see, I do get troubled people, such as those, from time to time coming here. Believe it or not, they come to relax and make peace with themselves. Though they may look rebellious, they are simply misunderstood. Confused boys who need guidance...Although, I've never seen those two here before, if they come back and seek help, I will be glad to lead them in the right direction."

What a very sweet man.

"It is very kind of you to do so. You are always finding ways in which you can help others, I admire that Mr. Kervensky, I always have envied a man of your stature."

"Please, Eugene, that's too much praise for an old man like me. And both of you don't need to address me in such a formal way. I insist on you calling me Albert, and you, Ib, may call me Grandpa Albert." His smile radiates an endless kindness. I give him a small but genuine smile back and nod my head in the slightest.

"Ib, while me and your mother talk a bit more with, Albert, you can go on ahead. Just make sure to meet us back here when you're done."

"Yes, Father."

"Oh yes, something that you may want," he grabs a pamphlet and hands it to me, "is this. It has a map of the place. You can find any of the rooms on that map and also descriptions of the work you might be interested in." I take the pamphlet from him, "Thank you very much."

"You're quite welcome. Enjoy the art to your hearts content." He gives a small wave as I go up the stairs.

Oh! That's right!

Remembering the painting I wanted to find, I stop at the top of the stairs and move to the side. I skim through the names of art in the pamphlet, but I don't see it, or anything that might be it. I really wanted to find it. It might not be listed though. Definitely worth looking around for.

Following the hallway at the top of the stairs that leads right, I find myself in an open area. I recognize some of these paintings, although my memory's a bit hazy. I pass a set of sculptures that don't have any heads on them, one wearing a blue dress, another wearing red, and the last yellow. "Death of the Individual..." Those creep me out for some reason. I'll just keep moving.

There's another two hallways that split from a couch sculpture. Straight? Or left?...Left. I see another one of those thug guys. This guy has a lot of piercings, but normal enough hair. Uh-oh, looks like more trouble. This must be that Daron guy they mentioned earlier!

This so called Daron catches me staring at him. "What are ya lookin' at?!" He spits out with a sour look.

"Nothing. Pardon me." I don't want any issues, just walk past him and ignore him.

I get past him feeling relieved, but my stomach drops when he calls out to me again. "'Ey don't just walk away, if ya got somethin' to say, say it." He grabs my wrist and forces me to spin around to face him.

"Heh-heh. 'Ey you're pretty cute for a shorty," he grins creepily at me which makes the piercings pull on his face in a way faces shouldn't be pulled. "This place's so boring. What do ya say we go somewhere else and...have a bit of fun?" There's a disgusting look in his eyes when he looks down. Crap, I have to get away from him.

"Let me go." I demand trying to stay calm. Let's try negotiations first, if that doesn't work I can try to use self defense techniques Father taught me. If all else fails I can scream for help.

"Ha! No way girly, we're gonna have lots of fun." He slams me up against a giant painting that stretches across the wall. Shit, well that hurt, negotiations failed. Onto Plan B.

Before I can do anything though, the lights go out.

Garry: You better not hurt her.

Luna: Oh? Will I get in trouble?

Garry: Yes, I can't just let you do that to Ib.

Luna: But then her knight in shining armor can come to save the day, right?

Ib: No, it seems like I have the situation under control.

Luna: But, isn't that what you want? Being saved by your crus– *Gets Attacked*

Garry: What was that?

Ib: Nothing! It was nothing! What was that about unpleasant memories? Haha-haha

Luna: Nice way of changing the subject. Not obvious at all, but you'll find out. Anyways, review!