Luna: I'm really sorry about the long wait!

Ib: Sure you are, you've been playing around and being lazy.

Luna: No! I've been really busy...albeit busy with family outings, but everyone wants to be together and I'm forced to join them.

Garry: You seemed pretty happy about joining them though.

Luna: Ugh, in any case, I'll try to update more regularly instead of really randomly.

Ib: Good luck.

Garry: And enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 3: Return to the Abyss

It's pitch black. This is my chance. I don't wait for my eyes to adjust, but instead figure out how far away this guy is by his body heat and how close his bad breathe is. Here goes..! I swiftly bring my up knee as hard as I can.

I know I've hit the jackpot when the groan comes and his grip loosens. With my new gained freedom and ability to see a crouched dark figure, I put my hands together above me and slam them down onto his head putting all my weight into it.

While he's writhing in agony, I make my escape. That hurt a bit worse than I thought it would.

I run through that dark corridor with a hand against the wall and hear a, "You bitch!" far behind me. I almost trip when I look back to see if I can make anything, or anyone, out.

After a short while, I feel the corner of the wall and carefully step out. I try to feel around for any objects. Maybe I should have stuck to the wall, I might run into a sculpture. Just then my foot taps something solid. What's this? I touch what feels like a rectangular wooden box. It must be a display podium.

"Where'd ya go ya little whore?"

He sounds closer now. I move around the podium and kneel, covering my mouth. Footsteps get nearer and to what seems like only a few feet away. A voice in the back of my head pleads to not get found. The foot steps start again and then slowly fade in a direction I can't make out.

Despite the silence, I wait a little longer, straining my ear for anything, but he doesn't come back.

The lights flip back on and I take a peek above the podium. There's no one, good. I slide down, pulling my knees close to me. I feel a sudden tickle on my thigh and jump a little.

What!? Oh, it's my handkerchief. It must have slid out of my pocket.

I pick it up and stretch my legs out in front of me. I unfold it carefully and gently touch the petals. They're warm...Closing my hand loosely, I concentrate on the way they feel in my palm. So soft and frail...wait..

There's a faint pulse flowing through my hand. I check my pulse and compare it to the one in my hand. My heart isn't beating like that, it can't be another heart beating, can it?

I stare at the small, velvety blue laying in my palm. I start to feel the light pulse match mine.

This is really bizarre. It's...kind of painful. It makes me want to cry.

I'm forced out of my thoughts when I pick up on the sound of heals.

Shoot, right. There's other people, I need to stand up. I get up with the petals in one hand and handkerchief in the other, but I don't see anyone.

That's weird. I could've sworn I just heard someone walking. I notice then that there are red footprints on the floor. Are they part of the exhibit? I take a finger and feel the goo. No, this is fresh paint. Is someone playing a prank?

I follow the blots of red that go down the opposite side of the wall from the corridor I just came.

A big splash of the bright red intertwines with the red of the footprints before they continue down the hall.

I stop to examine it and look up at the painting its in front of.

The same blue that is in my hand blooms around the edges of the painting as beautiful climbing roses. They scatter and cross the bottom and twirl upwards. There are vines that curl inwards as if they're trying to grab something, but there's nothing there but a blue-grey background.

Strange...It feels like there should be something there. It seems so empty...like something...important...is missing...

Unconsciously, I find myself reaching for the painting. But once I realize what I'm doing I quickly pull my hand back.

What am I doing? I can't touch the art pieces.

Instead, I observe the melancholic painting and find the title.

"Forgotten Portrait"

The lights flicker before steadying again.

This is it! Something like the feeling of fog lifting overcomes me. This is the painting, but...it still doesn't feel quite right. It says portrait, but no one's there.

Confused, I decide to keep following the red trail after glancing back to the portrait. The trail leads to the area where the headless statues stand. There, the red-dressed one stands with feet dripping paint.

Come on, this had to be some kind of prank, right? A statue can't walk on its own. Of course, even with rationalizing, I start to think that maybe this place is haunted.

Ah, dammit. This is silly, don't be scared, nothings wrong, this place isn't haunted.

On the podium to my side, I spot some more paint across the engraved "Death of the Individual."

A big hand print is slapped onto it with words beneath that.

"Come Ib"

Who did this? Who other than my parents and Grandpa Albert know my name? Well...In any case, I am officially creeped out.

I turn around and make my way downstairs.

Where is everyone? At the very least Grandpa Albert should have been at the front desk.

I go into the main area of the gallery, no one. Through a corridor, no one. Into the different rooms, still no one.

"Come on. Really? What kind of a bad prank is this?" I mutter.

Now I'm really starting to panic. Just go outside, I'll just leave if they're going to do this.

I make my way back through the rooms, the main area, and finally get past the front desk to the door.

There's just one problem. Why won't it open?...Have I been, locked in...? Okay, okay. Relax, breathe. I can't let this get to me, at least I should stop running around like a frightened child. That's the last thing I want to do.

As I'm standing there trying to calm myself, the same sound of heals start clacking against the floor behind me. I look behind me and the sound stops. Before me is an empty room, but there are footprints again, this time leading back the the main area.

I swallow hard and follow them again. Fine, if they want to play, then I'll play, but I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me afraid.

The prints start turning into a lavender color, then violet, then blue. They cease to exist when they appear to be walking into a big mural on the ground. I go to its podium and read, "Abyss of the Deep."

Creepy looking fish. But I wonder what Guertena was trying to convey in this?

Then I realize, there's huge letters on the mural. "Come Ib."

Again? Isn't that vandalism? I'm not actually supposed to go and step on it right?

I move back to where the blue prints lead to an opening. I stare at the mural intently and then focus on movement I thought I saw.

It, it looks like water.

An image of a little girl stepping into it crosses my mind for a brief second. Was that me?

I don't have time to think of anything else before there are hands pushing me into the mural. I expect to fall onto the floor, but I'm actually greeted by luke-warm water that quickly engulfs my entire body.

What is this…..! I concentrate on holding my breathe, but it's taking all the energy I have after the shock. My body won't move. I'm slowly sinking down further into the abyss. At this rate, I'm going to drown. I can't-Bubbles escape my mouth as the last of the air contained in my lungs is pushed out by water. So this is it. I'm going to die.

A small light approaches me from the side as the giant fish gets closer, and then, I'm surrounded by darkness.

Ib: So, you killed me.

Luna: No I did not, stop overreacting.

Garry: Doesn't that happen when you enter Guertena's alternate gallery?

Luna: Exactly! So now that she's passing through the gate, she'll be in for quite the ride.

Ib: Great, but I'll meet Garry soon right?

Garry: Yeah, when am I going to make my appearance in this?

Luna: I don't know, you'll have to find out in the next chapter.

Garry: Review!