Author's Note:
It's been a while since I've updated my stories, and I'm REALLY sorry, a lot's been going on with my life. Luckily, it's calming down a lot, and I should be able to make many more chapters on Garry and Ib's adventures! Enjoy~
"Well, we should get going." Garry said, turning away from the eerie yellow door, looking about the hall, confused. "Wasn't there….two more doors?" He muttered aloud, shaking his head. "Oh well. This place's full of weird tricks." Ib nodded in agreement, reflecting on the peculiar events that had taken place before she'd found Garry, remembering that the halls had changed a bit as well at one point. The two once again set off on their journey, walking down the corridor, Garry looking about in a paranoid manner. "Garry?" the young girl nearly whispered her name, as if she were worried something would overhear her. "Hmm? Is something wrong Ib?" Looking to her, Garry's eyebrows furrowed, and he quickly looked about the path again "Did you see something weird?" he asked. "No." Ib quickly replied, tone steady and assuring. "I wanted to apologize." Her tone became shaky again, and she struggled to fight back tears. "I-I forgot all about you. And we'd promised to get out the first time together."
"It's okay. You couldn't help it. I'm thankful you were able to get out. I just wish you hadn't gotten stuck back in here. Not that I'm not happy to see you, I really am! But I hate that you got stuck back in this place." Garry had begun rambling again, and after a minute or two, he caught himself. "But it's okay. We'll get out together this time. I promise." He said, as the duo came to a fork in the path. "Hmm. How about we check the left path first, then the right?"
Not caring which direction they started in, Ib nodded, and they began their way on the left trail. Like the previous hall, this one was empty and fairly dark, giving an odd and almost haunted aura to it. Despite the corridor's familiar look, something about it made Ib even wearier than she'd already been. Shadows seemed to slither and dart about, and the young teen found herself glancing around, as her thoughts filled with paranoia. Noticing this, Garry offered her his hand, an innocent gesture to show that he would keep her safe, despite his own fears. Smiling weakly, Ib took the hand, feeling quite a bit safer as they continued down the hall.
The hall suddenly turned right, and following it, Garry and Ib found themselves in a giant exhibition room, similar to the one from which Ib had come. But unlike regular showrooms, the paintings were missing, empty frames haphazardly swinging on walls, or tossed about the floors. A familiar dragging noise came from their right, and the sound was soon met by the sight of three Ladies of Red, Blue, and Yellow, all screeching as they quickly clawed their way toward the duo. Startled by the sudden event, Garry jumped, practically dragging Ib away, clasping her small hand tightly as he weaved his way through the room with no real sense of direction.
His only hope was that the series of sudden turns would slow down their painted pursuers, and lead to some sort of exit. Eyes darting about, the two struggled to find a path that would lead to safety, but as the sounds once again became louder, Ib merely ran in the opposite direction, hoping something would appear down the path. As she continued down the path, the two came upon a door, and Garry quickly went to it, thankful for it's convenient appearance. Turning the handle repeatedly, he muttered something under his breath, before looking to Ib, sighing. "It's locked…."
On the side of one of the walls was a painting, of a familiar lady, umbrella clasped in her hands. Under the painting, is a small question. "Do you remember who I am?" Ib smiles, remembering how she'd returned the woman's umbrella. "You're the Lady With Her Umbrella." The painted girl seems to smile, as the words reform under the painting. "Thank you again for finding it." After a second, the door unlocks, and Garry, without another thought, swung the door open. With a small wave to the painting, Ib quickly ran through the door, Garry closing it behind her, as the two find themselves in another corridor.
A vase full of water sat atop a small side table, and the two smiled. "You can go first Ib, there's plenty of water for both of them" Garry said, referring to the roses. "Thanks." Ib replied gratefully, walking to the elegant vase, about to put her rose's stem into it when she noticed something. "This isn't water….it's….I hope that's paint." The thick red liquid sat lazily in the glass, and Ib knew better than to put her rose into it. "What on earth?!" Garry commented, looking at the paint(?) from behind Ib. "That's weird….we should just keep going then." Once again Garry and Ib continued, looking about for anything out of the ordinary, but there was barely anything at all in the thin pathway.