"I say we go back to the grey room." Aki said, backing away from the blood-stained walls.
"I don't like the look of this place at all!" Ib grabbed Viola's hand and dragged her away; she was frozen in horror.
What is this place? She thought, covering her mouth with her hands.
"Let's leave, I agree," Ellen sounded worried for her friend. "Viola's not dealing with this well."
They all tip-toed out of the room, expecting something to jump out at them, but nothing did.
"So what's your name?" Viola asked the girl with the black rose, relieved for an excuse to talk about something else.
"Madotsuki. I was dragged through a painting by someone called the "Lady in Red". Is she here?" Madotsuki whispered.
"Yes, she is."
Viola tried the door back to the grey area, and found it was unlocked again.
"How strange," She murmured.
They all walked slowly back to the grey area. Ib was leading them to the painting that would let them through.
"Okay, Viola, give him the flower ring."
Viola threw the ring at the painting. It caught it in it's mouth and turned red.
"Eheheheheh...thanks...you can pass now...eheheheheh!" He swung open and everyone hopped through.
"Um...this bit...may take a while...and everyone be very very careful." Said Ib nervously, walking down a long hallway.
It was only halfway down the hall that Viola noticed there were mannequin heads flanking the sides of the corridor.
"What are they doing there?" Viola asked fearfully.
"I don't know," Ib ignored the mannequin heads completely and continued walking.
Viola followed slowly, hanging back a bit. She was terrified of what might happen next.
Ellen followed Ib and Aya, who were leading the way down the hallway and into the next room.
She held the door open for Viola and Madotsuki, who were at the back of the group of girls.
Viola smiled at her as she passed, then looked forward and screamed.
Ellen turned to see what she was looking at, then nearly screamed herself.
In front of her was a wall, but when Ellen looked left, she saw an awfully familiar painting.
It was the Lady in Red.
"Oh no, not now!" Aya exclaimed.
Ellen backed away to the right and bumped into Madotsuki.
"Sorry," she turned to face the girl, but she was gone.
"Huh? Madotsuki?" Ellen tapped Aki on the back. "Aki, have you seen where Madotsuki went?"
Aki shook her head. "I thought she was right behind you!"
"I'll go look for her," Ellen walked away from the rest of the group, who started talking about how to get through this strange room.
"Madotsuki?" Ellen called.
Nothing.
Where did she go?
"Ellen! Help!"
Ellen whipped around.
She saw Madotsuki being dragged away by another Lady in Red.
"Madotsuki!" Ellen cried, running forward.
Ellen rushed forward and grabbed Madotsuki's hand, dragging her out of the Lady in Red's grip.
"My rose! Ellen, my rose is gone!" Madotsuki was too weak to get up.
"I'll go get it, don't worry," Ellen sprinted after the Lady in Red.
"Give it back!" Ellen yelled at her.
"No, it's mine now," The Lady in Red backed against a door, but it was locked.
"Why do you want it?" Ellen asked aggressively.
"So I can play. Do you want to play, too?" She giggled.
Ellen ran up to the Lady in Red and slapped the rose away from her hand.
She grabbed it and ran and ran back to Madotsuki, who way still lying on the ground.
"Madotsuki, I have your rose!" Ellen called, handing her the black rose.
"Thanks, Ellen," Madotsuki said weakly. "Can you move me over there?" She indicated a door at the bottom of the room.
"Sure," Ellen used her magic to open the door and move Madotsuki into the room.
"Ellen! Wait!"
Ellen heard Ib shout.
Ellen turned around and saw everyone running towards her rapidly.
"Where are you going?" Aki inquired.
"That room wasn't there last time..." Ib muttered.
"Madotsuki's injured. I think there's a vase in there." Ellen showed the others the room.
"Well...at least it's not like the blood room..." Viola's voice trailed off as she followed Ellen into the room.
It was quite small, but there was a vase in there. Ellen put Madotsuki's rose in the vase, and the girl got to her feet, and walked around, staring at the walls.
"Guys," After a while, Madotsuki ran back towards them. "I found another way out of here!"
"Where?" Ib looked around wildly.
"It's over there, but it's the same colour as the wall. It's really hard to find." Madotsuki pointed to the left.
"Should we rest here for a bit then get going?" Aya asked.
Ellen nodded, along with the others.
"Okay, we'll rest then go through the door." Ib agreed as well.
That was when Ellen saw it.
"Did you see that?" Ellen whipped around to face the others.
"See what?" Viola asked, puzzled.
"A shadow outside that window!" Ellen exclaimed.
"That window wasn't there before..." Ib frowned.
Then what was that shadow?