"How did you get here?" Aki asked.
"I've been here a while. I fell through a painting at school, in the dorms. I ended up here. Mary found me, and she wanted to be my friend. She's the only person who's ever liked me." Said Misao sadly.
"Misao...I want to be your friend..." Aki whispered.
"It's too late!" Misao's eyes were suddenly filled with rage. "Yoshino hates me, Kudoh hates me! Tohma...and Saotome...were messing with me! I hate them all! I'm happier here!"
"Misao...please..." Aki said.
"Shut up! You don't know me! Being here, with Mary, made me feel loved! It made me feel special! You'll never understand what I went through, Aki!"
And with that, Misao turned and ran down the corridor, through a gap in the wall that hadn't been there before.
Madotsuki watched them with wide eyes.
Aki and Misao?
Madotsuki shook her head. It wasn't her problem.
"Aki, leave her," Viola said gently, laying her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Misao never stood out much at school...I thought she was simple, shy and gentle...I was wrong..." Aki shoulders shook as she sobbed. "She was bullied. Yoshino had no reason to hate her. She often cornered her in between classes...and I did nothing to stop it. I could have saved Misao...if I had only been her friend...Misao, I'm sorry..." Aki shrugged Viola's hand off her shoulder and ran after Misao.
"Aki!" Ib yelled.
Aki didn't turn around.
"Aki, come back!" Madotsuki started to run after her.
Aki rounded a corner, past a vase and up some stairs.
She ran up to a door, but it was locked.
"Misao!" She yelled, then whipped around and saw Madotsuki.
"Mado..." She whispered. "What are you doing here...?"
"I followed you. Aki, Misao's gone. You can't save her. She's a painting now." Madotsuki said.
"You mean...it's true? Her heart is fabricated?" Aki's eyes glistened with tears.
"I'm sorry, Aki. There's no saving her now. She's stuck in here forever."
"Misao...all alone with Mary..." Aki's head dropped.
Madotsuki hugged Aki, as the others came running around the corner.
"Aki!" Aya's eyes were filled with relief.
They heard a sound.
"What was that?" Ellen turned to the left.
"I can hear it coming closer..." Aya walked towards a painting on the wall.
"Flowers of Jealousy..." She read.
"Aya!" Viola rushed over and pushed Aya away from the painting. "The sound's coming from there!"
"Guys! Get away from there! Come back over here!" Ib shouted, running over to pull them over.
As soon as she stepped past the painting, huge vines shot up from the ground.
"Aya! Ib! Viola!" Madotsuki called, running over to the vines.
"It's no use," Ib yelled. "They're made of stone!"
"Viola! Wait there, I'll get to you!" Ellen concentrated on the vines, but nothing happened.
"My magic's not working!" She said frustratedly.
"Guys...we'll have to leave them." Madotsuki said.
"No. The other door's locked. I'll get the key, and give it to you. Viola, Aya, wait here. I'll be five minutes." Ib said.
"Be careful." Aki murmured.
Ib slowly walked towards the door.
I hate this room.
It still scared her, the sight of the dolls.
Especially after what they did to Garry.
"Ugh..."
They were everywhere. But she knew where to look this time.
Ib ignored the "Red Eyes" painting on the far wall, and headed straight for the only green doll in the room.
She tore open it's stomach, grabbed the violet key and ran back out of the room.
She felt the eyes of the dolls on the back of her neck as she left.
"I got the key," Ib said, pushing the door open.
"Oh, you're okay!" Viola rushed towards Ib, gently taking the key from her.
she notcied Ib's eyes had a haunted look in them. "What really happened in that room?" Viola whispered.
"Dolls. Disturbing dolls. Everywhere. I knew they were there, I saw them as rabbits last time, but I have seen them. I hate them."
"It's okay," Viola reasurred her. "You won't have to go in there again."
"We will, but we'll all be together. It's horrible alone."
Viola put one arm around Ib's shoulders and led her back to Aya.
"Here's the key!" Viola called, throwing the key over the tall vines.
"Thanks," She heard someone catch it.
"Let's go,"
That was Ellen.
"Ellen! Don't go!" She said desperately.
"I have to, Viola. I'll see you soon, I promise." Ellen murmured.
"Goodbye," Viola turned away from the vines, and back to Ib and Aya.
"Should we go?" Aya asked.
"Yes." Ib took a deep breath. "Let's go."