Everything's moving! We start to run away for our lives. Then we saw a staircase then climbed it. Those creatures don't seem to follow us now. Good. There are yellow roses and vines around the walls. It lead to another staircase. We're back to the room where we saw the toy box. But only now, it's different. The walls are black and the yellow roses and vines are blocking another staircase. "What do we use on this?" asked Garry. His lighter popped in my mind. "Garry, use your lighter." he remembered then got out his lighter and burned the vines. We can go upstairs now.
It's a long, straight room. There are papers and crayons in the far end.
"Ib, see that painting over there? Seems familiar...Let's check it out."
"Yeah, sure."
Taking a few steps forward, we heard footsteps coming here. We looked back and saw Mary come up the staircase. Garry was shocked and I was frightened. "Ib, Garry! How did you two get in this room...?" said Mary.
None of us could speak. Mary got angry and started yelling at us.
"Get out of here! Leave now!"
"Mary..." I said.
"Leave...Leave....LEEEAAAAVEEE!!!"
She got out her palette knife and started swinging it at Garry. He struggles to avoid it. He threw his lighter to me. I got it.
"Ib! Burn the painting!!"
This...?! Click, click vwoosh!
"Ah!" yelled Garry.
The glass of the painting broke and the fire burned the painting inside.
"Ahh...no..." said Mary.
The painting completely burned and so did Mary. So this is the painting she's from. Now, a palette knife sits beside a pile of ashes. I feel, sorrowful somehow.
"I have...to say....girls sure can be scary."
"That was very frightening..."
"Yes, it was. Now let's get--"
Before Garry could finish his sentence, someone came up from the stairs. It's Clara. Her wound was wrapped up with a long bandage. She's alive! I can't believe it!
"Clara! You're ok!" I shouted.
"Yes, I am fine. My doll friend here took care of me. Where's Mary? I thought I heard her scream from here..."
"Uh..."
"What's wrong?"
One look at Garry and we both didn't know what to say to her. But Garry hesitantly pointed at the pile of ashes then to the burnt painting. Clara's expression changed.
"Why....Why'd you do this...?"
We both didn't answer and did nothing but listen to her, crying. I don't know about Garry but, I feel really bad now. I get that easily affected by these things.
She went to the pile of ashes and knelt down. Her tears continued to flow, "Oh, Mary...Look what they did to you..."
Then she suddenly went quiet. Is she ok? What am I thinking? Of course she's not.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?"
"Wahh--! Ugh!"
"Garry!"
It all happened so fast that I wasn't able to do anything. Clara quickly grabbed the palette knife then pierced it on Garry. She deepens her pierce then lets go of the palette knife.
"Clara! Why did YOU do this?!" I snapped and just yelled.
"That's what sister wanted to do right? I just finished it."
"You're also....!"
"Go on. Try burning me here and now."
I got angrier and took Garry's lighter, lit it, then threw it at Mary. The fire got her part of her right arm. She didn't burn like Mary did. Her skin just got burnt like a normal...person. Is she a painting?
"Don't do this, Clara."
"Sorry, ten minutes to late."
"Mary tried to kill us!"
"AND do you even know why?!"
"What?"
"Mary only wanted to live outside and--"
"And what?"
"Shut up! It's none of your business! You're next!"
"Ib....Run..."
"Garry!"
"Run..."
"I'll be back for you."
"I don't think you will, Ib."
Clara started to chase me. I ran around her then ran downstairs. I heard her shout, "Get her!" before I left the room. I got outside then ran to the center to the pink building. I used the pink key. It's unlocked. I quickly ran downstairs to the staircase I saw when I entered the building. Now it's all dark. I gotta be careful. This place is....! The Gallery! But it's different. This place is just a replica of the gallery. I know it. I went to the painting where this all started, "??? World" I can't pronounce that word and I don't know what it means. I place my hand on it. My hand came through! This painting is the gallery today so that means, the painting I saw in the true gallery is a painting of the former gallery. This is the way out. "Ahh!"
Something grabbed my foot! I looked back and saw a headless statue. "Let me go!"
"I'm afraid that I can't do that." said Clara as she walks in.
"Why not?!"
"Firstly, your friend killed my sister, and you know too much. Because of that, I can't let you leave. You must die."
"NO!"
"Goodbye, Ib. It hasn't been nice meeting you."
"Wait! Why didn't you also burn like Mary?"
My question made everyone freeze including me.
"Because I am not a painting."
"What?!"
"I am not a painting. I am human."
"How?!"
"You really want me to tell you everything?"
"Yes, I want to know."
"Fine."
I got curious. If she's human, then why is she here? What happened to her? I'm about to find out.
"It started on a weekday. Me and my parents decided to go to a famous painting and sculpture exhibit because we all wanted to try something different. Then we heard about Guertena, the father of all creations in the gallery including my sister. We went to his exhibition, split up, then toured the place. There I saw this painting, "Fabricated World". It seems so interesting that I looked at it for quite some time then the lights flickered and everyone in the exhibition was gone. I went down to a floor painting called, "Abyss of the Deep" then found myself here. I met Mary. She was alone and unhappy so I decided to stay with her and play. I grew fond of the place. The creations of Guertena here are so nice to me and also Mary. There I decided not to go back cause I love it here. Mary told me about her wish, to live on the outside world. I couldn't believe it at first cause she's a painting. She told me how she would get out, once a person from the outside gets caught in this place, she must kill that person and take his or her place outside. But she didn't want to do it to me. Then we found you and Garry. If we kill one of you, she and I can live outside. But it was too late. You killed Mary and I killed your friend in return. But she's gone now. And she can't fulfill her wish because of you. Mary was like a sister to me, she loved me, took care of me, played with me. What does she get in return? Death."
I didn't know what to say. I feel like my heart's torn. What do I do? She should live outside now. There's nothing else for her to do her. She'll be all alone. "Then come with me. Let's live outside." I said. What choice does she have anyway? "Are you being ridiculous? I want to stay here with my late sister. Besides, my parents were always angry with me. They never spend time with and never play with me. All they think of is themselves and their jobs. If I stay here, I have these to think of me and play with me."
"Your sister wanted to stay outside with you right?"
"Yes, but she's gone because of you."
"No, she is still alive--in your heart. You must believe so that she will never be forgotten and she'll always be with her beloved sister."
"But--"
"It's not too late now. I'm sure these feel the same."
The creations all nodded. Meaning they feel the same and they agree to let Clara live outside now. Clara's face was calm now. She looked at me then nodded too.
"But let me take sister with me." said Clara.
We all went back to Mary's room. A headless statue got an urn for Clara. She opened the urn and then placed Mary's ashes there. From across is--Garry. I looked at him for a moment and went to him. I touched his chest gently. He's not breathing. He lost too much blood. His rose is lying on the floor--Well, just the stem filled with thorns. My rose still has the sakura petals on it and still one petal left. I was feeling miserable for Garry and wanted to stay with him.
YOU ARE READING
Ib: A Tragedy In The Deep (fanfic)
Mystery / ThrillerThis story is based on the rpg maker game: Ib. By Kouri. I added some twists in the story to change its pace. I don't own any characters used. All credits to Kouri. Hope u like it!