Legend of the Seven Lights

48. A Creation's Creation

This chapter is also titled "Ib in a Nutshell." (So spoilers.)

Chapter 48: A Creation's Creation

Guertena Gallery; Violet Area

"EVERYONE!" the Lady in Yellow hissed as the headless statues guided Mary into a room. "Ma'y's back! MA'Y'S BACK!"

"MA'Y! MA'Y!" The statues raised their arms in excitement, the mannequin heads were bouncing, and the Canvas Ladies were plucking petals off of blue roses.

A blue doll painted purple writing on the wall. It said, We missed you so much, Mary! We thought you would never come back.

You're just in time for tea. Another one wrote. We made your favorite flavor.

Mary was seated beside a small table on the floor. The blue dolls poured imaginary tea into a cup and passed it to her. Mary picked up and stared at the empty plastic cup. "Um... what is all this about?"

"Ma'y, yor so si'y!" the Blue Lady hissed. "You lef' a lon' time ago. You came back!"

"You must be mistaken." Mary smiled brightly. "I'm not one of you guys. I'm just a little girl from Germany!"

"She lost her memory when she left." A painting of lips called Tattletale said. "Her time in here was forgotten."

Mary, don't you remember us? A doll wrote. You knitted every doll here. And we played with you every day. Mary looked around at all the blue, zombified dolls with black hair and yellow or red eyes.

"I love playing with dolls." She grinned. "But I never played with any of you. You must be mistaking me for a different Mary."

"No. You are our Mary." Tattletale informed. "The one who wanted to leave. The one our father loved more than any other. The last painting Guertena ever created. Mary-"

"NO I AM NOT!" Mary punched the table and smashed it, much to their horror. Mary snarled, her expression vicious. "I am NOT the same Mary! I wasn't made here, I'm not one of you! I am a human GIRL!" She stomped. "Do I look anything like any of you?! I do NOT!" She punched the wall. "I am MARY, I am MARY!" She punched the wall each time she repeated. "I am MARY, I am MARY, I am MARY, I am MARY, I am Mary, I am Mary, I am Mary, I am Mar..." Her knuckles were becoming bruised and darkened. She fell to her knees and began sobbing.

The Lady in Red bore her warm smile as she crawled closer. "Ma'y... you were always in your room... plucking roses like we do. Father made you differently... but you are the same. You are our Ma'y."

"Oh, yeah?" Mary turned and looked at her angrily. "Well, prove it. What makes you think I'm the same as you?"

"'Cause you understand us."

Mary gasped and clamped her mouth. Was she not speaking English? No... they weren't speaking English. They only spoke in hisses and pants. Mary understood almost every word. "Only we know what we say." Tattletale mouthed. "Only you speak perfect English."

More tears leaked from her eyes. She looked at the floor. You know it's true, too. A doll wrote. The truth of your existence was always in your memory.

"...You're wrong." Mary stood up. "I couldn't have come from this place. I'm not one of you guys. I'm...I'm Mary." She faced them. "I live in Germany with my mom and dad. I have a cousin named April, and we have a bunch of friends that came to this gallery."

"Bu' you didn't befoooore." Yellow Lady hissed. "You stole their places. The boy and girl that were stuck in here. Both of you stole their places."