Portrait of Seraina

Gary

Seraina stood before the painting of the young man, it felt somewhat sorrowful yet safe at the safe time as she placed a hand on it. She glanced down at the plaque and read allowed "Gary: The Forgotten Hero." she studied the name and looked back up at the painting, this was unlike allot of the artwork done by Guertena Weiss, It was so realistic and almost as if it was a real person, he wasn't known for portriates. Sighing she sat down laying against the wall facing away from Gary, she felt the urge to cry and talk about everything that happen to her, and so she did. She cried for probably hours, time was so skewered in this place it was hard to tell, but after she had finished telling Gary everything and crying she curled up in the corner "im so tired. How long have i been in here? hours or days? I just want to go home, that is all i want. Mom, Dad please... come get me." she said before drifting into a nightmare filled sleep.
Not long after a warmth crept through her, like a comforting blanket given to you by your grandmother, or the loving hug from your mother, a safe feeling fell over Seraina in her sleep easing away the nightmare and she rested peacefully, standing over her Gary looked down at the girl with a solemn expression, another person had been dragged into this world of nightmares to be left all alone. He sat beside her disgruntled by the events the girl had shared but despite it all there was one thing that made him smile and chased away the bittersweet cold of his situation. "This girl had met Ib in the gallery, all grown up at that. Im glad she was able to get out, though she doesn't remember me herself a part of her does. Ib, don't waist your life waiting for me to return, its to late for me. Go live your life!" he chuckles to himself and shakes his head "that is what i should say anyways, the truth is i don't want her to, i want her to remember me, i want to go and see how shes doing. To see her smile like she did when we had some down time here." he glances at Seraina frowns "i don't know why you were dragged into this god forsaken world, but ill make sure you get out. I promise." Gary looks back at the painting he stepped out off, Resting in the center was a single blue rose, filled with determination he bites back the roaring tide of fear that wanted to engulf him and he reached in grabbing the rose, he was in this now and he wont give up until this girl, Seraina escaped.
Seraina stirred from her sleep, the dim light of the room coming through sore eyes. She sat up trying to recollect her surroundings and where she was, however when it all set in she felt nothing but dread and queasiness, However this feelings quickly passed when she noticed she was covered in a rather large jacket, she picked it up and looked at it "wh-who put this over me? am i not the only one here?!" she quickly shot to her feet "hello?! HELLO?! is someone there  please im trapped and lost!" a kind and gentle voice of a man answered her from across the room "yes, yes someones here now calm down okay, and don't shout so loudly you attract unwanted attention." Seraina tensed a bit and looked across from her at a man resting in the corner, he looked up at her with deep purple eyes, her heart skipped a beat he was breath taking but, oddly familiar. She stared at him perplexed when it dawned on her why, she slowly turned and looked at the portriate and a scream caught in her throat as she looked at the now empty frame. The man slowly stands his hands out before him trying to keep her calm "now don't freak out okay? Im here to help alright? my names Gary, im a friend of Ib, the lady you met in the Gallery remember?" Seraina was about to scream when he mentioned Ib she looked at him "your, a friend of Ibs?" she frowned thinking about the situation and trying to recall if the lady she had met mentioned anything about a Gary, but she didn't believe Ib had mentioned him she did however say she was forgetting something very impotent. Seraina looked at him worriedly "Ib said she was forgetting something importent, is that you?" Gary smiled a bittersweet smile "yeah its me, i didn't make it out. I guess you could say i died here." he looked up at the painting with a solemn expression "It turns out if you die here you might become a painting, so i ended up like all of the other monsters in this place, just a painting. I was only half aware of myself though. I guess you could say i was sleeping, just empty dreams until i felt a warm hand on my chest. Then you began to speak to me." He looked at Seraina and smiled at her with gratitude "thank you for waking me up." Her cheeks flushed with heat as embarrassment rose in her chest "o-oh, no problem it was my pleasure." She kinda began looking around the room awkwardly "so, is this a safe spot? Ive been running for what seems like forever, i could use a longer break."
Gary nods looking around his room "yeah it is, this is my room not many of the others will just barge into another exhibits room when its privet. So rest as long as you want, then i can help you learn about the rules of where your at." Seraina nodded in agreement and sat back down on the floor, she felt a bit vulnerable so she spoke up to Gary "could you come sit by me?" Gary's face took on a surprised expression which was quickly followed by a faint tinge of pink in his cheeks as he nodded and walked over sitting beside her. Seraina let out a sigh of relief and pressed against him, he was warm just like any other living person and right now, this was comforting to her. She closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep again.



Gary listened to Seraina as she explained her meeting with the Red Lady, his expression somewhat conveying annoyance. "Where the hell was she when me and Ib were trapped in here? Well no matter this just means i don't really need to explain anything i guess, you know about the roses and vase, you should know by now not to trust anything in here i guess the only other thing i need to talk to you about or rather warn you about is Mary." Seraina had a cold chill go up her spine when he mentioned the name Mary, something akin to anguish knotted in her stomach, "Mary?  Who is that?" she asked concerned by the feeling the name gave her. Gary leaned back "Mary was one of the paintings done by Guertena, I don't think many people know about it. She was a friend of ours for a little bit but somewhere along the adventure she became unhinged and very dangerous, i think ultimately shes the reason i lost all the petals on my rose, but i can't really remember. Now if we see her we need to run away she wont stop at nothing to kill us and escape from here. Shes very dangerous Seraina." Gary sighed leaning back thinking about his past but all seraina could think about was a painting she had saw in the gallery "Ominous Assembly" was what it was called if she remembered, whenever Gary spoke of Mary that picture came to her mind and did nothing for the feelings in her gut. "Well we will just have to be super careful then right? Speaking of that i think we should get ready to head out i think its been quiet awhile sense ive come in here." She got to her feet and dusted off her dress before turning and offering a hand to Gary, who smiled and took the hand getting to his feet. "Alright, Ill check to see if the cost is clear, you wait right here okay?" Gary slides on his jacket and walks to the door, taking in a deep breath he opens it and looks out into the hall. Seraina was never one to sit put and walked up behind him and glanced over his shoulder "do you see anything?" Gary jumped and yipped then looked back and glared at her "Jesus lady don't just sneak up on me when i told you to wait! Scared the hell out of me!" Seraina laughed a bit and apologized  before poking her head out the door with him, the hallway had changed it was now a brightly lit hall with yellow carpet and black walls, it was shorter as well with a door on either end of it. She frowned perturbed "I hate this place, can it not stick with a look and go with it, worse then my mother on evening brunch." She stepped out into the hall and looked around Gary in tow "well i mean this place just does that, it constantly changes, i think that is how it traps people, that or that is just how warped the mind of its creator was." Seraina nodded in agreement, her beloved artist would have to be insane to create a place like this, she sighed and built up her determination before turning right and heading down the hall "we will take this door!" Gary watched her walk off and shrugged following her "alright but lets be careful, there is no telling whats on the other side of that door." She nodded in agreement and with that they walked through the door at the end of the hall.