Yay fast updates kinda!
So in regards to the review by anon-shii, I thank you for the commentary, and I am glad you like this story. Thank you for the review however things may not always work out that I get a chance to write this.
Luckily my lovelies, this is the last chapter, and I shall end your sorrows.
I am sorry to have carried this out for so long, perhaps I will be faster with other fanfics in the future. Who knows, maybe continue the others I began.
I DO NOT OWN IB
The museum was dark. Silhouettes of the bizarre paintings dangled from the wall, taunting me in their path. I knew their names. The missing words no longer haunted me in a struggle to understand. The 'Coughing man' choked in breath. 'The hanged man' calls out in a dead sleep. 'The abyss of the deep' screams as the waves slide along the floor, the angler fish curious. "The Fabricated World' yearns for my affections, craves my company. Yet, the canvas is no longer a twisted abstract painting of swirls and confusion. It is blank, begging for even a single dot of color, wallowing in the sorrow of its emptiness. I do not pity this forgotten Hell. I do not pity the man who trapped me here. He is, too, an empty canvas, craving for color and life, yearning for me.
And I do not pity him.
My eyes slowly and carefully shift open, scared of what they may welcome. The occurrence of the last few hours seemed unclear and fuzzy. Fluorescent lights glared down at me, and I had to turn away with a squint just to make sure I wasn't blinded. I glanced down my arm, a long need spearing into my vein as clear liquid was pumped into me. My hair was loose, stuck against my head and the pillow, uncomfortably hot. The rest of the room was dim in comparison to the light above me like a reading light. My head throbbed and my body ached. The smell of disinfectant and rubber gloves pierced my nose, and the sound of my heartbeat pounded next to me, high-pitched and constant. Soon my full senses returned, and I was able to concentrate on where I was. A hospital room? I gulped softly to allow my mouth and throat moisten as I carefully set up, my arms weak and my stomach throbbing. I look down at the gauze wrapped around me under the hospital dress, and a chill ran down my spine. I remembered my head hurting the past couple days, and I remember returning to Guertena's museum and fainting in front of the painting labeled The Forgotten portrait, but everything afterwards is a blur. Maybe when I fell I landed on something sharp? Trying to remember made my head throb, so I gave in and decided to lay down. Soon the doctor came in with a bright smile on his face.
"I am glad to see you finally wake, Miss Ludum." He said genuinely, a nurse following behind him and checking my vitals. I eyed her in curious silence before my auburn eyes flashed at him, blinking once in an attempt to comprehend the situation.
"You took a nasty fall at the museum, punctured your stomach on one of exhibit railings. Very...unusual happenstance, but possible nonetheless." He let out a chuckle to lighten the mood, but when no reaction came he simply cleared his throat and checked the papers. The doctor smiled reassuringly at my blank expression. I felt mute and empty, unable to find the words to reply. Why did I feel so tragically sad, utterly depressed. I glanced at my hands and nodded softly, not sure what I was nodding to.
"Oh also, there was a man that carried you in here, he's been pacing in the waiting room ever since you came in. Well, all except for the one time he left and bought something." The doctor shook his head in confusion. "It's a Mr… Garry Fischer?" He guessed in uncertainty. The name tasted familiar but a face wasn't found.
"Anyways,everything seems normal and ready. Your parents brought your clothes for you before leaving, but Mr. Fischer is still here. Once you are ready the discharge papers with be waiting for you at the main desk." He smiled and left the room as the nurse pulled out the needle in my arm and disconnecting me from the machine. I watched the heartbeat die and my hands shook. I slowly stood up as the nurse left, leaving me to get dressed in the clothes my parents found me. I was thankful for the chill of the the day due to the sweater and leggings my mother had chosen for me, but it sat oddly on my stomach with the gauze on. I ignored the texture and carefully walked out, hugging my arms as I maneuvered down the hall to the main desk, where the papers were signed and I was able to leave.
Before the exit doors was the waiting room, and the only man in there was a thin, lean man with lavender hair. He said in a chair hunched over with his face in his hands, a dark green trench coat hugging his long body. The clanking of my feet slowed as I stared at him. He heard my footsteps. I could tell because he lifted his head up in hope. He instantly lightened up by the sight of me, and the speed at which he stood was blinding. In less than three steps, I was in his arms, and the stench of cigarettes and lemon candy stung my nostrils.
"Ib…" he whispered out, his head in my neck as he leaned down, at least a head taller than me. "I was so worried… Thank god." His voice hitched as if he was going to cry. "I thought… I thought I lost you again." Again. The word haunted me, picking at my brain, and the voice and face blasted through my mind in a painting of memory.
"Ah, I still haven't asked your name. My, that was rude of me! Well, my name's Garry. And you are?"
"I don't want to lie to you... But I...don't want to tell the truth either... If you need help...I'll come running... Go on...ahead…"
"No… please…. Ib, I'm sorry…"
"No you can't die! Ib I can't lose you again! I love you, please don't leave me!"
Garry….
My hands carefully and cautiously wrapped around the thin man. Suddenly, I viciously tightening and gripping on his coat, wanting him to be closer, never wanting to let go. Joyful tears spilled down my cheeks as I smiled against his chest, feeling his smile on my neck.
"Garry… Garry I'm so sorry, I promise never to leave you again," I felt him softly chuckle and pull away, and though he was a victim of tears, he only wiped mine away. "I love you, Garry…"
"I love you, too, Ib." he said, holding my face gingerly as if I was glass. His thumb occasionally caressed my as we stood in gentle silence before he slowly pulled away and held up a bag. "I brought macarons!" He said joyfully, looking at the package of tiny, colorful french pastries that resembled tiny hamburgers. "I got strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and lemon. I didn't know what flavors you would like so I-" amongst his rambling I pressed my lips against his in hopeful kiss. It began awkward, with my lips in a curved smile and his unprepared, but his lips adjusted to fit mine. His fingers wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer as my arms secured around his neck to hold him close as our lips molded together. His soft, sweet lips warmed my heart and I would never leave him again.
The nightmare of the Fabricated World was finally gone, and nothing but a blank picture remained in my mind. I knew that the nightmares, the fears, would be gone, and the Hell I was tortured in- no, I survived, would no longer bring pain. Guertena is finally dead, and Garry and I can live on, letting the nightmare slip from our mine.
Now, we must live a dream.
I'd like to thank potnoodle11 a.k.a Josh for all the help and writer's block he's helped me through, I'd also like to thank all of the people that supported me by reviewing, favoriting, or following this fanfic, I still can't believe that many people liked my work. After three year (I'm still really sorry about that) I have finally finished my first fanfiction, and I can't thank you all enough for helping me through these long years. You are all amazing and I hope to see you all soon in my other fanfics that I really need to continue.
I love you all, goodnight.