Disclaimer: The adventure/horror game IB and it's characters do not belong to me in any way. They belong to their rightful creator Kouri. However; the two OC's mentioned in this FanFiction do belong to me.

Warning: OOC

Chapter Six: Calm Before the Storm

Garry was quite Careless

Swallowing the key without a care

Because now the Alice's will never escape

And Mary will paint the roses red.

She'll paint it all

and never again

love.

And then there was nothing.

Mary's breath hitched in her throat, as she felt her chest clench uncomfortably beneath her dress fabric.

Garry had abandoned her with human children.

In a stupefied state, the little girl fell back on her bottom; watching absentmindedly, as Garry's blue dolls retreated in their dark corners. Giggling ever-so softly, and snickering to one another, in a language that resembled to audio played back in reverse.

But she didn't care. She felt too betrayed to care.

The floor beneath them had stopped rumbling, and nobody but those dolls had dared utter a word. The colors that decorated everything so vividly and innocently, faded into dreary shades of gray. Everything was falling apart, and nobody but Garry could put a stop to this.

" But Garry's gone, " she murmured in a hoarse voice. She licked her lips and gulped down the knot building in her throat. She tried to laugh, but it hurt to try. " He's gone. "

Sally had picked herself up by this point, and she tiredly rubbed at her arms. Her puffy eyes burned as she tried to focus on Mary's quivering form. Trying so kindly, to listen to the girl.

" I'm... Sorry... I didn't realize any of this sooner, " Mary practically whispered. To really comprehend Mary's current state in this time, would take eons to describe. She felt something in her belly that not even metaphors could portray.

A jaded-heart that was cemented with poison. It was consuming the inner-workings of her being.

And the purity that was once prominent to her, perished.

What was it that she felt?

" Mary...? " Sally strained her name. She had hoped to shatter some sort of tension, yet everything only grew heavier. And Mary turned to peer over her shoulder, with darkened eyes that brought chills down Sally's back. This wasn't the giggling girl she had gotten to know, just a few hours ago.

Who was she?

" Yes... " She tried to smile, but it came out crooked. " I'm Mary... "

Sally was taken aback. Her brother was still lying cold, breathing in faint hiccups. Sally couldn't back down this time. She couldn't.

With a deep breath, Sally tried to step forward, but ended up wobbling back onto the floor. She weakly dragged herself over, using all of her upper body strength, and clung to Mary's shoulders. Sally brought Mary into a tight embrace, burying her face in that matted gold hair.

It still shone radiantly despite the blue hue, and Mary began to tremble. Her faded colors began to glow again.

" It's okay, " Sally whispered. Her arms around Mary's neck was almost tight enough to be suffocating. But neither of them spoke against it. " It's okay. I... I... It's okay... "

Mary's eyes softened, and she returned the hug. She started sobbing.

" I'm s-sorry... I-I'm sorry... " Mary hiccuped. " I d-d-didn't m-mean for this to happen! " Mary was sobbing desperately. She yearned for Garry's embrace. Because during times like these, though awfully rare - Garry was always there for her.

He saw their Home through jaded eyes - and yet - when Mary cried, his heart would melt.

She thought he was happy here. She thought that it was just his design to be this way. Never once in her life did she ever foresee this.

John who had lied cold in the corner began to stir, and both girls quickly tumbled over to see him.

John coughed a few times, and his eyes fluttered open. It took him a bit to focus on Sally's battered down face.

He smiled in her direction.

" John... ! "

" Y-you know... Times like these, I like having you around... " He started, rubbing at his face. " I realize that... If I can stand you for twelve-years of my life, there's nothing life can throw at me that I can't take. "

" ... What are you trying to say? " Sally deadpanned.

He chuckled dryly. " I'm saying that: Since living with you is such a hassle, anyone else would've just keeled over by now. So this - " he gestured to the room they occupied. " Is nothing in comparison! "

She opened her mouth to say something, but John cupped his elder sister's face, almost lovingly. Almost. The devilish grin kind of said otherwise. " I'm saying you suck too much for this to kill me. "

Sally groaned and pushed John's hand away as he burst into hysterical laughter. Mary too had begun to giggle some.

The air in the room lifted. They were going to be okay.

Mary wiped at her tear-stained face and let the conversation between the bickering siblings continue. Their playful banter filled her with newfound hope. A hope that they could all really live peacefully together like this.

Maybe it was false. Maybe the poison that ate her soul was merely put to a standstill.

Once the chatter is over, she'll remember.

Remember Garry.

Mary clenched her fist that sat ontop of her thigh, gripping her green dress with an intent to kill.

Her eyes will say otherwise, with her crooked smile and glowing aura.

But she was far from happy. She was broken. And in every way, Garry had betrayed her - he lied.

Garry didn't notice he was holding his breath until he was tapped on the shoulder by a couple of strangers.

He whirled around on his heels, startling the middle-aged couple quite some. They were taken aback as Garry bared his teeth like an animal.

His eyes were beginning to focus. The light of the art gallery was blaring into his retinas, and he didn't understand why he felt so dizzy or nauseous.

Taking another moment to himself, he scanned the couple - and a wave of nostalgia washed over him with relief.

They were his parents!

That's right! It was his parents' anniversary, and in celebration, they decided to have a picnic. However, their plans were ruined with a sudden downpour.

But their Plan B was just as fun.

Garry must've wandered off. He chuckled dryly to himself, relaxing the couple before him.

" Sorry mom. Sorry dad, " he muttered. There was an itch at the back of his skull that he couldn't quite understand. As if he were missing something - or rather - someone - important. He couldn't put together a face, nor a name, and so he glared down at the flooring.

" Boy, don't tell me you're already bored of this place? You've zoned out and left us with that boring 'ol tour guide! " Garry's "father" (?) exclaimed with a hearty laugh. His "mother" (?) giggled alongside him, and playfully gave her husband a push.

" It wasn't so bad, " she smiled. " But you do seem a bit worn out Garry. You haven't told us at all on how your work's been treating you. " Her face fell into a frown. " You're an adult now, and you have to take care of yourself before anything else. You have your dad and me still, so don't be afraid to rely on us! "

Garry pushed his hair back, feeling a warmth spread across his cheeks. To this day, his parents continued to baby him.

Yes... Garry remembers now. He's been working late nights for a few days straight with no break. His parents could've celebrated alone, but they had a haunch that he was damaging his mentality - staying cooped up in his apartment as a graphic designer.

That's why this twenty-eight-year old man was hanging around his parents.

" You guys worry too much, " Garry replied softly. " But you're right... I haven't been sleeping properly. Though... Something about this place feels so familiar... " The last bit was supposed to stay in his head, but Garry not thinking, said it out in the open.

His parents looked puzzled, and his mother said, " well that's funny. We've never been here before. Must be a case of deja vu. "

" C'mon son, we're missing out on the tour. " Garry's father threw an arm over his boy and pulled him away from the giant mural.

But Garry couldn't help but attempt to look back it. The itch was growing stronger. There was something he was missing. Something he was forgetting.

This thing was important, but he couldn't remember.

" Am I... An only child? "

" Eh?! " Garry's parents exclaimed in unison, before stopping dead in their tracks. They both took a minute to look at another before bursting into laughter.

" Of course you are sweetie! "

" Poor kid, you must be really tired! "

" A... Ah... " Something didn't feel right though. The faces of these people who claim to be his parents remind him of someone else.

A pair of siblings?

And he?

He feels empty. Or... Was it emptiness? Loneliness?

Whatever this feeling is, it's going to drive him crazy for the next few years. He could tell.

But with a bitter smile, Garry proceeded onwards with his folks. Listening to them.

He made it.

But, he doesn't know it.

A/N's: it's been such a long time since I've updated this particular fanfiction. i had to re-read all the older chapters, and it was quite a painful read, considering my writings improved some. (at least i'd like to think so.)

regardless, i tried writing this chapter a bit longer than usual - just to make up for the lost time. i do have plans on making a schedule for myself with updating. so maybe i'll be more consistent with it. who knows!

i also want to thank everyone who's still reading / has read up to this point! it means a lot to me that i've made something enjoyable hehe;;

Thank you for your time. C: