Title: Waiting For Tomorrow (Prologue)

Fandom: Ib

Pairing/s: None; Intended to be a purely platonic fic

Summary: "Hey Ib... Um... If only two of us could get out of here... then what?"

Disclaimer: Nothing is owned, nothing is taken. - -

Sacrifice.

Ib only had a rather small idea of what that word could mean, but she didn't know what possessed her when she used that word in her and Mary's earlier conversation. Although the seemingly younger girl just laughed and tried to reassure Ib they'd all get out together, their little chat wouldn't leave her mind.

What if it was really true? What if only two out of three of them could get out? With the many surprises this fake gallery's given them, most not even amusing, there could still be a lot of things they were missing.

Mary continued looking at the various paintings and that one mannequin head in the room while Ib took a moment to stare at her rose. Only four petals were left since she had tripped and accidentally breathed in that odd, red gas, but she was sure she could manage. She went over to the only vase in the room and placed in her rose, watching with eager fascination as it bloomed. A single petal grew As the lush, red color returned to the rose, and just like that it seemed like nothing ever happened to it. It was a good thing she hadn't used the vase earlier. There was no water left in it.

Ib reached out for her flower but then paused for one moment. To Ib, this gallery made her realize how pretty roses actually were, no matter what color it came in. Garry had a vibrant blue rose, Mary had a bright yellow rose, and she had a deep red rose.

The three primary colors, trapped in one place.

The brunette clenched her rose protectively in her hand. Surely, they would all get out together right? A group of three should never be separated, like the three musketeers, or so.

"Ib, look! I opened the door! I don't think there's anything left for us to do. Let's go this way!" And as Mary dragged her off to another room with stairs that went down, Ib tried to tell herself they will be getting out together. And if things took a turn for the worse... Then she'd willingly take matters into her own hands.

Although she never knew them that long, Ib realized that she would do anything to keep both Mary and Garry safe and sound.

x-x-x-x-x

"Garry..."

"Hm?"

"... You look really dumb. Your hair's all over the place," Mary stated as she raised one brow. She turned around and stepped in front of the lavender-haired man, stopping both him and his brunette companion from taking another step down the stairs. "And your face looks white. What happened?"

"Didn't I tell you two that I don't remember a thing?" Garry sighed and used his hand to wave her off, making the blonde pout. If it weren't for Mary's constant questions, they probably would've escaped a little earlier. "I really don't know what I'd be doing in a room like that, because there's no way I'll be found in a room with those... unsettling things."

"Aww! But they are adorable! Here, I'll go get one for a quick sec and-"

"No!" Garry practically screeched, and Mary's sky blue eyes looked at him in surprise (and maybe it was just him, but for a moment he could have sworn she looked amused). Realizing how harsh his tone came out, the lavender-haired man scratched the back of his head and coughed awkwardly. "L-Look, leaving this place is a priority, okay? We shouldn't be slowing ourselves down so things'll go faster, right Ib?"

"..." No reply came, but Garry could still feel the young girl's little hand in his. He glanced down at her and was met by her blank gaze. Sweat dropped from the side of his forehead as he gently patted her head. "Hey Ib... are you alright? You're quieter than usual."

Ib blinked at the mention of her name before she slowly nodded. Garry raised one brow and slightly frowned. From what he could tell, Ib wasn't the type to daydream, but from what he saw it seemed like she had just snapped out from one.

"... You can tell the difference? Ib's always quiet," Mary spoke and went off to grab the red-eyed girl's hand. "Can we please go? I don't like this place."

The older man's stare narrowed itself on Mary, who smiled innocently and made some small talk Ib, who'd only reply with a nod. Garry still couldn't shrug off the feeling that there was something about Mary that came off as suspicious other than her constant mood swings. Maybe he was just being paranoid but he couldn't shrug off that feeling...

With a shake of his head, Garry's grip on Ib's ever so slightly tightened while he hesitantly ignored the voice at the back of his mind telling him to keep Ib away from Mary. "Okay then... Here, just a few steps more. My feet are already so sore." The soles of their shoes are the only sound they hear as they continue on the steps. They soon reach the bottom of the stairs and open a door they find to their left. They're greeted by a familiar scene, the black walls being the only difference from the original.

Hey, isn't this..? Garry's eyes went wide as he looked around and lead the two girls up the nearby flight of stairs, unafraid of paintings coming to life since they were most likely in a safe zone. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ib carefully studying the art pieces and Mary practically jumping up and down from excitement.

The end to this nightmare was coming near.

They passed by a few more displays until they arrived a big painting. Garry looked down at its plaque and read its title out loud, "Fabricated World..?"

Ib and Mary stepped forward and silently read what the rest of the plaque said, confused from what 'fabricated' meant. The blonde girl raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her. "Is this supposed to be the way out?"

"Could be. The painting sort of resembles the real art gallery in an odd way..." Garry replied in a daze as he examined the painting. "But then... how do we get out?"

As if on cue, a bright light enveloped the room, making the trio cover their eyes with their hands. When the light faded out, Garry's the first to remove his hands and notice that the mural's frame was gone.

"Oh, so this is how we get out." Mary grinned as her blue eyes twinkled from excitement. "Okay then, let's all jump in at the count of three!"

"Wait! Where's Ib?" Garry started to panic as he noticed this, but stopped himself from yelling out her name when he saw the brunette girl a little behind Mary. Relieved, Garry went over to Ib and smiled. "Hey, don't go running around without us-"

"Paint..."

"... Huh?" Garry glanced down at where Ib was looking at. Drippy, red paint was leaking out of the mural. They waited for most of it to clear out until a readable residue of the paint was left.

'only two come in, only two come out'
'one stays, and NO leAviNG EVER HAPPY BE HapPY'

"Wait... What? What do they mean-"

"Ib! Garry! Come on and jump over!" A horrified expression was plastered on his face as Garry looked up to see Mary had crossed over to the other side already.

Muttering a silent curse, Garry franitcally turned his head towards the young blonde. "Mary, get back here and read this!"

"I would but I... sort of can't..." Mary raised a fist and started banging on some sort of invisible barrier that separated her from the rest of the gallery. "Guys? What's wrong?"

"Only... Only two can get out..." Garry's voice shook as he tried to speak, and Mary's face went blank. After they had gone this far, only two of them could leave? And with Mary importantly? But they were all from the gallery! So why..?

Dazed, Garry unconsciously took out his blue flower. Only one petal left... Maybe he could stay behind, and both Ib and Mary could get out. Could he bring himself to stay in this place? Of course not, but as long as they could be safe...

Seems like I can't keep my promise on having macaroons with you Ib... Garry chuckled to himself sadly and placed his rose back in his pocket. The young adult was about to tell Ib what he had in mind, but when he faced her, he's stupefied to silence.

The little girl was smiling.

It was a rare sight to see, but what mattered was the fact that she smiling. And as Ib went over and hugged Garry tightly, the lavender-haired man could only stare at her small in surprise. What was she doing? And...

Why did this feel like goodbye?

And just as sudden as the hug came, Ib pushed Garry back with all the strength she could manage, making him stumble into the mural.

"Wha- No! This wasn't supposed to happen!" Mary cried out and brought both of her fists up to the unseen shield and frantically started hitting on it. "Ib! Please! I thought we'd be together forever!"

Albeit a minute too late, Garry had snapped out of his stupor and ran in front of where Ib was. From behind the little girl, he noticed shadows slowly creeping up in the room, and he's terrified not for himself, but for Ib.

Yet he knew there was nothing more he could do.

Garry stared at Ib with disbelieving eyes that silently asked why? Why would she do such a thing and practically throw her life away for him?

She stared at him intently, and took her five-petaled rose out of her pocket. Ib smiled at him again, only this time a hint of sadness came with it. "I guess wanted to know what sacrifice really means. It's nice to know that it was worth it."

"But Ib-"

"So thank you... and goodbye." Garry's voice was stuck in his throat and couldn't find the will to scream her name as the brunette girl turned to face the darkness and the figures hidden within the shadows, her rose held tightly in her hand.

The light grew brighter and brighter. The last thing Garry heard as pure white enveloped his vision was Mary's anguished cries.

x-x-x-x-x

...

..?

What was I doing?

Feeling a little light-headed, the lavender-haired man placed a hand on his aching forehead as he propped himself up by the wall. He looked around for one moment to check his surroundings, and took note of the fact that he was still in the gallery.

For some reason, Garry felt both relief and emptiness as he sighed.

Did I doze off? And in front of people, out of all things? I feel tired... Garry thought to himself as he closed his eyes and massaged his temples. I should really get some more sleep when I get home...

"You."

Garry's blood suddenly ran cold at the sound of the icy voice.

Hesitantly, he directed his gaze to go upward, and is met by electric blue eyes staring at him with unbridled rage. The little girl's teeth gritted together as she clenched one hand tightly on his jacket's sleeve and the other on her forest green dress.

He was not given the chance to speak as soon as the blonde girl started pounding her hands on his stomach.

"This is your fault! All your fault!" she yelled out once Garry doubled over and collapsed on the floor from the pain that the young girl had inflicted. "If-If you had just been good and stayed out of the way, then me and Ib... Ib would be..!"

"W-Wait! I didn't do anything!" Garry protested once he noticed the apprehensive glances he and the little girl were receiving. "Who's Ib? Who're you? What do you mean?"

"You know very well what I mean! Stupid Garry!" Now tears are brimming out of her eyes, but the girl ignored them as she reached out and grabbed a fistful of his top and pulled him closer so they were face to face. "Now bring Ib back. She's gone because of you. Bring her back!"

"Mary! What are you doing young lady?" Both Garry and the troubled child snapped their attention at a red-eyed lady that forced herself in the crowd that had formed and walked briskly towards their direction. The adult grabbed the blonde girl's - wait, Mary's, if he heard her name right - arm and forcefully tore her away from Garry. Ignoring Mary's tantrum, the lady frowned and looked at the figure below her apologetically. "I'm sorry for my dear girl's behaviour. She's been quite restless lately and I don't know why."

"I-It's fine ma'am. I'm just... caught a little off guard," he replied quietly and placed a hand on his stomach, wincing at the sharp pain that came right after. This kid could pack a good punch. "Maybe she's just having some issues as an adopted child."

The mother gave him an incredulous look. "Mary is not adopted, despite her difference in looks."

"Oh, er, I see." Garry coughed awkwardly and shifted in his spot, regretting his own words already. "Then, um, I just hope she stops causing trouble soon."

"So do I..." her mother said with a quiet frown and began to lead Mary away as the little girl kept yelling ridiculous statements about Garry. "She's not like I once remembered her to be..."

The pair disappeared down a flight of stairs nearby, and Garry heaved a breathe of relief. That was not good for his mentality at all. He didn't mind the fact that he just got beaten up by a little girl, but he hated drama people kept causing, and publicly too.

Garry refused to get some treatment and got up from his position by himself once the crowd had dispersed. Dusting himself off with his hands, the lavender-haired man checked himself if anything was broken, and sighed to himself, relieved that no serious damage was done.

Finally satisfied, Garry began planning to head home when a painting he never noticed had caught his eye.

That's odd... I scaled the whole gallery and I never saw this... Garry stepped forward and took a closer look at it. The painting definitely stood out, which made Garry wonder all the more as to why he noticed this piece of art.

The painting consisted mostly of dark colors. The borders of the painting formed shadows that seemed to come to life, and if he looked carefully, Garry spotted these... disturbing dolls with crimson red eyes that seemed to stare right at a person. Suprisingly, there seemed to be crayon drawn here and there, along with a few, red rose petals that were skillfully placed to make everything seem so natural.

Then there was the center point of the portrait.

A little girl, no older than 10 probably, stood in the midst of the chaos with only her back seen as she emitted this soft, white glow, as if she were some sort of last hope. Her long, brown hair that reached the small of her back flowed gracefully. She wore a white, long-sleeved blouse, black knee socks and sandals that matched the color of her red skirt. In her right hand, she held a blue and yellow rose protectively by her side.

Her left hand though, held a withering red rose which had only one petal left.

As the rose wilts, so you too will wilt away.

That day, when Garry left the gallery with tears that he couldn't stop, he wondered why he felt guilt, remorse and regret when he read the painting's title.

Somehow, he knew that the portrait of the girl in Distant Memory would not leave his mind for years that were to come.

A/N: Uuh... *nervously chuckles* Hi Ib fandom? uwu;; So I recently got into Ib and now I'm completely obsessed, and after a few weeks of mental debate I decided to write a fic in tribute of that fabulous game, ahaha. This is my first time writing something that isn't Kingdom Hearts, so I hope you guys like it so far. It might be a... little rushed though, ahaha ^^;

I kept asking myself, what if Mary hadn't gone crazy, and what if Garry and Mary came out instead, and Ib stayed behind? This is pretty much like the Memory's Crannies ending, except for the Ib and Mary thing. No, there are no pairings even though I ship Ib and Garry. There might be OCs but they're only minor and are for the sake of keeping the plot moving.

Thank you for reading! A review, especially constructive criticism and suggestions for the story, would be nice and much appreciated. :3