Ib

Prologue

I follow Mother and Father into the art gallery. I hadn't been to a gallery before, it was sort of exciting.

"Well, we're here." Mother turns to face me. "... This is your first time in an art gallery, right, Ib?"

I nod, and Mother continues.

"We're here today to see an exhibition of works by an artist named Guertena... And they don't just have paintings, but also sculptures... and all kinds of other creations!" Mother sounds so excited. "I don't doubt that even you'll enjoy it, Ib."

"Should we get to the reception desk?"

Mother turns to face Father, "Ah, yes. Let's get some pamphlets as well."

We walk up to the reception desk, but I can't wait. I tug on Mother's sleeve.

"Hm? You want to go on ahead? Really, Ib... Oh, all right. Just make sure you're quiet in the gallery, okay? Don't make a ruckus!" Mother warns, before continuing. "Not that there's any need to worry about you, I suppose... Don't cause the other visitors any trouble, now!"

At that, I'm off. Off to explore the gallery.

As I enter the gallery, the first painting I find is one of a fish. I take a look at the name plate, but I can't understand some of the words.

'??? Of the Deep
A world where man will never stand...
To ??? that world, I decided that
I would ??? it within the canvas.'

Even so, I continue on, until I find a statue. One of a beautiful red rose. I can tell it would be one of my favorites here right away.

I go up to read the name plate, but once more, I don't understand all of the words.

'??? of Spirit
Beautiful at a glance, but if you
get too close, it will ??? pain.
It can only bloom in ??? bodies.'

When I return to the room with the first painting I looked at, my parents are looking at different one.

We speak for a moment or two, but I really want to go look at the art upstairs. This Guertena guy must have had a lot of free time on his hands.

I look around for a bit, before finding one of the biggest paintings yet. The name plate said it was called, '??? World', but I couldn't understand one of the words.

Once I read the name plate, the lights flickered, and the art gallery went silent. Slightly worried, I slowly make my way downstairs again, wanting to see my parents.

The lights go out, startling me. Wasn't it the middle of the day? Why was it so dark?

I head over to the window to look, but what I see startles me.

Something red drips down the glass, but on the other side. Was it... paint? Or something else?

No one's around... My heart nearly stops when I hear footsteps. Was someone else here with me?

After walking around a bit more, I hear a cough. I look for a source, but all that's there is a painting. 'The Coughing Man'. I step away, almost running towards the entrance.

It was locked.

I swallow thickly, slowly heading up the stairs.

Once I reach the top, someone walks past the window.

I walk over towards it, peeking out. I nearly shrieked as someone comes up and pounds on it.

I dash away, heading back over to the large painting. '??? World'.

Blue paint is dripping from under the frame, as I examine it, red words appear on the floor.

'COME IB'

As I begin to walk away, I realize that the blue paint has changed into some words.

"come down below ib
ill show you someplace secret"

I hesitate slightly, but head downstairs. There was nowhere else to go anyways.

There was a spot in the rope around '??? of the Deep' where the rope was missing. There were blue footsteps heading towards it, and the painting almost seemed as though it were rippling.

After a moment or two, I take a step forwards.