Duo Est Societas, Turba Tribus, Sed Libertas Excedere Tantum Duo Permittuntur.

Sam and Caleb resumed their journey, wandering through the corridors and admiring the paintings that adorned the walls around them.

"Hey Sam, have you ever come across milk puzzles?" Caleb inquired as they strolled. "No, what's that?" Sam responded, curiosity piqued. "They're puzzles that are entirely white, making them significantly more challenging than the usual ones," Caleb elaborated. "Oh!" Sam exclaimed, intrigued by the concept of such a stark puzzle. "They say only really clever folks can manage to complete them. But honestly, without any picture to guide you, it lacks a bit of joy. It's more rewarding to work towards revealing a vibrant image," he added. "I totally agree!" Sam concurred, finding the notion particularly resonant, considering her own perspectives shaped by her autism.

Arriving at the hallway, Sam and Caleb found themselves halted by a door requiring a password. "A password?" Caleb murmured, eyeing the door. "It mentioned something about the Deep..." he mused, examining the door more closely. Frustration soon took over. "It has to be ONE WORD!" he exclaimed. At that moment, Sam had a realization. "Oh! Abyss of the Deep!" she exclaimed, solving the door's riddle. The sound of the door unlocking followed her correct answer. "Hey! Well done, Sam!" Caleb praised, with Sam beaming at her success.

As they stood before the artwork, Caleb and Sam scrutinized the intertwining black and red lines. "Just a painting," Caleb muttered, his gaze shifting to the label. "Separation? What a disconcerting choice for a painting," he sighed, a hint of disapproval in his voice. Sam, however, remained fixated on the canvas, absorbed in its details. Then, without warning, the lights flickered once again, casting a brief shadow over their encounter with the art.

Darkness enveloped the surroundings once again..

"Caleb screamed in terror, gripping Sam's arm tightly. "Sam?! Are you alright?!" His voice was laced with fear as he peered at Sam, but he quickly mustered up some courage. "Wait a second! I'll use my lighter," Caleb announced, retrieving the lighter from his pocket. A spark flickered to life, and then Guertena spoke.

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Caleb chuckled triumphantly, "Ahaha! Luckily I had this with me! Things could have gotten pretty bad!" Wearing a smirk, he directed the light toward the painting, only to feel a wave of nausea at what he saw.

"Wait! What is this?!" Sam exclaimed in terror. "Man, this place is doing a number on my mental health. Let's get out of here, Sam," Caleb said, leading the way out of the room with her.

"Hey! Look at these footsteps!" Sam observed, her gaze fixed on the floor, oblivious to her surroundings. "Wait, were these here befo- WHOA!" Suddenly, she tripped over something—or rather, someone.

"Hey!" the girl exclaimed, clearly annoyed at being tripped over. "Oh, hello!" Caleb responded, making an effort to be friendly. "Oh!" The girl's irritation seemed to fade as she noticed Caleb. "Are you guys also here for the museum?" Caleb inquired. "Yes, I've been looking for others! I'm so glad I finally found someone," the girl replied with a bright smile. "We can't just leave you by yourself, come with us!" Caleb offered warmly. "Really?! Thank you!" She beamed, her smile wide with excitement. "I'm Ash," she introduced herself. "I'm Caleb," he returned the introduction. "And I'm Sam," she added. "Nice to meet you! I have a feeling we're going to be BEST FRIENDS," Ash said, her enthusiasm slightly shadowed by a peculiar gleam in her eye. "Ash, do you have a rose too? Sam and I each have one," Caleb asked, showing his dark blue of night rose, while Sam presented hers, the color of lobsters. "I do! It's yellow," Ash revealed, holding up a lemon-colored rose. "Great! Make sure to keep it safe, and also—" Caleb's advice was cut short as Ash's attention darted elsewhere. "WOW! Sam, your rose is RED! I love Yellow, and Pink, and OH! Blue too!" Ash exclaimed, her innocence apparent. "Please, try to listen," Caleb sighed, sensing Ash might be quite the character to deal with. "Anyway, let's keep going," he suggested, leading the way with the two girls in tow.

The trio entered a room entirely filled with dolls. "Aww! They're so cute!" Ash exclaimed, picking one up. To them, the dolls resembled rabbits. "Aren't they, Sam?" Ash looked towards Sam, who was also smiling. "Yeah, they are!" Sam concurred. "How in the hell is that cute?!" Caleb protested, seeing something entirely different from a rabbit. As they continued their exploration, suddenly...

A vine, as green as the moss it originated from, burst forth between the three of them! Its leaves and thorns emerged like sirens calling from another world.

"WATCH OUT!" Caleb shouted, while Ash quickly grabbed Sam, pulling her to safety before the vines could cause any harm.

"I'm okay... How about you?" Caleb asked, peering at Sam through the vines. "I'm alright..." Sam responded, her expression filled with concern. Ash then tugged at her arm, urging, "Come on, Sam! Let's head this way! We'll find a way around!" She began to lead her forward.

As they navigated the gallery, something caught Ash's attention...

A palette knife stood out to her.

"I think I'll hold on to this, for protection," Ash declared, a brief shadow passing over her face, which quickly dissipated upon turning to Sam. "Hey Sam, if only two of us could get out of here, who would you choose?" Ash inquired, locking eyes with her. "Well, I would sacrifice myself," Sam earnestly replied, not providing the answer Ash might have hoped for. "Don't say that! No worries! I'm sure we'll stick together, FOREVER. We'll make it out!" Ash reassured her, offering a comforting smile to her new friend. As they navigated through the puzzles, Sam focused on keeping pace with Ash, who seemed to have a surprisingly better understanding of the place, almost as if she knew Guertena's world far better than Sam did.

"Caleb exhaled, "I should figure out how to rejoin them," while throwing a hesitant look at the dreaded room. "But truthfully, the last thing I want is to step back inside." He diverted his attention, lifting a doll to examine it closely, his face contorting in distaste. "I can't fathom how they found these dolls 'cute.'," he wondered aloud, puzzled by their initial impressions.

As Caleb made his way down the hallway lined with dolls, a sudden squeak echoed from one of them! "Hey Caleb! I'm not a fan of solitude! Let's go together!" The doll spoke, its voice simultaneously high and low, filling Caleb's ears. He thought he could simply run from the problem, but it felt like déjà vu.

"HEY! WHY ISN'T THERE ANY RESPONSE FROM YOU?!"

...

"WHY ARE YOU NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ME?!"

...

"Hey, let's hang out! I've got plenty of fun ideas!"

...

"Ahaha! I've got a bunch of friends as well! I'll introduce you to them~"

...

...

"Be here."

"FOREVER."

"Move aside," Caleb stated, having none of this doll's nonsense. "I'm not here to be your friend," he declared, giving the doll a kick, a decision he was bound to regret.

"Now, let's check if any of these books contain a map, perhaps I can figure out a route to them!" he exclaimed, picking up a book that Sam had perused just a few hours earlier. He flipped to the next page and began to read.

"Beginning with this piece, Guertena began his focus on abstract art. But at the time, cubism was more popular, leaving Guertena's various abstract works largely ignored."

He kept reading, eagerly turning the page to delve deeper into the content.

"Guertena painted this as a page filler while working on a magazine. Once this illustration was renowned it was sold for a limited time as an actual tarot card. Presently it is nearly impossible for one to find the card."

He persisted in his reading, flipping to the next page. However, what he discovered there caused his stomach to churn with unease...

"The last work of Guertena's life. While the girl appears almost lifelike, naturally..

She is not based on a real person.

"Wait. ASH?!" He exclaimed, letting the book fall from his hands as the dreadful reality about the child hit him. "Sam's with her, OH NO, OH NO, OH NOOO!" Panic-stricken, he dashed towards the door, yanking at the handle, only to find his efforts thwarted by bad luck—it was locked.

"I K N O W A S H I E 'S S E C R E T,' ' the voices whispered inside his head.

"Goodbye Caleb~" That familiar voice sang out, lingering in the air.

"Which one~?" the voice playfully teased, echoing with a hint of mystery. The dolls' chants escalated, driving Caleb to the brink of frustration. "NO! I JUST HAD IT! WHERE IS THE KEY?! COME ON!" In his frenzy, he tore through the dolls, their laughter piercing like hyenas, followed by a deep, ominous chuckle. Turning pale, Caleb looked behind him, managing only to scream out in response.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Caleb screamed in terror, his voice catching Sam's attention. However, all she could discern afterward were faint, eerie giggles.

"Caleb?" Sam inquired, her voice trembling, as Caleb turned to her with an innocent smile. "Ahahahaha! Is that so~?" he crooned to the doll, his sanity seemingly slipping away. "Well then, I won't tell anyone, I promise you!" His laughter turned dark and menacing, just as Sam grabbed his shoulders firmly. "CALEB! WAKE UP! IT'S ME! SAM!" she pleaded, shaking him with all her might. "Caleb.." her voice trailed off, despair creeping in. The thought of losing her only friend in the twisted world of Guertena fueled her anger and determination. With a surge of emotion, she lifted her hand to the sky refusing to give up on him, and screamed..

"WAKE UP!" She desperately attempted to pull him back to the present, striking him sharply across the face.

It appeared to be effective.

"OUCH! WHO IN THE WORLD JUST HIT ME?!" He exploded in outrage, his voice reaching a fever pitch, only to calm down within mere seconds. "Oh, it's you, Sam!" He recognized the girl, a smile breaking across his face. "I'm fine, really, but I feel like I'm forgetting something important." He scratched his head, trying to jog his memory. However, their moment of reflection was abruptly cut short by a tremor, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath from Ash. "I've got it! She's not real—she's a painting, just like the rest. We can't stay here," he urgently shared with Sam, who turned ashen. The revelation hit her hard; she was on the verge of befriending what they were meant to escape from. She nodded, silently agreeing, and took his hand as they moved on to explore new rooms.

"Wow, talk about a scenery shift!" Caleb marveled, his eyes taking in the hand-drawn wonders surrounding them. "I've got a strong feeling we're close to an exit, Sam! Come on, let's go find it!" He cheered, prompting a smile from Sam as well.

"Caleb, Sam, where are you~?" Ash's voice echoed around them, stirring a sense of worry in their hearts.

"CALEB? SAM? WHERE ARE YOU?" Ash's voice grew more impatient and carried an unsettling edge, hinting at a thirst for something far more sinister... Caleb's blood.

"CALEB?! SAM?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Her scream pierced through the halls, her eyes locking onto the two of them as she whispered something dark and malicious...

"Hehehehe, I found you!" Ash whispered sinisterly, before pushing the two of them down into the abyss, known as the Guertena Rabbit Hole.

"AAAAAAAAH!" Sam and Caleb's screams echoed as they plummeted further down... And down... AND DOWN!

"Agh, my head.." Sam groaned, slowly getting up from their nasty fall, Caleb coming too as well. But when the two got up, they were met with Ash..

CLUTCHING SAM'S ROSE.

"Look what I found! I do like red," Ash smirked, delicately touching the petals of Sam's rose, seemingly teasing Caleb with her gesture. "But, I like blue more," she added, giving the rose a soft kiss before casting a malevolent glance towards Caleb. "Say, Caleb...?"

"GIVE ME YOUR ROSE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU SAM'S. How about that~?" She smirked, prompting Sam to cover her mouth in shock, with Caleb visibly trembling. "What..?!" was all Caleb could manage to say.

"CALEB! DON'T DO IT!" Sam yelled out, clearly opposed to the exchange. "Come on! Blue IS my favorite! Hand it over!" Ash insisted, her smile widening as she conjured that dark shadow again, giving Sam's rose a little shake. "Okay, I understand," Caleb sighed, reluctantly handing over his rose to avoid further trouble. "Really?!" Ash giggled in disbelief, quickly running off with Caleb's rose. "Caleb... I'm sorry," Sam said, trembling, anxious about the repercussions of their actions. "Don't worry, we'll get it back from Ash!" Caleb reassured her, trying to smile, then suddenly clutching his chest as a sharp pain struck him, making it difficult to breathe.

"I'm ok..Just go on without me!" Caleb could only tell her before falling back. "I'll be right back! STAY THERE!" Sam shouted to him, running to find Ash before it was too late..

"Loves me~," Ash hummed to herself, plucking the petals from the blue rose in her hand.

"Loves me not."

"Loves me~"

"Loves me not~"

"LOVES ME."

"LOVE'S ME NOT."

Caleb groaned in pain as the withering intensified, but all he could manage was to... smile. :))

"Sam... You were incredible," he managed to whisper, his voice barely above a breath. "Take care... of everyone important to you," he strained, clutching his chest. "Please... hurry," he gasped, his strength fading. "Every moment... together... was a joy," he said with labored breaths, as he neared the end. These were his final words.

"Don't... give up... Sam... I love you..." With those final words, the guardian of Sam and the eldest among them...

Passed away.

Sam burst into the room where Ashie was, only to find it was too late; she had already removed the last petal, irrevocably sealing his fate.

"He loves me..HE LOVES ME!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"YAY! HE LOVES ME! AHAHA!"

Understanding the situation, Sam raced to the room only to discover...

He had withered away.

"Caleb?" Sam's voice quivered as she gently nudged his body. "Caleb?" she whispered again, deep down aware that he wouldn't respond. Clutching his body to hers, tears began to quietly stream down her cheeks, gradually transforming into quiet whimpers, then loud sobs, escalating into heart-wrenching wails and piercing shrieks filled with ANGUISH and GRIEF!

"PLEASE! NO! WHY?!" Sam's cries pierced the air, her tears cascading like torrents unleashed. "WHY DID YOU GIVE HER YOUR ROSE?! YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT!" In desperation, she punched his chest, futilely hoping to stir him to consciousness. "Please wake up, Caleb!" she sobbed, holding onto her lifeless friend even tighter.

Then, a faint ding reached her ears. Sam glanced over, immediately recognizing the familiar item. "His lighter," she murmured, picking it up. Rising to her feet, her sorrow morphed into rage, her mourning fueled a fiery wrath. The tears that once flowed like geysers now simmered into volcanic fury. Her chocolate brown eyes transformed, blazing with intensity, and her auburn hair gleamed with the fierce glow of flowing lava.

As the vines caught fire and blazed around her, Ash stood frozen in shock. "Sam?!" she exclaimed, retreating slightly in fear. "Ash," Sam responded icily, her tone conveying a deep-seated resolve for confrontation. "Get away from there... That's mine! SAM! GET OUT OF HERE!" Ash screamed, panic-stricken. Yet, Sam, undeterred and fueled by her anger, ignited the lighter, her voice steady and filled with six words of pure fury.

"I can't forgive you for this."

Igniting the lighter, Sam set the painting on fire, as Ash let out a desperate scream. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ash wailed, her form consumed by the flames, gradually fading into nothingness. "Goodbye, Ashie," Sam said coldly, her voice devoid of any warmth, as she pocketed the lighter. Then, her gaze shifted, landing on a familiar sight—the painting from the beginning. "An exit?" she murmured, recognizing the potential escape route it presented.

Sam leaped into the painting, emerging into the brightly lit gallery. "What was I doing before..?" she wondered aloud, wandering through the halls with a sense of disorientation. Her memory of the journey seemed erased, a blank slate, until her eyes landed on a specific painting. This piece, distinct from the others, sparked a flicker of recognition, drawing her closer for a better look.

"Huh! This painting looks pretty.." Sam noted with a smile, her gaze moving between the background and foreground of the painting, appreciating its beauty. Suddenly, she remembered something and checked her pocket, discovering a treat—a chocolate coin. Delighted, she unwrapped it and took a small bite of the sugary delight. "How long have I had this chocolate coin for..?" she wondered aloud. But just as she tried to ponder further, something unexpected occurred...

"Wait...NO!" She clapped a hand over her mouth as the dreadful realization about the sugary treat hit her.

"That's for you, Sam! Go ahead and enjoy it," The past called out, glancing back with tears welling up in her eyes, her legs starting to give way.

"NO! NO!" She screamed at the picture. "NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOO!" She shrieked again, her tears erupting like geysers. "CALEB! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" She wailed, tormented by guilt for not being able to save her friend. "Don't leave me alone..." she whispered shakily, sobbing as the ordeal ended.

...

"LET ME GO BACK!" she suddenly screamed, her tears quickly turning to ones of anger. "I CAN CHANGE THIS!" She rose to her feet, her fist clenched tightly, raising it towards the heavens. "LET ME SAVE CALEB!" She fixed her gaze on the painting, before letting out a scream with all the strength she could muster.

"LET ME GO BACK!"

She punched the painting, the glass shattering and the picture tearing when her world went white.

"...huh?!" Sam bolted upright, finding herself once again in that void of darkness, accompanied only by the familiar ticking of a clock. "Oh god...where AM I?!" She screamed, scanning her immediate surroundings until her eyes landed on a familiar object, her rose. "My rose!" she exclaimed, dashing to retrieve it. As she did, a chill seemed to pass through her, making her shiver. "Hello?! Help! Someone! HELP!" she cried out into the void. Then, a new voice reached her ears. "Child..." it said softly. "What?! Who's there?!" She spun around, her eyes meeting a pale male figure clad in a dark tuxedo suit. "Who are you..?" Sam inquired, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed the tall figure. "Don't you know..? It's me," the figure responded, shrouded in mystery.

"Guertena," the artist introduced himself to the girl. "No way," she gasped, utterly astonished to be facing the painter himself. "How can I return? I need to rescue my friend!" Sam implored. Guertena responded, "I can fulfill your request, on the condition that Ashie's desire is met too. By destroying her painting, she will be liberated and able to reunite with me, her father." Hearing this, Sam trembled with fear but managed to muster her courage, replying, "I understand." "Very well. Now, proceed, my child!" Guertena encouraged, placing his hand on her shoulder, as her surroundings shifted back to normal.

Sam gasped as she found herself back in the cursed gallery, with Ashie standing behind her, her eyes vacant. "Ashie..." was all Sam could utter, pondering their fate. Would they escape, or remain trapped in Guertena's Labyrinth forever?