Summary: Joshua didn't die in the boating accident. When he wakes up, Alex is gone. Years later he has a dream, beckoning him to the forbidden Silent Hill.
WARNING: This fic is based on the water ending, so please don't read this until you have beaten the game to prevent spoiling it.
NOTE: On the official website, if you read Alex's journals it says that Josh is ten year younger than Alex.
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SILENT HILL
The day Joshua was born Alex was all but erased from his parents' hearts. At first the ten-year old barely noticed the changes. His mother didn't smile as much and his father didn't pick him up anymore. He thought it was because he was a "big boy" now. But as the years passed, he realized that somehow he had lost their love.
At eighteen, Alex was more than aware of his parent's unconditional adoration of his eight-year-old brother Joshua, and their detest of him. While he was jealous of Joshua's attention, he loved his brother more than anything. He took his responsibilities as the older brother very seriously and was dedicated to him. After all, Josh was the only one in the family who loved him.
He would always be ready to help Josh when he needed it.
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"AAAH!!"
Josh's scream woke Alex from a pleasant dream about Elle on the beach. Damnit… Grumpily, he muttered and rolled over on the bunk to see what was wrong. "God.. What's your problem?"
Josh was sitting up, wiping tears from his eyes. "I…had a bad dream." Always embarrassed to show his less-than-impressive crybaby side to his brother, he started to lie down. "Never mind…It's nothing."
Recognizing the shyness and that the ten-year old was perturbed about something, Alex handed him his flashlight. "Look. Take it. If you get scared again just turn it on. Ok?"
"Thanks Alex." His brother turned the light on and truly seemed to take comfort not only in the light but his brother's concern.
The light shone right up his bunk, but Alex didn't let it bother him. "Sure. Anytime, kiddo."
He rolled over back to sleep.
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Alex was pissed. He and Joshua had been playing with a recorder when their father walked in. Of course, Alex was immediately scorned and ordered from the room. For a moment, he listened to their dad through the door. He had called him childish and told Josh not to hang around him. He had left after that, but Josh and Adam hadn't come out from the attic until later. Josh had this big grin like he had some incredible secret.
It was well past midnight but Alex just couldn't sleep. He had to get away for a while. Since it wasn't a school night, he decided to let Josh come with him. He slid from the top bunk as quietly as he could then shook Joshua's arm.
"What's the matter?" Joshua asked, sleepily eyeing his brother when he woke.
"Get dressed," Alex replied.
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Only the chirping of crickets and the sloshing of the lake broke the midnight silence. Alex felt more at ease on the lake, even though the slight hesitation of being caught made it exciting. He was glad to be away with his brother, even if it was only on the water.
"What are we doing here, Alex? Dad will freak if he finds out."
Alex squinted as Joshua accidentally shined the flashlight in his eyes. He nervously looked at the shore. "Give that to me. Some one will see us," he said, reaching for the army-grade flashlight.
"No!" Ever since Alex had given it to him, the light made Josh feel safe. He was too nervous about getting in trouble, and had rarely ever been out so late at night. The dark just terrified him.
"It's ok," Alex said patiently, trying to soothe him. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Though he was still nervous, Josh trusted Alex and only slightly hesitated and allowed Alex to take the flashlight from him. Knowing that Josh would be too scared if the light was turned off, Alex set it on the floor of the boat facing his brother but not hindering his sight.
"Why are we here, Alex?" Joshua wringed his hands. "What's going on?"
Alex didn't look like he really wanted to talk, so he baited his brother. "What's the matter? Scared?" he teased.
"O-oh no. I'm cool," Josh didn't want Alex to think he as a baby. He looked away. "It's just…Dad never wants us out on the lake."
Alex tensed when their father was mentioned. Ever since Josh could remember there had been tension between their dad and Alex.
"Not you anyway," Alex said. 'Dad doesn't care if anything happened to me out here.' He grew frustrated and continued to take it out on the younger boy. "Dad thinks you're a little baby who can't do anything on his own."
"Oh yeah?" Josh knew he wasn't supposed to show the ring, but he didn't want Alex to look down on him. "Then why'd he give me this?" He pulled the family ring from under his shirt and proudly showed it off.
"What is that?" Alex asked.
"It's Dad's ring." Josh slipped the chain over his head. "But…he told me not to show you so…I guess that makes me cooler." He didn't really mean that, and felt bad when Alex was angry.
"Let me see it!" Alex grabbed the ring angrily, pissed that his dad had once again showered his younger brother with love and left him out.
"No!"
"What a piece of crap." He chuckled wryly. It looked old for sure, but he recognized that it was an heirloom of some sort. It just looked like something significant.
"Is not. It's worth more than a million dollars. That's why Dad gave it to me." Alex saw how flustered Josh was, and to tease him, laughed and waved the ring in front of him. "Give that BACK! It's MINE!"
Josh struggled for the ring but his thin arms were no match for Alex's muscle. He pulled and tugged, rocking the boat and lost his footing. With a short cry, he fell back into the water.
"JOSH!" Alex shouted. "Oh my god!" He leaned over the side, calling and searching with the flashlight. "JOSH!"
Sinking in the depths, the last thing Joshua heard was the panicked cries of his brother.
"JOSH!"
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I know just reading a novelized version of the cut-scenes must be oh-so interesting, but after this the story changes to my own. I just wanted to establish their past and relationship before moving on.