Author's Note: I got to play Heavy Rain recently! Awesome game, really. Jayden was my favorite character.

So, yeah... I'm writing this. If the chapters seem too short for you, they were kind of modeled after the game - it did not take me too long to beat it. Repeatedly. XD This takes place after the events of Heavy Rain. December embraces us, so it's kind of futuristic... I couldn't help it. I love winter!

Oh, yeah! Heavy Rain was written and directed by Quantic Dream's founder and CEO David Cage! Enjoy!

Prologue

With Konnor in bed, she was now free to head to the market. The icy wind nipped her face, turning her cheeks a rosy color. Locking the door behind her, she stepped off of her porch and climbed into her car. She'd make this a fast trip – only pick up things for the next day.

It was a five minute trip to her destination. While she was there, she picked up milk, apples, as well as things for lunch and dinner. She chatted with the cashier for a moment – having befriended him nearly two weeks ago. He was a young man, just starting out in a new state. He'd come here, to Ohio, after his mother had passed.

"Just hoping to find a place to help me forget," he told her with a forced smile. She could only nod as a response. She understood. "It was rough to begin with, but I think things are finally getting better."

"Well, I'm happy for you, then." Her smile was small, but genuine.

"Yeah... It was nice seeing you again, Lydia."

At this, her smile widened and she nodded. "It was nice seeing you, too. Bye, Joel." She turned, about to head out.

"Ah...!" She looked over her shoulder at him. "Do you need help? With your bags, that is?"

"I think I have it," she told him, amused. He was such a sweet boy.

He nodded. "Right. See you some other time." He waved and watched her leave.

Out in the cold once more, she started for her car. She dug through her purse while trying to keep from dropping the milk. She sighed heavily, watched as her breath turned into wispy fog. She smiled at the thought of Konnor going on and on about smoke-blowing dragons.

She placed her bags and her milk on the car after her unsuccessful attempt at finding her keys. She reminded herself to clean out her purse later. It was a wonder she could find anything in this mess! "Ah!" She hummed to herself as she finally pulled them out.

The snow crunching behind her gained her attention. She went to turn, but she hadn't been fast enough. She gasped as a gloved hand fell over her mouth. A small cry escaped her. She was pulled against someone's – a man's – chest.

For a moment, she thought that Joel had come out to play a horrible joke on her. After a minute, she wasn't so sure what to believe. The man's hold was tightening by the second. He panted next to her ear and she watched as his breath formed small clouds around her face.

"It happened again! She's dead..." A man who was obviously being eaten up by guilt. "She's gone." His voice was stronger this time. He seemed angry. "I did it... Be careful, Lydia."

Her eyes widened at this. Her scream came out muffled. Despite her efforts to fight him off, she simply was not strong enough. He held fast, swearing under his breath.

"Hey!"

She recognized that voice. Joel had come to be her knight in shining armor. At the sound of another man's voice, the attacker sprang away from her and sprinted off. She tried to get a good look, but he was so fast and was wearing all black – he vanished into the night.

Lydia struggled to catch her breath, putting a hand over her chest. "Shit!" Joel swore. "Lydia, are you all right?" He came up behind her, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah," she answered. "I'm lucky you came out, though. Thank you."

"I thought I'd catch a smoke, but then I saw that guy walking up behind you… Man, I bet that was scary! Do you know who that was?" She shook her head. "Well, it looks like he's gone now..."

"He knew my name," she murmured.

"Huh?"

"That man," she started, "he knew me by name."

His gaze narrowed. "That's worrying." He dragged a hand through his spiky hair. "I'd contact the police," he said. "There's some guy going around killing chicks, right?"

The serial murderer that people were starting to call the "Mercy Killer". Why they would call him something like that, she'd no idea. She assumed the nickname came from knowledge that she did not have. Either way, she had felt like prey. A rabbit caught in a snare, just waiting to be devoured by a beast.

"Yeah," she said finally. "And I think I will call the police, just to let them know something happened."

"You should," Joel said with a quick nod.

"Right... Well, I guess I really should get out of here. Konnor's at home alone."

"Okay. Be careful, Lydia."

It wasn't as if she needed anyone to say that. She already felt threatened, and she still had a child to protect. In any case, she thanked Joel and climbed into her car. She sped back to her house, wanting to make sure Konnor was okay.

When she got into the house, she checked on her brother. He slept soundly in her bed – as he adamantly refused to sleep in his own bed. Chester, their Golden Retriever, looked up at her. With a soft sigh, she went back downstairs and locked up as securely as possible. She went to draw the curtains, blocking out any light from the outside.

After a while, when she'd managed to calm down, she went and got ready for bed. She was too tired to do much else on this night. Almost as soon as she got into the bed, Konnor was nestling into her. While she did believe that he was becoming too old to do some of the things he did, she welcomed this tonight. He was her rock, her reason for being. For now, she just wanted to ensure his safety – especially if the man in the parking lot had truly been a threat.

She placed a kiss in the boy's hair. For the longest time, she stared into the darkness. She was happy when sleep finally took her.

Prologue: complete!