Three years ago, James Sunderland's wife Mary was stricken ill with a disease and died soon after. James has spent the next three years mourning for her lost. Then one day, he recieves a letter from her, beckoning him to meet her in their 'special place'. Not quite believing whether the letter is a hoax or if she is really alive, James goes to the quiet, deserted town, only to cross paths with mysterious characters, some of them knowing more about James then he does himself. Seraching for the clues needed to be found, James must go through this hell, only to learn that the answers he needs requires the ultimate sacrafice...
Restless Dreams
James Sunderland looked into the dirty bathroom mirror. His own reflection looked back at him bearing the same look of grief. If it wasn't for the fact that the mirror copied his every move, James would have thought that the reflection was not really his but merely a man who bore a resemblance to him. He looked and seemed so different than he had three years ago.
"Mary, could you really be in this town?" He asked his own reflection as though expecting it to answer him back. James leaned closer toward the mirror and gently drew his hand over his face.
How can a man change so much in three years? He wondered to himself. His eyes were now lined, giving him a tired, haggard look. But the lines weren't from old age, James was only twenty nine, they were from…so many other things. Grief, pain, loneliness, anything that could describe how a person felt after a loved ones death. James sighed and stood up straighter; he hadn't realized how hard he had been holding the sink. He glanced down at his hands where there were marks left behind from the uneven pieces on the sink. But James only looked at his hands numbly, he wouldn't have reacted much more probably if his hand fell off, he was only here for one thing.
Mary.
James gave the restroom one last look before exiting it back into the nearly deserted parking lot that was next to the observation deck. His hands reaching for the letter for the zillionth time, James walked over to where the deck looked out toward Toluca Lake. He couldn't see the lake though due to all the trees that stood in front of it, but James knew the lake was there. And even further, Silent Hill. James read the letter again, he knew it by heart, but he still read.
In my Restless dreams I see that town, Silent Hill. You promised you'd take me there again, but you never did. Well, I'm alone there now in our special place, waiting for you.
"Mary." He whispered. His gaze fell back toward the lake's direction. None of this could be true. Could it be? His Mary waiting for him. It was like a dream…or a nightmare. James shivered involuntarily though he didn't know why. To most people, this might have been a very romantic date, but there was nothing romantic about it to James. It was scary, but it gave him hope that somehow, some way, Mary could still really somehow be alive, waiting for him.
Mary, James thought to himself as a wave of sadness washed over him. Could you really be in this town?
James leaned his arms against the wall of the deck.
I received a letter, the name on the envelope said Mary, my wife's name. James looked silently at the trees in front of him, not really staring at anything, but just thinking. It can't be true, I keep telling myself that.
"Mary died of that damn disease three ago." James fumed. He suddenly realized that he had said that out loud, too loud. His face flushed even though he knew that no one was around to hear it. His hard gaze slid back to the direction that Silent Hill was, where Mary was, but she was dead…wasn't she?
"So then, why am I looking for her here?" He asked quietly.
James knew he had to go town. The town was beckoning him, forcing him to come, not just Mary. Although Mary was reason enough. James loved Mary; he would have gone through hell to be with her again. She didn't deserve to die. The last few years had been a blur to James. He thought he would never get on with his life…until the letter.
James sighed deeply and backed away from the wall overlooking the forest. His hand went to his breast pocket where a photo of Mary was always waiting for him. It had been when she was still healthy. Her face was lined with happiness and her smile was full of health. How could such a healthy person just drop dead like that? His finger was gently tracing her face; he wished it was her real face. That she was truly there beside him, helping him. Maybe it would be like that soon. James pocketed the photo gave the woods one last stare before heading toward his car.
When James had driven in not too long before, he had found that the only road leading toward Silent Hill was blocked. He would have to take the path through the forest. James shuddered slightly. He did not like the thought of going through those creepy woods in the chilly fog. But he had too. Mary was waiting. And he would do anything for her.
The map of Silent Hill sat in the front seat. James picked it up and examined the map, his eyes rolling over some of the places he had heard of before. One particular place made his eyes stop. Rosewater Park. Lowering his map, James closed his eyes and imagined the park looking over the lake. Could that be their 'special place'? It was certainly a good guess. It had been one of the highlights of their trip when they had come here together.
"Mary," James whispered with his eyes still closed. A single tear found its way out of the corner of James's eyes and slid slowly down his face, leaving a wet trail. "I will find you. I won't let you down." He opened his eyes and gave the lake's direction a stolid look as memories began to fill him of the town and his late wife.
"I promise."
James had been walking for a while now. The cool, autumn air sent chills down James's spine as he pulled his green jacket closer to his body. The fog just seemed to be getting thicker, to the point where James could barely see ahead of himself.
James grimaced as a leaf blew into his face. These weren't the lovely woods James had remembered. Over head, the sky was a darkish gray and James knew there must be rain heading this way.
"Damn." James murmured as a very strong gust of wind came down, causing James's jacket to nearly fly off his back. He sighed to himself, wishing he had worn something a bit heavier. It was much colder than he had expected. He hadn't really checked to see what it was going to be like here, he had just been more concentrated on going to Silent Hill. The only person who knew he had come here was his father. Frank. He simply told everyone at work that he was going somewhere for a day or two and would be back as soon as he could. His father hadn't really understood either. He had just assumed that James would be going to Silent Hill to clear his mind.
"James, this place is just so…calm. I could just stay here all day." And they had. Just the two of them, staring into the water. Mary loved Silent Hill; it was a haven to her. Her Silent Haven.
As James rounded a corner on the path, he began to notice that it was becoming much foggier than it had been at the bathroom. In fact, he couldn't see two feet in front of him.
"Jeeze," He muttered as put his hand in front of him. Even just a few feet away, it became a ghostly silhouette.
Below him, he could just barely hear the water. Toluca Lake. The sound of it gently slapping the shores was a bit calming, yet at the same time, it filled James with memories of Mary and their trip here. It had seemed so long ago. Ever since Mary had become sick, she had wanted to come to this town so badly. James regretted that he didn't take her here before she had…passed away. After all, he had promised her. He didn't keep her last promise.
"I really wish they had signs over here." He said after walking for about ten minutes later. He tried using his map, but it was so hard to read with the fog.
Something was coming up ahead. It wasn't a person, it was too big, but it gave James somehow a sense of déjà vu. "What?" His heart beating in his chest, James hurried near the object to find it was a well.
James stepped up to edge and peered into the deep hole. Something in his brain seemed to stir.
"I've been here before." James murmured to himself.
Suddenly the memory he had forgotten slowly came back as James bent farther into the hole, trying to see what was in the bucket. The paper in the bucket was bright red. It wasn't an ugly shade, but it made James feel slightly nauseated and his head hurt.
Although he wanted to look away, he couldn't. That paper, so vividly red, why was it making him feel sick?
James finally stepped back and grabbed onto the rope. As he quickly as he could, he began to feverishly pull on the frayed rope, trying to lift the bucket out of the well. The bucket lifted easily, too easily. It was just to the top when Snap. The rope broke and the paper and bucket fell into darkness.
James leaned over the side and gapped. He banged both of his hands on the side of the well angrily. The paper, it had been something he had been meant to see, he knew it! Maybe it had been from Mary, telling him where they're special place was. It didn't matter anyway. Or maybe just a hint. Either way, the paper was gone. With a frustrated sigh, James stepped away from the well, wondering why he had been so desperate to get the paper out in the first place. James was just about to get on his way when suddenly he heard a very unnerving sound.
Kurclunk. Kurclunk.
James tensed, trying to find to the source of the weird noise. Was there a wild animal there hidden behind a bush or tree?
No, James chided himself. These are public woods.
Deciding to dismiss the weird noise, James kept on going forward. Even so, the weird got louder as he neared the town. Presently, he came upon some iron gates. With a few creaks and groans, they opened for James. James walked forward into the new area and realized that it was no longer woods. There were low walls on either side of him. Small stones began to appear as James grew nearer and James realized, a bit uncomfortably, that he must be in a cemetery.
Great. He thought to himself sarcastically.
James bit his tongue nervously; he had never really liked bone yards. Especially headstones that were as big as he was. That was what coming closer, a very large headstone just a silhouette in the fog. James was about to look away when…it moved! James stopped; his heart was pounding loudly in his chest, as the figure straightened up from its position of prayer then leaned back down at the tombstone in its original position. James didn't know what else to do except to go closer and see if he had really just seen that.
James slowly began to go nearer, and as he did, the figure changed. Red pants became visible with regular flesh-looking skin. James let out a huge sigh of relief as he realized that it wasn't a statue but a woman.
"Excuse me I-" He said as he neared. The woman cut him off as she gasped loudly and turned around. Wild brown eyes took in his face and the woman's face showed her relief, but the brown eyes remained suspicious and frightened.
"I…I'm sorry. I was just…"
"No its okay," James said as he held up his hands to calm the frightened girl. He could see that the girl was badly shaken and he made her a bit nervous. The girl pushed a piece of dark brown hair away from her pale face. "Can you help me? I kind of lost." He said.
The young girl gave him a puzzled stare. "Lost?"
"Yeah, I'm going to Silent Hill. Is this the right way?" James asked, indicating his chosen route. The girl followed his arm's direction and nodded.
"Yes. You can't miss it. It's kinda hard to see with all the fog around but there's only one road."
James began to walk away. "Thanks."
"But…" The girl said slowly, as though afraid to tell.
"Hmm?"
"This uh…this town…there's something…wrong with it." She said. "It's kinda hard to explain but…" She looked down, not knowing whether to go on.
"Is it...dangerous?" What if Mary was in trouble? Who would be there for her?
"It may be," The girl said, her voice dropping lower as though afraid someone would overhear. James was observant, he saw the way the girl kept on looking around nervously, the suspicious glare in her eyes, and way she grasped her hands together tightly. He wondered if he was talking to a sane person. "And it's not just the fog either, its…" Her voice trailed off as she watched James's expressions seeing if he believed her. James backed up a few feet and turned around, wondering how the hell the fog could be dangerous if you were on foot. Maybe the girl was telling the truth. Okay, I get it. I'll be careful." He said over his shoulder.
The girl was obviously offended. "I'm not lying!" She yelled back at him.
"No, I believe you." He said simply. "It's just…I guess I really don't care whether its dangerous or not. I'm going to town either way."
The girl was not satisfied. "But why?" She asked him.
James hesitated. "I'm looking for someone."
"Who, who, who is it?" The girl stuttered.
"Someone…" James grimaced as he put a hand to his forehead. A slight pain had started there. He couldn't put his finger on it but it seemed as though…he was trying to remember…
Remember what?
"very important to me." He continued as the pain began to subside. He lowered his hand from his forehead, wondering what had just happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl staring at him strangely. James shook his head, trying to rid himself of the odd feeling. "I'd do anything to be with them again." It was true, no matter how dangerous the town was, he wanted back his Mary.
No one will stand in my way.
The girl nodded, a bit sadly. "I'm looking for someone too." She told him. "My mama—I'm mean mother." S slight grimace crossed her face. She began to stroke the grave next to her and stared at it thoughtfully. "It's been so long since I've seen her." She said a bit quietly. A weird glaze was in her eyes. "I thought my father and brother were here too, but I can't find them anywhere." She shook her head as though snapping out of it. "I'm so sorry." She apologized as she turned to look at James. "It's really not your problem."
"It's okay." James told her. "I hope you find your mother."
The girl was silent for a second. She reached out and touched the grave again. "Yeah, you too."
James stood there a moment longer before backing away and turning around. Even as he looked away, he knew her sad brown eyes would haunt him.
James walked toward the exit and caught sight of the small church off to the side. It seemed so small and cold looking, a church out away from a town with a cemetery. Who was buried out here anyways?
James chose a random gravestone, the one that the girl had been staring at previously, and bent down to see the inscription.
To my dear Angela,
Your final resting place.
Love Daddy
1982-2001
See you soon
A/N-This is my first attempt at a novelization so be please kind! I would really appreciate it if someone could please review this.
