Silent Hill-Silent Tears-Lisa Garland's story

Walking through the hospital Lisa sees the same people she always did, her colleagues who were often so immersed in their duties that they failed to notice her. Lisa is aware that the hollow and exhausted features she sees upon their faces is also upon hers. Part of her is filled with shame, another part of her longs once more for what they all craved.

Their had been I time when her superior, Docter Kaufmann, had used it to his advances, fulfilled is desires for pleasure with her. She had found it foul, but eventually their came a time when there was no emotion, the act being a currency as good as money. Better than, Lisa corrects herself, because she could not deny there were times, occasions where she had enjoyed it too. It was only when a friend had told her what she thought of Lisa's behaviour that her own revulsion was reborn. Now she hated Kaufmann, then she was naïve and at first he had seemed a kind mentor, even lover. He and he alone supplied the staff at the hospital with what they craved, and Lisa was at one point so dependent that her self respect and Kaufmann's insatiable appetite for sex had simply not mattered.

When Lisa took what she craved the guilt and despair evaporated and dispersed like morning mist and ecstasy, a state of pure bliss and extreme pleasure took over. There were nightmares afterward, an Otherworld of horrors that stopped Lisa from sleeping. Eventually of course you added the substance to your drink or snack before bed as it is the only way you could sleep.

It was only recently that Lisa had asked Kaufmann to allow her another method of payment. Usually he would have said something on the lines of "No, you know the price, now take off that uniform." This time his eyes had gleamed with a devilish evil and suddenly Lisa felt scared, it was like dealing with the Devil-Body or Soul Lisa? He had spoke quietly, saying that there was something she could do for him in a menacing whisper that was more to himself than to her. He had fixed his eyes upon her, their evil glitter that revealed the Doctor's true self, an evil and calculating man. Kaufmann had said he would allow her to change her method of payment and that they would discuss it in her office. Then he had his way one last time, it had been painful and horrible and what was worse for Lisa is she realised he preferred it to be like that. It had destroyed her, literally and at work Kaufmann had given her a week off. One could mistake it for kindness, in actual fact it was only because he had nothing for her to do while he was arranging her new duties, he had made it clear that she would receive a salary that was better and a small amount of that dammed drug. Lisa knew these terms were to buy her silence, and despite her misgivings they were too good to reject. She wanted both the money and the drug, and the hospital's staff nurse had pressured Kaufmann into giving her time off sick after she had broken down in a toilet, locking herself in.

Lisa snapped back from her own thoughts as she neared Kaufmann's office, entered the toilet and looked at herself in the mirror while pretending to wash her hands. She knew she was pretty, knew she had a good figure and sweet smile. However she couldn't help but notice the darkness around her eyes and skin that was a tad too white. I'm like a ghost, she thought, remembering that there was a time when her skin had been pale but retained its life, but not so pale as it was now, reminiscent of a sunlight deprived human. She was now a living corpse that had been robbed of life by its owner, though her beauty still largely remained. She arranged her uniform in a way she knew he found enticing, not for him, but for whatever advantage it might give her. She was still wearing her red high heels as she was not on duty, nor was she technically speaking in a ward. Doctor Kaufmann's private office was entirely different from his public one, which was invaded every minute by staff, this one however few staff even knew about, such was the seclusion the doctor imposed on himself. The corridor before her stretched off and walking through it Lisa felt an odd sensation, as though she was not in the hospital as she knew it but rather someplace very similar but not the same. The double doors finally came into view, there were no other exits, Lisa walked forward and was just about to knock when then Kaufmann's voice ordered her inside.

The office was lavishly furnished with the finest antiques and silk wall paper as well as many lamps that shone soft light. Stunned at the wealth this room displayed Lisa doubted all this had been fully paid for, but a nagging part of her brain told her this couldn't be real. It was impossible, how could all this be here without the vast majority of the hospital knowing. It did however show Lisa what Kaufmann craved other than sex, and that was material wealth. She almost vomited at the shallowness but was reminded of her own want for money. A question lingered in Lisa's mind, am I as bad as him?

Kaufmann interrupted her thought with a curt greeting and an order to sit down, opposite him she noted. As she took her seat she could feel his repulsive, evil eyes moving over her uniformed body, lingering on the V split near her chest. Lisa could almost feel and see the fantasies flicking through the doctor's brain, a tsunami of lust and depraved pleasure. She kept her calm, wiped away her disgust and remained entirely blank as Kaufmann began to speak at her. He wasted no time with pleasantries or introduction.

"Your new duties are to look after a severely burned child who was been brought here about a week ago. Her name is Alessa Gillespie. I don't care what you read in the local papers, her burns are the result of a tragic accident. I have ordered her to be looked after in the Hospitals basement, it's the only place cool enough to reduce and further deterioration. Any light other than a candle would undoubtedly lead to further pain for the patient. The patient's mother ordered the hospital to sign a contract of confidentiality, you are to tell nobody about Alessa or your new duties. If that is clear then you may sign here."

He did not hand her his own high quality pen but instead gave her a cheap, half broken one, prick Lisa thought to his petty status games, and signed the contract. She hadn't spoken a word nor had she been invited to.

"The elevator from here will take you to the basement, use this key, and go there immediately. You are dismissed."

Lisa grabbed the key, suddenly sure she had not seen an elevator when she was coming down but then decided it must have only been because she was rushing and more than a little freaked out by all of this. As she turned to leave she felt a tight hand on her wrist that dragged her backwards until Kaufmann was pressed against her.

"If you ever tire of your new duties, you know what you'll have to do instead."

Lisa felt his hand pass over her thigh and ass, suddenly broke his grasp and turned placing a hard slap firmly upon the Doctor's cheek. He paled with rage but something stopped him from acting further. Lisa was smarter than he credited, she knew it was only her now unique position that allowed her to be even discussing the matter of the new patient and to get away with such a slap without losing her job or incurring any other penalty.

"The slut finally says no," The Doctor said chuckling to himself maliciously, "so now I'm telling you to get out and go. You will receive your first pay packet and White Claudia at the end of the week."

The last sentence had turned from malicious to absurdly monotonous, fake pleasant drawl.

As soon Lisa heard the door shut behind her she ran as best she could to the elevator, it was time to look after the poor girl Alessa, as the elevator doors closed and her key turned, unlocking the required button which she presses immediately. Suddenly an unexplained sense of dread washed over her as she slowly descended into the bowels of the Hospital, isolated now from anything other than her patient and Kaufmann. It was as though Alchemilla Hospital was swallowing her, her heart races and she takes a deep breath. Waiting for the elevator to stop its absurdly slow decent and the doors to open, waiting for the mystery that was clearly important to Kaufmann to be revealed.