this is just a little Silent Hill one shot that popped into my head. It takes place a few weeks after James' ordeal.
I don't own James or Maria or anything else to do with Silent Hill.
"Maria?"
"What is it, James?" She coughs halfway through the sentence, muffling the sound of my name on her lips.
"I've been thinking a lot lately..."
She rolls across the bed in our cheap hotel room. "You shouldn't do that so much, you might hurt yourself." I feel the weight of her head on my chest; her arms wrap around my waist. Another cough leaves her mouth and for a moment I'm reminded of the last night I spent with Mary.
My hand finds it's way into her hair. "I can't help it. I just keep going back to Silent Hill... Angela, Eddie, Laura, that pyramid thing, all of it."
Maria pulls away, looking me in the eyes. "That was weeks ago! Just put it behind you. I'm here now, there's nothing to worry about." She places a quick kiss on my neck and I smile despite the thoughts swirling around my head. "Well, you might as well tell me what has you so bothered."
I shake my head, "You died three times while we were there. I actually watched twice. But here you are lying next to me like nothing ever happened." I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and get up, not bothering to put any clothes back on. It's nice not having to worry about modesty around her.
"What are you talking about?" She laughs. "How could I be here if I died?" The sheets fall off as she shifts into a more comfortable position. I'm glad she doesn't worry about modesty around me.
"That's exactly what I'm saying!" Now I'm pacing around, searching for my pants. "How could you die three times but still be here? it doesn't make any sense." Aha! There are the pants, now just a shirt and shoes and I'll be in business. "I actually have a few theories about it..."
"James, you're not making any sen--" I slip on a fresh shirt as she coughs. I'm already tying my shoes by the time she finishes. "Sorry. You're not making any sense. For one: I think I would remember being stabbed, and for two: I'm here! See James, I'm real." She places a hand on my knee to further her argument. "Why are you getting dressed?"
"I'm gonna swing by the bar for a nightcap. Should I bring you something back?" I ask more out of courtesy than an actual desire to please her. Not that I don't want her to be happy- I'd just like to be alone for a little while.
Blond hair obscures her face as she shakes her head, "No thanks I think I'll just go straight to bed. It's getting late." A glance at the clock informs me that it's already 12:30. "Are you sure you're ok?" she asks as I walk to the door.
"Yeah, you get some rest and don't worry about me." I hear her coughing as I slowly close the door. Maria...
"Last call, Mac." The burly man tending bar says "You want a refill?" He kind of looks like Eddie now that I think about it. More muscular, and thinner, but I can definitely see a resemblance.
I glance at my Bourbon on the rocks before downing the last of it. "Why not?" I ask, sliding my glass across the lacquered bar top. "Get yourself something too, I should probably have at least one with someone else. Otherwise I'd be an alcoholic on top of being clinically insane."
"Heh," The man laughs, "That's funny you should try stand-up. So, what's yer name?"
"James Sunderland."
"Well James, you can call me Scott." He places my Bourbon on the bar and we toast before we start drinking. He sighs as he sets his glass down."Now then, what's the matter?"
"What do you mean?"
"The only people who step into this bar are hookers between jobs or unhappy men fixin' to drown their sorrows." He glances at my frame, "I'm guessing you're the latter."
I laugh for the first time all night, "Your observational skills abound." After a pause I take another sip of alcohol. "Well Scott, have you ever questioned your surroundings? Like, maybe you're fooling yourself into seeing things that aren't there."
"Can't say I have, but that does sound like some fucked up shit."
"Yeah. I've basically been having something of an identity crisis lately." My drink is already nearly gone... I think I'm an alcoholic. "It's gotten to the point that I don't know for sure what's real and what's not."
"Well, am I real?"
His face seems to blur for a moment, it reminds me of those monsters... That's gotta be the alcohol. "Yeah, I think you're real."
Scott grins and I come to the conclusion that he's a good guy. Intimidating, but good. "If that's the case do you wanna go do somethin'?" His hand brushes against mine. Funny, I didn't get a gay vibe from him.
"Now I'm starting to think you're not real." I laugh before finishing my drink. "Sorry, but you're not really my type."
"Not imaginary enough for you?" he jokes, grinning.
"Yeah." I stand and leave him a big tip before turning to leave. "But I do hope you find the right guy."
I hear him drop our glasses into a sink. "James!" Scott yells before I close the door.
"Yeah?"
"If I were you I'd try to weed anything I was imagining out of my life. Living a lie ain't healthy, trust me."
I take a moment to let his words sink in. I probably look like an idiot standing in the door like this... "Thanks Scott, I'll do that." I wave before the door slams shut.
The lobby of this place is actually kinda nice. I mean, it's no Hilton, but still nice. I smell the Pine-sol they used on the floors as I walk toward the receptionist. She's a pretty thing, no older than 20. kinda reminds me of Angela if shit hadn't gone sour for her... She's looking at me now, smiling. Pretending that her only joy in life is pleasing customers, when she really doesn't give a flying fuck. Civil service is funny that way.
"Anything I can do for you sir?" She asks sweetly.
"I just need an extra pillow. I hurt my ankle earlier and I think I should keep it propped up." I can lie on a whim too, you happy bitch.
"I'm sorry to hear that." She says, handing me a pillow from the closet. I don't even bother to say thank you because I'm already tired of looking at her. "Have a nice night!" She practically shouts. "Jerk." she adds, softly, once I enter the hallway.
"Twat." I whisper to the walls. After turning a corner I come face to face- well, more like crotch to face with a small blond boy.
"You're not supposed to say words like that, they're dirty." He scolds.
"Get back to your room, you imaginary piece of shit." I hiss, Pushing him out of my way. He makes a small objection and I throw a kick in his direction, that scares him away from my door.
Wheezing. That's all I hear when I push my ear against the door to my room. Maria must be asleep, I'm not shocked. Slowly my key slips into the lock and clicks as it turns. Then the door creaks as I open it. Ironic how when you want to be quiet the world doesn't let you. I don't bother to shut the door, that would be too loud.
All I can hear is that fucking wheezing as I inch closer to the bed. Now I'm standing over Maria and I get a good look at her. Her makeup is smeared a little, but still mostly in place; almost like she'd been turning tricks. She reminds me of the lobby of this place. On the outside everything is attractive, neat. Behind closed doors everything is a mess. Shine a blacklight on the carpeting in this place and you'd find any number of stains; most likely from bodily fluids. I wonder what Kind of stains I'd find on Maria. Finally, I decide to pull the sheets up, it's kinda cold in here and she should be comfortable.
I give the pillow I'm holding a good squeeze and Scott's words flash through my mind, "Living a lie ain't healthy." I lift the pillow toward Maria as I start breathing heavily. She coughs and in an instant I make up my mind. Now I press it against her face, just hard enough to cut off the airflow but not wake her up.
She doesn't even move. Doesn't twitch. Doesn't fight back. Hell, I'm shocked she wasn't dead when I walked in here since I don't need her anymore.
After a few moments the wheezing is gone, now there is only silence. It's funny, I don't even feel guilty. I feel liberated, it's like a weight was lifted off my chest. I'm actually expecting her body to shimmer away as I stand here. It doesn't.
I had to do this. I know that now. I've been living in the past and she is not Mary. She was nothing more than another monster. Another pyramid thing I created to torture myself. I'm finished with that; finished with her. Now that she's gone I have no connections to Silent Hill. The town doesn't need me anymore and I don't need it. The room falls into darkness as the light bulb burns out. I practically expect a siren to sound in the distance and the paint to peel off the walls. That's my cue to leave.
I slam the door this time, Who cares if anyone hears me? The kid is still out here. He's staring at me and I don't give a damn. "What did you do that for mister?" He's holding his teddybear tightly, like it'll do him any good.
"Sometimes history has to repeat itself, kid." I answer, "If you don't learn a lesson the first time around god, or fate, or whatever makes you try it again." I kneel down to his level, "Maybe you'll understand when you're older, here." I pull my portable radio out of my pocket and place it in his hand. "That's gotten me out of some bad spots."
The kid turns it on and no sound comes out. "It's broken. You're stupid for even keeping it." He throws it to the ground and runs away.
"Suit yourself kid." I toss the thing into the nearest trash bin. I'm sure I won't be needing it anymore anyway.
As I enter the lobby I see Scott locking up the bar, so I wait for him. I lean against a column trying to look like I'm not a psychopath. "Hey James, what's happenin'?"
I swallow, "I think I'm gonna take you up on your offer after all." I answer falling into step with him.
"Deciding to live in the real world after all, huh?" He holds the door open for me.
"Yeah, you could say that."
The receptionist looks up from the romance novel she's reading. "Have a nice night." she calls.
"Eat shit and die." I yell back just before the door closes, making Scott laugh.