It only took thirty minutes to reach the all too familiar sign that welcomed tourists to Silent Hill. The rain continued to beat down on my car and although it was only six in the afternoon it seemed as dark as if it were already midnight. I had already decided I would just drive by my old place, have a quick look around, and then head home. The idea that my sister could still be alive, even though it kept creeping into my thoughts, was ludicrous. It would take a lunatic to actually believe she would be there waiting like nothing had ever happened.
Just when it seemed like this visit couldn't get any worse my car started to sputter and slow down. The lights started to dim in a struggle to stay on. Grudgingly, I pulled over to the side of the road and exited my car.
"Why did you pick today of all days to break down!" I shouted and gave my car a good kick which only ended with a hurt foot. I opened the hood and was blinded temporarily by the smoke that welcomed me. Coughing heavily, I backed away and leaned against the car.
"Guess I'll have to just wait for someone to stop and help." I muttered to myself.
It had been around fifteen minutes and still no cars had driven past. Despite the weather being as bad as it was I had expected others to be on the road.
"Guess I'll just have to walk." I reached into my back seat and grabbed a small flashlight off of the floor and stuck it in the front pocket of my jacket. It was rather dark and if I wanted to get a good look around my yard I'd need it. The street light in front of our house was never very reliable. I also took the drawing off of my dash and folded it up before placing it carefully inside the pocket on my jeans.
My new plan was to stop by the mechanic, have him check on my car, and then head to my old place. With any luck it wouldn't be anything serious and I'd be able to leave this place soon. My footsteps fell heavy on the asphalt and besides the rain it was the only sound I heard as I walked the long road to the main part of Silent Hill. The closer I came to town the more fog seemed to close in around me, hindering my vision, and making me all the more ready to be home.
"What in the . . .?" I shouted as I stopped abruptly and fell back just barely avoiding falling into a huge gaping pit where the road should I've been. Several small rocks tumbled over the edge as I sat trying to calm myself. The fog had become so thick I had nearly suffered the same fate as those rocks.
"Did I miss a road block sign? Is that why there were no other cars on the road?" I questioned to myself regaining my composure. I stood up and brushed the dirt off of my jeans quickly, looking around for some way around the huge ditch. A small path off of the side of the road caught my eye. The path led into the trees that bordered the right side of the road, but it seemed my only option at the moment.
"At least the trees will give me some relief from the rain." I mused as I started down the thin dirt passageway.
The trees loomed ominously on either side seeming closer as the trail wore on. At first I only heard my feet falling on the debris of the forest floor, the wind in the trees, and the rain overhead, but after awhile I started to hear rustling and other strange noises throughout the forest. I was never one to be labeled a "scaredy-cat", but I reasoned even the most manly guy would start to feel nervous in this situation when he had no weapons.
I started to jog hoping this path would end quickly and I'd be out of the woods. I stopped when I came across a camp site. It seemed the fire had only recently been put out because of the smoke that continued to rise from the small fire pit.
"Hello, is anybody there? I'm a little lost. You see, my car broke down and I need to find a mechanic." I yelled out hoping whoever hand been here a little bit ago was still close enough to hear me. I'm sure I must have sounded suspicious . . . why would someone logically be out in the middle of the woods searching for someone to help them with a busted car? I chuckled to myself finding the humor in the situation despite my current circumstances.
I stopped suddenly when the sound of static could be heard coming from the mouth of the tent. It was like the white noise you get on your television when the cable goes out. I stooped over in front of the tent and picked up the source of the sound. It was a small black radio. I flipped it over in my hands fiddling with the tuning dial. No matter where I turned it to it continued to blast white noise.
"Must be busted." I mumbled to myself as I started to put it down. That's when I noticed the inside of the tent. Every part of it seemed coated in a fresh layer of blood, the walls, the sleeping bag, the lantern, absolutely everything. I dropped the radio and stumbled backwards staring intently at the tent. I wiped my hands up and down my jacket trying to rid myself of any blood that might have gotten on them.
The static from the radio suddenly became more intense and I could hear something walking in the thicket outside the campsite. I turned around quickly to face whatever it was.
