Okay, here's the second part of what is already shaping up to be a huge fanfic, my crossover of the worlds of RESIDENT EVIL and SILENT HILL! In this chapter, Rebecca Chambers finally meets Cheryl Mason as the shadows of The Order and far, FAR worse loom somewhere unseen. Will what happened in Silent Hill repeat itself in a new town?

I can only say you're on a rollercoaster to Hell, dear readers, and you just started rolling down the bloody tracks...hope you enjoy the ride! ^_^

Again, RESIDENT EVIL and its characters owned by Capcom, and SILENT HILL and its characters owned by Konami! "Heart and Soul" is the property of Chrysalis and EMI Records, "Southern Cross" is the property of Atlantic Records, and "Poker Face" is the property of Cherrytree and Interscope Records!

RESIDENT EVIL X SILENT HILL: JUDGMENT DAY

written by Charles Spencer,
inspired by Ygure

CHAPTER TWO:

"CHERYL"

-1-

Thursday, August 29, 2013
Black Falls, Vermont

About nine miles south of the state capitol of Montpelier, just off Interstate 89 and to the east of the Green Mountains, was the town of Black Falls. It was named after the waterfall in close proximity to the town, a natural landmark so named because its cascading waters were shaded all year long by trees. Black Falls was close to being the geographic center of Vermont, a state known for its natural wonders, maple syrup, and where tourists could indulge their sweet tooths at the main factory of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream not far from Burlington, Vermont's largest city.

Black Falls was almost as populous as Burlington...just over 20,000 people lived here year-round, but it couldn't be called a tourist destination. Yes, mountaineers and hikers (both experts and those who wanted to be) passed through on their way to the nearby range of the Green Mountains, but the town was a mostly quiet place tucked away in the vast green forests of Vermont, and its citizens didn't mind that a bit. Local pride was high here along with classic New England tradition...they were a welcoming yet tight-knit community that kept to themselves. Summers were truly prosaic, but winters...well, as locals say, it gets too cold to snow. Literally.

As August was drawing to a close, there was high anticipation in the air. Just to the south of Black Falls was Clearwater Stream (where one could find the town's namesake waterfall), but simply taking the covered King's Bridge across it would lead one to the nearby County Fairgrounds. It was bustling with activity, almost ready for the weekend-long County Fair held every year before Labor Day to mark the winding down of summer.

It was anticipated by community leaders across the county that the fair would draw in record crowds starting Friday.

This was how things were when Rebecca Chambers traveled from the north on I-89, took the exit, and entered Black Falls. It was the early evening. Shadow had begun to overwhelm everything as the sun set beyond the Green Mountains.

-2-

Rebecca Chambers was keenly aware her sports cycle was one of the loudest things in town after she entered its border, and felt more than a little embarrassed because of it. She'd called Chris Redfield to give him an update and let him know she was about to reach the town, and he cautioned, "Okay, but remember you have no idea what you're walking into. Keep a low profile!" Rebecca thought, Good grief, does every New England town have to be so quiet?

The BSAA Agent hoped Douglas Cartland was right when he told her how to find Cheryl Mason after he told her what kind of car Cheryl was driving and its license plate number. Douglas had counseled Cheryl on how to get the most information on the sly about a small town...and he enlightened Rebecca, as well: "I told Cheryl if she wants to plug into the local grapevine easy without drawing attention, the first and best place to go is a town's bar. Just as long as she's buying a drink and no one tries to hit on her, all she needs to do is keep her ears open." Honestly, Rebecca couldn't argue with that kind of logic...but then, she always did a Google search if she wanted to know more about a place. That was what she did at a hotel she stayed in last night on her way to Black Falls to find out more about the town.

Rebecca also did a search on Burton Young, and didn't get much. The man was still active as a doctor - even at the age of 72 - alongside his duties as Administrator of Wyler Community Hospital in Black Falls. He'd moved into town in 1976, one year after he left Silent Hill, Maine, and in the decades since he became as beloved a community leader as one could imagine. Local articles she found online had nothing but praise for Young, all but canonizing him as perhaps the most trusted and respected man in Black Falls. But knowing what she did about his association with Philip Kaufmann, a suspected drug dealer and manufacturer - and perhaps to The Order, a beyond-the-fringe cult that played a role in the destruction of two towns - Rebecca had to wonder how much of that praise for Burton Young was justified, or if it was smoke and mirrors to hide darker, more terrible truths about him.

Only a block down the main drag of the town, Kubrick Street, Rebecca saw a bar ahead to her left...she pulled into its lot, which was already nearly full of cars and pickup trucks. She scanned the lot, not so much looking for a parking space as something much more important. Then she saw it, and felt the urge to giggle...she felt like she just won a prize.

The vehicle was almost vintage in a world where cars were streamlined to look like electric shavers. It was a dark-blue 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan, boxy and huge in the classic Made in Detroit way most American cars used to be made...it was so big, in fact, someone could live in its spacious back seat. The LTD had its rear to the brick wall of the bar, and Rebecca only had to look at its front license plate, which signified it came from Maine. She'd memorized the number Douglas gave her, and there was no doubt. This was Cheryl's car.

Rebecca found a space not far away, shut down the sports cycle's engine, and took off her helmet. She got off of her ride and moved past the LTD to the entrance to the bar. Feeling nervous, Rebecca thought, Okay...full steam ahead, girl.

Then she went inside.

-3-

This was how Rebecca and Cheryl first met.

Rebecca Chambers walked into the bar as she heard the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn sing from the jukebox, hoping she looked casual...she didn't expect or want any trouble. The short-haired brunette was an attention-grabber from the way she dressed, though. She wore a dark crimson tank top that stopped below her breasts and exposed her pale, slender midsection, long matching gloves that sheathed her arms to past her elbows, and blue jeans that hugged her athletic legs like a second skin. Her thick-heeled cowboy boots clocked on the hardwood floor as she stepped, and then she had to pause as she stared back at the many (male) customers at the bar who stopped what they were doing to look her over. Rebecca couldn't have been called daring - she wore such clothes in her causal hours - but she had the self-confidence to never back down from a challenge. At that moment, though, Rebecca knew she was being appraised by the many eyes looking upon this stranger in town, and she suddenly knew with a burst of self-awareness that Chris Redfield wouldn't be happy with the 'low profile' she had established so far.

A moment later, Rebecca couldn't help but feel relief wash over her as most of the men in the bar turned their gazes from her back to their drinks, or to each other as they got back to talking. This could have started out better, she thought, but being a stranger to this bar and to Black Falls on the whole, she would have immediately earned the attention of the locals no matter how she dressed. She clutched her handbag a little tighter to her side and felt the reassuring weight of her Beretta 92F 9mm pistol inside. (Two spare clips for the weapon were in hidden pockets of her purse, as well.) She went straight to the bar and ordered a beer, paid for it, and began to make like she was looking for a free seat...the bar's interior was spacious, but again, a seat wasn't what she was really looking for. Rebecca was looking for someone among the bar's many patrons...

...and then the agent saw her, seated alone at the back of the bar...at a table with two chairs, one of which she occupied.

There was absolutely nothing special about the slender blonde girl at first glance, which ironically made Rebecca's gaze solidly fix on her completely. The blonde was a little taller than the BSAA agent and about the same age, maybe a few years younger. Rebecca couldn't have been sure because even from a distance, there was such an air of age in the flat expression of the girl's face. She got the feeling there was so much weight on the girl's shoulders, even though she sat upright at her table, holding a mug of beer in her slender hands. She was a little paler than Rebecca, her complexion marred only by cute, sporadic freckles on the girl's nose and cheeks. The bangs of her short blonde hair spilled down upon her face, but didn't obscure her eyes...and there was a such a haunted, lonely quality in those eyes. They were eyes that had seen so much...perhaps too much. The girl's full, expressive lips of her mouth were neutral, perhaps deliberately so. Rebecca got the impression the girl had withdrawn into herself like a turtle would retreat into their shell as she sat in the bar. What the blonde wore could only accentuate her defensiveness...her leather jacket, flannel shirt, jeans and boots were anonymous yet durable; still, her lovely face hinted at the beauty the rest of her clothes concealed.

In this way, visually, Rebecca and the blonde seemed polar opposites in attitude and style.

Still, there was something about the girl that gently beckoned to the BSSA agent. Rebecca couldn't have named what she began to feel for the lonely girl...not then. It was something that could only be felt in her heart.

What Rebecca felt made her move to the girl's table as much as her need to understand Silent Hill.

One moment, the blonde woman was lost in her own thoughts as she stared at the drink her pale fingers touched...the next moment, she heard a soft, happy voice say, "Hi, there!" She quickly looked up from her beer to see the petite, brunette beauty standing there with a drink of her own. Her eyes were kind and her smile threatened to brighten the half-lit interior of the bar. Rebecca Chambers asked, "Mind if I join you?"

The blonde's heavy, expressive eyes looked at the stranger for a beat. She said, "I'm new in this town, too. I'm just saying, in case you needed directions or something."

Rebecca didn't lose a degree of her cheerful smile as she shook her head. "Oh no, I just wanted to sit with you. Is that all right...?"

The blonde nodded. "Sure."

Rebecca's smile became even brighter as she said, "Thanks." She sat down across from Cheryl and sat her beer on the table. The brunette's eyes were full of curiosity as she asked, "How did you know I didn't live here?"

The blonde gave her a look. "Are you kidding? A plane falling out of the sky would have gotten less attention than you did when you came in the door."

"Oh, right." Rebecca looked down at the table, feeling more self-conscious than ever. She looked up again and asked, "How long have you been in Black Falls?"

"I just got here a few days ago."

"Okay. My name's Rebecca."

The blonde nodded. "I'm Heather."

"I know." Rebecca then asked, "Or would you prefer I call you Cheryl?" The blonde stared at Rebecca, but the agent's eyes were still elementally gentle...her smile was soft. "That's your real name, right? Cheryl Mason?"

Cheryl Mason continued to stare at Rebecca...her voice was suddenly as thin and taut as a drawstring: "What do you want from me?"

Rebecca held up her hands, and then carefully spread them. "Just...this. Just to sit with you, talk with you. I mean you no harm, Cheryl."

Cheryl's eyes examined the brunette as the jukebox changed discs to a new selection...Huey Lewis began to belt out an 80's classic about a girl with heart and soul. Cheryl said softly, unsure, "Your name's Rebecca..."

The agent nodded. "Rebecca Chambers. I work for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance."

Cheryl frowned a little, confused. She knew what the BSAA was...most people did ever since the organization played a critical role in stopping the recent C-Virus epidemic that threatened the entire world. "I don't get it. Why would someone like you want to talk to me?"

Rebecca answered, "Because I'm here for the same reason you are." Cheryl looked a question at her. The agent then said, "You're in Black Falls because you think what's left of The Order is here, right?"

The light seemed to shift in Cheryl's eyes as her frown deepened. "Yes."

Rebecca sat forward as she looked into Cheryl's eyes, as she laid her cards on the table. "I want to help you, Cheryl. I know The Order has been involved in terrible things, that they had something to do with what happened to Silent Hill." Simply saying the name Silent Hill made the blonde's expression shift in a subtle yet primal way; she loathed to even hear of that town, and Rebecca couldn't help but notice. The brunette's voice softened further as she said, "I know because I've talked to others who survived that town...but I need to know more."

Cheryl said flatly, "You obviously talked to Douglas. He must have told you how to find me."

The brunette nodded. "He's really worried about you."

"So I'll give him a call and let him know I'm okay. You don't have to worry about me, either."

Rebecca's gaze fixed on Cheryl's eyes as she said with a smile, "Too late. You shouldn't be doing this alone, especially if you have a history with The Order. I promise I'm not just here to help...I'll do everything I can to protect you."

Cheryl frowned again as she looked down. "In this world, a promise is just words that don't mean anything."

Rebecca Chambers' expression shifted to become solemn as she slowly, carefully reached out with one hand across the table...and gently rested on one of Cheryl Mason's. The blonde looked up, suddenly uncomfortable. But Rebecca's gesture was meant to reassure, just like the soft yet earnest tone of her voice as she spoke: "I mean every word I say, Cheryl. I want to help you and protect you, and I swear I won't ever let you down. But I also need your help...I need to ask that you trust me. Please."

For a long, uncertain moment, Cheryl was quiet. Then... "I don't even know you, Rebecca. Why do you care so much?"

"Because I've been to places where very, very bad things happened, too...and if there's anything I can do to keep those things from happening to anyone else, I will."

"And where have you been?"

Rebecca answered, "Raccoon City."

For another moment, the women simply looked at each other as one silently made a choice. Neither had any idea how important that choice would become to the both of them. And to the world.

Finally, Cheryl Mason pulled her hand from Rebecca's and stood. The blonde said, "Okay. Let's go outside."

Rebecca Chambers quickly stood too, her expression clearly grateful. "Okay. Did you want to finish your beer first?"

"I never even started it. C'mon." Just like that, Cheryl moved in the direction of the bar's exit. Rebecca quickly followed, not caring about her drink, either.

-4-

Outside, Rebecca followed the quiet, lonely blonde to her LTD. Cheryl stopped at her big car's nose as she fished out a cigarette and a lighter from the breast pocket of her shirt. As she put the filter of her cigarette between her full lips, Cheryl turned to Rebecca and asked, "Can I see your badge?"

Without hesitation, Rebecca said, "Sure!" She got it out of her purse...and she watched as Cheryl lit her cigarette, red light briefly illuminating her pretty face in the darkening hours of evening. Rebecca then offered her badge to the girl.

Cheryl exhaled a slow, thoughtful jet of smoke from her lips as she stared at the BSAA I.D., and then she gave it back to Rebecca. The blonde's behind rested gently on a fender of her Ford as she finally seemed to relax a little. Cheryl's sad, heavy eyes fixed on Rebecca...and she said, "You want to know more about me. I need to know more about you. Let's take turns asking each other questions, okay?"

Rebecca nodded with enthusiasm. "Fine by me. Um, who goes first?"

As she smoked, the quiet blonde said, "You're the one who came looking for me. You want to know my history with The Order. You can go first."

Rebecca quickly brought up a hand in a gentle 'hold it' gesture. "A-actually, I've got one other thing to ask! I mean, before we get started, Cheryl."

"What?"

"Please, please don't hold anything back. Tell me everything. Douglas and a few others I talked to didn't want to tell me everything about their experiences, and it got pretty frustrating. But they all said I wouldn't believe what they had kept from me."

Cheryl Mason's eyes were full of knowledge as she said matter-of-factly, "They were right, Rebecca."

Rebecca Chambers crossed her arms under her bosom as her expression became serious. "Girl, I've fought zombies. I survived an outbreak of those creatures. I have an open mind about unbelievable stuff. Really!"

The parking lot lights of the bar switched on, illuminating the halo of blue smoke that drifted around Cheryl. Her expression was cryptic as she said, "We'll see about that." A beat of silence...and it began. "Okay, you want to know my connection to The Order?"

Rebecca nodded, curious yet patient. "M-hmm?"

Cheryl Mason said, "My mother, Dahlia Gillespie, was a high priestess of The Order. I never knew who my father was...from what little I've learned about him he was part of the cult too, and he died before I was even born." Rebecca thought quickly of the late Harry Mason, who according to Cheryl's birth certificate records was her father, and she reasoned he must have adopted the girl. "If The Order was involved in his death, I can only guess why they killed him. Maybe he was one of their sacrifices. They killed a lot of people for their God.

"Anyway, Dahlia was a true believer. She didn't make room in her heart for anything but her faith. Sometimes, I wonder if she ever even loved me, even for a moment." Cheryl was silent for a moment again, her expression deliberately impassive. "When I was only a child, Dahlia discovered I was special and she wanted to use me to bring her God to Earth."

Rebecca's expression was a mix of sympathy for Cheryl and discomfort from knowing the things she knew already. "I know the cult believed you were their Mother of God. I think what's left of them still do."

"Yeah." There was so much emotion in Cheryl's eyes as she thought back, even though her face stayed neutral. "I was destined to be the one who would give birth to the new incarnation of God, and then the world would be delivered into Paradise." Her eyes looked into Rebecca's again as she finished, "That's all I was good for to my mother. To be used."

Rebecca's heart instantly went out to Cheryl. What kind of life could that have been like? Was it even a life at all? The agent frowned softly. "What did they do, Cheryl?"

But...Cheryl took another drag of her cigarette and said, "Sorry, my turn to ask something. Okay?"

Rebecca didn't mind at all. "Okay."

Then...a surprisingly amused tone infiltrated Cheryl's voice as she asked her next question, but she didn't smile. She questioned lightly, "How in the world did a nice girl like you start fighting zombies?"

Rebecca Chambers beamed back and answered, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, how else? I'd just joined the Raccoon City Police Department's Special Tactics and Rescue Squad. I was assigned to be Bravo Team's field medic."

Cheryl Mason's brow furrowed as she looked at Rebecca. "Wait a minute. That was back in '98, when I was still in high school." Her eyes suddenly examining again, Cheryl asked, "Uh, is it okay to ask how old you are?"

Again Rebecca didn't mind, and answered immediately. "Just a few years older than you are, Cheryl."

Cheryl, like most every American, knew of Raccoon City and its terrible, tragic end that year of 1998. She knew it started because of the outbreak of a zombifying virus, and it ended when the government had no choice but to destroy the city with a tactical nuclear weapon strike to keep the virus from spreading any further. Confused, Cheryl had to comment, "But you would've just gotten out of high school at that time...!"

Rebecca smiled and clarified, "Actually, I'd just gotten out of college. I was a prodigy, and I graduated with degrees in medicine and chemistry earlier that year. I'm also a pretty darn good mechanic. I can fix up that old Crown Vic of yours if you ever have engine trouble."

Cheryl looked fondly down upon the front of her car and said, "It's okay, I know more than enough to keep this car running good." She considered her Ford for a moment, and added in a quieter voice, "My dad left me this car..."

Rebecca felt the sudden, growing sadness from Cheryl. The agent said carefully, "You mean Harry Mason...?"

Cheryl's posture stiffened as grief flooded her face. Her voice was thick with emotion... "He was my true father...the best man I had ever known. H-he saved me, and...he gave me the love I'd always needed so much..." Cheryl closed her eyes as she fought back her tears, sought to control herself.

Deeply affected, Rebecca said, "Cheryl, I...I'm so sorry about your father. I-I wish I could think of something better to say..."

Close to crying, Cheryl Mason had to make an effort to calm herself...she relaxed in breath and posture very slowly. The loss of her father Harry was still an open wound in her heart, even after over ten years. Her sad eyes also expressed gratitude when she said thickly, "Th-thank you."

Rebecca couldn't help but softly step closer to Cheryl...she wanted so much to hold the blonde girl. Give her some form of comfort. Give her anything to ease her pain. From within the bar, even from outside, the jukebox's music could still be heard as it switched from Huey Lewis to Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Cheryl then looked at Rebecca and asked quietly, "So you're a genius, huh?"

"Huh?" The question took Rebecca completely off her guard. She answered awkwardly, "No...heck, no! I-I mean, I've never thought of myself that way!"

Cheryl couldn't help but be curious. "Still, if you're so smart, you could've done anything you wanted. Why be a police officer?"

Rebecca suddenly lifted one of her hands and wagged her finger, a cautioning gesture a matron would make. She said lightly as she smiled, "Ah-ah! That's officially three questions you asked me so far! Let me catch up, huh?"

Rebecca had hoped to lift Cheryl's spirits, even a little, but instead the blonde girl nodded and said quietly, "Sorry." Rebecca suddenly had to wonder if this girl even knew how to smile. Cheryl then asked, "Would you mind if we go somewhere else to talk more?"

Rebecca nodded and said, "Sure, where?"

"Just down the street," Cheryl Mason said as she flicked her cigarette to the pavement of the parking lot. "Before we go, though, I need to tell you something. I've got a gun in the glove compartment of my car."

Rebecca Chambers wasn't surprised. "I know. Douglas told me you had a gun for protection. What kind of gun?" She didn't need to see it. Only Heaven knew how much attention would be drawn if Cheryl got out the gun to show it to her.

"An old Colt .45 Peacemaker. The kind of gun that's in all the Hollywood Westerns, you know?"

"A single-action handgun? Kind of a strange choice for self-defense."

Cheryl shrugged. "Yeah, but I wanted something simple and I'm a good shot. I don't need a gun with a lot of bullets in it." She thought back to thirteen years ago, the last time The Order tracked her down, when she first took up a handgun against a living nightmare in a shopping mall. Even then, she was a natural with a gun...but she didn't have to share that with Rebecca. Not yet. Still, Cheryl asked, "Am I in trouble?"

Rebecca smiled reassuredly. "No. I'm not looking to bust you for wanting to defend yourself against The Order. Still, you might want to keep it in the car and not carry it around. I meant it when I said I'm here to help you, Cheryl. I don't want you to get in trouble, either."

-5-

Several minutes later, down the street in a Happy Burger restaurant. They both got value meals - a sandwich and drink - and they sat across from each other next to the showroom window for the fast food joint. The place wasn't too busy...most of the town was probably eating at home with their families while watching the most popular 'reality-TV' program. The big Ford and green cycle were parked just outside on the curb. Rebecca took her time, not wanting to hurry Cheryl in her questions. The agent wanted the blonde to feel at ease with her...but she was unsure how well that was working. Rebecca got back into it as they ate by saying, "I don't have to guess you didn't want to be The Order's Mother of God, huh?"

Cheryl sipped from her diet drink. "I hated the whole idea of it. But...it's not like I was given a choice. I couldn't defy what Dahila kept calling my 'destiny'."

"You mentioned that it was because you were special. What do you mean by that?"

Cheryl gazed into Rebecca's eyes for a beat before she spoke. "I've got to warn you, Rebecca. If you really want to know the answer, it'll be one of those things you won't believe."

Rebecca's expression was kind, gently inviting. "Just tell me, Cheryl. Please."

Cheryl Mason sighed for a moment, and she looked down for a moment...and then she looked back into the agent's eyes. "For as long as I can remember, I've had...powers. Ever since I was a child in Silent Hill. I've always been afraid to reach into myself and use those powers. I'm so afraid of what I could do."

Rebecca Chambers shook her head. "'Powers'?"

Cheryl said quietly, "I can hear other people's thoughts when I want to, and I can tell when a person's lying or not. I can...make things happen if I focus enough. I can even make people do things, too. I've never wanted those powers, but ever since I started hunting for The Order, I thought maybe my abilities can help me find them." Rebecca simply stared at Cheryl with wide, confused eyes. She seemed to want to say something, but wasn't sure what would be appropriate. There was almost - almost - the barest hint of a smile on Cheryl's full lips when she said with knowledge, "See? I knew you wouldn't believe me."

"Cheryl, I..." Rebecca fell silent, at a loss. But then her expression shifted and she looked at Cheryl with a patient, caring gaze. "I'm not a liar. I told you I have an open mind, and I meant it. Uh, maybe you could show me what you mean?"

Cheryl blinked. "What?"

"I'm not asking for something big, like a Jedi Mind Trick, okay?" Rebecca thought fast, and... "You said you can hear thoughts? Okay. I'll think of something, and you tell me what I'm thinking."

"I..." Cheryl's expression was uncertain. "A-are you sure...?"

Rebecca nodded, reassuring. "I'm sure, Cheryl. Really. Um...just let me get set...!" Rebecca suddenly sat up straight on her side of their table, cleared her throat, and then went as still as possible as she looked at Cheryl. The agent finally said, "Okay, go ahead."

Cheryl gave a strange look to the brunette...but then, as Rebecca looked back at her, something in her sad, heavy eyes...shifted. For a moment, to the BSAA agent, it seemed like the blonde girl's eyes...gleamed. Then Cheryl Mason began to sing the chorus of a song...the same chorus Rebecca was thinking of, singing to herself in her mind!

"Can't read my - Can't read my - No, he can't read my poker face - !"

Stunned, Rebecca Chambers almost exclaimed, "Wow!" Half the people in the Happy Burger turned to look at her and Cheryl as a consequence. Rebecca wisely quieted down and covered her mouth with her hands, but her wide eyes were full of childlike wonder as she stared at Cheryl. As everyone else turned back to what they were doing (much to Cheryl's relief), Rebecca managed to breathe, "Oh, wow! Y-you really did it...!"

Cheryl Mason gave the girl a look. "You could've thought of a better song, Rebecca."

"Hey, I only had a few seconds!" Rebecca quickly added defensively, "Besides, I like Lady Gaga." The brunette's eyes were still huge as she shook her head softly. "Wow!" A moment passed as she got ahold of herself, and then she asked curiously, "But you're afraid to use your powers? Why?"

Cheryl said softly, "I can make more happen than you can imagine, Rebecca. My power can...change things. It honestly terrifies me what I'm capable of." And there was such a soul-deep, primal fear in Cheryl's eyes. "So if I never use my powers, bury them, I won't hurt anyone."

Rebecca frowned. "And your mom...your own mother decided you'd be perfect for being the Mother of God because you were so special."

"Yes."

There was so much Rebecca needed to understand, though. She asked, her eyes full of need, "But how would you have been The Order's mother of their God?" Her beautiful face twisted for a moment to sudden revulsion. "When I hear that, my first thought is impregnation, but...!" Rebecca's voice drifted off then.

The survivor saw Cheryl Mason's expression darken with sorrow and shame as she looked down...and that was when, at least in part, Rebecca Chambers began to understand the real depths of evil of The Order.

Horrified, saddened to her core, Rebecca softly said, "Oh. Oh Cheryl, you were only a child - !"

"That didn't matter," Cheryl said, and her voice sounded like a glass breaking slowly as she remembered all she was forced to endure. "Nothing mattered to Dahlia but reincarnating her God."

Rebecca looked at Cheryl with saddened, elemental compassion. "I am so sorry..."

They were both silent for a moment.

Then, Cheryl Mason looked into Rebecca's eyes again. Her voice was literally desolate as she spoke. "The worst part of it was, I was so...alone. I might as well have lived in an empty house, that's how much Dahlia cared for me. School was just as bad. Sometimes I lost control of my powers, and all of the kids started to hate me. They called me a witch. All I wanted was...was love, Rebecca. But there was no love, no light in my life in Silent Hill." Then, slowly, a strength slowly built in the girl's voice... "But I swore I'd fight them. I promised I'd never, ever give The Order what they wanted. I'd never be their tool. I'd never let them make me hurt people. After..." Pain suddenly flooded Cheryl's expression, making her strength in her eyes waver. "...after what was done to me, I can't tell you how much I wanted to die. I thought death would be my escape, and it'd be the only way to stop Dahlia and The Order. It was the last real way I could fight them, keep myself from being their Mother of God if I somehow...just...ended it all."

"Cheryl..." Rebecca Chambers couldn't help but empathize, feel so much for Cheryl, as well. The sadness the agent felt from knowing this girl had been brutalized and even raped for a damned cult's beliefs reached to the core of her soul. But...a fury slowly built within Rebecca, too...a righteous anger and desire to fight those who brought so much pain and suffering to this girl and so many more. That anger only cemented her already-certain resolve completely. Rebecca told Cheryl, with pure earnestness, "That will never happen again. I'm here for you now, and they'll have to get through me to even think about touching you again. I will help you stop them once and for all, Cheryl. I promise."

Moved by Rebecca's words, elementally grateful, Cheryl nodded shakily. She didn't even need her powers to know every word from Rebecca was pure truth. "I believe you, Rebecca. Thank you..." But Cheryl's expression was still unsure as she continued, "But...we may be too late. The Order has already started something in this town."

Rebecca frowned and began to ask, "Why do you - ?" Then a ringtone sounded, and Rebecca flinched. "Oh, shoot!" She quickly fished into her handbag and pulled out her iPhone. She looked at Cheryl and began lamely, "I'm really sorry, I have to - !"

Cheryl nodded gently. "It's okay."

Having Cheryl's okay didn't make Rebecca feel any better. She checked her screen and saw who the incoming call was coming from. Rebecca breathed, "Aw Jill, not now...!" She then pressed a couple of buttons and set the iPhone on their table...Rebecca focused on Cheryl again and said, "I'm really sorry, you were saying?"

But Cheryl glanced at the phone, then back into Rebecca's eyes. "Who was that?"

"Someone I work with in the BSAA, Jill Valentine. We've been best friends ever since Raccoon City."

Cheryl said, "Rebecca, if that call was important, don't let me get in the way. Call her back."

Rebecca smiled gently, wanting to be there for Cheryl. "I was gonna wait to do that after we talked, it's all right - !"

"Rebecca...it's really okay." The soft expression in Cheryl's eyes expressed that it truly was. "Call her back and talk to her. I can feel how important she is to you."

Rebecca realized that Cheryl did indeed feel that, and she was right. The agent's expression softened further and she said, but reluctantly, "Thank you. Uh, I'll be right outside, okay?" Rebecca picked up her iPhone and left the booth and began to the door, but not before quickly saying again, with feeling, "Thank you!" In a moment, she was outside.

-6-

Outside on the sidewalk, Rebecca saw Cheryl through the glass, and they waved to each other. As she focused on her phone and dialed back Jill, Rebecca suddenly felt the need to return to the blonde girl as quickly as possible. It wasn't just because she became primally protective of Cheryl, who had been through so many terrible things. She didn't need to read minds to know that. But there was something more.

It felt so good to be with Cheryl, Rebecca thought...it truly did.

Then Rebecca heard a lady's voice, one she instantly recognized: "Rebecca?"

Rebecca Chambers cheerfully answered, "Yeah Jill, it's me!"

Rebecca heard Jill Valentine's happiness as she said, "Hi, sweetie! Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Oh no, I'm all right! I was just talking to someone. Are you still in Mexico City?"

"I called to let you know I'm just about done here. I'll be taking the first flight back to D.C. in the morning." Jill Valentine was there in Mexico City to ensure that the C-Virus vaccine was distributed everywhere it had to be by the Mexican government. After the recent, terrible epidemic that almost touched every corner of the globe, the BSAA didn't want to take any chances and make sure everyone who could get the vaccine did without any difficulties. "Chris told me you were investigating something?"

"Yeah, I'm in Vermont now. I found a girl who might give us a lead on this lunatic cult." Anger suddenly flared in Rebecca's heart. "You know, it's nice of Chris to finally let me out of the labs for something important! For all I know, he probably said okay because he got tired of hearing me complain - !"

Jill felt Rebecca's anger in her words, and she knew exactly what her dear friend was talking about...it was a long-standing bone of contention between Chris and Rebecca. Jill began, "Sweetie, don't get yourself started - !"

Rebecca almost shouted, "I know, Jill!" The petite beauty suddenly regretted that outburst and frowned...she said in a much, much softer tone, "I...I'm sorry. I know." She reflexively looked at Cheryl through the window glass. "It's just, I've been talking to this girl, Cheryl, and you can tell she's been through hell just looking into her eyes. I know cults can be terrible, but...she can't even say what was done to her."

"Hey," Jill said, reassuring. "If anyone can help her, you can, Rebecca. I know it."

Rebecca felt warm as she smiled and turned her back to the window again. "How much did Chris tell you about this?"

"Only about the two towns dying because of this cult...god, thousands of people gone without anyone hearing about it?"

"Yeah. It may sound crazy, but it happened." Inside, as she spoke, Cheryl left the booth and went to the cashier for a moment. "What matters is we don't let The Order hurt anyone else."

Jill couldn't help but say with disquiet, "The fog that won't go away in Silent Hill sounds like something out of a horror movie."

Rebecca giggled. "Yeah, but I really doubt John Carpenter had anything to do with this!" The girl's expression shifted to become serious again. "Jill, I'm really sorry, I need to get back to Cheryl."

"I understand. I'm sorry I interrupted."

Rebecca quickly, gently said, "Don't be sorry, Jill. I missed you." She truly did miss the woman she knew for years as her best, dearest friend.

Jill's voice was full of emotion as she said, "I missed you too, sweetie. How much longer should you be in Vermont?"

"I'm not sure, honestly. I haven't even started to help Cheryl look for answers. I'll call you tomorrow night, okay?"

Jill Valentine said, "Okay. Take care, Rebecca. Love you."

Rebecca nodded. "Love you too, Jill. Bye!"

"Bye!" Their connection was broken.

-7-

Rebecca returned to her booth...and saw Cheryl was reading what looked like a newspaper tabloid...it had the standard, The Black Falls Current. Underneath the paper's name, it proclaimed it was Your community news! The date on the front page indicated it was published last Friday. Rebecca returned to her seat and said, "Hey, thanks again." As Cheryl looked up at the agent, Rebecca couldn't help but ask, "Where'd you get that?"

"I got it from the cashier," Cheryl answered. "It's from last week, and he had an extra copy." The girl had turned to literally the second to last page of the paper. Cheryl's expression shifted to become very serious as she said, "It has an article you need to see on the second to last page."

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. "Uh-huh?"

"I saw this paper, this article, a few days ago after I first arrived in town. It'll show you I was right to come here." Cheryl then offered the opened paper to Rebecca.

"Okay..." Rebecca took it and focused on the second to last page. There was only one small article to be read...the rest of the page was crammed with colorful advertisements for local businesses. But it was the news article that got Rebecca's complete attention...

YOUNG PROMISES POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR PARASITES

By Richard Bachman

For months, the community of Black Falls has been in fear of the parasites
that have afflicted several townspeople and were directly responsible for
two deaths. As every citizen of town knows, difficulties began in May when
the slug-like creatures first emerged. It's still theorized that the parasites
came from underground, possibly because they somehow lost their primary
food source. Ever since, they have been a public health hazard that can
only become more serious over time. It's therefore a source of relief that
one of the most reliable pillars of our community says he is close to a
solution one week before the much-anticipated County Fair.
Doctor Burton Young, Administrator of our town's Wyler Community
Hospital, stated on Thursday: "After working day and night for months to
find a solution to these parasites, I believe I and some of the top doctors
on my hospital staff are very close to finding it. I hope you'll understand I
still can't say much more than that. I can say that we have had amazing
results thus far in our trials that are designed to ensure it is perfectly safe
and holds no side effects for the good citizens of Black Falls."

The rest of the article turned to fluff, basically praising Doctor Young for his decades of work in the community and so forth.

Rebecca Chambers felt a terrible foreboding as she looked up from the paper at Cheryl. "I don't understand..."

Cheryl Mason looked at Rebecca, and there was so much fear in her eyes. "The Order used parasites, those same parasites, in Silent Hill."

TO BE CONTINUED