Authors Note: Glad to see people still enjoying the story so much. It just keeps getting better and better I think. Enjoy!
Chapter 21: Familiar Faces
"I know boating in the dark isn't a good idea, but I don't want another situation like last time." Wheeler said as he drove without any lights off.
"Its fine, Wheeler; we've got a tracker on this boat. It doesn't need the light." Elle explained sitting in the seat beside Alex.
Alex looked at her as she sat down next to him, "Something is so familiar about this." Alex joked.
Elle rolled her eyes, "No really?" She smiled in a way that she simply hadn't been able to all day.
Feeling his arm slip around her shoulders she leaned into him. "I was so scared when I couldn't find you. I always wake up next to you, this is the first time in a while I haven't." She whispered to him.
Alex rubbed her arm, "I know. I'm sorry; I guess the dimension made it hard to stick together."
"That's what scares me." Elle said to him as she sat back up clearly not wanting to think too hard about the possible situation on her mind.
Alex nodded and watched as she dug into her pockets pulling out scraps of paper she had written on. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Alex knew she was translating the messages she had found.
Her tongue rolled along her top lip as she thought. Alex began watching her intently as she thought and began translating. Her fingers wrote quickly; she knew what she was translating.
"So what do you know about Kendra and Sammy?" Wheeler asked from the front of the boat.
Alex looked back up at Wheeler, "Well, Kendra knew something about what happened to Shepherds Glen, but I'm not sure how. Maybe she knows some of the people who actually got out."
Elle looked up thoughtfully running her tongue along her bottom lip, "Kendra... sounds familiar."
"Maybe she's from Shepherds Glen." Wheeler suggested.
"Maybe." Alex agreed, "As for Sammy, I don't know anything about him, just that Kendra got taken along with him."
Wheeler shook his head, "Damn fools. They should know serving that damn town is a waste of time. They should just get out while they can."
"Maybe they can't." Alex suggested.
"What ever the reason, WE are getting out. We're getting out as soon as we find those missing people." Wheeler replied confidently.
Elle made a pleased sound beside him; looking over he realized she had decoded the Latin messages. Alex watched as she read them over in her hands. "Figure them out?" Alex asked her curiously.
"Yep, but they don't make any sense." She looked over the pieces of paper with a look of confusion.
Alex was about to ask what they said but Wheeler managed to dock them right on the banks of Silent Hill. "We're going to the prison first then, right?" Wheeler asked Alex.
"I think that might be a good place to start." Alex nodded.
Elle climbed out of the boat after Alex and Wheeler. "How far away is it?" Elle asked then as she held her gun in her hands.
"Not that far." Alex said as they headed up off the beach; they felt like soldiers as they kept marching non-stop.
By the time they made it onto the main street, the monsters were already out and on the prowl. Wheeler managed to strike down a hell hound as it tried to jump at them. "We'd better speed this up!" Alex said as they ran down the street towards the prison.
Alex noticed a very shredded corpse on the sidewalk as they ran; it was in masked uniform. Its body was ripped apart by what looked like massive claws. The monsters there never seemed to show mercy to anyone, but something about that body in particular seemed out of place. It seemed strange that the masked men had been attacked by there own monsters. Alex didn't have time to consider the possibilities.
More shredded bodies were along the streets, some even had masks ripped off their bloody faces. "What's with all the corpses? There weren't nearly as many in the streets last time I was here!" Wheeler yelled as they ran.
"Same!" Elle panted as she ran behind the two men.
"I don't know, Wheeler! I don't think this is the time to ask questions." Alex shouted as he shot at a hound on his way by.
Elle tripped on the concrete as she made a dash to follow behind, "AH!" She cried out as a Hell Hound eyed her up.
Alex turned back and shot at the hound. Elle scrambled to her feet to catch up to Wheeler. Alex shot the hound a few more times before carrying on; he reloaded when they made it to the other perimeter of the prison. "It's no good. There's an electric fencing around the base." Wheeler reminded Alex of the last time they had been captured.
Alex nodded, "Right," Alex looked back down the street towards where the power company was located. "I can cut the power off again." Alex suggested.
The gate began to open, "Or not..." He watched as several masked men came out with their weapons ready.
"Shepherd!" One of the men yelled through the mask; it wasn't exactly coherent sounding.
Alex looked at him unable to recognize the face with the mask on. The only defining thing that set him apart from the other masked soldiers was the large silver cross that hung around his neck; the bottom of the cross appeared sharp.
"You remember me from last time I take it?" Alex asked confidently despite the several guns pointed at him and his companions.
Elle pointed her shotgun at one of the people aiming at Alex. Wheeler stared the men down from behind his double barrel. The man removed his mask so Alex could see his face, "Alex Shepherd. It's been a while." A smugly handsome face looked back at him.
Immediately, Alex recognized him, "Ricky Bartlet?" Alex asked remembering his last encounter with the mayor.
"It's Richard, now." He said lowering his weapon.
The other soldiers did the same as Richard seemed to be the leader. Richard took a glance at Elle, "Elle Holloway, have you ever grown up..." Richard said in a sleazy manner.
Elle held her shotgun up higher. Richard held up his hands, "Sorry to offend you." His voice was rough much like his fathers.
"What are you doing with these people?" Alex asked furrowing his brows.
Richard gestured around as if Alex was insane, "The world is going to Hell, Alex. The curse of our founding fathers is upon us. All we can do to remain among the living," Richard looked him over darkly, "Is serve."
"By sacrificing innocent people to your fucked up God? That's not living, that's just surviving in the worst ways possible. It's not worth it if you ask me." Wheeler glared at them.
"I don't believe anyone asked you, Deputy." Richard glared at Wheeler, "We do what we have to in order to stop the spread." Richard looked at Alex, "Unlike those of us who run from our fate, we like to please our God." Alex glared at him.
"Does it look like I'm running to you, Richard?" Alex asked in the same dark tone.
Richard nodded at the guards. "We'd better move this conversation inside." Alex knew they weren't being asked, they were being ordered.
"If you three know what's best for you, you'll leave your weapons with the guards." Elle looked up at Alex; clearly she wasn't afraid of them, but she was definitely angry.
Alex nodded at her, "It's alright, Elle. Give them your gun." Alex said as Wheeler handed his over.
Richard held out his hand; Elle placed her weapon in his hand and watched as the guards took Alex's handgun and his rifle. "The fuck you looking at?" Wheeler asked as one of the masked men appeared to be staring at him.
The group moved onto the grounds before the gate was closed behind them. Elle held onto Alex's arm as they were lead inside. The building was well lit and clearly had some wall fixtures since he last visited. "Alex, Elle, I was hoping we could have a little chat if you don't mind." Richard said to them.
Alex and Elle both looked over their shoulders at him, "As long as it doesn't go beyond a chat, that doesn't sound like a bad idea." Alex said to him.
Elle kept her mouth shut; so many times in the past it had got her in trouble, but today she would hold her tongue for Alex. Looking back, Alex noticed them attempting to take Wheeler somewhere else, "No! If he doesn't come with us than we're going with him." Alex glared at Richard.
"He's just going into another containment area. Don't worry; we don't intend to kill him... not while we haven't got a nice chance to talk to him at least." Richard smirked deviously.
Alex and Elle were shoved into a small conference room. They sat beside each other and stared across at Richard. "So, it's been a while since we talked." Richard smiled at them boldly.
"What the Hell do you want with us?" Alex asked him annoyed.
"As you can see, we've got a big problem on our hands. The world is going to Hell and we can't seem to find a means to stop it. We need some recruits." Richard clasped his hands on the table before them as if he were a lawyer.
"No. We aren't joining you." Elle shook her head.
Richard looked at Elle. "I know why you came here, Elle. You're looking for Auntie Virginia I presume." Richard bared his unkept teeth in a mean smile.
"You always were a snarky little bastard. No thanks to your father." Richard glared over the table, "I guess that's what you get from the Mayors son. Daddy buys you a nice car. Daddy gives you a shit-load of money. Too bad Daddy's money couldn't add some inches to your-" Alex was cut of as Richard stood up, slamming his fists against the table. Elle bit her bottom lip to stifle a laugh.
"Shut up Shepherd! At least my father loved me!" Richard shot darkly as he glared back at Alex with his dingy hazel eyes.
Alex attempted to reach over the table to strangle Richard but two masked soldiers gripped either arm in their hands before cuffing Alex down with his arms behind him. Glaring, both men refused to back down, "As I was saying..." Richards face lightened up.
"The world is going to Hell. I need recruits. Mostly though, I need the Order's black book." Richard sat back looking serious.
"Good, then go and get it yourself." Alex shot back.
"Not so simple." Richard picked at the table with his index finger.
"What do you need it for?" Elle asked him confused.
"Well, I need it so that I could find a way to reverse what happened here." He looked at Alex mockingly, "What your golden boy started by ceasing to die."
"How could you possibly reverse what happened?" Elle asked furrowing her brows in disbelief.
Richard shot her a look, "Well dear, that's why I need the book." He tried to make her sound stupid, but it wasn't quite working.
Richard rested his arms back on the table. "If you two find me that book, you can have your aunt," He looked from Elle to Alex, "and you can have your little pal Deputy Wheeler."
"How can we possibly trust someone like you?" Alex asked him.
Richard looked at him calmly, "You don't have any other choice now do you?"
Alex stared up at him from under his furrowed brows. "Need some time to think about it? I understand." Richard nodded as he stood up.
The officers forced Alex and Elle up to follow him out of the room. Elle and Alex were lead down a long cell block where various prisoners were screaming loudly; all of them were upset, hungry and confused. "Here, you can spend some time with your friends." Richard opened the door of the cell block that contained both Wheeler and Virginia.
Elle and Alex both walked inside the cell without any struggle. The door slammed behind them and locked with a loud click. Alex leaned his back against the wall and got his cuffed hands under his knees before he touched the ground. After getting his feet under the small chain, he sat there contemplating angrily.
"Elle!" Virginia grabbed Elle up into her arms.
Elle began to sob softly at the relief of seeing her aunt again. Wheeler sat down next to Alex, "So what happened with bitchy Ritchie?" Wheeler asked as quietly as possible.
Alex laughed under his breath at how Wheeler could uplift him so easily. Looking over at Wheeler and sighed, "They want Elle and I to search for the Orders black book. He wants to reverse what happened here."
"He says that, but how can you trust him?" Wheeler asked.
Alex nodded, "We haven't got a choice. He's planning on killing you and Virginia if we don't go along with it." Alex explained.
Wheeler scoffed, "They're like a messed up military service aren't they?" Wheeler asked him.
Alex nodded slowly. Elle and Virginia chatted softly in the corner as they hung onto one another. Alex saw a lot of Judge Holloway's looks in Virginia. It was unnerving since every time he thought of her now, he felt a sharp pain surge through his leg. Wheeler nudged Alex, "Why don't you convince them to let me help. I'd at least be useful and not just sitting here doing shit all." Wheeler suggested.
Alex nodded, "I'll try that." Alex sighed as he kept his eye on Elle, "I just hope we can get out of here soon."
Wheeler nodded, "Right here with you."
Alex closed his eyes and thought about what Richard had told him about his dad. The entire town must have noticed his mistreatment, so it was hard to miss. Alex remembered his father's last conversation with him. Indeed, Alex was loved, although he wasn't quite sure anymore what that meant.
"How mad do you think my father would be right now?" Alex asked Wheeler as he thought about past confrontations with his father.
Surprisingly, Wheeler let out a thoughtful laugh, "Oh Alex, your father used to talk about you all the time at the station. He used to tell me all of the crazy shit you'd get into. Like the time you almost drove your father's car right off the road on your first try." Wheeler laughed whole heartedly at the memory.
Alex lifted his head and looked at him confused. Adam Shepherd talked about him to other people? "Really?"
Nodding Wheeler thought of his Sheriff. "All the time." Wheeler shook his head with a smile, "He was always so proud when he talked about you, and how you wanted to become a soldier just like your father, but every time it became obvious, he'd go into that grumpy old man thing he'd do every so often. The whole station could see through it, but we left it alone; we respected your father too much for any of that."
"He actually talked about me at the station?" Alex felt his throat become dry at the thought.
Wheeler nodded at him. "Sure he did. Just like when you got him that socket set for his birthday that one year. He really did appreciate that, but I assume he was too embarrassed to let you know. Sheriff Shepherd never was a heart to hear sort of fellow."
Alex blinked a few times to hide his emotional eyes as they began to brim. "What about when I went to the hospital?" Alex questioned the deputy.
Wheeler shook his head slowly looking less fond of the memory. "One day, Adam stopped talking about both of his sons. He mentioned that Josh was gone and that you were gone as well but he never fully explained the situation. I asked him where you were once or twice and he got real quiet." Wheeler shook his head sadly. "He really missed you when you were at the hospital; Adam didn't even need to tell me that sort of thing. I could see it... Hell, the whole station could see it." Wheeler said honestly.
Alex thought about the time he drove the car for the first time. He went a lot faster than his dad had instructed; it seemed after the fact his dad was grumpy, but Alex had noticed that small twinkle in his eyes just before he looked away.
Alex wondered now if that was his father's pride finally seeing the light of day. Shaking his head he felt something burning in his chest as he thought about his father's corpse hanging before him behind the organ. The thought itself sickened him.
Alex closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. He turned his head away from the other occupants of the cell; he couldn't let them see his face. Alex swallowed down the lump in his throat. All his life he wanted his father to know he existed; to know he wanted his attention. Alex had no idea his father expressed his pride to others; it was nearly too much to take. He thought about his father and began to smile painfully as his eyes began to get watery.
Review if you think Richard is a dick!