The streets of Silent Hill were packed. But then again it was always like this in July, when tourists from all over the country came here to 'get away from it all in the pristine tranquility of a small lakeside town'. At least, that's what the brochures say. But to someone like Joel Hollis who had lived in Silent Hill his entire life, the appeal that drew throngs of tourists every summer was all he'd ever known.
The Lakeside district was the center of the mid-season action this year with a traveling dance troupe in town performing a spectacular show on small platforms out over the water. The amusement park unveiling its newest ride, the Mountain Coaster, also was a high point this year. And through all the excitement and activity, Joel moved in a confused daze. What was he doing here? Carefully sorting through his thoughts, he started at the most obvious place; why was he in Silent Hill?
That one was easy. It was summer break and he was visiting home. Joel attended college upstate where he would be a Junior in the Fall with promising hopes of a summer internship next year at the hospital in Brahms, the next town over. He was studying to be a Criminal Profiler and wanted some hands-on experience with Forensic Pathology. For now, though, he was just supposed to be enjoying himself.
Blinking to clear his vision—he couldn't focus, everything seemed to be running together—he moved on with his mental survey. He knew why he was in Silent Hill, but why was he here in the Lakeside district? That was more difficult. Joel never came to the Lakeside during tourist season. He hated crowds. During the months of June, July and August he always made sure to stay away from the lake, keeping near his home in Old Silent Hill. He liked it there. The buildings were more rustic and the air was cleaner. The whole area exuded a sense of. . . history. There Joel could let the rich heritage of the town wash over him as he painted of wrote. Not like here, where everything was commercialized. This place had a sense of money, of greed and. . . and. . .
Joel staggered forward a few steps, catching himself on a lamppost. Shaking his head groggily, he turned to face whoever had bumped him violently from behind. Was it getting darker? He couldn't see the face of the person. He couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman, and instead of the vibrant colors tourists tend to wear, this person was dressed from head to toe in motley brown garb. One of the district's vagrants perhaps? No. Everyone he could see was dressed in a similar manner. With an effort, Joel forced himself to concentrate.
It was getting darker! It seemed to be late twilight, right after the sun has disappeared over the horizon. It wasn't that late. Was it? Those brown shapes—the tourists?—now hurried past him, all moving in the same direction. They were going toward the amusement park. Joel pushed himself away from the lamppost and began walking with the people. What had he been thinking about before being bumped? He couldn't remember. . .
. . .Joy. . .
What? ". . .Joy. . ." a small voice whispered in his head. That voice. . . his voice. But, he couldn't remember. Joy. It was a name. He was at least sure of that. Who was it though? Aah, his head! If only everything would stop blurring together. If only everything would separate itself, then he could think clearly. His vision was one big blur. The buildings each melted into the next, the ground and the sky were interlocked. And the people. . .
The people were no longer distinguishable as separate forms. One brown streak extended past him toward their destination. Blur after brown blur shot past him on either side, he could feel the wind of their passage blowing his dark brown hair. What was going on? It was now pitch black outside; full dark. Even the buildings seemed to streak past as if he were moving at incredible speed. What. . .?
. . .Joy. . .
Joel was again called by that voice. . . his voice. He didn't understand! The world raced by, uncaring. ". . .Joy. . ." he said again to himself. What? What about her? Joel couldn't take it anymore. He screamed in anger an frustration, "What about her? WHAT ABOUT MY SISTER?!"
Everything froze.
Joel remembered. Joy was his younger sister. Yes! Yes, that's right, she was his sister. And he was looking for her. He had been searching for how long? That didn't matter. He remembered. She was here.
Slowly, Joel looked up from his grimy clothes and bloodstained hands. She was here, in the Lakeside Amusement Park. He remembered as he gazed at the huge sign over the entrance to the park. She was here, he remembered, and he was going to get her out. Everything was clear, separate. He remembered what he had to do. . . what he needed. . . They would leave this nightmare together. Together as they'd always been until now.
Steeling himself for what he knew he must do, Joel took the first step into the park.
* * *
Joel opened his eyes. A dream. Did he have a dream just then? If so, it had been a nightmare. At least here he could remember, everything was separate just the way he liked it. He would get up. He would eat breakfast and say goodbye to his sister Joy on the way out to his part-time job at the corner convenience store. He remembered. Then he. . . he felt the weight of the shotgun leaning against his shoulder.
Reaching down to his breast pocket, Joel switched on the small flashlight hanging there. The feeble light revealed a small room with rusting iron walls smeared with blood that never dried. He saw the metal bed with a molding mattress on top and his grimy tattered jeans. And his bloodstained hands.
Still huddled in the corner of the room, he picked the small radio off the ground and checked to make sure it was still switched on. He listened carefully for any trace of white noise emanating from its speaker before standing up and sliding the radio into his back pocket.
Joel checked his shotgun and then the pistol in his front jacket pocket. Feeling behind his belt, he made sure the large kitchen knife was still secure. Walking to the door, he sighed heavily then pumped the shotgun once to bring a round into the chamber and prepared himself to face the real nightmares he knew were waiting outside.
That's right. You do remember.
*-----------------
Notes from the author: Thanks to everyone for reading my first foray into the fan fiction universe. I hope you enjoyed the prologue! Before I continue, I suppose I had best make the customary disclaimer and whatnot.
TANIR SUMMELAR'S OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER AND WHATNOT: (This is the only one I will make as everyone gets the jist of these): I do not own Silent Hill. The people at Konami own Silent Hill. They also own other great things like Castlevania, Metal Gear, and Dance Dance Revolution. They own everything; I own nothing, see?
Okay, now that that's over with. . . If you would like to see me continue with this story, please drop me a review. If you think I should banish this to the nether regions of my computer's Recycle Bin, also drop me a review!
Only one more thing (I promise!): I must acknowledge the reference to the Forensic Pathologist line at the beginning. That was my special homage to the outstanding SH fic Autopsy Report by a very gifted writer Rumer. (I read your entire fic but didn't review it. Please forgive me! I promise I'll review the sequel!) Until next time everyone! I'll leave you with a famous line from aforementioned author:
Review = more chapters!