Now I know you're saying, "Sweet mother of sassafrass! He updated!!".
Yeah, I hear you. I do apologize for the lack thereof, but Real Life(tm) has been getting in the way lately. Between creating a website, doing commissions, and watching Reloaded several dozen times, I've been booked. ^__^*
But fear not, I wouldn't leave you all in the dark. Nor would I end the story so quickly. The fun's just getting started, my friends. So read up, and please keep the comments coming.
Au revoir!
********************************
Chapter 14: Is there a Doctor in the House?
Dahlia squirmed with every ounce of strength she could muster, but nothing could break the hold I now had on her. Alessa softly put her hand on Dahlia's chest, and with in a voice like thunder, we spoke in unity.
"Dahlia Gillespie," we roared, "for your sins against your fellow man and for failing to meet your initial punishment upon death, you are hereby sentenced to eternity in Hell."
A scream like nothing I'd ever heard wretched its way out of Dahlia's throat, like six thousands nails against a chalkboard. Then, as abruptly as it'd started, the screaming stopped, and a black, amorphous cloud rose from Dahlia's body. It floated several feet into the air before stopping and suddenly vanishing in a clap of light. My grasp released instantly and the body fell limply to the floor.
James rushed to her side, holding her body to him. I was no longer under the control of... whatever it was. Before I could celebrate, however, the world around me started to dim. Sirens blared into my head, and the world tipped me over. My vision swam with images of everything that'd happened in this town, of rust and blood, murder and deceit. I just wanted it to be over, to go home... Home... I could scarcely remember what it looked like. It seemed as if I'd been in Silent Hill for years.
The swirling world slowly ground to a halt, and my eyes opened to darkness. For a moment, I thought that I, too, had been sent to Hell. But then again, what could Hell throw at me that Silent Hill hadn't already?
I realized that I was laying down, not on hard cement or even rusted metal, but on something soft. It certainly wasn't my bed, but it was a nice change from the previous environment.
I slowly tried to sit up, but something shot pain into my right arm, and I quickly laid back down. It felt like something was in my arm, and upon further inspection, I felt tape covering the area along with a tube coming from it. An I.V? Was I in a hospital bed? Slowly, and painfully, I removed what indeed felt like an I.V. needle from my arm and let it fall to the floor. I pushed my legs over the side, and cold tile met my feet. Now that I thought about it, the whole room was cold. My clothes were gone, replaced by what felt like a skimpy hospital robe (I hate those things).
I lightly got to my feet, and almost immediately my knees gave way. I clamored to hold onto the side of the bed, all the time wondering how I'd suddenly gotten so weak. I'd just had Dahlia in a death grip, and now I could hardly walk?
Holding onto the bed and then the wall, I found a light switch and flipped it on. Florescent lights flickered a few times and buzzed into operation, illuminating a small hospital room. Not bad for pitch black, eh?
The room itself wasn't rusty or full of metal grating, thank God. In fact, it looked like a normal hospital room. Normal, that is, except for the thick lining of dust covering everything. How long had I been in here? Or maybe the staff just doesn't keep up with housecleaning?
I hobbled over to the foot of the bed and took a clipboard out of the plastic tray attached. It was my chart, but upon reading it, I was sure this was a dream.
It was dated March 2, 2003. I'd entered Silent Hill in late 2000.
This couldn't be right. I couldn't have been in that town for three years.
I scanned the charts and saw that I was hospitalized for malnutrition and 'trauma from events unknown to us'. Apparently I'd gone into some sort of coma, but... for three years?? No way.
I wanted answers now. I was sick and tired of being used, scared, and pushed around. Someone was going to tell me what was going on, if I had to choke it out of them.
Renewed strength seemed to flow into my limbs, and I no longer needed the wall to walk around. Albeit, I was still a bit wobbly, but who cares...
I opened the door, and dim light and thick dust invaded my senses. I sneezed a few times and crept into the hallway. Gurneys and paper were scattered all over the place, along with various trays and equipment. It looked as if a war had broken out in this place, but it'd definitely been over for quite some time. I couldn't understand it... no people, everything in shambles....
Was I still in Silent Hill?
The thought scared me into action, and I quickly ran back into my room. I located a small closet on the wall, and sure enough, inside were my clothes I'd last been wearing, along with my backpack. I slapped my clothes on and double-checked the pack. Everything was still inside from the trip. I picked up the flashlight and flipped it on. I couldn't believe it... it still worked. I had no idea flashlight batteries lasted so long!
At this point, common sense kicked in. If I was indeed still in Silent Hill, there was no way in hell I was going to go out there without something to defend myself. Guns were out of the question, since this was a hospital. However, one of the bars on the bottom of my hospital bed was loose, and after a few tugs, it came right off. I swung it around, getting a feel for the 2-foot stick of lead. Not as good as a real crowbar, I thought, but then again, where would I find one of those, anyway?
I went back into the hallway and slowly made my way towards the source of light. I got to a pair of double doors and walked through into an entrance area. In the center was a nurses station where people could check in or whatever. Over on the left, a small gift shop was surrounded on all sides by panes of glass. The gift shop door was, of course, locked.
I don't know how long I'd been in this place, but one thing was for sure-I was starving. I smashed the lead bar into the glass and shattered one of its panes. Carefully, I crawled into the shop and picked up some candy bars and sodas, shoving them into my pack. Getting back into the entrance, I looked at my handiwork. It reminded me of Todd and those infamous boots of his.
A new question entered my mind... Where the heck was he? Or James and Mary and Alessa...?
On a mission for answers, I found the exit to the hospital. It was locked, but that didn't stop me from smashing the glass. It was sunset outside, and I was greeted by an empty parking lot next to an empty highway. I turned and looked at the hospital. Brahms Medical Center, it said above the doors.
So I wasn't in Silent Hill. If memory served me correctly, Brahms was the next town over. So where was everyone?
Yeah, I hear you. I do apologize for the lack thereof, but Real Life(tm) has been getting in the way lately. Between creating a website, doing commissions, and watching Reloaded several dozen times, I've been booked. ^__^*
But fear not, I wouldn't leave you all in the dark. Nor would I end the story so quickly. The fun's just getting started, my friends. So read up, and please keep the comments coming.
Au revoir!
********************************
Chapter 14: Is there a Doctor in the House?
Dahlia squirmed with every ounce of strength she could muster, but nothing could break the hold I now had on her. Alessa softly put her hand on Dahlia's chest, and with in a voice like thunder, we spoke in unity.
"Dahlia Gillespie," we roared, "for your sins against your fellow man and for failing to meet your initial punishment upon death, you are hereby sentenced to eternity in Hell."
A scream like nothing I'd ever heard wretched its way out of Dahlia's throat, like six thousands nails against a chalkboard. Then, as abruptly as it'd started, the screaming stopped, and a black, amorphous cloud rose from Dahlia's body. It floated several feet into the air before stopping and suddenly vanishing in a clap of light. My grasp released instantly and the body fell limply to the floor.
James rushed to her side, holding her body to him. I was no longer under the control of... whatever it was. Before I could celebrate, however, the world around me started to dim. Sirens blared into my head, and the world tipped me over. My vision swam with images of everything that'd happened in this town, of rust and blood, murder and deceit. I just wanted it to be over, to go home... Home... I could scarcely remember what it looked like. It seemed as if I'd been in Silent Hill for years.
The swirling world slowly ground to a halt, and my eyes opened to darkness. For a moment, I thought that I, too, had been sent to Hell. But then again, what could Hell throw at me that Silent Hill hadn't already?
I realized that I was laying down, not on hard cement or even rusted metal, but on something soft. It certainly wasn't my bed, but it was a nice change from the previous environment.
I slowly tried to sit up, but something shot pain into my right arm, and I quickly laid back down. It felt like something was in my arm, and upon further inspection, I felt tape covering the area along with a tube coming from it. An I.V? Was I in a hospital bed? Slowly, and painfully, I removed what indeed felt like an I.V. needle from my arm and let it fall to the floor. I pushed my legs over the side, and cold tile met my feet. Now that I thought about it, the whole room was cold. My clothes were gone, replaced by what felt like a skimpy hospital robe (I hate those things).
I lightly got to my feet, and almost immediately my knees gave way. I clamored to hold onto the side of the bed, all the time wondering how I'd suddenly gotten so weak. I'd just had Dahlia in a death grip, and now I could hardly walk?
Holding onto the bed and then the wall, I found a light switch and flipped it on. Florescent lights flickered a few times and buzzed into operation, illuminating a small hospital room. Not bad for pitch black, eh?
The room itself wasn't rusty or full of metal grating, thank God. In fact, it looked like a normal hospital room. Normal, that is, except for the thick lining of dust covering everything. How long had I been in here? Or maybe the staff just doesn't keep up with housecleaning?
I hobbled over to the foot of the bed and took a clipboard out of the plastic tray attached. It was my chart, but upon reading it, I was sure this was a dream.
It was dated March 2, 2003. I'd entered Silent Hill in late 2000.
This couldn't be right. I couldn't have been in that town for three years.
I scanned the charts and saw that I was hospitalized for malnutrition and 'trauma from events unknown to us'. Apparently I'd gone into some sort of coma, but... for three years?? No way.
I wanted answers now. I was sick and tired of being used, scared, and pushed around. Someone was going to tell me what was going on, if I had to choke it out of them.
Renewed strength seemed to flow into my limbs, and I no longer needed the wall to walk around. Albeit, I was still a bit wobbly, but who cares...
I opened the door, and dim light and thick dust invaded my senses. I sneezed a few times and crept into the hallway. Gurneys and paper were scattered all over the place, along with various trays and equipment. It looked as if a war had broken out in this place, but it'd definitely been over for quite some time. I couldn't understand it... no people, everything in shambles....
Was I still in Silent Hill?
The thought scared me into action, and I quickly ran back into my room. I located a small closet on the wall, and sure enough, inside were my clothes I'd last been wearing, along with my backpack. I slapped my clothes on and double-checked the pack. Everything was still inside from the trip. I picked up the flashlight and flipped it on. I couldn't believe it... it still worked. I had no idea flashlight batteries lasted so long!
At this point, common sense kicked in. If I was indeed still in Silent Hill, there was no way in hell I was going to go out there without something to defend myself. Guns were out of the question, since this was a hospital. However, one of the bars on the bottom of my hospital bed was loose, and after a few tugs, it came right off. I swung it around, getting a feel for the 2-foot stick of lead. Not as good as a real crowbar, I thought, but then again, where would I find one of those, anyway?
I went back into the hallway and slowly made my way towards the source of light. I got to a pair of double doors and walked through into an entrance area. In the center was a nurses station where people could check in or whatever. Over on the left, a small gift shop was surrounded on all sides by panes of glass. The gift shop door was, of course, locked.
I don't know how long I'd been in this place, but one thing was for sure-I was starving. I smashed the lead bar into the glass and shattered one of its panes. Carefully, I crawled into the shop and picked up some candy bars and sodas, shoving them into my pack. Getting back into the entrance, I looked at my handiwork. It reminded me of Todd and those infamous boots of his.
A new question entered my mind... Where the heck was he? Or James and Mary and Alessa...?
On a mission for answers, I found the exit to the hospital. It was locked, but that didn't stop me from smashing the glass. It was sunset outside, and I was greeted by an empty parking lot next to an empty highway. I turned and looked at the hospital. Brahms Medical Center, it said above the doors.
So I wasn't in Silent Hill. If memory served me correctly, Brahms was the next town over. So where was everyone?