SILENT HILL- Reginald
Noah awoke underwater, instantly freaking as he fought to swim before his air ran out.
His head exploded through the surface of the water, choking and spitting out liquid as he
found himself in the middle of a lake. There was fog everywhere, he couldn't see a thing.
Noah treaded water easily, getting his breath back in big puffs as he looked around.
There was a faint, eerie light off in one direction. Noah swam towards it, wondering for a moment
how his bow and quiver and shotgun were all still with him after all that. The shotgun made it
difficult to swim with that hand, but somehow his body seemed to glide along with little effort.
The gentle current was slowly moving him towards the mysterious light, as Noah swam lopsided
through the water. After a few minutes he reached a pier, where he saw the light had come from
a tall lamppost placed at the pier's edge. Before him was the Lakeside Hotel, where wet looking
footprints led the way inside indicating that someone had arrived here ahead of him.
Noah slowly pulled himself from the lake, resting on the pier for a minute before continuing on
into the hotel. He observed the scenery as he went past, the whole front yard of the hotel was
like a garden. There were lots of neatly maintained shrubs and hedges, and twin marble fountains
on either side of the slate walkway that led up to the hotel's front door. Noah stopped at one of the
fountains, sipping some of the clean water from it and welcoming the refreshing change from the sweet
health drinks. As Noah opened the door of the hotel, everything appeared normal. The radio was silent,
he saw nothing moving nor any signs of life save the wet footprints stretching out and leading the way.
His shoes sloshed noisily, as he walked through the hotel's first floor. The footsteps led down a set of stairs
to the basement floor, turning the corner of the hallway and stopping at a small metal door. 'Sports Bar'
was the title etched on the door's rasied wooden tile, and Noah made sure the shotgun was ready as he opened
the door slowly. Inside was more ordinary scenery, at least for a bar. The counter formed a large L shape at one side
of the room. the other side being full of tables with chairs placed upside down on them. Soft jazz was playing
on a radio, and in the middle of it all sitting on a barstool with a glass of red wine set in front of him was a man.
A tall man, taller than Noah by at least a full twelve inches. He wasn't exactly thin, but in no way was he overwight
either. Noah could only say that he was a little chubby, not muscual or fit but still shy of having the appearance of
a complete slob. His black and beady eyes peered at Noah from over his mustache, thin and a little curly at the ends.
His hair was matted down and all combed to the front, giving him a very weasely apparance. His face held many wrinkles
and he wore an old, victorian style shirt with puffed sleeves, half buttoned and tucked into khaki pants. The most horrible taste in dress
Noah could have imagined a person having. His tan loafers completed the look, as the man took his feet from the stool beside him
where they had been resting. The man smiled invitingly at Noah, pushing the barstool out a little and gesturing for Noah to sit.
Noah didn't, and stayed standing in his spot near the door. He wanted a quick exit to be available if this man was who
he thought it might be. "Sit, Noah. You've nothing to fear here, this place is perfectly safe." The man assured him
in a jolly voice, as if he were trying to sell Noah on buying the place or something. "I haven't seen one damn safe place since
I came to this town." Noah answered back sharply, leaning against the door. The man clapped briefly, chuckling with his
high, nasal voice as he nodded and grinned. Noah almost laughed with him, just because the man's appearnce and mannerisms
were so outlandish. He was like a cartoon character, Dirk Dastardly came to Noah's mind almost immeidately.
"Who are you?" Noah asked boldly, watching the man as well as everything in the room very carefully.
"I am Reginald, Reginald Laporte at your service young Noah. We have much to talk about, you and I."
The man replied willingly, leaning over the bar and reaching
down under it with one hand. Noah pointed the shotgun, thinking Reginald was going for some hidden weapon. His nasally,
high pitched laughter rose again as his hand came back with an empty glass to show Noah. He filled it with beer from a pitcher
beside him, and slid the glass down the bar to Noah who eyed it cautiously as it came towards him. A soon as it was close
Noah slapepd the glass away rather crazily, and kicked the offered barstool across the room. Reginald cringed slightly,
yelping as Noah stood in front of him like a madman ready to kill. "Not really in a talking mood, Reggie." Noah spat back,
half out of his mind for some strange reason. "I'm in much more of a stand here and listen while you tell me what you're doing here,
kind of mood. " Reginald nooded agrreably, still sporting that car salesman grin. Noah had no idea why he'd burst out like that,
but it had felt pretty good. Perhaps this town was finally starting to get to him, especially after that little bathroom scene and
coming very close to a free circumcision it was only to be expected. He was already sick of Reginald's lackadasial way of
talking, as if the man had no clue how crazy the rest of the town was or what was going on in it. "Very well." Reginald answered
reluctantly as he stood up. Noah kept an eye on him, as he walked around the bar and to the door Noah had come in
just a few moments ago. Reginald opened it, stepping through into a cushy hotel room. He held the door as Noah followed
him, bewildered by the sudden change. Reginald took his seat at the room's desk, opening the drawers and sifting through
the neatly organized contents. "I imagine you've already met my neice, I trust she has been at least some help to you?"
Reginald asked suddenly, throwing Noah completely off. "She's your neice?" Noah blurted out, eyes widening.
Noah's mind replayed all Estelle had said about her family being part of some cult, and that they were somehow behind
all of this stuff happening in Silent HIll. But did Reginald know he was at least that well informed? Noah deiced it would
be best to play a little dumb, and see what Reginald knew before he told the tall man anything.
"Yes she is, the bothersome little thing." Reginald continued, finally removing his hand from the desk and bringing a broken sort
of half circle with it. "I trust she was able to keep you from getting too banged up on your way here, can't have you dying
just yet you know." Noah nodded stupidly, as Reginald confirmed part of what Estelle had said. "She sures knows her way
around this place.." Noah replied, hoping that Reginald could be fooled just a little longer. "Yes she certainly does at that, amazing
gift that girl's got, simply amazing." Reginald agreed whimsically, holding the broken looking half circle out to Noah.
Noah eyed it and Reginald suspiciously, watching the mustached stranger's every move as he slowly stepped close enough
to take the object from his hand. Noah held it in his palm, looking quizzically at it. The greater part of it was black, with
three small circles surrounded by a larger cirlce and arcahic writhings. Though the broken item had only half the design,
seeming to have been seperated from his other half directly in the middle.
The edge of it had no sharpness or raggedness to it, suggesting it had been broken intentionally with some kind of tool.
"I wonder if you could perhaps tell me what that is your holding there." Reginald questioned, striking a match and holding it to
an old corncobb pipe. Noah strained to recall, as the trinket brought back flashes of memories he hadn't even been aware of.
He'd seen in before, the other half perhaps after it had been broken. He couldn't remember anymore than that, the
memories were hazy and dark, as if he were wandering in a cave with no flashlight. Reginald was watching Noah's
reaction intensely, seeming excited as Noah stared at the broken item. "I can't remember..." Noah said at last,
handing the object back to Reginald. "I suspect that you will, in time." Reginald assured him, taking the object back and
placing it in the desk drawer. Their eyes met as the object changed hands, and Noah saw something deviuosly evil within the
tall man. "So then, why don't you tell me what it is already?" Noah demanded, suddenly on the top of his guard.
Reginald smiled knowingly at him, blowing a ring of smoke as his pipe filled the room with the smell of tobacco.
"Indeed, you're much smarter than one might think at first glance." Reginald complimented, crossing his legs as he turned
to face Noah. "That, Noah my boy is what is referred to as the halo of the sun, or the mark of god according to many local
religions my own included. This particular artifact is very very old, and very..Powerful." Reginald spoke the last word
as if it were the main focus of his speech, Noah understood a little bit more now. The religious cults around here
were trying to gain some kind of power from the broken stone and somehow they had mistakenly tied it all in with
him. "Go on." Noah insisted, still wary of the shady man as he continued his history lesson.
"Several hundred years ago Noah, this artifact was the ultimate sign of rulership over the religious cults. In other words,
this stone was believed to be delivered by god to the one whom she chose as her earthly liason. Whoever posessed it
was as blessed by the old spirits of this town as god herself, and their word was most certain to become the new law.
However, it is said that a unworthy came to possess this great power, and the death and suffering he wrought with the
legions of hell at his command forced god to descend to Earth and cleanse his hateful wickedness. She cleaved the stone
in twine, and there in the ruins of the town it stayed for many years until it was unearthed by my great grandfather."
Reginald gazed proudly at Noah, as if he expected him to be shocked. Noah only smirked, scratching his head.
"Family heirloom, then?" Noah said sarcastically, producing a scowl on Reginald's hairy face.
"More than you could comprehend, boy." Reginald returned, smoking from his pipe as he lectured.
"You see for three generations now my family has posessed one half of this stone, bringing great power to our
bloodline. As such we have a certain power of persuation over the demons of this town still honoring this ancient
symbol of their god. And for all that time my family has sought the other half, and total control over Silent HIll
and all it's secrets. I myself have done much research into the alternate world, I'm sure you know of what I speak."
Noah nodded straight faced, not taking any of it too seriously. Reginald nodded back, smirking as he talked on.
"It's truly a wonder, that place. It has it own set of rules and laws that revolve around the person traveling through it
as I'm sure you've experienced yourself by now. But as long as I hold this stone, I can bend those rules or even break them."
Noah nodded, stifling a yawn. "Ok Reggie, that's real interesting and all but I just want to know what all this has to do with me.
I was never part of any cult, I'm just some guy who used to live here. But a lot of people used to live here, so why me?"
Reginald shook his finger at Noah, laughing that high pitched giggle again as he smoothed his mustache over with his finger.
"Noah, you disapoint me." he said sternly, the smartass grin still on his face. "It's true many people have lived here, but
you alone were the holder of the other half of this stone, and it's also you that befriended James Sunderland. He was
the only part of this town I couldn't control with the stone's power. His history with you has put him beyond the power
I once had over him. He's rampant now Noah, and thanks to your heroic efforts he won't stop until you are dead."
Noah gritteed his teeth in rage, raising the shotgun. "But you set that up!" Noah shouted at Reginald, wanting to pull the trigger
so badly that it hurt. Reginald laughed again, enraging Noah even further. "Yes, I did didn't I? But of course I couldn't leave it
up to my neice, little Estelle has grown up to be such a rebellious thing you see." Noah brought the shotgun across Reginald's
head, hitting him hard enough to draw blood. "Oh yes, kill me and you'll never get out of here Noah." Reginald said spitefully,
removing a handkerchief from his pocket and holding it to his head. "I never had any fucking stone you old bastard, you have got
the wrong guy!" Noah shouted again, still holding the shotgun on the elder man. "Oh no, there's no mistake about it Noah."
Reginald argued, breathing hard as he sat on the building anger Noah insipired within him. "I still remember it well, the day
Estelle's mother called me on the phone and told me that her daughter had brought the other half of the stone home with her.
Some kind little boy had given it to her as a token of friendship. It was quite an extravagant gift for a 6 year old Noah,
I really must thank you." Noah sat down on the bed as memories suddenly came back to him. It was impossible, there was
no way in hell...But as Noah's head began to pound he started to rememeber that day himself, and could only stare at
Reginald as the man looked into his eyes and nodded. "And this Noah, is where the plot thickens." Reginald said
victoriously, leaning closer as air raid sirens rang out in the distance.
Noah awoke underwater, instantly freaking as he fought to swim before his air ran out.
His head exploded through the surface of the water, choking and spitting out liquid as he
found himself in the middle of a lake. There was fog everywhere, he couldn't see a thing.
Noah treaded water easily, getting his breath back in big puffs as he looked around.
There was a faint, eerie light off in one direction. Noah swam towards it, wondering for a moment
how his bow and quiver and shotgun were all still with him after all that. The shotgun made it
difficult to swim with that hand, but somehow his body seemed to glide along with little effort.
The gentle current was slowly moving him towards the mysterious light, as Noah swam lopsided
through the water. After a few minutes he reached a pier, where he saw the light had come from
a tall lamppost placed at the pier's edge. Before him was the Lakeside Hotel, where wet looking
footprints led the way inside indicating that someone had arrived here ahead of him.
Noah slowly pulled himself from the lake, resting on the pier for a minute before continuing on
into the hotel. He observed the scenery as he went past, the whole front yard of the hotel was
like a garden. There were lots of neatly maintained shrubs and hedges, and twin marble fountains
on either side of the slate walkway that led up to the hotel's front door. Noah stopped at one of the
fountains, sipping some of the clean water from it and welcoming the refreshing change from the sweet
health drinks. As Noah opened the door of the hotel, everything appeared normal. The radio was silent,
he saw nothing moving nor any signs of life save the wet footprints stretching out and leading the way.
His shoes sloshed noisily, as he walked through the hotel's first floor. The footsteps led down a set of stairs
to the basement floor, turning the corner of the hallway and stopping at a small metal door. 'Sports Bar'
was the title etched on the door's rasied wooden tile, and Noah made sure the shotgun was ready as he opened
the door slowly. Inside was more ordinary scenery, at least for a bar. The counter formed a large L shape at one side
of the room. the other side being full of tables with chairs placed upside down on them. Soft jazz was playing
on a radio, and in the middle of it all sitting on a barstool with a glass of red wine set in front of him was a man.
A tall man, taller than Noah by at least a full twelve inches. He wasn't exactly thin, but in no way was he overwight
either. Noah could only say that he was a little chubby, not muscual or fit but still shy of having the appearance of
a complete slob. His black and beady eyes peered at Noah from over his mustache, thin and a little curly at the ends.
His hair was matted down and all combed to the front, giving him a very weasely apparance. His face held many wrinkles
and he wore an old, victorian style shirt with puffed sleeves, half buttoned and tucked into khaki pants. The most horrible taste in dress
Noah could have imagined a person having. His tan loafers completed the look, as the man took his feet from the stool beside him
where they had been resting. The man smiled invitingly at Noah, pushing the barstool out a little and gesturing for Noah to sit.
Noah didn't, and stayed standing in his spot near the door. He wanted a quick exit to be available if this man was who
he thought it might be. "Sit, Noah. You've nothing to fear here, this place is perfectly safe." The man assured him
in a jolly voice, as if he were trying to sell Noah on buying the place or something. "I haven't seen one damn safe place since
I came to this town." Noah answered back sharply, leaning against the door. The man clapped briefly, chuckling with his
high, nasal voice as he nodded and grinned. Noah almost laughed with him, just because the man's appearnce and mannerisms
were so outlandish. He was like a cartoon character, Dirk Dastardly came to Noah's mind almost immeidately.
"Who are you?" Noah asked boldly, watching the man as well as everything in the room very carefully.
"I am Reginald, Reginald Laporte at your service young Noah. We have much to talk about, you and I."
The man replied willingly, leaning over the bar and reaching
down under it with one hand. Noah pointed the shotgun, thinking Reginald was going for some hidden weapon. His nasally,
high pitched laughter rose again as his hand came back with an empty glass to show Noah. He filled it with beer from a pitcher
beside him, and slid the glass down the bar to Noah who eyed it cautiously as it came towards him. A soon as it was close
Noah slapepd the glass away rather crazily, and kicked the offered barstool across the room. Reginald cringed slightly,
yelping as Noah stood in front of him like a madman ready to kill. "Not really in a talking mood, Reggie." Noah spat back,
half out of his mind for some strange reason. "I'm in much more of a stand here and listen while you tell me what you're doing here,
kind of mood. " Reginald nooded agrreably, still sporting that car salesman grin. Noah had no idea why he'd burst out like that,
but it had felt pretty good. Perhaps this town was finally starting to get to him, especially after that little bathroom scene and
coming very close to a free circumcision it was only to be expected. He was already sick of Reginald's lackadasial way of
talking, as if the man had no clue how crazy the rest of the town was or what was going on in it. "Very well." Reginald answered
reluctantly as he stood up. Noah kept an eye on him, as he walked around the bar and to the door Noah had come in
just a few moments ago. Reginald opened it, stepping through into a cushy hotel room. He held the door as Noah followed
him, bewildered by the sudden change. Reginald took his seat at the room's desk, opening the drawers and sifting through
the neatly organized contents. "I imagine you've already met my neice, I trust she has been at least some help to you?"
Reginald asked suddenly, throwing Noah completely off. "She's your neice?" Noah blurted out, eyes widening.
Noah's mind replayed all Estelle had said about her family being part of some cult, and that they were somehow behind
all of this stuff happening in Silent HIll. But did Reginald know he was at least that well informed? Noah deiced it would
be best to play a little dumb, and see what Reginald knew before he told the tall man anything.
"Yes she is, the bothersome little thing." Reginald continued, finally removing his hand from the desk and bringing a broken sort
of half circle with it. "I trust she was able to keep you from getting too banged up on your way here, can't have you dying
just yet you know." Noah nodded stupidly, as Reginald confirmed part of what Estelle had said. "She sures knows her way
around this place.." Noah replied, hoping that Reginald could be fooled just a little longer. "Yes she certainly does at that, amazing
gift that girl's got, simply amazing." Reginald agreed whimsically, holding the broken looking half circle out to Noah.
Noah eyed it and Reginald suspiciously, watching the mustached stranger's every move as he slowly stepped close enough
to take the object from his hand. Noah held it in his palm, looking quizzically at it. The greater part of it was black, with
three small circles surrounded by a larger cirlce and arcahic writhings. Though the broken item had only half the design,
seeming to have been seperated from his other half directly in the middle.
The edge of it had no sharpness or raggedness to it, suggesting it had been broken intentionally with some kind of tool.
"I wonder if you could perhaps tell me what that is your holding there." Reginald questioned, striking a match and holding it to
an old corncobb pipe. Noah strained to recall, as the trinket brought back flashes of memories he hadn't even been aware of.
He'd seen in before, the other half perhaps after it had been broken. He couldn't remember anymore than that, the
memories were hazy and dark, as if he were wandering in a cave with no flashlight. Reginald was watching Noah's
reaction intensely, seeming excited as Noah stared at the broken item. "I can't remember..." Noah said at last,
handing the object back to Reginald. "I suspect that you will, in time." Reginald assured him, taking the object back and
placing it in the desk drawer. Their eyes met as the object changed hands, and Noah saw something deviuosly evil within the
tall man. "So then, why don't you tell me what it is already?" Noah demanded, suddenly on the top of his guard.
Reginald smiled knowingly at him, blowing a ring of smoke as his pipe filled the room with the smell of tobacco.
"Indeed, you're much smarter than one might think at first glance." Reginald complimented, crossing his legs as he turned
to face Noah. "That, Noah my boy is what is referred to as the halo of the sun, or the mark of god according to many local
religions my own included. This particular artifact is very very old, and very..Powerful." Reginald spoke the last word
as if it were the main focus of his speech, Noah understood a little bit more now. The religious cults around here
were trying to gain some kind of power from the broken stone and somehow they had mistakenly tied it all in with
him. "Go on." Noah insisted, still wary of the shady man as he continued his history lesson.
"Several hundred years ago Noah, this artifact was the ultimate sign of rulership over the religious cults. In other words,
this stone was believed to be delivered by god to the one whom she chose as her earthly liason. Whoever posessed it
was as blessed by the old spirits of this town as god herself, and their word was most certain to become the new law.
However, it is said that a unworthy came to possess this great power, and the death and suffering he wrought with the
legions of hell at his command forced god to descend to Earth and cleanse his hateful wickedness. She cleaved the stone
in twine, and there in the ruins of the town it stayed for many years until it was unearthed by my great grandfather."
Reginald gazed proudly at Noah, as if he expected him to be shocked. Noah only smirked, scratching his head.
"Family heirloom, then?" Noah said sarcastically, producing a scowl on Reginald's hairy face.
"More than you could comprehend, boy." Reginald returned, smoking from his pipe as he lectured.
"You see for three generations now my family has posessed one half of this stone, bringing great power to our
bloodline. As such we have a certain power of persuation over the demons of this town still honoring this ancient
symbol of their god. And for all that time my family has sought the other half, and total control over Silent HIll
and all it's secrets. I myself have done much research into the alternate world, I'm sure you know of what I speak."
Noah nodded straight faced, not taking any of it too seriously. Reginald nodded back, smirking as he talked on.
"It's truly a wonder, that place. It has it own set of rules and laws that revolve around the person traveling through it
as I'm sure you've experienced yourself by now. But as long as I hold this stone, I can bend those rules or even break them."
Noah nodded, stifling a yawn. "Ok Reggie, that's real interesting and all but I just want to know what all this has to do with me.
I was never part of any cult, I'm just some guy who used to live here. But a lot of people used to live here, so why me?"
Reginald shook his finger at Noah, laughing that high pitched giggle again as he smoothed his mustache over with his finger.
"Noah, you disapoint me." he said sternly, the smartass grin still on his face. "It's true many people have lived here, but
you alone were the holder of the other half of this stone, and it's also you that befriended James Sunderland. He was
the only part of this town I couldn't control with the stone's power. His history with you has put him beyond the power
I once had over him. He's rampant now Noah, and thanks to your heroic efforts he won't stop until you are dead."
Noah gritteed his teeth in rage, raising the shotgun. "But you set that up!" Noah shouted at Reginald, wanting to pull the trigger
so badly that it hurt. Reginald laughed again, enraging Noah even further. "Yes, I did didn't I? But of course I couldn't leave it
up to my neice, little Estelle has grown up to be such a rebellious thing you see." Noah brought the shotgun across Reginald's
head, hitting him hard enough to draw blood. "Oh yes, kill me and you'll never get out of here Noah." Reginald said spitefully,
removing a handkerchief from his pocket and holding it to his head. "I never had any fucking stone you old bastard, you have got
the wrong guy!" Noah shouted again, still holding the shotgun on the elder man. "Oh no, there's no mistake about it Noah."
Reginald argued, breathing hard as he sat on the building anger Noah insipired within him. "I still remember it well, the day
Estelle's mother called me on the phone and told me that her daughter had brought the other half of the stone home with her.
Some kind little boy had given it to her as a token of friendship. It was quite an extravagant gift for a 6 year old Noah,
I really must thank you." Noah sat down on the bed as memories suddenly came back to him. It was impossible, there was
no way in hell...But as Noah's head began to pound he started to rememeber that day himself, and could only stare at
Reginald as the man looked into his eyes and nodded. "And this Noah, is where the plot thickens." Reginald said
victoriously, leaning closer as air raid sirens rang out in the distance.