It seems I can never write a non-romantic story, even when it comes to Silent Hill. Oh, well.
Due to the fact that I intend this story to be rather lengthy, it will not begin in Silent Hill, so please don't read the first chapter and write a review such as "omg you suck, what does this have to do with Silent Hill?" Patience is a virtue.
I was inspired for this story by a total of three things: Silent Hill, The Notebook (both film and novel), and Evanescence's song, "Anywhere" from their Origin album. A strange mix, I'll admit, but the ideas in my head are flowing together very well.
I do not promise anything when it comes to this story -- I can't even promise that I'll get past the third chapter. Those who are familiar with my work know that I start on something full-speed, and then quickly drop it to move onto something else. Easily distracted, yes.
Also, I do not own nor do I claim any affiliation with Silent Hill, Konami, or Sony. Further, I do not own or claim any affiliation with Nicholas Sparks, New Line Cinema, or the creators of the film The Notebook. And finally, I do not own or claim any affiliation with Evanescence or Wind-up Records. All companies and affiliates mentioned were used simply for inspiration.
Onto the story.
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I n n o c e n c e
"Never again." Her mother's words echoed in Lilly's head as she reached to her nightstand, taking hold of a silver picture frame, holding it to her face. Smiling back at her from behind the glass were her mother and herself, two summers ago when they'd visited a national park. They'd asked the tour guide to take the photo for them, as of course, it had only been the two of them. For years, it had only been the two of them - just Lilly and her mother - since she was six years old, after her father left them in that tiny apartment that she could barely even visualize anymore, seeming to forget a piece of it each time she brought it back to memory. She'd been so young then, and hadn't been able to understand the concept of her mommy and daddy fighting, let alone the concept of their marriage ending. All she could remember from that night was watching her father grab his coat and head for the door, and as he'd turned the handle, she'd quietly asked if he was going out for ice cream, and if he'd bring some back for her. He didn't respond .. but turned his head to look at her through the dark -- they hadn't paid the bill that month -- and to this day, she swore he smiled at her. Just a smile in the dark from her father before he was gone. That was all she could remember of him, as she'd never seen him after.
"Do you understand, Lillian? I can't let you see him anymore, you're in way over your head." The rage she'd expected to hear in her mother's voice had been completely absent; she'd sounded reluctant, as if she were sorry to be saying what she'd called Lilly into the living room to say. "I know you care about him, but don't you see all the risks you're taking?" And, oddly enough, her mother hadn't been talking about getting pregnant or contracting some kind of disease like most mothers would have. Rather, she was more concerned about Lilly being abandoned, just as her father had done. After all, how serious could a nineteen year-old boy's intentions really be for a seventeen year-old high school senior? Certainly he wasn't planning on proposing marriage, and even if he were, it wasn't as if he'd follow through - he'd find some other girl to be interested in when she'd least expect it and leave her all alone, walking out the door without a word, just like her father.
Those were her mother's beliefs. The loss of her husband had made a cynic out of the woman, paranoid and stone-hearted. Lilly couldn't even remember the last time her mother had been out on a date, and she certainly had never heard her mother talk of being in love with someone. It was as though all the love in her heart had walked out with the man she'd married, and just as impossible to get back again. Though Lilly didn't know, her mother had received a single letter from him a year after he'd left, wishing her the best of luck in life and hoping she'd grow to forgive him, but that he no longer wished to be associated with her or their daughter in any way. He'd requested that she revert to her maiden name and do the same for Lilly as well, and he'd be changing his name too, so they wouldn't ever be able to find him. The excuse had been that it would hurt too much for any of them to ever come in contact again ..
Though she was still hurt by her father's disappearance, Lilly couldn't forgive her mother's pessimistic attitude towards her relationship with Samuel. It wasn't as though she was the same person as her mother, and Sam certainly wasn't the same person as her father - though, in actuality, she couldn't know if that were true, as she couldn't remember her father's personality any better than she could remember his voice. Still, she believed within the deepest regions of her heart that Sam's intentions were genuine and that he was going to marry her; her mother didn't know, but he'd already given her a ring which she wore on a chain, tucked under the collar of her shirt during the day, and she slipped it off every night and wore it on her finger while she slept. It had been only a month since he'd given her the small silver band, but it seemed to symbolize each of the eighteen months they'd spent together, right up to now, when her mother was more concerned than ever that they were getting too serious. The intensity of the relationship had always mildly concerned her, but with Lilly's confession that they'd lost their virginity to one another just a week ago, she'd promptly decided that it was time to end the relationship between Sam and her daughter.
With a deep breath, Lilly slowly lowered the picture frame to the suitcase that lay open upon her bed, about to set it atop the folded clothes that she'd packed just moments before. She placed it down, and reached forward to close the case before pausing, staring past the glass at her and her mother's smiling faces. It wasn't her mother's fault .. any woman who'd lost the father of her child in such a way would naturally be protective and cautious. But with the teenage years came a rebellious nature, and with that nature, a hint of bitterness, and Lilly was tempted to grab the frame and set it back upon the nightstand. Yet knowing herself, such impulsivity wouldn't benefit her (she was being impulsive enough as it was), as she knew there would be a night when she'd want to look upon her mother's face as homesickness would gradually take hold. Before she could remind herself of the anger at her mother, she quickly shut and fastened the suitcase, letting the picture remain where it lie. After all, it wasn't as though she wanted to forget her mother.
- - -
Samuel ran the rag held within his hand over the engine of the old Caprice and shut the hood, having just checked the oil and general condition of the vehicle's innards. He'd had the car since he turned sixteen, and it certainly wasn't anything lovely to look at, let alone drive. With busted air conditioning, windshield wipers and tape player, numerous dents and scratches and squeaky breaks, the car looked ready to hit the junkyard. But Sam didn't have the money to get a new car, what with his income as a mechanic being his only means of support. All he was able to afford was his apartment, a few groceries a week and minimal upkeep for his car, which all had become more neglected as the time went on, and all because of Lilly. Not that he minded, of course, as he had always been very careful with what money he did have. But ever since their relationship began, he hadn't been able to resist the urge to buy her whatever he could afford, even though she always complained and told him not to spend another cent on her. He supposed that was part of the reason he loved spending money on her; she didn't expect it from him, as many girls often did, and most importantly, it didn't seem to matter to her if he couldn't pay for meals or fancy presents. And though she resisted his generosity, he could tell that she liked everything he happened to get for her. So no matter how much she lectured him about spending money on her, he did it because he knew it made her feel special.
As he made his way around the car, opening the driver's side door to toss the oil rag on the floor of the backseat, he took a glance up at the moon. Many nights, he and Lilly had come out to the lake to watch the night sky, marveling at the moon or counting the stars together, never able to get them all. It had been at that lakeside where they'd slept together for the first time just a little less than a week before, right under the same stars they'd looked upon so many times before. Now that night seemed so far away, what with all the changes that had taken place. He hadn't seen Lilly since the morning after their lovemaking, when she'd told him of her mother's decree that they could no longer see one another. Since then, he'd been working overtime everyday to save money for the voyage they'd agreed to make together - their escape.
A pair of headlights turned into the clearing off from the woods' dirt path where he'd parked, shining into his dark blue eyes as he peered at the vehicle, already knowing exactly who it was. The engine didn't cut off, but the passenger door opened, and out stepped Lilly. He stepped to her side as she opened the back door, holding it open for her as she pulled her suitcase from the backseat, noticing the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
Taking the suitcase from her, he carried it to his Caprice, opening the trunk to settle it inside as Lilly closed the back door of the running car and slipped back into the front passenger seat to give the driver a brief hug. It was their mutual friend, Hannah, who'd agreed to cooperate with the pair; she'd told Lilly's mother that she wanted Lilly to spend the night so she could drive her out to meet Sam, and the two would be off to wherever it was they were going. Hannah didn't think it was fair that the two couldn't be together, and she loved Lilly like a sister, so it was only natural that she'd decided to help when they'd told her of their plans.
"You be careful," Hannah said as she embraced her friend, feeling as if, for some reason, it would be the last time she'd ever see her. "Be sure to write me. You and Sam both."
"We will," Lilly sobbed into the girl's shoulder, then, giving a quick kiss to the girl's cheek, she scrambled out of the car, closing the door and walking over to Sam. He waved to their friend as she quickly backed out of the clearing, speeding back out to the main road, and she returned the wave and gave a short, blunt honk of the horn.
Silently, Sam opened the passenger door for Lilly and she settled into the seat, allowing him to close the door behind her. She watching him through moist eyes as he rounded the car, getting in the driver's side and sticking the keys into the ignition. But before he gave them a turn, he looked over at her, bringing his hand to rest gently at the back of her neck. "We don't have to do this, Lilly," he said softly. "If you want to stay, we'll stay. You'll be eighteen in eleven months; we can wait that long." Concern always filled him when they spoke of running away together, as he knew how much loyalty Lilly felt toward her mother. It had just been the two of them, after all, and leaving her mother alone was something she really didn't want to do, and would probably feel guilty for doing for the rest of her life. In fact, Sam had been surprised how insistent she'd been about the whole thing, constantly assuring him that it was what she wanted, that she needed to be with him and no one, not even her mother, would get in the way. Now, though, she was showing the emotions he'd always known were there, all the guilt and pain at the thought of leaving her mother.
Shaking her head, Lilly looked over at him, wiping a tear from her left eye as she gave a smile. "I made my decision, and it's not going to change, no matter what you say." Placing her hand over his, she gave his fingers a little squeeze. "Let's get going."
They looked at each other for a long while then, as if reliving their time together within their minds and, for the millionth time in a week, weighing the consequences of the actions they were about to take. Their lives would be almost unrecognizable even to them in a matter of days, perhaps even hours. They would be free.
Smiling softly and leaning forward to give her a kiss on the forehead, Sam jerked the key, starting up the engine, and they turned onto the main road.