Dark Nights, Black Days
By: diddly day
A/N: No sex scenes, so don't get too excited. There are some heavy Eileen/Henry scenes, some snogging. So don't read if you don't want to read that. You have been warned.
Chapter two:
She wasn't alone. There was someone next to her. Watching her. Their presence hovering over her like a shadow. Flashes of a filthy man with a stature so large, she had to arch her neck just to make out the features on his bloodstained face, floated through her mind. She could still taste the coppery flavor in her throat. The scent of him as he breathed inches away from her face. His rough hands gripping her throat. Feeling the cold steel carving into her flesh.
Watching her.
Her skin stung, and her bones ached. Her eye felt as though it were about to explode. The faint hint of blood on her tongue. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to move. Was she dead? She could still feel her arms and legs, even though she wished she couldn't . The pain was almost too much for her to bear. And still, she could feel eyes on her body.
Moving her hands to over her face, she tried to open up her eyes, but found the cool pang in her left eye impossible. She groaned and struggled to sit up. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest. Slowly she stretched, moving carefully as too not make her situation any worse than it all ready was. She gasped when she felt a warm hand touch her back.
Another flash of the man. His hands grasping her wrists so hard that her fingers turned to snow. Tossing her through the air like she was a bundle of sticks. Smashing her face into her mirror. Her own shrieks of fear and woe echoing in her mind. Struggling with every last once of strength she had. Then, darkness.
She screeched in panic and pulled away from the palm that was now moving up to her shoulder. Pulling herself closer to the wall, she had to get away. She had to live. Her lungs burning with her shrills, arms tenderly circled her. Not harsh like they had been before. Her breathing was beginning to fade with her cries. And through them all, she could feel his breath on her cheek.
"Eileen!" His arms retreated slowly, and again fell to her sore back. "Eileen! Relax!" She knew that voice. It was so warm and familiar, she let a few tears fall from her eyes.
She stopped her sobs while struggling to prop herself up in a comfortable position. Timidly, for afraid that she would see her worst nightmare standing over her, she glanced over her shoulder. A few strands of hair blocked his image at first, but she recognized him.
"Y- You. . . You're Henry?" she choked. She noticed that her left hand was bandaged up. Bringing her free hand up to her face, she wiped at her cheeks. "From next-door?"
The man nodded and stared down at her. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days. His ragged hair fell into his dark, mysterious eyes. And his white shirt was stained with dark crimson. He had tan skin that seemed to glow, despite of the dim circles that surrounded his eyes. He blinked and watched her, an obscure expression smeared on his young face. There was a shadow of happiness in his features, he was glad to see her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
For the last five days she hadn't seen or heard of him. Yes, she didn't know him that well, but that odd noise that came from his room made her worried and afraid of what the super had said to her. Henry stared back at her. His countenance turned dark and blank at the same time. Shaking his head slightly, he closed his eyes as he tried to focus.
"I. . . I don't . . .I don't know where to start." His hands were shaking and his voice seemed to fade. "There was this strange hole in my room," he began. Then he stopped and looked at her. Perhaps he was trying to see if she was buying it. A hole? What did that have to do with anything? She didn't understand what he was saying.
"So?" she eyed him up and down. This was utter bullshit. Henry's eyes flashed in anxiety. He wiped his hands on his jeans and continued.
"It led me to these weird other worlds. I saw people getting killed." He frowned when those words left his lips. He pointed his finger at her. For some odd reason, his action made anger flare up inside her. "And I saw you get attacked too."
She waited to see if he was finished. When he didn't say anything else, she knew that he was. He was obviously tricking her. And what an awful thing to do to her. Especially after all that she had gone through. He was such an ass and she didn't want anything to do with him. Rubbing her eyes with her hand, Eileen turned to face him.
"What are you talking about?" she spoke as she glared at him. "I'm supposed to believe that?" she spat.
Henry's face grimaced. His mouth tugged down in a frown. He looked hurt. Taking a step towards her, he held his hands out before her. She shrank away from him, but only a little bit.
"But it's true!" he pleaded softly. "And there was a kid with you. . ." he trailed off, giving up that he could convince her.
Another memory shot into her head. A sweet little boy stood over her. The man stopped as soon as he saw the boy. The child had thrown himself over Eileen's bloody body. He had shouted at the stranger, telling him that he wouldn't let him hurt her. And he shouted something else about a mommy. . .
She brought her eyes back to Henry who was now staring at the door with worry. As if he were expecting something to jump in the room and get him. Her gaze traveled over his body until it rested on the axe that he held in his right hand. The rust on it match of the rust in her room. He knew. He knew of the boy and the man who had hurt her. And for some reason, he was here. With her.
All the anger that she had felt towards him vanished. Respect flowed in its place. Staring at his humble appearance, gratitude filled her heart. He had obviously been here to find her. And by the looks of it, he had gone to great lengths to get her back. The whiskers on his face matched the dark brown of his hair, and his body slouched with exhaustion. His eyelids wilted, she noted, that he seemed about ready to fall asleep standing up.
"I'm sorry," she uttered. Henry turned his gaze back at her. Surprise overtaking his rugged face. "I remember now," her words were so soft, she wondered if he had heard her alt all. "I was getting ready to go over to a friends party. That boy protected me from the man in the coat." She frowned, although it hurt to do so.
Still ashamed of how she had felt about him before, she hid her face from him. He was watching her again, it didn't remind her of the man who had hurt her. Glancing back at him, she suspected him to be upset, but for some reason, she knew he wasn't angry. Quite the contrary, he looked relieved.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Her throat tightened, and a she felt a faint stinging in her eye. Her lips trembled and her chin quivered. "I guess there's something wrong with me." She was unaware that she was hunching her shoulders in. A sudden feeling of dread overtook her and she felt deathly frightened. "I just feel so scared."
She almost lost it again. Clenching her jaw to try and keep the tears from flowing down her face, she lifted up her head and checked the room around her.
"This place, what is it anyway?" Henry followed her movements. It looked like a hospital, although, hospitals were never dead like this. She was sure Freddy would sneak into her room and murder her like he did in the movies.
"Uh," he began, "I don't know either." He stared at her once more. "But I do know, if you get killed here, you die in the real world too."
Real world? So then this was a nightmare. And the two of them were stuck right in the middle of it. "Anyway," he continued, "the only way out of here is through that hole."
"The same hole that was in your room?"
He nodded. She pondered her options for a minute. She didn't know what else she could do. Enter a mysterious hole and perhaps die, or stay here and wait to be killed. Well, she preferred the fist idea. Go through the hole, and see what come out. Looking at his axe one last time, Eileen forced herself to smile.
"Okay. Okay." She reached out for him. As soon as she felt his hot skin on hers, everything was safe. He took her hand softly, ignoring the bloodstains that made her fingers stick together."Take me with you."
When she was finally able to stand, his palm found its way to her hip. She swayed a bit, but his arm caught her waist before she tumbled over. She thanked him with a gentle smile that he did not return. Instead, he led her carefully out of the room and the two of them steadily paced down the hospital corridor.
She didn't have time to enjoy the safe feeling that he gave her, for something stopped them. Henry raised his axe and surveyed the room closely. Nothing could be seen, however, it was there. Something dashed out at them and Henry snapped his body in that direction. But before he could deliver a blow, he fell to his knees in pain. Clutching his hands over his eyes, he moaned in horror. The demon moved closer to him, so close that Eileen was sure they had gone to hell.
"Henry!" she shrieked. "Henry get up!"
His face arose from his fists. And what she saw made her scream in silent horror. Blood trickled its way down his face from his eyes. As though he were crying, he let out a low wail. More dark crimson fell from his mouth. The axe landed on the floor with a thud, and Eileen backed away in horror. His black tongue lurched out of his mouth, and his red eyes rolled back in his skull.
Head jerking from side to side rapidly, the joints in his arms became detached as his body was lifted off the ground. Eileen's heel broke and she tumbled backwards onto the floor.
"No," she muttered. The thing that was once Henry Townshend crept closer to her.
No.
Eileen. . .
No.
Eileen. . .
Everything was red.
I I I
"Eileen!" someone was shouting her name as her body wrenched in surprise.
A soft hum calmed her and a green glow hurt her eyes. It took her a few seconds to realize that she was moving. The smooth seat vibrated her back as she found herself staring out of her window at darkness. Raindrops that were on the glass shadowed and scattered across her skin.
"Eileen. Wake up!" It was Henry. His eyes were darting from the road and back to her as he drove their car through the misty woods. He looked concerned and a little frightened, however, his face slackened when she saw that she was no longer sleeping. She straightened her body and stretched her muscles that were stiff with sleep
The image of Henry from her dream was still floating behind her eyes. She could see his putrid face turning black. It made her sick and she tried not to stare too long at him, for fear that me might still resemble that terrible ghost that she could see in her nightmares. But when he spoke, his voice was soft and tender.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she mumbled. Placing a hand over her eyes, he pinched the bridge of her nose to relieve the pressure in her brain. It didn't work. "Yeah I'm fine."
She glanced back at Henry who's mouth was turned down in a woeful grimace. His expression made her forget the troubles of her dream.
Letting his eyes stay on her for a few more moments, he didn't say anything as he applied the breaks and began to pull off the road. Eileen opened her mouth to question him, but no sound came out. Shifting into gear, he shut off the engine. The car went dark, and the calming green gleam vanished. Silence imbued around them and she could hear her own heart beat with every raindrop that tapped the roof of their car. She peered at Henry who stayed wordless for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes fixed on the heater just above Eileen's leg. His steady breathing made her strangely nervous.
"Henry?" her voice was soothing. At least that's how she wanted to make it sound. "Henry, what's wrong?" He still didn't answer her. He just continued to stare at the instruments in the car. "Henry?" she asked again. Her fingers traveled over the seat and grazed the tips of his. He made no motion.
"I'm worried. . ." he continued to move his lips, but no sound came out. He then grunted to clear his throat and tried again. "I'm worried about you," his voice was stronger.
"Why?" This time, he didn't try to answer her at all. Eileen sensed what it was about though. Carefully, she unbuckled her seatbelt and slid closer to him. She put her small arm around his shoulder and rubbed his back. "They're just dreams. Dreams can't hurt anyone."
Even though it was a Friday night, even though they were driving through Silent Hill woods to have a relaxing weekend away together, Henry couldn't stop worrying. She was beginning to fear that this town was having a negative effect on him.
"Dreams are a lot more powerful than you think, Eileen." He did not look at her.
It was hard to tell in the dark, but she was sure that she saw his nostrils twitch and his eyes glaze over. Sliding her hand from his back, she advanced her nails into his hair. She loved his hair. So soft, so smooth. It calmed her to touch him. Running his locks between her fingers, she brought her mouth close to his ear.
She didn't say anything. She just continued to hover over him, breathing. The truth was, she didn't know what to say. Could she comfort him? Could she tell him everything would be fine if she, herself, couldn't answer that question? There was nothing she could utter that would help him feel more at ease. Or, perhaps, she wouldn't have to say anything. . .
Seductively, she tilted her head and placed her lips on his temple. She could smell his hair as she closed her eyes and breathed him in. Dropping slowly, she kissed the patch of skin next to his ear. With her fingers, she snaked them over his leg while trailing her mouth down to his neck. She felt Henry inhale as she crept her hand over and undid his seatbelt. It retracted to his side of the door, but since Eileen's fingers were now lurking their way over his chest, Henry didn't notice.
"What are you doing?" he muttered. His flesh between her lips told him, but he wanted to hear her voice.
She coaxed her mouth closer to his.
"This," she whispered.
Kissing the corner of his mouth, he turned his head slightly towards her. His lips parted ever so slightly. She placed her hand between his neck and jaw and gazed at him. His chest heaving under her arm, he deeply searched her face with his eyes..
The rain was coming down harder now. Splattering rougher on the roof. Tipping her head, she let her gentle lips nipped softy at his. Slowly twisting their lips, Henry opened his mouth to accept hers. He was shaking, the air around them had grown cold. She could feel his hands coil around her hips. A warm explosion erupted in her chest and spread throughout her body as he deepened the kiss. His finger danced up her back as hers lingered down his stomach, lightly grasping at his belt that hung around his waste.
"You don't want to save it for the hotel?" he asked between kisses.
"No."
She closed her eyes as she felt his mouth trace her jaw, and then her throat. Seizing his hair, she tilted her head aside to give him more access. His eyelids fluttered lightly against her skin and she shivered. He was trembling as well, but something was different.
"You don't need to be nervous," she smiled at him. "This isn't our first time." Henry regarded her with innocent eyes. Before he embarked to kiss her once more he mumbled something.
"It always feels like the first time."
That sentence stayed in her brain as she was rushed away into bliss.
They hadn't acted like this for a while. Sometimes, Henry was so tired that he stumbled through the door, barley able to make it to the couch before he passed out. She always suspected that he carried a tremendously dark burden. However, she never asked what it was. Never, for in fear that she might unlock something she didn't want to know.
It hadn't always been that way. She remembered how they used to make love every night after they were married. Recalling the day she moved into his apartment, fresh off their honeymoon, he had taken her right there. In their new apartment with no furniture. The cardboard boxes witnessing their unspeakable passion. It had been so heavy, that the neighbors often complained of lack of sleep.
But like every marriage, it died down. They still loved each other. Even more so than when they couldn't keep stop being together. And they still needed each other. Nonetheless, with conflicting schedules, and both of them trying hard to adjust to married life, it was often hard for both of them to find one moments peace together. The fights had been the worst. Eileen never knew that someone she loved so deeply could hurt her so much. True, Henry never, ever shouted at her. Even so, every once in a while, fights would occur about his lack of opening up. A few of those terrible arguments had resulted in her spending the night on the couch
Of course, that was only sometimes. He was a wonderful man. And when she would lie next to him at night, his arms would embrace her in such a way that made her adore him so much that she felt truly blessed. She had no idea why he loved her so much. She didn't think she wanted to know. But she had always sensed that he had strongly cared for her.
Not at first. When he was nothing more than her next-door-neighbor, they would often exchange smiles or say hello every now and then. That was all. Nothing big. She had thought he was hansom, but wrote him off as another arrogant bastard who wasn't worth her time. It wasn't until that day in the hospital that she realized how shy he was. And two weeks later, she realized how incredibly sweet he was.
But what made her fall in love with him. . .was how sincere he was.
He never told her something if he didn't mean it. It was so refreshing, Eileen had fallen before she even had enough time to realize that she had tripped. She knew he was the one. Just a single smile from him could make her day. When she could make him smile, it was honest, and she knew she had earned it.
And when he kissed her like this. Like he was now, she would dissolve and would be swept away in a rush of emotions that streamed through her body. One thing she loved most of all, was the fact that she could make Henry lose all control. He would become drugged with excitement, so much that he sometime couldn't remember things he had whispered to her while wrapped in each other's arms during the night.
Henry was getting close to that state now. His lips grazed her shoulder, kissing her through her black T-shirt. Shifting himself so he could pull her tightly next to him, he brushed his hand over her bare back. Her heart pumped blood throughout her body as her breathing quickened. The taste of his skin. The hot sensation of his lips over hers Eileen's eyes drifted open so she could see him.
Something darted past Henry's window in the dark.
It was difficult to focus with him caressing her body, at any rate, Eileen was sure she saw a little boy outside in the woods through the sheets of rain. She lifted her mouth away from his and stared out the window in shock.
"Oh my. . ." she couldn't finish. What the hell was a little boy doing out here so late? Her skin went numb, she could not feel Henry warm hands. Where had she seen that kid before? She squinted to see if he was still there. He was gone.
"What?" Henry gasped. Her eyes found his face.
His face was flushed and his chest heaved against hers in fervor. Lips red and swollen, his bangs fell into his eyes and stuck to his skin because of the heat they had created. She saw his throat expand as he gulped, blinked, and turned his head to see what she was looking at.
"I saw someone." Eileen was then aware that she was in Henry's lap, sliding off, she peered through the window.
"Huh?" The glass was slightly fogged up. Putting his hand out, he swiped away at the glass and strained to see what she was talking about.
"He shouldn't be out here all alone," she whispered. "He could get hurt." It was then that she felt Henry's strong hand grip her arm.
"Eileen, there's no one outside." She sat back in her seat and gaped at her husband.
"Henry!" she scolded. "I saw a little boy! He was all by himself. What if he was injured? What if he got lost from his parents while camping!" He held up his hands and shushed her.
"You can't camp in these woods. It's not allowed. It was probably your eyes playing ticks on you," he stated calmly. She hushed at his words and pondered what he had said for a minute.
It made sense. After all, she was under a lot of stress lately. Could she be seeing things? But what if he was wrong? What if there was a little boy? Lost? Alone? Eileen shook her head and grabbed her coat. Pulling the hood up over her head, she ignored Henry's shouts and protests as she slipped out the door.
Crossing the dirt road, Eileen tried to not pay attention to the cold chill she felt. Her clothes were clinging to her skin before she had even entered the woods. Barely, she could hear Henry shouting at her through his window before she disappeared into the darkness.
Fumbling with her coat, she found the flashlight that she kept in her pocket at all times. Bringing the beam up, she stared through the black trees. The rain coming down so fast that the ray reflected, lighting the sheets that drenched her.
This is stupid, She thought. You're going to get yourself killed.
But she had to know.
Dirt mixed with water slushed under her feet. The faint sound of leaves being crunched made her stop in her tracks. She squinted again, laboring to see any mysterious movements. Her body was shaking now. There was something in the air. So close that she could taste it. Something disturbing. Something evil.
She couldn't see her car anymore. However, she had come to far to retreat. Stepping forward, her cold, sweaty hand clutched the freezing steel of her flashlight. The faint mist of her breath surrounded her as she continued. The rain was so loud. The ground was soft and she almost lost her balance once or twice.
There was no sign of the mystical child. Steam rose around her, making her feel extremely isolated. Every bone in her body ached from the cold. She wanted to turn back, she wanted to leave. But she didn't. There had to be something. And for some reason, this area looked so familiar to her.
Searching everything that was around her, Eileen scanned her surrounding with her light. Almost turning back, she stopped when she noticed a old steel gate up ahead. Carefully walking towards it, she observed a rock sitting just beside the gate. There was writing on it.
The letters were in a language that she could hardly read. Red lines faded in the rock. Twisting and turning, not making any sense. Bending down to examine it more solidly, she stared at it, concentrating on her college lectures. Before she was aware, she remembered the old writing and translations drifting through her mind. Focusing back on the rock, she read it.
I hate him. . .
It was all she could read. The rest was so decayed that it would take a professional archeologist to figure out what the hell the it said. Standing up, she looked at the gate.
I hate him. . .
It was so small. Hardly meant anything. So why did those little words bother her so much?
A abrupt feeling of terror seized her. Her lugs were beginning to burn from the dampness. Even so, something was calling her through that gate. Like a finger beckoning her deeper into the woods, she couldn't turn away. The curse that was raging from these woods was suffocating. She had to get out. She needed to get out.
A gust of wind swept beside her. Calling her name. A strong grumbling rose from the earth. Like demon lurking forward, there was something behind her. Her legs were frozen to the ground, Eileen wondered what was worse. Running through the gates of hell? Or letting the devil get to her first?
It was getting closer. She shut her eyes. Wishing it would go away. No it was getting nearer.
And then it touched her.
Unaware that she had been holding her breath, she exhaled. Turning around, she faced the unseen being who stood above her.
A long coat flowed over his slim body. A hood dangling over his face. Was it the Grim Reaper coming to take her away? Rain fell from his cloak and onto the ground. She was sure that if she looked into his eyes, she would turn to stone. He rose over her. Blackness masking his face. Stepping slowly towards her, Eileen felt that death was near.
She wanted to let go of her bladder, but was too scared too move a muscle. Too afraid to breathe. Her body quaked as the thing came closer. Reaching out Its hand, It grabbed her forearm and she jerked, blackness starting to take over her vision. Tilting Its head up, she was sure to see the eyes of a demon.
"Eileen!" her husband shouted at her. He was shaking as he held her arm in his grasp. Every fiber of her being relaxed as she stared not into the eyes of Satan, but of Henry. "Eileen! Thank heavens! Come back to the car!" he shouted above the wind.
Still recovering from her terrible fright, she inhaled. Clean air filled her head and she realized why she almost had blacked out. She noticed that the long horrid coat was nothing more than a rain poncho. And he didn't seem to tower over her anymore. Her eye still locked on Henry. He seemed to know what she was thinking.
"You didn't think I'd let you wonder off into the woods alone, did you?" Her face was so frozen, she couldn't manage a simple smile at him.
"Y- you s-s-scared m-me!" she stuttered. Henry frowned. Something took over his face. A grim memory perhaps? He eyed her up and down.
"Look at you, you're soaked." He threw a comforting arm around her, and she found that it was much easier to move her feet. "Lets get back to the car."
I hate him. . .
"Wait!" Eileen yelled, turning around quickly. "Look at this."
She pointed at the stone with the faded letters on it. Henry followed her gaze until it rested on the rock.
He stared at it for a long time. Not moving at all. She felt cold again.
"Henry?" she questioned. "Do you know what it says?" Still, he didn't answer her. "It says 'I hate him.'" his head snapped up and he quickly took her hand and led her away from the stone before she could ask him anything else.
He had only made it a few steps before she wrenched her hand away from his.
"Stop!" he did. Letting his other hand fall from her hip, she yanked him near her. "What the hell was that all about?" She pulled off his hood so that the cold rain struck his head. And when she did, she saw something in Henry's eyes that she had never seen before.
He looked horrified.
She softened her voice and stared at him. His hair was now slicked wet and stuck to his head.
"Why are you so scared?" was all she was able to utter. There was no mock in her voice. No sarcasm. Just concern. The way he gaze at her now made her soul turn to ice. He took a deep breath and gently intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Lets just get out of here and get you out of those wet clothes."
"Okay," she nodded up and down. Telling him that she'd do anything he wanted. After what she saw reflect in those green pools, anything. "Okay."
Still clutching her hand, he led her through the rain.
To be continued. . .
A/N: So, I hoped you liked that one. A little bit more interaction. I'm not sure I'll have that much in later chapters. But please review, they mean the world to me. And here's to prove it.
Bronti: Wow! My first reviewer. Thank you so much for liking this story. I was waiting and waiting for someone to write a fic about these two, and it never happened. So I thought it was up to me to do it. Hopefully, I will have inspired anyone to write their own. But I was so touched by what you wrote, and I think I'll continue. . .for you Thanks again.
Rodarian: Thanks for the tips and well has the review. It's nice to see someone who knows what they're talking about review my story. I am very thankful that you care enough to leave me such a nice review. You also seemed to be very intelligent. Thanks again!
Crimson Alessa: Hey, you didn't think I'd forget about you did you? You reviewed for both of my stories. I contemplate burning The Beckoning on a daily bases. But just the fact that you were nice enough to review made my bloody day. Thank you a hundred times over.
Al: Maybe she will remember everything. Thanks for the review!
IngridSarah: Oh my gosh, thank your for such the nice things you said! I'm not really sure what in canon means, but I've seen it before. I'm guessing it means coupling? But just the fact that you quoted me made the blood rush to my face. Thank you a million. . .no. . .billion times over.
ShinobiAyame: hehe, I laughed when I saw your review. Yes, there will be more of Eileen getting what she wants. As well as Henry too. Thanks again for your sweet review. And don't forget to chant! And thanks for telling me I'm doing great with this story. You rock!
KarryAnne: You scan still write a story about Eileen and Henry being married! Just tell your readers that great minds think alike. I'm sure there will be a lot more. But thank you for your nice review.
Kronos106: Hey, I think there are a lot of people who thought these two would hook up. Thank you for saying such nice things about this story. It made my freaking day. You rule all!