MichelLover67: Heh, Jamesdoesn't have the Great Knife anymore, but don't worry about that. Zeik is the type of person who doesn't exactly care about anything, aside from himself. Besides, there's no one around to get him for it… In my opinion, giving the Order members actual personalities is more realistic…
SageoWind218: You ask a lot of questions. Anyway, I have no idea how I'll get Walter's hug down… and he was in the last chapter; the coated guy… Alexis may die, he may not, but rest assured, characters will die, I just hope you all won't get after me for who I kill off; all of you are getting all touchy because Alexis and Catherine may die…. Gee… Didn't think I could make characters people like…
The Extremely Crappy Days at Ashfield High
Chappy Twenty-Five: Complexities
"Have I told you four the myth of the Nine Spears?"
The three children sitting in front shook their heads silently, but a young boy, who sat a few feet behind them, alone, only stared at the man. The light coming from the crackling fire illuminated the man's slightly wrinkled face as he leaned back in the old, wooden rocking chair.
The two boys were roughly around the same age; the red- haired child had barely turned six, and he looked attentively at the adult; the other boy was only of five years, and yet his gaze was directed forward, very seriously.
The seven year-old blonde girl sat the farthest in front; she was munching on a chocolate bar of some sort. The final child, also seven, had short, raven black hair, and was hugging her knees to her chest.
"As you all know, the Conjurer can only be truly killed by penetrating his body with the Ninth Spear, the… "key" to the…"
"Descent of the Holy Mother."
The man smiled, reached forward, and ruffled the carrot- top's hair. "Excellent, Alexis, you've been studying, I presume?"
The boy nodded, and the man glanced at each of the children. "As you know… the first eight spears return the Conjurer to his mortal body… but the Ninth Spear is required to completely destroy Him…"
"Why is that?" inquired the blonde girl curiously. "Well, Catherine, the Conjurer cannot be eliminated like normal people can; His body may die, but his soul will live on…"
"Is… there really a Ninth Spear?"
"Oh, no… It is only a myth; I sincerely doubt it is real; the existence of the Conjurer, Himself, cannot truly be proven."
The youngest boy stood up suddenly, his brunet hair falling slightly over his eyes. "But there is a Conjurer, right?"
The man sighed, staring into the boy's dark eyes. "I don't wish to lie to you, Noah, but I cannot say… The 'Descent of the Holy Mother' is something I did not pay much attention to, and I regret it now, actually."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walter Sullivan watched quietly as the waters of Lake Toluca flowed, his coat swaying slightly in the wind.
He heard an automobile behind him, but he knew exactly who it was; there were two other vehicles parked on the deck before he arrived. A clunky, maroon van, and a smaller, cobalt blue car. He noted that the latter belonged to Cheryl Mason, a Language Arts teacher for freshmen and sophomores at Ashfield High School.
"It's been so long…"
"Eileen, we have to hurry; he's probably already here."
"I know, but…"
Walter chuckled, his smile returning as Henry Townsend and his wife approached from behind.
"How fortunate of us to meet again," stated Walter as he turned, facing the two. Henry stopped, obviously concealing his anger, but his spouse froze, mouth open slightly.
"You… You bastard!" she yelled before running at the blond, preparing to attack him in some way. "Eileen, stop!" Henry exclaimed as he ran forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, trying to stop her.
He succeeded, and pulled her back while Walter adjusted his coat. "There isn't a need for violence, and I'd much rather not injure either of you."
"Injure us? You tried to kill us!" spat Mrs. Townsend as Henry released her. Walter frowned. "Yes, I should apologize for that… It wasn't anything… too personal…"
"Where's Joshua?" asked Henry sternly, suddenly, and the blond shook his head. "I really don't know; I just arrived, but I would think he is wherever those people are."
"People? Who-"
"They are members of The Order, which is a secret cult that originated here, in Silent Hill."
"The Order?" Henry clenched his fists. "That's the same cult that Joseph was researching, isn't it?"
Walter nodded. "Yes, that is correct, but if it really is The Order, which I am quite sure of, then Joshua isn't in any less danger."
Eileen was about to remark on this statement, but Henry quickly grabbed her by the shoulder, shaking his head.
Walter turned away. "I would suggest taking the same path as I do; I doubt you'd want to get lost."
He then walked off, humming…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dammit, Myron, it's pitch black in here!"
"S-She said t-t-t-there was a l-l-lantern d-down h-h-here…"
"Yeah, but where?"
"I t-t-think I f-found it…"
A few moments after the shorter teenager said this, a dim light ignited, showing the green, fluorescent, lantern dangling slightly in Myron's hand.
"That helps," stated Joshua as he took the lantern, waving it around. "Let's get going; I don't want to eat my granola bar down here."
"Y-You b-b-brought a granola b-b-b-bar?"
"Yep, it's in my pocket."
Joshua gave Myron a smile before starting towards the foreboding darkness, the wood beneath his feet creaking with every step.
Myron grabbed his arm. "H-Hold on…"
The brunet turned back, freeing his arm from Myron's grip. "What?"
"I'm… af-f-fraid…" he stammered, hugging himself; it had suddenly gotten colder. Joshua sighed. "Just relax, Myron, there's nothing to be scared of. I mean, sure, our only source of light is this lantern, but that's why we've got to hurry," replied the teenager before grinning and starting off.
Myron watched him for a few moments, before looking behind him; what was that scraping noise? It was most definitely getting louder…
"W-W-W-W-Wait up, J-J-Josh…"
Meanwhile, Joshua was whistling an unfamiliar tune, his eyelids drooping. "J-Josh…"
"What now, Myron?"
"T-T-There's a w-weird noise b-b-b-behind us…"
"Yeah, okay, that's nice."
"I'm s-s-serious."
"Okay, cool."
"B-But…"
"Just relax, Myron."
"…Alr-r-right…"
"Look, you can hum your favorite song; it helps."
"You're w-w-whistling, t-though."
"Let's not get technical; the point… Oof!"
"Are y-you ok-k-kay?" asked Myron as Joshua sat up from his fall, the lantern miraculously unbroken.
"I'm fine…" he answered while taking the lantern and holding it above the object he'd tripped over: a small, pocket radio.
Joshua reached out and grasped it, examining the radio. "What's a radio doing down here?"
Myron shrugged as Joshua stood up and set the lantern down; he flipped the item around in his hands.
"Weird…"
Suddenly, however, the radio turned on, emanating loud static. This startled the two boys, and the brunet dropped the radio. It hit the old, wooden floor, bouncing once before lying still, static still coming.
"What the…?"
Joshua took a few careful steps toward it, nudging it with his foot. "Hmm…"
The radio split apart unexpectedly, though, and a great shadow cast itself over the remains, static still emanating strongly.
Myron and Joshua attempted to look into the darkness, searching for what was the host of the shadow. A powerful gust of wind swept through them, and the taller teenager swiftly grabbed the lantern. "Myron…?" he shouted over the howl of the wind.
"Y-Yeah?"
"Run like hell!"
And with that, the two sped off into the darkness…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melissa held the golden cross loosely in her hands as she leaned back tiredly in the cushioned pew. Her black hair was strewn about somewhat messily, and she watched with surprise as Christian Richards began to stir.
"Grandfather…!"
Jeremy glanced at her and then to the boy, smirking. "He is resistant, but soon enough it will all be over…" He knelt down beside the semi- conscious body, staring at it. "Your role is almost complete…" he muttered as the entrance doors to the church opened slowly, allowing for Noah Franklin to step inside.
Nicole had calmed down much from leaving the church, but most of it was from the fact that Noah was in possession of a weapon… She gasped under the gag upon seeing Christian.
"Noah… where are Catherine and Alexis? Did they not accompany you?" asked Jeremy as he stepped down from the altar. Melissa had turned, and was now looking towards Noah worriedly.
"There were a few unexpected problems with the van; they allowed me to bring the girl in their place; they will be arriving shortly," lied the brunet plainly as he kept his gaze on Jeremy. The older man crossed his arms. "Very well then; the most important thing is that she is here now; the future shell of God herself."
Noah half- nodded. Nicole was obviously frightened by this, as her expression changed and she fidgeted.
"Now then, there is no more time to waste. The transfer must begin shortly," said Jeremy as he approached. "I will take the young woman."
"No, you won't," came a firm voice from behind.
The Order members looked back, and saw Cheryl Mason aiming a handgun at Jeremy, and the figure of James Sunderland not too far behind.