The low murmur of the engine as the car smoothly traversed the road was almost entrancing, for the both of them it was a boring journey. The staring eyes of Carl as he drove his car with no joy, the dull worn tarmac took it out of him. Like a steady decomposition, the road had become more and more corroded and feint as he covered those extra miles; and the lines that were once white kept vanishing under the car and slowly dissolved into a dull gravel floor. As Carl kept up this Trance like state, Louise, who sat in the passenger seat at his side rested against the door and stared outside. But not at the vegetation and the thick wood that surrounded each side, but deeper. Her eyes focused on the setting sun through the break in the woods, the shadows spreading through onto the dusty roadway like a cold blanket.
"Remember, as the sun sets I'll be there watching you, never forget that princess"
The memory had become so clear in her head. The summer was warm on her face as she stared up at the clouds from the patch of grass on her lawn. Her mum was watching by the window, she always did. She would just sit there in the kitchen doorway as her little baby laid there infatuated by the sky. She could never connect to her child like her husband could, and for that she was jealous. Her father meant everything and more to Louise. He would be with her everywhere she went, from school to the swings.
Louise sat upright and toddled to her mum, her innocent smile and cute little voice asking.
"Mummy, I wanna go to the beach, i wanna see the sun. Please", those little puppy dog eyes looking up at her mum as she waited expectantly.
What could her mum say but to let her go, it was a simple thing, but it meant so much to Louise. Her mum took her to the end of the street and led her through that short tunnel. They re-emerged on the soft sand and the little girl dashed of near the shore and sat – quietly – as the sun set. A tear fell onto her cheek as she whispered a prayer to the sky.
The harsh screeching of the car brought her back into the present, as she screamed. The car had just come to a halt before the rusty pick-up. For that brief moment both of their hearts were in the mouths. Louise got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. The fog must have just crept up on them, but they should have noticed it. The shrill coldness as Carl's spine shook. Carl got out of the drivers seat and walked around to Louise who now stood mouth open at the tremendous sight. The sight that they both regarded was one of dilapidation, buildings boarded up and broken glass covering the path. But the glass did not reflect any light for there was non strong enough. Shadows and silhouettes crawling around in the distance; dry dark stains – colourless by the fog – morbidly decorating the road beneath them.
Most unnerving of all was the street sized hole that laid before them. They had never seen anything like it, it was huge. It was so deep and black, in a word it was a void. A void that seemed to have been created by some tremendous force. Where did it lead to? Why the hell was it here?
"Great, so much for going to Silent Hill. Lets go Lou!"
Carl trudged back to the car and grabbed the handle when Louise spoke up.
Her hand resting on the 'welcome' sign.
"Er, Carl, this is Silent Hill"
The glance they shared was more than surprise, it was the realisation that they had found they destination. And it didn't look all that pretty!