Disclaimer: Konami owns all da SH stuff, yo.

Author's Note: And here we have chapter three. Rather surreal, but I hope it keeps your interest. The next chapter is pretty much done, so I might post it soon.

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C H A P T E R- T H R E E

She was proud of herself. She hadn't thought she had gained that much, not enough to make contact out of the town's borders. But she hadn't been able to maintain it for very long. It had been long enough, however, to realize something very important.

She wouldn't do for him. The look on his face plainly said it.

But Mary…

Mary. Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary.

What was wrong with her? Why wasn't she good enough? Hadn't she been everything he wanted after those years of pain and frustration and misery?

(But I can be yours... I'll be here for you forever. And I'll never yell at you or make you feel bad. That's what you wanted. I'm different than Mary... How can you throw me away?)

All he ever cared about was that damn Mary.

… She was the only person who could bring him back.

She was contemplative for a bit. Could she…? She had already gained much. She had regained her semblance of life. She had managed to reach out through the boundaries and see him. Perhaps it wasn't ludicrous. Silent Hill was, in a way, halfway there already.

She concentrated. She submerged herself in the force she gained, wrapped up within her, and could feel the borders of the town again. Before, she had pushed through, sought the mark the town had left on him. But this time, her goal was different.

She stretched, and this time sought a different boundary. She extended herself and moved up within the realm, until she felt a pressure that would let her go no further. And, like piercing a balloon with a pin, she put everything to one spot, so that it may break and she be let through.

But it did not give way.

So she concentrated harder, but then it was only more resilient. The more she focused on her goal, on how she absolutely needed it and despised it, the more she was forced away.

She let herself drift from the border for a moment, pondered another mode of action. And she realized that it had been her hate keeping her out. She pushed that down, and thought of other things, of her loneliness and how much she needed him, and if she could just have him with her again, everything would be alright. In fact, she felt something like love. And with that, she rose up again, she moved through the boundary as if it weren't even there.

And her goal was right there. It had been watching curiously, reluctant to leave even after all this time. It had wanted to help, help them all, but could do nothing for them, so all it could do was hopelessly remain behind

And then she had it, was wrapped around it, and all the sweetness and light reminded her of all the bitterness and pain, and immediately she was pulled back the way she came. But she was still wrapped around it, and thus it came with her despite its struggles.

Maria opened her eyes and looked down at her hands. Set on both palms was something like a lantern with a bright pink light. It glittered through the crystal around it, and was held inside by the metal bottom and ornately decorated lid. She could feel its fright and confusion.

Maria grinned.

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