Chapter 1 : 302

"Where're you staying now?"

"South Ashfield. "

"How's the weather there?"

The guy on the phone, David, didn't even know me until a few months ago…

After my dad was murdered and I moved out of our old place, trying to actually forget what happened in that nightmarish city to me… I decided to avoid people as much as possible. David, the freak I met in a bar, didn't seem to value my decision, though.

But then again how could I answer His question? If I wanted to describe Ashfield, what would I say? How could I wrap up such a mysterious place in small words, just to avoid further explanation?

Gloomy, foggy and somber.

That was satisfying… even for the guy who didn't care that much. He just wanted to buy some time for himself to finally get laid.

"Hey babe, you're there?"

I bit my bottom lip, "Good…it's good."

"That's about it?"

"Yeah…you know… David I gotta go… I'm kinda busy… "

"At least tell me where exactly are you staying gal? "

"Why would you want to know? " I sighed irritably.

"Well… I like you so…"

"No… I'm sorry. "

"But what about the thing we had? "

"No… we hadn't had anything!" I hung the phone, asking myself why I haven't done it, sooner.

He didn't care really. There was always another girl and I… to be honest, didn't care either. Why would I? My whole world was different from this people. I was too stupid to think I can be normal again. What I saw… what I've been through… no one knows. No one can know or else… I'll be the psycho freak who just saw things…

That's why I left the city I lived in and came here. I don't how it happened. When I first came to this place I was immediately attracted by the outside of the building, as well as the view from the windows and when I moved here, I almost felt like I was being drawn here.

I needed a quiet place and Ashfield was just about right for me to continue my dad's career as a journalist. Well not quite a journalist to be more specific... a writer. I felt like I needed to write to empty my agony, to empty all the feelings building up in me.

Now I asked myself, how can I describe South Ashfield thoroughly.

Should I start with this mysterious fog, clouding all around the city? Or maybe a never ending cold wind howling between trees and crooked buitding that doesn't allow you to open the windows at night or even in the morning. Or how the sun seems not to even exist in this town… so much like… Silent Hill.

It seems like an endless loop, wherever I go… I live in a fog, I guess that's a part of me now, ain't it? It doesn't seem to bother me anymore.

South Ashfield is a small town with approximately not more than a 300 residents. Most building are old and crappy. Even the people are somehow… different. They seem like mannequins, only breathing. At least people in this apartment are like that.

In this 21 days that I moved in. I only met Frank Sunderland. The superintendent.

He was the one who showed me this room.

"And the things in here, probably belong with the late tenant."

"Why are they even here? Wasn't he supposed to take them with him?"

Frank didn't seem to even hear my question. "It seems as if he never left… or maybe he didn't at all." He whispered to himself which caught my attention.

"What do you mean? "

"We live in a weird world, child. "

And he left. I knew how right he was but come to think of this room, and what really happened to the late tenant… I didn't hesitate to say, it freaked me out and me… of all people who all I wanted was to have a normal life.

The next time I saw Frank, I went to ask him for the key to my room.

I looked down at the key in my hand, " 301 ? "The old man didn't say anything. He just kept staring at the notebook laying on his dusty desk. I got irritated. " I rent 302. "

When he snorted and took out the other key, still he didn't look up at me. I took the key, angry at the man for his rude behavior and turned to walk away from him.

"Why Ashfield? " Asked Frank, out of the blue.

"What?" I paused waiting for an answer and when I realized there's going to be no response, I looked over my shoulder. " Well I wanted a quiet place, . "

"I know but why here?"

"Why not here? "

And I didn't know the answer to that. So I finally got into 302. And even though in these days nothing uncanny has happened here, I could feel this strange aura. I haven't left the apartment since then. And I became more reclusive than I ever was. I haven't met any of the neighbors and I even haven't seen Frank since then. This building… it seemed like a cemetery. As quiet and as… dead.

And room 302. It first seemed like a small, cozy furnished apartment with just a bedroom, small laundry room, a bathroom and a kitchen, just a perfect type for me but there was more than this I'm sure. So I should've known better, haven't I?

I didn't have much things myself so I kept most of the furniture, just added little pieces here and there; Like pictures, real pictures of me and dad when I was just a kid. But then I found something extraordinary there in my bedroom. It was a type machine. Didn't know if it was there from the beginning but I haven't noticed it before. Dad would've liked this for sure. So I put my laptop aside. Compare to this beast… that was just a piece of rubbish.

I sat behind the type machine and put my fingers on the keyboard. Something pushed me to write further and further.

Starting my line with this:

I, Heather Mason, am a writer. And the story I'm about to begin is about a room which possessed me. Room 302.

Hey fellow readers,

Sorry I know the first chapter shouldn't be a filler of some sort but I needed to set a setting for this story and now... Heather is a writer. Daughter, taking after father's career I suppose. I would imagine Heather actually try to be a writer, you know. cause this is the only way to keep her mind sane or maybe not... who knows. Any way thanks to my first follower to actually follow and favorite this story.

Thank you dear megan daisy 9

As always reviews, follows, favorites are appreciated.