Chapter I: Last Ditch Effort
Alex struggled to stand as searing pain shot through his right leg. He gathered himself, trying to make sense of the bizarre happenings of the last three days. Exhausted, he gazed into the fog, scanning the desolate street for any indication of his whereabouts. Having just narrowly escaped a horrendous series of encounters in the Order's underground lair, Alex was unsure of where he had finally ended up. There was a weathered sign at a street corner ahead which read "Sagan St". He remembered the name from the town map he had taken earlier—he was in Silent Hill.
Before Alex had time to formulate his next move, he saw a dark silhouette in the distance. Shit. Not again. This time, though, it appeared to be a human…
"Elle," Alex gasped. "You're okay?" Elle Holloway came into clear view. She looked worn down and physically fatigued, yet still somehow maintained a look of determination. She was still the strong woman that Alex knew.
"Yeah," Elle replied faintly. "I think so." She immediately threw her arms around Alex in a strong embrace. As they held each other closely, and Alex could feel her heart beat franticly. Its beating slowed to a steady pace after a minute, and Elle asked intently, "What did you see in there?"
"Exactly what I needed to," Alex replied, realizing that now was not the time for a detailed explanation of what had happened. Alex was immensely relieved that Elle was still alive, and that was all that mattered now. Just as he was about to suggest leaving as fast as possible, Elle hugged him again. Obviously, she painfully needed the comfort of another human being. After all, everyone else was gone. Alex hugged her back. Elle's family was dead, as was his, and all that was left was the two of them.
Then, Alex heard a faint crackling noise, a sound that was all too familiar. No. It couldn't be. He had lost his radio in the lair, so where was this noise coming from?. "Elle," Alex addressed her as calmly as possible. "Do you still have your radio?" Before she could answer, the sound escalated into an overwhelming static. It became apparent that Elle still had a radio from the day before. Alex looked over Elle's shoulder, making out a shadowy a figure quickly approaching—and it definitely wasn't human. A tall, gangly, creature with an elongated head, ending in a pendulum-fashioned blade was rapidly approaching. "You gotta be shittin' me," Alex shouted exasperatedly. Elle, still facing Alex, quickly turned around and gasped. "Fuck! I'm completely out of rounds. Elle, do you have any weapons?"
"No, I don't!" Elle screamed back, terrified.
Alex fumbled through his pockets as the monster closed in on them, its head gravely swinging side to side. He quickly reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the ceremonial dagger, an old relic of his hometown, Shepherd's Glen. It wouldn't do much good if the monster sliced him to death before he could get a close shot, but it was the only option as his leg was far too injured to run. "Come on, motherfucker!" Alex provoked the creature as it raised its head, about to strike. At this point, Alex realized it wasn't likely he'd survive this one. Elle screamed, and suddenly there was a loud blast. The monster, disfigured, fell to the ground, and a few feet from its body stood Deputy Wheeler, wielding a pump-action shotgun.
"Oh my god!" Elle enthused. "Wheeler, I thought you didn't make it!" Wheeler looked alarmingly injured, his abdomen pierced with bleeding stab wounds.
"Well," Wheeler snapped back. "Maybe if you two hadn't left my ass for dead down in that lair…"
"Jesus Christ, Wheeler!" Alex cut him off. "How are you not dead?" Wheeler looked taken aback. "Well, regardless," Alex continued. "I'm glad to see you're alive."
"I know, Alex," Wheeler replied. "I'm just giving ya'll a hard time. Now let's get the hell out of this town!" The three exchanged glances, waiting for someone to suggest an idea.
"Well the roads are completely fucked," Alex pointed out.
"I have an idea," Wheeler exclaimed. "The boat—I remember seeing a boat docked down there by the lake!"
"I don't suppose either of you know how to hotwire a boat," Elle commented unenthusiastically.
"Don't need to," Wheeler replied. "All the patrol boats in Toluca County use the same universal ignition key. The same boats were issued to all county sheriffs' departments back in the day, so my key should work!"
"Fuckin' A," Alex exclaimed. "Do you have it?"
Wheeler reached into his pants pocket whipped out his keychain, sporting an expansive assortment of strange keys. "Damn right I have it," He said. "Let's go."
The three of them continued down Sagan Street, trying to stay alert despite their mutual extreme exhaustion. Passing a bait shop on the right side of the street, Alex spoke up, "We're almost at the docks. Just a little further." Alex felt more tired and debilitated than he could ever remember having felt, but he didn't want to show any signs vulnerability in Elle's presence. He hoped that his strength and apparent fearlessness would reassure Elle and keep her encouraged. As they approached the docks, Elle glanced down at the series of rickety wooden ladders and walkways leading down to the water. It seemed like a perilous route to take.
"Is this the only way down?" Elle called out over the sound of loud crashing waves.
"Looks like it," Alex replied. "Wheeler, do you think you can handle climbing down this way?" Wheeler was noticeably injured far beyond the other two.
"Shit," Wheeler snapped back. "I've been attacked, kidnapped by religious fanatics, stabbed in the stomach with kitchen knives, and basically eaten alive. You think I'm gonna quit now? Man, fuck that shit!"
"That's the spirit," Alex smiled.
With great rigorous effort, Alex, Elle and Wheeler managed to make it down to where the deserted patrol boat was docked. They stepped onto the boat, which was heavily weather-beaten and covered in rust.
"Let's hope this bitch works," Wheeler announced. Alex wiped a thick layer of dust off the control panel and nodded. It didn't look promising, but they had no other choice. Wheeler inserted the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine grinded and sputtered but did not start. Wheeler shook his head and tried again. Still nothing.
"No dice," Wheeler declared.
"Try again, Wheeler. It has to work," Elle asserted.
Wheeler turned the key again. The engine painfully grinded for a few seconds and then started.
"Alright!" Alex exclaimed. "So do we have any idea where we're going now?"
"Well," Wheeler said. "Shepherd's Glen is out of the question. I'm definitely not going back there."
"I know," Elle spoke up. Alex and Wheeler turned to toward her. "We should head East. There's a town that way called Pleasant River. We'll definitely be able to find a hospital there."
"Sounds good to me," Wheeler agreed. "Pleasant River is far enough away from Silent Hill, and that's all I give a shit about. I just hope we have enough gas to get there. What do you say, Alex?"
"Absolutely."