Marie woke up the next morning and climbed out of bed. Last night's hell wasn't far from her mind. She looked out the window and stared at the forest. It was becoming a very long weekend. She wondered if she should be grateful that it was Sunday now. She decided no, having a feeling things were going to spin more out of control. She moved away from the window and got ready for the day.

She made her way down the stairs then stopped as she heard her parents' voices. Her mother's voice was slightly hysterical and that caught her attention. She sneaked over to the wall that devided the stairs from the living room and listened in.

"I can't do this anymore John!" Her mother's voice carried easily.

"Salena, she'll get over it," her father's baritone was much lower but she could still hear it.

"It's been ten years!" Her voice choked on a sob.

Marie heard her father move over to her mother, "I know, but the doctors say she'll get better soon."

Her mother's voice lost its sobbing sound as she said, "I think we should send Marie away. There's a place for people like her."

"Salena what are you saying?" John's voice carried disbelief at such a notion.

"It's called Brookhaven, I think," Salena continued, "I saw a flyer for it while flipping through the paper for coupons. It's in Silent Hill I think."

Marie looked at the wall in shock and backed away. Her mother would send her away? For what reason? The only flaws she had were a lack of caring for school and being a little anti-social. Though she shouldn't be surprised, other kids, she had learned from rumors, had been sent to special hospitals for a lot less.

She stared at the wall blankly as her parents' voices hummed in her ears. She wondered when this was supposed to occur. Would she have enough time to solve her sister's mysterious death and appearance in the very town her parents want to send her to? She shook her head and got up. Maybe she would have enough time.

She got up and walked into the living room. She kept a straight face as her parents looked at her confused. She stepped out the door with a loud slam. Mostly to scare her parents and also cause it just felt good hearing the noise. She wondered if she broke the door a little as she sat on the stoop. She had heard of Brookhaven before. One girl had been sent there after refusing her parents something.

As far as Marie knew, the girl was still there. She wondered what the place was like and if it was really meant for mad people or just for people no one could deal with anymore. She was hurt by her mother's want to send her to some strange place that was miles from her own town, Bleak Falls. She looked at the trees that surrounded her house minus the road that cut through the barrier between her yard and the forest.

She stared at the forest across from her and watched as a fog slowly crawled through the trees. She squinted her eyes as something moved among the trees. Suddenly the sound of the door opening made her turn her head. She saw her father stepping out and turned her attention towards the trees. But everything was gone as though it was never there.

The trees stood there silently as though taunting her. She had a feeling that was the case as she listened to her dad pacing. He soon joined her on the stoop. He didn't look at her for a moment then he heaved a sigh.

"Did you hear us?" John looked over at her.

Marie simply nodded. He heaved another sigh and nervously placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him from the corner of her eye but otherwise didn't react.

"I don't want to send you away but your mom," he paused, unsure how to continue.

"I know," she helped a little.

"I wish I knew what to do," John reached his hand up and touched her cheek briefly. Marie didn't flinch or pull away from his touch.

If she were to admit it to herself at least, she had missed simply contact like this with her parents. It had ended with the coming and going of various doctors.

She remembered each doctor made up an excuse to paw at her. Whether it was to take her temperature or to check her heartbeat. Even those who were shrinks and nothing more. She had said nothing to her parents about it but she had grown distant with everyone for it.

"Can't you beg mother not to send me away?" Marie pleaded with both her voice and her eyes.

"I've tried but she's adamant about sending you to this Brookhaven," he stared down at the step between his feet.

Marie fell silent then rose to her feet. Maybe she could convince her mother not to send her. She caught a glance of her father's confused face before she disappeared through the door. She had to convince her mother to let her stay.