The next day, Heather and Douglas were pulled into Cybil's office and the adjoining conference room as soon as they set foot in the station.
"Cheryl! I heard you...volunteered! Is it true?" Sam stood behind her desk, looking nervous for Heather, ad she and Douglas were being hurried toward the office.
Heather sighed, then called out, "I'll tell you later!" as she was pushed through all of the people trying to look inconspicuous as they tried to see who the hell the people trying to get into Silent Hill were. The pair entered the room, and its occupants looked over.
Cybil stood, smiling warmly. "Cheryl! Douglas! Thank you so much for coming and volunteering. Please, sit down." She motioned to two chairs, opposite of the visitors.
Heather could tell that they were professionals right away. She could see that they were all wearing bullet-proof armour under their clothing, and that at least two of them where carrying concealed hand guns.
"Cheryl, Douglas, these are the people who want to go into Silent Hill. This is Rebecca Chambers," A young woman with short red-brown hair looked up and smiled. "Jill Valentine," an older woman nodded in their direction. "Chris Redfield," A muscular young man also nodded at them, an undistinguishable look on his face. "His sister, Claire Redfield," Another young woman smiled at them, her pony-tail bobbing as she nodded at them as well. "And Barry Burton." An older man with a beard smiled warmly and shook both of their hands. "They were members of the S.T.A.R.S unit in Racoon City, before..."
Cybil trailed off, before shaking her head. "Why don't you inform my officers of your intentions in the town while I go and take care of some things."
She hurried out of the room, and they could hear her barking orders at people outside.
Heather turned back to the former S.T.A.R.S members. "Hello, I'm Cheryl Mason."
"And I'm Douglas Cartland."
"Hello. Now, you're probably wondering why we're trying to get into Silent Hill, but first, why is everyone so weary of the place? I'd heard that it was just a tourist town..." Chris gave them a look when they paled a bit.
"Well..." They both started speaking, but Douglas stopped to let Heather speak.
"There have been an abnormal amount of murders. People go into the town, and if they do come back, many don't, they just get sent to the nearest asylum...which happens to be located in Silent Hill. There has been intensive cult activity there, stemming from a cult called "The Order", which is central to Silent Hill. People go missing. There are increasing numbers of suicides and suicide attempts. There have been many "accidents" resulting in loss of life. And people who are not superstitious at all tend to stay away for the place."
Heather let them digest what she had said, before asking the question that everyone in the station and the town wanted to know.
"So, why are you going to Silent Hill?"
They were silent for several moments more, before Chris, who Heather assumed was the leader of their group, asked something.
"How much do you know about Umbrella Corps.?"
"They "accidently" unleashed a bio-weapon into Racoon City and the surrounding area, and caused a bio-hazard so severe that the government was forced to take action and bomb the place. And that they've lost their licence to practice business and pharmaceuticals, and that their stocks worth bull-shit." Douglas looked non-plus and sour. "I had family living there, but luckily they got out of there in time."
"Oh...Well, I'm glad they got out in time. Now, the reason we want to investigate Silent Hill is that we believe that Umbrella is illegally conducting..." Chris paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to use. "...Experiments there and we need the proof before we take action."
Heather and Douglas were quiet for a moment, before Heather softly asked, even though she knew it wasn't true, "So, do you think that's why Silent Hill is the way it is?"
"We think so. We've been asked by the United States government to find and shut down any Umbrella facilities still located in North America. We are also trying to get permission to do the same in the other continents. "Jill said, pulling out a file folder. "Rebecca here did some research into the town...maybe you two could look over it?"
Douglas took the folder, and passed it to Heather. "Thanks."
"So..." Claire spoke up, looking nervous.
"Yes?" Heather asked, flipping through the file, not really focusing on it.
"Why exactly did you guys decide to volunteer for this? Everywhere else we went, people started praying and crossing themselves whenever we mentioned Silent Hill."
"Well, when the chief explained that you wanted to go to Silent Hill, everyone flipped out. But then the chief told us that she only wanted volunteers who'd been to Silent Hill before, and who'd be willing to return. We're also getting half a year's pay each for this too." Heather smiled and Douglas chuckled when he finished.
"Oh...Well, would you mind telling us when you went to Silent Hill and why? Just so we know?" Chris asked.
"I had gone when I was younger for a family vacation, but the last time I was there was 5 years ago, for...personal reasons. Considering my father's death." Heather's face switched from friendly to unreadable as she replied.
Claire uttered her sympathies quietly as Douglas spoke up. "I've been there twice, once on a missing persons case...oh...about 10 years ago. And then I accompanied Cheryl there 5 years ago."
"Missing persons? Did you ever find them?" Barry asked, looking Douglas straight in the eye.
"No..."Douglas looked remorseful and distant.
"Well..." Heather broke the awkward silence that had permeated the room. "When do you plan on leaving for the town?"
"We're hoping for sometime tomorrow morning. Around 10? Is that a good time for the two of you?"
"That'll work for us...Can we take this file?" Heather held up the file, then tucked it away when Rebecca nodded.
"It was a pleasure meeting you." They all stood, shook hands, and left the room.
As they walked out, they could see people peeking out of rooms and over cubicles at them. Douglas deviated and wandered into the coffee room, but Heather walked with them to the front desk, where she waited for them to gather there things so she could talk to Sam. It had technically been Heather's day off, so she wanted to talk to Sam before leaving.
"So, Cheryl? Is it true? That you and Douglas are going to Silent Hill with them..." Sam looked rightfully worried.
"Yeah, it's true...Besides; I almost want to see if it's changed since I was there last..." Heather frowned slightly. "But, you know, I think that town should be listed as a ghost town and have all of it's roads blocked off..."
"Yeah...But, they're from the government, right?" Heather nodded. "So that would mean that just blocking the roads wouldn't stop them from going in there."
"True. Well, I'm going now. I'll call you up when we get back and I'll tell you all about it while we watch girly movies and eat fatty foods. I have a feeling that I'll need it."
Sam grinned. "Oh yeah! Deal! I'll bring the movies if you pay for the food."
Heather grinned as well, and, waving, left the station.
She stood in the entrance hall, breathed deeply, and ran past the kitchen.
"Damn it Douglas! I though you said you were going to put that garbage out yesterday!" Heather muttered, finally exhaling as she entered her room. She sat on her bed, took a deep breath, and then started listing off things she'd need for her "mission".
"I'll need pants, maybe cargo...or even jeans," She stood by her closet, and pulled out the best choices. "Then a long sleeved shirt, possibly a turtle-neck, or maybe a t-shirt..." She pulled a turtle-neck out of the closet, and a t-shirt from her dresser.
"Then my combat boots, and work gloves and long socks." She pulled them out and put them with the other articles of clothing.
"Now..." She stopped, trying to think if it was a good idea to wear the bullet-proof vest she'd found in that hellish mall instead of her work issued one. Heather stared at the both of them, before muttering, "I'll decide later..."
She then picked up a white vest, not unlike the one she'd worn 5 years prior (She'd had to get rid of the original due to blood splatter.), and a fanny pack with multiple pouches. She set the pack down on her bed, and took the vest over to her side table. She pulled out the drawer, and took out the flashlight and radio from the mall. Heather credited them for keeping her alive in Silent Hill the first time, so she knew that she had to bring them with her this time.
Decisions done, she packed an extra set of clothing and some extra supplies, and weapons, in a sturdy backpack. She placed everything she needed on her desk, and then, feeling antsy and apprehensive, she strapped the katana she'd pilfered from the art gallery to her hip. She'd taken a couple of classes on how to properly us it, but she was in no way proficient at all with it. At least she wouldn't be flailing around with it if attacked.
Holding her breath again, she ran past the rancid garbage and into the living room. She crouched on the couch and turned on the t.v.
Maybe if she was lucky, she'd find a good episode of Friends on today...
Yay? Nay? I'd like to know if this is something worth continuing...
(Although, if you tell me to stop, I'm not going to :3 )