Disclaimer: I do not own the Silent Hill franchise or anything related to it. The only character I own is my OC, Katy.

A/N: Holy crap, this chapter has over 4,000 words! That's a record even for me. Hope you guys enjoy it! (=

Chapter 6: Ghosts and Subways

The light was burning my eyes. My head was throbbing painfully and it took too much effort to stand up and study my surroundings. Everything was blurry and it was hard to remember. What the hell happened? Then, all at once it rushed forward with blinding speed. The mall, the Otherworld, that worm-like creature. Oh, yeah…I'm stuck in a Silent Hill game. How could I forget?

Slowly, I got to my feet and I winced as a fresh wave of pain came from my leg. I realized the cloth was heavily stained with blood and I needed to change it again. God, it hurt. If I didn't get out of here soon, it would probably become infected or something. What will my mom say when she figures out I have to lose my leg? That'll be an interesting conversation.

Ignoring the pain that was literally everywhere in my body, I glanced around and sighed. The mall was back to normal. Instead of gruesome, rotted details, the overly clean white tiles marked the floor. The lights above were a bit dimmed due to closing time, but still glowed brighter than any light in the Otherworld, casting away every possible shadow. The doors were bright and covered in attractive store flyers, offering last minute sales. It was strange to think that—just a minute ago—this place was hell on earth. Strange and creepy.

Just ahead were the set of green doors labeled with the mall's entrance. Tossing my blood-stained blond hair back from my eyes, I headed straight for them. I had had enough of this mall; I wanted out like a prisoner wanting freedom from his cell. The doors creaked open when I pushed against them, opening up into the main lobby. An overhanging sign pointed to the subway entrance while another set of doors led out to the streets. Yeah, right. I'm not falling for taking the subway. I'd be naïve if I just went along with this whole thing, I thought as I started for the doors, limping and aching all the way.

"Katherine," a voice made me pause. It was Douglas again and he appeared shaken up by what had happened. I wondered where he had been this whole time and how he even managed to survive. His eyes roamed over me and I figured I looked like a royal mess; I had blood in my hair, blood all over my clothes, a torn up leg, and a trail of dried blood falling into my boot. "Whoa," he muttered, gazing at me with narrowed eyes.

"You don't have to say it. I know I look bad," I replied, staring down at my body. He didn't even have a scratch on him. How was that even possible? Douglas pointed to my wounded leg in shock. I had yet to wrap another piece of cloth around it.

"You need a hospital. That leg looks pretty bad," he said, stepping closer to examine it. Rolling my eyes, I began to walk away. I hated it when people examined me like that, no matter what I looked like. I could handle myself and the fact that I survived so far was proof.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I am fine," I stated, forcing my weight against the entrance doors. They barely budged; they were locked for the night. You're kidding me, right? This place is going to force me to use the subway? So how is Douglas getting home?

"Well, what just happened? That monster…what the hell was that?" Glaring at the subway sign, I turned to face him. He was incredibly clueless, wasn't he? Well, I wasn't about to tell him all the good details; he probably wouldn't even believe me right now.

"How am I supposed to know? All I can tell you is that it's something to do with me," I said, giving him something to think over. I wondered if there was a back entrance I could use. Maybe the employees haven't locked it yet…

"What's so special about you, anyway?" Douglas's question stopped me. If it were Heather, it would be simple to answer at this point. But, why me? Why had I been dragged into this? I never did anything to deserve it, did I? Or was I supposed to play the role of God's latest victim, much like Heather was? A twisting sensation curled through my lower belly and I groaned. Please…I will do anything if this is just a dream. God, if this turns out to be just a dream, I'll do every single chore around my house for a month straight…without complaining! Oh, please…

"What's wrong?" Concern dripped from Douglas's words. The pain and reluctance I felt must have been written on my face. I wasn't about to open up and let Douglas hear my worries and such. No way.

"Nothing. I told you, I'm fine," I snapped, moving towards the stairs before I actually made the decision to take the subway. It didn't look like I had a choice. Fine, have it your way.

"What should I do?" It was a pathetic question and I didn't have time for it whatsoever. Frustration overwhelmed me as I descended the stairs.

"Hell if I know," I answered as Douglas disappeared from my line of sight. The last I saw him, a grim expression covered his face and he was shaking his head with pity as he watched me vanish into the depths of the subway, which was to become just another level of hell for me.

…..

Okay, let's get this over with. I hate subways or anything underground. The tunnel was shadowy, though not immediately unsanitary as it would have been if I were still stuck in the Otherworld. Billboards showed off colorful posters while signs swung in the air, pointing the way to Bergen Street. That isn't my street, that's Heather's. This can't be happening. In fact, I almost turned around to go find Douglas. If I had, maybe he could have given me a ride.

The narrow tunnel expanded into a platform, with ticket booths, turnstiles, and a row of payphones along one wall. There was no one in the ticket booth, which was weird. As I passed the payphones, one jingled briefly though every one of them had a sign attached that read "out of order." Creepy…if it's like that birthday phone call, then I certainly don't want to know about it.

Sliding over the edge of one of the telephone stalls was an old, yellowed newspaper. On the front page was an article that mentioned a freak accident in the subway. It sounded familiar as I read it. The subway ghost…A swift chill tickled the back of my neck; it felt like someone brushing their fingers along my skin. Whipping around, I saw that there was nothing there at all. Maybe I'm starting to imagine things. That's all it is. My imagination is running away and who could blame me?

Taped on a billboard beside the telephone booths was a single map of the subway and I tore it from the board, knowing I'd need it for later. Taking the map of the mall out of my vest pocket, I switched it for the map of the subway. Tossing the mall map aside onto the ground—there was no one here to stop me from littering—I eased my way through the nearest turnstiles. The clanking of the turnstiles ricocheted through the subway, growing more eerie the farther it grew.

Bergen Street…Bergen Street…where's the platform? Following the twisting corridors, I allowed the map to guide me towards the right platform. A set of wide stairs led to some of the lower platforms and a sign above read "Bergen Street" with an arrow pointing down. If you say so, I thought as I started to descend. A deep, animal growl made me freeze in my tracks. It was the kind of growl that came from a tiger that was threatened, about to leap and attack. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and my instincts told me not to look back. Still, I was never one to listen to my instincts.

There was nothing there. Just an empty, clean corridor that occasionally grew dim with the swinging overhead lights. Was I seriously imagining things or was there something watching me from the shadows? The subway ghost, perhaps? Was I already falling over the brink of insanity?

"Leave me alone," I called out to the ghost, my voice trembling with fear. I was never one to believe in ghosts, but this was different. Nothing was too impossible or surreal in Silent Hill. "What did I ever do to you? Nothing, that's what." Great, there's the possibility that I'm going insane and now I'm talking to a ghost. That's a huge step up.

With my heart thudding against my chest at a million miles a minute, I took small steps down the stairs and emerged on the lower level. At the very bottom was another long hallway that branched off into a few separate corridors. The platform for Bergen Street was at the end of the hallway, as if I were stuck in a tunnel and had to reach the light. Except it's the opposite. I'm only digging deeper into the darkness. Soon it'll swallow me whole.

Hurrying, I raced down that long hallway, the faces of the models on the ads staring at me as I passed. Paranoia swept over me as I imagined the "ghost" trailing me, especially after I tried communicating with it. My feet paused as a glow of red washed over me from somewhere down one of the corridors. It was one of the Order's symbols, used as a save point in the game. This one was more decorative and larger than the ones I had seen in the mall and it covered one of the bright ads.

As I moved to stand in front of it, something inside me was pulling me towards it. It was like I was detached from my body, watching someone else control it. My hand reached forward and I didn't know what I was doing until I placed the hand over the symbol. All of a sudden, images from a long time ago flashed through my skull with the speed of light. My lungs stopped breathing as I focused on the blinding images.

There was a girl with long, dark hair being held down on a table. Another image replaced that one; a man with brown hair and sad, mournful eyes. Harry Mason. The girl's picture returned and intense pain came with it. It was the pain that she was feeling as her mother called forth the birth of a God so fearful that it would only mean destruction. Agony swept through her—through me—as I watched her die, watched the fearsome God make way into the world. It was gruesome, terrifying, and took the life of the young girl as it yearned for life. All these images overwhelmed my brain until I wrenched my hand away from the symbol, swaying with dizziness. What the hell…? That's what they did to her. That's what they did to Alessa, to Cheryl…to me? Was that going to happen to me?

"Oh, God…please let me leave. Please let me wake up," I cried, collapsing to the ground. That pain had felt so real, so much more intolerable than any pain I had ever felt in my life. There was little strength left in my body after viewing those scenes. "Come on, get up," I urged myself, using the wall as support for my body. Clenching my fists, I glided along the wall until I found the sign for Bergen Street again. From now on, no touching the red symbols of the Order, okay?

….

The subway platform was empty, as I expected it to be. I had only hesitated for a moment before going down to the last level. There was an occult book on one of the stairwells, explaining how the spirits of the dead my come "alive" again at the exact times of their death. Checking my watch, I saw that it was almost ten at night.

There was only one glowing light on the platform and that was where I chose to stand. It was as silent as the grave; there were no horns coming from any approaching trains or mysterious growling to freak me out. Awkwardly, I waited for the train, wondering what could be holding it up. Come on, I just want to get home or at least get above ground sometime soon. It occurred to me more than once that dying underground would be scary, yet appropriate.

Shaky, heavy breathing started behind me. I had been trying to keep the subway ghost out of my mind. Carefully, I turned so that my back was facing the tracks. Unlike Heather, I was somewhat curious as to what this ghost may look like. The breathing drew closer and my nerves became tense. It sounded like a man and it was within arm's length. Then, it just….stopped. Confused, I stared at the empty space in front of me.

"What? Are you afraid of me now? Because I am certainly not afraid of—"

"Aaahhhhh!" A ghostly, pale gust shot out of the wall, its face zooming towards mine with its mouth opened as if to swallow me. Screaming, I backed away from it but it was too late. The "ghost" slammed into my chest with all its force and caused me to topple over the edge of the platform. My back connected painfully with the tracks as it passed through me cleanly. The blare of a train hit my ears and panic crawled along my spine. The train's coming! Get off the tracks!

Lifting my body up, I climbed onto the platform with the fear that the train would come and crush me in an instant. The train never showed and all I could do was lay on the cold cement ground to catch my breath. That's the last time I talk to ghosts.

…..

The baying of those hellhounds was what convinced me to get up from my resting place. Their high-pitched howls sent a new wave of fear down my spine as I noticed that everything had changed in the two minutes it took for the ghost to attack me. It had literally plunged me into the Otherworld of the subway station. The only light that had been shining had burnt out and my flashlight was the only thing that would guide me now.

The howls of the hounds decreased, but I sensed they were out there, waiting for me to make my move. The stairs to the upper level were right there, taunting me with their close proximity. My move was to dash for them, doing whatever it took to reach them. One of the hounds leaped out of the shadows, attempting to claw me before I got to my target. It flew at me and I landed a direct punch on its furry nose. It whined and disappeared into the shadows once more. Gripping the railing of the stairs, I ascended to the brighter section of the subway, the upper level.

Luckily, there were no monsters up here; they were all lurking down below. A white door was unlocked down a hallway, past the red symbol. It beckoned me again, but my instincts screamed to leave it alone. No, thanks. I've seen enough for one night.

The door opened to reveal a rather large room that consisted of employee offices and a couple bathrooms. After my experience in the mall bathroom, I wasn't eager to check out another one, even if I did need to use it. The shadows crept menacingly along the walls and made it seem as if the room was breathing with them, as if the room were a living thing.

Across the room, there were two blue-barred gates that were meant to block off the other platforms. One was chained heavily with a rusted padlock and no matter how hard I tried, the lock wouldn't snap or break. The nutcracker…I need the nutcracker, I realized as my gaze traveled to the other blue gate, wide open and contained a stairwell dipping down into immeasurable darkness. Who knew what was waiting down there?

As I breathed in deeply to calm my nerves, I felt like Harry Mason wandering down into a pitch black basement while searching for his daughter. Or maybe my mind was still fuzzy after that collage of images earlier. The darkness seemed to call me and soon I found myself following those stairs, down to a level where no one could possibly hear me scream and where the darkness wrapped around me like a velvety cocoon.

…

The platform was unlike any other I had seen yet. It was shut down and appeared to not have been used for some time. A mesh grate covered the subway tracks and easily lined up with the edge of the platform to make one huge floor. Columns stood like still guards in the middle of the room and gates prevented me from progressing any further into the tunnel. A few benches remained near the walls, one broken in half beyond repair with large splinters of wood sticking up dangerously.

Somewhere in the blackness, the outline of a figure moved even though it was too dark for me to see what it was. Whatever it was, it was trying to stay hidden. As slowly as possible, I curled my fingers around my gun even though I was sure I only had a couple bullets left. Come on, doggy. Try and get me. I'm not in the mood.

Recalling the steps of the game, I knew there would be another stairwell across the room, leading down into a lower level—how many levels did this subway have?—and that was where I would find the nutcracker. It was just a matter of getting over there. Doggy, I know you're there.

Impatience was affecting my decisions; I was almost inclined to just run and see how far I got. Out of the corner of my eye, a flash of movement came and settled close to my left. It was moving, treading carefully so as not to alert me to its intentions. Yeah, I'm smarter than that. I know what you're trying to do.

People often tell you that when something threatening is near, you shouldn't make sudden movements. You should just stay still and wait until the creature—whether it's a tiger or, in my case, an abnormal dog—strikes first. Yes, I was smart, but I also wanted to get the hell out of this subway.

Hastily, I sprinted across the room, my boots clomping against the metal mesh floor. A growl erupted from behind me and the clicking of the dog's toenails trailed after me. My lungs burned as I attempted to rush staright for the stairwell. Almost there.

I skidded to a stop as I saw what was blocking my path to the stairwell. One of those fat, enormous creatures—an Insane Cancer—was lying right in front of the stairs, its obese gray body swelling with each breath it took. To me, it looked a little like the trolls from Harry Potter. Its thin eyes stared up at me before it lumbered to its feet, towering over me. The dog's feet padded closer while the Insane Cancer slowly raised an arm to throw me back. Ducking under its arm, I tripped down the stairs and escaped the monsters that would be waiting for me later.

…..

To my sheer relief and with a bit of irony, the lowest level of the subway was by far the brightest. The lamps glowed so white, that it nearly gave me a headache but I welcomed the throbbing. There was little space to move and a pile of junk filled the majority of the room. There were old green bottles, crates, racks, magazines, and bags scattered everywhere. Positioned on one of the wooden crates was the silver nutcracker, gleaming in the light. There you are. Now it's time to find the train and get out.

Despite my glee, I didn't forget about the creatures above. Cautiously, I crept up the stairs and prepared for any type of attack. Before I got to the top of the stairs, I slipped the nutcracker in one of my boots. It was uncomfortable, but it would have to do, especially if I was going to run.

Peeking my head around the edge of the stairs, there was no sign of any monsters. The Insane Cancer had vanished without a trace. The howls never reached my ears and there was no clicking of the hounds' long nails. What happened to them? Why did they disappear? Taking it as a good sign, I dashed through the dim room until I was climbing the next set of stairs. Whatever. Don't rush to reappear, stupid dogs.

Breathless from running, I retraced my steps to the blue gate, still chained. Taking the nutcracker from my boot, I managed to fit the small padlock in the hole and forced it with all my strength. The first time my hand slipped from the effort and the nutcracker clattered to the floor. This is harder than I thought it would be. Picking up the tool again, I tried it for a second time. My hand was hurting from gripping the nutcracker so hard, but it paid off. The padlock snapped loudly and fell to the white tiled floor.

The blue gate crashed open and bounced against the wall. Anxious to find the train, I took the stairs two at a time and almost fell a few times. The platform below was for Bergen Street and looked exactly like the other one I had been on, when the ghost had interrupted me rudely. Along the track was a red door, probably for an office or control room for the platform. There were no monsters in sight and no train approaching either. Let's hope I have better luck than Heather.

Lowering my legs down onto the track, I hurried over to the red door. A window was beside it and I could see inside to a control room with video monitors tracking the entire platform. In one screen, I could see me next to the door and it was then I noticed a small black camera above my head, its red light blinking.

My fingers found the knob and I twisted it, but the knob wouldn't budge. The room was locked. A gray figure moved on one of the television screens and my eyes widened. One of the Double Heads was silently leaping for me. Moving out of its path, the dog collided with the door and slid down to the tracks. The insistent horn of an oncoming train sounded and my heart went into overdrive.

Turning, I saw the yellow platform in front of me, the only "safe" spot now. Another Double Head, one I hadn't known was there, pounced on my back, causing me to fall face forward on the metal tracks. Pain seared through my head and a heavy weight kept me from getting up. Hot breath tickled the skin of my neck and I knew it was there, its jaws bared to tear into my throat. Is this how it's going to end?

The train horn was closer and now I could hear the roaring of its wheels on the track. The dog's teeth nipped the skin of my neck and then the hot breath grew rapid as it opened its mouth. As a last attempt, I swung my gun up and smashed it into the dog's skull. The Double Head yelped and staggered off my body. Leaping up, I jumped onto the platform and pulled my body up, just as the train glided past, crushing the two creatures below. Blood splattered onto my face as the train halted.

A door slid open close-by while my heart hammered inside my chest. For a minute, I laid my head back against the cool cement of the platform. The sensation of the dog's sticky, humid breath lingered on my neck. When my nerves relaxed, I stood and didn't hesitate to enter the train. Once inside, the doors closed and the train took off in the opposite direction in which it came. There was no going back now; I was stuck on a train ride, speeding towards my next destination.

…..

I wanted to get the subway done in one chapter. By the way, I don't about you guys, but I HATE the Underpass, even more than the hospital level! /= Well, that's for next time (and I'm going to try to do that in one chapter as well).

Did any of you ever notice any growling near the stairs (close to the turnstiles)? I heard it last time I played and decided to put it in. It was very creepy when I was playing the game.

Well, I hope the readers enjoyed the chapter and I will update as soon as I can.