Disclaimer: I do not own the Silent Hill series or anything related to it. All I own is my character, Katy.
A/N: First off, I want to thank Gabe Winter (I was wondering about the name change!) for the awesome review! As always, it's those kind of helpful reviews that help me to improve as a writer. I also kind of noticed this archive is pretty…dead. Oh, well. Maybe some life will return to it sometime. Anyway, here's the next chapter and I hope the readers enjoy!
Chapter 7: In the Train
The train was moving as fast as a rocket. Everything sped by in a blur to the point where the only thing that could be seen out the window was a mixture of colors. It was hard to find my footing and so I had to grip the nearest pole in order to stand.
The interior of the train was chilly and goosebumps crawled along my skin. It was also untidy; trash was scattered on the seats and floor. There were empty soda cans, food wrappers, and torn newspapers. It looked as though someone had held a party on the train or something.
Stepping through the steel door and into the next car, I noticed that the untidiness had been traded for blinding darkness. The lights had burned out and—as the door closed and locked behind me—the black veil suffocated me. It was impossible to see anything up ahead.
Just keep moving, Katy. Keep moving forward, I urged myself. Logically, there was only one way I could move and the next door should be there at the end. As I took a few steps, a soft crying sound rose, sounding almost like an infant. I'm not alone in here, I realized as the outline of a small Numb Body emerged from the shadows.
Fortunately, it was only a small one and it could barely walk; its stubby little legs were struggling to carry the monster closer. Raising my handgun, I prepared to take it down. Something moaned in my ear and I paused, turning slowly to see a much larger Numb Body standing right behind me. My mouth dropped open as it towered over me. Oh, my God…this must be the mother!
As soon as I thought that, the Numb Body swung its head down and plunged into my stomach. The breath in my lungs left me and I hurtled backwards. My body fell to the damp floor while the smaller Numb Body cried out in excitement. Following its mother, the two circled me like vultures waiting to prey on a dying meal. Except I'm not dead yet.
Instinctively, I reached for my gun, which was lying on the ground a few feet away. Forcefully, the young Numb Body leaned down and nipped my hand with a row of hidden teeth inside the hole in its head. Pulling my hand back, I watched as a few red droplets squeezed out of the thin cut. While I was examining the fresh wound, the mother lifted its foot, ready to squash me like a bug. Oh, no…
Hastily, I rolled out of the way as the foot came down, denting the spot where I had been a second ago. If I had still been there, I was sure the mother would have broken my ribs, maybe even punctured one of my lungs with its curled claws. The handgun was so close now; I stuck my hand out and grabbed it as the young one nipped my leg.
"Would you quit doing that?" Angrily, I smashed my foot into its head, causing it to topple onto the floor in pain. A furious cry came from the mother as I injured its baby. "You're next," I warned it, not caring whether it could understand me or not. With a dip of its gray head, it launched its body at me. I barely moved out of the way in time and it collided with a row of seats, breaking them into pieces. Huh, guess it did understand me.
Quickly, I gripped the gun and fired the rest of my bullets. The monster staggered once, twice, and then fell face first to the train floor. The baby was still in agony on the floor and I kicked it until it stopped moving.
Without hesitating, I rushed into the next train car, leaving the Numb Bodies behind to bleed. Carefully, I drew in a breath and winced as pain shot through my chest. Don't tell me that monster actually succeeded in breaking something? Again, I took a breath and the pain increased. Unzipping my white vest, I saw purplish bruises forming on the right side of my torso. They were tender to the touch and water blurred my eyesight as my fingers brushed over them.
Reaching into the bag around my waist, I pulled out an ampoule and applied it to the bruises. Instantly, the pain began to fade and the act of breathing became easier. I'll definitely need to find more ampoules. It was only after the pain receded that I could focus enough to study the train car I was standing in. It looked the same as the first car—trash and all—except for the partially opened present that was placed on one of the seats.
Wrapped inside the pink and blue paper was a shotgun. Underneath the weapon were a couple packs of shells and a note with only the words "Happy Birthday" written in scrawled ink. Who would give a shotgun as a present? Well, it's perfect timing anyway. Slipping the handgun inside my bag, I exchanged it for the shotgun. It was a little heavy in my hands, but I knew it would be more powerful. Now, I need to get to the front of the train, I recalled from the game.
One by one, I rushed through each train car with the shotgun in my hands. It was sturdy and the weight of it made me feel a little better, a little safer. Most of the train cars were bright yet filled with endless trash. Occasionally, one of the cars was shadowy, but no other monsters showed up. Good, stay out of my way! I want to get off this train as soon as possible!
When I entered the last car, my radio burst into life, crackling viciously and warning me that something was coming. Please, not another nasty Numb Body! Anything but that again! I can't afford any more wounds, I thought as I cautiously stepped forward. The lights flickered restlessly and I could just make out the form of an Insane Cancer, lying on the floor amidst the train's grime and litter.
For a moment, I thought it might be sleeping. Ha, I'm not falling for that one. That's the oldest trick in the book! Stealthily, I crept closer until I was within range of the Insane Cancer's enormous body. Raising the shotgun, I aimed for its face, figuring that would be the most vulnerable spot. The Insane Cancer grunted and I pulled the trigger. The gun flew backwards, the end of it striking my shoulder from the impact of firing. The bullet missed the creature's head by an inch or so.
Moaning, the Insane Cancer struggled to its feet, its bulky arms swaying and attempting to lash out at any nearby threats. Briefly, it focused on me and then opened its mouth to groan loudly. Out of fear, I shot at it; the shotgun shell pierced its jaw and half of it exploded into blood and gore. Its tongue rolled limply out of its mouth and hung there, waving back and forth. Trying to ignore that sight, I shot it a second time, this time hitting its chest and making a hole big enough to fit my whole fist.
As it ambled in my direction, I panicked and continued firing until the shotgun clicked, signaling that it was empty. Oh, God. How the hell do you reload this thing? I was still working to figure that out when the Insane Cancer leaned forward, crashing to the ground and rocking the subway train. After a second, its entire figure deflated like a balloon running out of air.
Ssccreeeech! The train suddenly halted, the wheel grinding shrilly on the tracks. Losing my balance, I landed inches away from the Insane Cancer and its empty, sightless yellow eyes were staring at me. The train doors slid open, revealing a gray tunnel. We're already here…wherever this is.
There was no other train car in front of this one. There was no driver at all, which made little sense to me. When I opened the door, all I could see were the train tracks and nothing else. If there's no other car, then who was driving this train? The hairs on my arm prickled and I shoved that suspicious thought aside. Then, I exited the train and began my journey into the Underpass.
…
I know, this chapter is shorter than the others, but I'm saving the Underpass for next time. So, until then, look out for the update, which I will try to get up there as soon as possible. (=