Disclaimer: I do not own the game Silent Hill 3 or anything relevant to it. All I own is my OC, Katy. That's it.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews; they are, as always, extremely helpful. So, here's the next chapter and I think this one will be longer than the last one. On through the underpass (my least favorite part of the game)…enjoy.

Chapter 8: Underpass

The train station platform was hot and stuffy, making it difficult to breathe. Sweat rolled down my forehead and mixed with my light hair. The light from the subway train cascaded across the gray cement floor and brightened the wall that was directly in front of me. The crimson symbol was on that wall—its glowing red letters gleamed in the light—and it seemed to silently beckon me forward.

As I stared at it, the yellow light of the train vanished, leaving the tunnel in shadows. The doors had slid closed and the train was moving away to the left, picking up speed as it disappeared. There wasn't even a conductor on that train, I thought as I gaped at the space where the train had been only seconds before. How is that possible?

Convinced that the train wasn't coming back, I started moving along the platform, the steady sound of my boots echoing off the walls. The heat was overwhelming and actually seemed to increase with each step. My clothes were sticking uncomfortably to my skin. It was almost like I was walking through hell itself. Maybe I am.

The only door was located at the end of the platform. If I hadn't been worried about getting potentially flattened by another train, I would have walked along the tracks to the next platform until I had reached safety. Somehow, I didn't think my chances would be so good.

As I placed my hand on the doorknob, my eye caught the sight of a keyhole beneath the knob. It was dusty and filled with some kind of disgusting gunk, like it hadn't been used in a while. The doorknob turned easily in my hand and the door creaked open.

A slight breeze tickled my neck and I spun, expecting something to be standing behind me. There was nothing there but the dim railroad tracks. What, did the ghost follow me or something? Or is it just another sign that I'm losing it? Rubbing my neck furiously, I rushed through the door without looking back.

….

Beyond was an endless flight of stairs, stretching upwards into a thick veil of darkness. The door slammed shut behind me and I knew—before I even tried the knob—that it was locked tight. It wouldn't even budge against my weight; it was the equivalent of banging into a brick wall. Sighing, I reluctantly gazed up into the awaiting darkness. Only one way to go….this sucks, I mentally complained.

As soon as I started climbing the stairs, my head began pounding viciously. My stomach clenched until I could barely draw in a breath, only low gasps escaped my mouth. It felt like I was standing in front of Claudia once more, the pain numbing my mind completely. Not again! I can't go through this pain again!

To my horror, the walls shifted from a stony, grayish pallor to a gruesome and gory crimson. Streams of blood trickled through the bricks and down towards the floor. My feet slid along the slippery, messy ground as I struggled to climb the stairs, pools of blood flooding around my boots. Tendrils of oozing blood somehow snaked around my boots and encircled my bare legs, lashing into them like small knives.

It appeared as though the walls were writhing beneath the grime, as if it were alive, breathing, and swelling. The gore covered every inch of the walls and floor, pulsing and squirming like worms until it was one confusing void. I could no longer see the bricks or steps at all. The spasms sent waves of agony through my body as the new texture of the hallway threatened to swallow me alive. My head…it feels like it's going to explode, the small thought floated around my brain.

A high-pitched careening wail pierced my ears. The shotgun fell from my hands and clattered against the slimy ground as I reached up to cover my ears. Almost immediately, the vibrant lines of blood swarmed over the gun like a starving prisoner discovering a fresh source of food. Within seconds, the gun had vanished beneath the gore, blending in with the environment.

Taking small steps, I found the top of the stairwell and the part of it that descended to the next floor below. Actually, my foot stumbled over the edge and I lost my balance, falling backwards into open air. My hands released my ears as I prepared to connect with the steps that were rushing towards my face. My body flipped a couple times as I rolled down the stairs, various parts of me crashing into the hard surface of the invisible steps. It only took a few seconds to reach the bottom, but the experience of landing was excruciatingly painful.

Every part of me ached, even in places that I didn't know existed. White, hot stars danced in front of my eyes and the warmth of blood spilled down the side of my head. It fell over my eyelids and dripped down like dark tears.

Prying open my eyelids, I realized the nightmarish atmosphere was gone. It had left just as suddenly as it had come. The sizzling lights near the ceiling burned bright and my fingers rubbed across the smooth, cool stone floor. Slowly, my breathing returned to normal and the throbbing in my skull decreased. Even so, my heart was still pounding hard and fast in my chest.

"What the hell is going on?" I screeched desperately as I scooted into a sitting position. My thoughts spun wildly and—at this point—I wasn't sure I could even add two plus two. In Silent Hill, it would probably be five, I figured. Nothing was making sense at all and it scared me that I had no sensible answers.

Crawling until I could stand on my wobbling legs, I ascended to the top of the staircase and retrieved the shotgun. I had assumed it had been lost with that mess and it was a relief to feel its weight in my hands. It could be worse. I could be going on without a weapon, which would be a very bad idea.

Checking around to make sure the gore did not intend to return, I pulled out a small health drink in order to stop the aching in my bones. My nose scrunched up with distaste as I drank it down, but the effects took place instantly. Even the harsh wound in my leg was beginning to heal a little more, but it still appeared ragged.

Okay, get it together, Katy. Think calm thoughts. You're not going insane. The only way to escape this nightmare is to just keep moving forward, I tried reasoning with myself. The unexplainable void wasn't coming back, I deduced while studying the ordinary, bland walls. A sudden burst of courage—or maybe foolishness—filled me and I kept my head high while continuing through the adjoined hallway. See, I can do this. Piece of cake…right?

…..

With each step, my so-called bravery slipped further through my fingers. The way I saw it, that whole confusing void was just the first test. I had barely passed it, but it probably meant there were worse things ahead. So what? Bring it on. I already played the game, so I'm ready for anything this place throws at me. I think.

At the end of the hallway were two directions; left and right. In truth, it was really only one direction since the left pathway was blocked off by a chain-link gate. Barrels and crates surrounded it, some tipped over with gasoline and useless junk spilling out. Frustrated, I pushed my hands through the holes on the gate and shook the gate, but nothing happened.

Angrily, I kicked one of the barrels and it rolled off down the hallway. My gaze followed it and then my eyes trained on the wide, yellow door at the other end. It was as big as a garage door and the flickering lights above illuminated it, like it was supposed to be some heavenly, appreciated sight or something. Yeah, right. The only thing that door is going to do for me is drag me further through this living hell.

"Fine, you stupid game. If that's the way you want it, then that's way it has to go. But I'm going to take my time getting there," I muttered crazily. A scream broke the silence, coming from somewhere behind the chain-link fence. It sounded inhuman and chilled me to the bone. Okay, maybe not, I thought as I set off at a run towards the door. There was no way I was going to stick around and find out the source of that scream.

The yellow door had an iron handle attached to it, used to slide it open. Wrapping my fingers around it, I pulled with all my might. The door slid an inch or so and that was it. The door was practically rusted shut from lack of use.

A second attempt at opening the door only resulted in sliding it open another foot or so. Come on, almost there. Just one more try. Tightly holding the handle, I planted my feet on the ground and pulled until my arms felt like they would be torn out of their sockets. Third time's the charm, I thought as the door slid open enough to let me through.

On the other side was a darkened hallway that looked eerily similar to the hallway I had just been in. Shaking my head, I hoped I found the map soon or I'd be lost in this labyrinth. To my right, there was another chain-link fence spanning the entire hallway. Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Let me guess…locked.

Fuming, I turned to my left instead. Murky water dripped from a broken pipe in the ceiling and my feet made a splashing noise as I trekked through the puddle. My mind started to drift as I absently walked along; I wondered when I would find an escape and what my friends were doing now. Probably sleeping and dreaming about going to some awesome party this weekend. Lucky them.

An awful grinding sound—one that competed with the blare of my radio—brought me back into "reality". My insides turned to water as a shadow lurched along in front of me. A brown bug-like creature—honestly, it looked like a massive beetle—crawled towards me. Its legs were replaced with long, sharp knives and its black eyes rolled in its head. It was a Pendulum, the kind of monster that spun wildly in the air and increased in speed whenever it was injured. Oh, hell…

If there was anything I hated more than tunnels, it was bugs. Especially the creepy crawly ones, like beetles and centipedes. My legs refused to move as the thing creeped closer, its tiny fangs bared. Without hesitating, I started running past it and prayed it didn't swing out one of its knives. The Pendulum had anticipated my movement and hastily rotated one of its long knives so that it almost grazed the back of my leg. It can't get me if I find a room. Where's the next room? God, I can't remember.

Panic was taking hold over me, so much that I nearly missed the blue door that was on the right side of the hallway. A sign was taped onto it, but the lettering was terribly faded. The grinding noise—similar to metal or a saw—increased as the Pendulum set out to find me. Hurriedly, I slipped inside the room and pressed my ear against the door until the sounds of the monster disappeared. Just in case, I turned the lock that was above the doorknob.

Gratefully, I allowed my back to use the door for support and I took the time to breathe carefully. Anymore scares and I think I might have a heart attack at seventeen. As my nerves relaxed, I registered the fact that I was in another hallway, this one lined with red bricks. Lifting my body away from the door, I hurried along and was thankful that my radio was silent. Let's try and keep it that way, shall we?

There was a hallway that branched off of this one and it was short. It led to a blue door that looked exactly the same as the one I had entered. Guess this place isn't big on variations, huh? Edging the door open, I found myself inside a small office. It was wrecked. The desks had toppled over along with some filing cabinets. Blood spilled over one of the filing cabinets and a maul—its spikes shining in the light—was stuck in the center.

An old, stained map of the underpass was pinned to a bulletin board with colorful pushpins. Quickly, I ripped the map down and glanced at it. It took me a minute to find my location, but once I did, I folded the map and buried it in my vest pocket. Leaning the shotgun against the desk, I pulled the maul out. It was dreadfully heavy and the first few practice swings sent me reeling across the room. Forget that! It'll slow me down too much. I'll just stick with my trusty shotgun, I decided as I lowered the maul onto the filing cabinet.

In the corner was a locker, the kind that's used in high schools. Dried blood caked the front, especially near the slits at the top. Curiosity filled me as I walked over to it. Small initials were engraved into it reading "W.S." Peering into the slits, I only saw darkness. For a second, I imagined opening the locker and seeing what lay inside, but the memory of the bathroom stall intruded. Oh, no. I'm not repeating that episode. There'll probably be a skeleton or something. Or something…

Pulling my hand away from the locker, I found the door again and left the room. Whatever was inside that locker could stay there. Once in the hallway, I checked my map and traced along the hallway to another door with my finger. If the map was right, there was another blue door further down the main hallway. Retracing my steps, I instinctively turned left and followed the route.

The blue door was there, right before the end of the hallway. It was more stubborn than the others and I had to kick it with my foot in order for it to open all the way. The only thing inside was a rather narrow hall that ended quickly with some piled up garbage. Carts, boxes, and cases had been forgotten, some dusty with age. One case held a bunch of wine bottles, a few of them dating back a hundred years. I'm going to need that, I remembered while I found an empty one. So what am I supposed to do, carry it around in my hand? It certainly won't fit in my pocket, unlike some other Silent Hill characters.

Unsure, I simply carried it by my side with the shotgun in the other hand. If any monsters came at me, there would be no way to shoot. Silently, I sent up a prayer to God and hoped there would be no monsters in my way. Please, God, give me a little luck here. Just a little. A smidge, even.

There was only one door left to take according to the map. This one was a gray door that gave way to a hallway that was so long, it was almost never-ending. From where I was standing, I couldn't even see the other door at the end. Taking a deep breath, I corrected my grip on the wine bottle and started walking.

Newspapers fluttered along the hall even though there was no breeze. Every now and then, it became so eerily quiet that I had the paranoid sensation that something was following me. Craning my neck to look behind me, I saw that there was only the gray door. It was odd since I could feel someone's eyes on my back. Whatever it is, it better leave. My shotgun might not have any bullets, but a monster won't know that. Can you even shoot a ghost?

Chills skittered down my spine as the hall stretched on. I half-expected the bloody void to appear again, ready to torture me some more. The invisible presence seemed to linger on my skin and I could swear the slight whisper of a voice was bouncing off the walls. Keep it straight, Katy. Don't lose it, now. It's just the creepiness of this whole place; it's just getting to you. The door loomed right ahead and I smashed into it, groping for the doorknob as fast as I could. My fingers kept slipping as I latched onto it.

Katy….a thin, solemn whisper skated through my mind as I hurried to open the door. Goose bumps made the hair on my arms stand on end as the voice came again, louder this time. Then, it was like an orchestra of voices, each one repeating my name over and over. No, it's not true. It's not real…how do I open this door?

Just as the voices turned into a deafening, repetitious pattern, the doorknob turned and the door was wrenched open by my hands. Frantically, I shut the door, escaping the long hallway and whatever had haunted me. Sobs threatened to climb up my throat as my lungs sucked in air. That wasn't real. It's just a trick, an insane side effect of this stupid place.

My legs buckled and my body slid down to the floor. My head rested against my knees as I tried to find the strength to continue. What's the point? There'll only be more insane things and creatures trying to kill me….no, I can't think that way. Not yet. I have to go on, at least in hopes of finding a way back to my world, back to my home.

Images of my friends and family splashed along my mind and my will strengthened with each one. Smiling faces encouraged me and told me it would be all right. My mother's warm eyes told me not to be afraid, to face whatever challenge was in my way. It was those memories that helped me to gain my footing and to wipe the water from my swollen eyes. I will get home. I will survive, no matter what I have to do. No matter what I have to kill.

As if on cue, my radio blasted out static. The hallway before me was too dark and my hands reached out for the walls. In the glare of my flashlight, a small Numb Body leaped forward, its eyeless head dipping back and forth with its movements. Bravely, I curled my fingers around the shotgun, ready to stand my ground. This one's for you guys. I'm not giving up yet.

The Numb Body lurched closer and its body folded in on itself as it prepared to stagger into me. Instinctively, I pressed my body against the opposite wall as it jumped forward. It failed to notice my sudden move and it crashed into the door, falling to the cold floor dizzily. Time to make my move, I thought as I drove the butt of the shotgun into the Numb Body's skull. Like an infant, it cried out in pain, but that didn't stop me from kicking it until it was lifeless. That teaches you to never cross me. So what if I don't have bullets?

Proud of my behavior, I marched forward like I owned the place. It might have been a little too cocky, but it felt good knowing I wasn't completely helpless. A devious grin lifted my lips for the first time since I got into this mess. Yep, that's right. I can handle myself.

Two doors stood on either side of the hallway near the end. Both of them had wrinkled signs taped to them, both of them declaring that each room was the "control room." Looking from one to the other, I wanted to think carefully before making my decision.

The metallic sound of a buzz saw cut through the air, interrupting my decision-making. My stomach plummeted and all my cockiness washed away like a gigantic wave had just swept over me. Randomly, I chose the door to my right. Let this be the right one.

The room was another office and definitely not as technical as a control room. Only two computers were placed on the desk. Moving the mice and pressing buttons, I realized the computers didn't work. Damn, and it would have been good to at least send someone out there a message. Just to let them know I exist in this hell.

The other desks appeared to be ransacked and papers were strewn across the room. There was a chalkboard with hundreds of numbers written in red chalk, but none of it made sense to me. Pipes lined the walls and disappeared through some holes in the floor.

A machine in the corner was the only useful thing in the room. It had a red handle and—with a little pulling—it poured out kerosene. Holding the wine bottle under the tap, I pulled the red knob again and kerosene filled the bottle, tinting it a brownish-black. Taking a large eraser from one of the desks, I corked the bottle and swished the oil around. That's all I need.

The sounds of the Pendulum were no longer bothering me outside. I figured the creature had lost interest in finding me at the moment and had wandered off somewhere. Quickly, I charged into the room right across the hall and found that this was the real control room.

A platform took up most of the space in the center. On the platform was a panel of buttons, each one glowing a different color. A gas tank stood off to the side, its cap open and hanging down. There was a ladder leading down into the sewers, but sewage water was flooding the space all the way up to the top rungs.

With a distinct purpose, I took little time pouring the oil in the tank. Closing the lid tightly, I moved over to the panel of buttons and stared at them. Which one am I supposed to press? It doesn't exactly tell you in the game. My finger hovered over a green one and I pressed it. A loud buzz told me that it was the wrong one. Shaking my head, I chose the red one.

All at once, the machine hummed with life and the sewage water clouding the ladder began to drain away. It swirled around the rungs and vanished into the darkness. The machine stopped when the sewage water was all cleared out. Reluctantly, I went to look into the space beneath the ladder. Great, I get to dig even deeper.

Gulping and shifting the shotgun in my hands, I put one foot on the first rung and then lowered my body onto the ladder. The rungs were all slimy and wet with sewage water; I glared at it with disgust and could only imagine what was actually in the water. Ew, ew, gross. God, this water could be completely contaminated!

Biting back my distaste, I took it one step at a time. Soon, the floor above vanished from my eyesight and the damp darkness of the sewers wrapped around me. I am seriously going to regret this, aren't I?

…

Wow, that was a long chapter. That was actually my longest one yet: 8 pages and 4, 000 words! (= I hoped you enjoyed reading it, though.

Also, did anyone else experience that void thing? It was all gory and bloody at the beginning of the underpass. A lot of the videos on YouTube don't show it. So, is anyone else seeing that when they play? And can someone explain to me why it happens? /=

Anyway, I hope you leave a review and tell me what you think (each review is appreciated and helps me to improve in my writing). Until next time!