Disclaimer: As a fan of the Silent Hill games, I do not own anything related to the series at all. I only own my OC, Katy.
A/N: Sorry for the delay; I got sidetracked from my stories. /= But I'm back!
The reviews were really good and so here is the next chapter. By the way, the "W.S" initials in the last chapter did in fact stand for Walter Sullivan (I wanted to add in an easter egg). Of course, there are always some small references to other games in the series. Well, readers, keep reading (and hopefully enjoying) the story!
Chapter 9: Damp Darkness
The rotten, foul smell of the sewers instantly hit my nose as I dropped down from the ladder. It was the worst stench I could ever imagine; it smelled like one thousand decaying bodies. My eyes watered up and my stomach twisted violently. Bile burned my throat as I fought to block out the smell. What died down here? I can barely breathe!
Covering my nose with the palm of my hand, I sloshed through the reddish-brown water towards one of the narrow ledges along the wall. Black grime had veiled each wall and it felt slimy as I steadied myself on the ledge. My hand brushed across the grime and I bit my lip to keep from letting out a piercing scream. It felt wrong and disgusting; I quickly wiped the oozing substance on my skirt. That's so gross! I don't even want to know what's on that wall!
Keeping my hands at my side, I sidled across the ledge until I found an indent. There was a door there, its handle rusted and bent in an odd angle. The handle creaked and groaned as I twisted it; it bent almost to the point of breaking off in my hand. Flecks of rust sprinkled across my palm, their rough edges scratching my skin.
The door collided against the cement wall as I edged it open. The sound of the impact reverberated off the walls, descending into deeper tones as it traveled along the sewer. Beyond the door was a metal drawbridge overlooking the murky water. As I gripped the railing, the drawbridge shook unsteadily as though it threatened to break and plunge my body into the water below. With my luck, it just might happen.
Hastily, I made my way across the bridge and into the room ahead. It was some kind of storage room, filled to the brim with useless junk. Dumpsters lined the wall, each one crammed with items like old cans, bottles, ripped clothing, and even a wheelchair. One of the wheels spun slowly and it reminded me of the bloody wheelchair in the basement of Silent Hill's hospital. This one wasn't bloody, just worn out and old.
There was a wooden chair next to one of the dumpsters. As I laid my hand on the smooth surface, it felt warm to the touch. It was as if someone had been there not too long before. A shiver went down my arms as I removed my hand. That's stupid. There's no other human here except me. Unless it wasn't human.
Ignoring that suspicion, I reached down for the hairdryer that was sitting on the seat of the chair, its wire curled endlessly around the handle. It was awkward carrying the gun in my left hand and the hairdryer in my right. Why in the world would you need a hairdryer at all? I guessed it was the only creative way to kill a monster that lived in the water. Well, that's Silent Hill for you. Always using strange items that are somehow deemed important, I reasoned as I gripped the hairdryer in my right hand.
As I re-entered the tunnel, I noticed that the smell seemed to grow stronger. It clogged my nostrils and I brought my elbow up to cover my nose. Water blurred my eyes and I had the urge to wipe it away, if only I had a free hand.
Across the tunnel was a wide, pale door with a light above it. Jumping down from the ledge into the reddish-brown water, I crossed over to it. Somewhere further away, I heard a man scream and I wondered if it was the man who had gotten killed by that sewer monster. Actually, I don't think I want to know. Spare me the details, I thought while sliding open the wide door. I just hope the sewer monster doesn't come for me.
Somehow, the wide door slid closed behind me, blocking out the putrid smell of the sewer. Even though the hallway beyond smelled a little musty, I could breathe a bit better. Shrill whining cries filled the air, but my radio had yet to catch on. I didn't give the monsters a chance; instead, I passed through the first blue door I could find and I was almost sure it was the right way. If at first you don't succeed, try before you die…again, the strange thought haunted my mind. A moment of euphoria caused me to giggle at the mantra. Oh, God, I really am losing it, aren't I?
I found myself standing in an office, one that appeared to have been used not too long ago. Computers were positioned on long tables, one of the screens revealing a floating box as a screensaver. Papers scattered the floor, most of them containing today's date.
A journal was open on one of the chairs next to the computer with the screensaver. It told of how two other men died in the room just beyond this one and how there was a monster there, waiting. The man who wrote the journal claimed he was going to find a way to kill the thing, with his journal acting as his last will. Looks like he didn't return. Could he be the man I heard screaming?
The door that led to the monster's hideout was slightly open and there were droplets of blood on the floor. It was a horror scene in there; crimson blood trailed along the bridge and dripped down into the murky water. Deep scratches on the floor indicated that someone tried using their fingernails to hold on for dear life. My stomach dropped at the sight of it.
Carefully, I plugged the hairdryer into the outlet in the wall. I was distracted while doing that, even if it was for only two seconds. My back was turned to the bridge and I heard it before I saw it. One long tentacle, with a claw at the end, lunged out of the water and grabbed onto my ankle. Gasping, I fell to the floor, the hairdryer slipping from my hand. The thing began dragging me towards the water and it had a lot of strength. My nails grinded the cement floor, like the nails of past victims. My instincts screamed at me, telling me that if I allowed myself to be submerged in that disgusting water, I would never be coming out. The sewer monster—whatever it was—would win.
The hairdryer was becoming distant as it pulled my legs. Its tentacles felt slimy on my ankles and its suction cups stuck to my skin. Instinctively, I put one knee on the floor and shot my body forward as far as it would go. My fingers grazed the hairdryer and it slid closer to me, just enough so that I could hold one part of it.
As I held onto the hairdryer, the cord began loosening up from the outlet. I could see it moving and any minute it would become unplugged. The monster roared behind me as it struggled with me. No! I can't die down there! I won't die!
The cord ejected from the outlet and suddenly I was being pulled freely along by the monster. Turning, I found the end of the cord and plunged the golden prongs into the tentacle. It didn't go very deep since the tentacle had tough skin, but it was enough. The monster roared again and released my ankle. I fell backwards as the claw disappeared under the water.
"Screw you," I muttered angrily as I pushed the cord back into the outlet and, without hesitating, dropped the hairdryer into the water. Sparks lit up the water with blue light and the sound of the monster electrocuting reached my ears. Its body floated up towards the surface and I noticed it looked similar to an oversized version of a Slurper, the annoying crawly monsters that Heather often faced in the office building.
Hesitantly I walked across the metal bridge, as though I imagined the monster re-awakening. When I got to the center of the bridge, I ran the rest of the way and only stopped when I reached the end. Feeling paranoid, I glanced over my shoulder to make sure the monster was still floating on the surface. You better stay that way or I'll electrocute you again.
A set of stairs led to a ladder. There were a couple machines to the right, but I didn't bother with those. All I wanted was to rejoin the land of the living. Hastily I climbed the steps and the ladder. A trapdoor sealed the exit, but I managed to push it aside with my now broken fingernails. Cool air skimmed my face and fresh air drifted down from the hole. After expressing my gratitude to God, I lifted myself out of the sewer and into the world outside.
…..
That's the end of the chapter. Whew, Heather goes through a lot before she even gets home! Sorry again for the delay of this chapter. I'll make sure to update a little faster next time. (= Until then, reviews are always encouraging and nice.
Also, did anyone else hear that guy screaming? Whenever I go down into that tunnel, I always hear that. Just curious. Oh, the strange things of Silent Hill.