Disclaimer: I do not own the Silent Hill series…if I did, I wouldn't be writing this story, would I? The only character that is mine is my OC, Katy.

A/N: First off, I am incredibly sorry it took a while to post this chapter. I just couldn't get into the mood for writing. I just hope you guys are staying with me!

Second, thank you for the wonderful reviews! I also want to thank Gabe Winter for the suggestions (I will definitely rely on those in the next chapter!). Also, happy (belated) birthday, Kat!

Chapter 15: Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me

Douglas was waiting for me in the living room. He was hunched over, observing Harry Mason's butchered body with a grimace. When I entered the room, his solemn eyes found mine. Those eyes widened in surprise as they roamed over my tattered, messy appearance.

"I know what you're thinking. I didn't murder anyone, I swear," I said with a thin smile that would never reach my eyes. The fury over Claudia still burned inside me, but it was slowly fading now that she was out of my sight.

"I'm sorry about—" Douglas gestured to Harry's body occupying the once clean chair. I nodded, attempting to avoid glancing in that direction.

"It wasn't your fault. It was Claudia," I told him, much to his disbelief. Douglas combed a hand through his gray hair, gazing down at Harry's body in wonder.

"Claudia killed him? For what reason?" He shook his head in confusion, trying to understand. He dropped his hand limply to his side. I remained by the open side door, letting the breeze wash away my boiling anger.

"Revenge," I stated briskly. Before Douglas could open his mouth to question Claudia's motive, I weakly motioned to the yellow chair. "Mind helping me move his body? It'd be better if he were in his bedroom," I asked, not really excepting 'no' as an answer. I simply could not bear to see the gory remains of Harry Mason any longer. Douglas obliged, lifting Harry's body onto his shoulder with a grunt and carrying him off.

I followed Douglas into Harry's bedroom. Blood was staining his coat, but he didn't seem to care. With his face red from exertion, Douglas laid Harry on the mattress, placing his hands in a folded manner on his chest.

"Are you okay?" I asked the detective with concern as he started coughing, muffling it with an old handkerchief from his pocket. He held up a hand, silently informing me to give him a moment.

"I'm fine. This shoulder isn't what it used to be," he explained in a tired voice. Stepping away from the bed, he leaned against the wall to catch his breath.

Meanwhile, I gazed down at Harry's body. His eyes were open and void of life. Blood had seeped into his eyes, tinting the eyeballs red. Gently, I used two fingers to close his eyelids forever. Carefully, I lifted the sheet and covered his body, dropping a couple of flowers onto it—ones I had taken from a nearby vase. I'm sorry…

"What'll you do now?" Douglas spoke from the corner. For a second, I had forgotten he was there, too busy staring at the effects of Claudia's insanity.

"I'm going to Silent Hill," I announced. It was the only thing I could do, if only to escape from this twisted world that I was stuck in. Douglas appeared to consider this for a minute.

"What's in Silent Hill?" His questions—though he meant well—were starting to annoy me. What do you think is in Silent Hill? Rainbows and ponies? My irritation was irrational, but I couldn't help venting after my confrontation with Claudia.

"Bad things. Nightmarish things that nobody could have dreamed in their worst nightmares," I said. Nobody…except Alessa, that is.

"Do you think it's safe?"

"What the hell do you think? It will probably throw me on the verge of getting killed, but I have to do this," I explained. I heard the truth in my words and wished I hadn't. Would I even make it out alive? "Claudia won't get away with this," I muttered, my eyes straying back to the raised form under the sheet. Besides, it's the only way I'll end this, I thought, suddenly missing my warm bed and my own home.

"Revenge doesn't solve anything," Douglas started on a useless lecture. It was what Claudia was seeking, after all. Maybe I'm stooping to her level…

"I don't need a lecture. My mind's already made up and I'm not changing it anytime soon," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly. Douglas seemed to get the idea that he couldn't reason with me.

"Fine. I'll give you a ride," he offered. When I didn't reply, he seemed to take that as a 'yes.' "I'll bring the car around back. Come by when you've finished saying goodbye," he said before leaving me alone with Harry Mason's body. I didn't bother mentioning that Douglas might die; I figured he knew it already.

….

After Douglas left, I closed the door to Harry's bedroom forever. Quietly, I wandered through the apartment and found Heather's room. It was smaller than Harry's room; it only fit Heather's plain bed, a dresser and a small desk. A couple small posters hung on the walls, ones I could never recognize.

Instantly, I strode over to the bathroom and discovered the mirror covered by a thin sheet. Reaching for it, I pulled it away and let it fall to the tiled floor. That's right…Heather's afraid of mirrors. I'm not.

Still, the person staring back at me looked like a stranger, hidden beneath the endless gore that was caked onto my skin. Turning the tap on the sink—with actual clean water gushing out—I carefully removed the soaked cloth around my leg.

For a few minutes, I used a facecloth to soak the wound, though it didn't look as bad as I thought it would. The mirror opened to reveal a cabinet and inside I found some gauze, which I wrapped around my leg. At least it's better than using a turtleneck, I thought as I made sure the gauze held firmly.

I didn't bother with my blood-stained hair or the blood on my clothes; I imagined it would only get worse once I got to Silent Hill. The last thing I did was tie gauze around the cut in my palm. That's as good as it's going to get, I told myself as I surveyed my reflection.

As I did so, I thought I saw a shadow move in the bedroom behind me and I spun. There was nothing there and the lamp beside the bed was burning brightly, leaving no shadow untouched. Frustrated, I rubbed my temples with my fingers and sighed. Keep it together, keep it together…Taking a long look at the room, I exited the apartment and decided to take Douglas up on his offer.

…

Again, sorry for the wait! The next chapter will certainly be interesting (surprise appearances, new places, maybe some trouble for Katy…the possibilities are endless). So, I hope you guys will keep reading.