Disclaimer: I do not own Silent Hill 3. Nothing in this story belongs to me, except for Katy.

A/N: I'm glad you guys enjoy this story so much (and use every good word in your vocabulary to show it!). Enjoy the next chapter! There should probably be only a few more chapters before the end.

Chapter 27: The Library

"Hiya, Katherine." Vincent gazed at me over the rims of his glasses, a smirk present on his face. In his hand was a book, but I doubted he was actually reading it. As if to prove me right, he snapped the book closed and laid it on one of the shelves without taking his eyes off me. "I see you've managed your way here. In one piece, more or less."

"Yeah, and how exactly did you get here?" I recalled how he had vanished before I went to meet Alessa on the carousel. Vincent's smile grew as he realized this was a chance to dangle information in front of me. Carefully, he took a few steps forward and I took a few steps back until I knocked into the table behind me.

"There's more than one entrance to this Church. It's like a spider's web down here. You never know what you'll find in the shadows," he said, drawing out each word deliberately.

"Is it necessary for you to show up everywhere?" Is it necessary for me to think like Heather? Vincent's smile dropped a bit and he acted honestly offended. It was always difficult to tell when Vincent was being dead serious.

"Oh, Katherine. You make me sound like some unwanted pest," he replied in a way that dared me to call him just that. One of his eyebrows raised in anticipation, challenging me.

"Gee, I wonder why that could be. Maybe because that's exactly what you are," I shot back angrily. My hand rested on the table behind me and I leaned away from Vincent. In fake offense, Vincent placed a hand over his chest as if his heart was seriously hurt.

"Why so cruel? I only have pleasant things to think about you, Katherine," he told me. Chills slithered down my spine as he stared at me, his eyes shifting from my face.

"That's it. I'm leaving," I exclaimed, ready to head for the door. I was halfway down the row when Vincent's voice called me back.

"Are you going to kill her?" My feet stopped and I could not fight the urge to face him. There was no question who he was talking about. Vincent was leaning against the table where I had been, his arms crossed and his face calm.

"Why is it that you despise Claudia so much when you two worship the same religion?" It was reasonable for me to dislike Claudia after what I'd seen her do, even if I would not kill her. Maybe Vincent simply thought of her as foolish and insane. Maybe we have something in common after all...

"It's not uncommon for people to worship the same god and still disagree," he stated, straightening up. Claudia and Vincent disagreed in plenty of things, I knew.

"You've finally said something that makes sense," I said, earning a low laugh from Vincent. "No, I am not going to kill her. I am nothing like her."

"You're the only one who can get it done, Katherine," he informed me, gesturing in my direction. My hands clenched at my sides and I suddenly did not want to be in the library anymore. I am so close to ending this nightmare...

"Well, I am not stooping to her level. I will not kill her, but maybe the God will," I said, shrugging. Vincent seemed almost anxious, pacing in front of the table. When his eyes found me again, they became increasingly dark.

"It's funny. You're willing to snuff out all those lives. You spill their blood and listen to them cry out. But you refuse to kill a fool like Claudia," he said, a spark of insanity in his eyes. It was almost as though he enjoyed the idea of me killing those monsters.

"Those creatures weren't even human! Claudia is human and she's not going to die by my hands. Sorry if that seems disappointing to you," I answered. Vincent halted and eyed me with confusion.

"They look like monsters to you?" It may have been one of his tricks and I wasn't falling for it. Then, another thought occurred to me. Did Vincent see those monsters? Or did he see something else entirely, like corrupt members of this Church?

"Do they look like people to you?" Perhaps Vincent did not like the way I questioned him, for he started walking away from me. That was the closest I'd ever get to figuring him out. There was a wall that he was putting up, one he did not like people getting through.

"By the way, did you get the Seal of Metatron?" It took me a moment to remember the seal that belonged to Leonard. Leonard, who was still alive and lurking beneath the hospital.

"No. It doesn't work anyway," I said, though I wasn't sure what the Seal even did. It certainly wouldn't kill the God. Vincent jumped and his eyes grew wide.

"The Seal is important! You can't be rid of the God without it!" Vincent strode toward me until he was only a few inches away. It was then that I fully realized how much taller he was than me; almost a head. I was so used to looking at him from a distance.

"Watch me," I retorted before backing away. Vincent's eyes burned into mine and he sneered at me.

"I suppose you might not survive after all," he muttered. I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. Oh, I won't survive, will I?

"Again, watch me. I just might prove you wrong. Maybe it will be you who won't survive," I replied, using my knowledge to my advantage. It was my turn to dangle my words in front of him. Vincent only watched me with interest and then picked up the book he had been holding.

"You'll need this," he said as he held the book out to me. The title was "Otherworld Laws" and there was a tarot card sticking out of it. Vincent nodded once and swiftly disappeared behind the other row of books. His footsteps became soft as he reached the library door. It opened once, closed, and then he was gone. Glancing down at the tarot card, I sighed. Time to find Claudia. Time to wake up.

...

I hope you liked this chapter. I promise I'll be updating very soon (especially since it's the weekend) so be patient! (=