Disclaimer: I do not own Silent Hill 3. I only own the character of Katy.

A/N: Uh-oh, here comes the showdown! It's the moment you've all been waiting for. Now read and enjoy.

Chapter 30: The Time Has Come

"Well, the guest of honor has arrived. Let's get this party started," Vincent exclaimed, giving me one of his most bone-chilling smiles yet. Claudia glared at Vincent's back, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Katherine, go ahead and kill this crazy bitch," Vincent growled as he pointed at Claudia behind him. "This...this demon who claims to speak for God! The time has come...you can kill her now."

"I already told you I am not going to kill her," I responded calmly. Claudia nodded once as if accepting this. Vincent's smile drooped and he gaped at me in surprise. Did he think I would change my mind? My fingers floated up to my throat to grasp the small pendant. As long as I had that, I'd be fine. Theoretically.

"Then she will birth God and bring us Paradise, as I've said. And you, Vincent, will go to hell," Claudia stated, drawing out each word carefully. My mind clicked and I suddenly knew what was coming next. Maybe I can change a few details in this game...maybe...

"Vincent, move!" His eyes grew wide and he opened his mouth to respond, but it was already too late. He released a moan of pain as Claudia forced a knife into his back. Her eyes were cold and heartless, without a care in the world for what she had just done. How many more people needed to die by her hands?

Vincent lifted a hand as if to touch the blade in his back and then fell face forward. His body twisted as he landed until he was staring up at the dark ceiling above. Blood began to pool around him, soaking into the floorboards, and his eyes grew glassy.

Deep, gurgling sounds came from his throat as if he were trying to speak through blood. It sent tendrils of anger and disgust through me, just watching his body become lifeless on the ground. Just because he annoyed me didn't mean I wished him dead. I would not wish anyone dead...even Claudia now. That is the difference between me and her.

"What did you do?" My legs carried me to where Vincent lay on the ground. His eyes slowly focused on me. He was alive, but just barely. In his case, there were probably only inches left before he stepped through that door to death. Claudia shrugged it off easily, though it should not have surprised me at all. As long as people were in the way of her Paradise, the shedding of blood would not stop.

"Nothing important," she said nonchalantly, gazing down at Vincent as if he were just another piece of the floor, something that belonged there. I was sure I had an ampoule left in my bag. Would it be enough to save Vincent, now that he was dying so fast?

"You call killing someone unimportant? No wonder you're going to hell," I retorted, gritting my teeth. Maybe I could not bring myself to kill her, but at least I could still admit that I depised her.

"You sound like Vincent, but no matter. For now, we must face the beginning, Alessa. It is as Vincent said: the time has come. Can't you feel it?" Claudia bowed her head as if in prayer and a jolt wrenched through my skull. Pain exploded in my stomach and I doubled over until I was kneeling beside Vincent's body.

It was too intense; it ached through every bone in my body until I thought I would disintegrate into little pieces. I was only vaguely aware of the doors opening and the pounding of footsteps approaching. I thought I heard Claudia ask something, but my brain was unable to process anything but the pain. Who...who...oh, please let it stop!

Suddenly, it began to subside and the aching faded from my body. That was when I heard a deep, raspy voice, one that was all too familiar. My insides froze and I prayed I was just imagining it.

"I'm afraid you are terribly mistaken, Claudia."

...

Okay, so I figured this would be another quick chapter. I'm simply coming up with new ideas and this is how it turned out. Don't worry-this short chapter is not enough to satisfy my craving for a little writing. So, it's safe to say I'm practically halfway through writing the next chapter (at least in my head, anyway).

So, who is the mysterious person that just showed up? Hmmm...until next time!