Chapter 2

Thin lines of smoke swirled from October's lips as she carefully lit a cigarette. Deeply she inhaled somehow knowing that this might be the last time she would be able to savor the simple pleasures life had to offer. Pulling her cell phone from her pocket she searched through her contacts and pressed TALK. She brushed her hair behind her ear to hear better, but all she could hear was a strange static sound. Panic spread through her body and she knew she had to find Silas and find him fast. Quickly she dug through her purse her cigarette hanging from her lips as if by only a thread. She pulled out a small LED flashlight she always carried with her and pressed the ON switch illuminating the dark foggy night. Slowly she walked down the street carefully sizing up any dangers that might or might not exist in this drug induced fog so to speak. Quietly she laughed to herself at the pun. Thank God I'm a little high right now, I'm not sure if I could handle this if I wasn't she thought to herself. Although this drug might be the root of the problem it also held a key to her salvation and sanity. Rustling in the bushes, October twirled around so fast that she almost dropped her flashlight. The night was unbearably quiet and not a single soul seemed to be out. "SILAS!" she began to yell hysterically. Her breathing became frantic and her pulse quickened with each step. Please let him be okay, I can't lose another person I just can't. Although her sanity was slipping from her she held onto what little she had left.

Every step that she took seemed like she was walking farther and farther from reality. As if somehow she could actually separate herself from the very fabric of existence. Strange thoughts loomed inside her head and she began to feel a bit dizzy. Finally she came to a sign indicating where she was since this wasn't where she should be. The green faded sign read " Welcome to Silent Hill". The sign felt ominous and final. This was where she was this was a place she did not know and she must push forward. She now knew she was no longer in the safety and comfort of familiarity. This town was not the town she had called home and yet the name seemed to stir something inside her that her subconscious had yet to discover.

Continuing down the road she could barely make out anything the mist and fog completely erased any forms of life or scenery. Noises resembling muffled screams emanated from the darkness, but she couldn't let it get to her fear was not a luxury she could currently afford. Tall dilapidated buildings began to form out of the cloudy temperance. Boarded windows and doors. Glass littering the street like a sea of diamonds. It crunched beneath her feet, oddly it was deafening. She had to stop for a second to catch her breath and actually make a plan where she should search first. Above her was a blinking light post the light dimming and brightening with such random patterns it gave her a pounding headache. Suddenly on the corner she spotted the street signs. Currently she was at the corner of Carroll St. and Nathan Ave. the names meant nothing but if she could somehow find a map or directory maybe she could figure out where Silas could possibly be and how to get home. She passed a building that said Pete's Bowl-o-rama it too looked like no one had been there in a long time the paint was worn and chipped the glass broken, rust and mildew speckled the sides of the building. She decided that she would start here and headed toward the door. Out of the fog appeared a woman mid twenties, very attractive. Her cropped blonde hair had bright red tips that tousled in the wind. Her eyes were a startling blue that almost seemed inhuman. She was dressed very provocatively which seemed very out of place her short skin tight leopard pink skirt shimmered in the street lights. A small butterfly tattoo peeked out from the top of her skirt on her left hip. As October got closer to the woman it seemed as if at first she didn't see her. "Hey" October blurted out her patience fleeting. "Hey there". This woman had a way about her, she almost oozed sexuality her voice sultry and teasing almost intimidating. " Hey I'm not exactly sure how I got here, but I am looking for a friend of mine maybe you have seen him?" October searched the woman's face for something anything, but she was as placid as the top of a quiet lake. "Who James? Are you Mary he's looking for you as well". Puzzled October wondered who this James was and why she would think he was looking for her." No my name is October. I'm looking for my friend Silas." Looking her up and down the woman responded. "Oh well then... guess everyone is looking for someone." A smirk crept across her lips. "I'm Maria".