chapter 5: balkan church
It was old fashioned, with gray bricks and a large cross on the top, signaling a Baptist Church. It was a small church for a small town. The bell had already stopped ringing, but whoever it was hadn't had time to leave the church yet. He opened up the doors. It was small like he'd though, with several rows of pews. At the opposite end was a bronze depiction of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. In front of the altar was the figure of an old woman. She turned as the doors to the church closed.
She moved her bottom jaw, as though she was chewing something and popped her neck. She was wearing a brown wool Shaw and a tattered veil like article that pulled her salt and pepper colored hair up. Some strays had fallen along the side of her face. She was wearing an ugly white skirt and old house looking shoes. Her face was lined with wrinkles, and dark circles outlined her gray eyes. "Were you ringing that bell?" Harry asked.
"I've been expecting you. It was foretold by Gyromancy." She said slowly, her voice old and withered. "What are talking about?" Harry asked in question.
"I knew you'd come. You're here for the girl," she smiled, "right?"
"The girl…! You're talking about Cheryl?" He took several steps forward, thinking that this old hag was the one who had his daughter. "You know something damnit, tell me!"
The old woman stuck her hand out. "Stay back! Nothing will be gained from floundering about at random. You must follow the path." Harry shook his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about, just tell me where I can find my little girl." He said slowly, willing anger to stay tucked away. The old woman continued however.
"The path of the hermit, concealed by the Flauros." She pulled out a fist sized Pyramid shaped object. It vaguely resembled Pyramid Head's helmet. She turned it and set it on the altar. "Here, the Flauros, a cage of peace." She turned back to face him. "Make haste to the hospital before its to late!" With those words, she turned and headed toward the confessional door. "Wait, don't go!" Harry called out, but she was already gone. He pulled out the map while staring strait ahead in thought. "Who was that? What is Gyromancy?" He shook his head and looked around.
A hospital was no where in site in Old Silent Hill. He looked over to the Central Silent Hill section of the map, which included the attractions part. Finally near the bottom he saw two words that made his heard jump. Alchemilla Hospital
He smiled. Is Cheryl really there? He tucked the map away and walked to the altar and picked up the object she had called Flauros. It was rather heavy and an odd bronze colored. It would only fit in his jacket pocket. Also on the altar was a drawbridge key. He stuck it in his pocket, and left the chilly church. He could just keep going right and would go over the bridge that leads to the shopping district. He started walking, wondering what time it was.
His watched had stopped at 11:30 p.m., the time the crash happened apparently. The streets of Silent Hill were so quiet, and the buildings were large and ominous, vague in the thick fog. "I wonder where the fire happened…" Harry whispered aloud. On his way he saw a broken gun shop. Everything was in a state of clutter, but he managed to scrounge up some handgun bullets. Finally he reached the bridge, but it was raised for ferries. A drawbridge tower was located to the right. He walked over to hit and headed up inside. It was very disassembled, with trash scattered about.
A large contraption was at the opposite end. Buttons were everywhere, but only two things interested Harry. A slot for a key with a sign underneath that read Drawbridge Key and beside it was a lever that said Lower bridge He inserted the key, and the thing sprung to life, lights flashing and message popping up on the monitors. He pulled the lever down, and he saw ahead out of the lookout window the bridge go down and disappear into the fog.
He chuckled and headed out of the tower and onto the bridge. "If only cars worked…" He thought, tired of running all over Silent Hill. Finally he reached the shopping district. Instead of quaint old houses, small churches, schools, and everyday resort town things that were located in Old Silent Hill, there were discount stores, motels, hospitals, super centers, police stations, Town Hall, and malls.
On up past Central Silent Hill was the amusement area, with the Lakeside Amusement Park, lighthouse, Rosewater Park, and things like that. If he took a right onto Crichton Street he could make it to Alchemilla Hospital. He put the map away and began jogging down toward the hospital. His radio started going off, and he saw several of the monster dogs sleeping near an old willow tree.
He went past the quietly and undetected. As he neared the hospital, he saw the road disappear in the back. He walked to the back of the hospital and saw as soon as the building ended, the road was completely obliterated. Harry shuddered at the thought of being inside the hospital and it tumbling into the foggy abyss. He went back around to the front gates. A large sign hung on each of the gothic metal gates with a red cross.
Alchemilla Hospital
Harry pushed them open and walked up to the front doors.
"Please God, let Cheryl be here…" He whispered.