"Oh, its you." The girl said, sounding disappointed. She was facing the mirror with the knife right in front of her face, staring intently at the blade.

James walked further into the room. "Yeah, I'm James." He said, trying to sound friendlier for some reason, trying turn the girl away from whatever demons she was seeing.

The girl was silent for a moment. "Angela." She said.

"Angela…okay." James said, coming closer. It was making him nervous the way Angela stared so intently at the knife, like she was thinking long and hard, or else she had made up her mind and was just waiting… "I don't know what you're planning, but there's only another way."

Angela sighed and scowled at her own reflection. "Really?" She asked, her voice sounding tired. "But, your just the same as me, it's always easier to just run." Her voice took on a darker, sadder tone. "Besides, it's what we deserve."

James's green eyes widen. He couldn't believe that anyone would ever think… "No…I'm not like you."

Angela appeared to find this amusing. "Are you afraid?" She asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm and mockery as she started to sit up. Her reflection gave him a mocking grin. Suddenly, her hand went to her face and the grin was replaced with a slight grimace. "I, I'm sorry." She said quickly in her normal voice, looking a tad ashamed.

"No, it's okay." James said in his most assuring voice, feeling more sympathetic tan mad for the poor confused girl. "Did you find your mother?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

"Not yet," Angela said sadly. "She's not anywhere."

"Did she live in this apartment building?" James asked.

Angela sighed again. "I don't know…"

"So all you know is that she lived in this town." He ventured, trying to get a straight answer.

Angela looked up at him quickly, her face registering suspicion. "What did you say?" She asked, her brown eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"

"Well," James said, a bit surprised by her sudden mood swing. "I just figured because this is where you're looking for her." He said. "How else would I know?"

Angela seemed satisfied; she looked down and folded up her knees. The knife in her hand was slung over one knee, dangling so carelessly from her hand, the blade so shiny… "Yeah." She finally said.

"Am I right?"

Angela groaned and put her hand to her head. "I'm so tired." She said.

Did she just purposely change the subject? James wondered. When Angela said nothing else, he tried again. "So, why did you come to this town anyway?"

Angela winced slightly and looked down shamefully at the ground. "…I, I'm sorry." She apologized. "Did you find…the person you're looking for?"

James removed the letter from out of his breast pocket and moved closer to Angela, holding the picture out in front of her face. "Her name is Mary, she's my wife…" Angela stared at the picture for a few seconds then sadly shook her head. "I'm sorry."

James sighed and tucked the picture back away, feeling hope die down. "It's okay." He told her, turning away for a second. "Anyway, she's dead. I don't know why I think she's here."

Angela's head popped up, she looked astounded. "…She's dead?" she asked a bit incredulously, her face paling for a split second. James shifted uncomfortably on his feet, wondering why he had bothered to bring that up. Could it be…he was trying to convince himself that Mary was really dead, she wasn't really here?

He looked up, and suddenly realized that Angela was staring at him with the most oddest expression. "Don't worry," James said, holding up his hands, as though trying to convince himself. "I'm not crazy, at least, I don't think I am." There was a few seconds of silence. Angela finally stood from the floor, casting him another cautious look.

"I-I have to go find my mama." Angela said, walking toward the door.

"Do you want me to go with you?" James offered. "This town is dangerous, now I know what you meant back there in the cemetery."

Angela looked at him carefully. Maybe she still thought he was crazy, or maybe there was just something more to it. "I'll be okay by myself. Besides, I'd just slow you down." She offered, backing away towards the door.

Once again, the light hit the blade of the knife, making it glint evilly. James swallowed hard and pointed to her knife. "What about that?"

Angela glanced down at her knife a mask of pain came over her face. She forced her gaze away from it and looked up at James with pleading eyes as though asking…asking to be saved?

"Will you hold it for me?" She asked him in timid voice. Her eyes pleaded and argued with him, asking for different things.

James smiled, trying to look friendly, but it came out as sad. "Sure. No problem."

Angela glanced back down at it. "If I kept it, I'm afraid what I might do with it." She said softly, sounding like a little girl. James gave her an understanding nod. A light blanket of relief came across her face.

James reached out his hand toward the knife, offering to take it. A weird glaze sprang into Angela's eyes suddenly, a frightened look on her face materialized. "No!" She shouted, drawing the knife back protectively in front of her abdomen as though defending herself. James jumped in surprised, thinking she may be ready to drive the blade through his middle. "I'm sorry…I've been bad…please don't…" Angela cried out. She placed the knife on the table next to the door and hurried out of the room, her pleas echoing in James's ear.

What was that about? James wondered, bewildered. He stepped forward and picked up the knife from the table, a chill creeping up his spine. The blade on the knife was stained red, but from what? James wondered as he set the knife back down on the table. A key that lay on the table caught his attention. The key was marked 209.

209. James mused. The apartment that was locked.

James placed the key in his pocket and started to exit the room, the sight of the knife out of the corner of his eye stopped him. Maybe…he should take it. What if Angela came back, what if…James scowled and picked up the knife, examining it. Whose blood was this? It wasn't a very large knife, it easily fit into James's large pocket.

I told Angela I would hold on to it for her. James thought. Not leave it out where she can find it and…

James took the knife.

He exited the room and went back into the still, quiet hallway. He made his way back in front of room 209 and fitted the key into the lock. James stepped inside the apartment, realizing it was chillier than most of the rooms in here. He saw why. The balcony door had been left open, exposing all the cold air. James walked out onto the balcony and looked out at what should have been Silent Hill, the sky and fog were the same, it was only a sheet of gray.

James coughed and moved over the balcony, for some reason lost in the gray mist, being pulled further into it. He was no in front of another room, with the balcony door opened. James gave the endless fog one last glance before ducking into the other room. A bed lay in the middle of the room which wasn't very big. James saw that on the bed a key lay on top of a piece of paper. James went over and picked up the key from the bed, examining it in his hands. FIRE ESCAPE KEY. A smile spread across James's face, softening it for just a second before returning to its usual hard, rough appearance. There it was her scent…

James cleared hi throat distractedly and lifted the letter from the bed, allowing the sickening sweet odor to fill his nostrils. Suddenly, he lifted the paper closer to his nose and inhaled again, this time more deeply and longer, welcoming the scent of fresh flowers to fill him for a second, bringing him to tears. Damn, he loved Mary so much. Why had she left? Why was she back?

Mary.

James hurriedly opened up the letter and read.

The pain in my back is only getting worse; I can barely sit up in bed anymore. I'm so frightened; what is happening? Today I got the scare of a lifetime. James had come to visit me (He bought me roses this time.) and was called out into the hallway by the doctor. They were out for a long time, maybe ten minutes. Afterwards, James walked back into the room looking like he needed more medical attention than me. I asked him what was happening, but he wouldn't tell me. He wouldn't even look at me. Finally, when he was about to leave, I pulled his face toward me, forcing him to look into my eyes, and kissed him softly. At first, he didn't react. Then he started to cry, no, weep. I had never seen James cry like this, and then he just hurried out of the room. I'm so scared now; I know its bad news.

I remember that day. James thought to himself. I remember that. They told me Mary was going to die then, and I just couldn't take it.

James grimly placed the letter back down on the bed and hurried out of the room back onto the balcony. Once again, the endless gray dragged him in further and further, as though trying to consume him. For one moment, James forgot about everything and his mind went dead, lost in the sea of gray. He snapped out of it and gave his head a rough shake, trying to wake back up. He muttered softly under his breath and went back into the other room and back into the hallway.

It wasn't hard to find the fire escape, a dimly lit sign sat at the end of the hallway. James walked over to it, cautious of any creatures that might be lurking in the distance. As strange as it was, he wasn't quite as afraid as before, of course, when he was fighting, his heart rate sped up, but it was almost as though he…needed it? Needed it for what? To get out his anger? Why had he been angry? So many questions. James grimaced and put a hand to his head, he was only confusing himself further.

He tried the key in the lock o the fire escape and heard the beautiful sound of the door unlocking. Unfortunately for James, he believed his ordeal was half over. He thought from now on, he would waltz into the park, grab Mary, tell her how much he missed her, and they would both escape the town unhurt. He didn't now of half the madness of Silent Hill or the horrible fate that awaited him.

James hurriedly stepped into the room and shut the door behind him.

But he wasn't alone.

Something was already there.

James took one look at the scene and his hand instantly gripped tighter around his hand gun. Pyramid Head stood in the room, the dead carcass of a straight jacket demon, bloodied, lay in its hands. The demon dropped its prey onto the ground.

A tight feeling in his chest awoke him from his hazy state. James backed up and put his hand on the door knob exiting the room, only to find it was locked from the outside. It was too late; the Pyramid Head was already starting toward him, dragging the longest knife James had ever seen that made a horrible grating sound as it crossed the floor. James glanced over to his left and saw that the staircase was nearby. He quickly dove hurried over to the and stepped down one step just as freezing cold water pierced through his jean leg. James gasped and pulled his pant leg out, realizing that the entire stairway was filled with water. He was trapped!

There was only one choice left. James raised the handgun and aimed it directly at the Pyramid Head's helmet and shot it three times in a row. The bullets bounced off the odd helmet with a hollow ping and the monster stopped for a few seconds, his back arching backwards for a few seconds as he paused and cringed in pain. James lowered the gun for a second, his breath coming out hard as he watched. It did no good. The Pyramid Head was coming back at him.

James tired the gun again, this time aimed at the creature's stomach, but he recovered in a second again. James felt his hope sink and his stomach rise; there was nothing he could do, he was the one trying not to be killed now, this creature wasn't like the others.

James waited for Pyramid Head to come closer. Sweat dripped down from his head and his face was white with concentration.

I'm going to need luck. He thought to himself. I can only try to survive.

As the creature came closer, it began to raise its knife higher off the ground, preparing to strike James. James watched the large blade nervously as it lifted it slower and slower. Time seemed to slow down. Finally, the Pyramid Head was about four feet away from James and the knife was no about three feet into the air. That was all the muscular creature needed to swing. The knife came down fast and hard toward James, leaving a few feet of space between the knife's blade and the monster. James closed his eyes and darted toward that area as fast as he could and slid through that small space as if he was sliding on home in a baseball game. The other side of the room rushed toward James as he slid pass his death. James whirled around and faced the monster on his feet with a fire in his eyes. He had done it! But for how long will this go on?

James swallowed nervously as the monster straightened up again, he was coming back. James resumed a ready position as the monster drew up its great knife and turned back around. James sucked in a breath and waited for it to come back.

RRRRRRRRRRR!

The sound of a siren filled the room suddenly, causing James to look up, bewildered. Pyramid Head also looked up, suddenly losing all interest in James. James watched in confusion and relief as the great monster began to descend down the water filled staircase. James only stood there, holding his breath until Pyramid Head had disappeared down. There was the sound of gurgling and the water started to quickly drain out until it was all gone.

Fwwwooo. James let out his breath as relief filled him. He suddenly did the most outrageous thing, he began to laugh. He couldn't believe his luck, he had come o close to dying. James realized he should be crying instead. He didn't know why, and that only made him laugh harder.

James finally took a deep breath and was able to stop himself, though he was still smiling. He began to walk down the slippery steps of the fire escape, once again thinking how lucky he was to escape this. Was it really luck? Or was it fate?

James exited the door of Blue Creek Apartments and walked down the next flight of stairs. Outside, the fog clung to the town like a rope. James shivered suddenly, although he didn't know why. He wasn't feeling too well either. His head was pounding and…well…he was confused.

The map told him that Rosewater Park wad right up ahead; he would just have to walk there. James removed Mary's picture again from his jacket and stared at it again, although her entire face in the picture he should have memorized already.

Is this the woman I will find? James wondered, his eyes scanning over Mary's happy, healthy face. Or will I find the stranger in the hospital? Will I even find anyone?

James sighed and placed the picture back into his jacket and trudged forward.

He was still walking when he suddenly heard the distant sound of a voice…a little girl's voice. James paused then continued to walk further. He thought he was mistaken. No, as he went closer, he could clearly make out the figure of a small girl sitting on the edge of a wall, humming to herself. James suddenly remembered the little girl in Woodside Apartments who had stepped on his hand and a wave or irritation went over him. A little girl? Here?

James walked nearer. "It was you, wasn't it?" He asked angrily. "You're the one who stepped on my hand."

The little girl looked up at him, a bit startled, and then smiled when she saw who it was. "I don't know," She said with a smirk. "Maybe it was."

James sighed, realizing it would be useless to argue with a kid. "What's a little girl like you doing here anyway?" He asked, trying to sound friendlier.

The little girl squinted her eyes at him and placed her fists on her sides. "Huh? Are you blind or something?" She asked him.

James frowned and realized she was holding something white in her hand. "Hey, what's that in your hand?" He asked her.

The little girl scowled and started to stand on the top of the wall. "None of your business." She shot at him. She shot him one last mean glare. "You didn't love Mary anyway!" She shouted at him as she disappeared behind the wall.

"Wait!" James shouted as she ran away, his heart hammering in his chest. "How do you know Mary?" But it was too late, the little girl was gone.

What did she mean? James wondered his mind suddenly asunder. That's not true; I loved Mary more than anything! I waited for her for three years in the hospital dammit!

"She's lying." James said aloud to himself. He wondered how she knew Mary, why had she said that.

James shook his head and continued walking. Not too far down, a box of handgun ammo was lying in the middle of the street. James picked it up, wondering more about the strange creatures that lurked in the fog. It all seemed so odd, this entire thing. Four days ago, James had believed that his wife was dead and nothing would ever bring her back. A few hours ago, James would have told you that there were no such things as monsters, demons, ghost, but now he wasn't sure about anything. Suddenly, everything he had known was turned upside down.

Closer into the fog, the form of a sign came into view. Rosewater Park. James stopped in front of it, wondering if his ordeal was finally over. It seemed so hard to believe that she was here. What do you say to a loved one whom you thought was dead?

So this is the park. James thought to himself. Mary…are you here?

I lost you once, three years ago to that damn disease. It nearly ruined me; there was nothing I wanted more than for you to be back. Well, I'm here now, following the letter the letter that you sent me, asking myself if this is true. I already lost you once, I can't, refuse, to lose you again.