James wandered more into the park; the gray scenery matched the entire town, gray and lifeless. It had been only three years since James had visited the park, but it looked as though a whole century had passed. The gray path way was cracked; all the green plants were gray, though they seemed to still be strangely enough alive.

So, James thought to himself. This is the park.

He vaguely remembered the layout of the park, it was something like a maze but if you just went straight, you would end up at the wooden dock.

It's a maze this garden it's a maze of ways…

The song from the show Secret Garden went off in his head, a show that he and Mary had attended years before. He had never read the book, but Mary had told him that the show was actually much darker than the book, sadder too. Although basically, it was a sad, but sweet story. A little girl, bitter toward people, suddenly loses her parents whom never loved her and is forced to move in with family whom she never knew existed and there her own past is stirred as she meets knew people, and finds the part of herself she never knew she had and learns to love.

There's a girl whom no one sees, there's a girl who's left alone. There's a heart that beats in silence for the life she's never know. For the life she's never known.

James shuddered, such a bittersweet story, why did it get to him like that now?

It wasn't very big, but it was like a maze. James started walking forward down the sidewalk toward the dock, thinking that maybe that's where Mary was. It didn't seem real still, it was like he had just been told of her death and he was still in shock, not wanting to believe it, he still couldn't.

I still kinda expect to wake up. He thought to himself. He finally came out onto the deck that overlooked the lake, though now, there was only that endless gray. James walked over to the edge and looked out; he wanted to see, to feel. There was just something about the lake, even when you couldn't see it. The faint sound of the water slapping against the deck gently was the only thing there to assure him it was still out there. James sighed, feeling a sadness swell up in him.

Well…I'm here Mary. He thought to himself, a bit sadly. He would have been happy to see her but…afraid to. Why hadn't she contacted him before? Why now? Hadn't they told him she had died? Had she been in a coma for the last three years?

He knew the real reason he was afraid, it was because…well…what then? What happens when he did find her? What would she or he say then? Did she look the same? What if…oh g-d… what if he…

James grinded his teeth together and clenched his fists tightly, ashamed at himself for thinking that. How could he?

But you have to face it.

Face what? After he found her everything would be fine again.

Three years can change a person a lot. Especially in Mary's case. Her disease was disfiguring…

No! James clenched his hands even tighter. I would never make a mistake like that! I would never mistake her for one of them! She's just fine!

James gasped choked back tears. It was true…no matter what…she wasn't the same. She couldn't be. James thought to all those times he prayed for her healthiness, for her to live. What would the cost have been for her?

"Look, I'm disgusting! I don't deserve flowers. Between the disease and the drugs I look like a monster!"

Is that why she hadn't shown her face in three years, she no longer looked human? She lived, but was it worth it?

James shook his head and continued walking forward more to the center of the deck. His hands felt cold and clammy and the horrors of the town were momentarily forgotten. The more he walked, the more afraid he became that it really was a hoax. Suddenly, a shape took place I the fog, a woman. His heart started to beat faster and his mind whirled at a nauseating speed. This didn't feel real. Even in the fog he recognized her, recognized her profile, her stance…

"Mary!" He gasped, running forward. His head felt as though it was going to explode from happiness, she was here! Mary was alive! The woman turned at his voice, the rest of her coming into view, her blond hair unlike Mary's long brown hair.

"No," James said, more surprised than disappointed. "You're not."

The woman smiled at him, a playful, laughing smile. "Do I look like your girlfriend?" Her voice was like Mary's too, but sultrier sounding.

"No…my late wife." He said, watching her carefully. The woman smiled and turned away from him, examining her nails. It was incredible the way she…James watched her move, so much like Mary. "I can't believe it," He finally managed to blurt out. "You could be her twin. You're face, you're voice. Except your hair and…clothes." His face reddened slightly when he said that, wondering if he might have offended her. She wore a red long sleeved shirt that looked like a blouse only it was cut to reveal a strip of her stomach. Her skirt was a dark pink leopard print and she wore high heeled black boots that went up her calves. A tattoo of a butterfly rested on her stomach.

The woman seemed to find this amusing. She turned to face him, her blue eyes seemed to be laughing. "My names Maria." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I don't look like a uh ghost, do I?" She asked, glancing down at herself as though to see for herself. She smiled at him. "See?" She asked, grabbing his hand. "Feel how warm I am?"

James tugged away from her grasp, looking surprised. "You're really not Mary!"

Maria frowned slightly. "I told you, I'm Maria."

His head was starting to hurt again. "I'm sorry I was…confused." He said backing away a bit. This woman, why did she look so much like Mary? Even had a similar name. But she was like her complete opposite, her alter ego. Maria's hair was cut short and blond with red tips, Mary had long brown hair. James shot her one last glance and started away from her, feeling confused and almost afraid of this woman.

"Where are you going?" Maria asked, sounding more surprised than curious.

"I'm looking for Mary."

"Didn't you say she died?" Maria asked, her bright red mouth moving into a frown. She didn't look at him like Angels had, as if he were crazy, but more of like she was amused by this.

James winced, suddenly feeling both crazy and foolish. "Oh yeah…three years ago. But I got a letter from her," James rushed, instantly wondering why.

Just because she looks like Mary doesn't mean she knows anything. He told himself.

"She said she was waiting in our 'special place'."

"And that's here?" Mary asked. "Anyway," she continued, turning back to look out at th lake. "I haven't seen her. Is this your only 'special place'?" She smiled, as though the word was funny.

James's eyes widened, he hadn't thought of that. Mary might still be here! But in some other place. James thought back to when the two of them were here. No where else had really held anything of significance, only the…

James's mouth became a straight line. "Well…there's the hotel too I guess." He said. "The one on the lake. I wonder if its still there."

"The Lakeview hotel?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah its still there." The mischievous twinkle returned to her eye, a smile slowly spreading on her face. "So, the hotel was your special place huh?" She smirked. "I bet it was."

James scowled and started walking away. Maria seemed surprised at his sudden anger. She grabbed his arm.

"Don't get so mad. I was just joking. Besides, the hotels not that way, it's that way." She pointed in opposite direction. James glanced at her face for a moment before starting to walk in the opposite direction. Much to his dismay and surprise, Maria started to follow him from behind. James paused.

"You're coming with me?" He asked her skeptically.

Maria looked at him a second, trying to see if this was a joke. "You were just going to leave me here?" She asked in frightened voice, her blue eyes suddenly becoming scared looking.

"No but…" He said, wanting to explain to her why she couldn't come but also not wanting to offend her.

Maria glanced around them, suddenly changing completely to a frightened child. "With all these monsters around?"

"No, I just…"

"I'm all alone here." She said, stepping closer. "Everyone else is gone." Just as quickly, the frightened child was gone, and her blue eyes started to laugh at him again. She grasped the ropes on the edge of the deck wit her hands and faced him, leaning against them. "I look like Mary don't I?" She asked him coyly, casually, leaning against the ropes. "You loved her, right?" Her smile suddenly grew wider, her eyes gleamed nastily. "Or," She said. "Maybe you hated her."

He could only look at her, suddenly feeling weary. "Don't be ridiculous." He started to walk away again. Maria hurried up beside him. "So it's okay?"

James bit his tongue, wanting to say no but…she looked so much like Mary. Could that really be a coincident? Besides, she needed him to protect her, and James felt almost obligated to keep her okay. "Yeah, fine."

They walked in silence for a few moments; the only sounds were of Maria's boots clicking on the ground. James sneaked peeks at her occasionally, finding he was surprised every time to find how familiar everything about her was. They walked out of the park and back toward the street, Maria finally broke the awkward silence.

"So, tell me more about-"

She was cut off by the sound of static. James was confused for a second, suddenly remembering the radio. Once again, he was reminded how dangerous the town was, of the demons that walked the streets. He pulled out his gun and looked around for any sign of a monster, a hard concentrated look on her face. Maria didn't recognize this sound and merely wandered behind James, not understanding what kind of danger they were in. James walked forward a few feet, trying to find the demon. He continued forward, leaving Maria behind in the fog.

"James?" Maria asked nervously when she realized he was gone. Her voice only came out as a small squeak as the fog seemed to come down on her, suddenly giving her the feeling off being suffocated by a pillow. She missed the shadow coming up behind her, only catching sight as a kick was aimed at her.

"James!"

James jumped at his name being called, realizing it was Maria. He looked around, confused for a second before realizing she wasn't there. He ran forward, gun in hand, looking for any sign of her.

"Maria?" He called out, alarmed.

He finally caught sight of a flash of red out of the corner of his eyes. Maria. He saw just in time to see a mannequin demon deliver a quick, sending Maria to the ground. James ran forward and started to shoot at the monster until it dropped to the ground. James aimed and shot it four more times until he was sure it was dead.

James turned around and lowered himself next to Maria, instantly feeling bad for not protecting her. "Are you alright?"

Maria drew her hand away from her abdomen and managed a small smile. James weakly returned the smile and her up to her feet. As soon as she was on her feet, fear replaced her smile and she looked around them, nervously.

Here's the next chapter. (Yay! applaud applaud) I'm sorry it ended kinda sloppy, I'm being kicked off the computer. I would really appreciate it if people would review this, praise or critiscm.