She wasn't surprised to find the room empty, although, she had hoped it wouldn't be. There were no monsters at least, that was a plus. The woman opened the door a bit wider and allowed herself to slip in. The air still stank faintly of cigarette smoke and spilled alcohol. Chairs and tables were scattered in front of the small runway which adorned a long pole down the center.

It was the typical hangout for a small town. Cheap lighting fixtures hung on the walls, the usual stuff like red lips flickering out of control and a woman laying down, propped up on her knees and heavily pregnant with the words paradise across her head. It seemed a bit funny in a perverse sense. The woman walked nearer. For some odd reason, she had always looked at that particular piece and found herself wondering if there was some hidden message. It sounded ridiculous of course but…a pregnant girl…paradise…it made her head hurt thinking about it.

She shook her head and sighed, wondering how much she had drank last night. She tried to massage her temples but it only made it worse. With a resigned sigh, she dropped down into a chair and rested her head in her arms. She began to cry. Why had everyone left her? She didn't want to be alone like this; she didn't want to die alone.

No one understood. She was just a person; she needed people just as much as anyone. Lifting her head, her eyes wandered to the stage. She had performed there many times. It seemed wrong to so many people, but it was how she made a living.

Whore. Slut. Bitch.

That was what she was. It was what she was called. Even she knew it; she knew that was only why she was here. Tears ran hot from her eyes, she thought of the people who spat out names at her, vile, awful things. If they only knew she had no choice. She was alone in this world; there was no one there for her. Stiffly, the woman rose and threw back her shoulders. Without a sound, she moved to the stage, up the platform until she was facing the whole room. Her hand rested on the bar, her feet were planted firmly beneath her. She tried so hard to face them, but she couldn't do. With a gasp, it hit her, the pain, the loneliness, the need for someone other than the monsters to be with her. She tried to remain standing but it was too much, her knees began to sway. Closing her eyes didn't help, it was still there, smothering her, and it was mocking her! It was more than she could bear, more than she could take. This feeling was inhuman; it was pure loss and pure, untainted loneliness. It literally made her feel sick to her stomach; it made her cry from fear and sorrow. The gun was still in her hands. If she didn't find them soon…

With a resigned sigh, defeat pushed her to the cold ground. This time, she allowed the tears again, she needed to cry this time, to let it out and start fresh again. She just lay there on the stage, the pole behind her, her body spread out on its side. She felt so helpless and hopeless.

Demons, personal ones. Sometimes, mental damage was worse than physical. At times, death was just a joke. In death, you felt no pain, you felt no sadness.

She began to ponder what a fate worse than death was.

His arms were twisted beneath the rest of his body like a pretzel. As soon as his eyes had opened, his stomach had heaved violently but he had forced it back down. With a groan, James pulled himself to his feet, every muscle cracked when moved. A brief test showed no broken bones, not even any cuts. Just one bruise on his wrist. When he'd climbed to his feet, he had found out why. He'd landed on a pile of mattresses that looked ancient and were the color of rust.

He cracked his neck painfully, thankful for the lack of damage. He had fallen a full floor from above. Pyramid Head was gone, thank g-d.

James didn't recognize this part of the hospital. He tried the second door and found it was a heavily padded room with blood soaked into the walls; it clearly hadn't served its purpose.

No other room held Laura or anything of interest. James headed back out of the small hallway and made his way back to the room where he had left Maria. She was still asleep, her features calm and soft. James went over to her bedside and gently placed his hand on her forehead to check for fever. It was cool and sweaty, no sign of a fever.

When she was asleep, she looked just like Mary. They both had serene expressions when they slept. Her red mouth twitched slightly but she didn't wake. James wondered what she was dreaming about. Something happy? Something frightening? Were they like Mary's and 'restless'?

Without realizing it, he rested his hand on her soft, feathery hair. Maria smiled slightly in her sleep. Not a 'Maria' like smile but…something different. Like a child's smile. Innocent, gentle, trusting. Did she trust him? She wanted him to protect her. Did he make her feel safe? His hand moved down to her face, it was the likeness of Mary's. Her mouth, painted such a bright red. He traced it gently with his finger. She murmured softly and shifted a little, James drew his hand back, feeling ashamed though he didn't know why.

"Did you find Laura?" She murmured softly, her voice clogged with sleep. She didn't wait for an answer. She had fallen back asleep, her pale face twined with worry for the young girl.

James silently slipped back out of the room, being sure not to wake her again. He didn't know why Maria was so worried about Laura. No-worry wasn't the right word. Obsessed. Like she knew her, like she loved her. As much as James hoped Laura was safe, he couldn't deny the fact that he thought she was a brat. But she seemed to know something he didn't about Mary, he needed answers.

The elevator was still working but he was very hesitant about getting into it. According to the map, though, it would lead him to another part of the hospital. The doors hummed and opened, James hurried inside and pressed the button for the first floor. Better make his way up. The elevator headed his command and began a slow descent downward. It landed with a slight jolt, and opened its door, the groan it gave was strained as though old. There were a bunch of rooms along the walls but further inspection proved that the first one had a broken lock.

James scowled in the dark hallway, wondering if Laura was behind any door at all. For christsakes, she might as well have disappeared!

James opened room C2, it was a plain, dirty room. On the table lay shotgun shells. He took it. Next was room C3 to try. He grabbed the handle, finding it opened easily, and stepped inside.

The room mostly held mattress-less beds all rusty and dirty. He closed the door silently behind him. Something moved in the corner. Out of impulse, James raised his shotgun at the figure, preparing to shoot. The creature was…playing with teddy bears? James moved in closer, the sound of a little girl's giggles becoming clearer. He had found Laura.

Laura, unaware of James's' presence, tossed the bear into the air and caught, giggling happily. She seemed to be enjoying herself immensely and James couldn't figure out why she wasn't scared by the monsters. She didn't even seem hurt.

"Laura?" James asked softly, moving in closer.

Laura stopped playing and turned around, looking at him in surprise. "Huh? You know my name?" She asked.

"Eddie told me." James explained patiently.

Laura scowled and glared. "The big, fat blabbermouth!" She declared, balling up her little fist. James restrained a laugh, it was somewhat cute. Little girl, big attitude.

"How do you know about Mary?" James asked, deciding to get straight to the point. Laura climbed to her feet and glared at him across the room. She placed her hands on hips once more, assuming her war pose.

"What's the big deal?" She whined, her voice getting a nasally tinge to it. Her gaze was stubborn but not stupid, as though she had prepared for this kind of confrontation.

James sighed, he just wished she would tell him, give some of this odd journey some friggin answers. He just wanted to find Mary. " Why can't you just tell me?"

"You gonna yell at me if I don't?"

There was a slight edge to her voice, it shook slightly. James mustered his kindest expression. There was something about Laura, her lip trembled slightly and he realized she was trying not to cry, but she still looked angry. "No…," He promised. "I won't."

Laura sighed and gave in. She crossed her arms. "I was friend's with Mary," She explained logically. "We met in the hospital. It was last year."

What?

"You liar!" James shot out before stopping himself, his face growing red. He quickly caught himself and tried to calm down. "Laura…I…" He said apologetically, hoping he didn't ruin anything.

Laura only glared at him indignantly, she flung her arms down to her side and yelled back at him. "Fine! Don't believe me!" She screamed angrily. Her blue eyes flashed and she pouted her little lip.

"But last year," James tried to explain to little Laura, poor Laura, who must have been too confused to remember correctly. "Mary was already…" His voice trailed off. Mary had died three years ago. She couldn't…or... What was Laura saying? Mary, had she seen her...seen her...It was a crazy thought but…"I'm sorry Laura." He said finally, leaving that puzzle for later. Maria would be happy he had found Laura. "Anyway, let's go."

Laura bent down and picked up a flashlight she must have found and climbed over the empty bed rack. James watched her a bit incredulously, wondering why she didn't act scared. Didn't the monster's frighten her?

"We can talk about this later." He said in a more adult tone as she climbed over. "This is no place for a kid. There are all sorts of strange things around here. I can't believe you don't even have a scratch on you."

Laura shot him a weird look as though he was the weird one. "Why should I?"

Something about the way she said it made James's blood chill. It hadn't been impudent or rude, but directed as a question to him. Didn't she see what everyone else saw?

Before he could ask, however, Laura moved in front of him toward the door and James followed somberly behind. They went back into the dark hallway. With James leading the way, they moved down. Laura was silent behind him, her small feet barely echoing off the floor. James wondered where she came from, where was her home. Weren't her folks worried about her? He snuck a glance at her solemn face. Laura wasn't exactly a beauty, she wasn't ugly either. Her eyes were small, a pale blue that reflected everything. She had a fine, straight nose. She was fine boned all together. Her generous blonde ponytail swayed with her steps which were silent and graceful. She looked more like a girl who ought to be doing ballet, not hanging around here. He turned his attention away, listening to their footsteps, trying to clear his reeling head.

"Wait, wait. There's something I gotta get!" She exclaimed, tugging at his arm.

James turned around and shook his head. "Later, okay." He said wearily, just wanting to get the hell out of this place. He turned back around and tried to continue but Laura tugged harder and tried to pull him in the opposite direction. "But it's really important!" She insisted excitedly.

James turned around to face her. He regarded her innocent, eager face with weariness. "What is it?" He asked, realizing he held no power over her.

"A letter from Mary."

"Huh?" James's mouth dropped and bent down, as eager as Laura. Her blue eyes were shining and excited.

"I want to get it. Is that okay?"

"Yes, yes!" James exclaimed, nodding encouragingly. Finally, they were getting somewhere! He felt too dizzy to be smiling, he felt overwhelmed with relief. Laura took off ahead of him down the hallway and stopped purposefully in front of a pair of double doors. Further down, James could see her removing a key from her pocket and unlocking the door.

"C'mon. Hurry up!"

"Is it in there?"

At Laura's nod, James hurried down and joined her, finally getting the answers he needed to solve this odd puzzle. Now he would finally know something about Laura, she would show him the letter and tell him that Mary was alive; she was better and was waiting for him. These thoughts made his knees feel weak; the adrenaline pumping made him weary. Mary…she must be here somewhere. He felt nearly drunk by that thought. Mary needed him and g-d knew he neded her just the same.

James walked into the darkened room which was spacey, it looked like an office. He shone his light over the interior but saw nothing.

"I don't see anything." He called back, his voice echoing.

"It's there, in the way back. In the desk" Laura said.

James walked further, sliding his flashlight over everything. He walked over to the desk and reached out to open the drawer, there didn't appear to be any letter. There wans't anything on the ground. He was about to crawl on his knees when he heard the door shut behind him with a loud bang.

Damn!

"Laura!" James cried, running to the door. "What are you doing?"

"Ha-ha, I tricked you!" She sneered from behind the locked door.

James clenched his jaw angrily, about to command Laura to open the door from him when something moved behind him.

"Open the door Laura!" He said, trying to control his voice.

The sound came again, this time louder and with more force, like something waking up. James froze; panic instantly rising in his stomach. He knew he hadn't imagined it! He wasn't alone in the room, the thought came to him unusually calmly, like he had nearly expected that. With wide eyes, he turned, slowly letting the light travel over the interior. There it was again! Louder even more! From...the ceiling. for second, his beam caught hold of a figure hiding, it's gray face twitching and a long tongue licking it's swollen lips. A loud sound ripped from it and James inadvertantly forced his light away, the creature went back into darkness, leaving behind a trail of loud metallic clanks.

What...?

James forced his light back, only seeing blank space in the ceiling on its second tme around like there had been nothing there at all. Bits of plaster fell form overhead and the sound of something heavy being dragged across the ceiling made James's heart stop, cold slowly settling under his skin. He continued to gap at the ceiling with his light pointed directly from where the monster had dissapeared, his other free hand began to knock pleadingly on the door as if in morse code. Okay Laura, fun times over. This is when you're suppose to let me out. This is the message I knock for you when theres something inhuman in the room!

"Laura!" He gasped hoarsley, green eyes transfixed.

"Why should I?" Laura jeered, her voice rising.

"I'm a liar aren't I?" Laura asked. "Want me to open it?" Huh, huh, do ya?"

James stopped, he continued to analyze the room, and the light shook. Something horrible was here, he could feel it, had Laura known about this? Did she really want him hurt?

"What's the magic word?"

There was a clanking sound and something toppled out from the ceiling, hanging there making an awful rattling sound. That did it for James, He began to pound again. "Laura!" He cried out desperately.

"Okay." She said. "I guess I won't open it. I think I'll leave you just like this…!"

There was more movement, the creature was awake and saw James, there was another clatter from overhead.

"You snotty little brat! Open up!" He screamed angrily, pounding furiously.

There was a short silence filled by the disembodied clanking. From overhead, something else started to move and hiss, he couldn't look up, he was too afraid.

"Why you, you…" Laura fumed, she sounded like she was about to cry, she was clearly agitated.

"Laura?" James croaked, realizing he had just made a big mistake.

"You fartface!" She shouted angrily at him.

"Laura?" James tried again.

There was no answer.

"Damn!"

Something heavy dropped from the ceiling.