I do not own Silent Hill. Please enjoy. :)
Silent Hill: Forgotten Sister
Chapter 7: Erika Shepherd
Erika was sitting at a table, looking out the window. Her hair is in a messy bun and she wore a red head band along with it which made it look like some kind of pinup hairstyle. She wore an oversized navy blue sweater and I couldn't see anything else. I pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Hey sweetie," I greeted as I placed my backpack behind the chair. "How's it going? Remember me, your big brother Alex?"
Erika slowly turned around revealing the rest of her body. Her hazel eyes have bags and bruises while the left side of her face had bangs. On her sweater was a big gray anchor and around her neck was a necklace. It was a vintage necklace of a lady and the necklace looked a little brown and old. Forget about the necklace, my main concern about her look was her eyes. In my opinion, she looked like a druggie but guess what though? Lisa and Jesse were right about Erika looking like me. Speaking of her, she gave me a death look. If looks could kill, I thought.
"Don't call me sweetie!" snapped Erika in a soft high pitched voice.
Damn! I thought.
"I'm sorry," I said.
No response but Erika rolled her eyes at me.
"Well," I said. "It's nice to see you. You look...great."
"Yea yea," said the brown haired girl with attitude.
I sighed. This will take a while...
. . .
Five minutes later...
Five minutes have passed and it was quiet. Erika and I were staring at each other like we were in a staring contest. We would blink from time to time but no one spoke. Suddenly, Erika sighed.
"Well," she said with attitude. "I'm waiting."
"Well what?" I quickly said. "What are you waiting for?"
Erika's eyes widened and she sat up. She looked at me like I was fucking stupid. Shit! I thought. I must have provoked her…again.
"Aren't you going to apologize for the shit you did to me while growing up?" questioned the brown haired girl.
I kept quiet. I never grew up with you, I thought. I'm pretty sure if I said that, I would be knocked out, bleeding.
"I'm waiting," Erika said impatiently.
I sighed.
"I'm sorry for forgetting about you and the other things I did to you," I said meaningful. "I never meant it. I was just an immature kid."
"Good!" said Erika. "We can actually talk now."
"Do you remember me?" I asked again.
"Well no shit," replied the bruised eyed girl. " That's why I made you apologize. Of course I would remember you Alexander, thank you very much for coming when I needed help…then again, you are the biggest asshole and this is what you wanted!"
I bit my lip. I don't know if I should use the syringe now or wait a little while...
"No, I ain't mad, thank you very much for asking," continued Erika.
"Maybe you should have some consideration and let me finish," I said annoyed. "I see that you are upset and I said I was sorry. I am sorry, again, for making you mad and especially forgetting about you but I've been busy. I have a life you know?"
"Oh the busy excuse!" mocked Erika as she rolled her eyes.
"It's true," I said.
"Where's Joshua?" Erika asked changing the subject.
"At school," I replied. "I'm surprised you remember him."
"Of course I would remember my family," stated the brown haired girl as she rolled her eyes again.
"You're going to ruin your eyes if you keep rolling them," I informed.
Erika rolled them again.
"Whatever," she said. "Anyways, does Josh live with you now since you're an adult and have your own place? Does he even know about me?"
"Now?" I questioned. "Joshua has always been living with me since he was born."
"What?" asked Erika. "No! He's been living with Uncle James and cousin Laura."
"No," I replied. "Are you crazy? Joshua and I have been living with mom and dad ever since we were born."
Erika stared at me.
"Mom and dad," she said softly.
"They're still around," I informed. "They're not that old."
"But," the brown haired girl said softly. "The doctors said that they were dead and you went to a private Catholic school and Josh went to go live with Uncle James."
What the fuck? I thought. They brainwashed Erika here and this whole entire time, she has been living with this thought that our parents are dead.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" she screamed as she stood up revealing a pair of gray sweats. "WHY THE FUCK WOULD THEY DO THAT?!"
"Erika," I said. "Please calm down."
"NO!" she screamed. "MOM AND DAD ARE STILL ALIVE! THEY DIDN'T WANT ME!"
I guess mom and dad didn't really want Erika, I thought. How could they have been so cold about it? What is their problem with her?
"Well to answer your other question," I stated as I quickly changed the subject. "Joshua doesn't know. He's been at school all day."
"I don't care about Joshua!" yelled Erika. "Mom and dad is the subject here!"
"Don't make me use this syringe!" I yelled back.
Erika took a deep breath and let it out.
"Fine," she said as she sat down. "I don't want to hallucinate at a moment like this."
"Thank you," I softly said.
Erika turned around to the face the window.
"Anyways," I said. "Dr. Copen told me why you are in here. There is no such thing as the Boogeyman."
"Says the man who told me about him," snapped the bruised eyed girl. "Remember little Stephen? The boy you assumed dead?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. "You did this to yourself. You're the one with the childish reality. Are you sure mom and dad didn't tell you about the Boogeyman? They told me first! I didn't even remember you till last night!"
"Shut up!" yelled Erika as she quickly faced me, stood up and pointed a finger at me. "You told me everything about that monster. You scared me with all your Boogeyman shit all because of what Stephen did to Jennie. It's your entire fault. Don't tell me you forgot?!"
I scooted my chair back.
"I…i…- I started
Erika glared at me.
"You know what!" I yelled as I stood up. "Blame mom and dad for that! They're the ones that came up with it."
"Bull fucking shit!" Erika yelled back. "It was you! All you! For years, I've believed what you told me. The doctors said that I caused this to myself. Ever since I got my memory back three years ago, it wasn't me. It was you. All you and those fucking pills!"
I pushed the chair a little back and sat down.
"Calm down," I said softly. "Please calm down and let's talk about it."
"I've been living in fear ever since Alex," confessed Erika and ignored me. "I am so scared to rebel sometimes…I dream about him and it's not even funny. I scream at night because of him. I can't sleep because of him…"
Erika paused for a moment and I kept quiet.
"I see him at night sometimes," informed Erika sadly. "I run away because I am scared but he always chases me. You can run, but you'll only die tired." [1]
My brunette sister plopped down on the chair, taking a few deep breaths. I am scared to be honest. I don't know what to say. Erika's literally insane!
After a minute of silence, the bruised eye girl decided to speak.
"Brother?" asked Erika softly. "How did you get over your fears?"
After all this yelling, you decide to call me brother, I thought. In my mind, I rolled my eyes.
"One day after going through man hood," I began. "I just decided to grow up and put my ridiculous fears aside. After going to adult hood, children memories are just so painful."
"So you think it's ridiculous?" asked Erika.
I nodded.
"Well it's not Alex," replied Erika. "People suffer more than me. For example, my neighbor is afraid of gaining weight. She doesn't eat a lot. Wouldn't you consider that ridiculous?"
"A ridiculous eating disorder," I informed.
Erika sighed.
"At least you got to see the world," informed the brunette. I got to see about hundreds and hundreds of people every other day for going crazy, patients fighting, surgeries, all that good stuff."
It sucks that Erika is living in hell and I wish I can do something for her. It's sad how she has been locked up for nine years and I honestly don't want her to live another nine years or more alone.
"Not to be a bother, but what happened to your eyes?" I asked changing the subject.
Erika giggled, and then scoffed.
"I got in a fight with my nurse and it's none of your damn business," replied Erika.
"Does your nurse happen to be a blonde named Lisa?" I quickly asked.
"Lisa Garland?" questioned Erika. "Yea, she's blonde but she isn't my nurse anymore."
Garland is her last name? I thought. Then she must be related to that man Steve Garland who sold Shuki to us years and years ago.
"I met her at work last night," I said. "She was at the store buying-
"Cereal for me," interrupted Erika.
"Yeah, I guess so," I stated. "Is Lisa here?"
"I don't know and I don't care honestly," informed Erika. "Lisa can go die for all I care."
Ouch! I thought. What the hell is wrong with you?!
My sister stood up and leaned her head on the window. I saw her reflection on the window and she looked very upset.
"I think Lisa is nice- I began.
"Enough about her," snapped Erika. "I don't care!"
I kept quiet.
"How do you spend your days here?" I asked changing the subject once again.
"I am an artist," replied Erika. "I spend most of my time drawing. Once in a while I will go outside and play a few games of basketball with the other patients. There isn't really much to do, honestly."
"I see," I said. "Umm, Dr. Copen told me about your tests."
"Yeah, I have to pass them in order to accept reality," replied Erika. "I'll never accept reality because reality can be so fake sometimes."
"Why say that?" I asked.
Erika turned to look at me.
"For example, God," said Erika. "People claim it is real and others claim it's not. People claim it's a man, like mom and dad, and others think it's a girl. I have my doubts about him sometimes even though I am supposed to be a good Catholic. I think God is fake. If he was real, he would be helping people like me. Ask me, am I out of the hospital?"
"Are you out of the hospital?" I asked.
I had to ask because I have a feeling she'll rage if I don't.
"Nope!" replied Erika.
"I don't get what this has to do with God but I believe he is real," I informed. "God is answering your prayers but he is waiting for the perfect moment."
"Yeah I know when the perfect moment is," said Erika. "When I'm dead and they bury my body six feet under."
This girl, I thought. She is so negative.
Erika stood up and paced around the room while I watched her.
"I'm telling you now Alex," informed Erika. "You can say sorry so many times but I'll never forgive a waste of skin like you. Presents, cards and candy…I'll just burn it just like hell will do to us one day. I don't care what you do, I'll never forgive you."
I finally lost it. I was sick and tired of her fucking attitude and negativity.
"You're a bitch, I hope you know that!" I yelled.
Erika opened a cabinet and rummaged inside.
"Why are you so damn negative?!" I yelled as I faced her. "Be happy I came to visit you. I didn't have to visit you know. I could of stayed home, asleep and not waste my time on you."
I couldn't do it anymore. Erika was pissing me off.
"Actually!" I yelled. "I only came for fucking answers and now I know why."
The bruised eyed girl found a can of Febreeze and started to laugh like a maniac.
"You know what Alex," said Erika. "It was your entire fault and don't play dumb. You should have found out years ago when I was worried about you. Now, I just don't care about you."
"What are you- I asked but stopped as I quickly stood up and took the syringe out.
"Us Shepherds don't really like the term 'revenge' but I don't give a fuck," stated Erika. "I will do anything to make you suffer like I did."
I threw my arm forward to stab her with the needle. Erika was quick and kicked me in the balls. When I was down, she quickly sprayed the can of Febreeze in my face. I fell on my knees, dropping the syringe, and felt a sharp pain in my gut.
Erika ran off, laughing.
"Fuck!" I cried as I held my balls. "Fuck!"
[1] I found this quote on a piece of fan art and I really liked it. I don't remember who but their fan art was brilliant.