Chapter Five: A Silhouette In The Mist
The sound of his own voice was beginning to annoy him. Hulme droned on about the operations he and his men had been tasked with completing; naturally they went off nearly without a hitch. They'd brought enough bullets and explosives to level a small city if they had to. In fact, leveling Silent Hill didn't seem like so bad of an idea. As it was they were still being paid well by the seemingly endless coffers of their Order employers so this was just a nice thought at the moment.
Concluding with a report of the total wounded Hulme commented that they would soon need to head back to civilization for additional medical supplies and to give headquarters a status report. His employer appeared to not be paying attention but Hulme knew he was absorbing every word and already formulating plans based on them. If nothing else the man was disturbingly efficient.
"Am I to understand Commander that you will be required to leave Silent Hill for a small amount of time?" the bony, gaunt man said without looking up from whatever document he was currently penning.
"Correct. I estimate that in less than a week due to our shortages we will be unable to cover the major injuries my men have received while on assignment. Furthermore CU policy states-"
"Commander." his employer interrupted rudely but finally turning to look at him, "There's going to be a change of plan. From now on anything you need from the mainland will go through me. Supplies, ammunition, reports, everything. We can procure whatever you need and your confidentiality is assured. I'm afraid allowing you to venture back on your own will be quite impermissible."
"You..." Hulme trailed off.
"Is that acceptable?" his employer asked.
"Ah...respectfully sir, no it is not." he replied as he gathered his thoughts. "Never mind the serious protocol breach we require contact with our home office to make sure all affairs are in order. Additionally the men have to be allowed some sort of off-site R&R as stated in our contract. Most serious is our need to get our wounded standard medical care instead of our makeshift triages."
"I see." the hawk nosed man said with no trace of understanding or willingness to compromise in his voice. There was something amiss here that Hulme didn't like one bit. "Unfortunately Commander you will have to alter your plans. You see it is not up to us whether or not you can leave. That decision remains entirely with the town."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"That means exactly what I said Commander. No doubt you have noticed the special nature of our home. While we can ship in all of your requisite supplies it will be some time before we can guarantee safe passage for your troops."
"This was not part of our contract." Hulme growled. "You said you could extract us."
"We can extract you at your predetermined exit time as promised. Not a moment sooner or later."
"Why the hell not?" Hulme's blood was beginning to boil but he was a trained officer and let it boil for the time being.
"Hm. How to explain this to you so you'll understand." The robed man crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Imagine there's a gate around the area that requires a personal pass card which each man must make himself. This card takes years to learn how to make and requires materials from the town itself. This is the only ones of two ways to pass safely in and out of the town. The other you have seen before when you first entered this holy land. We can erect a temporary gate for you and your men to safely pass through."
"Now I won't bore you with the details Commander but that gate was not easy to build. It took months of careful work and as soon as you were safely through we began working on another. But these things take time. My disciples labor to make you an exit gate but it will not be ready until your scheduled departure date. Do you understand now this is not a simple matter of getting a car and leaving? Certain considerations have to be taken into account."
Fuming quietly Hulme seethed at both his situation and his employer. His agitated state made it easy to bring up the next subject of discussion without the usual awkwardness.
"Is there anything else Commander?"
"Yes, actually. I am well aware that I do not have all the facts and I am not questioning your judgment. But from a purely tactical point of view you seem to be stretching my men thin with the extensive amount of guard detail you have. It seems to be an error on your part to have posted us like this."
Instead of stiffening and growing hostile like Hulme expected his employer simply nodded in agreement. "You're quite right. Since you brought it up and to save time in the future let us discuss this matter now." The genial tone sent a chill down Hulme's spine for some reason.
"Your guard detail is extensive for two reasons. One, maintaining the well being of my disciples in of the utmost importance during our mission here." The other man leaned forward as close as he had ever been to the mercenary officer. It was a lifetime of training and operating under duress that kept Hulme from flinching.
"The second reason is just as simple and just as necessary. Should I require it, your men will execute their charges simultaneously. This is to be done quietly and efficiently. I expect no hesitation in this matter from you or your subordinates."
"You want us to terminate the very people we now protect?"
"With extreme prejudice Commander. Should it come to that there will be no time for arguments. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal."
"Excellent. You are dismissed Commander."
Bowing slightly Hulme turned on his heel and left and his mind raced with all of the new information he'd just taken in.
It was Victor that spotted the turn off while it was still a blur in the distance. The large "No Trespassing" signs and chain link fence that had been placed in front of it were flung wide open by some previous passerby. Julia noted that there was nothing inherently menacing about the path ahead of them besides the thick overgrowth on each side of the road. Nothing to indicate the danger that taking it would bring.
The anxiety was starting to build within but she could at least hope that this time things would be different. Victor was alongside her instead of shadowing her movements and her own proficiency in self defense had grown dramatically. Perhaps they would be in and out in a day or two. While she hoping for things that probably wouldn't happen perhaps she had unwittingly won the lotto too.
Making a smooth right onto the road that would take them into town Julia slowed to a halt just after passing the ineffective fence. "It's not too late." Victor said without needing to finish the thought.
"I go where you go." Julia shrugged.
"There's nothing for me back in the real world. I'm ready." Chuck chimed in from the back seat. Pausing a moment to stare at the road Victor waved her onward. Slowly they pulled onto the long since abandoned road and crept forward on the dilapidated pavement.
The thick canopy overhead made for an eerily shaded path. Despite the foreboding foliage there was evidence of others taking the same route. Tire marks, foot prints and even what appeared to be an empty chocolate milk bottle dotted the road. It was certainly not like this when Julia first came through. The first time she was there it appeared no one had visited the town since that ill fated day where everyone had seemingly vanished.
"Vic?" she asked, reminded of something nearly forgotten a long time ago.
"Hmm?"
"Remember when we talked about the day everything seemed to stop in Silent Hill?"
"Yes, I know it well. I've seen it a thousand times on calenders and in books around town. It appeared the citizens ceased to exist on September 12th, 1985. What about it?"
"Did you ever find out what caused it? I mean do you have any idea.
Victor half smiled. "I looked for that answer for many years. I could find no evidence of why that day was any different than another. The time line fits in with our birthdays though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I was born in '78 and you in '80. Had it been a few years later we may not have existed."
"What are you guys talking about?" Chuck asked.
"Calamity struck on a fall day in 1985." Victor explained. "Whatever happened to the town occurred then and not a single day before."
"So it's been..." Chuck began as he did some quick mental math. "18 years?"
"The anniversary was just weeks ago, yes." the knight nodded. "In all my time I was never able to figure out what happened."
"Why don't you ask the Dark Man?" Chuck suggested. "I'm sure if anyone knows it's him."
"While it has been beneficial to you to rely on such a creature Charles Taylor-"
"Chuck, Vic. Call him Chuck." Julia interrupted him. "Remember we talked about not using people's full names when you speak to them."
"Yes, of course. As I was saying...Chuck...in my dealings with your mad patron he always operated quid pro quo. Something for something. Even if he did know what was behind the transformation of Silent Hill I doubt it would be easy to get from him. I would be required to pay a heavy price and on top of that he has a habit of talking in riddles or utter nonsense."
"I used to think that too. Turns out a lot of it makes sense later on." Chuck retorted.
"After you've found out on your own what he already knew and could have easily explained." Victor shot back.
Chuck shrugged as if this was a minor detail. "I can't think of a better person to ask. Obviously he knows a lot more than any of us about what's happened around here."
"You sound a tad biased towards this guy." Julia noted.
"Maybe I am." Chuck admitted. "Sad as it is he's about the only friend I have. All he did was try to help me."
"Except he never sent you somewhere Pyramid Head was waiting for you I'm guessing." Julia brought up.
"Is that what you call it? That thing with the knife? Huh." Chuck mused. "But you're wrong, I was sent to Brookhaven. I just...managed to sneak by that monster."
"I didn't." she said quietly. The sheer terror she felt all those years ago was unlike anything she had experienced before. The memory of the creature's pale white skin, blood red helmet and wordless menace ranked highest on the list of things she never wanted to see again. Silent Hill itself was just below it as far as her least favorite nightmares were concerned.
"We're here." Victor announced as they pulled up to another set of gates that appeared to be ready to fall over. Just behind them was a rusting bridge that officially marked where the real world ended and Silent Hill began. At some point the gate keeping visitors out had been closed but it seemed like someone vigorously disagreed with this and used a vehicle to convey their dissatisfaction. Scattered metal and paint told the story of a violent collision that occurred some time ago.
Parking the car over to the side of the road Julia cut the engine. Chuck let himself out while Victor let out a pent up sigh and closed his eyes. Unbuckling herself Julia turned to him and rested her hand on his forearm.
"I don't want to be here." he admitted.
"Then why are we?"
"The alternative is worse. I just didn't think I'd regret it this much now that we're here."
"Regret coming you mean?"
Opening his eyes he turned to face her. "The last time we were here before we were lucky. So many times, so many close calls. In Toluca Prison alone...had you been another five minutes, ten minutes...I might have spent the last two years decomposing."
"Don't say that." she scolded. "You aren't. And we're here, alive, with all our limbs intact."
"I just hope everything turns out so fortunately. I mean, not that everything went well before." he lamented.
"You know what got me through it last time I was here?" she asked.
"What?"
"Willpower, bullets and your sword arm. So let's make sure we have all of them huh?"
Hopping out of the car onto the soft earth the smell of the woods and pine needles greeted Julia. Craning her head up to the sunlight she took in the view of the wholesome green and blue before her. It very well may be the last time she saw such tranquil surroundings before being plunged into a world of eternal gray and ashen rain. Struck by a moment of inspiration she walked off the road to a nearby tree and plucked a single, leathery leaf from it. Feeling the one bit of green between her fingers she folded it in half and stuck in her back pocket for good luck.
Ahead the bridge into Silent Hill beckoned. It was an old metal thing that ran over to an innocuous looking patch of grass. That small bit of unruly weeds marked the town's very beginning. Julia decided to inspect the area before heading over just at that moment. Kneeling down by the now useless gate Chuck was examining what was left of it.
"Look like someone blasted right through here. Must have floored it with the gate still closed." he said.
"They had to have been in some kind of hurry." Julia noted. "Can't imagine why someone would be trying so hard to get into Silent Hill."
"Me either." Chuck said and picked something highly rusted. Holding it up in front of her she could see that it was the bottom half of a large padlock.
"That's from the gate?"
"I'm guessing." he said. "That's the weird part. You could have busted this thing with a rock if you wanted to. I don't know why they needed to drive a car through it."
"That is weird. Maybe someone was chasing them?"
"Chasing someone into Silent Hill? That doesn't seem right. People around here won't even look you in the eye when you mention this place. I should know."
Victor came up with a couple of backpacks and a long package slung over his arm. He handed Julia hers and she rifled through it for her things. Producing a large hunting knife Julia snapped the its hook onto the top of her pants. From her pack she pulled out a lightly customized M1911 pistol that had been her gun of choice after many hours on the range. Her instructor had suggested a smaller, more compact 9mm for her that would not have quite so much kick but Julia disagreed. The smaller gun might have been more effective against a human where a single bullet could do the job but she always geared for hunting inhuman game.
Pulling on the gun's shoulder strap Julia retrieved a clip and popped it into the gun. Holstering the pistol she turned to Victor who had just finished strapping his old sword to his hip. Fashioned from scrap metal in a makeshift forge it was the epitome of a scavenged weapon. The patchwork blade was crude but had been sharpened to a limb cleaving edge despite the handle being little more than tightly wrapped cloth. Ugly, chipped and heavy it was hardly a visually pleasing weapon but it permanent blood stains on it attested to its effectiveness.
"You guys came prepared." Chuck commented unnecessarily.
"You want a knife?" Julia asked.
"Uh...no, not really. If I have to get that close to something...well I'd rather not. I can wait to find a better option." Chuck said. "You guys can go first."
"Everyone ready?" Victor looked at both of them.
"Uh...what about your car?" Chuck wondered.
"It's a rental, it'll be fine." Julia answered.
"Yeah but like...what if something happens to it while we're gone?"
"Trust me it's okay." she assured him. "Ready when you are Vic."
The three of them walked up to the very end of the concrete where the metal bridge took over. They all stopped just short of stepping onto it by some unspoken agreement.
"No turning back huh?" Julia said with a half-hearted smile.
"Nope, better get a move on." Chuck agreed while not moving a muscle.
After a couple of long moments Victor said exasperatedly, "Oh fine, I'll do it!" and stepped onto the bridge. The two stragglers looked at each other before scurrying to catch up and do what neither though they would ever do again.
There was little chance of them running into other people but to be on the safe side they kept to the guard rail of the winding path. The sunny day that they had been in up to this point seemed to have slid away when they weren't looking and been overtaken by clouds. Even though they had just begun their climb into the mountains the mist was already beginning to form in the distance. They did not speak to each other and only the sound of footsteps disturbed the quiet.
Twice they passed abandoned vehicles corroding in the middle of the road. It wasn't worth bothering to see if they still worked; machinery was unreliable at best where they were going. It seemed even the inanimate was subject to the ghost town's whims. The wrecks reminded Julia of when her car blew a tire upon her arrival her last visit. It was almost a bad joke now that she was so unaware of what was going to happen to her.
It had been slightly more than a three quarters of an hour when the mist around them began to thicken with every step. Visibility dropped from a couple hundred feet down to twenty or fifteen. They were nearing the halfway point where the road leveled off and then began the descent into the town itself. All Julia could think of was the massive chasms that appeared and disappeared at their own discretion. At any point they could block entrance or exit from Silent Hill though she had the impression that they never stopped anyone from coming in. Incredibly Victor had never seen the chasms himself though he had spent so much time there. That meant to Julia that he simply had no reason to be trapped in the town he had chosen to make his home in.
When the road began to dip down Julia's stomach began to tighten. So far there were no calls, no screams, nothing to indicate there was anything amiss but an abnormal amount of mist. She mentally prepared herself for shapes coming out of the gloom but as they drew closer to the city proper thankfully nothing but empty pavement greeted them. As they neared the city streets Victor made a low grunt that signaled to Julia that he had just made a mental realization.
"What is it?" she asked.
"We're almost there and I can't feel a thing. It's just like I thought. The time away has completely dulled my senses." Victor despaired.
"What are you guys talking about? I don't hear anything." Chuck asked in a puzzled tone.
"It's not a physical thing Chuck it's...actually I don't know what to call it. You can explain better than I can Vic."
"I believe ESP is an adequate term." he explained without explaining.
"ESP...is that like a psychic?" Chuck asked.
"You could say that." Victor shrugged. "After a few years here I began to...be aware of the presence of the creatures that lurk in the mist. When the darkness came and the change happened I'd be able to tell it was coming ahead of time."
"Oh. Kind of like Highlander?"
"What's Highlander?" Victor inquired.
"A movie from the 80s. Vic kind of missed out on stuff like that growing up. He was here, remember?"
"Damn, I forgot. Well I figured guys running around sword fighting would be right up your alley. You should check it out when...when we get out of here..." Chuck finished gracelessly. Trying to change the subject he added, "There's a show called Address Unknown you'd probably like too. It only lasted one season but it was awesome."
"I'll keep that in mind." Victor brushed off as Julia knew he would. He was so closed minded sometimes. Although television never seemed to catch his attention no matter what was on. Perhaps it was a near decade of being a place that's more horror movie than it was location that taught him to devalue fabricated entertainment.
Passing through a short tunnel which they were miraculously not attacked in the trio came out to a steep downhill. It flattened out in a wide ramp that led them to the very outskirts of the misty streets. The quiet menace of the town was the worst part about it. To a new visitor it could have seemed incredibly peaceful or even beautiful. In her mind though a million living dolls, morbid, faceless nurses and always that red pyramid thing lurked behind every corner.
Shaking it off she resolved to stay in the present as much as possible. Ahead was one the first things she saw when entering the town two years ago. It was short, squat structure that hadn't seen better days in decades. Attached was a parking lot that had a few broken down cars from decades ago rusting in disrepair.
"Well, we're here." Julia announced to no one in particular. "Where's this guy at?"
"I don't know but I have to take a major leak." Chuck volunteered freely. "Be back in a minute." he called while heading for the rest stop's men's room. Julia and Victor shared a look but she shrugged, unworried.
About to stroll into the bathroom Chuck suddenly recalled where he was. Softening his steps as he neared the doorless alcove his never forgotten memories bade him to be cautious. Chuck knew he needed to move quietly, use all his senses and never panic. There probably wasn't anything in the bathroom waiting for him but he would be careful anyway. Many times he had thought about what he would do differently if he ever returned to this place. This time he was aware of what he should be doing to avoid danger and was unfettered by a self provided wild good chase for a man who did not exist.
The walls were grimy and entirely too moist but inside was a mostly clean if florescent bombarded restroom. Bladder nagging at him Chuck nevertheless kicked open the two dingy stalls to make sure they were empty. Getting caught with his pants down quite literally wasn't something he wanted to do at that or any other moment.
After enthusiastically relieving himself of the long car ride's drought he automatically began to wash his hands. It struck him as interesting that there was still some of that cheap, vaguely green soap in the dispenser. It then struck him as humorous to maintain a hand washing policy in a place that would most likely try to kill him before sundown. Splashing water on his face Chuck stared at himself in the mirror a few moments before rubbing his eyes.
"All right Chucky. You're here." he said to himself. "Make this count. Prove that you're worth a damn."
"Good to know." someone said behind him and Chuck nearly jumped out of his skin. Whirling around he found Victor leaning on the wall by the entrance.
"Were you watching me pee...?" Chuck asked, horrified.
"No."
"Well you still scared the crap out of me man. Don't do that."
"Sorry, I tend to sneak up on people without meaning to." Victor apologized. "Light steps I suppose."
"What was good to know?" Chuck asked while trying to shake off the sudden rush of adrenaline.
"That you seem at least a little perturbed to be in Silent Hill. Up until now I didn't think you minded at all."
"This coming from the guy that lived here for that long?" Chuck pointed out. "Anyone would be a little freaked out to be here knowing what we do."
"Indeed." Victor answered coolly.
Drying off his hands on his pants Chuck said, "Well, maybe it was that whole locked up in an asylum for last two years thing. Maybe I'm still a little bit surprised to be out. I mean, I didn't belong there anyway. Well I belonged there just...I don't know. It's strange to know you're crazy but not have any tendencies you can notice other than persistent nightmares."
"'That you notice' being the operating phrase. Rest assured I will notice any." the other man asserted. Victor had no patience for niceties it seemed.
Taking a deep breath Chuck nodded. "You have a right to be skeptical but I'm not in that state anymore. I haven't been since I left here two years ago. I stayed inside because I made the biggest mistake of my life and don't deserve to be free. I turned myself in remember? I made that choice because it was the right one."
Instead of reacting angrily Victor measured Chuck carefully. His expression was blank and his tone was steady. "I just need to know if being here means you'll be back to making such big mistakes."
"Troy is gone. Without that...burning hatred inside of me I have no reason to relapse. There's only...sadness. Sadness and guilt." Chuck said truthfully. It was funny to think that he was still relatively young and could say that about himself. It was just another price he paid for his actions.
"Well that's all fine and good but I'm just letting you know I won't be letting my guard down." Victor stated ever so matter of factly. Chuck had to be just a little inwardly amused at his grand seriousness.
"I think you've lived here too long. Made you paranoid. But go ahead and watch me, I've got nothing to hide." Chuck said and he walked past Victor to leave the rest room. Following behind the knight took his place next to Julia as they walked onto the empty parking lot.
"So." Julia said playfully. "What did you two gals talk about?"
"Hockey?" Chuck offered.
"As if." she snorted.
"Actually, he was asking if I was still crazy." Chuck said and dispensed with the charade.
"Are you?" she asked without a trace of mirth.
"I don't know. I'm here again aren't I? I think we're all a bit nuts for coming back when we know damn well what we're getting into."
"Hmm. Point." she conceded. "Well, this party isn't going to start itself. Shall we go?"