Me: Well, after that hellish... I think, wait is Chapter 14.

Rendan: No complaints here. My mind had to rest after all the insanity that's been going on here.

Zero: Yeah right. You were totally reading it over while he was busy.

Rendan: You were too!

Zero: Is it wrong to like something that twists my brain and makes it say "OW OW OW OW!"?

AJ: Not in the slightest. I find it kinda funny, actually.

Rendan: That we like to have our minds fucked twenty-some-odd ways to Sunday and denied the cigarette afterwards?

AJ: Well, that, and the fact that even you don't know what's being planned for this story.

Me: As much as I like hearing you guys argue, do you mind if we get this one started before you continue?

Rendan: Point. Azard doesn't own Silent Hill or Hey Arnold! They are the respective proporties of Konami and Craig Bartlett. The only things Azard owns are the OCs, the monsters he's created and the plot. Of course, like in multiple chapters, SPOILER WARNING in the chapter! Continue at your own discretion.

Me: Thanks, Rendan. Now, read and enjoy! *Rendan and Zero continue debating* Eh, what the hell? -joins debate-

Chapter 14: A Great Threat

Arnold scowled the entire way to the docks. He couldn't explain why, but a certain someone had really been grinding on his last nerves. In truth, he couldn't even answer if asked why he was even close to being on his last nerves. Normally, Arnold was one of the most patient people anyone could ever meet. Now, however, a majority of his patience seemed to have vanished into thin air. Then again, it didn't help that the certain person annoying him was challenging his authority.

Wait a second, when exactly did Arnold get that authority? It was supposed to be a democratic thing, right? Majority rules? Why did someone challenging his... and Helga's decision bother him so much? Ignoring that, he was also dealing with the fact that he had killed something, monster or not. Could killing that one monster turn him into some kind of bloodthirsty murderer? It couldn't... could it? It may... It happened to Eddie after all. Suffice to say, Arnold's mind was in a state of severe turmoil.

The rest of the group had their own problems to deal with. Helga was the second most concerned of the group and a majority of that concern was obviously directed at Arnold. She supported his decisions since she too admitted some of the recent events were far too sketchy to be considered real. Something had to have been planned. It was the only explanation that made any sense. Something was seriously wrong with the current state of things.

While her concerns were majorly for Arnold, Helga couldn't help but wonder about Lila's mental state. When Helga and Arnold had found Lila in the hotel, Helga honestly believed Lila may have resorted to killing herself over guilt. Now, suddenly the reason Lila felt guilty had vanished, thanks to the certain someone that was pissing Arnold off, and she wanted to keep him around. Why the hell would she want that? Couldn't she see that something was seriously wrong here? Could it be that she just didn't care? Helga shook her head and walked in tandem with Arnold.

Lila was clearly the most concerned of the group. Unlike Helga, however, she held massive concern for the entire group. It wouldn't be a lie to say that Lila was terrified of this town, having seen some of the monsters it housed and the cruel, evil nature of its people. One of her primary concerns was the chance that her friends and she would never find a way to escape. A fear that they would be forever trapped, doomed to death by a monster or worse, by the cult. While her previous feelings of guilt had been lifted, the reason for that now walking beside her, her mind was far from peaceful.

As for AJ, his mind was a goddamn enigma to the three. One minute he's supporting the notion that they should make their own decisions, the next he refuses to leave because Lila wanted him around. Actually, forget his mind being the enigma. He was the enigma. Everything about him was putting Arnold and Helga on edge. Ignoring the fact that he first showed up in the Otherworld, he showed considerable knowledge of the town they were in and was not afraid nor showed any hesitation when it came to taking a life.

Not to mention the alleged fact that he's been there somehow for nineteen years. There was no way that could be true... was there? Could it have been true? Was everything he told them true? Was it possible for time to be so utterly messed up here that he could be here for nineteen years but only feel and age as if he'd been there only two weeks? AJ was a constant enigma to both Arnold and Helga. Lila seemed to believe everything he said and clearly didn't doubt his words. While his mind remained unknown to her, she believed she had his behavior down pat.

The strangest thing about him, though, was that he always had an eerily calm air about him. Even if he were yelling, that odd sense of calm never left him, and the students could see it. In fact, they'd only seen him lose that air once and that was when the cultist dropped that alleged bombshell of information. One thing was certain, this enigma of a person would remain just that, an enigma.

Despite this, however, Arnold and Helga would tolerate his presence, for now. For Lila's sake. At least, that's what they told themselves. Keeping their eyes glued to the road as they searched for the docks and their ears listening to the dull roar of static, waiting for any spike in the amount, the group headed down toward Toluca Lake, and whatever would await them there. They got their response when a soft chirping reached their ears, though it was faint at first. The four stopped dead in their tracks and tried to place where the sound was coming from. A fair strategy, if only it didn't sound like it was coming from everywhere at once.

"We're close to the park," AJ said lowly. The three others fell into tandem behind him, Arnold gripping his bat tightly because of the chirping. "If there is a boat by the water, we can steal that to get to the docks. However, with that chirping, it's clear the Order is close."

"Wait," Arnold began, "I thought you said we needed to get to the docks to get across the lake."

"I forgot, sue me," AJ replied. "The docks are on the other side of the lake and we'll need to hope there is a boat by the water."

"If there isn't?"

"What kinda stupid question is that?" AJ asked incredulously. "If there's no boat we take the long way! DUH!" Arnold growled. "But, we'll have to deal with the cultists one way or another."

"I assume you have a plan besides walk up and kill everyone?" Arnold asked. AJ grinned.

"That kind of plan only works in bad action movies," AJ replied. "Some stealth will be needed."

"Yeah, well, we can't use stealth if this stupid radio keeps giving off static," Helga argued. "Even if it's just a small amount."

"Very true," AJ agreed. "No one objects to me heading out alone?" Arnold and Helga shook their heads almost instantly. Lila, on the other hand, hesitated a bit before she shook her head as well.

'He knows what he's doing,' Lila reasoned. 'He has to, otherwise we'd all be dead right now.' AJ nodded and walked off. Just as he vanished into the fog, the dull roar of static on the radio faded into nothingness.

"Strange," Arnold mused.

"What's strange?" Lila asked. Helga and Arnold looked to her as Helga held the radio up.

"That whenever he's around there's always some kind of static coming from the radio," Arnold continued.

"Didn't the cult already say why that happened?" Helga questioned.

"Just because the cult thinks a monster is following him doesn't mean it's true," Arnold argued. "Think about it, they've been wrong about everything else. Why would they be right this time?"

"Point," Helga admitted.

"Helga, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Arnold asked.

"One of us should tail him to see just what team he's playing for, ours or the Order's?"

"Exactly." Arnold and Helga shared a dark look before turning in the direction of the docks. "So who goes?" Helga held up the radio.

"Need to make sure Lila's safe. And at least I can attack from a distance." Arnold nodded.

"Point made. I'm going then. Wish me luck." Arnold turned and raced into the fog as quietly as he could muster, leaving Helga as the only line of defense should a monster appear. Arnold made his way to the park only to see several cultists moving about. At least three were standing in a small walkway in the park. Five others were walking about, moving around trees as if looking for something. A canary was placed on the ground as it tweeted softly. Arnold kept watching, trying desperately not to be seen by hiding behind anything he could.

"Over-!" One of the cultists shouted before being suddenly silenced. The others all turned in the direction of the sound as the four movers rushed there.

"Dammit!" One of them swore.

"Report!" A stander cried.

"He's dead! Looks to be a blade wound."

"Is it a Jilt type wound?"

"Negative! The canary would've been tweeting franticly if one of them was near!"

"Split up and look around!"

"Roger!" The movers all split up, running off in separate directions with their weapons drawn. Arnold shuddered and tried to hide himself further. The cultists were all carrying guns, pistols to be exact. After another few seconds a second cry was heard followed by a thud. One of the cultists rushed over to the thud.

"We've lost anot-" A sickening squelch and another thud was heard. Arnold watched in amazement as the cultists were getting picked off like this. He nearly vomited, however, when the head of the recently deceased cultist rolled into the open.

"It's over there!" One of the standers cried as he rushed to the spot the other two were killed in. He disappeared behind the trees and gunshots rang out seconds later, drawing the other cultists to the area. Another thud was heard just as they reached the spot.

"It got Andy too!" A female cultist cried. Arnold began to whip his head around wildly. Could it be possible that he was dealing with an intelligent monster? Who honestly could be picking off the cultists like this! Arnold shuddered, wondering if he would be next. He had to keep watching though. He wasn't sure why, but he felt compelled to watch the scene before him. Something in the back of his mind told him it was important to see. With that thought tugging his mind back to the gruesome scene, Arnold kept watching on. Of course, the gruesome scene was assumed since the trees were blocking most of the action. Then again, seeing a severed head roll into the open isn't exactly pleasant.

The cultists separated again, resulting in another squelch and thud as the cultists were now down to three members. The female member, the only mover left alive, moved cautiously to the scene.

"You will not win this day, Monster!" The presumed leader shouted. "God will defend us from you!" Arnold rolled his eyes. How delusional could these guys be? He shook his head as the answer to that question presented itself in a painfully obvious manner. The female cultist walked to the edge of the trees, thinking if she kept from the trees, she'd be safe. She jumped slightly and suddenly fell back. As she hit the floor, her head separated from her body.

"We're the only ones left," the second to last cultist said.

"How about instead of stating the obvious you go check it out?" The leader shouted.

"How about instead of suggesting the obvious you act like a real leader and help your subordinates!" The second shouted back.

"Heathen!" The leader raised his pistol and shot the other in the head, dropping him, dead, to the floor. "To question your superior is to question God." Arnold sat, wide-eyed at what just happened. When Helga had said these people were nuts, she really wasn't kidding. The last cultist walked to the edge of the trees and opened his arms. "Come and get me, Monster! God will protect me from your malice!"

A bloodstained figure leapt out of the trees and stomped into the cultist's torso while simultaneously plunging his blade into the cultist's chest. The cultist hit the floor with a loud thud as the figure, now finally in view, tore up the man's chest to his throat before ripping the blade out, cutting up to the man's head. Arnold began to shiver as he finally recognized the figure. It was AJ. AJ stood on the cultist, breathing heavily as he gripped his katana tightly. He turned his head to look around for a bit before sighing heavily.

"How long do you plan on hiding there, Arnold?" He asked. Arnold stood up from his hiding spot and faced him. Arnold shuddered slightly at seeing the fourth member of the group in this kind of state. AJ had blood splattered on his torso, legs and even his face. His katana was covered and practically dripping with freshly spilled blood. Scarier yet, being covered in enemy blood didn't appear to bother the boy in the slightest!

"What the-?" Arnold couldn't even finish his sentence. In truth, he didn't know how to. He'd seen AJ kill before, but not like this! Then, it was defense. This time it was a slaughter!

"This is how you handle the Order," AJ said.

"H-How in the world could you do this?" Arnold asked angrily as he gripped his bat tightly.

"If I didn't, they would've done it to us." Arnold couldn't bring himself to argue that. After all, he'd almost been their victim himself... Helga and Lila as well. "Go get the others." AJ pointed to the trees. "Down that path is a waterfront. There's a boat there so we'll use that." Arnold nodded hesitantly. AJ moved to the chirping canary and opened its cage. The bird flew out and landed on his shoulder for a second, tilted its head, and eventually flew off, chirping softly the entire time. "Don't worry yourself. I'll be clean by the time you get here." With nothing else said, AJ left the area and walked to the waterfront.

Arnold trudged, slowly, back to the others. Parts of his mind were telling him to run away as fast as he could. To grab Lila and Helga and run. However, something else entered his mind. The notes he received. As Arnold walked, he thought about the first note he read from the Path of Victims.

'They've all had to accept the inner darkness that all of mankind possesses, while others denied and succumbed to it,' Arnold thought. 'Is there more to it than that? Is it really just a darkness in ourselves? Could the Order be mankind's darkness? But then, what does it mean to accept it? It can't mean to join them... Can it? Or... does it mean to do what AJ does? He acknowledges their existence, he knows they're there, but he fights against it. He's not denying it, he's embracing it. Maybe, just maybe, sometimes darkness must overcome darkness." Arnold shook his head. Was he seriously just thinking that? 'What in the world am I thinking! There's no way any of that's true!... Maybe... No! It's not true! It's not possible!'

There was very little about this whole situation that was making sense. Arnold knew that much. The only thing is, he had no idea why! He said that this place was an eternal paradox, able to make sense while making no sense at all. That alone defied all logic! In his thought process, Arnold failed to notice something. That something making itself clearly evident when he fell to the floor, landing on top of an increasingly confused Helga.

"Hey! Football Head! What the hell are you doing!" Helga shouted. Arnold finally snapped back into his senses and jumped off and away from Helga as if she were an active grenade.

"Sorry, Helga!" Arnold quickly apologized. "I guess I spaced out."

"No duh, Football Head!" Helga yelled. However, it became increasingly apparent what had just happened to Arnold... Helga cursed.

"You... cursed," Arnold said almost robotically.

"What the hell are you talking about, Football Head?"

"You just did it again!" Helga shot Arnold a questioning glance.

"Whatever, Football Head. So, whose team is our fourth member playing for?"

"He's playing for ours!" Lila stated in a raised voice.

"You seem to think so, but we don't."

"I don't know what to think," Arnold admitted. "All of this is too confusing. The way I figure it is, we continue as we are and we kill him if we need to."

"That's rather dark for you, Football Head," Helga said.

"It would be our only option. He's not afraid to kill." Helga nodded. "He said there's a boat in the park. There most likely is and we shouldn't keep him waiting."

"If we value our lives we shouldn't."

"AJ wouldn't do that!" Lila shouted.

"So you think. Football Head, why don't we just run?"

"Because he knows how to hunt... he'll find us regardless of what we do."

"Good answer. Don't wanna make the guy that can kill us all angry." The three headed off to the park, the dull roar of static returning as they got closer to their fourth member. Lila, however, was scowling the whole way.

'How dare they?' Lila thought. 'AJ's been ever so helpful since we met and he's done nothing but keep us safe!' She felt her hands clench into fists. The three eventually found their fourth member sitting in a row boat on the water, completely clean of the blood he was splattered with before.

"What took you so long?" AJ asked.

"I, uh... spaced out," Arnold responded.

"Figures," AJ commented. "Get in the boat so we can get to the docks. If we're lucky, there won't be any cultists there."

"Oh for crying out loud!" Helga shouted.

"What?"

"Why did you have to say that! Now because you said we'll be lucky if there are no cultists at the docks, they're guaranteed to be there!"

"Why?"

"Don't you read? Haven't you seen a movie? That's the way it always works! It's like saying at least things can't get any worse. Things always get worse after that!" AJ just watched Helga rant.

"Well, too late now," he stated. "Get in the boat! Time's a-wasting!" Lila, of course, was the first to enter the rowboat. Arnold followed shortly after and Helga, begrudgingly, went last. As they took their seats, AJ picked up an oar and tossed it to Arnold. "You're on rowing duty with me." Arnold sat near the end and dipped his oar into the water as AJ did the same on the opposite side. "Do I need to tell you what to do?" Arnold scowled.

"I know how to row," Arnold said. AJ rolled his eyes.

"Then row." The two boys began to row, moving the boat slowly but silently across the water. The radio's dull roar of static, for a time, was the only noise being heard. Though Helga wouldn't admit it, she was thankful for it. The last thing she needed was for a static spike to come out of nowhere and scare her out of her skin.

'At least it's mostly quiet,' Helga thought. The static on the radio suddenly spiked as a massive shadow moved underneath them. "Criminy! I didn't even say anything!" She suddenly shouted, making the others in the boat look to her before looking around. It wasn't long before a wave suddenly hit the small rowboat, rocking it violently. Unfortunately, the rocking knocked Lila clean out of the boat and into the lake. She began to thrash violently, trying desperately to stay afloat.

"H-Help!" She screamed whenever her thrashing allowed her head to stay afloat. Arnold was about to jump into the water, much like he'd done once before, but someone beat him to it. Lila was suddenly lifted up slightly, keeping her head afloat as her thrashing calmed. She looked behind her to see AJ holding her up enough to say afloat.

"Relax, I got ya," he said. AJ turned himself around and made Lila wrap her arms around his neck. With the radio's static still in a loud roar, he swam to the boat, watching for any shadows in the water. He saw one pass underneath him that was at least five times the size of the rowboat. He reached the boat and grabbed onto the side. "Get her into the damn boat!"

Arnold and Helga quickly pulled Lila out of the water and moved to the other side, allowing AJ to hop into the boat without capsizing the thing. A large tail-fin shot out of the water behind the boat and slammed into the water, sending the small boat speeding forward. The kids grabbed onto the boat, trying desperately to not be thrown from the boat. In Lila's case, she held on for dear life.

As the boat slowed a massive creature rose up from the water. It looked like a large, gut-colored fish with spikes running along it's back. It opened it's maw to reveal large sharp teeth at least as big as the kids. Its eyes blazed red like the fires of hell as it closed in on the boat.

"Big Caesar?" Arnold questioned.

"Big is a damn understatement here!" AJ shouted. The monstrous fish soared out of the water, crashing back into it mere inches from hitting the boat. The force of the splash sent the small boat rocketing off again, this time to the docks where the radio's static returned to a dull roar.

"What the hell was that?" Helga asked.

"It looked like Big Caesar," Arnold said.

"This is no time for your stupid fairy tales, Football Head!"

"It's real all right," AJ droned as he seemed to space out. "If that monster manifested itself here, Big Caesar is indeed real."

"How do you figure?"

"Monsters here are born from the minds of its victims. Events, circumstances, and experiences they've faced all play a part. Even if Arnold imagined Big Caesar, it wouldn't be that ferocious or that big."

"But Big Caesar wasn't as big as that monstrosity!" Arnold argued.

"In Silent Hill, everything has a purpose. Everything is represented. Apparently, it's a trial you have to overcome, Arnold."

"Big Caesar is nothing but an Urban Legend!" Helga shouted.

"Was it your favorite legend, Arnold?" AJ asked. Arnold shook his head.

"No... if I had to play favorites, my favorite would have to be 'The Headless Cabbie' or 'The Ghost Bride'."

"Then that settles it. Big Caesar is real."

"Care to explain?"

"Because the only time a story-book monster manifested itself here was when it happened to be the favorite story of Alessa Gillespie."

"Was she a victim?" Lila asked.

"You have no idea."

"How bad could it be?" Arnold asked.

"Lila, please cover your ears," AJ requested. Lila did just that. "Can you hear?" Lila tilted her head in confusion. He gave her a thumbs up, which made Lila smile. "Alessa's own mother burned her alive in a ritual to impregnate her with the Order's God." At the blank, yet horrified, looks he received, he continued. "You have no idea what I said after I said burned alive, do you?" Arnold and Helga shook their heads. AJ sighed. "She burned her daughter alive so Alessa would bring the Order's God into the world."

"How would that work?"

"She'd give birth to it, of course," AJ stated. Now Helga and Arnold were absolutely mortified.

"What kind of-" Arnold began.

"An insane one," AJ interrupted. "Alessa's mother was the leader of the Holy Woman sect of the Order." Arnold's eyes narrowed. AJ tapped Lila twice and signaled her to uncover her ears. Lila did just that and looked at her classmates' expressions, confusion prominent in her mind.

"And you know that she was a leader of the Order's Holy Woman sect because?"

"Because you're not the only ones that find notes around here! That and..." he trailed off.

"And?" Arnold and Helga asked. Lila, thankfully, remained mostly unaware of what was going on.

"And nothing. My life isn't some open book that you have access to." AJ looked off into the distance. "If we're going to be getting to the school, we should get moving now. That way we don't waste too much time."

'Don't tell me Arnold and Helga already forgot he was kidnapped by the Order,' Lila thought. The kids all left the boat, stepping up onto the docks. The docks were clear, no monsters or cultists in sight. AJ grinned at Helga.

"Don't start," Helga growled out. AJ laughed. Lila had to suppress the urge to giggle.

"We'll follow the road. It'll be easier that way," AJ said. With a reluctant nod from Arnold and Helga, the four headed on down the road. As they walked, Arnold now taking the lead with Helga following behind him, Lila tapped AJ on the shoulder.

"Thank you," she softly said, "for saving me." AJ smirked.

"It's not a big deal. Just doing what I'm supposed to."

"How did you know I couldn't swim?" Lila asked.

"Eh?"

"When I fell in, you jumped into the water before anyone else realized what happened. I didn't realize it at the time, myself, but you were swimming toward me the second I fell into the water."

"I didn't know you couldn't swim. When you fell in, I intended to guard you as you swam back to the boat. When you called for help, I realized I had to get you back myself." Lila smiled. She couldn't figure out why, but she knew he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Liar," she playfully teased. "But, I suppose I can let it go." AJ gave her a confused glance. "My hero is entitled to a secret or two."

"Your hero?" Lila nodded.

"Yes, my hero. It isn't the first time you've saved me after all." Lila looked away, a small tint of pink gracing her cheeks. AJ mimicked her actions, though his expression was different. His expression, for a brief second, betrayed only sorrow.

Me: And that's why things are going like that... Oh! And that's the chapter.

Rendan: Azard, I think my brain just exploded.

Me: Nah, you're fine. Well, this marks the appearance of Arnold's first boss.

Zero: Arnold's first boss?

Me: Great Caesar. The giant fish.

Zero: How is Arnold supposed to kill that thing?

Me: Like I'll tell you. After that fight, however, I'll explain the symbolism behind it, as well as do the monster dictionary for him.

AJ: Lotta shit going on though...

Me: And all of it 100% supposed to happen. As I always say, I always have a reason for writing things the way I do. But I also say to watch for little details as well, quirks or the like that aren't normal.

AJ: It's Silent Hill. Almost nothing is normal here.

Me: True, but I'm talking more character specific things.

Rendan: I assume you don't want us discussing that while the readers are still here?

Me: Correct. But, I suppose that'll do it for this time.

Rendan: Be good-

Zero: And be safe, everyone!

Me: I'm outta here! -everyone leaves discussing things again-