Silent Hill
by Matt Davies
The fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh
Rituals and Delusions
…Western rituals have perhaps lost some of this importance. This undoubtedly imparts on the subject a feeling outwith the bounds of their normal experience.
As demonstrated earlier in the chapter, the element of ordeal is also essential in rituals in many other cultures.
When these are combined with mind affecting substances it creates a highly suggestible state…
-Leonard Rhine, The Monster Lurks
Harry looked out of the side window - it was too dark to see anything.
His gaze fell on his daughter. With her raven black, short cropped hair and her blue check dress, she looked cute as the day they took her home. Well, almost as cute.
He was aware that most fathers would think the same way, but he didn't care.
She slept, blissfully unaware of everything. It seemed now as if she didn't have a care in the world.
Just two nights ago she was crying out for her mother, who had died four years ago, when Cheryl was just turned three. She surely couldn't fully recall her past...even if it had been dramatic.
A police officer rode past on a motorcycle, which reminded Harry he should be watching the road. The bike roared off into the distance.
They drove for a time in silence and darkness.
A yawn in the passenger seat preceded a beaming smile from his daughter. She peered into the darkness, sat back and sighed;
"Are we nearly there Dad?"
"Yes sweetheart. I think it's just round the hillside and then down. It should be a nice holiday for us both."
"Thank you Daddy."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For taking me here."
"I still don't really understand why you wanted to come here"
"It looked nice in the picture. Maybe we came here before?"
Harry said nothing. Something was lying at the side of the road. As they passed by, he could see that it was the police bike, but where was the rider?
As he turned back to the road a girl stood before them, staring into the car. He slammed on the brakes. He was losing control, the car slid. He tried to turn into the slide. The car lurched down the hillside regardless.
Through the pines.
Too steep.
No control.
It seemed like an eternity passed.
Harry noticed the trees blurring past the window. How were they managing to avoid them?
Through the trees a barrier was now visible on the other side of the road. It approached rapidly.
They busted through the fence.
Cleared the wood.
Bounced across the tarmac.
The wheel wrested from his grasp.
The impact of the radiator on the barrier.
His head moved towards the steering column in what felt like slow motion.