Chapter 15 – The Parley

The tension remained heavy within the Shepherd family home, the fog lay thick outside, a reminder of the horrors beyond their line of sight. The cultists had fallen silent after the calls for a ceasefire. But Alex couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him. Adam, his father, stood next to him, gripping the M1 Garand. Neither of them spoke, but the years of unspoken words, buried secrets, and now the struggle of survival loomed over them.

From the window, James and Wheeler held their positions, watching the cult with their weapons at the ready. James's fingers twitched on the trigger of his rifle, his eyes hard and focused, scanning for any sign of a double cross.

"I still don't like this," Wheeler muttered. "You think they're just gonna talk?"

James didn't answer, but his silence spoke louder than words. He didn't trust them either.

Alex looked over at them, then back to Adam. "You ready?"

Adam nodded. "Let's get this over with."

With a deep breath, Alex opened the door and stepped outside. The cold, damp air hit him like a ton of bricks and he shuddered involuntarily. Adam followed, shutting the door behind them. Together, the two walked down the steps and across the yard, slowly approaching the small group of cultists waiting there for them. The leader of the group, a man in a dirty coat holding a loudspeaker, waited for them with a calm, almost eerie patience.

Alex's heart pounded in his chest as they approached, but he kept his cool, trying not to show them any hint of weakness.

"So you finally came," the cultist said. "Adam Shepherd and his son. Just like we asked."

Alex clenched his fists but didn't speak. He glanced at Adam, who gave him a small nod, silently telling his son to let the cultist speak first.

The leader of the group stepped forward, lowering his loudspeaker. "We didn't come here to fight. Enough blood has been spilled for now. Judge Holloway wants to speak with you both, face to face. She's offering you a chance to end this."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "And why should we believe that? You expect us to trust anything Holloway has to say?"

The cultist curled his lips into a thin smile. "I don't expect either of you to trust her. But I do expect you to hear her out. She has… plans for this town. And you, Alex, you were to play a bigger part in them than you've realized."

Alex felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't like the way the cultist's eyes lingered on him like he was being sized up for something. "What does she want?"

"That's for her to explain," the cultist said, stepping back. "All I'm here to do is deliver the message. Holloway will meet you both. Alone. No guns. No backup."

Adam narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip on the rifle. "That's not happening. We're not walking into a trap without protection."

The cultist shrugged. "It's not a trap. She just wants to talk. If you refuse, the bloodshed will come. You know it will. You know what we're capable of."

Alex exchanged glances with Adam, there was a decision to make. They were outnumbered and outgunned, and the cult had already proven they were willing to sacrifice everything to get what they wanted. And the men knew that. But going to Holloway without any kind of plan felt like walking into the lion's den.

James's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie on Alex's belt. "Alex, please don't do this. You know they're not going to just talk."

Alex pressed the button. "I know, Uncle James. But we don't have many options."

"Damn it," James hissed through the static. "You're walking into a trap."

Alex hesitated, looking at the cultist leader. He didn't want to go. Every instinct inside of him screamed to turn around and run. But if there was even a slim chance of ending the bloodshed… He couldn't ignore it. Too many people in town had already died.

"I'm going," Alex said quietly, turning off the walkie-talkie before James could argue.

Adam nodded in agreement. "We'll go. But if anything happens…"

The cultist leader smiled darkly. "Nothing will happen, so long as you keep your end of the deal."

Without another word, Alex and Adam followed the cultist down the path, deeper into the fog and away from the safety of the house and their allies. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of their footsteps crunching on the gravel beneath their boots.

Alex's heart pounded louder with every step. He didn't trust Holloway. He didn't trust the cult. But he had to find out what was going on.

Suddenly, the fog parted to reveal a clearing. In the center stood a single figure, Judge Holloway, they knew it was her despite the robes and ram skull mask, her hands folded neatly in front of her, eyes cold and calculating as she seemed to be examining them.

"Welcome, Alex," she said, voice like ice. "It's time we had a little talk."

Alex felt his stomach churn. Whatever this was, he knew, deep down, nothing good would come from it.

Both men had reluctantly left their guns behind, as agreed, but the tension still hung in the air. Alex glanced over his shoulder one last time, catching a glimpse of James through the haze. His uncle was positioned at the window, rifle in hand, and ready to act in case anything went wrong. An unspoken promise between them, if things went sideways, James wouldn't hesitate to fire.

Wheeler was also in position, shotgun in hand, eyes narrowed with distrust. No one trusted the cult, but they were playing by their rules, for now.

Alex and Adam reached the designated meeting spot, and the outlines of figures became visible through the fog. Judge Margaret Holloway stood at the front, flanked by her right-hand man, Curtis Ackers, who wasn't dressed in the usual cultist garb. Behind them were other members of the cult, robed figures, though Holloway and Curtis were the ones in charge.

Alex's heart skipped a beat as he locked eyes with Holloway. The sight of her with that ram skull mask was unsettling to him, but as he and his father approached, she reached up and slowly removed it, revealing her pale face. The corners of her mouth curled into a slight, unsettling smile.

"Alex, Adam," she greeted them with an icy politeness. "I appreciate you coming out here to talk."

Adam's face was stone-cold, but his fists clenched at his sides. "You gave us little choice, Holloway."

Holloway didn't seem phased by this. She stepped forward gracefully, her long coat brushing against the wet ground. "I'm sure you understand that we need to resolve this peacefully, if possible."

Alex studied her carefully. There was something off about the way she spoke as if the politeness was something rehearsed, masking something far more dangerous. Curtis, on the other hand, looked disinterested, leaning back casually with his arms crossed. He caught Alex's eye and smirked slightly as if to say he wasn't fully invested in this whole charade.

"Didn't bring my robes today," Curtis said dryly, noting Alex's glance at his plain mechanic's clothing. "Never did like playing dress-up."

Alex didn't respond. He could feel the rising tension between his father and Holloway, though the judge continued to speak calmly.

Margaret Holloway's eyes moved from Adam to Alex, smile still intact. "Let's be clear, I have no personal desire to harm either of you. I respect both of you. You, Adam, had been a loyal servant to Shepherd's Glen for years. Only need to be disciplined once in a while. And Alex… well, you've shown resilience beyond my expectations."

Alex felt chill in her words. Polite or not, there was a sharp edge to her tone, a reminder that she held more cards than she let on.

Adam, however, wasn't playing nice. "What do you want, Holloway? Because I know you didn't come here for small talk."

Holloway's smile never wavered, but her eyes darkened. "Straight to the point, Adam? Very well." She stepped closer, and Alex had to fight the instinct to move back. "I need both of you to stop your rebellion against the Order. You are standing in the way of a greater purpose, one that must be fulfilled."

Alex spoke up first, his voice hard. "The 'Order' you're talking about is nothing but a gang of murderers and fanatics."

Holloway chuckled softly, but it was a cold, joyless sound. "Is that what you think? That we are simple fanatics? I assure you, Alex, what we are doing is far more important than you can imagine. This town... this world… is on the verge of something greater. The sacrifices we make are not in vain."

Adam took a step forward, his voice filled with disdain. "What about my son? What about Joshua? You took him from the Bartlett's didn't you?"

A shadow crossed Holloway's face, but she didn't lose her composure. "Joshua was necessary to ensure your compliance. His role in all of this—"

Before she could finish, Curtis interrupted with a sigh, "Here we go again." He rolled his eyes and shifted his weight, clearly bored with the formalities.

Margaret shot him a sharp look but continued. "Joshua's fate is tied to this town's survival. As is yours, Alex."

Alex's fists clenched at his sides. "What did you do to him?"

Holloway's smile faltered for just a moment. "Joshua... was part of something greater. A necessary part of the process."

Adam's eyes burned with fury. "You used my son."

Margaret's gaze hardened. "The sacrifices we make are not without reason, Adam. And you know that better than anyone. The pact your family made-"

"Don't talk to me about pacts!" Adam snapped. "You twisted everything."

Alex stepped closer to his father, feeling the anger rolling off of him in waves. He was right there with him, whatever Margaret Holloway had done with Joshua, it was unforgivable.

The air around them filled with tension, but before the conversation could spiral further, Curtis uncrossed his arms and spoke up. "Look, we're not here to hash out the past. We're here to talk about the future. So, are you going to listen to Holloway, or are we gonna have to deal with this the hard way?"

Alex turned his attention to Curtis, who shrugged as if it didn't matter to him. But Alex could see through the casual demeanor. Curtis wasn't as indifferent as he pretended to be.

Holloway stepped forward again, keeping her voice soft but commanding. "This town's future depends on the choices you make now. If you continue down this path of rebellion, everything will burn. The Order will not tolerate defiance."

Alex met her head-on. "And what if we don't stop? What if we continue to fight back?"

Holloway smiled again, that same cold, calculating smile of hers. "Then you will be consumed like the rest. You and your father… and everyone you care about."

Adam's face was set in stone, his hand twitching slightly as if he regretted leaving his weapon behind. But before he could say anything, Alex cut in.

"I've fought worse fanatics than you," Alex said. "I've fought them in Iraq, and I'm not afraid to fight them again here."

Holloway's eyes narrowed, and the mask of politeness finally dropped. "You're a fool then, Alex. You don't know what you're dealing with."

Alex squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. "Maybe. But I'll fight for my family. For my brother. And for this town, even if it means taking you down."

Margaret Holloway's eyes flickered with something dangerous. "You'll regret this, Alex Shepherd. You'll regret it all." She said.

Curtis chuckled. "Well, this was fun. See you around, kid." And he turned to to disappear into the fog. He was leaving them to continue talking.

"What are your plans, Holloway?" Alex demanded His eyes burned with fury, but he kept his voice steady. "What is this really about?"

Margaret Holloway, ever composed, tilted her head slightly as if amused by his question. "You've been fighting without understanding, Alex. Haven't you? Isn't it time you knew the truth?"

"Then tell me," Alex growled, refusing to back down. "Enough games."

Holloway took a slow breath, seemingly taking the time to savor the moment. "Every fifty years, the four founding families of Shepherd's Glen, the Fitchs, the Bartletts, the Shepherds, and of course, the Holloways offer a sacrifice to the God of Silent Hill. This pact ensures the town's protection, both from the horrors that lurk beyond, and from ourselves." She stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Alex. "The sacrifice must be a child, one from each family. Your family… the Shepherd family… was no exception."

Alex's stomach churned. He had heard whispers of this before, fragments of conversations his father never explained. But now, hearing it laid out so clearly made his blood run cold.

"That had to be Joshua, then," Alex interrupted, his voice sharp with desperation. He made a desperate look at his father and then back to Holloway. "You took him for that sick ritual, didn't you?"

Holloway's lips curled into a strange smile, and she shook her head slowly. "Joshua?" She seemed almost perplexed by the mere suggestion. "No, Alex. You were the intended sacrifice."

Alex froze, his heart skipping a beat as her words sank in. "What?" His voice came out barely above a whisper.

"You were supposed to be the sacrifice," Holloway continued, her tone almost sympathetic, as if she were explaining something to a child. "Joshua was nothing more than our hostage, to once again ensure your father would fulfill his role in all of this. But fate, it seems, had other plans."

Adam stepped forward, his voice full of rage. "First your Order took the life of my sister, Mary, then you wanted me to use my sons, both of them, as pawns in your twisted game."

Margaret met his gaze. "They are part of something far bigger than you, Adam. This town's fate… its survival… everything rests on this cycle. The pact has been in place for generations."

Alex's mind raced as he struggled to process her revelation. He was supposed to die? He was the intended sacrifice? And Joshua had been taken. For the last couple of days, he had thought his father had just let him go, sacrificed him for whatever sick, twisted purpose the Order had demanded. But this… this was worse. It wasn't Joshua. It was supposed to be him.

"Where's Joshua?" Adam's voice cut through Alex's thoughts. His father was trembling with barely contained fury. "Where is my son?"

Holloway's smile faded, replaced by something far more sinister. "It would be more accurate to say that Joshua is everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere all at once."

Adam's fists clenched, face reddened with anger. "Enough with the riddles! Where is he?!"

For the first time, Holloway's composure seemed to falter, just slightly. But she quickly regained control, speaking in that same, calm voice. "Joshua's fate is intertwined with the town, with the ritual. He has become… part of it."

Alex couldn't hold back any longer. "What the hell does that even mean?" His voice cracked with emotion, his heart pounding in his chest. "What did you do to him?"

Holloway looked directly at Alex, her eyes gleaming with a strange, almost sadistic satisfaction. "Joshua's fate has been bound to the town, to the very fabric of its existence. He's part of this place now, just as much as the fog, the monsters, and the nightmares."

Adam stepped toward her, shaking with rage. "You did this to him. You-" He stopped short, too furious to finish his sentence. He had always blamed himself, always carried the guilt, but now… now, Holloway was revealing just how deep her cruelty ran.

"Why?" Alex asked. "Why Joshua?"

Holloway sighed as if disappointed by the question. "Joshua wasn't meant for the ritual, Alex. But circumstances changed. When your father failed to… fulfill the sacrifice, he became a backup, in a way. A tool to ensure that Adam would do his part, to keep the pact intact."

Adam's fists shook. "You're a monster," he spat with rage.

"Am I?" Holloway raised an eyebrow. "Or am I just doing what is necessary for the greater good?"

Alex felt a storm of emotions inside him, anger, guilt, confusion. He had thought he'd known what he was fighting for, what he was fighting against. But now, everything just felt so much more complicated, so much more twisted. His brother, his blood, had been used as leverage in a twisted game far bigger than any of them had realized.

And now… Joshua was gone.

No. Not gone.

"Everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere."

The words echoed in Alex's mind, filling him with hopelessness.

Adam's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You think this justifies everything? You think this makes you righteous?"

Holloway smiled again, but it was colder now, more detached. "What I do is for my town. For its survival. You can condemn me all you want, Adam, but this is bigger than you. Bigger than all of us."

Adam stepped forward, keeping his voice dangerously low. "If you've done anything else to my sons… if there's anything more… I'll make sure you pay for it."

Holloway didn't flinch. "You already know the answer, Adam. Joshua's fate was sealed the moment you failed to fulfill the pact."

Margaret Holloway's voice turned icy as she delivered her final words. "Do you want to know what happens next? Either you fall back in line, or this town burns. With everyone in it."

Adam and Alex stood there, silent and shaking with rage. The battle wasn't over, but the lines had been drawn.

Now, it was time for them to decide their next move.

Margaret Holloway stood with an air of cold confidence, her calculating gaze never leaving Alex and Adam. Behind her, the cultists shifted, but they remained focused and disciplined. The fog swirled around them, as Holloway, ever aware of her surroundings, glanced briefly toward the house.

James Sunderland was barely visible in the upstairs window, rifle trained on her. She knew exactly where he was.

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she pointed a finger up at the window. "Go ahead," she said coolly, her voice dripping with mock indifference. "Shoot me."

Alex and Adam exchanged a glance, as Holloway continued.

"Do you think one bullet is enough to stop what's coming? You kill me, and my men will burn you all alive. This house, your family, everything. All it takes is one spark. And trust me," her voice darkened, "they're more than ready to light the fire."

Adam's hand tightened into a fist at his side again, he could barely restrain his fury. "You wouldn't dare," he growled.

Margaret raised an eyebrow, almost amused. "Wouldn't I? You of all people should know by now, Adam, that I don't make empty threats."

Alex's breath caught in his throat as Holloway's words sank in. This wasn't just a parlay. It was a death sentence waiting to be executed at the slightest provocation. He looked back toward the house, where James's rifle was still trained on Holloway's head. Wheeler, too, was ready to strike, ready to pull the trigger. But could that save them?

Alex's looked back to Margaret, her smirk was gone now. Replaced by the cold, calculated mask she wore so well. "What do you want?" he asked.

Holloway sighed as though discussing something mundane. "I want you to understand, Alex. This isn't just about survival. It's about ensuring that the Order, and this town, continue. This is what your father and mother tried to protect you from. But you're in it now."

"And Joshua?" Adam cut in, his voice harsh and filled with the rage and desperation of a father. "Where is he?"

Margaret's smirk returned, more sinister this time. "Like I said before, Adam. Joshua is… everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere. I have no other way of explaining it to you."

Adam took a step forward, his anger barely restrained. "Enough of the riddles!"

But Holloway didn't flinch. Instead, she turned slightly, motioning toward her men, who stood like statues, each one armed to the teeth and ready to strike. "This is your last chance, Adam," she said. "Surrender, and maybe you'll survive what's coming. Resist, and you will all burn. Your wife, your son… everyone."

James was still ready to fire from the window, his hands steady despite the rage boiling inside him. Wheeler stood ready as well, but it was Adam's voice that broke through the silence.

"We'll never surrender to you, Margaret."

Holloway's smirk widened, and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "So be it, Adam."

With those words, Margaret Holloway lifted her fist, giving a subtle signal to her cultists. It was barely noticeable, but it was enough. Adam's heart sank as he saw the smug look in her eyes, knowing she had more in store for them. He turned to Alex, his voice barely above a whisper, "We need to move. Now!"

Just as Margaret disappeared into the fog, the rumble of engines echoed across the hills. Adam's eyes widened in horror as two large trucks crested the rise, each mounted with a .50 caliber machine gun, meticulously provided by Curtis. The metallic beasts rolled into position, and the barrels of the guns swung toward the Shepherd family home.

"Oh, God," Alex muttered, watching the scene unfold in disbelief.

Without warning, the Order's heavy artillery opened fire. The deafening roar of machinegun fire filled the air as the bullets tore into the house. The walls shuddered under the relentless assault, wood splintering, and windows shattering. Dust and debris filled the room as rounds pierced the building, leaving massive holes in their wake.

"Run!" Adam yelled, grabbing Alex's arm and pulling him away from the incoming fire. They sprinted for cover, diving just as a section of the house exploded in a shower of splinters and glass.

James, stationed at the upstairs window, ducked just in time as bullets whizzed past him, sending shards of wood and glass into the air. He cursed under his breath, scrambling for cover, but his rifle was useless against the firepower bearing down on them.

Downstairs, Wheeler fired off a few rounds from his shotgun in a desperate attempt to hold them off. But it was no use. The cultists had kept their real firepower in reserve, and now they were unleashing it upon them in full force.

Adam pulled Alex behind a crumbling wall as the house continued to be riddled with bullets. "They're tearing the place apart!" Alex shouted over the noise.

"Stick with me," Adam growled. "We'll find a way through this."

As the heavy gunfire continued, Adam's mind raced. There had to be a way out. He couldn't let this be the end, not for his family, not for Alex, and not after all the sacrifices they had already made. He glanced at his son, and it reminded him why they were still fighting.

"We need to get back to the others!" Alex yelled, voice barely audible over the chaos.

Adam nodded. "We'll get to the basement, your mother and Elle are down there. They'll be safer there than out here in the open!"

With the house crumbling around them, Adam and Alex moved swiftly, darting from cover to cover as the .50 caliber machine guns continued their assault. Every step felt like a gamble, and each second felt like a brush with death.

An explosion hit the building, and Adam shielded his son as debris rained down on them. "Go!" he shouted, pushing Alex forward toward the stairs leading down to the basement.

They sprinted for the stairs, hearts pounding, as Wheeler and James laid down what little cover they could, trying to fend off the advancing cultists. They could hear the truck engines roaring in the distance, closer now, pushing the assault.

Just as they reached the basement door, Adam stopped and turned to Alex. "This isn't over, Alex. We'll need more than just guns to win this."

Alex nodded, wiping the sweat from his face. "We're not giving up, dad. Not now. Not ever."

They hurried down the stairs, the sounds of gunfire still echoing above them. The basement was dark, lit only by a single lightbulb. Lillian and Elle huddled together, both frightened, but determined to survive.

"We'll hold them off as long as we can," Adam said, grabbing more ammunition from his stash. "But we need to come up with a new plan. This isn't just about survival anymore, it's about ending this once and for all."

They prepared for the next wave of attacks, the walls of the basement shook with the intensity of the battle outside. The cultists were relentless, and it was clear to them now that Margaret Holloway had no intention of letting any of them leave Shepherd's Glen alive.

Alex clenched his fists but said nothing. The truth about Joshua still gnawed at him, but now there was something far bigger at stake. This wasn't just a battle for his brother anymore, it was a fight for everyone he cared about, for Elle, for the town, and for his survival.

And no matter what it took, he would see it through.

As the firefight raged on, a sudden crash as a Molotov cocktail tore through one of the shattered windows, bursting into flames upon impact. The fire spread quickly, igniting curtains and furniture. Thick, black smoke began to fill the house, and the flames added a new layer of chaos to the brutal battle.

"Damn it!" Adam yelled, shielding his face from the heat. "We don't have a choice now!"

The fire was rapidly growing out of control, the heat was becoming unbearable. Adam turned to Alex, urgency clear in his voice. "We need to retreat! Get Lillian and Elle out of the basement. We're leaving."

Alex's heart raced. He wasn't ready to leave, not without everyone. "What about Wheeler and James?" he demanded. "We can't just leave them behind!"

James, hearing Alex's protest, called out from upstairs, where he'd taken cover. "Go, Alex! We'll cover you!"

Deputy Wheeler emerged from behind a broken doorway, firing off a few more shots as he shouted over his shoulder, "We'll be right behind you! Get the others out of here, now!"

Smoke was starting to fill the rooms, making it harder to see. Alex hesitated, torn between staying with his Uncle and leaving with Elle. He could feel his chest tightening as the decision weighed upon him.

"Alex, we don't have time!" Adam grabbed his son's shoulder, giving him a firm shake. "If we stay, we're all dead. Get your mother and Elle out, or we'll lose them too!"

Alex met his father's gaze, then nodded. He hated the thought of leaving his uncle and Wheeler behind, but he knew Adam was right. If they didn't move now, none of them would make it out alive.

With a deep breath, Alex turned and rushed back to the basement door. He could already feel the smoke clogging his throat as he descended the stairs, where Lillian and Elle were waiting anxiously.

"We need to go," Alex said quickly. "The house is on fire. We're heading for the dock. There's a boat."

Lillian's eyes widened, and Elle looked between Alex and Lillian. But they didn't waste time with questions. They knew the stakes.

As they gathered themselves, Adam stood guard at the top of the stairs, rifle in hand, his eyes scanning the collapsing house. The fire had spread, and the crack of the .50 caliber machine guns continued outside. But for now, the cultists hadn't moved in. Yet.

"We need to move, now!" Adam urged, voice commanding.

Alex, Elle, and Lillian hurried up the stairs. The heat was intense, and the flames seemed to chase them out with every step. They emerged into the living room just as another explosion rocked the house, this time from an overturned fuel tank, sending another wave of fire through the back hallway.

"We don't have much time," Adam muttered grimly. "Let's go."

Alex glanced back toward the staircase, where Wheeler and James were still holding their ground. "I'm not leaving without-"

"You don't have a choice, Alex!" Adam snapped, grabbing his son's arm. "They'll hold the line, but we need to get out of here now!"

Reluctantly, Alex nodded. He clenched his gun, fighting back the fear and frustration boiling up inside him. This wasn't the time for hesitation. He had to trust James and Wheeler.

Adam led the way out the back of the house, where the dock lay hidden behind the treeline. The boat was old but still functional for police duties, tucked away behind the house. The fire was spreading fast, but they still had a chance if they moved quickly.

As they sprinted across the backyard, dodging bullets that whizzed through the air, Alex could hear the sound of Wheeler's shotgun roaring from inside the house, followed by the cracks of James's rifle. The two were still fighting, still holding off the cultists with every last bit of strength they had.

"Keep moving!" Adam urged. "We're almost there."

The dock came into view through the smoke and fog, the small boat rocking gently in the water. Adam jumped aboard first, helping Lillian and Elle climb in as the crackle of flames and gunfire continued to haunt the air behind them.

Alex hesitated one last time, glancing back at the house, at the flames through the windows, at the dark silhouettes of his uncle and Wheeler still fighting.

James stood at the upstairs window, his rifle aimed and ready, watching over them. He caught Alex's eye from a distance, giving a small nod.

"Go!" James shouted. "We'll catch up!"

With a heavy heart, Alex turned and climbed into the boat, gripping the side tightly. Adam was already untying the ropes, starting the motor. The engine sputtered to life, and the boat pulled away from the dock just as another round of machine gun fire rang out, shredding through the air where they had just been standing.

They drifted into the fog. They had made it out, for now, but Wheeler and James were still back there, still fighting for their lives. The battle was far from over, and with Margaret Holloway still out there, with her twisted plans, Alex knew their war was just beginning.