Chapter 17 – Toluca Lake

As Adam took ahold of the steering wheel, Alex, Elle, and Lillian huddled together, the distant glow of their once-safe home fading behind them, the crackling of the fire and the roaring of the engines faded into the background as their minds processed the chaos they'd just escaped. The cold wind whipped through the air, stinging their faces, but no one cared. Each was lost in their thoughts, haunted by the burning wreckage and the uncertainty of what was to come next.

Elle, clutching Alex's arm tightly, broke the silence first. "We need to go back for Wheeler and James."

Alex shook his head. "We can't, Elle. Not yet. They're expecting us to do that. If we go now, it'll be suicide."

Adam, steering the boat, glanced back. "He's right, Elle. We have to regroup and figure out what we're up against. It's not just Holloway. The cult's too strong for just us now, we need a plan."

Lillian sat quietly, her eyes distant, looking through the water, lost in thoughts, of the family, of the home they had just lost. "We can't just leave them. Not after everything. We have to find another way."

Alex nodded. "We will. We're not abandoning them, Uncle James or Wheeler. But we need more firepower, something. If we charge in blind, we'll just end up captured like them, or worse."

Elle's face hardened, and she began tearing up at Alex. "Then what's the plan, Alex? We don't have time! Every second we're out here, they're getting tortured or worse."

Adam sighed deeply, looking out into the fog, into the dark waters. "There's only one place we can go now... Silent Hill. The cult's roots run deep there, and if we want to strike back, we need to know exactly what we're facing."

The name hung over them in the air like a death sentence. Silent Hill.

Lillian's voice trembled. "Are you sure you want to do that? We just barely made it out of Shepherd's Glen, and you want to go to Silent Hill?"

"We don't have a choice," Alex said, gripping the side of the boat. "That's where all of this started. If we want to end it, that's where we need to go."

Elle's hand rested in Alex's hand and she rested her head on his shoulder. Her touch was firm but understanding. "We'll find a way, Alex. Together. Just like back there. We'll find James and Wheeler, and we'll stop Mom- Margaret." Elle corrected herself, she couldn't view her mother as her mom anymore.

Adam continued steering the boat into the fog ahead, the outline of Silent Hill growing closer in the distance. The town began looking like a dark shadow on the horizon, a place of nightmares and secrets.

Lillian looked ahead, tension building inside her. "Whatever's waiting for us there, we'll face it. But we can't go in blind this time."

The boat continued moving closer to that cursed town, Alex whispered, almost to himself, "We're not the only ones looking for answers in Silent Hill."

The boat continued to cut through the dark, fog-covered waters, Alex's mind swirled with unanswered questions. The shock of the night's events, the burning of their home, and the unknown fate of Wheeler and Uncle James weighed on him. But there was one thing gnawing at him more than anything else, what Holloway had said before they fled. Her words echoed in his head and wouldn't just go away.

Alex glanced over at his father, Adam, who was still steering the boat.

Alex took a deep breath and finally spoke up, his voice low but clear. "Dad… I need to ask you something. About what Judge Holloway said back there."

Adam didn't look back at him, his eyes were fixed on the horizon, but Alex knew he was listening.

"She said…" Alex hesitated, trying to figure out the words. "She said that I was supposed to be the sacrifice for the Order, along with Scarlett, Nora, and Joey. Not Joshua."

Adam tightened his grip on the wheel, but still, he said nothing.

Alex's frustration grew, and raised his voice. "You drugged me that night, didn't you? When I came home to Shepherd's Glen. You gave me that drink, whiskey and water, and I passed out. What was in it, Dad?"

Adam clenched his jaw, and for a moment, Alex thought he wouldn't answer. But then, after a long silence, Adam finally spoke, his voice rough with regret.

"I had to make a choice, Alex," Adam admitted, avoiding looking at his son's eyes. "You don't understand what it was like… the pressure, of what I was forced to do. I didn't want this for you, for Joshua, or any of us."

Alex's heart pounded, anger boiling. "What choice, Dad? What did you put in that drink?"

Adam exhaled slowly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of what he was about to reveal. "It was drugged," he confessed. "I had to. I couldn't risk you finding out the truth. Not then. You weren't supposed to be there that night, Alex. You were never supposed to know."

Alex felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs. His father had drugged him and had kept him in the dark about everything. "Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why me? Why Joshua?"

Adam's face twisted with pain. "The Order… they demanded a sacrifice from each founding family. That's how the pact with Silent Hill was kept. I was supposed to" He paused, struggling to find the words. "You were chosen. You were supposed to be the one, Alex. Not Joshua."

This revelation hit Alex like a sledgehammer. His hands clenched into fists. "You chose me, Dad, but Joshua took my place didn't he?"

Adam's eyes finally met his son's, filled with a sadness Alex had never seen before. "I don't know. You came back, and I… I couldn't go through with it. You were strong, Alex, always strong. And Joshua… he was a fragile boy, and I thought, I thought I could protect you both. But I failed."

Alex' shook with fury. "You sacrificed him instead, didn't you? You let him die!"

Adam's face crumpled "I didn't sacrifice him either, Alex. I didn't want any of this. I thought I was saving you and your brother. I thought if I rebelled from Holloway and the Order, I could keep you safe. I was wrong."

His father's confession hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Alex turned away, his chest tight with a mix of anger and grief. The person he had looked up to, and trusted, had betrayed him in the worst way possible.

"I can't forgive you," Alex said quietly. "Not for this."

Adam nodded "I don't expect you to. I just… I need you to understand. Everything I did, I did because I thought I had no choice."

Alex didn't respond, staring out into the fog.

Alex tried to process everything his father had just admitted—the betrayal, the lies, the secrets that had shaped his entire life. But now wasn't the time to fully unpack it. He was too hurt, too angry, and they had more pressing dangers ahead. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sound of the boat's engine and the water breaking beneath them fill his ears.

"We'll talk about it later, Dad," Alex said quietly, though anger was still simmering in his voice. He wasn't ready to confront his father's decision, not now. He needed his mind sharp for what lay ahead.

Adam didn't say anything, and Alex was grateful for the silence. Neither Lillian nor Elle spoke up, and he was grateful for that too.

But there was something else bothering him, something even more cryptic. He turned back to his father. Though he was still angry about everything, there were other questions he had for him "What did Holloway mean when she talked about Joshua? She said he's 'everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere at the same time.' What the hell does that mean? She made it sound… like Joshua wasn't sacrificed like the others. Like he's still… out there."

Adam stiffened but Alex pressed on. "She said Joshua was taken as a hostage. That he's everywhere and nowhere. What did she mean by that? Did she mean… is he alive?" There was a flicker of hope in Alex's voice, one he barely wanted to acknowledge.

Adam's face twisted in confusion and something else, fear, anxiety perhaps. "Look, I don't know, Alex. I don't understand any of it either. Holloway's always spoken in riddles, especially when it comes to the Order's beliefs. She's obsessed with their doctrine, their way of thinking. I don't know if Joshua was a substitute, supposed to be…" Adam's voice faltered as if he couldn't bring himself to say the word "sacrifice."

"But if what she said is true," Alex continued, "then if Joshua wasn't sacrificed. He's being held somewhere. I've, we've got to find him. I have to know."

Adam shook his head. "She's trying to mess with your mind, Alex. The Order is built on half-truths and manipulation. Holloway's using what happened to confuse you. She knows how much Joshua means to you. That's why she's speaking in riddles, she wants you distracted, chasing something that might not even exist."

Alex wasn't entirely convinced. His heart pounded. It was with a strange mix of hope and dread filling him. Holloway's words gnawed at him, the thought that his brother might still be alive, still out there, twisted into some kind of cruel game of hers.

"But if there's a chance, Dad." Alex said, firmer now, "even if it's a small one… I have to try. I have to know what happened to him. You owe me that much, Dad."

Adam's face softened, but he didn't answer. His silence still spoke volumes, and Alex knew that his father didn't have the answers either. Maybe Holloway's riddles were just that, riddles designed to torment him, to distract him. But maybe, just maybe, there was truth buried somewhere in her words.

"Silent Hill," Alex muttered. "If there are any answers, they're going to be there."

Adam nodded, resigned. "If Joshua's fate lies anywhere, it's there. But Alex," he hesitated, his voice grave. "Be careful. Silent Hill has a way of twisting what you think you know. Whatever Holloway meant, the truth may be something neither of us can fully understand."

Alex stared into the fog. "I'm going to find out. One way or another."

The boat continued its steady path across the waters, and a tense quiet settled over the group. Elle had moved to sit alone, staring blankly into the distance, clearly grappling with her thoughts. Lillian, who had been sitting silently, suddenly rose and walked over to where Alex and Adam were standing.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice was low but urgent. "There's something I need to tell you both."

Alex looked up, surprised by the serious tone in his mother's voice. She had been quieter than usual since they escaped, almost withdrawn, but now there was a strange intensity in her eyes.

Adam glanced over. "What is it, Lillian?"

Lillian crossed her arms as if bracing herself for what she was about to admit. "I haven't been completely honest with you, either of you… about my involvement with the Order."

Alex straightened. "Mom? What do you mean?"

Lillian sighed heavily. "For years… I was the librarian for the Order. It wasn't something I was proud of, but I was tasked with maintaining and organizing their archives. I didn't agree with them, not their methods, not their beliefs, but I did what I was told to. It kept our family safe, or so I thought."

Both Adam and Alex tensed at this, clearly rattled by Lillian's admission. "You worked for them?" Adam asked, "You never told me."

"I didn't have a choice, Adam" Lillian admitted, her voice strained with emotion. "Holloway came to me years ago. She knew things, about me, about our family, that made it clear I couldn't refuse. At first, it was just organizing basic records, history, and rituals I didn't fully understand. But as time went on, she had me dig deeper, helping her sift through the Order's older archives."

Alex narrowed his eyes. "Older archives? What were you looking for?"

Lillian shook her head. "I don't know exactly, Alex. Much of it was in ancient languages I couldn't understand. It was made up of symbols and texts that didn't make sense to me. But Holloway… she seemed to understand. I don't know how, but she did."

Alex felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. "What was she looking for, mom?"

Lillian's voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes darting toward Elle as if to make sure she was out of earshot. "A ritual. Holloway is preparing for another ritual. One, unlike anything they've done before."

Alex's mind raced, his thoughts leaping to Holloway's cryptic words about Joshua, the sacrifices, and the twisted riddles that had plagued him. "Another ritual? Why? What is she trying to do?"

Lillian shook her head, her eyes filled with fear. "I don't know all the details, but I know it's tied to the ancient texts she's been obsessed with. She's convinced that this ritual will complete what the Order started. It's bigger than just Shepherd's Glen. It involves Silent Hill, the cult's origins, everything."

Adam clenched his fists, his voice low and dangerous. "And you're only telling us this now?"

Lillian's face fell. "I didn't think she'd go this far. I thought… I thought if I stayed quiet if I just did what she asked, it would be enough to protect you, protect our family. But I was wrong."

Alex's mind buzzed with questions. "Does this have anything to do with my brother, Joshua? What she said about him being everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere?"

Lillian's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I don't know. But whatever this ritual is, Holloway believes it's going to give her, and the Order, ultimate control. Something ancient, something powerful."

Alex's blood ran cold. He turned to his father, then back to his mother. "If Holloway's preparing for this ritual, then we need to stop her."

Lillian nodded, her face pale. "If it's not too late already."

The boat pressed onward through the fog, and Silent Hill loomed closer, as the weight of their mission, of the unknown dangers ahead, pressed down on them all.

Lillian shifted nervously, her hands wringing together as if she was struggling to find the right words. Alex watched her carefully, sensing that there was more she hadn't told them yet. Adam, standing beside him, was silent but tense, his eyes locked on his wife.

"There's more," Lillian finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if Holloway is continuing Dahlia's work if she's trying to bring the Order's God into the world like Dahlia did… or if it's something else entirely."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'something else'?"

Lillian took a deep breath, her expression seemed almost haunted. "These rituals… they're complex. They require much, blood, sacrifices, of time. If Holloway had enough power to use a curse like the one that was placed on Mary, Adam's sister, and your aunt, she wouldn't bother attempting another ritual at the same time. It would be too dangerous, and too costly. That's why… for the moment, we're safe. She won't be able to use the same kind of curse on us, not yet."

Alex frowned, confused. "What are you talking about? Aunt Mary? Curses?"

Adam cleared his throat, finally speaking. "My sister, Mary… that was something from long ago, Alex. The Order used her as a weapon against me, to torture. They believed it would keep me controlled. But if Holloway might be capable of something similar, but… as Lillian said, it takes a lot to make those rituals work."

Lillian nodded. "She's focusing all her energy on this new ritual. Whatever it is, it's bigger than anything the Order's done before. We're safe from Mary's fate for now, but if Holloway succeeds…" Her voice trailed off, the implication hanging in the air.

Alex shook his head, trying to piece it all together. "So, we're not in immediate danger from whatever she's planning with this ritual, but we can't just wait around for her to finish it. If she succeeds, it'll be worse than anything we've faced before."

Lillian looked down, her voice soft but filled with a quiet determination. "If we don't stop her… there may not be anything left to save."

The boat pressed on, Silent Hill now looming closer against the mist. The tension hung thick, but Alex's resolve hardened. Whatever Holloway was planning, they had to stop it, before it was too late.

As the dark, fog-covered lake stretched endlessly around them, Elle, who had been sitting alone near the edge of the boat, suddenly turned toward the group. Her eyes were sharp, her expression tense as she stood and approached Alex, Adam, and Lillian.

"I couldn't help but overhear," Elle said, her voice steady but carrying an edge. "About my mom… about Holloway."

Alex gave her a questioning look, and Lillian shifted uneasily.

Elle crossed her arms, her gaze drifting for a moment before she focused on the group again. "I don't know a lot. She always kept me in the dark most of the time. But I know enough to tell you this, everything with her has always been about control."

Adam frowned, but Elle continued, her voice growing more resolute. "It's like she's been trying to escape something… fate, I guess. Look, I don't know all the details, ok, but when she talked about the Order, it was never about belief or faith. It was about power. She always made it sound like she was playing a game, trying to be one step ahead of whatever was coming. Like she knew something none of us did."

Alex gave Elle a questioning look. "Elle, Control? Escaping fate? That doesn't sound like the Judge Holloway I remember, but then again, I never saw the side of her you did."

Elle nodded. "Yeah, well, she was different when it came to me. Everything she did was to keep me in line. She never talked about the rituals or what they were really for. Just that the Order was… necessary. But now, I think she was preparing for something big all along. Whatever she's doing now, it's not about the town. It's about her."

Lillian looked at Elle, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "Then she's using the Order's power for herself. To change things, to control her fate… maybe even escape the consequences of all the horrors the Order has caused."

"Exactly," Elle said, trying to find the next words to say. "If mom- Margaret thinks she can manipulate the Order's power to her advantage. She's not trying to summon their 'God' out of devotion, she's trying to bend whatever this force is to her will."

Alex felt a chill creep down his spine. Holloway wasn't just dangerous because of her connection to the Order, she was trying to use it for herself, for something even more terrifying.

Adam's voice broke the silence. "That means she's more desperate than we realized. Desperate people are the most dangerous."

Elle nodded. "And if she's trying to control whatever power the Order worships, then we're running out of time."

Adam stood silently for a moment at the boat's steering wheel, absorbing everything Elle had revealed. His eyes drifted out toward the thick fog surrounding them, Silent Hill barely visible. Everything about the situation pressed on him. His mind raced with the implications of Holloway's plans, but another priority was pushed to the forefront.

"We can't risk keeping you both exposed," Adam said as he looked at Elle and Lillian. "It's too dangerous for you two to stay with us now. Holloway knows we're a threat to her, and if she's preparing something big, she won't hesitate to take you both out of the equation."

Elle remained defiant. "I'm not running and hiding, Adam! I'm not sitting this out."

Alex stepped in between them. He kept his tone gentle but firm. "Elle, we need to stop her, and we can't do that if we're worried about you and my mom getting caught in the crossfire. You know how dangerous Holloway can be. If she's controlling the Order, she'll target anyone who stands in her way."

Lillian, who had been listening quietly, nodded in agreement. "Alex is right, Elle. The further away we are from Holloway's reach, the better chance they have of stopping her."

Adam crossed his arms, thinking hard. "The Order has likely taken Wheeler and James to Toluca Prison. That's where they'd set up a base, somewhere secure, isolated. The facilities there… they're perfect for what the Order might need now. If that's where they're holding them, that's also where Holloway might be running her operations."

Elle frowned, her frustration evident. "So what? You want us to just hide while you go to Toluca Prison?"

Adam nodded. "Exactly that, Elle. You'll be safe if we can find a place to hide you nearby but out of the line of fire. We'll go rescue Wheeler and James, and you two can lay low until we know more about Holloway's next move."

Elle was irritated but she knew they had a point. The odds were against them, and if Holloway had taken over Toluca Prison, confronting her head-on would be a nightmare.

Alex glanced at his father. "Where do we take them?"

"There are a few places in Silent Hill where the Order hasn't had control for years," Adam replied. "Places they'd abandoned, thinking them useless. We'll find one of those spots. After that, we're going to Toluca Prison to get Wheeler and James, and to stop Holloway."

The plan was forming, and while the path ahead was steeped in uncertainty and danger, they knew it was the only way forward.

But before anyone could move or finalize their plans, a sudden, violent sound of another boat's engine roared through the thick fog. The impact came out of nowhere, a brutal collision that sent their boat lurching to the side. Alex barely had time to react as the shockwave from the collision threw him against the edge, his hands instinctively gripping the railing for balance.

"Hold on!" Adam yelled, but it was too late. The boat rocked violently, and figures emerged from the other vessel, cloaked in robes but unmistakable, cultists from the Order. They had found them.

Before Alex could fully regain his balance, the Order's attackers were on them, leaping from their boat onto theirs. Alex and Adam both tried to fend them off, their fists and weapons clashing with the cultists in the close quarters. The boat shifted dangerously beneath their feet as the struggle intensified.

"Mom! Elle!" Alex shouted, panic rising as he saw two of the cultists grab onto Lillian and Elle, yanking them toward separate boats. Elle kicked hard and fought back, but she was overwhelmed, her screams muffled as a cultist wrapped a cloth around her mouth, her frustration lost in the chaos.

Adam swung wildly with a piece of debris he had grabbed, knocking one of the attackers back. "Stay back!" he shouted, trying to reach his wife, Lillian as she was dragged away to another boat, but two more cultists blocked his path.

Alex felt a sharp impact on the side of his head, pain exploding in him. His vision blurred, but he fought to stay conscious, struggling to get to Elle and Lillian. He barely made it two steps before something heavy hit him from behind, knocking the breath out of him.

The next thing Alex knew, he was slipping over the edge of the boat. His body plunged into the cold, dark water of the lake, the icy chill seizing him instantly. He kicked and thrashed, trying to break the surface, but it felt as though something was pulling him down, dragging him deeper into the murky depths.

The water consumed him, and silence fell over the lake. The cold was numbing, taking his strength as he struggled to breathe. His vision faded, and the last sounds he heard were the muffled echoes of the cultists above, and then, everything went black.