Silent Hill Town of the Dead

After we ate, the two of us sat in the silence of one another's company. Leonard sat on the couch, and I sat beside him. Neither of us knew how long we have sat in this realm of times forgotten. The hours and days were impossible to discern. Since; there were no windows in this room. So, knowing what to expect on the outside of our haven. I didn't want to know; was it like Brahms, warm, and welcoming, or was it like the town from Leonard's story known to be every dweller within it, hell on earth, Silent Hill? Honestly, I like not knowing the darkness of this new realm of my imagination.

"Your mind is wondering, Annette." I looked at Leonard, who wasn't looking at me, his gaze on the space where the television once stood.

"Of course, my mind is wondering, you've given me a lot to think about, this religious cult that sacrifices children, then those said children, walk around not even a scratch, or a burn."

Leonard looked at me, standing to his feet, pulling his shirt off, throwing it to the couch. "You want proof, well little flower, here it is. These scars are what you want to see!" Startled by his outburst, I looked away from him. "What? Your innocent little eyes too delicate to see a spot, a blemish." I didn't see the look on his face. But the venom from his voice spoke enough, "Pardon me for being a dim-witted child. Forgive me for not being a model," sarcasm dripping from his words and pure hatred, "I apologize if these battle scars offend you. But no one is keeping score on me any longer. Whoever I have to take down, I will sacrifice." Without another word, he collected his shirt.

I felt tears come to my eyes, blinking them away; he walked from the room. "I'm not offended by your scars, Leonard. I'm offended because of all the malice and false accusations, news flash, you were the one asking me for help." I pounded on the cushion I sat on. "I know you had it rough, but not everyone is out to get you! You, you think you're alone, well let people in, stop pouting and show me that what you claim is true. Are you my protector, or aren't you?"

Leonard stopped and looked at me, "Your insecurities of my feelings towards you and this battle is getting on my last nerve. I'm second-guessing, if not regretting this decision, them I can handle, but you," he sighed in frustration, "You, I can't read. And it irritates me. Was all that garbage of you protecting me and us being a packaged deal, truth, or lies that you entangled me to believe? You had me fooled, my lovely flower. I applaud your performance. You out lied the liar, not the moves of someone innocent, but you have gained my respect. Congratulations."

I looked at him, standing to my feet, walking to him. He looked at me. I reach my hand to stroke his face, but he looked at me, taken aback, grabbing my wrist. "It's alright, I won't hurt you." He continued to look at me, his guard up, his grip slowly loosening on my wrist, "I want to show you, my true feelings about you, no more questions. Nothing but truth and trust between us."

His free hand lifted, getting the hair from my face. I placed my free hand on his, intertwining our fingers. He let go of my wrist, wrapping his arm around my waist, drawing me close to him. His guard still up. He looked at me as I wrapped my free arm around his neck, drawing his face to mine, kissing his lips, as he stood frozen in position, "Don't fight it, embrace it. This moment is your moment. Trust it." I smiled as he continued to look at me, contemplating his decision.

"This is crazy. None of this makes any sense, Annette. It's foolish for you to love a monster; I'm not dooming you to this. I value your reputation. I will not defile you."

"Dude, two words, chill out. You act like I want to have sex with you. It's a kiss. A kiss that shows I care for you." I looked at him in confusion. "Did you not just tell me you had feelings for me? Now that I'm showing you feelings, you worry about defiling me. What gives?"

"You will be alone at the end of this, Annette. I'm sparing you from becoming too close because of the purification of Silent Hill. After the battle there, are no possibilities for us, the dead, love no one. Something I never told you, while I told you the story of my childhood. I didn't make it out of that event alive; neither did the cults, remember people were dying, and nobody could find the bodies. No one made it out of Silent Hill. The people you see roaming are phantoms, living their lives as if they were still living, lost souls trapped in a town that they doomed. The ashes from Silent Hill are all that are left, the coal fires burning underneath. Though we are fighting to save Silent Hill, we are fighting for freedom, eternal rest." I looked at him, tears in my eyes. "Don't worry, Annette. Once it's done, your memories of this event are erased from existence. It will appear like a dream. You help me, and I will help you. I intend to come through with that promise. You had lost everything at our meeting, but you will have everything handed back to you, don't ask me how don't question it. Your life will get sorted out. I will promise you that, as a thank you for your generosity and your kindness. Two things I never witnessed in life, but you have drowned me with it in my death. I will die a happier man this time, and finally, be at peace with death." He kissed my hair. "Thank you, Annette."