by Dark Shadow
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I called off college, said I was ill. It’s not like I had any important courses over the next few days, so a short vacation wouldn’t hurt.
I was driving my car along the road while having the map on the seat next to me. Just a few more miles and I was there according to my map.
I was trying to remember my last visit. I was there with someone else back then. I remembered how we just sat in the hotel room, staring at the beautiful lake. We’d count the birds that flew by, and try to guess what kinds it were. And we went to the nearby amusement park, she loved the rollercoaster ride. Something happened towards the end of the holiday though. I can’t quite remember. But I remember her frightened face.
My headache returned. So I dropped the thinking for a while and tried to keep my eyes on the road for the turn off. Most of the surrounding area was forest. Sometimes another car would pass by, and occasionally I would pass by a gas station. Other than that it was pretty closed off from the rest of the civilization. The roads here didn’t even had streetlights. I guess there weren’t that many people going to the town this time of the year.
Finally I saw the turn off, it was barely even noticeable. A small sign that was mostly covered in weeds at the side of the road, with an arrow pointing towards that split off to the right. The sign read “Silent Hill”. I steered and drove onto the road the sign send me.
Pine trees still surrounded the road to the left and right. But I knew I was getting closer. I felt an excitement coming over me, as if I was coming back somewhere where I had longed for so many years. I knew I had a good time here in my past. There were just too many blank pages still, but maybe I’d find my answers here again.
It didn’t took long before I came across another road sign. it read, “Welcome to Silent Hill”
I remembered passing this before, 4 years back…
Looks like there was some mist ahead. I slowed down my speed and drove carefully into the thick fog. I could still see the road ahead of me, just barely, but enough to keep moving. I passed some lookout spot for the lake, no other cars were parked on the lot, it kind of gave me a creepy feeling, as if I was the only one around. But then again visiting this place this time of the year wasn’t the greatest vacation date.
I suddenly had to kick the breaks. A big metal fence appeared from out of the fog in front of me blocking off the road. I stopped the car and opened the door to investigate if there was any way passing it. A few drum barrels and stones were standing here and there in front of the fence. Seems there were no redirection signs. Looked like a dead end for me.
I walked back to my car to see if there were any other roads leading to the town from here on the map. Yet no luck. All the other roads were miles around. Though there was a small side passage through the forest, but that means I’d had to take it on foot from here on. Shrugging I stepped into the car and closed the door again. Turned it around, and drove it onto the lookout parking lot at the lake view spot.
While turning off the engine I sighed. Would the answers really lie within this town? I took out the note I had in my pants pocket the whole time. I guess it would be kind of weird if it was just a dream, but this note didn’t lie. And there was something…
I fold up the map and placed it in my backpack. Stepping out of the car I could smell the fresh air of the pine trees that surrounded me. It felt so silent, I couldn’t even hear a bird in the sky. Only the eerie wind that blew through the forests could be heard.
I walked past the lookout edge and came across the small road that led into the forest. I moved down the stairs onto the sandy forest path and started my walk. The fog seemed to be everywhere here. Luckily there was only one road so I had not to fear of getting lost.
There wasn’t much sign of life within the forest except for the trees and myself. The path just moved downwards towards the lake. I moved past some old well and came across an iron gate. It wasn’t locked and seeing there was no other road to move onto I walked in.
An old graveyard covered the area with a small church located in the middle. Most of the names in the gravestones were unreadable. And it wasn’t like I knew any of them. The wind howled through the trees making the misty graveyard only more obscene. It was like hands could dig out of the graves any moment.
Moving on I passed another gate and came in what looked like the countryside’s of Silent Hill. Several farms were located around me, I noticed a signboard of a ranch among them. It all looked so deserted. As if everyone just dropped their work and left, there was even a truck left running on the side of the dirt road, in its trunk lay several trees ready for the sawmill. I guess the rest of the people would just be in the town. Maybe a ceremony or something. Maybe they all just took a day off. Yes it was a silly thought…
After another 5 minutes of walking I finally came up to a metal barred gate that led into the town itself. Upon opening it, it felt as if a trembling fear overtook me. As if something was out of place here. I hesitated for a moment.. But reminded myself why I was here. I stepped through.
The streets were also covered within the thick fog. I could barely see 2 meters ahead. Following my map I made my way towards the motel, as I better checked in first before going on a investigation. The streets still seemed deserted, and the fog was giving an uneasy feeling, as if I was walking through a ghost town. The cold wind gave me the chills, everyone couldn’t have just left like that. Or maybe this town really did turn into a ghost town over the years. But why did everything looked like it was abandoned just a day or maybe a few hours ago?
The town was known for its religious people. Perhaps there was some ceremony going on somewhere. It still seemed weird to me.
I finally arrived upon the motel. I checked the office but it also seemed empty. Doubting for a moment, I grabbed the only key that was left on the board. I guessed it was the only motel room not taken at the moment. ‘I’ll sign in when they return’ I told myself. I checked the key tag, ‘Room 406…’
I walked across the street to the rooms, clenching the key within my palm. Still not noticing any signs of life around me, I unlocked the room door and entered.
As I entered the room I could see two beds somewhat in front of me. There was a table to my right on which an old television sat. At the back of the room was an entrance to a small bathroom. It seemed to be a pretty standard room. I threw my pack next to the bed and dropped myself on top of the sheets. The trip was a long one, I’d better rest a bit before moving on to wherever I could start my search. I guess the Hotel on the other side of the lake would be one place.
I pulled the map out of my bag along with a red marker and circled the hotel area. I dropped the map back into my back and stretched myself on the bed. A bit of rest wouldn’t hurt, and I didn’t really plan on sleeping.
I lay my head on the pillow. I didn’t plan on sleeping… But the exhaustion had caught up with me, until I finally gave in, and fell into a deep sleep…
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