A/N: Ending number four, "Awakening".

When my eyes finally slipped open, I was amazed I had been able to wake up at all.

My entire body felt…wrong. The pain still lingered, it felt like there was a rock in my stomach, and I couldn't move at all. My limbs wouldn't respond—all I could do was breathe and blink. I couldn't even find the strength to turn my head.

After my initial disorientation faded, I was able to gather that I was lying in a bed. It was the same bed I'd seen when we'd first entered this area. From what I could see, it was still light outside; not that time ran the same in this cursed town.

My head was tilted just enough that I could see James sitting in a chair beside the bed. I had no idea where the hell he'd gotten the chair, but that was hardly important right now. I was too relieved to sweat the details. His shoulder was bloody, but he was still alive and okay. He must've bandaged it up while I was out.

The blond was currently staring down at a few papers in his hands. Oh…that writing. I could see it from here; it was Mary's letter. He had found it in my pocket at some point.

After a few seconds, he folded up the papers and put them in his breast pocket. Then he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

I tried to open my mouth and let him know I was awake. Nothing happened—my mind was sending out the commands, and my body just wasn't responding. It was like trying to turn on the lights when the bulb was burnt out.

"…I understand now," James finally said. From the look on his face and the tone of his voice, I was sure he still didn't know I was awake. "I know what I have to do, Brittany."

Immobile on the bed, I silently hoped he would tell me just what he thought that was.

"Mary's gone," he murmured. "And now you're sick, too. If I don't do something…I'll lose you both."

I didn't understand where he was going with this. Part of me hoped he had come up with some kind of solution. But that resolute expression on his face…he was going to do something drastic, wasn't he? Something stupid. He'd had that look in his eyes when he'd taken on the two Pyramid Heads.

"I read the book," James told me. "The one you were so worried about. I wonder, what were you afraid of? It had the solution all along…" He leaned back in his chair. "This town, Silent Hill…the Old Gods haven't left this place, Brittany. And they still grant power to those who venerate them…"

No! No! NO!

"Power to defy even death…"

My eyes grew wide as dinner plates. He had pulled Crimson Ceremony out of his bag. He had been carrying it with him all this time.

I tried to open my mouth, to scream, anything. My body was still unresponsive. My heart hammered in my chest as panic and adrenaline flooded uselessly through my system. I wanted to slap him, to yell, to call him fucking crazy for even considering touching that horrible book, but there was absolutely nothing I could do. I had tried to warn him earlier but he hadn't listened. Now…now…

"It's going to be okay." James reached out, gently squeezing my hand. "If you're her vessel…then you'll both live on. We'll always be together."

Please, no…

The pain was getting worse again and I was fading fast. I fought to remain conscious, wanting to somehow snap James out of it, to get him to realize just how utterly insane he sounded right now. But no matter how hard I tried, nothing changed. It occurred to me that this might be it—my body might really be failing me. I might never be able to move properly again.

James pulled my arm around his shoulders and scooped me up bridal-style, beginning to carry me out of the room. And despite my best efforts…my eyes slipped closed and everything faded away.

…

Upon the hill where

the light descended,

the Beast intoned his song.

With words of blood, drops of mist and

the vessel of night, the grave became an open field.

…

I shall bring down bitter vengeance

upon thee and thou shalt suffer

my eternal wrath.

The beauty of the withering flower

and the last struggles of the dying

man, they are my blessings.

Thou shalt ever call upon me and

all that is me in the place that is

silent.

A/N: And that's that.

A big THANK YOU to all of my reviewers - I never could have done this without you! You guys are awesome!

Also, a special thanks to Arktos. Your lengthy, thorough reviews were always the highlight of my day. :)

Um...I feel like I should write more, but once I get going I think I'll just ramble you all to sleep. Point is, I'm really grateful for all of the support and I feel like I've really improved as a writer throughout the course of this story.

If I think of any more endings (particularly a joke ending...jeez, I really feel like I should do one), I'll post them and it'll just be a pleasant surprise for you guys. If not...well, I'm just going to enjoy my sense of accomplishment for now. XD

I'm going to take a break from SH fanfiction for a little while - but I'll most likely be back with a SH3 sequel. Once I, y'know, think of an actual plot for it. And replay SH3 a million times.

Go ahead and check my profile page. I'll have a poll up where you can vote for your favorite ending. ;D

So...I can't think of a cool way to end this. Uhh...uhh...

PEACE OUT!