Author's Note: I realized that I did not make a disclaimer before. So... I do not own Silent Hill or any of its characters. I do not own any Silent Hill locations or songs. Enjoy.

"blah"-talking

blah - thoughts

"blah"-song lyrics

Restless Dreams and Fantasies

Chapter 2

I stopped and took a long stare at the map of the hospital. I was where I needed to be… but I wasn't where I was supposed to be. I had expected to see "ST. JEROME'S GENERAL HOSPITAL" across the top of the map but instead it read: "BROOKHAVEN HOSPITAL". Where the hell am I? I seized the phone next to the map and held it up to my ear, hoping to hear it working. Nothing. I set it down slowly.

Was I moved here while I was asleep? I wasn't due for any surgery or anything… James and I had investigated which hospital was the best in helping treat my illness and St. Jerome's was the best and most convenient place, so switching to a better hospital is out of the question too. Why am I here?

I felt something tug me out of the thoughts from my sleeves. I glanced down and saw a little blonde girl. Her thick blonde hair was tied back tightly by a high ponytail, leaving her round face and mischievous blue eyes bare. Her lithe arms were hidden behind her back and she swayed back and forth, eagerly watching me. She wore a striped long sleeve shirt underneath a blue overall dress. I blinked in confusion as she grinned at me and stepped back.

"I found you Mary!" she said proudly. "What… who are you?" I asked. She giggled and tugged my sleeve again. "Come on Mary! We need to get out of here. This place is weird," the girl looked around cautiously. I furrowed my brows. The girl walked three steps ahead before turning around and signaling me to come. "What do you mean, and what are you doing here by yourself?" The girl shrugged and opened the double doors. "I don't know," she simply replied.

"Um… Pardon, but it seems that I can't remember your name…" I said sheepishly, "you know mine…" The girl gave me a strange look. "Are you ok, Mary? We always hang out when you're awake. Don't you remember?" she asked. I sighed. "Well, I haven't been feeling like myself lately. I haven't the slightest idea why I'm here."

"I'm Laura!" the girl smiled brightly, "and it's ok, I'll help you remember Mary!" Laura… The name did sound familiar, but I wasn't sure yet, so I continued. "How… what did we do during our time together?" This seemed more appropriate than "How did we meet?" She appeared to be devastated her a bit when I told her that I didn't remember who she was. This seemed to lift up her spirits. "We did lots of things!" Laura eagerly chirped, "you told me stories about yourself when you feel good enough to talk or if your medications don't make you sleepy. We mostly talk but sometimes you play with me and my teddy bear!"

"You love teddy bears," I suddenly stated. I furrowed my brows as she nodded happily. "Yup! You remember me now!"

"…I suppose so," I said slowly. All of a sudden she stopped and turned to me gravely. "It's him," Laura's voice was laced with bitterness, "Mary, you go through the doors while I go distract this idiot away. The exit's through there. We can meet back at the park."

"But…"

"Please! Mary, he can't have you! He doesn't want you like I do!" Laura exclaimed. "Who are you talking about?" I asked confused. "Gooooo!" For a little girl, she managed to push me into the hallway with great strength. The double door slammed shut behind me. "Laura?" I tried to budge open the door to no avail.

I sighed and turned my back to the door. I was in a bright, white walled reception room. The light that entered through the white laced windows illuminated the entire room, bouncing off from the pearl white walls. It was almost blinding. There was only one way out. The two crystal clear doors gave radiant warmth as I approached it, giving me goose bumps as my cold skin melted underneath the light. I had expected the metal bar to be burning hot, but instead, it was a calming warmness that prickled my hand softly long after I pushed the door open and walked out into the barren street.

Wait… I knew this town. I began to get excited. I loved this place. It was so peaceful and lovely here… It's emptier now… Perhaps the townspeople are inside for a religious practice… or something? My excitement waned a little. I looked around as I walked into the main street. The streets were abandoned, all the shops were closed and the townspeople were gone. Bright sunlight beamed through patches in dark clouds floating above the town, still lighting up the streets as if it were a normal day… James and I made so many memories here… but I also began noticing symptoms of my sickness here… Silent Hill.

I need to find James. Could he be here? Is he waiting for me? A dark voice whispered into my ear. "No… he left you in the hospital, didn't he?"

I bit my lip. "James… why won't you come?" I whispered softly. I walked further down the street when a sign caught my eye. It was blinking in a neon pink light and the letters curved together to form: "HEAVEN'S NIGHT". What an odd name… but the building is lit and I hear music playing from within. It wouldn't hurt to investigate.

As I approached Heaven's Night, the song became clearer and softer.

"Maybe I didn't love you…

And maybe I didn't treat you

Quiet as good as I should have…

Always… Always on my mind…"

The building was large and salmon colored. A dim pink light created a pale halo around the wooden door and semi-draped windows. As I opened the door, the stench of sex and alcohol penetrated my nostrils. I cringed. I've always hated that smell. It was too bitter and pungent. Now that I think about it… James' breath is beginning to have a hint of alcohol whenever he comes visit me in the hospital… Hopefully, now that I am better, he will stop drinking.

Hopefully.

"Tell, tell me

Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

Give, give me

One more chance to keep you satisfied…"

The music continues to play softly now from an unknown source. I see no one at the bar so I try opening the doors. The door I assume leads to the manager's room is locked so I try the other door. I walk into a hall but see nothing either. "Hello?" I call out, "is anyone here?" I hear shuffling from one of the rooms. "Hello?" the shuffling abruptly stops. I stop in front of a door with a large star on it. Though the paint job was eroding, I could still make out the name on the star sign. In large, cursive letters similar to the neon sign outside, a name was written in magenta letters.

MARIA

I knock on the door slowly, hoping there was someone inside. Someone hurried past the door, casting a shadow from under the door. "Um… sorry to intrude, but I'm lost. Please, can you open the door?" my question was met with silence. I sighed.

I wonder… My friends always joked when a woman can't pleasure her husband anymore, the first place he goes to is to one of these brothels for women with exotic names like Crystine and Belize. I've been sick for almost three years now… because of my sickness, James and I could not do much together as a couple. I was so sick that he could not even touch me without hurting me even when his fingertips barely grazed my skin. Three years of being loyal to a sick wife and unable to make love to her must have been so hard on James… He gave up so much for me. I wonder if a brothel is the reason why his clothes reek of alcohol… I wonder if he visited someone like MARIA to release his needs...

You know Mary… You know that this is true…

My heart tightened at this thought.

A door creaked behind me, startling me completely. "!" I jumped slightly and stared at the opened door in confusion. "H-Hello?" I edged towards the door, "I-I'm lost… is anyone there?" No one, again. Was my mind playing tricks on me? But how can a door open by itself? I didn't feel a draft when I walked past it.

I approach it and see that there was an alley that led back onto the streets. I look behind me to MARIA's door and walk outside once more.

"You were always on my mind

You were always on… on my mind"

In case you were wondering, the song is Always On My Mind from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.