Chapter 20

Linda opened her eyes slowly, awaking from blackout after falling into the darkness. She was surprised when her body felt no pain at all, considering that she probably fell from big height. Opening her eyes, she saw two faces above her, but to be precise, only one face, the other one was blank. When her vision became clear, Linda then realized that Alessa and her guardian bent over her.

"Are you alright?" Alessa's gentle voice rang in Linda's ears.

"Um, yeah, I'm ok," Linda replied, sitting up and looking around. "Where are we now?"

"This is a ceremonial chamber," Alessa explained. "It is right under the inner sanctum."

Linda looked around her once more. The ceremonial chamber looked as bizarre as any other place in Otherworld. This room was round and had strange-looking walls, like covered with leather or even flesh, at least it had colour of flesh. The ceiling was as unusual. The more Linda stared at it, the more her eyes played optical tricks on her. Generally it looked like black sun in yellow sky, and now and then it seemed like its thin rays were moving. The floor this time looked pretty solid and covered in rust, and similar "rays" were seen on it, just like on the ceiling. No matter how strange Linda felt, but this room felt much more comforting than all the rest she had been to. And having Alessa and her faceless guardian near, she felt safe and protected.

Looking back to Alessa, Linda finally spoke:

"I finally found you. It seemed like eternity while I travelled through this town, although I have no idea of how much time has passed."

"Yes, and I'm so happy when you are finally here, with me," Alessa smiled happily and nearly jumped into Linda's arms. Linda gladly returned the hug, holding this happy child in her embrace. She could barely believe in everything that was happening, that she had been the best friend of Alessa in her previous incarnation, like a sister for her, and now she was back here, in Silent Hill, to see her again, only now they looked more like mother and daughter, as Alessa still looked like a very young girl, while Linda was now a young woman. But it didn't matter. They finally reunited and enjoyed this moment of happiness.

"I'm glad you made it through and reached the chapel," Alessa continued. "I suppose it was a hard journey for you, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, you could say so," Linda said, sighing. "I have read that Silent Hill is not a safe place, but I sure didn't expect to see this part of the world, and especially its inhabitants. Luckily, not many were on my way, and I tried to avoid them as much as possible, but I must confess that I had to kill a few of them to survive."

"I see. And I must say I'm sorry for making you go through what you could consider to be hell," Alessa said. "But I want you to know that all that you see around you is a manifestation of my inner feelings and emotions, my suffering mixed with the cult beliefs."

"Of course, I understand it very well," Linda said, caressing the girl's hair gently. "No one would ever want to go through all this torture that you were forced to suffer. And the town's power manifested it all in what we see now. It's pretty logical. I just didn't expect to find myself in this world." She sighed and continued: "You know, the chapel's corridors were the only place where I saw burning fire and even something similar to lava. I wonder why?"

"I can explain that," Alessa began talking. "You see, your journey ends here, in the chapel. To be precise, in a ceremonial chamber under the inner sanctum. Maybe you didn't know it, but your destiny was leading you here. You are here for a reason. And the burning fire you saw here represents burning rage in your heart."

Hearing this, Linda tilted her head in confusion.

"Rage? But I'm not in rage at the moment. What do you mean by that?"

"I know that a man that you hate is in Silent Hill now, and deep in your heart you wanted him to be punished for all that he has done to you. Your heart and your dreams gave you hints that Silent Hill is the place where he can receive his punishment. In your area it would be problematic, but here, in Silent Hill, he will certainly get what he deserved."

"Oh, really? Mitch? Is he here?" Linda raised her brows. "Ah, yes, I told him I was going to Silent Hill. And knowing him, he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

Alessa nodded and continued:

"Well, you see? Nothing is accidental. He came to the town to get you, but in the result he will face his fate. Oh, by the way, after you left the hospital, Valtiel has encountered this Mitch there."

"Valtiel? The guardian?" Linda asked, looking at the faceless monster standing near. Alessa nodded, and so did Valtiel. "And what happened then?"

"Valtiel was in rage when he saw that man. We can feel at once whether a person is good or bad. And this Mitch was an awful person. His black heart brought him to his own hell. He tried to attack Valtiel, but his attempts were futile. Valtiel just lifted him up easily and threw him down the abyss. Believe my word, Linda, that Valtiel could barely hold himself from killing that man. Knowledge about your suffering made him feel pain as well. But he's not the one who kills. The executioner will take care of him."

When Alessa mentioned the executioner, an image of a pyramid-headed monster flashed in her memory. Could it be the same being?

"Wait a moment," Linda said. "Does it mean that Mitch is still alive while we are talking?"

"Yes, he is," Alessa replied. "But not for long. It's just a matter of time. The executioner is going to complete his mission any moment. Oh, there he comes."

And then, as a confirmation of Alessa's words, a sound of something heavy being dragged echoed through the chamber, approaching the entrance. All three turned their heads to the heavy doors that opened in a few moments, and a pyramid-headed monster walked inside. In one hand he dragged his large blade, and in the other hand – a human being, a man that futilely tried to free himself from the monster's deadly grip. The sound of metal scraping against the floor was accompanied by pitiful screams and moans.

"Please, don't! I'll do anything! Don't kill me!"

And then Linda remembered something. This was the exact scene from her dream. She has seen this being dragging a man, but couldn't understand who this man was, although the victim seemed familiar to her. All she knew that she didn't feel sorry for him, she had a feeling that she wanted this man dead, hatred filled her heart. But now she understood why. The victim was meant to be Mitch, the man she hated with all her heart. Her dream showed her what was going to happen to him, and now this feeling grew even stronger.

"Be prepared, Linda," Alessa said solemnly. "Now we're going to witness the execution of a sinner."

Hearing someone mention Linda's name, Mitch lifted his head up after being roughly thrown on the ground. Linda was standing there with a young girl and some creep without any facial features. Feeling the monster's heavy boot on his chest, he tried to call for help.

"Linda, please, help!" he pleaded. "Do something! Don't let him kill me!"

Linda came closer to Mitch, crouched down to his level and spoke:

"Be quiet, Mitch, it's enough. You are here for a reason, and everything that happens in Silent Hill, happens for a reason. Now you will get what you deserved. You can't escape your fate. No one can."

Saying this, she stood up and stepped back to Alessa. Instead, Valtiel then stepped closer to the executioner. For a minute or two both monsters stood silent and looked to each other, and most likely they communicated to each other, but Linda couldn't hear it. She watched them in silence and could swear that they looked like twin brothers. The same robe, gloves, and boots, same body shape and muscles, same height. Just one of them wore the pyramid-shaped helmet on his head, and that made him look a bit taller. Then Valtiel nodded to the executioner and returned to the girls, standing by Linda's side. Pyramid Head nodded in response and turned his head to Alessa who nodded to him as well. And last, he turned to Linda, obviously waiting for her agreement. At this moment Linda wondered how this being was even able to see, as there were no holes for eyes in that helmet of his, but he definitely wasn't blind. Then she felt hands being put on her shoulders, which was done very gently. She turned her head to the left and saw Valtiel holding her shoulders and looking at her with his blank face. The same thoughts she had about him as well, but nothing of this mattered right now. All were waiting for her agreement. Finally, she nodded.

"Yes. Do it," she said, addressing her words to the executioner. Pyramid Head then wasted no time and lifted his huge blade in both hands. Paying no attention to his victim's pitiful pleads, the monster pierced Mitch's body in in the spot right underneath the stomach. Mitch let out a painful moan, hoping that his death would be quick. But he was deeply wrong. The monster wasn't going to show mercy on him. That would be too easy. This man had to die in pain and suffering. Removing his foot from the victim's chest, Pyramid Head placed it on the man's ankles instead for stability. Linda watched it all in silence, not feeling sorry for Mitch at all. All that she was curious about was why the monster needed to hold Mitch with the foot. It's not like he was going anywhere. But the answer didn't make her to wait long. The monster was holding Mitch's ankles so his body doesn't move together with the blade, and Pyramid Head began moving the blade higher, cutting the body in two halves. Mitch yelling his lungs out, screams mixed with cursing, but it didn't have any effect on the pyramid-headed creature. He continued cutting Mitch's body, doing it painfully slow, unlike in Linda's dream. He was determined to make this rascal suffer like he deserved it. And when the blade was reaching Mitch's shoulders, the monster pulled the blade out, lifting it above his victim, and in that second it fell down like a guillotine, chopping the man's head off.

And what was the end. Mitch was finally dead. And in that moment when his head was separated from the body, Linda felt relieved. When Mitch was dead, her life could become peaceful. She watched as Pyramid Head threw Mitch's mutilated remains on his shoulder and took the severed head in his free hand as a trophy. With that, he turned around and walked away through the gates he had entered before. Linda then looked at Alessa who was smiling gently.

"Well, this is it," the girl said. "His soul will stay in his own hell forever."

"Yes, finally," Linda sighed in relief. "Now I don't have to worry anymore that he would disturb me. Hell indeed is his home." She went quiet for a moment and spoke again. "Now, I want to thank you with all my heart for your invaluable help. And it applies to you too, Valtiel," she said, caressing the monster's blank face with her hand, and he nuzzled his head to her soft palm. "If it wasn't for you, for calling me to Silent Hill through my dreams, I would never find peace of mind. Going through all the difficulties on my way was worth the result."

"Ah, anytime, dear," Alessa smiled back. "But no need to thank me or Valtiel so much, but your own unique ability."

"My ability?" Linda asked in curiosity and confusion.

"Yes. Your dreams," Alessa explained. "You are not just able to see what is going to happen in the future, but also hear someone or something calling for you, whether for help or any other reason. This is why you are special. This is your unique ability. You felt and heard my call, Valtiel's call, and the call of the town itself. You wanted that bad man to get punished, and we called you here to give you the opportunity to get what you desired. This is the main reason why you are here. And the second reason is that I wanted you here. I wanted to reunite with my best friend, in fact, my sister, even if just temporary. And the third reason…" She then took Linda's hand and led here a bit away from Valtiel so he couldn't hear their talking. "The third reason is that Valtiel has feelings for you."

Linda looked at Alessa in surprise. Did she hear that right? The monster known as Valtiel had feelings for her?

"Yes, you heard it right," Alessa whispered to her ear. "He wanted you here just as much as I did. And, by the way, when he met this man… Mitch was his name, right?" Linda nodded, and Alessa continued speaking: "So, when he saw Mitch in the hospital, all his body was burning with rage. Valtiel could feel through Mitch's soul and finally look into his mind. And when he found out what Mitch has done to you, how he broke your heart and made you suffer, Valtiel could barely control himself. He wanted to kill that man with his own hands, but, as I said before, he's not the one who deals with the sinners. That's the executioner's job."

While Alessa spoke, millions of thoughts raced through Linda's head. She had so much to think about: her journey through Silent Hill, meeting Alessa, Mitch's death, her ability… But the feelings of Valtiel to her was something that made her heart beat faster. She felt that when he touched her, waves of joy went throughout her body. Could that mean that she had feelings for him as well?

"I can see everything, my dear Linda," Alessa smirked. "I see that you feel happy being around him. And believe me, he feels the same. When I saw how he nuzzled to your palm, it couldn't be more obvious that he was more than happy."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Linda said, and both went back to where Valtiel was standing. Looking at him, Linda couldn't help herself but blush heavily, feeling that he was staring at her. "So, what now?" she asked Alessa. "I guess my journey is over. Will I be able to return home?"

"Of course," Alessa said. "Now you will lie down on the ground and fall asleep, and then you will wake already in the foggy version of Silent Hill, just like you saw it when you arrived. There you can reunite with your friends."

"Wait… my friends?" Linda interrupted her. "Are they alright?"

"Yes, they are perfectly fine and looking for you," Alessa reassured her. "You will hear the siren in the distance before you fall asleep, and then you will wake up again. The same will happen to them, and you will find each other. Then you can leave the town."

"I see. But… will I ever see you again?" Linda asked in a sad voice.

"Of course you will," Alessa calmed her. "We can always stay in contact through your dreams. And if I decide that I want to see you again in person, you will know it. The town will call for you again, just like it did before you came here. As for Valtiel… well, you might see him much sooner than that."

"What do you mean?" Linda asked.

"You'll see," Alessa winked playfully. "And never forget about your ability. Use it for the benefit of those who really need it."

"I will, be sure of that," Linda smiled, holding the girl's hand, and then she lay down on the ground, ready to depart from the Otherworld. "So we see us then in dreams?"

"Yes, and I think that will happen soon," Alessa said, caressing Linda's hair, and Valtiel did the same before climbing on the wall and getting back to his valve spinning business. "Sleep now, dear. Stay safe. I will miss you."

"I will, my dear Alessa. I will miss you too. Bye bye, for now."

Linda heard the siren going off somewhere in the distance, thanking God for the sound being quiet this time, as it was so loud in the streets that strong headache was guaranteed. Her eyelids were closing, and finally sleep took her in its blissful embrace.

***

Meanwhile, James and Alice slowly awoke from another blackout after the siren went off. Both grabbed their heads while standing up from the ground.

"Damn this siren," Alice cursed. "Next time it blares again, my head will explode."

"Yeah, lousy feeling," James rubbed his temple. "Hey, look, we're back into the foggy town."

"Oh… right," Alice said, looking around. "To tell you the truth, I feel much better in the fog despite seeing practically nothing in it. Better than this hell of a world we have just been in."

"Couldn't agree more. I always felt more comfortable in the foggy version of the town, although this comfort is very relative." James checked his rifle for any case, and it was still fully loaded, the same he did with Alice's shotgun. "Now we better find Linda."

"Yes, and I hope she is around here somewhere," Alice said. "She said in her note she was going to Lakeside Amusement Park, and luckily we are still in the park."

"Then let's check each area carefully," James offered, and Alice nodded.

Both began searching each area of the park, always holding together, but not even a single creature appeared on their way. Dense fog still covered the whole town, but it seemed like all monsters just vanished, like if their have never been here. Nothing but the sound of footsteps could be heard in dead silence.

They checked nearly every possible attraction of the park, but still no sign of Linda anywhere. Getting through iron gates by the Swing Rocket, they checked the Amphitheatre first, but it was also a dead zone, just like everything in Silent Hill. The next object was the carousel with the horses on their way. Approaching it, James suddenly tensed, looking into the fog where contours of the carousel were seen. Alice wondered what he saw there as the radio in his pocket was silent.

"Alice, look there," James said, pointing to the carousel. "I think someone is lying among the horses."

"Where?" Alice asked, coming closer until she also saw a body lying on the carousel floor. "Hmm, looks like it is a body. I wonder who it could…" She didn't finish the sentence as her eyes widened in amazement. "Jesus Christ! Linda! It's Linda!"

Alice rushed to her friend, followed by James. As they crouched by her, they found that Linda wasn't dead, but just sleeping, as her chest was rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm. Alice than began walking her.

"Linda, wake up! Do you hear me? It's me, Alice. Please, wake up!"

"Hmph…" Linda groaned drowsily.

"Linda, please, wake up," a male voice spoke, and Linda felt being shaken lightly by her shoulder. Opening her eyes a bit, she could make out silhouettes of two people above her, but when she was able to see clearer, she recognized them at once.

"Alice? Oh, my God, Alice!" Linda exclaimed, pressing her friend in a tight hug. "Thank God, I thought I would be looking for you in ages!"

"I'm so glad you're alive and well," Alice said, hugging Linda back. "Are you alright? Where have you been? Have you found anything?"

"Well…" Linda said. "Let's say that the mission is complete. I saw what I had to see. Now I can leave Silent Hill in peace."

"Yeah, just like in my case a year ago," James added. "When I found what I had to find, I could leave the town in peace."

Alice smiled at them both.

"Well then, how about we get out of this creepy town?" she asked in a bit playful tone.

"Sounds like a great idea," Linda agreed. Her voice sounded tired. "All I wish now is collapse on my bed and sleep like a baby."

"Me too," Alice said, and all three of them moved towards the observation deck where James had parked his car. "You know what's interesting? During our time in Silent Hill, I haven't felt sleepy even for a second."

"Same here," Linda added. "I wonder why it is so?"

"Hard to say, but I felt the same the last time I was in Silent Hill," James joined the conversation. "It's like this town feeds you with energy that suppresses your need to sleep. And no wonder, with all the creatures roaming around the town, there is just no time for resting."

"Yes, I could definitely agree with that," Linda said and yawned when they finally reached their car. "After we all get some sleep, we can team up again and share something about what happened to each of us while we were separated."

"Sounds nice," Alice agreed, and James started the engine. "Well, off we go then."

"Yes, and say goodbye to Silent Hill," James smirked, being more than happy to leave the cursed town, this time, as he hoped, for good.