Chapter 1
“We gotta have a meeting place, ‘kay?”
The girl was serious in spite of her usually lax nature. Her legs swung back and forth off the edge of the little table in the bowling alley. Eddie stared; feigning thoughtfulness as he chewed slowly. It was amazing there was decent pizza in a place like this.
Laura’s brows drew together as she puffed a cheek out.
“The nurses and stuff always said it’s important to have a place to meet - like if you get lost. They always made us have one when we went places!”
Excited gestures accompanied her words though Laura felt like she was appealing to a brick wall. The large man sitting before her nodded carefully, taking another bite of his food. Her lips thinned a little and she crossed her arms.
“So…” Eddie managed a reply at last, “where do you wanna meet, Laura?”
The girl’s face lit up by a degree as she put her mind to work before settling on just the right place.
Eddie groaned.
His head hurt, his back ached, he was freezing.
Sitting up, he glanced at his surroundings, stomach sinking as he tried to remember what had happened. There’d been a haze over his mind after he’d left the bowling alley and wandered deeper into town. How he ended up in this meat locker was beyond him though small memories poked and prodded annoyingly in the background as a shiver ran up his spine. For once, he was glad to have a little extra padding.
“Good for something, I guess…” he thought as he braced his hands on the cool floor.
In doing so, the solid, heavy presence of something in his hand made itself known. He glanced down at the gun in his hand.
His father’s revolver.
The chamber was empty and a knot of anxiety tangled in his throat. He vaguely remembered that guy - James - yet…
He struggled to stand - sharp pains echoing throughout his body. There were a few bruises on him though nothing he couldn’t handle. At least for now.
Feet somewhat steady, he made his way towards the open bay door. It must have been James’s doing. Eddie leaned against the heavy frame and gripped the revolver still in his hand. The lake stretched out before him; a steady light beckoned across the way through suffocating fog. It was all connected somehow though he didn’t want to think of it.
He didn’t think his brain would let him, anyway. Not with how much his head hurt. His eyes screwed shut as he tried to focus on what to do next.
The bowling alley was as dimly lit as ever and just as quiet though the silence felt deafening as Laura sat atop the table. It was just like before but her usually fidgety self was stockstill. She’d hurried back after what James said at the hotel - stuff she didn’t want to think about - not even caring about what was going to happen next. She knew Mary wasn’t here anymore now. She understood a little better what Mary’s letter really meant. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Where are you, you big idiot?” she grumbled.
Did he manage to get so lost that he couldn’t find their meeting place again?
That’d be like him, alright…
The thought crossed Laura's mind - she’d done that a few times before, back at the hospital. She thought about Mary. It was really hard not to think of her right now. A tear slid down the girl’s cheek and landed softly on her denim overalls.
She really missed her.
The corners of her vision blurred before she hopped down hard from the table and tightened her fists. Her whole body felt like it could shake apart and she stomped on the floor for good measure. It only managed to make her feet hurt though.
“What’s the matter?”
The familiar voice made Laura turn quick, her eyes wide with tears. Eddie leaned against the doorway some feet back. He didn’t look so good.
“You-!” the girl clipped her thoughts as she ran over, arms wrapping around Eddie’s frame.
He winced at the surprising impact.
“Laura?”
The girl sniffled before pulling back quickly and rubbing her eyes.
“I thought you forgot the meeting spot or got lost or something! Where were you?!”
Eddie’s brows furrowed in apology, “I didn’t forget - promise.”
Laura’s hands landed firmly on her hips as she looked up at him. She was expecting something and Eddie fumbled as his thoughts juggled pain and conversation.
“S-sorry?”
It was the best he could do and thankfully Laura seemed satisfied.
“Can we go now?” she asked.
Eddie’s head cocked to the side as Laura pushed past him.
“But, what about the lady you’re looking for?” he called after her, “Mary?”
The girl froze - back to the man - and her shoulders tensed. She shifted her weight carefully before storming out.
“I don’t wanna talk about it - I just wanna go!”
“Hey Laura,” Eddie began quietly, “what do you think James is up to?”
“I dunno - I don’t care.”
The reply was so quick that even Eddie got the hint.
Don’t talk about it.
Don’t think about it.
Leave it be.
He could do that.
By a miracle, the keys to his van were still buried in his pocket, and by another miracle, the van started without even a groan. Eddie settled in the driver’s seat, hands gripping the wheel. Laura hummed a nonsense tune to herself and buckled in. She turned to Eddie with a little smile.
“Ready?”
“Sure. Yeah,” he muttered, gathering strength for the drive back and pulling the van in reverse, “let’s go.”
“I’m tired…” Laura began, childhood innocence a balm to tension, “I walked so much and it was so boring… I didn’t even see a cat or anything! What a weird town…”
Eddie nodded along, the road stretching ahead back to what awaited them, and by extension, the road to Silent Hill getting further and further behind.
Chapter 1 End.