"Now we can be together, Mary..." James Sunderland, Silent Hill 2 ======================== Cerl Descending Chapter 04 - Growth ======================== Cerl woke up feeling like someone had scraped her throat with jagged claws. She forced her eyes to adjust to the lights of the police station. At least this time, she'd had a dreamless night. She wasn't sure what she might do if she'd had the same intense dreams. Kimberly wasn't around, nor were any of the Scarab Beetles. Cerl sighed as a feeling of uselessness engulfed her. All of her martial arts training had proven worthless. [No,] Cerl realized, [It's like I'm growing numb. My danger sense hasn't picked up much of anything since I got into Silent Hill and my aura sense is all but dead here. I couldn't even tell that Cheryl had foul intentions. It's almost as if that fog was blinding all of my higher senses as well as disrupting my vision.] Cerl scowled. As serious as the situation was, she couldn't simply hope Kimberly found a way out. No doubt Scraper and his friends had already tried the sewers. So, it was time to start doing research. Cerl walked over the files Kimberly had been looking at and began reading the contents. She heard something knock over a garbage can outside. Cerl froze. It was very unlikely that it was Scraper, but it might have been Kimberly. Or, far more likely, it was one of Cheryl's disgusting creations, sent to hunt down Cerl and Kimberly. Cerl looked around the room and headed for the back of the police station. Hopefully, the armory hadn't been too depleted... Cerl approached the door to the police station, her hands tightening on the semi-automatic pistols she'd grabbed. She had roughly six clips for each inside her borrowed police vest, and a pump-action shotgun with an assortment of rounds, just in case. Luckily, the armory had more than enough bullets and extra guns. She doubted Kimberly would even notice she'd borrowed any weapons or holsters. Cerl realized she couldn't open the door AND have two guns ready, so she put the one in her left hand away and quietly opened the door. She gazed out into the fog-covered city and cursed her luck. The fog was so thick she could barely see across the street. She sighed and quietly closed the door. Relying on Kimberly to do all the dirty work wasn't something that sat well with her. Plus, there were so many unanswered questions that Cerl needed to find out. Like how did a town like Silent Hill not attract massive amounts of attention? Surely, the number of people who would go missing thanks to Cheryl's machinations would have been noticed, as well as a particular destination. And yet, Cerl had never heard of anything unusual happening in Silent Hill until she'd arrived. Then there was that mysterious joker who'd written that letter. Cheryl didn't seem like the sort who would bother going through the trouble of spying on someone half a world away just to get a guinea pig. And why hadn't Kimberly asked her to leave? Surely, the police officer might have made some effort to send Cerl away. Then again, she might have either figured Cerl was already trapped or she might have been desperate for a sane human companion. Cheryl was off her rocker and there didn't seem to be a plethora of actual people in the city, if there was anything other than Cheryl's creatures. Plus, Cerl needed to find Lisa and find out why she'd turned against the cult that Cheryl was working for. The hospital was an excellent destination, especially since Cheryl was there. If Cerl could kill Cheryl, chances were high that whatever was backing her wouldn't be able to do anything further. Cerl opened the door again and headed for Alchemilla Hospital. The route to the hospital had apparently developed a few problems since Cerl had been unconscious. Namely, a huge fricking hole where the intersection should have been. After doubling back and walking through an alley, Cerl finally found herself back at the hospital. Cerl pumped up her nerves, steeled herself and entered. The hospital's lobby had undergone a drastic change since Cerl had last seen it. Bits of ceiling and glass were scattered across the floor and the receptionist's desk was falling apart from rot. Rust-like stains were smeared on some of the walls and mixed in with the rubble. The lights were off, making all the hallways dark. Cerl swept the lobby with her guns pointing at whatever was in her field of vision. Once she was satisfied that neither the undead nurses, nor that enormous mace-like creature were around, Cerl headed down the hallway she and Cindy had walked down the day prior. Cerl slowly opened the door and looked inside. The room looked just the one she'd woken up in. Cerl decided to ignore the room and move on. The twisting hallways of the hospital were confusing and it wasn't long before Cerl found herself back in the lobby. Growling in frustration, she headed to the stairs and proceeded to the next level. Just as she neared the entrance to the hallway, she heard a strange noise, like something being pulled through mud and then stamped on the ground. Cerl slowly snuck over to the right wall and pressed herself quietly against it. She inched over to the entrance and peeked around the corner. A man-like figure, standing roughly eight feel tall, was walking down the hallway, dragging two bodies. He was easily larger than the creature that swatted her out the window. In one hand, he was pulling Lisa along by her ankle and in the other, he had Tina's limp body by the head. Cerl didn't care about Tina, as the girl was already dead, but Lisa could be saved... if she was still alive. It was difficult to ascertain that at her present angle and with only soft moonlight to show her anything. Moonlight? Had the sun gone down already? Then again, with the fog, it had been so difficult to notice the time of day. Cerl shook off that thought and snuck down the corridor. It would be best to get a clear shot at the creature's arm rather than risk hitting Lisa with her uncertain aim at a long distance. Plus, it would let her get more surprise shots in on the giant. Sharp cracks as Cerl shot the giant man until he fell. She ran up and smashed his wrist, causing the muscle group to reflexively release Lisa's leg. Cerl holstered the pistols and knelt to pick up Lisa's body when she noticed the creature was still moving, and NOT in death throes. Cerl picked up Lisa's body and raced off as fast as she could before the giant man could get up. Luckily, the door to a nearby exam room was open, allowing Cerl to slip inside with Lisa. Ten seconds large, Cerl heard the giant lumber past at a fast pace, shaking the ground as it moved. Once the footsteps retreated, Cerl laid Lisa down on the exam table and returned to the door. As quietly as she could, she closed the door and prayed that the giant was as unobservant as she hoped. "nnnngh..." Lisa began as she started to stir. Cerl hurried over and lightly clasped her hand over Lisa's mouth as the other blonde woman opened her eyes. Cerl placed a finger over her lips to indicate silence. The footsteps were returning and this time, every few were accompanied by a door flying open. Cerl leapt over the exam table and pulled Lisa with her, thanking the heavens that the table was at an angle from the door, allowing for a good hiding place. Twenty tense seconds passed before the giant threw open the door to the exam room Lisa and Cerl were hiding in. Cerl felt a cold sweat start to form as the giant seemed to take much longer than it had with the previous rooms. Finally, though, the giant's footsteps retreated again, though from the odd slumping noise, it had apparent picked up Tina's broken body again. "What the hell was that?" Lisa hissed. "Don't know, don't care. So long as it stays away from us, we'll do fine." Cerl answered in an equally low tone. Lisa paused, looking at Cerl for a few seconds, "You should have left." "It's too late to worry about that now. Did you see Cheryl again?" Cerl inquired. "No. Last thing I remember was getting knocked out that window and waking up here." Lisa answered. "Do you know where the staff records room is?" Cerl asked. "Why would you want to go there?" Lisa queried, quirking an eyebrow. "I want to find out more about Doctor Cheryl Spaniel... and this cult she's a part of. And who knows, maybe something in her record will help all this make some kind of sense." Cerl told her as they both stood up, confident that the giant was too far away to hear them. Lisa nodded and led Cerl to the records room. Cerl sighed. There was absolutely nothing abnormal about Doctor Cheryl Spaniel. At least, nothing that was on the medical reports. No diseases, no (noticeable) brain deformitites and no documented allergies. "I suppose I was hoping too much from this." Cerl noted. "What were you hoping for?" Lisa inquired. "That something evident would point out why Cheryl is doing this. I mean, her experiments are horrible. I guess if she had some sort of clear-cut physical problem or disability, it might go a long way to explain WHY she's doing WHAT she's doing." Cerl answered, handing the file over to Lisa. Lisa looked over the file, "I think a few pages are gone." "Really?" Cerl inquired, blinking in surprise. Lisa nodded, "Yes, the standard physical examination forms have three pages, even if the second and third pages are blank, but only two are here. Plus, the required psychological profile is also gone." "Then she might have taken them... what's usually on the third page of the physical examination?" Cerl inquired. "Just about anything that wouldn't fit on the second page, but there's also the family history, STDs, drug habits..." Lisa responded. "So, it could be just about anything. DAMMIT!" Cerl cursed. Lisa put the file away. "In any case, it's too dangerous for you to stay here. You'd better come with me back to the police station." Cerl told the nurse. Lisa lowered her head and was about to say something when Tina burst into the room. Lisa backed away while Cerl drew one of her pistols. However, Tina fell limply to the ground. Cerl blinked. Then again, how SHE had escaped from the giant was curious in and of itself. Then, Cerl caught sight of what was behind Tina. It was about six feet tall, wearing bandages over it's head to reveal a single red glowing eye in the middle of where it's face should have been. It wore a dirty blue long-sleeved shirt with denim overalls and brown steel-toed boots. The eye focused on Lisa and it began moving forward, it's boots somehow not making much noise. "Valtiel..." Lisa whispered, her eyes wide with fear and panic. "Wait, THAT'S Valtiel?" Cerl asked, shocked that Lisa would know the monster's name, and even more surprised that Lisa hadn't spoken up earlier. Cerl was about to fire when she sensed something behind her. She spun and managed to catch Pyramid Head's spear with her left hand and shove the tip away from her. She hissed as her hand felt burned from the effort. Lisa screamed and ran away, Valtiel in quick pursuit. Cerl wanted to pursue, but Pyramid's dangerously quick thrusts were much faster than she thought they would be for something that had a heavy metal object for a head. Then, her entire left arm began growing unbearably hot. Cerl began panting as sweat formed on her face. She stumbled backwards, barely dodging another direct hit. She raised her pistol and shot at Pyramid Head's chest several times, every shot somehow hitting the metal head instead of the chest. Cerl knew she wasn't a marksman, but something was interfering with the shots. Unfortunately, that was all she could do before her right arm went limp. She cursed her luck as she finally hit a wall and slid down it until she was in a sitting position. Pyramid Head seemed to look down at her for a few seconds before turning slowly and walking away. Cerl then realized that Pyramid Head hadn't been fast as much as her reaction speed had been numbed. There was probably a numbing contact poison on his spear. She had to remember that if she survived... Darkness engulfed her. //...come...// Cerl twitched, fear filling her. //....join.....// Cerl's body jerked, as if electrocuted, as a chill ran down her spine. //....friend....// Cerl burst awake in a cold sweat. She trembled for a few seconds, then winced as both her left hand, her stab wound and the point that the Cheryl's needle had entered her flesh throbbed in unison. She looked up to see that not only was she no longer in the hospital, but there were two women nearby, neither of which Cerl recognized. She seemed to be in an apartment, but the place was in total disarray. Only a slightly worn latex couch and a television were intact enough that Cerl knew what they were. Scattered bits of cardboard, glass, and plaster lay strewn at random around the room. The first of the two women, obviously the older of the two, had shoulder-length black hair and had dark circles under her eyes. She wore a tan sweater and blue jeans. She sat on the couch, looking at Cerl with a warning glare, as if it to tell her that if she tried anything, she was as good as dead. The other girl had short red hair with blonde tips. She wore a deep blue t-shirt with muddy tan slacks. Unlike the first woman, she looked rather friendly. "Are you all right?" the second girl asked. "Not really, but I guess I'll live." Cerl replied, trying to ignore the numb-throbbing in her left hand and the spear wound Pyramid Head had given her. "I'm Laura Sunderland. Pleased to meet you." the second girl said cheerfully, extending a hand in greeting. Cerl gave a half-smile in return, shaking Laura's hand, "Cerl Tendo. Same here." The first woman continued to glare at both girls. "Who's Miss Sunshine over there?" Cerl asked. "That's Angela. She's been living here for over thirty years or so." Laura replied. "Over thirty years?" Cerl asked. "Since the phenomenon started," Angela replied, "time hasn't really worked right. Hasn't since Sammael's power was split into two. I'm roughly fifty-three and I haven't changed a bit for the last thirty years." "So, either time has stopped or people don't age in this town." Cerl noted. "No, people do age. Laura here left some twenty-five years ago, and she's only eighteen. And I met a few boys that I grew up with who looked to be in their late seventies before they died." Angela answered. "Crap, then it's largely random." Cerl noted. "And the amount of time that's passed when you leave is also a variable. My father and I met Harry Mason and Cybil Bennett, two people who apparently had left Silent Hill FIVE years prior to us. Yet, they claimed they'd just left." Laura added. "Wait, so people HAVE left Silent Hill?" Cerl inquired. "Only a few and one way or another, they usually find themselves back here. Me, for example. I left here when I was young and here I am again." Angela replied. "When you were young..." Cerl commented. It was strange, but something about the way she'd easily navigated her way to Alchemilla Hospital, despite the intersection, made her wonder if perhaps she had visited Silent Hill. "It's funny, but now that you mention that people come back here... I think I've been here before. These are the Blue Creek Apartments, or something, right?" Cerl mused aloud. "Yeah..." Laura answered, sounding a bit surprised. [And I didn't see the sign for Alchemilla Hospital, but I knew what the name of the hospital was. Why am I so familiar with this city? No, I _know_ I've never been in Silent Hill...] Cerl pondered. "Wait, Lisa! Did you see a blonde nurse named Lisa?!" Cerl asked, feeling a bit guilty at having forgotten about the nurse. "Uh, we haven't left this place for the last few hours." Angela answered, staring at Cerl, as if Cerl was insane. "Then... how did I get here?" Cerl inquired. "We don't know. We came back from looking for food and you were here." Laura explained. Cerl's stomach gurgled at the mention of food. Cerl blushed while Laura smiled, "I figured you'd be hungry. I'll make you a sandwich." Cerl arched an eyebrow, "Food even exists here?" "For some reason, the grocery store always has fresh food." Angela replied. "Though, personally, I think it might be because Sammael's got a strange idea of kindness. He'd rather see us die at the hands of the monsters than starve to death." "Sammael... you mentioned him before, but who is he?" Cerl asked. "Sammael is the creature that's made this town what it is." Angela told her. Cerl pondered the name. By itself, it gave no clues, but she had to ponder what religion the creature was from, regardless of whether or not she could actually come up with an answer. It had to be old to have so much power, but it could have just as easily been a more recent creation of the cult. The power of faith, after all, was one of humanity's most powerful attributes. Though, something more recent likely wouldn't have been able to distort time and space, let alone animate the dead and replenish food supplies with such a small cult. Even with gods, there were limits. Laura interupted Cerl's thoughts, presenting a simple ham and cheese sandwich, "Here's your sandwich." "Thanks." Cerl said, appreciatively taking the sandwich. Cerl ate the sandwich ravenously, a bit surprised at her own hunger. She was about to ask if Laura could make another when the trio heard a loud whumping noise and felt the room shake faintly. "What was that?" Laura asked. "I think that was an explosion." Cerl replied, finding her shotgun was laying next to her. She slung it onto her arm as she stood up. The three women raced to the nearest window and saw nearby building on fire. Cerl's gut told her that Cheryl was involved with it. She briefly took note that they were on the third story of the apartment building. Low enough to jump. Cerl ran to a nearby broken window and leapt out. She landed and raced towards the burning building. Behind her, she heard Laura and Angela yelling for her to ignore it, but she refused to listen. Cheryl was the key to getting out of Silent Hill. Not to mention, very likely the reason why Cerl was even IN Silent Hill. Cerl slowed long enough to unsling her shotgun and loading two shells into it. She pumped it once, loading a shell into the chamber. She wanted to make sure she was ready to deal with Cheryl PROPERLY. When the building came into view, Cerl took a second to note that it was an antiques store, and the fire had apparently been quelled. However, Cheryl hadn't left the scene. She was standing near a gaping hole that had been made where the doorway had once been. But Cheryl was not alone. The giant man-like creature from the previous day was laying in bloody pieces on the ground motionless, and one of the Pyramid Head's was frantically battling a naked girl who had wet black hair and a psychotic gleam in her eyes. "CHERYL!" Cerl roared, deciding that the girl was doing well enough against Pyramid Head. Cheryl turned her head to see Cerl. Cerl was a bit confused by the angry glare Cheryl threw her way, but decided to ignore it. "Oh, it's you. I suppose this failure is your fault." Cheryl answered absently, as if she were making a comment on the weather while in outer space. "Failure?" Cerl inquired, her curiosity and confusion curbing her anger for the moment. "I suppose I'll have to do it differently next time." Cheryl said to herself. "You're doing nothing, lady! I'm going to end this right here and now!" Cerl declared, raising her shotgun and aiming at Cheryl. Before Cerl could pull the trigger, the naked girl leapt at her, knocking her to the ground. Cerl glanced over at the Pyramid Head and saw that the girl had managed to crumple his armored head into a vaguely flat shape and tear off his left arm at the elbow. She grappled with the naked girl, surprised at the hysterical strength that the girl was managing, even as her arms were covered in cuts, lacerations and blood. It was greater than even Cerl's strength and she could break stone even improperly. Cerl wondered if it was a reaction to that White Claudia drug Cheryl had given her and Kimberly, but upon reading the girl's aura, she found that the girl was in agony. Something wasn't right in her aura and it was hurting her. Since the girl couldn't stop the pain, she was lashing out. Unfortunately, that only cure Cerl could think of was death. The girl had to be released from her pain and Cerl wasn't skilled enough with auras to do any aura healing. Nor was it likely that the girl would simply 'get over it'. "I'm sorry, but you have to die." Cerl told the girl. She kicked the mad girl away, kipupped to her feet, aimed and shot the girl in the head. Cerl lowered the barrel and closed her eyes in respect for the poor girl. Then, the girl's body exploded, splattering blood and limbs around the immediate area. "JESUS CHRIST!" Laura's voice called out from behind Cerl, "What the HELL did you do?!" "I... I only shot her..." Cerl answered, utterly shocked. "It would seem that the energy was too much for her body." Cheryl spoke up in a bored tone, catching Cerl's attention again, "And as a result, when you killed her, her body lost cohesion and exploded violently. It would explain why she went mad." Cerl snarled and raised her gun at Cheryl, "And just what were you doing with her?" Cheryl ignored Cerl's question and began to walk away, turning a corner at the far intersection, muttering to herself. Cerl was about to shoot Cheryl in the back when the giant man awkwardly tackled her, shoving her backwards. Cerl pressed the shotgun to his chin and fired, exploding the giant's head and sending it toppling backwards. She raced to the intersection, but Cheryl was gone. "SONOVABITCH!" Cerl roared angrily. "Jeez, did you do this to Pyramid Head?" Laura asked, looking at the fallen form of one of Silent Hill's most powerful and pervasive guardians. "No, that girl did. Though, how she managed that kind of strength is beyond me." Cerl replied, sliding her shirt off from underneath her bullet-proof vest and wiping the blood off of her face. She was glad she was wearing a modest bra. "So, what now?" Laura asked. "Now, you go back and get Angela, then the two of you rendevous at the police station. I'll head there after I investigate what Cheryl was doing here. Take these pistols to protect yourselves." Cerl replied, taking her borrowed pistols and handing them to Laura. She unloaded her extra clips and handed them to Laura as well. "Right." Laura agreed. She turned and hurried back to the Blue Creek Apartments. Cerl entered the antiques shop. Apparently, it had been emptied before the fire, leaving only a busted grandfather clock, a dirty and torn up couch and a gaping hole next to the clock. Cerl entered the hole and quickly discovered a once-hidden chamber that had a bloody altar and a brand-new high-tech tube, the kind that were so prevalent in sci-fi movies for making monsters or holding people, filled with mysterious golden goo. [So, she's trying to fuse science with magic... but what is she trying to accomplish? If she's in league with Sammael, then she MIGHT be trying to make an avatar. But something went wrong. In any case, I better make sure she can't use this place again.] Cerl thought. She smashed the altar in half with a stone-breaking technique and shot the nutrient tube, breaking the glass and causing most of the fluid to spill out. With that accomplished, she exited the building and headed for the police station. About an hour of searching the backalleys, Cerl finally found her way to the police station. She'd visited a clothing store and managed to find a suitable dark purple shirt to wear. Unfortunately, unlike the grocery store, the clothing store had been ravaged by monsters more than a few times and thus, her shirt had a strange dark stain on the right arm. She decided not to think about what the source might be. When she entered the police station, there were more people than she expected inside. A woman with light and wavy strawberry blonde hair and a man with long black hair tied into an immensely long ponytail were standing near Angela and Laura. Both the man and the woman were wearing dark grey coats with white undershirts and dark grey slacks. The man stood a full head above the woman and was very tan and muscular. "Cerl! You made it!" Lauara called out in greeting. "Who are you?" Cerl inquired of the two strangers as she approached the group. "My name is Louie Carwess, and this is Melissa Mylee." the man said in greeting. The woman jabbed him lightly in the side, "Oh yeah, we're FBI Agents, here to investigate the strange phenomenon that was reported from Brahms." The two flashed their FBI badges. "So what sort of information has managed to get out?" Cerl asked. Melissa spoke up, "We've been getting reports of people who were unable to call relatives, TV and Radio signals that should be broadcasting, investigative teams not returning..." "So, just about nothing." Cerl deadpanned, inwardly frustrated. Then again, with the time distortion, the chances of anyone useful appearing in the town in time to help were minimal. Melissa looked a bit upset, but nodded in agreement, "Yes, we've already seen some really horrible things. Ghastly things that shouldn't be..." Louie looked uncomfortable, as Melissa began trembling, her eyes losing focus. He decided to ask Cerl something, "So, can you tell us more about what's going on? Laura and Angela were able to tell us that some cult is behind this, but they weren't able to give us much in the way of details." Cerl collected her thoughts, "Near as I've found out and managed to reason out, about thirty years ago, a cult tried to summon a god named Sammael. Something went wrong, but Sammael was still able to use it's power, and created this alternate world. Now, the last follower Sammael has, Doctor Cheryl Spaniel, is apparently trying to create a body for Sammael to inhabit so it can fully manifest all of it's power." "And the monsters?" Melissa asked, her eyes now almost razor sharp. "Cheryl makes them. Apparently, it's a gift from Sammael." Cerl responded. "This sounds like it's huge." Louie commented to himself. "It is. In any case, I'm going load up on guns and ammo, then I'm outta here. I suggest you all wait here. There are some nasty things out there and I'm sure some of your would prefer not to see them." Cerl declared, looking meaningfully at Melissa, before pausing, "There's an officer, Kimberly Ganer, who also comes back here frequently, and I know there's a nurse by the name of Lisa Garland who might still be alive. Oh, and there's a ghost in the middle stall of the women's bathroom. Her name is Cybil Bennett, and she's a bit creepy, but she won't hurt you. You can't see her looking directly into the stall, but you might be able to see her in the mirror." With that said, Cerl headed back into the armory, Louie following closely behind her. "You can't go by yourself." Louie commented, "It's too dangerous." "I've already run into most of the big-time monsters in this place and come away alive. I might not win in a straight-up fight, but I think I can do better than most of you. I've got more martial arts and live firearms experience than all of you combined, and I've got the best idea as to where Cheryl might be. If I can take her out, I'm fairly certain that Sammael will lose his last connection to this world and everything SHOULD go back to normal." Cerl explained. "At least tell us where you might be." Louie demanded. "I'll head back to hospital to try first. If not there, I'll try the prison, then the amusement park and finally the school. Those are the places she'd likely hide, seeing as they're large and complicated enough that she could hide entrances and laboratories just about anywhere." Cerl answered. "... we can't just sit around doing nothing." Melissa spoke up as she appeared next to Louie. Cerl looked at the two determined FBI agents and relented. She too knew what it was like to feel useless when she had the skills to be of aid. She considered her options. The best thing would be to find out about Cheryl. "Fine, you can check out her house and try to get some clues as to why the blue fugnut she's doing this. Most of the roads going directly there might be bad, so make a copy of the town map if you need to get there or anywhere else. I'm going to make a copy of it too." Cerl answered, jotting the address she saw in Cheryl's file onto a notepad and handing it to Louie, "By the way, I'd take more than just handguns. A rifle or shotgun and plenty of ammo will go a long way in taking care of some of the monsters in this joint. A bullet-proof vest is something I'd suggest _everyone_ here puts on." ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= Yes, I know Valtiel looks nothing like that in SH3. I changed him. So there. Well, another chapter at an end. More to follow. Current Cast Cerl Tendo - She's come from Japan to find the jerk who was taunting her adoptive father. Not truly from the Tendo clan, as she was actually born in America and later moved to Japan, Cerl has still managed to become the heir to the family school of martial arts. Kimberly Ganer - A police officer of Silent Hill who has a rapport with the abnormally large scarab beetles that seem to infest the town. She can speak with them as if talking to a normal person. Cindy - A nurse at SH Hospital. Turned into a zombie by Cheryl. Tina - Another nurse at SH Hospital. Also turned into a zombie by Cheryl. Now officially dead. Lisa Garland - Yet another nurse at SH Hospital. Apparently knows Valtiel. Cheryl Spaniel - A doctor at SH Hospital who apparently worked with Doctor Michael Kaufmann. Laura Sunderland - After leaving Silent Hill with James, Laura grew up. But something or someone enticed her into returning... Angela Orosco - She apparently survived and has been living in Silent Hill ever since Laura and James left. Louie Carwess - An FBI man sent to investigate the validity of the reports about Silent Hill. Melissa Mylee - Louie's partner and fellow FBI agent. Answers to questions you might ask. Question: Wait, I thought Valtiel never took an active role. Answer: Ordinarily, yes. But this is fanfiction and besides, Cheryl's the one in control, not Valtiel or Claudia. If Cheryl wants Valtiel to take an active role, he must.