Chapter 1: Welcome to Silent Hill

Silent Hill was probably one of the smallest towns in South Carolina. Sitting on the border between South and North, Silent Hill only housed a population of about 800 people. Among the white picket fenced houses and various store fronts, Silent Hill also boasted its small school district, one of the best small schools in the state. The young children waited for their school bus outside their houses while the older teenagers walked or drove to the middle and high schools.

Silent Hill High School stood tall as the pride and joy of the small town. The education held first in all the employees eyes, the teaching top notch in each year. The school boasted amazingly high standardized test scores and held its students in the highest regard. The Principle, Dr. Rose Nile, kept the school in order with all her heart, keeping the bullying rate to a low and the discipline fair. Among the students, however, some problems lurked. Although cliques were common, the senior class was the point of concern for the entire school.

“Hey, Kelby check out the new girl,” Bobby Morrow pointed out to his best friend, Kelby White as they relaxed in the student parking lot before the beginning of homeroom.

Kelby glanced up from her nails, which she had been filing carefully in preparation to paint them black. Her chocolate eyes narrowed as she studied the girl making her way quickly across the school lawn, her wavy black hair pulled out of her face in a ponytail, a few short strands falling in her face. Kelby shrugged a pale shoulder, the strap of her lace bra falling down her arm.

“What about her? She's just another dork to ignore,” she sighed, returning to her nails, a strand of pink hair falling in her face.

Although Kelby was not the most popular girl in school she held a presence among the other girls. Known for her punk style, she had looks, with her thin pale frame clad in usually tight, flirtatious outfits, today's being a simple black tank top with an intricate design of skulls on the front, her legs clad in dark washed jeans. Her hair, dyed to match her style stood out with blond, pink and blue highlights, half drawn away from her face in a ponytail. Bobby, her best friend since the two were infants, was the peace keeper between Kelby and her 'followers'. Since none if them were as true a friend as Bobby.

Standing at a striking six foot two, Bobby was one of the guys whom all the girls wanted to get with. His medium brown skin and gentle eyes only enhanced his personality. Although he tended to slip up occasionally with the girls, it never once hindered his reputation.

“I think she's kinda cute,” Bobby shrugged a shoulder, running his hand over the short stubble around his chin, one of his best attributes to get the ladies.

Kelby rolled her eyes, grabbing her bag, “Come on we better get to homeroom before Dougherty has another fit.”

Bobby followed, grabbing his own backpack and following the last few stragglers into the school, his eyes searching for the new girl as he followed Kelby through he halls.

XXX

Kira Snipes made her way to the main office in her new school, Silent Hill High. She sighed as one of the secretaries smiled up at her with overly mascaraed eyes and asked her what she wanted. Flicking a strand of her hair from her face Kira launched into her rehearsed introduction.

“My name is Kira Snipes, I just moved to Silent Hill from New York. I was just wondering where I could find my class assignments and homeroom information,” she said, her voice a high alto.

“Ah, yes, I remember your mother coming in to register you. I have your schedule here, and your homeroom is just down the hall in room 110. Good luck today,” the woman smiled, handing Kira her information.

“Thanks,” the girl blushed and left the office, glancing at the school map to find the right classroom.

The hallways were crowded with students as Kira left the main office. She clutched her black and white skull purse tighter to her, her paranoia getting the better of her as she made her way to room 110. The classroom was surprisingly dull, the off-white walls and blue tiled floor left bare, housing a few plants along the windowsill, the desks filled with bored looking students, some asleep or working on unfinished homework. A man stood from behind his desk in the corner, his black glasses bringing out shocking blue eyes beneath a mop of blond hair, his face young and hard.

“You must be Miss Snipes,” he smiled as Kira shyly looked up at her new homeroom teacher. “I'm Mr. Fitzpatrick, most of my students call me 'Mr. Fitz'. Welcome to Silent Hill, take a seat where ever you like.”

Kira nodded her thanks, sliding into the first available seat. She quietly placed her purse on her desk, adjusting her black and red RKO t-shirt as she waited for the bell.

“I dunno, did you see her yet?” Bobby asked, making his way into Mr. Fitz's homeroom with a fellow classmate. His eyes fell on the girl sitting at the front of the room and he froze, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Where you sitting?” Mike whispered, following Bobby's gaze to the new girl.

“Up front with her, go ahead back if you want,” Bobby replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder and sliding into the desk beside Kira.

He took in her appearance, from her light bronze skin to her deep gray eyes. He could not help but smile at her loose attire, a black and red Randy Orton t-shirt and blue jeans, a bit loose to hide her figure. Clearing his throat loudly to catch her attention, Bobby leaned forward with a welcoming smile.

“Hi, my name's Bobby Morrow, are you new here?”

Letting out a startled gasp, Kira turned to the boy smiling down at her, her nerves instantly kicking up when she realized he was cute. She opened her mouth to reply, a frightened squeak the only noise her throat would allow before clearing it herself.

“H-hi, I'm K-Kira Snipes,” she stammered. “Nice to meet you.”

XXX

By the end of the school day all Kira wanted to do was get home. Homeroom seemed to be the only class she was not ridiculed and teased in for her love of wrestling. She glanced almost every five minutes at the clock until the last bell rang to end the school day, quickly grabbing her new pile of books and practically running from her last class: English.

As she made her way toward her locker one of the jocks stuck out his foot, tripping her up as she rushed past. Kira stumbled, dropping all the books and papers she'd been lugging all over the floor while the other students walked all over them. With a great sigh, Kira slowly began to find her things, her homework now littered down the entire hallway, stained with various types of shoe -prints.

“Looks like you could use a hand,” Bobby smiled down at her as the halls emptied. Leaving Kira alone with her mess.

Glancing up she felt her nerves kick up yet again and she gulped, nodding shyly, “Thanks.”

Flashing a reassuring smile, Bobby knelt down beside her, pulling the different books toward him and glancing at each cover. One book in particular caught his eye and he studied it, the cover slightly ripped from wear.

“You read Anne Rice?” he asked, flipping through the pages looking wary.

Kira heaved a sigh and nodded, “Yeah, she's one of my favorite authors. I know you're just going to make fun of me so you can save your breath for something more important.”

Looking slightly taken aback, Bobby handed her the book, “You know that saying, 'don't judge a book by its cover'?”

“Yes.”

“You really shouldn't,” Bobby winked, handing her the rest of her books and papers, gently helping her to her feet.

Kira could feel the flush in her cheeks and she looked away, trying to fight the smile spreading across her face. She hated when she got like this, especially with a cute boy. It always ended up a disappointment. She could feel Bobby watching her as she opened her locker, cautiously pulling out a black folder to stuff her school work in, and shoved it into her bag. Just as she closed the metal door someone cleared their throat from the end of the hall, startling the both of them.

“Oh, hey, Kelby, this is Kira, the girl we saw this morning,” Bobby waved as the girl approached.

“Mhmm,” she simply shrugged a shoulder, barely acknowledging Kira's existence. “We better leave now if you want to go to that party, Bobby, I have to change and redo my makeup.”

“Okay, I'll meet you at the car,” he nodded, pulling out the keys to his truck. Kelby spun on her heel, her dyed hair swinging out behind her as she made her way back up the hall and out of sight. As soon as she was gone Bobby returned his gaze to a startled looking Kira. “Sorry about her, I don't know what her deal is. I guess I'll see you around?”

“Um, yeah, sure,” Kira nodded, bitting her full bottom lip.

Bobby could not help but notice how cute she looked, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at her as he walked away. The second he was gone Kira let out an excited squeal before pulling out her own car keys and making her way to the parking lot where her 2002 Chevy Cavalier sat waiting. She climbed into the cool leather of her car and sighed, resting her forehead on the black steering wheel.

“Okay, I'm going to go home, do my homework and update my stories on Fantasy-net. Yes, that's what I'll do,” she nodded, starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot.