Log; Complete

[alessalearnt.livejournal.com]

When; January 16 - Afternoon
Rating; PG
Characters; Alessa alessalearnt & Rose godforchildren
Summary; Alessa decides to help Rose find Sharon, but no luck so far.
Log;

An alternate universe version of her daughter and Alessa in this city but no trace of Sharon, Rose was growing worried each passing minute she remained in the garden. The colors were fully back: the blue sky, the green grass and the flowers. There were people close by, not monsters and not cult members that set her at ease.

If wasn't for the ticking that was constantly in her head and the blood-stained t-shit she was wearing, Rose would believe that everything was a nightmare and she fell asleep in a park. Sharon would come soon from playing with her friends and they would return home where Christopher was waiting.

Hiding her face with both hands, Rose muffled a sob, thinking in her family, in what happened but did not cry. She could not let this defeat her. This city was like Silent Hill, a place to be defeated in order to recover her child.

Mommy will find you, honey. Just wait.

Rose tried to ease herself on the bench, waiting for Alessa to arrive still on guard of her surroundings. She was going to speak with Alessa about what Heather said when she had the chance as well.

Alessa hurried as quickly as possible to Xanadu. Experience had taught her that no place was safe, not even for a child, and she did not want to risk Sharon's well being again. The last time was too close for Alessa's comfort. Sharon had been so close to facing the same fate that had met her, and she wasn't going to allow such a thing to happen ever again. She would protect Sharon and Rose again, if she had to. She owed it to them, and the strange connection she felt towards them was more than enough to warrant her assistance.

Xanadu seemed to be immune from winter's cold, and on any other day, Alessa would have relished in the beauty of it. But today, however, she had more important things to think about.

She spotted the figure sitting on the bench, and she could sense Rose's worry and uneasiness. Alessa herself had experienced it when she first arrived here in the City. Rose, she thought, approaching the woman slowly. "...Rose?" she asked quietly. It was a bit....strange and comforting to meet her in person again.

When her name was called, Rose lifted her chin and forced a smile on her face. She looked exactly as she did after leaving Silent Hill, still covered with blood, grim and sweat, ashes lingered on her hair. The timeless mist world that followed Sharon and her made her forget about bathing and changing clothes.

"Alessa," she greeted, standing from the bench. "You look healthy. I'm glad you're finally healed." She walked towards her, glancing over her shoulder just in case they were in danger. Something happened: abruptly, the ticking stopped. "Thanks for coming. Where should we start?"

Rose didn't know anything about the city or the locations. She didn't know that the city was insolate either and there weren't places beyond.

Alessa resisted the urge to reach out and pull Rose into a tight hug or to touch her hand; her burns had prevented her from touching Rose before, and she had wanted to hug her just as Xulchibara had done when he had told Rose Alessa's story. But now wasn't the time or the place.

She had the distinct feeling that there was more to the connection between them, almost as if she were around Vincent or Henry, or one of the other Marked Children. She shrugged the sensation off - it was probably just the last threads of Silent Hill that created the strange feeling.

"Well, we can already scratch Xanadu off of the list, since you are here and she is not. The next place I would check is the cathedral.....churches seem to be sanctuaries for those in need of one, even here," she told her. After all, it had been her sanctuary for quite some time, until Xulchibara had returned and found them a home.

"Follow me," she said, gesturing for Rose to walk beside her. "Don't worry - the monsters won't hurt you. They know who you are. And if anyone else tries anything, I'll protect you." Like before, she wanted to add, but, judging by Rose's distraught and untidy condition, thought that it wouldn't be wise to bring up those traumatic memories.

Rose felt that too, the connection. The same feeling she had when adopted Sharon as if all her being screamed: This is my daughter. Heather, Sharon, Alessa. Three beings that were one in the end. It confused her mind but not her heart and instincts, she felt the overwhelming desire to keep the three safe. There was another connection, different than before but she dismissed that impression.

There were things she never knew and was guessing that the being that possessed her once did not detail everything at the time she was looking for Sharon outside of a rational frame of mind to do a proper interrogation.

"Are you sure?" Rose asked, glancing at the garden. Funny, she just noticed the snow and that her arms were trembling by the cold. So distraught she was? "This park is big. Sharon liked to rest under trees and draw all the time." Those were happier days, sunlight afternoons she had spent with before the mist came.

Monsters? Rose thought as she joined Alessa to walk beside her. "Why monsters?" she asked, curious. She did not ask what but why. Her tormentors were punished and gone. Why there were still around? "Thanks, Alessa." Was this what Heather mean about the cult getting a hold of the girl?

Alessa paused momentarily. Could Sharon have fallen asleep in the snow underneath a tree? It could have been possible. And if so, they needed to get her out of the cold and the nipping air. "All right, we'll search the park first," she said, changing directions. Rose knew Sharon better than Alessa did, as strange as it sounded, but it was true. Rose would know her habits, and would know where she would be.

"Some of them were here before...it's confusing. Some of them didn't know me, and they left when a man called James left the City. They were from his mind, I think...they were different than the ones you've seen. The ones left followed me here," she explained. "I shaped them into what they are today....they didn't leave Silent Hill, even though they should have, and they pitied me, so I changed them. Although....not all of them felt sorry for what they had done." This was a reference to Colin, whether Rose knew it or not, and although her anger had subsided, the memories were still painful. "Some of them were changed because they deserved it.

"But they tend to keep to themselves. I won't let them come up from the ground to hurt people. They stay in the Underground and that's where they belong." They were passing trees now, and Alessa's blue eyes scanned underneath the dead branches, searching for the lost little girl. Something told her that if Sharon were here, she'd be able to tell and feel it, but she could never be too sure.

Rose listened and picked the Colin's reference easily, she was good to gather clues and interpret them, but did not say a word, Alessa should explain herself. There were monsters in the underground, at least that bit was real.

"Like the nurse who looked after you?" she asked gently, careful to not hurt her feelings. Rose knew how hurt Alessa had been, that… being show her what happened as a horror film you could not do anything to stop, just impotently observe. She would not seek to stir any bad memories within, feelings that could make her feel hatred. Hatred not only hurt other people but one's self.

There was little she wanted to converse about when Sharon was out of her reach and she had no clue of where to seek her. Rose sighed, tracking under the trees of the opposite side Alessa was looking at, wondering if her daughter wasn't taken to somewhere safe if found wandering in the park. "Is there a police station or department of missing people in this city?"

"Yes...like Lisa. I really didn't mean to do that, but when you're young and someone sees you like that..." she stopped. "She was so good to me, even after that. Yes, she cried, but...her tears weren't for herself. They were for me.

"There aren't any police," Alessa said, bending over to move aside some snow to to see if anything had been buried under the recent snowfall. "As far as the missing people go....that's where the Hall of the Missing comes in. They put up photos of those who are missing, those who have left the City and who are, well, missing. If you talk to the people there, they'll be able to help you. More than I can, anyway. If you like, I can give you directions, but after that, you should probably get cleaned up and get some more rest. You need it." She dooubted that Rose would listen to her on that last bit of advice, but it was probable.

"Also...there are some people here that are dangerous. If you do go to the Cathedral, be wary of an angel that calls himself Rosiel. He isn't exactly...very sane, if you get my meaning, and I wouldn't trust him. His sister, Alexiel, will help you though. She's the one who convinced her friend to heal me. She'll keep you safe."

Alessa could sense that her presence and conversation was unnverving Rose, so she thought it best to go to the places she knew best and search for Sharon there while Rose did what she thought was best for her daughter. "If you need a place to stay....you can always come to the manor where I live. You'd be more than welcome there." She gave Rose a friendly smile, hoping that it would be slightly reassuring.

Hall of the Missing would be the next place she would search after the Garden, it looked like a likely place for Sharon be within, amongst those who are lost. Rose clasped her hands together, as a prayer while she looked for in every concern of the immense garden that looked endless.

"I… I am fine," she replied nervously at Alessa's suggestion about washing and changing clothes. "I will be alright when I know Sharon is safe." She wasn't hungry, cold or uncomfortable, just worried and nervous about her daughter's state. What if she was sick from the snowfall? She wasn't wearing warm clothes.

Alexiel. Rosiel. The name stayed buried in her memory, any clue was vital for her quest, she thanked that Alessa was so informative and helpful in this. "I'll remember that," she assured her companion with a nod and a half smile.

The garden did contain all flowers as Alessa claimed it had. From roses to lilies and dahlias, all she saw. Even those popular cherry blossoms in eastern paintings. It was beautiful, spring and winter melded in one landscape but Rose was so focused on her missing child that there was barely time to enjoy it.

She paused at the limits of a cemetery, peace filled her within, the atmosphere calmed her poor nerves, clearing her thoughts to reply to Alessa's offer.

"I… I appreciate your offer really, Alessa, but I don't know if I can take it. I have to visit the Hall of the Missing and then Dorian if I don't find Sharon," Rose replied honestly. She reached for her hand slowly, unable to fight the urge to comfort the young woman any longer and squeezed it. "You're very kind."

Alessa squeezed her hand back in return, struggling to fight the emotions that were threatening to erupt from her. She nodded. "I understand. I would do the same if in your position. Take all the time you need. If - " she hesitated slightly, not wanting to voice it, but knowing that she must, "if you can't find Sharon here, I'll do all I can to help you get back to her. I promise. I'll keep looking for her too." She leaned over to give the older woman a tight hug, releasing her albeit reluctantly.

"If you need anything, just ask. Take care of yourself, stay safe, and...good luck." Alessa said in parting. She didn't really want to leave Rose, but she knew that Rose needed some space to herself. She wasn't ready to sit back and think of a way to get out of here just yet. She needed to time to be sure, absolutely sure, that Sharon was here or not before she did that. Alessa would wait patiently and help her when and if the time would come. Until then, she would keep her eye out for Sharon and make sure nothing happened to Rose during her search.

When Alessa bid good-bye, Rose stopped and leaned on to embrace her, she kept the younger woman close in her warm arms. They were still warm, no matter how cold it was. A mother always kept themselves warm for their children. Sharon was Alessa and Alessa was Heather. In a way, Alessa was also her daughter.

"Sharon is you and you are Sharon," she said, releasing her slowly. It was cold now. She could feel the winter wind blowing to freeze her. "If she's here, you would feel her, wouldn't you?" Rose asked, tears escaped her eyes. She was weeping without knowing why. She hadn't mourned Cybil's death or Christopher vanishing, now everything came together to haunt her. "We will talk another day," she assured Alessa, pinching one of her cheeks tenderly. "Thank you."