"Nice one! Looks like you've grown up a bit, learning to let go," Barry said, relieved to hear Alessa had dropped her old plans.
"So, what's next for you? You just gonna stay in Silent Hill forever?" Barry asked, curious.
With her revenge complete and no longer craving Rose's motherly love, was Alessa really going to hole up here like some shut-in?
Alessa gave a faint smile that made Barry's heart skip a beat, a bad feeling creeping in.
"Oh, but don't I still have you here?" she said.
"We're real friends, right?"
"You'll stay here with me forever, won't you?"
Alessa grabbed Barry's hand as he lay sprawled on the ground, her obsidian eyes locked onto him.
Weighing his strength, Barry swallowed his rebellious thoughts and softened his tone. "Alessa, we're definitely friends. But life's like a party—everyone's only around for part of the ride."
"My job here's done. Uncle Barry's got bigger plans. I want to help more kids, spread some love, and make the world a better place."
"I hate to leave, but I've got reasons I can't ignore."
At this point, Barry had to pull out his lofty ideals to gently turn her down.
He spoke with conviction, but inside, he was nervous, waiting for Alessa's response.
"Pfft, hehe!" Alessa giggled, her laugh pure and innocent.
What the hell? Did I break her or something?
Barry couldn't read the meaning behind her laughter, but it made him uneasy.
Staying stuck in one place forever, with no internet, no connection, just endless boring days—that was basically a prison sentence.
Before, it was about survival. But now, he wanted to live better, live bigger.
"Barry, haven't you realized? You're not human anymore," Alessa said, eyeing him with a strange look.
"Yeah, I know that. So what?" Barry replied, sensing something off.
He decided to switch tactics.
"The outside world's amazing and open. It doesn't care if you're a plastic bag from the grocery store or an attack helicopter."
"We're just people who happen to be ghosts or strawmen. Don't worry about weird looks from others."
"Share 101 Reading Network if you're enjoying this!"
"Alessa, we can both step into the real world and live again, hard. The past is done—focus on the future."
"Don't let your heart stay chained up."
But Alessa's expression grew even stranger.
"Have you ever tried walking out of Silent Hill's inner-outer boundary to see if you can really get back to the real Silent Hill?" she asked.
"Nope," Barry admitted.
"Well, that explains it," Alessa said, as if it all clicked.
"Come with me."
She grabbed his hand, and with one step, they teleported to the edge of Silent Hill.
The entrance and exit of Silent Hill lay at the broken bridge.
A thick white fog hung in the air.
Barry, now familiar with his abilities, could tell which spot was the exit.
No doubt about it—it was right in front of them.
One step forward, and he'd be out in the real world.
Could it really be that simple?
Barry licked his dry lips, nervous.
"Go on, then," Alessa said softly.
"Alright, I'm going."
No hesitation. Barry strode forward.
In a blink, he saw the glow of a sunset.
Real sunlight warmed his body.
He was about to savor it when a powerful force of rejection hit him, followed by an irresistible pull dragging him back.
Next thing he knew, he was back in Silent Hill's foggy surface world.
He looked back. Alessa stood there, calm as ever, like she'd expected this.
Not convinced, Barry tried again.
He vanished.
Half a second later, he reappeared.
After a few more tries, he gave up.
He figured out the source of the pull: Silent Hill itself.
And that rejection? It came from the real world. It didn't want him.
Why?
Barry couldn't wrap his head around it.
No way!
Could it be…
Lost in thought, he turned to Alessa, waiting for an explanation—or an answer.
"You get it now, don't you?" Alessa said calmly. "The greater your power, the greater the limits."
"The stronger the outsider—especially a soul back from hell—the harder it is to return to the human world."
"Without a compatible body or a suitable environment, you'll get kicked back in no time."
"Even if you force your way into reality, your strength gets suppressed, and you can't stay long."
"That's a world for the living, not a place for ghosts to linger."
Alessa explained, piece by piece, much of it knowledge she'd picked up from a demon.
How could this be?
Barry's heart sank. His grand ambitions hadn't even taken off, and now they were crashing?
No way. Absolutely not!
Not giving up, he pressed, "I've got this rival I met in hell. He made it back to the human world before. No body, but word is he won the revival game a few times."
Alessa glanced at him. "What's special about this rival of yours?"
"He kills in dreams."
"Then dreams are his environment, like Silent Hill is for us."
Alessa delivered the final blow: "You were born from Silent Hill. Before I came back, you tied yourself even deeper to it. We're both bound to this place."
"I haven't truly left in years. Don't overthink it."
"Head home. Get some sleep."
Damn!
I messed up.
Every gift of fate comes with a price tag already set.
Sure enough, power came at a cost.
In just a few words, Barry pieced it together and felt his spirit sink.
His straw face, already withered, looked even more haggard.
"So, my only connection to the outside world… is just that fleeting glimpse of sunlight?"
Barry turned, staring into the misty distance, and let out a long sigh.
His dejected silhouette seemed to stretch endlessly.
…
More than ten days later.
Alessa sought out Barry, who was still moping.
Seeing his listless state, she spoke up: "Actually, I've got a way you could try to get to the outside world."
"It'll cost something and take time, and it's only got a chance of working."
"You up for it?"
"For real?" Barry perked up, grabbing her hand eagerly. "Hell yeah, I'm in! Doesn't matter if it fails—I'll keep trying."