Alan Wake

Episode 2.7: In Time

I had made it out of the woods after passing through the house and meeting a man with a chainsaw. I could have drowned in the waves below if I was not careful. One part of the house has sunk into the water and I would have joined them too. I have to avoid the teethes of the chainsaw that was gnawing at me. Failure to evade that chainsaw will definitely cut me up in pieces. Thankfully, my instincts and that hunting rifle that I have picked up moments ago has helped me shoot down that dangerous man. Right now, I am seeing a parking lot when my phone rang once more.

"Barry?" I asked. I wondered how he was doing at his side.

"Al, the porch’s covered with birds, they've gone all Hitchcock on me," Barry spoke fearfully. Inside, my heart jumped and my hands started to shiver a little. Those birds are definitely ravens that are possessed by the darkness, ready to strike at any moment. Barry is in danger now. Hopefully Barry would be sensible and stay inside his house.

"Stay out of sight," I instructed harshly. "I'm on my way, don't open the door!"

"What am I, crazy?" he asked me.

"Stay hidden. I'll be there soon. Just make sure you keep the lights on!" I ignored his question and continued to instruct him." I hung the call up and proceeded to the parking lot. I picked up the pace. I still had to reach Barry at the cabin but at least I was out of the woods. 

I surveyed the parking lot. Although it was in a mess, there was a car that was locked up behind a gate, its head lights flashing brightly in my eyes. However, I could not unlock the gates. It was shut and a key would be needed. I ran to another house behind me, wondering if there was anything that could help me. I needed the car as it could get me back to Barry faster and the headlights were a welcome bonus.

I barged into the boy's toilet. The lights were flashing inside. I went into the toilet further and this time, there was a key lying around carelessly. Wondering if it was the garage keys, I took them. Just then, the television emitted out light once more and I groaned. I will see myself talking again.

"A story is not a machine that does what you tell it. A story is a beast with a life form of its own. You can create it, shape it but as the story grows, it starts wanting things of its own. Change one thing and you set off a chain reaction of events that spreads through the whole thing. The characters have to be true to themselves. The event needs to follow a logic that fits the story. A single flaw and the magic is gone. Alice dies," I heard myself saying all these nonsensical things as I was on the television, walking up and down in the cabin while looking at the manuscripts. The fact that I was holding them made it even more unbelievable. Did I really write the manuscripts?

As I walked out of the room, one of the cubicles that was shut suddenly burst open, scaring me as one of them charged out to get me. However, my quick reaction made me shine some light at it and kill it, giving it no chance to do so. The revolver hit it, sending it back to the cubicle that it was supposed to be. 

I ran for the garage, hoping that I can unlock it and get back in time to save Barry from the ravens. I pushed the gates open and I opened the door, sitting inside and pressing on the accelerator. The truck roared to life, moving forward. The gates in front were opened, broken by the same murderous people. It took me a moment to remember that it was not some normal human when the front of the truck came in contact with it with full force. I have to use the head lights to disarm them of their protection before I can move in and knock it like a normal human. I ignored it, driving away from it and following the path.

My foes were littered everywhere, trying to kill me by recklessly charging towards me or just throwing whatever they have. I realised that I can use the head lights like how I did to my flashlight. I can boost it and concentrate more light rays on them, burning it off faster before I knocked them to their deaths. Now, I feel like a maniac when I do so but there is only one difference. The law would never catch up with me. I turned in after following the path as the sign wrote that it was going to Elderwood National Park. I drove uphill quickly, hoping that I was in time to save Barry from the ravens that were like scavengers, waiting for him outside. In the end, I had to get out of the truck and continue to reach Barry by foot. The path was blocked by cars.