Chapter Text
The man named Jars parked the battered grey Vauxhall back at the entrance of "Doom Tunnel", seething. He didn’t think it was right or fair he had to do this alone. Fair enough he was checking on one badly injured man and one handcuffed pussy, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Bottle had been personally picking on him Jars was certain of it. He had no idea what the ‘pathetic school grudge’ was even about, and he was jumping to unfair and incorrect conclusions.
The first thing he noticed was that "Doom Tunnel" was as empty as when the three had left it just over an hour ago. Sighing, he headed back down into the darkness. The quicker he got this over with, the better.
…
“Fucking hell,” Box breathed as he and Flask ordered their second beers from the Squeezed Lemons bar. “That was… close. It could’ve gone so much worse.”
“For Jars it did,” Flask snickered. “Stupid fool. He made it so obvious he hates the target; I’d bet you anything that’s why Bottle sent him back down there now.”
Box sighed. “He’s an idiot, I’m not even sure why Bottle wanted him with us. He’s hot headed and makes too many rash decisions and mistakes.”
Flask nodded. “On that I agree with you. But he’s obviously got some asset for Bottle to keep him on.”
Box rolled his eyes and smirked. “Well fuck knows what that is.”
Flask grinned. “He’s also got some school grudge against the target, though I’ll be damned if I know too much about it.”
Box considered. “The guy told me once his dad died of cancer when he was in school, and he was jealous of the target because his parents were filthy rich or something. They wouldn’t help him with his father’s treatment.”
Flask snorted. “Dudes weren’t even friends.”
“Yeah, I know,” Box nodded. “Guess he just saw the money he didn’t have and desperately needed and when the target refused, he resorted to bullying and hating him. Hardly the way to get what you want but…” he shrugged.
The two men finished their second pints in silence, before Flask got to his feet. “I’m out of here Box, I really need some sleep.”
Box nodded. “Yeah, think I’ll follow you on that one.” They headed out of the pub and towards the road. Due to the fact the Vauxhall was now being used by Jars; they had no choice but to walk home. Fortunately, they only lived a few short blocks away.
“Fuck its cold,” Flask grumbled, pulling up his jacket’s hood. “Jesus! Why the fuck couldn’t Bottle have given us another car? Tight ass!”
“It is nearly three in the morning,” Box reminded him with a grin.
“Whatever,” Flask rolled his eyes. “Let’s just get fucking moving before my cock freezes and falls off!”
“God forbid,” Box snickered. “What would your latest conquest say? You have a different woman every 24 hours!”
“Fuck off,” Flask glared at him. The two men continued walking in silence.
“Did you see that?” Box asked suddenly, pointing into the trees a little ahead of them. Due to the time of night, it was pitch black, but he was certain he’d seen something in the shadows. Or someone.
“Nope,” Flask shook his head. “Seeing things again Boxy?”
“Call me that again I’ll punch your fucking eyes out,” Box growled. “Not funny!”
“Ah chill out,” Flask grinned. “No need to get your knickers in a twist, just messing around.”
“You’re only saying that because you know I could beat you to a fucking God damn pulp,” Box looked away. There it was again, movement just beyond the reaches of his vision. “I’m serious Flask,” he said, trying not to sound as worried as he was beginning to feel. “I saw someone through there.”
“Probably someone just taking a walk,” Flask shrugged. “We’re nearly back now anyway. Plus, you and I both know we’re perfectly capable of defending ourselves against anyone.
Accept perhaps Michael Myers, Flask thought. He had of course never asked, but he was almost certain Box was too young to remember 1963, he was only a teenager after all. Now was not the time to bring that pile of shit up though. No point in scaring the kid any more than he already is. Just as they reached Box’s Street, Flask glanced over in the direction the kid had been looking. He too was convinced he saw something at that moment. A flash of white? What the fuck? He thought. You were thinking of Myers, so you saw something which looked like that Psychopath’s mask? Get to bed already damn it! Luckily it didn’t seem Box had seen what he had; Flask breathed a sigh of relief. Although now he couldn’t deny it, he was uneasy. The sooner he got back home the better. Even though he never considered them, Box who had married young had a wife to think about, Flask was a loner by his own choice, as Box had said, a different fuck toy every day. Who would miss him if something were to happen to him?
Don’t get all sentimental now you dick, just get home for fuck’s sake!
“See you later,” Box said, as they reached his small house. “Doubtless Bottle will be contacting us when Jars gets back.”
“Doubtlessly,” Flask yawned. “Wish he’d just leave us the fuck alone for a while though, we’ve been up most of the fucking night and I need to sleep!”
“I hear you,” Box agreed. “Night.”
Flask was too tired to respond, so as Box unlocked his gate he turned and started walking away. All he wanted now was to get home, inside, where he was safe. No fucking way I saw that white mask, he thought as he picked up speed. Seeing things. Flask had never been so relieved to reach his house in his life as he was that night.
…
“Are you fucking insane?” Andy stared at Laurie in disbelief as she finally stepped out of the ambulance. He’d returned in a squad car just a short while ago, after doctors at the hospital had told him the best thing, he could do for Tom right now was let him sleep, but that they would contact him the moment anything changed. “You’ve already gone through enough hell; have you been watching too many horror movies and now want to star in your fucking own?”
Laurie stared at her friend, taken aback by his what seemed genuine anger. Why did he care so much what she did? LYNDA too was looking at Laurie as if she’d gone crazy. “I have to,” Laurie said quietly. “Tom’s stuff is down there; I can’t just leave it for those fuckers to come back and steal.”
“Um, don’t you think Tom would care more about your life and wellbeing than his material shit?” LYNDA said. “God knows he can easily afford not just new stuff but the whole fucking shop!”
“Right,” Andy agreed. “Why is this so important to you? What the hell do you think Michael will say about this? Well… write.”
“Yeah,” LYNDA nodded.
“What do you suggest?” Laurie asked, her own anger spiking now.
“FUCKING LEAVE IT!” Andy shouted and now she did stare at him in shock. “A FEW BITS AND PIECES HERE AND THERE ARE HARDLY WORTH YOUR FUCKING SAFETY! JESUS CHRIST Laurie, WE JUST RESCUED YOU FROM THERE AND NOW YOU WANT TO GO BACK? TALK ABOUT A SLAP IN THE FUCKING FACE!”
“Sorry but I agree,” LYNDA said. “Of course, we’d never stop you if that’s really what you want to do, but really? Are you sure,” now she put her arm around Laurie and drew her into a hug. “Are you sure you’re not just feeling reckless and angry because Michael walked away at your time of need? Are you sure you’re not just wanting to do something risky out of rage?”
Andy sighed. “Ok, now I admit that was low, Michael just leaving like that. But fuck Laurie, he’s Michael Myers! What did you expect? Him to stick around and present you with a bunch of flowers and grapes?”
Laurie sighed. “No of course not, but…” she let out a breath. “Damn it! I… I just must do this, that’s all!”
“Fine,” Andy snapped. “Then we’re going with you, no fucking arguments!”
LYNDA sighed. This was the last thing she wanted to do but she also knew Andy was right, they couldn’t let Laurie do this crazy stunt alone. “You know Michael’s not going to be happy about this, right?” She asked softly.
“Then he should fucking be here to stop me,” Laurie snapped. She knew she probably sounded like a child, but she was past caring. Of course she’d known Michael Myers wasn’t normal husband material, but to walk away when she needed him. Not cool. Yes, he’d stayed while she talked to the cops, had kissed her, but…
Lynda nodded. With that last statement, she couldn’t disagree. Nor could Andy, judging by his nod in turn. “Wish he was,” he muttered. “Jesus,” he looked resigned. “Come on then. Let’s fucking get this over with!”
“I don’t want to do it anymore than you do,” Laurie murmured to him as they started heading back towards the still parked tractor and train, three seats of which were now covered in Tom’s blood. “But… I don’t know, I feel I must.”
“Whatever,” Andy nodded. “Just get in already.”
“You don’t have to…” Laurie tried. Andy turned his glare on her. “Don’t you fucking dare say we don’t have to go with you, if we don’t go, you don’t either?”
“Yeah,” LYNDA piped up. “Just shut up Laurie and get in the fucking thing!”
Andy opened the trunk of his car and produced two "Doom Tunnel" helmets, handing one to Lynda and donning one himself. Laurie was still wearing hers. “Let’s just go before I lose my nerve!” Jumping into the tractor, Andy spoke into the microphone as Laurie and Lynda sat in the train behind him on the three seats not covered in Tom’s blood. “You owe me for this Myers, damn it!”
Before long they’d reached the spot the horrific assault had happened. They knew this because the floor was stained with Tom’s blood. His bag lay just where he’d left it. Getting out of the train Laurie moved to grab it.
“Not so fast beautiful,” said a sneering voice beside her left ear, before she felt the cold metal of a gun pressed against her head for the second time that night. “Might I suggest you stay exactly where you are?”
Laurie looked up and felt both fear and terrible anger. It was him, the man who’d threatened to rape her and assaulted Tom the worst of the three men. “You,” she glared at him with undisguised hatred, there was no fear on her face despite his loaded firearm.
“Me,” he smirked. “How about that fuck now then, pretty? Seen as you’ve come back down here straight into my clutches of your own free will. “You two,” he barked at Andy and Lynda. “Move and she dies!”
“I told you this was a fucking bad idea,” Andy groaned, putting his face in his hands. “Jesus Christ!”
Laurie meanwhile took off Tom’s bag and opened it. Inside was the bottle of cleaning spray, two cloths and two bottles of water. Their captor snickered. “What are you thinking of with those, pretty? Cleaning up his blood? Yours might join his if you’re not careful. Now get on the ground and lie still while I fuck you. Be a good little girl and I might, I said might, let you all go afterwards.”
“Over my fucking dead body,” Andy snarled and again, Laurie felt the rush of affection for him. She’d got them into this position, yet still he was protecting her.
“That can be arranged,” the man smirked cruelly at Andy. “If that’s what you want. I’m warning you, don’t, move.”
Andy appeared to be fiddling with something in his pocket, but Laurie couldn’t focus on that. She knew she had to fight back in some way but how?
That was when Lynda gasped, Andy murmured “oh, shit” and their captor staggered backwards, his gun still trained on Laurie’s face. Laurie glanced up and that was when she saw it. The deathly pale, emotionless white mask and the huge chef’s knife worn and held by the tall man who was slowly, calmly advancing towards them.
…
“You have got to be fucking joking,” Box said into his phone.
“Well, I’m fucking not,” Bottle snapped. “Get up, wake Flask and get the fuck down there! Now! You have your orders!”
“How…” Box started. “How do you know he’s in trouble?”
“I gave him an hour,” Bottle’s voice was soft but dangerous. Box knew he was treading on thin ice. “He hasn’t come back when all he was doing was checking on the prisoners. This time you’re the leader box, so don’t you dare fuck it up! Get Flask and go! If you argue any further, you’ll be going alone. Got it?”
“Ok boss,” Box said immediately, feeling utterly pissed off. What the fuck had Jars done? Where was the stupid bastard? Maybe he’d gone too far and killed the target in his anger and stupid hatred? “Fucking hell,” he muttered as he hung up. Flask ain’t going to like this…”
On this, he wasn’t wrong. Flask was indeed furious when Box banged on his door, Bottle having failed to wake him with a phone call.
“Jesus H Christ,” Flask snarled. “What the fuck has the stupid twat done now? Man, I want to fuck kill him! We must go down there to find the stupid kid. Fuck’s sake, he’s acting like a child!”
“I agree,” Box nodded tiredly. “But Bottle will hurt or maybe even kill us if we don’t.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him when we find him,” Flask growled. “We’ll have to take your car.”
Box nodded again. “Yeah, let’s go.” Reaching into his nightstand, Flask grabbed a gun. “I swear it, he’s going to have a fucking bullet in his head when we find him! Stupid fucking idiot! I told you, he’s rash and he make stupid fucking mistakes! Why the fuck hasn’t he come back up yet? Fuck I’m going to kill him!”
“Let’s just get moving,” Box touched his colleague’s shoulder. “I’m totally with you on that one, but we need to find him first.”
…
“FUCK!” Lynda screamed in utter terror, just as their captor was spun round and slammed against the wall, the lethal knife at his neck. Laurie looked up straight into the masked eyes of her husband but had to look away. His glare was cold, deadly. Shit, if any of that anger was directed at her she too was quite possibly dead, death penalty be damned. That was when the man made his move, swinging the crowbar up in a lethal arch, the solid metal smashing into Laurie’s shoulder with such force, she was knocked to the ground. Lynda ran over to help her.
Andy jumped out of the tractor and Laurie didn’t know if he was exceptionally brave or unbelievably stupid, as he turned to face the masked killer. “Mr. Myers don’t kill him; I’ve got a better idea! Although given what he just did to your wife, part of me wants to say fuck it, just be done with the bastard!” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the handcuffs Laurie had been cuffed with. Stepping forward, he snapped them into place on the man’s wrists, cuffing his hands behind his back and grabbing his gun. Lynda and Laurie both gasped in unison, as Andy laid a soft hand on Michael’s arm. “If you kill him Mr. Myers, we’ll have no proof for the cops. We must take him back above ground! They’ll chuck him in prison for a damn long time, he’s not worth a death sentence.”
Laurie felt yet another rush of respect for Andy, damn he was a good man. She remembered the day she’d first met him when she’d thought him arrogant and a fool. How wrong she’d been. Lynda obviously had learnt the same, as she’d fallen in love with him. Andy trained his gun on the man’s head, who was now deathly white. “Move!” He snapped. “Get in the train and keep your fucking hands up!”
Lynda picked up Tom’s discarded bag and tossed it onto the train’s floor at her feet. “Laurie,” she said quickly, but with no panic. “Get in next to me! I’ll stay behind this bastard!”
The man who just a few minutes ago had been planning to rape Laurie was now visibly trembling as Andy manhandled him into the blood covered seats. “Laurie,” he ran forward and helped her up. She was deathly pale and yelled with pain as he did so. Her shoulder was at the very least dislocated. Michael looked at all four of them, his deadly and furious glare still in place and Laurie saw the other three shiver with terror. She couldn’t blame them! “GO!” Lynda shouted to Andy, who pushed the throttle as far as it would go, and they shot up the tunnel.
“Shit," Laurie only then realised her teeth were chattering. “If that angers at me, I’m fucking dead!”
“He’s certainly… not happy,” Andy was as pale as she was. “Shit.”
“FUCK!” Andy swore at the top of his voice, slowing the tractor. Their panic had compelled him to move as fast as he could even though they were… according to Laurie at least, safe from Michael’s rage. Now though, he wasn’t so sure. “FUCK, WE’RE LOST!”
“Tell me you’re kidding,” Laurie said weakly, now deathly white and clutching her shoulder. “Please.”
“You’re the one who wanted to do this,” Andy rounded on her. “Fine so we’ve got his bag, we’ve also got one of the bastards who hurt Tom," he glared at the man behind him. "But now ’we’re fucking lost and there’s a killer down here with us, again! This time though, he’s angry! Michael Myers angry, equals well, bad!"
"Yes, I know that" Laurie snapped back. "I’m only married to the guy! Please, move!”
“What’s the fucking point if we don’t know where we fucking are? Give me a minute damn it!”
“Yeah? You bring a map?” Lynda turned to him, but her tone wasn’t hostile.
“No,” Andy admitted. “But I am trying to remember it from memory.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever been down this far,” Lynda said quietly. Laurie felt a spike of fear in her chest. Given he was so angry, would Michael help them? Surely, he would, right? She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Andy was just about to move the tractor forward when something hit the train so hard, it felt like they’d been hit by a large animal. Without offering any resistance, the train tipped onto its side. But for their seatbelts, Laurie and the others would’ve all been thrown out. As it was, they were stuck. Andy leapt out of the tractor to try and help but was stopped when this time it was him who had the cold metal of a gun pressed against his head.
“Turn around,” a soft voice said. “Slowly, no sudden moves.”
Laurie and Lynda only then realised with horror that the gun Andy had taken from the first man had been knocked from his hand by the force of the impact of whatever or whoever had hit them. As they watched, the first man picked it up.
“Get out of the train,” the second man said, his voice just as soft and dangerous. “Slowly. Then sit on the ground with your hands up and don’t fucking move! You,” he snapped at Andy. “Take those cuffs off him! Now!”
Andy hesitated briefly, but only long enough for the gun to press against his skull. “I’m warning you,” his captor threatened. He had no choice. Pulling out a key which Laurie was certain he’d taken from the cops he slowly did so, his hands shaking.
“Now you can fuck whichever girl you want or both,” the second man said to the first. “Just be quick about it!”
If it is indeed I who’s made Michael this angry, Laurie thought. I deserve whatever is about to come my way. Better that than dead. If Michael’s going to kill me anyway, what have I got left to fight for?
“OVER OUR DEAD BODIES!” Lynda yelled, leaping out of the train and launching herself at the second man and knocking him to the ground with a fast tackle. Laurie couldn’t help the flash of admiration for her friend at this. That was until he grabbed her by the neck and began to squeeze. “Maybe I’ll fuck you instead,” he snarled in Lynda’s ear.
Laurie couldn’t move, she was trapped against the ground, her seatbelt still holding her in place. They were truly safety belts in every sense of the word, the belt had quite possibly just saved her life. Well, for now. When Tom recovered, she’d thank him for this. If I’m not dead, that is.
None of them saw it when Michael once again appeared. The man strangling Lynda was yanked to his feet with such force, she was surprised his head didn’t pop clean off. She looked up, gasping for breath and saw him slammed face first into the brick wall. Myers towered over him, the knife at his neck and that same ice-cold fury in his eyes which they could just see through his mask. His glare was still furious, deadly.
Neither of the other two men moved anywhere near fast enough to react, as Michael Myers slit the second man’s throat as if cutting through cheese. He fell back, gargling in his own blood and hit the ground. Laurie, Lynda and Andy all looked away in horror. “Go,” the second man gasped with his final breath, before his eyes took on the blank, lifeless look of death and closed once and for all.
The first man who had the second gun glared at them and fired, the bullet coming to within an inch of Laurie’s face, but still cutting her cheek deeply which immediately started to bleed.
“That,” Andy said, his voice very quiet. “Was the last and worst mistake you’ll ever make in your life, idiot. WATCH OUT!” He shouted to Laurie as Michael moved so fast none of them saw it and grabbed the man who’d just shot her by the hair and slammed him face first into the brick wall, just as he had the other.
Laurie was still trapped in the side down train by the belt, the one time she didn’t need it. This time it was a hindrance, a trap, not a safety measure. “Give me a fucking hand,” she said through gritted teeth due to the pain in her shoulder and now left cheek. “For fuck’s sake!”
“We…” Andy hesitated. “We can’t, the train’s too heavy. We… we need to go and get help.”
“You are fucking kidding me,” Laurie snarled. She knew only too well Michael could lift it with ease, but would he really leave her trapped in his anger? NO, NO! She shouted at herself again and again. HE WOULDN’T, HE JUST WOULDN’T! WOULD HE?
“If this thing tips any further it’s going to crush me,” Laurie said, unable to disguise her panic now.
“Won’t let that happen,” Andy assured her, but she could hear his voice was shaking. “I fucking swear Laurie! I’ll die first!”
Somehow, the man who Michael had slammed against the wall had got free and started to run. Laurie, Lynda and Andy all screamed, as Michael began to follow him in absolutely no hurry like a cat stalking a mouse.
“Oh Jesus,” Lynda covered her mouth. “He’s fucking terrifying! Fuck, he’s got no chance…”
“He’s out for the kill,” Laurie said. “Right now, I don’t even think he cares that I’m trapped or even that I’m his wife. All he can see is the kill.”
“Good riddance when it’s these fuckers,” Andy said, glaring at the third man. “What the fuck’s your name?”
“I… I’m known as Flask,” the man just managed to say, now as deathly white as they were.
“Got any tea in you?” Andy snarled in utter contempt. “Get this fucking thing off Laurie, and we might… I said might tell the cops you helped us. Don’t, we’ll let Michael Myers deal with you! And don’t you dare touch that fucking gun!”
Flask was shaking and nodded without argument. “This doesn’t mean I trust you,” Andy warned as he grabbed the gun the first man had dropped from the ground. “Get the fuck up and help me or die! Your fucking choice!”
Both men tried to right the train to free Laurie, but the carriage was built so solidly they could not lift it. “Fuck,” Andy was shaking openly now. “Fuck, I… I can’t…” Laurie could hear the panic and even tears in his voice and felt affection swell in her heart for him. He wasn’t afraid for himself, but for her.
“Andy, it’s ok, just go and get help. I’ll be alright.”
“Run the risk of that thing falling on you?” Andy glared at her. “No fucking way, over my dead body!”
“Christ,” Lynda said from a little way up the tunnel, her hands still over her mouth. “Michael could and will stalk that guy for ages, he’s inhumanly patient and it’s fucking scary! Terrifying is what it is, that guy’s a dead man running!” Laurie and Andy shivered.
“Please,” the man known as Flask pleaded. “I’ll do whatever you ask, just… just let me live?”
“Coward,” Andy snarled. “Although to be fair you didn’t threaten or attack any of us, lucky for you.”
About a minute later there was a stifled scream from further up the tunnel. It seemed that Michael had indeed had enough of toying with his latest victim. Lynda turned away, looking as if she were about to vomit. “Do I want to know?” Andy asked.
“No,” Lynda gagged. “He… he cut his fucking stomach open!”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Andy and Flask said together.
It was then they all heard the slow, calm footsteps walking back their way. Andy, Lynda, Laurie and even Flask looked at each other in pure terror.
“Mrs. Myers,” Flask said. “You’re his wife, can’t… can’t you…”
“Ha!” Laurie laughed bitterly. “Right now, he’s furious with me too Flask, what I say won’t make a fucking bit of difference if he’s made his mind up to kill every fucking one of us including me!”
Michael stopped right in front of them once more and all they could hear was his calm, measured breathing. To Laurie, it made him even more terrifying if that was possible. He was out for the kill and not in the slightest out of breath. He’s not human, she thought. Just as Dr Loomis said he wasn’t. “Michael,” she pleaded, and instantly her husband’s ice-cold glare was on her. God, she wouldn’t say with 100% certainty that she wasn’t going to die tonight under that look. “Michael, please… help me…”
The killer stepped forward, once again in no hurry whatsoever until he reached the overturned train. His eyes met hers and Laurie recoiled, her face deathly white with terror. His glare not wavering an inch, her husband slowly lifted the train, so it was once again upright.
“Thank you,” Laurie said in relief, hastily undoing her previously locked seatbelt and forcing her way out through the barriers of pain in both her shoulder and face. Of course, her husband said nothing, made no move to help her, nor did he even acknowledge what she’d said. It was as if she hadn’t spoken. Lynda cast Laurie a terrified look as if to say ‘fuck, he’s seriously angry at you for something.’ Laurie could only nod. The only thing coursing through her veins right now apart from the pain was adrenaline. If she stood there for one more moment under his deadly furious glare, she’d probably go crazy with fear. Without even thinking or with any idea where she was going, she turned and began to run as fast as she could. Lynda called desperately after her, but she didn’t stop. Andy blew a safety whistle to call her back, she didn’t stop. Her husband was indeed angry at her, and she had to get out of there, before her own funeral had to be arranged. Despite everything Dr Loomis had assured her of when she’d married Michael, she right then didn’t feel safe at all. She was as much pray to him as anyone was right now, and that thought terrified her beyond imagination. All she could do was run, keep running and not look back. Running from her husband’s murderous rage, which right now was directed at every single one of them but mostly at her. That look in his eyes… she had never felt so scared in her life.
Yeah, sneered a voice in her head. Outrun Michael Myers, good job babe, because you know that’ll work! She knew the voice was right. Michael could and would stalk her for hours, if necessary, the same way he’d just stalked and slaughtered the man who’d threatened to rape her just hours before. But even so she didn’t stop, couldn’t stop. Not even in her worst nightmares had she ever envisioned a scenario where she was running for her life from Michael Myers, her own husband but right now here she was and as much as she hated it, she knew the chase would be on. Sooner or later, Michael would be in pursuit and when that happened, she didn’t even think the fact she was his wife would save her. Michael was angry, killing and dangerous. She knew that if her husband wanted to kill her, she didn’t stand a chance. All she was doing now by running was delaying the inevitable, but her fight or flight instinct had kicked in and right now, it was flight. How? How is this happening? I’m running from my own husband’s rage, praying he doesn’t kill me and knowing he could and will catch me all too easily! Not just that, where exactly are you planning on going Myers? Home? Ha! It doesn’t matter where you go, he’ll catch you, you’re already caught! Laurie couldn’t help it. As she continued running, she finally succumbed to the tears which had been threatening since this whole thing began. She was alone, hurt and terrified, and her husband, the man who was supposed to keep her safe was right now on her trail as a potentially deadly enemy. Laurie was thankful she didn’t have one of the guns at that moment, suicide would’ve been such a tempting option to get away from the fear, terror and yes, longing to be held in the arms of the dangerous, silent masked killer who she knew would soon be in her pursuit.
…
For a few seconds there was silence, apart from Andy, Lynda and Flask’s fast breathing. Michaels by contrast of course was totally steady, calm.
“You!” Andy snapped at Flask. “Sugar Bowl, Teapot, Cups, Milk Jug or whatever the fuck your stupid name is! You’ve got one chance to help us! You haven’t threatened or attacked any of us and from what Laurie told us, you didn’t threaten or attack her and Tom either That’s probably why you’re still alive right now unlike your… unfortunate colleagues. So, listen up! You’re going to help us, or we won’t stop a damn thing from happening to you!”
Flask swallowed audibly. “How? What can I do?”
“There’s a young woman bleeding and badly hurt somewhere down here, you’re going to help me find her.” Andy very slowly turned to face Michael. “Mr Myers,” he took a steadying breath. “I… I don’t know what’s happened between you and Laurie tonight, but… that’s still your wife down here! I will go with this guy and find her, if…” he swallowed. “If you can’t. If… this thing is preventing you or you’re too angry, leave it with us.”
“I’d shut up while you’re alive,” Flask warned. Andy looked up and saw Michael was glaring directly at him, deadly fury in his eyes through his mask. “Yeah ok,” Andy raised his hands and stepped back. “Just an offer.” Myers’ eyes were fixed on Flask and Andy shivered. It was clear he didn’t trust him anymore than Andy did and whatever had made Michael so angry also meant he wouldn’t hesitate to strike if necessary. Flask seemed to have realised this very thing too because he nodded to the killer.
“Did you see which way she went?” Andy asked him bluntly.
“No,” Flask shook his head, and Andy saw he was shaking. He couldn’t blame him either, he was terrified too. “I… I wasn’t watching.”
Andy smiled but without humour. “Hardly surprising when your colleagues have their throat slit and abdomen slashed open.”
Flask gave him a sickened look. “Precisely.”
The two men walked back to the tractor and its now righted train. Andy glanced over his shoulder and saw Myers following them still in absolutely no hurry. Without meaning to, he caught Flasks’ eye and knew they were both thinking the same thing. This guy is fucking terrifying!
“Ok,” Andy said, taking charge. “We take the tractor and look for her.” He was just about to get into the tractor when this time it was, he who was grabbed by the shoulders and spun to face Myers. Flask looked as if he’d like nothing better than to get the hell out of there and again Andy couldn’t blame him. He looked up into the masked killer’s ice-cold gaze. I’m friends with his wife, he thought, this going round and round his head like a mantra. I’m friends with his wife, so I’m safe, I’m safe… right?
“M… Mr. Myers,” Andy’s voice shook, and he made no attempt whatsoever to hide it, it was far too late for that. The killer’s cold gaze didn’t leave Andy’s face even as his breathing remained calm. Then to Andy’s shock, the killer raised a message to his eye level, consisting of five words.
You agreed to do this.
“Huh?” Andy stared back at Myers, trying not to quake under that deadly glare. “She made the decision Mr. Myers, it wasn’t my call to stop her. You know Laurie,” despite the situation he was in, Andy Markaz smiled affectionately. “She doesn’t let anyone stop her!” The killer’s glare didn’t soften, but Andy this time held the other man’s gaze. He knew he had to, for Laurie’s sake as much as his own.
Perhaps I should rephrase. You were with her when she asked to go. I blame you; I blame Townsend, but above all I blame her!
“Yeah, but it’s not our call to stop her Sir, if she wants to go. None of us had any idea she’d be in… this much danger. Also, no disrespect, but Laurie’s your wife not mine. If you wanted her to come home so damn badly, where the fuck were you?” WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? BACK CHAT TO Michael Myers? FUNERAL COSTS NOT INCLUDED! “Don’t put this one on me or Tom. It’s neither of our faults. Have you any idea how annoyed Laurie would be if she heard you talking like that?”
Michael raised an ice-cold eyebrow and Andy thought he might be about to have a heart attack, as this time it was his neck Myers knife rested against.
…
Laurie had no idea where she was, as she crouched in a pitch-black tunnel. She was starting to feel slightly dizzy and could only hope some kind of help would arrive soon, even if it was her death. How much blood had she lost? Her shoulder too felt as though someone was taking a hammer to it every five seconds and running was becoming increasingly more difficult. She was just thankful she’d had the foresight to grab Tom’s bag from the train. Opening it know she took out one of the bottles of water and took a carefully controlled sip. Drinking it too fast could prove a very bad idea.
Leaning against the wall in her sitting position, she couldn’t stop her thoughts going back to Michael. What on earth would happen between them now? Could they ever resolve this, get past whatever had made him so angry at her? Not that she had to think too hard about what that might be, she’d put herself in danger not once but twice, and perhaps this was the only way Michael knew to deal with his worry, by killing people. She smiled humourlessly. At least he’d only killed the ones responsible for hers and Tom’s danger, so far… Reaching into the bag again, she pulled out the clean cloth which Tom hadn’t used on the gravestone and used it as a bandage, winding it tightly around her bleeding cheek. She couldn’t run any further for now, she needed a brief rest. It wasn’t as if a killer was catching up with her.
Yet.
…
Andy’s whole body went weak, and he slumped to the ground. Myers grabbed his jacket and yanked him back to his feet, the knife steady against his neck. Andy looked up into the killer’s eyes and felt certain he was in a nightmare; he had to be. Right? But he knew he wasn’t and didn’t dare close his eyes even for a second to check. “I’m serious,” somehow, he found his voice. “She absolutely bit Tom’s head off when he dared to suggest you would be angry if she didn’t get home safely on his watch. Called it damn right sexist. Said she was your wife, not your possession,” he couldn’t help smiling again even given his current situation as he remembered Laurie’s indignation. “Believe me Mr. Myers, your wife is no pushover.”
But you still agreed to this and didn’t even try to persuade her otherwise. That last was kind of obvious, wouldn’t you say?
“Perhaps, but right now she’s running from you, terrified and she’s hurt! Are we going to stand here talking, or are we looking?”
“Mr. Myers,” Flask piped up. “If you want to blame anyone Sir, blame me. I’m part of the gang who endangered her and Mr. Townsend, it’s not… it’s not Andy’s fault it’s ours.” Andy stared at the other man, feeling a grudging respect. Carton or whatever the fuck his name was had balls, that much was clear. The killer’s cold gaze turned on him, but the other man stood his ground.
I will deal with you later.
Flask took a deep breath and nodded. “That’s fair Sir.”
Myers looked back at Andy, the knife still against his neck. Their eyes locked. “Listen Mr. Myers,” this time Andy didn’t cower back. “I love Laurie to pieces, she’s one of my best friends. I would never, ever willingly put her in danger and I’ll tell you something else, she fucking adores you! She’d do anything for you, anything in the world! I know that just from the times she’s spoken about you! Even tonight she was on your side! Even when Katie totally flipped out and told her she was no friend of hers, she made it very clear where her loyalties are and they’re with you! You’re her husband, she fucking loves you! No offence, but if I was your wife and you looked at me the way you just looked at Laurie, I’d be fucking running too!”
He could’ve sworn even Flask nodded. After a second Andy dared to look over at him, Myers knife still unmoving from his neck. “Go and look, please,” he pleaded now. “Take the tractor and look, keep calling if you must. Please man, get her back here.” Again, Andy’s and Flask’s eyes locked and they seemed to understand each other. Do that and it might just save your life. As far as Andy was concerned, he wasn’t going anywhere while being held at lethal knife point. “Listen Mr. Myers,” his voice was now gentle as he touched Myers’ arm. “You know Laurie, she’s a strong willed and stubborn woman! You know as well as we do that if we hadn’t gone with her, she’d have just gone alone.”
Andy, Flask and Lynda, all heard it when Michael sighed softly and slowly, his knife left Andy’s neck. Andy stood his ground though and didn’t cower away as he was sure many would’ve done.
Lynda finally spoke up, perhaps because the imminent danger to her boyfriend’s life had passed for now. “She was really upset when you walked away from the ambulance, and I wondered if she was doing it to… I don’t know, show you that she could fight back.”
They were certain they heard Michael sigh again, before the knife finally slipped into his belt. When Andy looked back into his face, his gaze was still blank, emotionless, but a lot of the anger had left it. “Good work,” Lynda mouthed to him. Andy shook his head. He wasn’t trying to be a hero, he didn’t hate Michael Myers and wanted to respect him as Laurie’s husband. Flask took another step towards the tractor. “I’ll get moving,” he said quietly.
…
A few minutes later, Laurie struggled to her feet. What the damn hell are you doing? You’re not some fucking damsel in distress waiting for your handsome prince or your pumpkin coach! Get moving! Running from Michael isn’t going to fix a damn thing, if you want to be with him so bad then go to him damn it! Of course he’s angry, you’ve done some damn reckless and maybe even stupid stuff tonight!
She knew her internal voice was right, so tightening the bandage further around her face, she started slowly walking, wincing as agony shot through her clearly dislocated shoulder. She just hoped dislocated was all it was, not broken. Christ, I hope I can find them again, I wasn’t thinking about where I was going, I just ran in panic! Soon however she found the pain in her shoulder was so bad, she had to crawl. Her left arm hung uselessly at her side, good for nothing except swinging which it did whether she wanted it to or not, and fuck it hurt! Please any God out there let me find them soon, because I can’t do this much longer! She kept crawling.
…
“Look!” Lynda’s exclamation made Andy and Flask look up. Slowly as if in unbearable pain, Laurie was crawling up the tunnel towards them. Her face was bandaged with a cloth, and she was carrying Tom’s bag over her good shoulder. Blood was staining the cloth, and she clearly hadn’t seen them, because she was weakly blowing a safety whistle for help. The sight and sound tugged at Andy’s heart, Lynda’s too judging by her expression. They saw Laurie see her husband and her face turn pale with fear. But before any of the other three could move, Michael had and had lifted Laurie up into his arms. She blinked for a second, dazed, then her eyes slowly rested on his masked face. She opened her mouth but seemed unable to speak, or unsure what to say. Andy didn’t blame her.
“Flask,” he said, this time using the man’s given name, he’d earned his albeit grudging respect. “Bring the tractor and train over here, can you?” Flask nodded and jogged over to it, climbing onto the tractor and driving it back to them. While he did that, Michael gently removed the safety whistle from Laurie’s mouth and the cloth from her face to look at her cheek wound.
“Doesn’t look like the bullet entered,” Andy said, also looking closely. “Shit you were lucky!”
“Fucking, feels, like it did,” Laurie said through gritted teeth. “Jesus, it is fucking hurts!”
That was when Michael tightened his arms further around her, so her head was against his shoulder, before leaning in and taking her lips in a soft, gentle kiss. Lynda blinked back tears; Andy smiled. Flask returned with the tractor and immediately Michael lifted his wife into the train and sat at her side, still holding her tightly. Andy and Lynda took the seats behind them, not caring they had blood on them, it was their friend’s blood, and he hadn’t deserved any of this.
“Go Flask,” Andy nodded, as he and Lynda belted themselves in, watching affectionately as Michael did Laurie’s belt before his own. Flask nodded and pushed the throttle lever forward, once more driving them back towards the light and the exit.
…
“I knew I should’ve adopted you as my daughter after you called me mom,” Laurie looked up at the sound of the voice and smiled faintly. It was Tracey, the paramedic who’d treated her just hours before. “What have you been up to now?”
This time, Michael carried her into the ambulance, Lynda at her other side and laid her on the bed himself. Laurie couldn’t help looking desperately at him, terrified he would walk away again. But he just knelt beside the small bed and Lynda blinked back tears as he breathed, “shh,” before taking her hand in his.
Tracey saw Laurie’s wedding ring. “You have a good husband, you’re lucky,” she smiled at Laurie. Mine is amazing.”
“As is mine,” Lynda smiled back.
“Right then you,” Tracey turned to Laurie fully and looked at her shoulder. “What happened here?”
“I…” Laurie hissed with pain as she spoke. “I got hit with… a crowbar.” A short way away, Andy and Flask were in conversation with two uniformed police officers. “This,” Laurie gestured at her cheek, “was a very near miss from a bullet.”
Tracey tutted sympathetically, then slipped a biting tool into Laurie’s mouth. “Just can’t stay out of trouble, can you? This is going to hurt sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t?” Laurie begged. “I can’t…”
“If I don’t hon,” Tracey took her other hand. “It’ll only get worse and may quite possibly break. Right now, it appears to be only dislocated, and if I do this now it’ll heal a lot smoother, trust me?”
“Do I… have a choice?” Laurie said through gritted teeth and winced. Lynda came up on her other side and laid a hand on the top of her head.
“Bite down on the tool,” Tracey instructed, sounding more like a mother than ever. “This is going to hurt.”
She wasn’t wrong. As she set about resetting Laurie’s shoulder, Laurie screamed in pain against the biting tool and felt Michael squeeze her hand. She squeezed his as hard as she could, but of course he didn’t even flinch.
“FUCK!” Laurie howled as with a loud ‘CLICK!’ Her shoulder popped back in. “Jesus Christ!”
“There we go,” Tracey smiled. “All done. Now just take a minute.”
Laurie was gasping for breath, as Lynda lovingly stroked her sweat soaked hair off her face. “You’re braver than I am,” she smiled at her best friend. “I’d have fallen off that bed I think!”
“Fuck that hurt,” Laurie was deathly pale. “Anyone got any water?”
“Right here sweetheart,” Tracey said as Lynda held an ice-cold bottle of it to her lips. Laurie took several sips then slumped back, regaining some but not all her colour.
“Better?” Tracey and Lynda said together.
“Kind of,” Laurie muttered. Now the adrenaline was finally fading she was beginning to feel exceptionally sleepy. "Can I please just go home? I don"t want to go to hospital again.”
“I can understand that” Tracey nodded. “Let me just have a quick look at your cheek and then I think you should be fine to go home.”
“Andy can drive us,” Lynda nodded, gesturing towards Andy’s car. As she looked back at Laurie and their eyes met, both girls knew immediately they were thinking the same thing. What on earth are Andy and Flask telling the cops? It’ll have to be good…
…
“So, you’re telling us that two of your colleagues turned on each other?”
Flask nodded. “All got a bit… ugly. They threatened the guy who owns this and many other horror attractions, he was down here tonight, and they assaulted him with a crowbar.”
“So, you were obviously with them to know this? You were watching them too?”
Flask took a deep breath and nodded. Andy felt another rush of respect for him. “He didn’t touch them though,” Andy clarified. “It was only the other two who did. One’s down with a slit throat and the other…” he looked away.
“They both had knives,” Flask said. “My second colleague who’s known as ‘Box’,” he saw the officers exchange looks. “Had his throat cut by the other, known as ‘Jars.’ Jars cut Box’s throat first and as Box fell, he slashed Jars with his knife and cut his stomach open as he died. I have the knives here.” Flask opened his bag and showed the officers two huge knives which were covered in blood. Hopefully they wouldn’t find out the blood was in fact Townsend’s before they could prove their story. “They also had guns,” he continued. “My friend here gave them to you.” He nodded at Andy who’d done just that, knowing full well the cops wouldn’t find his DNA on either of the triggers just the handgrips. Andy had been very careful not to touch the triggers for precisely this reason.
“We’ll have to get a team down there soon as,” one cop said to the other who nodded. “You know you’ll quite possibly be charged as an accessory to attempted or even murder, Mr. Townsend could die from his injuries, and you were there,” Andy felt his heart contract with fear at these words. Townsend couldn’t die, he just couldn’t. “Even if as, you say as do you,” he shot a glance at Andy. “That you didn’t touch him?”
Flask nodded. “I understand, I’ll come in voluntarily, no need to arrest me.”
“Fine,” the cop nodded and gestured towards their squad car. Without a word, Flask walked over and got into the back. Andy stared after him. Is he genuinely sorry, or is he just doing this to save his own life after coming face to face with Michael Myers? Not that I could blame him either way mind! If he is truly sorry, then fair fucking play to you man! “Can I go,” he asked the other cop after a moment. “Please? I’m so tired and I want to get these guys back home and get to bed.”
Slowly, the cop nodded. “Yes, but we will be in touch later today for more details and information. The hospital said they would keep you updated on Mr. Townsend’s progress?” Andy nodded. “Ok, then yes, go home. It would appear you; Miss Van Der Klok and Miss Strode were all very brave down there this evening.”
Andy shrugged. Or stupid. “Thanks officer.” Without another word, he started to walk away.
…
An hour later, Andy dropped Laurie and Michael off outside her house and both he and Lynda hugged her tightly. “Speak later babe, ok?” She nodded; grateful both had been mindful of her shoulder injury. “Night babe I love you,” Lynda murmured in Laurie’s ear. “I’ll call later if you don’t first.”
As Andy and Lynda drove off, Laurie opened their front door and she and Michael entered. As she flicked on the light, she saw Michael was once again looking at her and despite his loving treatment towards her in the ambulance the second time, he was now glaring at her once more. This time though, she could see something within his look other than pure anger. Emotion. she still took an involuntary step backwards; Michael was terrifying when he looked at her that way. This time though she wasn’t running anywhere, she would let him say whatever he needed to. Unsure if her shaking legs would support her weight for much longer, she sank onto the sofa just as Michael raised his notebook and showed Laurie the four words everyone dreads. Blunt, without preamble.
We need to talk.