1 November 1989 1:33 a.m. Haddonfield, Illinois.
The little girl shivers as she looks at the mangled burning bars, the brave Sheriff Meeker who tried so hard to save her, lifeless at her feet. She begins to run knowing He will be after her now. She makes it outside sneaking around the side, scanning through tear-filled eyes for the Shape. She stops as she sees his mask, but this is wrong, he is flanked by two men in black hoods while a third man with a gun motions towards the van. "Take him; I'll be along with the girl shortly." He racks the bolt on the gun. The little girl backs up until she hits something solid before she can scream a hand comes to her mouth.
Jamie shoots forward out of her seat as the flight attendant rears back. "Sorry miss; I just wanted you to know we'll be reaching O'Hare shortly." That's right she's on a plane. It's been nearly 8 years since that night. The night Michael Myers and Jamie Lloyd disappeared. The night they both escaped. And now here she was foolishly going back. "Why? Why would you do that?" The voice echoes in her head as she stares out the window.
17 October 1996
"Why now?" The young Englishwoman puts her drink down as she stares at the even younger girl. Jamie turns her fork around over her salad.
"He's calling out to me. I could see him in the dark coming for me. I checked the signs, they are there. This Halloween he will awake."
"And? Let him stay in the States. They haven't found you in 7 years; you are too far from his reach. He has been active before, those men in black have let him kill. Why now, Jamie?"
Jamie shifts in her seat. "It feels different. I can't explain it, Tiffany. I-I just feel like I have to try to end it. I'm 16. My mother was 17 when he came for her; me being in London won't matter. Why have I been spending all this time studying with you if not to fight back?"
"Defending yourself is one thing, Jamie. That is what we have been learning, defense. Not to hunt monsters." Tiffany pleads her clear blue eyes relaying the gravitas of the situation.
"Tiffany, I…" She turns from her gaze to try and steel herself. "Tiffany, it is different for me and you know it. He will come for me and I'm tired of living in fear of him. It's not like that box. I was born in to this and it will follow me forever. I have to try and end it." She looks down as the tears fall from her eyes.
Tiffany looks down too. "And just how did you intend to hide this from Dr. Stevens."
Jamie looks up giving her a watery smile. "I have no idea. As soon as I'm gone I am sure she will try to reach Dr. Loomis. It's funny, I haven't heard from him in all these years."
Tiffany takes a drink from her cup, "I have the money and if it's not enough I can borrow some from Kirsty. Getting you there is easy but…along with Dr. Stevens having me arrested for kidnapping you…what am I going to do if you die because I helped you?"
Tiffany Alsop, the only person she's ever known who she could say was a kindred spirit. She grabs her hand, "He won't kill me. I'm ready for him."
28 October 1996
As she's queued up in customs she wonders just how long it will be before Lucy calls the police on Tiffany. Halloween just had to be on a Thursday. She steps up to the window and lays her passport down.
"Danielle Richards. England, huh. What brings you to Chicago?" The officer questions.
"Family reunion." She adds in her best imitation of her guardian Lucy Stevens. His stamp thunders.
After getting her notes exchanged in to dollars she hops on the bus for Haddonfield, her eyes fluttering as jet lag takes effect. She wraps her jacket around herself.
8 year old Jamie struggles against the hand as a voice whispers in her ear, "Shh! Quiet, they'll hear. I'm not going to hurt you, I knew your mother." She quiets down but still struggles albeit a bit weaker as the Man in Black looks around. The headlights of the van come on. "Oh shit. Who the hell are they?" They duck down as the van turns around to leave. "We have to hurry. My name is Tommy Doyle, your mother use to be my babysitter." The Man in Black turns towards the station as Tommy leads her to his jeep.
He drives off looking in to his rearview to make sure they are not followed. "What the hell happened back there?" He looks over to Jamie; she has her arms wrapped around herself sobbing quietly. He hesitates not knowing what to do. "We have to find someplace to hide. I wish I knew where Dr. Loomis was."
"He's at the Hospital, they took him there." She wipes her eyes.
"The Hospital? We'll that's as good a place as any." He turns sharply.
Samuel Loomis groggily looks around him as he hears a knock. "Dr. Loomis, your nurse Ms. Chambers is here." The nurse leads in a dark haired woman in to the room. Then leaves them. "I haven't worked for you in almost 6 years. I don't know why I keep answering the phone." She sighs as she sits by his bed.
"Good to see you Marion. Perhaps you can get them to let me go to the station." He tries to sit up but she simply pushes him back down. "You just had a stroke, Sam. You are no use to anyone now. You've won; rest on your laurels, at least for tonight."
The red jeep pulls in to the Hospital parking lot. "Ok…we just need to get in there now." He looks down at her seeing the treated wounds and blood covered princess outfit effectively for the first time. "Ok." He removes his black trench coat. "Here put this on, it'll cover up the blood." They get out of the car going towards the front door. He grabs her hand leading her inside trying to keep his head down and not call attention to himself. He goes up to the desk, "Excuse me, I'm looking for the room of Sam Loomis." The nurse, a bored Asian woman, looks up, "I'm sorry but visiting hours are over." Jamie hides her face in his side. "Besides we are under strict orders that no one is to see Samuel Loomis."
"I understand that but it is important I speak to him, please!" He raises his voice.
"Sir, am I going to have to call security?" Jamie looks up, just as Marion walks behind them.
"There you are Robert, I was afraid you did not get my message. Its ok he's with me, Dr. Loomis is his Godfather. I won't let them stay long." The nurse looks to argue but decides it's not worth it and waves them off. She grabs him by the shoulders leading him off, "Who are you and why is she here and not at the station?"
They step in to the room as Loomis' eyes widen, "No, why are you here?' Jamie stays by Tommy hiding in him. "Dr. Loomis do you remember me? My name is Tommy, Tommy Doyle. Laure Strode was my babysitter that night." Loomis searches his eyes for a moment then gasps trying to sit up, Marion rushes to his side, "My God Tommy, why are you here with Jamie?" "I'm sorry Doctor, I had to see him. So I came back to town and went looking. I followed the police back to the station. But when I got there…someone else had gotten there first. They were all dead and the cell had been ripped open."
"My God, he escaped."
Tommy steps forward, "He had help Doctor. When I found Jamie she was watching these men in black lead him in to a van. The lead guy had this big machine gun in his hand. He said he was going to get Jamie so I-I took her and she said you were here so."
"Why? Who would do this?" Loomis looks to the celling for answers as his hand clutches his bed sheets and Marion looks to the ground trying to come to grips.
"Whoever these guys are they took out an entire police station like it was nothing. I don't…think we're safe here." Jamie whimpers and Tommy rubs her shoulder.
"Lucy." Loomis whispers quietly, "Lucy." He says louder as they look to him, "That's it we need to hide her where they'll never find her. I need paper!" Marion reaches for her purse pulling out a notepad and pen. He begins scribbling then rips it off handing it to Marion. "I never told you I had a daughter did I?" Marion's eyes squint. "First thing's first, Tommy take Jamie somewhere safe and hide her."
Marion turns to face him, "Do you know where Langdon is?" Tommy nods. "There is a hotel there," she begins writing directions then teas it off handing him the note. "Check in under the name Robert Rosenthal. I will contact you there."
Tommy nods, he looks down at Jamie and smiles, "Alright kid, let's go for a ride." He leads her out as Marion sits down staring at the paper, "So much for the police doing their job." She reaches for her cigarettes but stops herself having some professionalism.
"We can't let anyone know where she is. Whoever these men in black were, they have to be quiet. They already killed so many to get to her."
Tommy leads Jamie out but stops suddenly when two obviously cops walk towards them. They duck towards a vending machine as they walk by. "Let's go." He leads her out faster.
There is a knock at the door; Marion pockets the note as two suited men step in. "Dr. Loomis, my name is Special Agent Magdoff this is Special Agent Foster, we need to ask you a few questions about what happened tonight."
Tommy helps her in before getting in himself. They turn off for the road out of town. "That was a close one." Tommy looks to her then back to the road. "Are you hungry? I got some Burger King left, maybe a bit cold. If you want we can stop at a gas station." She just stares out the window. Tommy breaths in, "Sorry, I know I'm not helping much. I'm doing the same thing they did when I was your age. It didn't help then either." She slowly turns her eyes towards him, he's staring straight ahead. "Like I said before, your mom was my babysitter when I was your age. She was watching us that night. The Bogeyman. Of course he wasn't after Lindsey or me so it's not entirely the same." He laughs humorlessly. "Either way your mom protected us, the least I can do is protect you. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
Tommy opens his eyes, groggily raising his head from his desk. He yawns wide looking at his work. 3 more days until Halloween. He needs to be ready. He gets up checking the window to the Myers house. It's still midday everyone but Mrs. Strode is out. He stumbles over to the fridge, about empty, should probably go to the store. Almost 8 years since Myers had been seen but he knew it wouldn't last long. The constellation of the Thorn is near. He grabs his keys and heads out the door. He will be ready.
Jamie adjusts the too big coat as she heads in to the depot to wait for the changeover as the intercom informs them the bus to Haddonfield would be late. She goes in the bathroom to freshen up smiling in the mirror as still not convinced the short red hair Tiffany convinced her to get was a suitable disguise. Although it did remind her of her mother. She touches her hair as the metal of her watch glints in the light.
Jamie sits on the bed slightly turning the bracelet on her wrist, the light glinting off the surface. Tommy stops fiddling with the TV finding an old scifi movie and looks back to her. "That's a pretty bracelet." She looks up to him as he comes over, his eyes focus, "Billy…Hill?" He grins, "Is that your boyfriend?" She looks down sadden. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you."
"My Uncle went after him-they said he was still alive but…" She starts to tear up.
"I'm sure he'll be fine. We just have to stay hidden until that lady contacts us. We're pretty far from Haddonfield I'm sure we'll be ok." Although now Tommy realized they should have got her some clothes. But it was alright they didn't sleep for the rest of the night anyways.
About 10 the next morning Marion Chambers arrived at the hotel. She did bring clothes with her. She told them that the F.B.I. had come to speak to Loomis but he had convinced them he did not know where Jamie was. "I contacted Sam's daughter Lucy. It turns out she is a psychologist too. But it was kind of difficult to explain what was happening I only told her that he would phone in a few days with a matter of great importance. I was told it would be another two days before he will be released." Tommy looks down and nods. "Tommy, wouldn't your family be wondering where you are?"
"Nothing to do about that now. I'll call them later tell them I just had to get further from Haddonfield." He looks back at the bathroom where Jamie was. "I think she trusts me now, I'm not going to push her on someone else, it's the last thing she needs." Marion takes a drag from her cigarette. "If she does agree to take her, how are we supposed to get her out of the country?"
"Sam says he knows some people. He was in the War with them he says, a group of private investigators or something. He said they would help him get a hold of false papers." Marion takes another drag as the water stops.
"How long do you think that will take? I really don't think we're far enough from Haddonfield especially if Michael has help." He glances at the window as a shadow goes past.
"That is a bit hard to bel-" The door opens as Jamie, hair a tangled mess, emerges and meekly walks towards the grownups.
"Hey Jamie, you feel a bit better now?" Tommy asks, she nods, her hands wringing her hair.
"She certainly needs a brush or more likely she should probably have her hair cut. Her hair so long like that is quite noticeable." Marion reaches out and touches her hair.
Jamie wipes the water off her face. A hand reaches down on her shoulder, she jumps turning back. "Shit." This blonde woman jumps back. "I'm so sorry; I just wanted to ask you if you knew the time? My watch seems to have stopped." Jamie steadies her breathing and smiles. "I'm sorry I was zoning out." She looks at her watch, "1:37." "Oh good, I didn't miss the bus to Haddonfield." Jamie's eyes slightly contract. "You're going to Haddonfield?" The woman smiles, "Yes, my sister is having a baby soon. Are you heading there?" She nods. "We're on the same bus then we'd better hurry or we'll miss it." Jamie grabs her backpack walking up the stairs with her.
"Bus 43 for Smith's Grove, Haddonfield and Pontiac, now boarding." The scratchy intercom rings out. "We're just in time." The woman smiles again as they walk for the bus. Suddenly Jamie feels like time is slowing the closer she gets to the door. "-family for the holiday?" Jamie blinks, "I'm sorry." "I said are you visiting family for Halloween?" "Yes, sorry I've been traveling for a few hours I'm really out of it. I'm going to see my uncle." The woman hands her ticket to the driver as does Jamie. "I see. Well Haddonfield certainly is the creepiest place on Halloween, with all that history." She climbs on board. "So I've heard."
Jamie looks in to her reflection in the window as the waitress places their order on the table. "Do you not like it?" She looks to him and back to the window, "It makes me look like a boy." He chuckles. "We'll that's not such a bad thing is it? Considering." She takes a drink of her milk shake. Tommy looks out the window at this car parked across the street; they are slightly hidden behind some bushes. Maybe they should have stayed in the hotel. He looks down to notice Jamie staring at the car too. "You know, I was thinking, maybe we should think of a new name for you." Jamie turns her attention to him, "Well there going to give you one anyways so we can at least try to come up with some ideas." He looks around the diner, rather sparse, no one was paying attention. "It can't be too obvious, though. Hmm." He takes a bit from his burger as he ponders it over. "How about-".
"Danielle." The woman, Mary, shakes her hand. "Sorry I don't mean to be a bother it's just…you seem so young to be traveling on your own." Jamie smiles, "I get that a lot. It's annoying to be in High School and everyone thinks your 13." They both laugh. "I haven't been to Haddonfield in years. I wonder if it has changed." "Oh I doubt they have, you know what they say, the more things change the more they stay the same."
Tommy parks his red jeep on the street across from Vincent's drug. One of these days he should stop at a proper grocery store, but the extra price you pay on food is worth not having to deal with normal people. Tommy is fully aware of how weird he is, there's just not a lot to be done about it for now. He picks up a quart of milk. Turning he sees the costume aisle. After the "explosion" at the police station there was an unwritten ban on Halloween for the preceding 5 years before any real opposition to it began. Now the kids at the college are organizing this festival to try to bury the specter of Michael Myers once and for all. They even got that loud mouth radio host to broadcast from the event. He was sure Michael wouldn't like that.
Jamie looks out the window as the bus stops in Smith's Grove. Looking at the steel fences and the towering concrete structure she couldn't help but shrink back. There he was, for 15 years waiting, for her mother to reach the right age. Her eyes start to well up. Mary notices, "Are you alright Danielle?" She forces herself to look at the woman, "Yes just tired." "We'll be in Haddonfield shortly. You go ahead and rest your eyes, I'll wake you." Jamie looks back at the structure and can't help but feel like its calling to her. She doesn't dare sleep now.
Through the concrete halls and bars, in to the lowest depths lies a complete empty room with nothing but a cot. In the darkness lies the shape of a man reaching for his mask.
Well…let's face it any way that Jamie Lloyd would be saved from being captured at the end of V would be a Deus ex Machina. It's really unavoidable. Well I could have had a dying Meeker tell her to run but I wanted her to see them putting Michael in to the van. For them to know that there was a bigger conspiracy at play. So the choice of Tommy Doyle was admittedly to give them a connection to each other and considering how the level of his obsession was portrayed in VI it's not unlikely an 18 year old Tommy Doyle would go looking for Michael that night. Also for the bigger project that this is a component of I had to come up with a timeline which included the birth of major and minor characters. I pushed back the events of VI to 1996 instead of 1995. Mostly cause it was easier for me to believe a 16 year old faking 18 than a 15 year old especially for travelling purposes. As for the name of Jamie alias obviously the first name is for her actress but the second name comes from Curtis Richards who novelized the first film…probably I don't remember entirely. Rosenthal the director of II…and Reserection…
