Here it is! Part 1 of my original sequel to Halloween by Alex Barndollar. Whereas the first one was more about the kills, this one takes more time to focus on the characters and the state they've been left in. Hope you enjoy! Rated M for brutal bloody violence, sexual content, excessive language, and disturbing images.
Halloween II: Sibling Rivalry
Started: Saturday, February 16, 2009
Finished:
Part 1: The Downfall
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Haddonfield Memorial Hospital
1:02 AM
Haddonfield, Illinois
The girl was lying face down as the police cars pulled into the parking lot. The rain had extinguished the trees, but the Hospital was still in flames. The rain poured down on the flaming roof, steam rising in a hiss. The squad cars flashed their searchlights across the parking lot. Sheriff Meeker's landed on the girl, her clothes a snowfall splattered with blood. The Sheriff got out of the car and ran forward. "Oh my God. Honey, can you hear me?" He reached a hand down to shake her awake. She immediately snapped awake and jumped. The girl backed away, screaming. "Get away from me!" The flashlights were so bright that she could only make out the outlines of her rescuers. She scrambled to her feet and started to limp away. The Sheriff ran after her. "Wait! Please! I'm Sheriff Meeker! We're here to help you!" She tripped and sprawled facedown again. The man grabbed her wrist and held her back as she attempted to flee again. She bit his hand, screaming. "Please! Somebody help!" The Sheriff lightly slapped her face. She fell silent. "Where…?" She stared around in confusion, coming out of her daze. Her eyes rolled up in her head and she slumped over. He caught her and held her tight. He turned to his officers. "Get me a blanket!" They bustled her up in a blanket and carried her to a police car. Meeker climbed into the passenger's seat and his deputy started the car. Meeker turned to the remaining officers. "The fire department's been notified. Just get in your cars and lock the doors. Myers is still out there." He pulled out of the parking lot. He turned to the girl in the back seat and was instantly reminded of Chrissie. Her blonde hair was draped over her face, water streaming down onto the seat next to her. He broke down and cried. The deputy patted him on the shoulder. "Let it out, Leigh. They'll catch him. Don't worry."
He started up the street, staring around at the quiet houses. All were dark. Then he spotted the one he was looking for. The front door to the house swung open quietly. The lights were off, and singing could be heard from upstairs. He started down the front hall and could see the kitchen at the end of it. Floorboards creaked under his footsteps. He headed through the kitchen and examined the room before crossing to a set of drawers. Pulling them open, he finally found the knives and extracted the largest one he could find. Gripping it in his hand, it made up for the one he'd lost at the hands of his sister. He reflected silently on Alex. No, she wasn't Alex anymore. He had heard people call her "Laurie". She had been so little the last time he'd seen her. She had learned to fight back. Walking slowly back through the hall, he reached the entrance and climbed the steps quietly. As he emerged onto the landing, he caught sight of his bloody white mask in the reflection of a mirror. Turning his head slowly, he stared down the small landing at the door cracked open. Steam poured forth from the door. Walking slowly, he silently pushed the door open. The steamy bathroom air swept forth, momentarily stopping him. He turned to the shower and could see the figure through the plastic shower curtain. Gripping his knife, he stabbed it through the plastic. It ripped, slicing into the poor girl in the shower. Her blood splattered all over the tiles. She screamed as he slashed again and again. Eventually, she fell to the ground, her naked body hacked up. Turning, he headed towards the door. That was when she spoke. "Michael! What are you doing in here?!" He turned. Judith's head was staring up at him, eyes furious. He turned to her. She continued her tirade. "Don't you dare tell Mom and Dad that I let you watch Psycho! They'd kill me! Oh, wait. You just did!" She stood up, her body bloody and mangled. She turned the showerhead towards him. "Maybe you need a bath!" The water sprayed out of the faucet, a force so strong that it knocked him back into the hall. The hall instantly started filling with water. It seeped from under doors, windows, everything. Judith staggered out the door, holding the nozzle like a gun. "Have fun, little brother." He was knocked over the banister by the force of the hose, landing with a thud on the stairs.
Michael jolted awake, coughing water from under his mask. His breathing was raspy and bloody. Taking his mask off, he coughed the water up. Looking down, his body was bloody and wet. He was on the riverbank. Dragging himself up the bank, he collapsed onto a patch of wet grass. The storm had stopped. Laurie's face appeared in his mind. He'd get her. He had to rest for a while, though. He continued his crawl into a tangle of bushes, shielding him from view. The bad people would be looking for him now. Sliding his mask under his shirt, he pulled a large clump of leaves over his body, virtually hiding himself from view. He needed rest.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
8: 30 AM
Russellville Emergency
Russellville, Illinois
Laurie lay in bed, her eyes shut tight from the medication and the night's events. The doctor walked from the room to the waiting room. The Strodes crossed to him hurriedly. Marianne Strode was short with red hair. Her husband, Daniel, was tall with brown hair. Their daughter, Kara, was Laurie's age. She was tall, with her mother's red hair. They all had looks of worry on their faces. Kara beat her mother to the punch. "Is Laurie okay?" The doctor nodded. "Well, she has stab wounds in her arm and leg, a sprained ankle, and a mild concussion. She got knocked around pretty good. With some healing, she'll be fine. I'm sorry, though, for your loss. She's asleep right now." He led them to chairs. "Now, don't ask Laurie about this. Let her tell you. She killed a man." They sat there in shock. The doctor continued. "She did it in self defense. She mistook him for Myers. And there's more. We've had Laurie's birth records sent to us. It turns out that her biological mother is Deborah Myers. Michael Myers is her older brother." The elder Strodes nodded silently. "Yes, we know." Kara sat up. "Wait, he's her brother?" They nodded silently. "Yes, dear." Kara stood up. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell her?!" They stood up with her. "She didn't need to know! That's why! And neither did you! It was done to protect her." Kara sat back down in shock. "So, Michael Myers is my cousin through adoption?" They sat down with her. Marianna gasped. "Kara, don't say that. Legally, he is. But, he's not. Don't ever relate us to him again." Kara nodded and got up. "I, um, need to use the restroom." She set off down the hall, thinking. Her parents turned to the doctor. "Does Laurie know?" He nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. She's been through so much trauma this past night. I recommend a psychiatrist as soon as possible." They nodded. "Yes, we have a friend who would be willing to do it." The doctor flipped a page on his clipboard. "Now, you need to get in touch with the state. As she's still a minor, you need to go through a process to legally adopt her." They nodded again. He stood up. "Would you like to see her?" He led them down the hall towards her room. Opening the door, they saw her sitting in bed, staring blankly at the wall. Seeing them, she smiled weakly. Her aunt crossed to her and held her hand. "Laurie. I'm so sorry." She nodded. "Maybe if I had just gone to your bonfire, none of this would've happened." She looked horrible. She was pale as a ghost, with dark circles under her eyes. They sat down around her bed. Laurie turned to her. "Did you know? He was my brother?" The adults looked at each other. Finally, Marianna nodded. "Yes. Your real mother, Deborah Myers, was close with your mom. When Deborah died, your parents were engaged. They were married and they adopted you. They didn't love you any less just because they weren't your blood." Laurie shook her head. "Why didn't anybody tell me? Why?" Daniel stepped forward. "Your parents didn't want anyone to know that you were his sister. If people knew, the media would've found out eventually. And they wanted to protect you from this sort of thing ever happening." Laurie turned her head away. "Their plan worked well, didn't it? I didn't know until I'd seen my parents and best friends butchered." Marianna sat forward. "Laurie, please." Laurie continued. "I had my mother's blood in my mouth. Do you know what it felt like seeing her with her head off? Or my dad, gutted? Or how about my friends ripped apart? Or those little kids? Or those people at the hospital? Do you know how much blood I've had on my hands this past night? Did they tell you I killed someone?!" Marianne started to cry. She stood up. "I'm sorry, Laurie." She quickly exited the room. Daniel stepped towards the door. "Get some rest, Laurie." He left, leaving Laurie to her silent tears.
The Lost River
9:00 AM
The churning river had died down. The clouds had cleared away, leaving the sun shining brightly. The roads were muddy. Police cars were stationed all over the road next to the river. Cops combed the banks. Sheriff Meeker stood at the head of it all, his deputy standing next to him.
Meeker called out to the police. "Alright, let's find this fucker!" He turned to his deputy, who was giving him a sad look. Meeker frowned. "What?" The deputy sighed. "Leigh, you need to be home with your wife. I know that you want to find him, but we're looking. You don't have to be here. Just go home. Mourn for her." Leigh shook his head. "No. I'm not leaving until I find him. I'm not letting another little girl get hurt like Chrissie. Laurie Strode isn't going to have anything else to fear. We will find him." An officer lower down the bank called up to them. "Sir! We have something!" Meeker hurried down the bank to the officer and walked to the thicket that the officer was pointing to. Meeker looked into it. A pile of leaves was matted down, as if someone had been sleeping in it. The leaves were stained heavily with blood. Meeker sighed. Then he noticed something. He cleared a path through the thicket, and pushed branches aside. There was a clump of brown hair on the ground. He picked it up. It was stuck together, sticky with blood. He felt it with his fingers. "It's not real. It's from his mask." He turned back to the thicket. "He's here. Find him." They spread out; all of the cops rushing down the bank towards the thicket. None of them noticed that the thicket extended half a mile down the bank. The thorns parted and Michael slid off the bank into the water, clinging to a rotten piece of timber that had blown down from the road. Submerging himself in the water, he floated down the stream. His mask was tucked securely into his belt. It was extremely bloody and the back had a rip from his sister stabbing him. He silently contemplated his injuries, then let them free of his mind. He only had one goal. Laurie was out there still. The timber bumped against a small rowboat floating in the river. A man was letting a fishing line fly into the water. Michael pulled himself into the boat and swiftly broke the man's neck. The corpse was pushed into the water. Michael let the boat ride the current under a small bridge. Shielded from view, the boat floated to the bank and climbed out, heading into the trees close at hand. He noted that the trees were all burnt, the result of the fire from the previous night. He had reached his destination. He looked through the burnt woods to the charred Hospital in front of him. He knew that Laurie wouldn't be there. He thought of anyone that could keep him from her. His doctor was gone. Her parents were gone. Judith was gone again. The girl with the brown hair was gone. The boy remained. He didn't know what had stopped him from killing him when he'd had the chance. That was easily correctable. He watched as the fire trucks sprayed the last of the building. He wondered how many of the bodies had been recovered, and how many had been reduced to charred ash. And he wondered where Laurie was.
Russellville Emergency
11: 30 AM
Paul walked into the room. Laurie turned towards him, tears in her eyes. He crossed to her bed and knelt down next to it. He was crying, too. "Laurie. Are you okay?" She nodded. "Annie's gone." Paul broke down and they clung to each other, sobbing into each other's arms. Twenty minutes later, they were more composed. She held his hand as they talked. "He came to the Hospital after you left. And he killed that doctor. The one that helped us. And all of the staff and Janet, and Mr. and Mrs. Brackett. I saw him in the hall and he-" Here she hesitated. "He killed Annie. And then police came and he got them too. And I killed a man. I thought it was him. He fell into the Lost River. He's still out there, I know it. He's my brother." Paul stared at her in shock. She blinked. "I know. My life's fucked up, isn't it?" He wiped his eyes. "When you say he's your brother, are you serious?" Laurie nodded. "My biological parents were Donald and Deborah Myers. My sister, Judith, was killed by my brother Michael on Halloween in 1990. My parents died in 1995 and the Strodes adopted me. He was locked up in Smith's Grove, but he escaped a few days ago. He came home to find me." Paul sighed and sat back in his chair. "Do you remember anything from your other life?" Laurie rubbed her eyes wearily. "Bits and pieces. I remember seeing him stab my sister in the arm and push her down the stairs. I remember him holding me. I remember him wearing that mask as a child. And I remember visiting him in Smith's Grove." Paul held her hand. "Laurie, all I can say is I'm sorry. I'm glad you're alright, though." He got up. "I'll stay with you as long as you need me." Laurie smiled. "Thanks. Right now, I just need sleep." He nodded. "I'll be in the waiting room if you need me." He left and Laurie rolled gingerly onto her side, wincing slightly at the pain in her body. She let out a long sigh and thought of her parents. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't cry anymore. She closed her eyes and racked her brain for a memory from her childhood. She thought and thought. But she couldn't remember anything.
Haddonfield Memorial Hospital
1:52 PM
Michael walked slowly through the charred woods surrounding the gutted hospital. He had waited for the police to leave. They would be back. He was aware of the gaping hole in his neck as the wind whistled in the bloody hole, but it didn't hurt him at all. He felt it gently and found bloody skin that was ripped. He kept walking through the woods until he reached the back of the hospital. Finding a window, he punched it out and climbed through. Finding himself in a small operating room, he pushed the door open quietly. The hall was empty. Heading down it, he could see the charred wall at the end of the hallway. Turning the corner, he worked his way through the torched building. Finding the remains of the front desk, he turned the corner. A bloody mess lay in front of him. He realized that it was Annie, the girl with the brown hair. Needing a new weapon, he yanked the butcher knife from her back. He turned her over and saw that her face was still identifiable through the cracked mess. Her hair hung in burnt clumps from her scalp. Her eyes were bloody and one of them had started to ooze slightly. She would do.
Russellville Emergency
4:42 PM
Kara and Paul sat in the waiting room. Kara's parents had been called away by the doctors. "I just can't believe that my cousin is really Michael Myers's sister. I can't believe she's not really my cousin." Paul nodded. "I know. It's just hard to take this all in. I miss her already." Kara turned to him. "You mean Annie?" Paul nodded slowly. "I just can't believe she's gone." Kara nodded. "I met her last year. Laurie brought her to our bonfire. She seemed really nice. I'm sorry." Paul stood up. "She made it through the night. She was killed at the hospital. Her parents, too. If I'd stayed, maybe I could've done something. I could've helped them." Kara shook her head. "No. You wouldn't have been able to do anything. The way Laurie talked, he sounds like something from the movies." Paul shook his head. "He's nothing like a movie. He's strong and smart. And cunning." Kara got up. "I want to see Laurie." They headed off down the hall and entered her room. She was asleep. Kara sighed. "Finally. I didn't think she'd ever fall asleep." Paul sat down by her bed. "Why did you need to come in?" Kara sat down and her voice broke, tears streaming down her face. "I just had to make sure she was still here. I keep thinking he's going to come back for her. They still haven't found him. He could still be alive. Laurie said he fell into the river. He could've gotten anywhere." Paul led her out of the room. "He's not coming back. Laurie said she hurt him pretty bad. Took a chunk out of his neck. No human could survive that." Kara stared at him. "He's not human. He's the boogeyman."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Mt. Sinclair Cemetery
2:42 PM
Haddonfield, Illinois
Laurie stood at the head of the crowd as her parents' coffins were lowered into the earth. She stood next to Paul, shaking with grief. She turned to her aunt and uncle. Marianne was crying hysterically. Daniel stared at the ground sadly. Kara was pale, and Laurie could see tears in her eyes. Turning back to the coffins, she immediately was overcome by a flood of childhood memories that she didn't realize she had. Her mother, trying to bake a cake for Laurie's birthday. Her father and Laurie on a fishing trip when she was eleven. A bear had attacked the tent, and Laurie had had to fend it away with pepper spray. Staring at the polished wood of the caskets, she couldn't bear the thought of them spending the rest of forever in those boxes. She looked up at Paul. "Paul…" She completely broke down into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her. Her sobs shook them, sending her to her knees. Paul sank down with her. She screamed in grief, the grass moist beneath her knees. Her family regarded her sadly as she cried. She looked up into Paul's eyes. She was startled to see more than just sympathy in them. He looked like he wanted to kiss her.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
122 Prescott Dr.
4:38 PM
Russellville, Illinois
The Strode's car pulled into the driveway. Marianne and Danielle climbed out. Kara helped Laurie out of the back seat. She looked at her cousin's house, her new home. It was a tall, three-story Victorian. Her aunt and uncle were on the side of the family that had the money, but it didn't affect their personalities at all. Laurie started up the driveway. She was dressed in Kara's clothes. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She felt slightly better than she had. Kara opened the front door and they stepped into the foyer. Laurie looked around. The stairs were right inside the door. They wound all the way up to the third floor. The front hall had doors opening into the living room and bathroom. The enormous family room sat at the end of the hall, open to everyone. The kitchen across the hall was cozy, with a large island in the middle and a pantry. Steps led down to the basement. The front hall ended in glass doors that led onto a large patio. An in ground pool stretched across half of the yard. A famous architect had designed the house. Over the years, it had become rundown. The Strodes bought it and fixed it up, adding modern touches here and there.
Laurie looked around and smiled. "So this is how the other half lives, huh?" Kara hit her playfully. "Don't let mom and dad hear you. They'll pamper you until you bleed dollar signs." Mr. and Mrs. Strode walked in through the door.
"Well, Laurie, welcome to your new home. Your room is on the third floor, across the hall from Kara." They headed towards the kitchen. Marianne turned to Laurie. "I'll go get your stuff tomorrow. Just get your suitcases ready." Kara grabbed her car keys from the counter. "It's okay, mom. I'll go get them now." Laurie turned to her. "I'm coming." Kara started to shake her head. "No, Laurie, it's fine." Laurie cut in. "Kara. I'm coming." Kara shrugged. "Alright." They walked back outside to the car. Kara helped Laurie around to the passenger side. She climbed into the driver's seat and turned the ignition over. The car revved up and they backed down the driveway. Kara stared ahead through the window. "I don't know your address. Put it in the GPS thing." Laurie typed the address in and sat back. Kara watched her from the corner of her eye. She just stared out the window. Kara cleared her throat nervously. "So, that Paul. Quite the hunk." Laurie smiled faintly. Kara brightened. "You're smiling! It's good to see that again!" Laurie laughed gently. "Yeah, he is the proverbial hunk. It's just weird. We've known each other for a while." Kara laughed. "Well, why aren't you getting any action?" Laurie smiled. "I got some a couple years ago. My friend Lynda had a party and we were both there and we got drunk and I'm pretty sure he was feeling me up until I vomited all over Lynda's bed. It was horrible." Kara laughed. "What did he say about it?" Laurie shook her head. "He hasn't mentioned it. It's just that he was with Annie and we both felt really guilty. And now she's gone. So I don't know anymore." Kara rubbed her shoulder gently. "It's alright. If it's meant to be, it'll be." Laurie smiled and looked up. Her eyes went wide. "Kara! Look out!" Kara turned back to the road and swerved the car. They narrowly missed a truck that was careening out of control. It slammed into a traffic light. The light pole snapped and fell over, sparks flying everywhere. The girls got out of the car and ran to the truck. The driver was out cold. A nasty cut was on his forehead, blood trickling down into his mouth. Laurie wrenched the door open and they pulled the man gently from the vehicle. As a team, they carried the man to the grass as another car pulled up alongside them. The driver got out. It was a man. He was tall and middle aged. He ran over to them. "Oh my God! Are you girls okay?" They nodded. He bent over the man and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing 911, he started speaking to the operator. Kara felt for a pulse and found one. "He's just knocked out." Laurie stood up and rubbed her head wearily. Some of the man's blood had splashed onto her gray sweatshirt. The sight of blood had become common to her now. All because of him. She looked up. Her eyes widened as she regarded a spot across the street. He was there. Shielded by a tree, he was watching her. His white mask was as rotten and bloody as ever. The world seemed to stop around her. She paled and grabbed Kara's arm. "Kara! It's him!" Kara looked up in confusion. "Who?" Laurie turned to her. She was pale as a ghost. "My brother." Kara hastily stood up. "Where?!" Laurie pointed a shaky hand across the street. He was gone. Kara squinted. "Laurie, nobody's there." Laurie shook her head. "He was there. He was watching me." Kara helped her towards the car. "Laurie, you've just been through a lot. You're just tired. It's all right. He's not going to get you ever again." Laurie climbed into the car and took a deep breath. Kara climbed back in and started the vehicle. "We'll just go get your stuff and then you go home and get a nice hot bath." Laurie nodded. "Okay. Let's just go." They pulled away and started off down the street. Laurie kept her eyes on the spot where she had seen him. He didn't appear and as they rounded the corner, the area was lost from view.
1978 Shirley Dr.
Haddonfield, Illinois
Twenty minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of Laurie's old house. Climbing out, she shivered. Barely a week had past, but it no longer felt like home. Kara grabbed her hand. "Are you sure about this?" Laurie nodded. "Yeah. Let's go." She started up the walkway and knelt down next to the garden. Pulling a large rock out, she turned it over and slid the bottom off. Pulling out a house key, she walked up the porch steps and unlocked the door. Opening the door, a flood of emotions rushed through her. Stepping inside, the house was different. The floor had mercifully been scrubbed clean of all the blood. The piano and television were gone. A large gouge mark was still etched into the back of the door. Kara walked in behind her, carrying her suitcases. They crossed to the window and looked out into the backyard. The holes Michael had dug for the graves were still there, empty. The gravestones had been taken back to the cemetery. The swing set was taped off, as was the swimming pool. Kara stared out the window in shock. "It feels so different. It didn't feel real until now. I'm seeing everything and it seems so…" Laurie finished her sentence. "Dead." She headed up the stairs and Kara followed. They walked into Laurie's room. The bed was gone. It had been moved to Kara's house. The room was strangely empty. Laurie stood there for a minute, staring at the wall. Snapping out of it, she crossed to her dresser and started opening drawers. Kara dragged the two suitcases over and started folding and packing. Kara attempted to make conversation. "So, is the house gonna go up for sale?" Laurie shrugged. "Probably. I don't know if anyone'll want it, though." Suddenly, a loud thump was heard from downstairs. Laurie looked up. "Did you hear that?" Kara nodded. "Yeah. It's probably nothing." Laurie looked at her. "Probably?" Kara stood up. "We'll check it in a minute. Let's just get this suitcase out to the car." They both dragged the suitcases out of the house and to the trunk of the car. Kara straightened up. "Do you really need to check on that noise?" Laurie nodded. "I have to lock the door again, anyways." They started back into the house and listened. The house was silent. Laurie walked to the kitchen. It was empty. She crossed to a drawer and opened it. Pulling out two knives, she handed one to Kara. "Just to be safe." She turned to the basement door. It was silent, but the sound had definitely come from the basement. Her hand shaking, Laurie slowly turned the knob and opened the door. The stairs were dark. Turning the light switch on, she could see what had made the noise. A picture that had hung on the wall had fallen down the stairs. It was shattered, the glass everywhere. Walking slowly down the stairs, she bent and picked it up. "Just a picture." Kara looked down from the top of the stairs. "A picture doesn't fall by itself. The nail that held it is still in the wall. It didn't come loose." Laurie looked back down at the picture. A bloody smear was on it. Laurie looked back up at Kara. "There's blood on it." Kara shook her head nervously. "Maybe that happened on Halloween. With your mom?" Laurie shook her head. "No. It's still wet." A breeze blew Laurie's hair. Looking up, she saw that the door leading out to the driveway was open, swinging in the breeze. Looking back up at Kara, her face was full of fear. That was when she saw something from the corner of her eye. A dark shape was on her basement couch. Standing up, her legs wobbled as she crossed to the light switch and flicked it. The basement lit up and she saw what was on the couch. Letting out a scream, she fell to the ground and started crying hysterically. Kara ran down the stairs and turned to the couch. She put a hand to her mouth. "Oh my God." The mangled body of Annie Brackett was draped over the couch, her arms opened as if waiting for an embrace. Blood shone on the wall. It spelled out, in crude, childlike handwriting, "Best Friends Forever".