a/n- This has been almost totally rewritten and improved from the original draft that was posted several years ago now. I hope that it is better second time around.
Disclaimer: I Don't Own Halloween.
Chapter One
10 year old Michael Myers walked quickly across the school play ground the bell for the end of the day had just rang, he clutched his school bag tightly as he walked, no-one was going to get hold of it.
"Hey, Mikey!" a voice from behind shouted. He spun around, suddenly feeling cautious. It was okay, just Mandy- his best and only friend. She was thin, pale, gaunt looking girl with a lot of messy dark hair and green eyes. There was something about her Michael liked. He wasn't quite sure what, maybe it was just that she understood him better than anyone else. She didn't bully, ridicule or despise him like everyone else and in turn he understood her as well. Michael slowed down and waited for his friend to catch up, they didn't talk much inside school. But they met up afterwards and walked home together, he so wanted to invite her around his house like she always invited him around hers but he knew it wasn't an option. He didn't want her to see his family, it sickened him. "Hey you." Mandy ran up to him with a smile, giving him a nudge with her elbow. She had the nicest smile.
"Hi Mandy." Michael replied looking up from under his hair, even though they were friends he still felt self-conscious most of the time.
"How are things?"She asked falling in step as they walked, her hair hung limply over her shoulders. A few strands caught under the strap of her bag. "Shit, as always." Michael replied sharply, it was worse than normal actually. His mother was working longer and longer hours, leaving him alone in the house with that- bastard of a man his mom allowed to stay with them. She tried her best, Michael knew. He just wished she could be around more. "Tell me about it, how are things at home?" Mandy asked as if reading his mind. Michael stopped walking abruptly, "I'd prefer not to talk about it." It was an innocent question but he couldn't face discussing it.
"Okay, I understand."
They carried on walking, they had left the front gates of the school and most of the crowds of people. Instantly Michael felt more relaxed and they continued to talk amongst themselves. They turned a corner and collided two guys from Michael's English classes. He glared instantly, he hated them with a burning passion.
"Well what do we have here then?" the taller one spoke sneering down at Michael and Mandy.
"A freak and his freaky girlfriend, how fucking sweet." the other jeered spitefully. They laughed loudly; Michael bulled his hands into fists.
"Shut the fuck up!" he spat.
"Watch your fucking mouth you little bastard, or you and your bitch girlfriend here will get it right." the taller of the two shouted giving Michael a shove, he stumbled caught off guard. They laughed loudly again and went for another push. "Leave him alone." Mandy hissed, standing in front of Michael.
"Or what?" he advanced towards her, his arm raised to hit her. Mandy ducked and spun around, kicking him hard in the shin.
"Oi you little bitch, you're gonna regret that." He spat, eyes glaring with anger.
Mandy snorted. "I doubt it." She kicked him again harder this time, he lost his balance completely and fell with to the ground with a thump. His friend made a grab for Mandy, Michael was quicker. His arm shot out, punching him straight in the stomach. He doubled up on the floor whimpering.
"Quick Mikey!" Mandy grabbed his hand and they made a run for it, charging through the woodlands, after a few minutes they stopped, they collapsed down on the ground and snorted with laughter.
"Did you see his face? What a wimp couldn't even handle a tiny little kick." Mandy laughed, her heart was racing with adrenaline.
Michael smiled a rare smile. "Thank you Mandy, not many people stick up for me." " You don't have to thank me Mikey, you're my best friend. You always will be."
Michael ran quickly down the school corridors, his mother was still in the office after she had been called to the school again. It had been two days since he and Mandy had fought off those two in the woods. He had run into them again today in the toilets. This time he doubted if he was going to get away with it.
The anger, it was uncontrollable. The hate, it was consuming him. He had to do something about it, he couldn't ignore it anymore. Michael reached his locker struggled with lock and pulled out his clown mask. He slammed the locker door shut and began to run towards the front doors. Something had to be done.
Michael walked faster, and headed towards the wood's he had to walk through to get home. He stopped to pick up a broken branch of a tree; it was heavy in his hands. Michael then hid behind the bushes and began to wait. It was an agonizing long time before he heard footsteps. There he was the one from earlier walking and muttering under his breath, Michael pulled his mask down over his face and held the branch tight. Michael screamed and jumped out swinging the branch, it collided with immense force to the boy's back. He yelled and fell to the floor, panic and confusion etched into his face as Michael hit him again and again. Blood poured off the boy's face as he tried to crawl away. Michael ignored the pleads and reached down to pull the photograph from the boys pocket, the one that had caused the whole fight in the first place. The boy muttered something else. Michael didn't pay any attention and raised the branch once more, holding it in the air for a fraction on a second before bringing it back down with hammer blow force. Michael dropped the bark and backed away taking his mask off once more then turned and walked away in the opposite direction.
Michael sat at home the same evening; he had almost forgotten what today was. It was Halloween night his favourite holiday.
Michael could hear his mother's boyfriend shouting abuse at him again; he turned his head casually to one side ignoring it as usual. He was meant to be going trick or treating tonight, only his sister Judith was nowhere to be seen. He called her name; there was no answer not surprisingly- he hated her too. "Michael can you come here a minute?" his mom called, she had been less than impressed with him after her meeting at the school today. He felt guilty for that, he really did. She bent over a little as so to face her son properly. Her blonde hair hung over her shoulders in waves, she sighed a little.
"Now, I don't know if I should let you go out this evening after what you pulled at school today."
"Aw mum please?" Michael asked pleadingly, her face softened considerably.
"Alright Michael, but things are gonna change around here soon so enjoy yourself tonight." She nodded at him. Michael smiled back at her.
"JUDITH" she shouted up the stairs, the was no reply but the heavy footsteps at the top of the staircase indicated that his sister was coming down. She turned back to Michael looking less commanding
"I know things have been bad for a while, but I promise tomorrow things are gonna change okay?" his mum spoke quietly. Michael nodded. "Good, that's my handsome boy." Michael smiled. "I like your hair curly, it looks pretty." He linked a finger around one of the curls. His mother smiled. "Thank you, have fun trick or treating don't eat too much candy." she replied ruffling his hair. She turned to meet Judith and her boyfriend sneaking in through the door, the frown returned to her face.
"I want you out of here by 12." she said pointing, before grabbing her keys and running out of the door. Judith grabbed her boyfriend's hand and led him upstairs.
"Hey, you're meant to be taking me trick or treating." Michael called after her; he knew she'd do this- it wasn't fair. "Are you kidding, go by yourself aren't you too old for that anyway?" Judith laughed and back ran up stairs. Michael sighed, walked out the main door and sat down on the steps in front of his house. It wasn't a particularly cold night, he watched the other kids trick or treating. It wasn't fair, he hated them all.
"Michael?" a voice called, he looked up startled. It was Mandy she was all dressed up for trick or treating in witch's outfit her long dark hair left in an untidy yet attractive mess, she smiled and sat down next to him. "What you doing?" she asked. "Nothing. I was meant to be trick or treating, but no-one will take me because they don't care." Michael replied angrily. "What are you doing here?" "Not much just tagging along with the family, nothing else better to do, I thought it was gonna be really boring and then I saw you." she smiled and shifted a little closer.
Michael kept his head bent. She was taking pity on him, he didn't need pity. "Did you really wanna go trick or treating?"
Michael nodded.
"Then you can go with me, it will be fun!" Mandy suggested.
"Really?"
"Sure, come on." she grabbed his hand and they set off. For the next hour Michael almost forgot everything that had happened at home, almost. They walked back from the last house with a bag full of sweets, Mandy chatted away happily. Michael barely responded but watched her intently from under his hair. He watched the way her lips moved when she spoke, the way her long eyelashes framed her eyes. He didn't think about often but he truly didn't know what he would do without her sometimes.
"Thank you, Mandy." Michael whispered taking her hand in his. He didn't really know what else to say but she gripped his hand back instantly
"You don't have to thank me, that's what friends are for." she smiled at him genuinely. He never understood why she had chosen to start talking to him on their first day of school. She could have befriended anyone she liked, been with the popular crowd but instead she had chosen to be with him. At first he had been cold and distant, rebuffing any of her attempts to strike a conversation but after awhile he noticed something about her. She had this way of making him feel...well normal- which he knew he wasn't but she was the only one who treated him like a human being. He started to talk to her more and more until eventually he admitted to himself that he was fond of her.
Michael stopped walking to pull Mandy into a tight hug, she looked a bit dazed for a moment before hugging him back.
"I have to go back now, there's something I have to do." Michael whispered into her ear. He didn't want to leave but as much as he would have loved to stay here with her- it had to be done tonight.
"Okay, I'll see you at school tomorrow." Mandy replied, sounding quite sad too. Michael reached up to kiss her cheek gently, they pulled apart and smiled.
"Before you go Mikey, I think we should take a picture you know so we can remember a great night?" Mandy asked hopeful, holding the camera in her hand. He leant in closer to her again, her hair brushing his cheek. The camera flashed and produced 2 photos. "Here you go- a little keepsake" she smiled handing him one; she put the other one in her pocket. Michael smiled back and hugged her one more time. "I'll see you later." before running off in the direction of his house. Mandy smiled and nodded. Little did she know that was the last she was going see her friend Michael Myers for the next 17 years.
"Come on come on." Amanda mumbled staring at the traffic in front of her. She was gonna be late and this time her boss wouldn't let her off the hook again. Amanda hated her job and wouldn't care if her boss sacked her today. Unfortunately the bills didn't pay themselves. She sighed and turned the radio on to distract herself.
Earlier last night, mass murderer and psychiatric patient Michael Myers escaped from Smith's Grove mental institution where he had been committed almost 17 years ago. The place was a scene of total destruction and at least 6 people have been found dead, police warn residents of Haddonfield Illinois to not take any risks and if possible stay indoors. Psychologist and former employee at Smith's Grove, Doctor Loomis who worked to psychoanalyse Myers for the past 17 years warns that he is "A danger of great majority and Haddonfield would be his first stop." we will keep you updated on this as and when we get more information...
Amanda turned the radio back down, she felt nauseous. Seventeen years to anyone else would seem like a life time ago but not her. It seemed like only yesterday she said goodbye to her best friend and now he was free- and coming to Haddonfield.
