Just as I put my phone away after editing my previously written note and exited our bedroom, I heard the front door click shut. I didn't have to think too hard to understand why. I shivered. This was it.

I left the house, heading fast down the morning streets. It hadn't taken me long to find him. Michael was indeed out for the kill. He'd just slashed a young man, by the look of him a pour innocent jogger out for an early morning run, completely decapitating him. I stuck to my resolve and headed towards the masked killer. He wasn't my husband right then; he was my way out. I'd already sent my note to my own Email address and could only hope my family would check it. I deliberately kicked a stone, causing it to clonk against the wall. In a second, the killer's eyes were on me. Blank, cold. He gave no sign that he even recognised me. I continued walking, as if I was oblivious. In truth, I was terrified, but knew I had to do this. They'd all be better off without me. Michael indeed didn't recognise me. This was confirmed when he slammed me against the brick wall and his knife pressed against my neck. But this time, it was blade first.

I'd sent a separate note addressed to Michael, hoping he'd see it after I was gone.

Michael I'm so sorry. I didn't struggle against you because I wanted to die. After all I said to you, none of which I truly meant, it was just the shock of all that death. Now, it's my turn. I doubt you'll see this until I'm dead, but I hope you still do. I'm asking you, Michael Myers.

Please, kill me?

Dad's words, your anger towards me, enough is enough. I figured this would be the quickest and most painless way and if you are merciful, it will have been quick, in whatever way you choose. I've sent an Email to my own address with a note, please can someone read it to you all? I love you all so much, Michael I'd give anything to take it back. Now, all I can do is hope I rest in peace.

Jade M.

After what felt like an eternity, the killer withdrew his knife. I slumped to the ground, at first unable to breathe. I could hardly believe it. I only had a cut to the neck. I fell to my knees in pure adrenaline. Why hadn't he stabbed harder? Just able to see through my blurred vision, I saw Myers walk slowly and calmly away from his latest victim. Me. Did he think I was dead? Suddenly, my mistake hit me like a slap to the face. I think it was fair to say it hurt more than my neck did. Not only had I told him if the kills didn't stop, I may have to leave him, I'd also asked him to do the very thing to me I wanted the end of. I was nothing but a selfish bitch and hypocrite. I felt my phone with my note to Michael still on its screen hit the ground, as the shock caused me to lose consciousness.

"Have you seen Jade?" Alice asked Lance, who'd come down for another coffee, clearly unable to sleep. Alice wasn't surprised. Nor would she after a joy ride through hell.

"She's in her room, isn't she?" Lance asked.

"No. I went up there to check she was ok, she wasn't there."

Lance raised an eyebrow. "We didn't hear or see her leave," he frowned. "Want me to go take a look?"

"No darling," Alice hugged him. "You're exhausted and you've been through enough tonight. I'll go."

"Sorry Mum," Lance hugged her tightly back. "There's no way I'm letting you go alone when there's a masked killer out there. I'm coming with you. We go together, or not at all."

When I regained consciousness, I was exactly where Michael had left me. God my neck was agony, but nowhere near as much as my heart. There was blood all over my t-shirt. I managed to get to my knees, but was shaking so badly I couldn't stand. Blood loss or emotion, I didn't know. Whether I liked it or not, I had to call for help. I picked up my phone and was just about to dial 999, when I saw him.

Michael was walking my way. He was masked and holding the knife. Was he looking for me? Shit, this could be bad. My husband saw me just as I tried to get to my feet a second time, but still couldn't. Next second, he was there, lifting me to my feet. I swayed, dizzy. Michael's eyes rested on my cut neck. He slammed me against the wall non too gently and his arms came around me, pulling me against him. In spite of everything that had just happened between us, all I wanted to do was cling to him. I felt the tears start to fall down my cheeks. I didn't dare try to speak, shit it her to breathe. I felt Michael rest his shirt sleeve against the cut, trying to staunch the bleeding. A few seconds later, he pulled out his notepad. When I read the message, my heart sank like a stone. Now I realised why he was holding me so tightly to him. There was no love in it, we were back to the start. I also saw it was in capitals, which meant had he spoken it, he would've been shouting.

I WARNED YOU, JADE, DAMN YOU! I WARNED YOU. WHAT? DO YOU WANT TO DIE? SO YOU THOUGHT I'D DO IT FOR YOU? HOW BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED YOU MUST BE TO STILL BE ALIVE AT THIS MOMENT THEN.

His almost repeated words were like a slap to the face. The first time he'd said them he'd been teasing me. He certainly wasn't now. I wasn't stupid. I knew his words "at this moment" meant I was still in mortal danger. Michael was still craving the kill. His knife wasn't resting on me, but I knew if I made one wrong move it would be and this time I probably would die. The funny thing was, I had wanted just that until a few seconds ago. Now, seeing Michael's face, all be it masked and with his blank and cold gaze, thinking of Mum, Jenna, hell even Dad, I wanted nothing less. I realised how selfish I'd been. Michael was right. It'd seemed such an easy resolution at the time, but now…

AFTER EVERYTHING YOU SAID, YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST WALK UP TO ME? YOU ARE SERIOUSLY TESTING MY PATIENCE, JADE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT AS I HAVE SAID TO YOU BEFORE, I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU. I SEE I ALREADY HAVE. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STILL ALIVE? I RECOGNISED YOU AFTER IT WAS TOO LATE. I ASK YOU AGAIN. DO YOU WANT TO DIE?

"I did," I said very quietly. "Until a few seconds ago."

SO YOU SAW ME AS YOUR WAY OUT? SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME THEN, DOESN'T IT? HE'S A KILLER, HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU. AFTER SAYING IF THEY DON'T STOP, YOU'LL LEAVE, YOU THEN PUT YOURSELF FORWARD AS MY NEXT VICTIM? WHAT? CHANGED YOUR MIND? DON'T YOU DARE MOVE. OR YOU JUST MAY GET YOUR FEW SECONDS AGO WISH.

I knew he was literally, deadly serious. My heart was hammering in my chest. I felt dizziness threaten to take hold as it rushed to my head which was pounding. I could never wear this shirt again. If I lived that was. No amount of washing would save it now. Was Michael even now using me to try and calm his killing crave? But this time so he didn't kill me? I felt myself shiver. Apart from this realisation, a bitter wind had risen in the early morning and I wasn't dressed for it. Next second, Michael had released me and placed his heavy jacket around my shoulders. I felt tears fall again at his gesture. I knew he was angry, but even in his need to kill, he cared. Before I could say "you'll be freezing," he'd walked away.

"Where do you think she may have gone?" Lance asked as they left the house.

"Not far," Alice replied. "The car's still here."

"Man I hope she hasn't gone looking for Michael," Lance shivered a little. "He told her not to."

Alice nodded. "Not to mention I said she should give both of them some time and space."

"But that's jade for you," Lance smiled a little in spite of himself. "So stubborn, does she ever do as she's told?"

To my horror, I saw a family emerge from a nearby house and head straight towards us. I was about to see Michael kill face to face yet again. But this time, he was all too aware of my presence. Not knowing if I was brave or did indeed still have a death wish, I'd spoken before I could stop myself.

"Please don't?"

If I saw him kill again up close, I think I'd go insane. In one move, the masked killer had me back against his chest. I couldn't help the soft sigh of relief. He was indeed using me to stop him from killing them. The young family walked past, by the look of it taking their children to school. The couple were laughing, the kids kicking a football around, completely oblivious to how close they'd come to a bloody and violent death. Good.

I didn't hear it when Mum and Lance approached us and only registered their presence when Mum took my hand. Love swelled in my heart to the point where I thought it would burst. Lance gently touched Michael's arm and to my relief Michael let him, as they led us back towards the house, Michael still holding me close and tightly. I could tell from Mum's and Lance's silence that they knew all too well what'd almost happened between us, but they weren't judging Michael, or me. God, I adored them. We entered the house and the kitchen, where Mum securely closed the door. Mum pushed me gently but firmly in to a chair, sat down beside me and began to treat my neck, wrapping bandages around it. Without speaking, I pulled up the Email with my note in it and handed it to Mum. She read silently and then pulled me close, before handing it to Lance.

"Darling Jade," Mum sounded close to tears. "Oh my darling daughter, listen to me. Your father had absolutely no right to say that to you. I'm not surprised it hurt you. I will be telling him as much. But we love you Jade Henderson/Myers, so much it hurts! Jenna needs you; I need you, we all need you!"

"Well said!" Lance almost barked.

I then showed them the note I'd written to Michael when I wanted him to kill me. Now, Lance stepped forward and actually pulled Michael to him and in to a hug. At my nod, he showed the killer both messages. My heart broke all over again. God, I felt so selfish. As if reading my mind, Mum pulled me in to her arms in turn.

"You may be a masked killer," I heard Lance murmur in Michael's ear. "But you know something? You're still a man. It just took a while for you to realise that. What you're feeling is no different to me, Dom, Stuart or any of the guys. Pain. Love. Normal, Michael. So, so normal."

"I'm not going to say that wasn't low and selfish," Mum said to me quietly. "But at the same time I understand why you did it. You weren't thinking straight, but as soon as the real Jade returned, you knew it was wrong."

"But I could be dead now," I sobbed. "Michael could have had another kill and it would've been all my fault!" Mum didn't answer. I knew she couldn't dispute this because it was the truth.

I couldn't look at my husband. What the hell had I been thinking? Michael had made no move to pull back from Lance, on the contrary was now holding him tightly to him just as he had me and that tugged at my heart. He'd either finally, finally accepted he needed comfort, love as much as any of us did, or he was still craving a kill. I wasn't sure if I was terrified or relieved I didn't know which of the two it was.

"You need to go to hospital," Mum said. "This is a bad cut. I can only do so much. It needs stitches and antiseptic. We're leaving in one minute."

Without another word, she walked in to the hall. Lance gently helped me to my feet. I was still feeling dizzy. My shirt was soaked in my own blood. Just as we reached the door, I looked back at Michael, but still didn't dare look at his face. If I had, I would've noticed he was now unmasked.

"I'm so sorry Michael," I just managed to say through my tears. "Mum's right. That was low, damn selfish. Hell you even warned me! That makes it even worse! I'd consciously decided to look for you for a way out! God, can I stoop any lower? You're everything to me and I… I may have lost you for more than one reason now! I just didn't have the guts to try and talk to you! I'll say it straight, I'm a coward!"

As the kitchen door closed behind us and Mum handed me a clean shirt, I heard the metallic clang of a knife hitting the kitchen sink.

"Jade, you need to stay awake and talk to us," Mum said as she started the car and drove fast on to the main road towards the hospital. "Don't you dare go to sleep!"

I knew exactly why she was saying this. I could all too easily lose consciousness. But damn it I was so, so tired. Lance kept me talking about anything and everything and I forced myself to answer, even though it was the last thing I felt like doing. I felt terrible, mentally way more than physically.

When we got there, I was rushed in to a consultant room with a female doctor. Lance and Mum waited outside.

"How did this happen? Dr Twinkle asked, as I lay on the leather treatment couch. When she'd introduced herself, I'd almost laughed out loud. What the hell was her first name? Lights? How did she say that with a straight face? I glanced surreptitiously at her name badge. Dr Rachael Twinkle. She hadn't been lying. If that'd been me, I'd have got my surname changed as soon as I could.

"I was out for a jog and I slipped," I lied instantly. I'd been working on that all the way here. No way in hell could I tell her the truth. She certainly wouldn't have a twinkle in her eye then. "Fell over and cut myself on the concrete."

"Must've been a nasty fall," Twinkle said as she reached to her trolley. I inwardly winced. She didn't believe me, though admittedly it wasn't a very convincing lie.

"There was a stone just where I fell and it hit me," I continued lying. "Mum cleaned it out for me before she bandaged it."

"I see," Twinkle said. Her voice was professional, neutral, but I could tell she still wasn't convinced. She was a damn smart woman then. "Well I need to clean it a second time and then apply antiseptic before I stitch and dress it. Now I'm not going to lie to you Jade," (not like I did to you, I thought. Was that what she was silently saying with that choice of words?) "This is going to sting. A lot. Use this."

She handed me a plastic biting instrument, designed to be soft on the teeth. I looked at her in dread. That badly I needed it? Twinkle nodded, no trace of a smile. Deciding to co-operate, I slipped the tool in to my mouth. I almost fell off the couch in pure shock at what happened then.

My hand was gently taken by one I knew only too well. Warm, gentle, but at the same time strong, safe and secure. How the hell was this happening? It was Michael. He must've got in to the back seat without me noticing. Damn Lance. He'd deliberately kept me distracted. I felt tears run down my face, the emotion so strong I was sure I was about to choke on it.

"It's ok," Twinkle said, her voice gentle now. "Your husband's here. We women all know how good a man's hand is for squeezing when we're in pain eh?"

I couldn't help it as I smiled back at her around the biting tool and nodded. Twinkle used my distraction to her advantage. She'd obviously realised I hadn't known Michael was with us and was very touched. Before I had fully recovered, she was cleaning my neck with an alcohol cloth.

Shit, the pain. I let out a muffled scream through the tool, I couldn't stop it. Automatically, my hand tightened on Michael's, who was standing on my other side. On the couch, my head was level with his shoulder. I started crying silently again when my husband took the final step forward, so my head was resting on it. Twinkle smiled at him. If you only really knew who he was, I thought. You'd have police in here so fast you wouldn't have time to blink, doctor. Michael's other hand gently rested on my head, partly keeping it still but also softly stroking my hair. If he was still angry, I couldn't see it. What the hell had I done? Could he ever forgive me for this? Would he? Or was I now as good as a divorced woman?

"Nearly done," Twinkle soothed, as she continued her work. "Nearly there, Jade."

I automatically tried to move my head away following a particularly nasty stab of pain, but Michael gently but firmly stopped me. Twinkle smiled at him again. "Stitching it now," she said gently. "This shouldn't hurt anywhere near as much, but keep the tool in your mouth until it's done."

She was right. The stitching didn't hurt anywhere near as much as the cleaning had. Before long, Twinkle was dressing the wound. I hadn't seen it and I was thankful for it. But there was one question I had to ask. After Craig… I felt terrible for it but I had to know.

"Will I have a scar?" I asked very quietly.

"No," Twinkle answered and I felt the relief consume me. "This cut isn't deep enough for that."

Now I don't want you to miss understand. I didn't give a damn about looks. That wasn't my concern. My concern was of forever being reminded of my selfishness. If Michael and I did get through this, I didn't want to see it in the mirror every time I saw my reflection. I didn't want him to see it either.

"All done," Twinkle said a few minutes later. "Now you're not allowed to lift anything heavy for the next 72 hours and no jogging and falling over sharp stones."

I nodded, looking back at this stern but compassionate woman. The emotion of it all hit me completely then and I had to fight everything I had not to break down crying on this couch. I'd been through so much in the last few days. I was close to the edge and I may have lost my husband. Right then I felt so weak I didn't know if I could even get off the couch.

"Are you ok?" Twinkle asked softly. Of course, she'd seen my emotion. She was trained to see it. That did it. I took several deep breaths trying to control it, but I couldn't. I ultimately lost the battle as the tears began to fall. Before I knew it, I was telling this stranger everything. My adoption, my birth mother's cruelty, my wanting to commit suicide. As I talked, I felt Michael's arm gently come around me as I continued lying on the couch. I sobbed how I'd said things to Michael I hadn't meant and that too was eating me from inside.

"Well does he seem angry now?" Twinkle asked softly. "Not to me he doesn't."

I couldn't answer.

Once I was done, Twinkle headed to her computer. I thought I'd had the last emotional shock for the day, but I was wrong. "Ok," she said looking up from her screen. "I'll make contact with your designated doctor, let him know what's happened. You'll hear from him within 72 hours. You say you have no desire to harm yourself now?"

I shook my head slightly. Too much was painful.

"Ok. I'm trusting you. Stick close to your family. So as I was saying, I'll call your doctor, who I see has recently changed. I know of Dr Sartain, you're in good hands there if what I've read is true."

My mouth opened in shock and again love almost choked off my airway. Dr Sartain had contacted the hospital with my details, given proof he was a doctor and changed me over to his care? I didn't just like and respect Dr Ranbir Sartain now.

I loved him.

"Thanks," I just managed to say when my voice returned. Gently, Michael helped me off the couch, lifting me securely in to his arms. Twinkle smiled gently again.

"Looks like you're in good hands there also," she actually winked at me. "Look after yourself now Jade, take care ok?" She handed me a proscription for painkillers.

"Thank you, Dr Twinkle," I said quietly, no longer wanting to laugh at her last name. She was kinder than she first appeared. I wasn't surprised she'd been suspicious; she had every right to be. How many stones would've caused a cut like that? I was almost certain she knew it'd been a knife, but was treating it as self-harm. If I was honest, she wasn't really far wrong. I'd tried, just not in the way she thought.

Michael gently carried me out of the door, which swung softly closed behind us. Mum and Lance stood up. "Like our little surprise?" Mum smiled.

"How the bloody hell," I stared at her.

"Ah. Good old distraction techniques," now it was Lance who winked at me. "Got to love them."

We headed home, but now I was in the back seat, being held tightly to Michael. But this time, I could sense love in his embrace. I leant my head against his shoulder and he didn't pull back. How I wanted to kiss him, but I didn't dare. I turned, looking him in the eyes.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "I really appreciate what you just did." I turned my head away quickly. If I didn't, I'd kiss him. He didn't want that right now, if ever again. I shook off that thought, it hurt too much. A few seconds later I heard a soft beep, as Michael pressed the alert button on his pad to attract my attention. I looked back at him.

Jade.

I braced myself, sure this was it. He was telling me our marriage was over. "Yeah?" My voice shook with oncoming tears.

Don't pull back from me.

"Huh?" I asked quietly, genuinely confused. I hadn't moved.

I saw you turn your head away from me and I know why.

"I…" I started.

But I got no further because Michael had gently taken hold of the back of my head, slowly turning it towards him so as not to cause me further pain. Then when I was facing him again he released it, as his arms came back around me. My head rested on his shoulder once more, he leant towards me and finally, oh finally, our lips met.

It wasn't a brief kiss either. Michael had taken control of it and I felt my heart rate speed up as his lips moved against mine, hungry, almost desperate. I saw Mum and Lance smiling at us out of the corner of my eye, then nothing else mattered but Michael. Michael's kiss intensified, as I clung to him as tightly as I could.

"I'm so, so s…" I began but Michael cut me off by softly pushing his mouth against mine. Eventually I pulled back slightly and looked him straight in the eye.

"I can't lose you," I whispered, tears on my cheeks once more. "Oh Michael Myers I can't…"

My sentiments exactly.

I just had time to read this message before his lips were back on mine and our tongues met softly, lightly.

"I love you," I breathed through his kiss. "I love you so fucking much… Please don't leave me! I can't live without you, I c…"

Again, he silenced me as only he could. When we reached home a few minutes later, he lifted me up in his arms and out of the car. Lance, I saw with a rush of love was standing holding the front door open for us. I was sure Michael smiled at him as he carried me through.

Once we were upstairs in our room, he gently removed my shirt before I could, lifting it over the bandages. I felt tears again at this small, but so kind and loving gesture. I removed the rest of my clothes and Michael once again lifted me in to bed. For a second I felt a jolt of dread, certain he wasn't going to stay after all tonight, but it was immediately dispelled when Michael removed his, slipped in next to me and gently pulled me close.

"I love you Michael," I murmured in his ear. Now, tiredness had hit me head on. I had to sleep. I'd also taken two painkillers (Mum had stopped on the way home to collect them from a 24 hour chemist,) yet another thing I hadn't noticed and they were making me very drowsy. But that didn't surprise me. They were very strong and when Michael kissed me like that, I never noticed anything.

Jade, shh. Michael wrote, pulling my head gently on to his shoulder, as I'd told him what felt like a lifetime ago, was my favourite pillow. We leant towards each other in unison and kissed again, but this time slowly, softly, gently. I knew what he was telling me. Sleep. I didn't have to be told twice.

Wrapped safely in my husband's protective embrace, within a minute, I was dead to the world.