Derek Chancer had almost dozed off when he was woken by the scream. What the fuck? At first, he thought it was one of his dreams. He often dreamed of women screaming, it was great masturbation material. But this hadn't been a dream, he was sure of it. This had been real. In which case there was only one woman it could've been. That bitch Danielle Hayward. What had upset the blind idiot this time? Too bad it wasn't him shoving his cock in to her before killing her.

He heard soothing voices and fast footsteps but by the time he'd got to his door to look, they'd already gone up the corridor. So it had been Danielle and she'd sounded close. What the fuck had happened?

Then he looked out and that was when he saw that Michael Myers was standing at his door, staring right at him. Derek Chancer didn't feel fear often, he could remember only one time in his life when he had. When he was told he was going to face the death penalty for his crimes. But he was feeling it now. That stare. So cold, menacing, dangerous. Not to mention that when Derek met the killer's gaze it seemed to intensify. Chancer could almost feel the killer's hatred of him. He looked away incredibly quickly and headed back to his bed.

Did Myers suspect him? He'd wondered this before now, but the way he'd looked at him had just made it worse. Mind it was Halloween, he tried to assure himself. Of course Michael Myers wanted to kill tonight. He'd killed his sister on Halloween at six after all. But this? There had been something in the killer's gaze, Chancer was sure of it. Thinking about it made him shiver. Getting back to sleep this time was nowhere near as easy.

Danielle lay in her cell after Rachael Hathaway had left. Her mind was racing. Almost absently, she reached over to the new handset mounted on the wall just by her pillow, and began to feel it again.

Stark had shown her how it all worked earlier that day. Now she touched the bell shaped button which was an extra call button, the square one which opened and closed the screen in her door and the circular shaped one which would enable her to speak without picking up the handset, her voice would come out of the speaker on the outside of her door.

She couldn't lie, she felt comforted having two call buttons. Just in case she had to reach one fast. Not that she'd ever tell anyone that, not even her doctors. But it was certainly a fact she couldn't deny.

After Hathaway had gone, Danielle had opened her screen. It relieved the compressing feeling on her ears, like she was indeed taking a hearing test. But she couldn't deny either that it being closed made her feel safe when she was having a conversation, knowing no one could hear her.

That led her thoughts back to Derek Chancer. Had it been the notorious woman killer who had indeed been watching, listening to and reporting on her? That was a horrible thought. How much had he been paid by Adam to do this? That said, she knew Adam well enough to know he'd spare no expense on tormenting her. Reminding her she wasn't safe, even inside Smith's Grove. That made her angry now more than afraid. Who the fuck did that son of a bitch think he was? She knew he viewed her as his "property," a view any misogynist took, but he was going out of his way to make that clear. She was determined to show that she, Danielle Jamie Hayward, belonged to nobody but herself. She was no man's "property." Or woman's for that matter.

She reached over and pressed the call button on her handset. Testing it. Within a minute, Ash was there.

"Hi Danielle, it's Ash. You ok?"

"Hey Ash," Danielle spoke quietly as it was getting late. "Can I please have a glass of water and two painkillers? Got a headache from hell."

"You haven't taken any recently?"

Danielle knew why he was checking. Some patients would abuse it, use them as drugs. Guards, doctors and nurses wrote down whenever they gave a patient painkillers for just this reason.

"Nope," Danielle smiled at him. "You're more than welcome to check if you need to."

He appeared to consider this for a moment, then spoke. "Nah, it's ok. The docs trust you so I will. Don't prove I've made a mistake."

Danielle smiled at him, more genuinely this time. "Thanks Ash. I would never do that."

He was gone, returning a minute or so later with the water and tablets.

She'd only just taken them, when her phone rang. It was a quarter to ten. Danielle felt a jolt of panic, then immediately shouted at herself. For fuck's sake Hayward! You can't flinch every time your phone rings or you get a text message or Email. That's what he wants! But she still checked the ID. Her heart soared. Charlotte. She pressed the button to close the screen, then answered.

Derek Chancer could just see Danielle when her screen was open. It appeared she'd had a new door fitted for some reason. God knew why. He heard the distant ring of her phone and snatched up his "iPod." Here was his chance to earn some money by listening to her. Plus he couldn't deny he was interested to know who that bitch was talking to himself. He put on the earphones and pointed it in the direction of Danielle's cell.

"Hey Charlotte!" Danielle tried to keep her voice light, cheerful. She'd already decided not to tell her friend anything of what had just happened between her and Michael. Charlotte would only worry about her and that wasn't fair. She had enough on her plate already.

"Hey you! How are you?"

"Oh you know me. Doing well thanks. Docs are really helping me."

"Not just the doctors though, I bet?" Charlotte said with a laugh.

"Well, no," Danielle admitted, her face growing hot and she was thankful Charlotte couldn't see it as this was an Audio call not a video one. Even if he could've and might have nearly killed me tonight, she didn't add.

"What are you doing this Halloween?" She asked instead to change the subject.

"Actually, I've just got back from a Halloween party. It was great fun. Someone had rigged up their house like a haunted one. Music, sounds, fake blood the works."

"Cool," Danielle said, trying not to sound sad. She would've loved to be there for that. She loved haunted houses, horror movies and such.

"They said they'll do it again when you can come," Charlotte said, obviously reading her mind. But as they'd been best friends since the age of five, Danielle shouldn't have been surprised by this.

"Thanks," Danielle said, managing to grin and it was genuine.

"You should've seen the amount of food Dan. It was ridiculous. We'll all have enough left over for the next month."

Danielle laughed. "Nice!"

"It suits me," her friend agreed. "Means I don't have to cook for a while."

Danielle laughed out loud this time. Charlotte could always do that for her no matter what was going on. It felt good. "You hate cooking! Any excuse to get out of it and it's got your name on!"

"Too bloody right," Charlotte said, laughing too. "Not to mention I'm rubbish at it and would burn water!"

"Well…" Danielle said. "I didn't want to say anything but…"

"Yeah alright," Charlotte laughed. "Point taken. Shut up. I get it!"

In spite of all the precautions they'd given her, Danielle still lowered her voice now. The casual chat she didn't care if he… Anyone heard. But this?

"They've majorly modified my cell," she said quietly. "They believe someone on the inside was reporting on my movements and words to Adam. That's how he knew you were going to be here yesterday! Fuck I'm so sorry Charlotte! Are you ok?"

"We figured it was something like that," Charlotte's voice was bitter. "Jesus Christ! Will that bastard ever give up?"

"Knowing Adam, no," Danielle said grimly. "I don't think he knows what give it up even means."

"Don't you worry about us though!" Charlotte said, her voice stern now. "Colin and dad were there as was mom, I was perfectly safe. We called the police immediately. Are you ok? Jesus! Haven't you been through enough? Mind, given who's protecting you… I'm surprised he's not running in the opposite direction. Both Adam and whoever's behind this."

Danielle realised she was blushing again. "I'm fine," she said, not entirely truthfully. What'd happened with Michael was still really hurting, but God she wanted to be with him. Right now. She was missing him so bad, unbelievably so and the worst part was she wasn't completely sure why.

Oh yes you are, said her internal voice. Stop bloody denying it Hayward! You're missing him because you love him! Now just face it like a woman! Stop being such a coward!

"You sure?" Charlotte asked, clearly hearing Danielle's hesitation.

For a second, Danielle teetered on the verge of telling her best friend what'd happened. But she couldn't. Charlotte couldn't help her with this, however much she might want to.

"Is it Michael?" Charlotte asked gently. This time Danielle hated the fact Charlotte could read her so easily.

"Kind of," Danielle admitted. "But it's a long story."

"Do you want to talk about it? I'm here D, you know that. Always."

"I know Charlotte," Danielle said. "Same here for you. Thanks babe. But it's… Complicated."

"Is he with you now and that's why you can't talk?"

"No, he's not. Honestly. I'm not under duress. It's just… Fuck! I don't know how to explain it."

"Do you want me to leave it?"

For a long time, Danielle hesitated. Part of her wanted to say yes, but the other…

"Shit," she sighed. "I don't know C. It was… Strange. Damn scary. Dr Loomis took me to his cell tonight. It's Halloween and he wanted to see how Michael would react I think. Well… Let's just say I've heard you and others describe being under an intense cold stare, but of course I've never fully understood that until now. Until tonight. Jesus C! It was… Was terrifying. They sent a nurse over to talk to me."

"Bloody hell," Charlotte whistled. "But I don't think he'd ever really hurt you Dan. Look how close you've become over the last few months. Hell he's treated you kinder the last few months than Adam did in six!"

Danielle laughed.

"What?" Charlotte asked.

"That's almost word for word what I said to nurse Hathaway. She asked me if I was given the opportunity to go back to Michael's cell tonight, would I?"

"And?" Charlotte's voice was quiet. Danielle was sure she already knew the answer.

"What do you think?" She retorted. "Of course I damn well would! He's all I can think about Charlotte! I… Fuck! I think I love him!"

"I knew it," Charlotte said in a sing song voice. "I just knew it! Go go girl! Go for it, get in there!"

"Get in there with a man who makes Adam look like an angel?" Danielle spoke just as quietly as her friend now. "Someone whose killed God knows how many people? I would rather face Adam angry any day than Michael Myers just once! Someone who never speaks? Someone who…"

"You love," Charlotte cut across her, raising her voice firmly over Danielle's. "Stop trying to find a way round it. You love a killer. Ok. Who's anyone else to judge? He cares about you, you've seen that, as have I. You deserve to be happy Miss Hayward! Got it?"

"Yes mom," Danielle said. She couldn't deny the truth in Charlotte's words, or in the fact she was just trying to find excuses not to act. But why? Was it because she was genuinely afraid of a relationship after Adam? Or could it perhaps be normal girl nerves when facing a man one liked? Perhaps it had nothing to do with him being a killer at all. Maybe she was just too shy to tell him.

"Come on," Charlotte sang again. "Tell him! I don't mean right now, but soon. You going to let your fear stop you? Let it slip by because of one motherfucker? A misogynist like that? I haven't. I told you. I'm with Tim now and I'm really happy. Sure I remember things Adam did, but Tim isn't Adam. I have to remind myself of this. Michael isn't Adam either, Danielle. You have to remember this. Even if his… Life choices are… Unusual."

This made Danielle laugh for real now. "That's one way of putting it!"

Charlotte laughed with her. "You know what I mean."

There was a comfortable pause between them, before Charlotte spoke again. "So you were saying? What have they done to your cell?"

"Oh yeah! Bloody hell C! It's like being in a hearing test booth! I kid you not! It's totally sound proofed! Like, seriously. I have this little handset I pick up and my voice comes out of a speaker on the outside of my door. It even chimes like a PA when I press the talk button."

Charlotte burst out laughing. "Brilliant. You'll be asked to call people down to reception!"

Danielle mentally rolled her eyes. "Don't you bloody start!"

"Had that already have you?" Charlotte was still laughing.

"Twice at least."

"Brilliant. I love it."

"It's like fort Knox on the ears," Danielle said. "When the screen's shut it's really compressed. But at least it means no one can hear me."

"I bet you absolutely love that," Charlotte teased. "Fort Knox on the ears. Your favourite thing, ears!"

"Ok ok!" Danielle started giggling now in spite of herself. God she loved Charlotte Avery. She could always cheer her up no matter the circumstances.

"I bet Michael regretted it after you'd gone," Charlotte said after a short pause. "Seriously. I bet they'll reunite you and he'll comfort you the best way he can. You'll be touching his ears all night. I guarantee it."

"I hope you're right," Danielle tried to keep longing out of her tone, but knew she'd failed when Charlotte replied.

"Oh D, it's ok. I promise you; I know I am. He cares about you, you know that. He'd never hurt you Danielle Hayward, not in a million years."

Danielle smiled. "Thanks Charlotte, this is why I love you so much."

"No problem, I'll send you the bill in the post!"

"Ha ha."

"Who's kidding?"

The two girls laughed again, then lapsed in to a comfortable, companionable silence, even over miles of phone cable.

Derek Chancer shook the iPod for the third time. This was so fucking frustrating and weird. Had those fucking techs broken it when they examined it? That wouldn't surprise him. The problem was, he couldn't hear a damn thing. He'd heard Hayward's phone ring, even though he couldn't see her cell from his, just the first part of the door if he looked hard enough. She'd closed her door screen, but that had never stopped him hearing her before. What the fuck was going on?

He'd also checked the headphone socket three times with no luck. The volume control, charge and so on. Nothing worked. He couldn't hear a damn thing. Shit. This was bad. He didn't need anyone to tell him that. He wanted that money. God he needed it. He had a whole list of things he could purchase for his operating table when he got out of here, more creative ways to hurt and kill women. But they wouldn't buy themselves. He needed that cash!

But how would he even come close to getting it if the God damn iPod wasn't working? He made sure he was aiming it at her door yet again. Still total silence.

A few minutes later, he saw her screen lower again. She'd obviously finished her phone call. She'd stupidly thought previously the screen would protect her. Well it seemed to have actually done so this time.

Chancer was furious. Damn it! The woman had taken a phone call and he hadn't heard a word of it. He had nothing he could report back to his employers and in turn their Client. Not good.

Even standing at his door with the iPod he couldn't hear anything. But he couldn't do that for too long because if a guard saw him it would look exceptionally odd. Him standing at his door listening to music or watching something. Fuck!

The desire to kill Hayward consumed him again. God! If only he could. He'd seen her standing by Michael's cell next to his earlier and heartily wished Myers had done him a fucking favour and killed the bitch for him. But of course he wouldn't. Myers cared about Hayward.

Although, just for a second, Chancer had reconsidered this. He'd certainly looked like he'd wanted to kill someone. There was something in his eyes, manner… Chancer felt himself shiver at the memory.

That was why Hayward had screamed. Part of him couldn't blame her. Even if he most unfortunately wasn't the cause of it. He would be if he got the chance, he was determined on that. Then there'd just be the small problem of escaping Michael Myers before he himself was killed…

But he forced himself not to think about that. Not now anyway. He heard footsteps and saw two of the guards walking past his cell. As quickly and discretely as he could, he picked up his iPod and put the earphones in his ears.

"Jesus I'm tired," he heard one of them say as clearly as if he was standing in the cell with him.

"Tell me about it," said the other. "Not long left now until seven."

They continued walking. Chancer removed the earphones. Ok, so he'd heard them clear as a bell. So why the fuck hadn't he been able to hear a word Hayward said? This made no sense. Perhaps she hadn't answered her phone after all? After they'd interrogated him, had those fuckers done something to Hayward's door? Cell? But he couldn't see any of it except the front of the door, so had no way of knowing.

But if his suspicions were right, that meant he was in trouble. Firstly because he wouldn't be able to report anything to his employers which meant no money, but most concerningly, it meant they were on to him and had taken measures to protect Danielle. If the latter was indeed the case, then surely Michael Myers also knew? That part scared the shit out of him. Derek Chancer didn't like that thought. Not at all. He got no more sleep the rest of that night.