For the 4 British old school friends and horror fanatics, it's a lifelong dream. Halloween night in the old Myers house. So why once the tour guide has left, they're alone and the doors are locked does fear, tension and unease spring up among the group? After all, they are alone, aren't they? It's not like their actual host Michael Myers is at home tonight.
Tim rubbed his eyes, staring dully out of the window. He hated flying. Unfortunately it was a necessary evil for things like this. The only highlight of the journey was that he was sitting next to Louise. He'd liked her for years since they'd met at school. The 4 of them had been friends for 20 years. They'd met at the age of 5. They'd all been in the same class at school and the rest had been history. Though they were all taking different degrees, they hung out together at every possible opportunity. So here they were, they'd book this break off as soon as the booking had been confirmed. A 2 week holiday in Haddonfield Illinoi. The plan was once they'd landed, they'd get a cab to the hotel they were staying at. They each had their own room. Despite what you may think, none of them were couples. Hannah had just been brutally finished with by her Fiancé back in her home town of Bristol. The others really hoped this holiday would cheer her up. Jeff had a long term relationship back in London. As for him, he wanted Louise, but wasn't brave enough to tell her. She was beautiful, kind, intelligent and funny. Overused adjectives perhaps, but it was the truth. He knew that if he wasn't careful, someone else would snap her up and he wouldn't blame him. He'd resolved to tell her during this holiday, or forever hold his peace.
"Oh my God, I'm so excited!" Hannah's shrill voice jolted Jeff out of his sleep. Or at least what passed for sleep on board an aircraft. He couldn't help but scowl at her. Their alarms had gone off at 2 that morning and he'd just dropped off. Glancing at his watch, he saw he'd only been sleeping for just over an hour. This made his irritation spike. "Damn it Hannah," he glared at her. "I was asleep. We're all looking forward to this, but tell the whole plane why you don't?"
Hannah looked at him a little sheepishly. "Sorry. It's just I was reading the articles about the old Myers house on my phone and it just hit me all over again that we're going there. Us!" Jeff sighed, feeling his anger soften a little. "I know," he said, looking over at her in the seat next to him. "It is pretty exciting, can't lie there." He glanced at what Hannah was reading. It was about the murder of Judith, allegedly while she was brushing her hair in her bedroom, totally naked.
"Do you believe she was naked when she died?" Hannah asked him, grinning a little despite her best efforts not to. "Not a very dignified way to die."
He shrugged. "Why would I not? Her boyfriend had just left hadn't he?" Hannah grinned. "Don't need to wonder what they were up to! Studying, of course!" Jeff laughed. One of the things he'd always liked about Hannah was her dark and dry sense of humour. "Oh of course, study date. What on earth else could it have been?"
"If I was Mrs. Myers it'd freak me the hell out," Louise piped up from across the aisle. "Her 6 year old son no emotion in his eyes nothing, stabbing his 17 year old sister to death. Not just once, but again and again until…" Hannah shivered a little. "It wouldn't surprise me if she did freak out. He was admitted to Smith's Grove within hours wasn't he? Apparently Judith abused him verbally all the time too didn't she? Taunting him etc.? Not that I'm saying she deserved to die, hell that's what siblings do. But…" "Yeah," Louise agreed. "My brother does it all the time. But I never turned in to a Psychopath who never speaks and kills anyone who comes across me." "Just thank God we can use the past tense there," Jeff said. "He's still in Smith's Grove. At least we know for definite no one else is in danger from him."
"Ladies and gentlemen," said a disembodied voice over the intercom. "Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing. We are expected to hit the ground in about 10 minutes. Cabin crew secure cabin for landing please."
It was a relief for Hannah when they finally stepped out of the airport and towards their waiting taxi they booked months ago. Retrieving luggage etc. had been surprisingly easy, with little fuss or queuing. That was how she liked it. She remembered holidays with her parents where they'd waited for hours to get luggage back, immigration, etc. Not this time. Even that had been easy.
"Thank God for car heating!" Tim said as he climbed in to the leather seat, the others following behind him. They were all shivering. The weather forecast had said snow in Illinois for the day they arrived and it was also only 6 in the evening. Their body clocks were all stating midnight. Jet lag was going to be a bitch to fight off. At least Hannah thought, they were staying in the hotel for three days before their stay in the Myers house. Their holiday itself was only a week. They'd taken 2 weeks off their separate courses and would use the second to get over their jet lag a second time.
"Bell Hotel Haddonfield, is that right?" the driver asked. That'll cost you a fair bit, it'll take about an hour from here."
"We know," Jeff said and Hannah heard the edge to his voice. She rolled her eyes. Jeff was no good when he was tired. Plus the driver should know this they'd already booked it.
"Ok, long as you know," the driver said and Jeff pressed the button to slide up the glass privacy screen between them and the driver. "I need my bed," Hannah said. "I'm so tired I almost feel sick." The others nodded. "We'll get some food at the hotel tonight," Tim said. "Sound good all? We don't have to eat out tonight, then we can crash." Everyone nodded. They didn't talk much for the rest of the drive, but with about 5 minutes left they all started checking for their check in documents and other paperwork. Eventually they reached the hotel and check in was remarkably smooth too. Once they had their key cards, 2 bell boys came over and help carry their cases to their rooms. Once done, they all met in Jeff's room and ordered a quick dinner via room service before heading straight to their beds.
Michael Myers escapes from Smith's Grove hospital night before Halloween.
"Lou!" Hannah shouted. "Come on! I've always wanted to go in this shop!" Louise sighed, staring at the news article on her phone. Was it true? The night before they were supposed to stay in Michael Myers's old house? Surely not? Should she phone the company behind it Triple H and check, just in case? "Come on!" Hannah yelled again and Louise followed her friend in to the huge shop. Surely if it was real they'd phone and tell them, wouldn't they? They wouldn't deliberately put them in any danger, right? "Have you seen this?" Louise asked her friend, showing her the article. Hannah shrugged. "Yeah. Halloween joke to scare people, that's all."
"How do you know?" Louise asked, trying to keep unease out of her voice. Hannah looked grudgingly over from the rack of clothes. "Because," she said patiently. "One if it'd been true the company would've phoned and told us calling it off and 2, its Halloween tomorrow. It's just to scare people."
"Not very funny if that's true," Tim muttered coming up behind them and rolling his eyes at Hannah who was once again absorbed in the clothing. Gently he took Louise's hand. "I'll phone them tonight and check ok?"
Louise nodded and for the rest of the day tried to forget what she'd read. Hannah was surely right. Just a fright. While in bad taste and not exactly funny that was surely all it was. So why did she feel goose bumps up her arms? Why did she want more than ever to call tomorrow night off? Now she didn't want to be anywhere near Michael Myers's house, but on the next flight home.
Jeff was almost fizzing with excitement as he packed his small overnight case the next afternoon. This was it, by God this was it! He too had seen the news article of Myers's apparent escape and had grinned. Just before Halloween, nice move from the papers. Total bollocks of course. Myers had been locked up for years and there was nothing to suggest he'd escaped. Jeff couldn't wait to see his old house. He ensured he had everything he would need then knocked on Hannah's door to check she too was ready for the night ahead.
Hannah squealed with excitement as the taxi drew up outside the hotel. This was it; it was time. She and Jeff were not at all worried about what they'd seen the day before and had spent most of it trying to persuade Louise and Tim not to be either. A Halloween fool's day, they'd insisted. Just to give people a fright. While she could see it may not seem funny, the idea was a good one. Dark humoured and surely they as horror fans should see that. Tim and Louise had eventually nodded but Hannah could see they were still uneasy. They'd forget it when they got there though she was sure of it. They'd been looking forward to this as much as she and Jeff had.
Eventually the taxi stopped and all 4 of them gasped, unable to help themselves. They'd stopped at what looked almost like the entrance to a theme park. The triple H company logo over a huge arch in blood red letters.
HADDONFIELD HORROR HOUSE. "Wo," Jeff drew in breath. "Haven't seen that before. That's fucking awesome!"
"Didn't you register that's what Triple H stands for?" Hannah gave him a playful nudge. He shook his head. Tim and Louise were looking at it too now, their eyes wide. Was that fear? "Come on guys!" Hannah said yet again, this time a little less patiently. "It's fucking cool!" Tim looked back at her; his gaze steady. "You know," he said quietly. "I'm not so sure I agree."
They stepped out of the taxi and through the blood red arch decorated with masks and knives. Myers's face stared down at them from every direction. Tim looked up and saw why. Holograms. Myers's dark eyes and blank expression sent a shiver down his spine. The only sound was slow, calm breathing from unseen speakers. Although it couldn't be Myers's breathing. It had to be an impression? No one would get close enough to the masked killer to record a sound bite of his actual breathing without dying, of that Tim was certain. While damn scary, he couldn't deny the technology was impressive. Then he immediately chided himself for the thought. Triple H had turned Myers's house in to a full on damn attraction? Nothing about this had been mentioned in their booking. It was sick. They must make a fortune out of this. Seconds later, a tall slim woman approached them.
"Hi!" The smile on her face was huge. "You must be Hannah, Louise, Tim and Jeff! I'm Maria and I'll be your tour guide this evening!"
Tour guide? Tim stared at her. What the heck? He could see Jeff was thinking the same thing by his raised eyebrows. Maria's smile grew if possible even wider. "We didn't mention it in the booking ladies and gents, because we wanted it to be a surprise. As you can see, this is Haddonfield Horror House and we've… Well, expanded it somewhat."
There's one word for it, Tim thought as he followed the others slowly through the arch. As soon as they stepped through another logo confronted them. This time, a huge triple M.
"M?" Tim asked Maria who nodded enthusiastically. "Michael Myers Merchandise," she said happily. Tim stared at her, his mouth opening and closing not sure what to say. They'd made a damn merchandise store? This was just too far. For the first time in his life, Tim was wishing he hadn't read so much horror. This was after all the true stuff and these people were making damn money out of it! He vowed when they returned to England, he at least would read something else. Thrillers had their appeal, or fiction, or… Well just about anything else.
Louise stepped up to Tim, taking his hand as Jeff and Hannah dived in to triple M. "You ok? It's um, a bit far isn't it?"
"Yes," Tim said slowly, looking back at her. "Just a bit." Louise and he followed the other 2 and Maria in to the shop. Louise's eyes widened. She had never seen so much merchandise in her life. Mugs, pens, keyrings, ties, shirts, masks, fake knifes the list went on. All featuring Myers's face and the triple M logo. "Michael would make a fucking fortune out of this if he knew," Jeff whistled. Louise couldn't help but glare at him. "Jeff, that's…"
"Come on!" Jeff put his hands up in defence. "You have to admit that's true! I mean look at this place and this is just the shop! Michael Myers is a damn worldwide legend!"
"He's also a killer," Louise said very quietly. "Would you take the risk if he was standing in front of you now that he'd shake your hand and sign your shirt? Or do you think it more likely he'd stick a knife straight through it and in to your chest? I'd personally be betting for the latter."
"Point taken," Hannah nodded.
"Ah come on!" Jeff beamed at the other three. "I'd talk him round! The guy's legacy is… Wow! Everyone knows his damn name! I'd love to meet the guy!"
"I wouldn't," Tim said softly thinking again of the news article. Louise caught his eye and could tell they were both thinking the same thing. Good thing you're so confident that article is a joke, or else you, we, just might have met your damn worldwide legend...
A few minutes later, Hannah watched as Jeff came out of triple M holding a load of merchandise including copies of the famous white, emotionless mask he'd worn for the babysitter murders in 1978. People back home had begged him to bring them one back. But he also had at least one of everything triple M sold. He must've spent a fortune. As if reading Hannah's mind, he grinned. "Been saving all year for this," he said.
"Shopping all done? Are we ready for stage 2 ladies and gents? Maria asked in her best tour guide voice. Hannah beamed at her then the others. "Hell yes! "They followed Maria outside and on to what looked like a platform. Hannah gasped in awe. There was what looked like an old fashioned ghost train carriage waiting for them, Haddonfield horror house written in what looked like fake blood across its front. Yet again, Myers's face stared down at them from its outside. The whole carriage was painted blood red. They all climbed in one by one, the carriage seating 6. Maria was at the front, ready to pull the switch which would set them in motion. She pressed a button once they were all in and the door automatically hissed closed. "Be prepared for the last nightmare of your life," a voice came over a speaker alongside the same slow, calm breathing. "You'll not wake up to tell about it. You'll be dead."
Jeff beamed, feeling like a child at a funfair. In spite of themselves, Louise and Tim smiled back at him. Hannah looked just as excited. As the safety bars came down automatically and silently, Hannah reflected on what the voice had just said. Last nightmare of your life. That was a good one. For anyone who encountered Myers that was the truth. They were about to learn his story while safe from the man himself. As the train slowly descended in to pitch black darkness, Hannah prepared for whatever came next. Difference being, she would live to tell about it. She could see herself on Twitter tomorrow writing all about it. Or Instagram. This was going to be the best night of her life, not the last.
It was pitch black. Jeff could see absolutely nothing until soft lighting came on inside the carriage. It too was red. The carriage twisted and turned down what felt like a long bumpy tunnel, then finally came to a Holt. All the time, the calm breathing continued, as did haunting music from the speakers. Now he was glad he'd bought such a big bag with him. It was now full of Myers merchandise. When they finally came back out in to the light, Jeff saw they were outside the front door of Michael Myers's house. Triple H had built tracks all the way up to it for the train. This was it! Excitement fluttered in his stomach. Despite Myers's crime, he meant what he'd said to the others. The guy was a legend. His crime known worldwide. His silence, blank gaze… Jeff felt himself shiver a little. Louise had probably been right. He'd be much more likely to receive a knife to the chest from Myers as opposed to a handshake, but still…
"Here we are ladies and gents," Maria grinned at them. Louise stood up first, the first to exit the carriage. The others followed. As she was first in line, Louise was the first to enter the house behind Maria. The downstairs of the house seemed unremarkable. Living room, kitchen, rooms one would expect to see in any home. It was upstairs they wanted to see. But even so she felt herself tense as they reached the top of the staircase, automatically reaching out for Tim's hand again. They entered Judith Myers's bedroom.
"You probably already know the story," Maria began, her voice hushed. "But I'll tell you anyway. Judith was here in front of this mirror brushing her hair, when her 6 year old brother Michael crept up behind her with a kitchen knife and stabbed her not once, twice, but to death. She didn't even get a chance to scream." Louise felt herself shiver.
"How do you know that?" Hannah asked.
"Because Margaret Myers reports hearing nothing when it happened and she was just downstairs at the time. They only knew it happened when they found her body and saw Michael in his mask. He was standing over her, his eyes blank, dead. They've never regained expression."
"Is it true he was committed to Smith's Grove only hours after the killing?" Jeff asked. Maria nodded. "Yes. The dead look in his eyes and face, his calm breathing and complete silence were the alarm bells. His parents called for help and he was taken there immediately. Dr Samuel Loomis met him hours later for the first time."
"Loomis wanted him executed didn't he? Tim asked. Again, the tour guide nodded. "Yes, he campaigned for just that for years. But it never happened. I think people were trying to believe Myers would come back to them, or perhaps was too criminally insane to suffer the effects of the death penalty as you or I would."
Jeff was sure he could see a spec of old blood on the mirror. He blinked, but it was gone. He'd imagined it, must have. "How old is Michael now?" He asked.
"He's 51," Maria replied.
Jeff nodded. "Thought so."
"Ok," Maria said once they were all back in the living room half an hour later. "So just got to go through the basic safety briefing with you all. The doors will all be locked when I leave, the keys will be on the door frames. This is to prevent other tourists from gaining entry during your booking. I will be back to collect you at 10 tomorrow morning." Tim glanced at his watch. It was now 8 in the evening. That gave them fourteen hours here. Maria pointed to the coffee table which was covered in information leaflets. "If you need anything anytime, call us someone will answer whatever time. Any emergency, take the back door as a fire exit, or if that's not a possibility, go out the front. Now you have seen Judith's and Michael's rooms you are not permitted to enter them again and they are now locked as a result. Also, any pictures are forbidden. All of your phones will be checked in the morning to ensure none have been taken. There is no internet access or phone signal here so you cannot access your social media and post any. If you need to call us, use the phone over there as yours won't work." She pointed to a wall mounted receiver. "When you pick that up, it will automatically dial straight through to us, you can't make outside calls with it either." Tim looked across at Hannah at this news, trying to suppress a grin. The woman was a social media queen. Sure enough, Hannah was looking crushed. She'd have absolutely loved to send pictures for her hundreds of Twitter or Instagram followers.
"Do you understand how the food system works?" They all nodded. Tim couldn't lie, he'd been impressed with the machine in the dining room. Damn Americans, first for technology. It was a touch screen containing a huge menu and one selected what they wanted from food, drink, desserts or snacks. There was a lot of choice. During the few seconds food was being heated if hot, drinks poured etc., the same breathing they'd heard before was heard from a speaker, before a small slot opened and whatever requested came out, as Myers's face appeared on the screen seeming to look straight at the user. It was all included in the price, although at 500 pounds a night, Tim hoped so. Finally, Maria showed them a cupboard full of board games, puzzles and magazines etc., ways to spend their time. There was no TV in the house, not even a radio. "Does anyone have any further questions?"
Tim nodded. "Yes. I received a news article," he pulled his phone out and it up from where he'd saved it. Sure enough, zero bars. He showed it to the tour guide. To his surprise, a smile crossed her face. "Ah yes, that." She grinned. "We send it to every tourist the night before they stay here. That's one reason we asked for all your phone numbers when you booked. Bit of fright value. It obviously never came up in the reviews," her smile broadened. Tim felt a chill in his stomach. It wouldn't, he thought. Because Triple H moderate them before they're posted. How easy would it be to edit that out? Not for the first time he found himself wondering just who these guys were. "But I can assure you," Maria continued, still smiling. "There's absolutely nothing to it. Mr. Michael Myers your esteemed host is still locked up in Smith's Grove hospital."
"Send that to the families of the people he killed there," Tim muttered, not appreciating the humour at all. "What about the guy Myers shoved a plastic knife down the throat of so he choked to death on it? Or the one he smashed his skull in against his own cell bars? Or the one he strangled, or…"Maria's smile faltered slightly then for the first time. "All very unfortunate," she looked steadily at Tim. "But you did after all choose to come here, you get what you pay for." Tim glanced at Jeff. Even he was looking a little unsure now about this latest unmentioned part of the Triple H package. Maria smiled at the 4 of them. "If we'd told you, there would be no surprises left. This is after all horror and its Halloween night."
"One day you know, you might send it and it'll be real," Louise said quietly. Maria looked at her and actually laughed. "Have you ever seen Smith's Grove? Security is way too tight. Michael Myers is going nowhere. A perfectly safe, harmless bit of Halloween horror." Before any of them could say anything else, she changed the subject. "You all know where your rooms are yes?" Again, they all nodded. Triple H had converted 2 upstairs bedrooms of the house in to tourist ones. Louise and Hannah would share, as would Jeff and Tim. They all used one bathroom.
"Anything else?" Maria looked at each of them in turn. "I must just make it clear if you're thinking of changing your minds, you may do so now but you will not receive any of your money back and will also face late cancelation fees because another lot of tourists could've had your place. It'd be an extra 2000 dollars, double the usual as its Halloween." Tim heard Jeff's quiet whistle. The 4 of them looked at each other and finally Jeff spoke after they exchanged silent nods. "We're not changing our minds."
"Good, good," Maria smiled again. "Anything else? The longer I'm here, the less time you'll have here to yourselves," she grinned. Louise and Tim looked at each other. If anyone would've changed their minds it would've been the 2 of them. Triple H had one ambition. Money. That was blatantly obvious. Everything from Triple M to the late cancelation charges, which Tim supposed he could understand. But moderating the reviews? He'd wondered why they did that when he'd first seen the website. Now, he wasn't sure he liked the real answer. Getting rid of negative comments, he'd thought then. Now?
Shortly afterwards Maria left with a cheerful, "enjoy your Halloween night folks." The heavy front door clicked shut and locked. Tim wasn't aware he'd let out a breath of relief. Or was it unease? They were now all alone here, locked in all be it with access to the keys until the next morning. That was what they'd wanted, he reminded himself, what they'd paid for. He knew he should be as excited as Jeff and Hannah, thrilled they were actually here at last. So why instead did he feel a different thrill? Plane, cold, fear. Nor could he shake the feeling they'd just made the worst and possibly last mistake of their lives.
Jeff crossed in to the dining room and grabbed a coke from the machine. "Thanks Michael," he grinned as it came out and Myers's blank eyes looked straight back at him. Heading back in to the lounge, he sat down next to Hannah, who was looking through all the leaflets. He smiled affectionately. Ever the reader. "Did you get that news article too Jeff?" She asked. "The one we now know is fake?" Jeff nodded. For a fake one it'd looked remarkably real, very well done. "I guess I can see why they did that," he said slowly. "Halloween horror and all that. I've read about Smith's Grove and Maria is right. Michael Myers isn't going anywhere."
He grinned as Tim drew out a game of monopoly all be it the American version, an all-time favourite of the 4 of them. Opening the box he laid the board on the coffee table. "I get the iron," Louise said with a smirk. The other three laughed. Louise had just moved in to her own flat and the others had bought her an iron as one of their many presents. She was the kind of person who always wore freshly washed and ironed clothes. She hated creases anywhere.
"Damn May fare," Hannah pretended to pout as her thimble landed on it putting her straight out of the game with its 2 houses. "Or whatever the bloody American version of it is! Regardless, it's only the most expensive property on the whole damn board!" Tim grinned. "Yes! Thanks Hans," he grabbed all her money with glee. "That's what, 600 dollars to me? You had too many properties! You always do that!"
"That's because I want to build on them," Hannah argued. "Plus the railways are great if someone lands on them."
"Ah but darling," Tim said as if explaining something to a 2 year old. "None of us did, there's no point having lots of properties if you can't build on them because you don't have the cash to do so. The railways are only 200 a peace, so they don't help you much. Houses and hotels equal money, not properties alone."
"Shut it," Hannah pouted at him. "I know but one of these days I'll beat you with that strategy, you watch." She watched with amusement as first Louise then Jeff lost to Tim, his shoe token landing straight on one of his hotels. Tim was a damn good player of the game and seemed to really understand the strategy behind it. He'd tried to explain it to the others, but he was still exceptionally hard to beat.
After that they moved on to Uno, which Hannah was the undisputed queen of. After 4 hands, she'd won every time.
"How did they get all these pictures of him?" Louise asked looking at the walls. Myers stared down at them from every direction. "It's not like he gave permission did he?"
"Lou," Tim said in the same patient voice he'd used with Hannah during Monopoly. "They just copied the ones which were taken from Smith's Grove. I expect the hospital know about triple H, it's too big an enterprise and too popular for them not to." He gestured at a picture of Myers clearly around 17, then a current one at 21. He felt himself shiver. Myers was damn tall and looked terrifying even without his mask. In every one, Myers's expression didn't change a bit. His blank, cold eyes staring silently back at Tim, as if daring him. Louise swallowed and Tim was sure she'd noticed the same thing, which was confirmed a second later when she spoke. "Jesus he's creepy," she said quietly. "I didn't realise just how creepy until tonight. Look at his face! Have you ever seen anyone stand so still? He even looks at you from the damn food machine! He's all over this place."
"Well yes," Hannah said before she could stop herself. "He would be Lou. This is his old house after all and Triple H have designed it that way." Louise rolled her eyes at her and headed in to the dining room. Grabbing a coffee, she tried to ignore both the breathing and his face. Not an easy task. She thought she'd never see a cup of coffee the same way again. Even the plastic cup had his face on it, along with a huge triple H.
Crossing back in to the lounge (she'd had to endure it 4 times) she handed Jeff, Tim and Hannah their requests. She'd offered to get them as she was going anyway. Hannah unwrapped her cookie with a grateful smile, Jeff his huge sandwich. "Thanks Lou." "Do you think Michael knows about this?" Louise asked as she sat down with her coffee and sausage sandwich. Jeff shrugged. "No idea, if he knows anything that is. But perhaps. Would anyone have bothered to tell him? The man's a silent, murderous Psychopath. Why would he care?"
Tim smirked. "Oh yeah, I can see it now. By the way Michael before you stick that knife in me, I'd just like to inform you that your house has been converted in to a damn theme park complete with scary train ride and shop. You'd make a fortune if you could reach it, now you know go ahead I'll die in peace." Louise glared at him but was unable to hold back a grin. "You sarcastic bastard! But seriously. He must know, mustn't he?"
"Why?" Jeff asked. From what I heard this house apparently became Smith's Grove's property when his parents died. He doesn't have to know anything as it's not his property now." Louise shrugged. She had no answer to that question.
When they'd finished eating, they headed upstairs to bed. It was now one in the morning and despite where they were they were exhausted. Louise turned out the landing lights and prepared to close her and Hannah's door. Just before she did so she glanced out. Had she just seen a flicker of white like that from Michael's mask and 2 blank eyes looking straight at her? She blinked. She was letting this place get under her skin that was all. That after all was what it had been designed to do. When she looked out a second time, nothing. Get a grip! She told herself as she closed the heavy door.
Tim couldn't sleep. Although he'd never admit it, the pictures of Myers everywhere had freaked him out a little to. Louise and he had always been the more reserved, quieter members of the foursome. Jeff and Hannah took everything running and therefore took the most risks. Tim thought it wouldn't phase him seeing Myers's face everywhere. This was after all as Hannah had said, his old house and what they'd paid for. He wouldn't say as much but he was secretly thankful Myers's face was not all over the bedrooms. It seemed they were the only part of the house which they weren't. Was that on purpose? Tim tossed and turned in the huge comfortable bed but try as he might he couldn't close his eyes. He glanced over at Jeff, but his friend was snoring lightly, out for the count, clearly not bothered about where they were. That said, he'd always been a heavy sleeper. Although he snored it was quiet and Tim hardly noticed it after years of sharing with him when on holidays abroad, etc. Tim wasn't sure why, but when he closed their door he'd engaged the lock. Stupid he knew as only they and the 2 girls were here, but that prickle of fear he'd felt downstairs wouldn't leave him. Damn. Triple H had certainly got the horror effect spot on. Maybe that was why they'd given their guests such comfortable beds. Because they knew their occupants wouldn't sleep. Ironic, more dark humour. Tim was just beginning to realise dark humour was triple H's middle name.
At first when Jeff woke, he had no idea where he was. He lay there for a second, looking around him and listening to Tim's soft snores. Then it clicked. Myers's old house. He glanced at his wrist watch on his bedside table. It was three AM. The witching hour, he thought with a grin. On Halloween too. Perfect. Jeff had been thinking about what he was about to do for weeks, ever since the booking had been confirmed. He'd give his friends a Halloween they'd never forget. Standing, he quietly pulled out one of the Michael Myers masks from his bag, slipping it over his face. He wasn't as tall as Michael not by a longshot, but that didn't matter. As long as his friends only saw his face in the dark. Grinning to himself, he stepped out in to the corridor. Just as he did so, Hannah came out, probably heading for a glass of water or something. She always liked to have one by her bedside. Bingo. Jeff stepped in to the light, just enough for the deathly pale mask to be seen. Oh this was going to be so much fun. If he played this right, they would get the scare of their lives.
Hannah climbed back up the stairs, plastic water glass in hand. She was thirsty, but also developing a headache she was considering taking some of her painkillers for. She too was struggling to sleep, though had no idea why. Just as she reached the top, she saw the deathly pale mask looking straight back at her. She screamed, her water cup crashing to the floor. Immediately Tim's and Louise's doors opened as they ran out. "What?" Louise asked, terror in her voice. "Hans what is it?"
"I… I thought I saw…" Hannah gasped, trying to regain her breath, trying to think. She couldn't have done, could she? "What?" It was Tim's turn to ask. "I thought I saw Michael's mask," Hannah eventually managed to say, clutching her heart. "Came straight out at me from the darkness. Jesus it scared me."
"Shit!" Tim said. "Where's Jeff? Is he ok? He didn't come out." He ran back in to their bedroom, but there was no sign of their friend. The fear was back, gnawing at Tim's insides. "Where is he?" Hannah asked in a high voice as she joined him. "I," Tim swallowed. "I don't know. I'll check downstairs." The girls followed him at a run.
"Could it be one of Triple H trying to scare us?" Hannah asked. "Maybe they sneaked in to do it?" Tim shook his head. "Doors are still locked and keys there," he said. "That was the first thing I checked when I got down here." They checked every downstairs room, no sign of Jeff. That was until Louise screamed this time. "What the fuck is that?" Tim ran over and saw what she had. There was blood on the dining room floor.
"Jesus," Hannah clutched at her chest again. "Where the fuck is he and what is that? It… It can't be blood, can, can it?"
"What does it look like?" Tim snapped before he could stop it. "It's blood and you think you saw Michael's mask." I knew we should've turned back, he thought. Had that news article actually been real? What if Triple H had sent another thinking it was the only one and in fact… Stop it! Tim yelled at himself. Just find him first then think about that when you can get the hell out of here! They ran back upstairs minutes later, still no sign of Jeff. It was only when they entered his and Tim's room the second time that Hannah heard a slight sound. She grabbed Tim's arm to stop him. "Did you hear that?" Both he and Louise shook their heads that was until it came again. A few seconds later, it became clearer and clearer. It was laughter. The three of them stared as Jeff stepped out of the darkness, holding his Myers mask and doubled over in hysterics.
"Oh, my, God," he gasped clutching his stomach. "Your faces… Jesus that was, was…" He collapsed in laughter again. "We may not be allowed to take pictures of here but I got some grate ones of your faces, oh fuck me that was hilarious! You all looked fucking terrified! Happy Halloween all! That was the best fucking prank ever!" It took him a few seconds to registered the other three weren't laughing, but were glaring at him. "You fucking son of a bitch," Tim snarled, a first. He'd never called Jeff that in his life. "You scared us to fucking death! That may have been funny anywhere else, but not here damn you Jeff! Not in his old house! What the fuck man? Seriously bad taste!"
Louise and Hannah were both nodding, Hannah still trying to calm herself. "You planned that didn't you?" She snarled at Jeff. "You're always planning how to trick, scare or confuse us. But that? Here?"
In spite of their obvious anger, Jeff couldn't stop grinning. Oh that'd been just perfect and they'd fallen for it hook, line and sinker. He continued to laugh, that was until Tim stepped forward and punched him straight to the face. Not hard, but enough to make his point. Jeff's laughter died and he stared at his friend, bewildered. "What the fuck?"
"That was out of order," Tim snarled. "Sprayed some of that fucking fake blood from Triple M all over the dining room floor did you? You scared the girls and me to death and we were all terrified when we couldn't find you, all we were thinking of was you. We searched this whole fucking place to find you. All the time you were pranking us. Happy fucking Halloween yourself. God I almost wish Michael was actually really here to finish you off! Jesus Jeff I had no idea you could be so cruel!" With that, he strode off after the 2 girls, slamming the door behind him.
Tim sat in the living room with one arm around each woman, fuming. Jeff had been completely out of order to do what he had. They may have booked to stay in a house of horror, but that didn't mean they wanted extra scares included from their own group! "You ok?" He said quietly to Louise, who was still shaking. She managed a shaky smile. "Yeah, but… Jesus." Tim nodded, as did Hannah. "What was he trying to do?" The latter asked. "Scare us or something? He always did have a shit sense of humour. I…" She hesitated. Louise and Tim looked questioningly at her. "I thought I saw a white mask and someone looking at me before I shut the door earlier. But it must've just been Jeff. Little shit."
At that moment the door opened. It was Jeff, holding drinks and snacks for all of them. The other three glared at him as he approached, but took their hot drinks and food grudgingly. "Look," Jeff said, perching on the edge of the sofa. "I'm sorry ok? It was just meant to be a bit of harmless fun. Always wanted to wear his mask, there was no malice intended." Hannah glared at him again. "Nearly gave me a fucking heart attack you jerk!"
"I know," Jeff gave an apologetic and embarrassed smile. "I'll be honest, I thought you'd see the funny side of it after a while."
"You were wrong," Louise said quietly. Jeff nodded. "Clearly." Tim felt his own anger soften a little as he looked at his friend. "Look man, I'm sorry I punched you for my part. That too was out of order. But Jesus Jeff, you scared the shit out of us. I know that was your intent all along, but…"
"Don't worry about it man," Jeff stood and grasped Tim's hand. "It's cool, I guess you could say I deserved it."
"Too right you did," Louise muttered. She was having the hardest time forgiving him. "Just don't do it again ok? I already saw you once before you did it tonight in that damn mask, so not a third time ok?" Jeff looked at her in surprise. "Eh? I've only worn it that once." Louise shrugged. "Don't lie, just don't do it again. I saw you Jeff, before I closed the door earlier." Jeff opened his mouth a second time, but Tim stopped him before he could speak. "Let's just get back to bed ok? We'll need it if we want some time here before 10 tomorrow. Come on." The other three nodded, following him without another word.
Jeff lagged a little behind the others as he heard the girl's bedroom door close. He was puzzled and a little hurt. Louise had accused him of lying. Why? He hated lying to anyone and generally tried not to as a rule. But she was adamant she'd seen him earlier in a Myers mask. That hadn't been true. He'd done it that once as a prank that was all. He sighed, heading downstairs and back in to the kitchen for a glass of water. How could a harmless joke against his three best friends backfire so badly? It was as he was heading back towards the stairs about 10 minutes later that he saw it. The flash of white. He turned, surprised. He couldn't hear anything, but could still see that flash of white. At that exact moment, the lights went out.
"Shit," Jeff muttered, groping for the switch. It clicked, but nothing happened. Pulling out his phone, he turned on the torch. It hardly penetrated the darkness at all. From upstairs, he heard one of the girls shout. "Who's turned the lights off?" So it wasn't his imagination. Slowly, Jeff walked back up towards the base of the stairs. "No idea," he called back. "They're out down here too."
"Power cut?" Tim called.
"Possibly," Jeff called back. "Give me a minute I'll check it out." Not for the first time, Jeff was exceptionally thankful he'd gone with his heart's desire and taken an electrician course. Although he hadn't expected it to be needed here, now. Quickly he headed over to the fuse box. He wasn't fully qualified yet so technically he wasn't supposed to be doing this, but tough shit. He wasn't going to leave himself and his best friends in total darkness. It was as he was checking it out that he saw it again. That flash of white.
He turned and this time there was no mistaking it. It was a Michael Myers mask. Jeff laughed nervously. "Ah come on Tim! I said I was sorry man! What the hell? Trying to scare me back? It's not working." There was total silence. But the man in the mask was still there. Again, Jeff swung his torch around and this time it illuminated him. Hang on, was his first shocked thought. I'm taller than Tim and this guy's way taller than me. What the hell? Jeff looked to see if Tim was perhaps secretly standing on a table or something to make himself taller. He wasn't. That was when Jeff heard the footstep behind him. Nope, this guy was definitely walking around. A triple H employee? Jeff felt anger surge through him. If that was the case, he'd have a serious complaint against them in the morning. "What the fuck man?" He turned on the intruder in front of him. "Who the hell are you? Is this supposed to be a joke? If it is, it isn't funny! You from Triple H trying to scare us? You failed! Jokes over pal. Get lost!" That was the first time Jeff heard the slow, calm breathing. Sure he'd heard it before in this house, but from the food machine in the dining room and the attraction before they'd entered. This… That was when it hit him, cold, real and terrifying. Fear. The news article Maria had said was fake, the one he and Hannah had been persuading Tim and Louise all day yesterday was. Michael Myers escapes from Smith's Grove hospital night before Halloween. "Ah, that. We send it to every tourist the night before they stay here…" "One day you know, you might send that and it'll be real…"
"Hey Tim!" Jeff yelled. "Get down here! Now! Please, I'm begging you! This is not a joke!" There was no answer. Shit, Jeff thought. Oh fuck! This is really, really bad… He turned around, half hoping he'd dreamed the whole thing. He hadn't. The masked man was now standing right in front of him. Jeff once again heard his slow, calm breathing, just before he registered the huge knife rising up towards him. "I'd love to meet the guy; Michael Myers is a damn worldwide legend…" "Do you think he'd shake your hand and sign your shirt, or stick a knife straight through it and in to your chest?"
Michael Myers was standing right in front of him. Jeff desperately tried to speak, but he couldn't. That was when Myers's hand closed on his arm, yanking him forward towards him. Jeff was too terrified to resist. Had Myers heard everything he'd said earlier about him? Jeff was sure the answer was yes when Myers grabbed his hand as if in some cruel mockery of a handshake, before slamming him against the back door so hard, Jeff was sure he felt his back break. Agony shot through him so severely, he was sure he was about to lose consciousness under it. Myers released his hand which fell limply to his side. "Michael Myers," Jeff just managed to say, before the knife sank through his shirt and straight in to his chest.
Tim had heard Jeff's shout, but was still too annoyed to react straight away. He was now also pissed off the lights had gone out. What the hell was up with that? "Hey Jeff!" He called as he came down the stairs. "Got those lights back on yet? You're the God damn electrician around here! What the fuck?" Silence. Tim felt his anger spike again. "Alright Jeff, I'll forgive you if you just turn on those damn fucking lights! You turned them off didn't you? So stick them back on already! Don't fuck with the power, idiot!"
"Where the fuck is he hiding?" Louise asked as she came sleepily down the stairs. "Jerk. To think I liked him all these years." Tim smiled at her, small but there. "God knows. Lou, get me a glass of water would you babe? I'll see if I can find him." Louise nodded, heading for the kitchen. In any other circumstances she'd have told Tim to fuck off and get it himself. But right now she felt sorry for him. Jeff was being a fucking arsehole right now and he'd comforted her and Hannah after Jeff's cruel shit idea of a joke. She crossed in to the kitchen and towards the sink to grab a glass, and screamed.
After what Hannah said to Jeff about nearly having a heart attack, Louise Bell was sure she actually really was. She closed her eyes and opened them again, desperately telling herself it was another of Jeff's pranks. But it wasn't. The red blood spreading over the kitchen floor was not the fake stuff Jeff had bought from Triple M and used before. This was real. As was the corpse against the back door, held in place by the knife through his chest. It was Jeff. Louise stared at him, first hit by shock, then unbelievable grief. "Tim!" She yelled, her voice cracking with tears. "Hannah! You have to get in here now!" They didn't respond immediately, she guessed they were still upstairs looking for Jeff. She could hear Tim running from room to room shouting his friend's name. "Tim!" She yelled again. "I'm serious! Get down here! Now! I… I've found him…" Still nothing. Louise stood there paralysed for a second then ran in to the lounge and for the wall mounted phone. They needed help and now. She didn't have to think too hard who was responsible for this. "One day it'll be real," she remembered saying to Maria, ice shooting through her heart. Oh the fucking irony! She grabbed the phone; the line was dead. Desperately, she replaced and grabbed it again. Same result. She turned just as Tim ran down the stairs. "Lou! What…" She didn't give him time to continue. Shaking from head to foot she grabbed his hand and pulled him in to the kitchen. "Lou!" He tried again. "Babe what…"
But that was as far as he got as his eyes found Jeff pinioned against the back door by the knife through his chest. He looked once, twice, as Louise watched his expression undoubtedly go through the same emotions as hers had. Disbelief, denial, shock and then terrible grief. "No," Tim said very quietly. "No, no…" Louise wrapped her arms around him, the only bit of comfort she could offer. "Michael Myers," Tim said in just above a whisper, tears falling shamelessly down his face. "He's here, in his house. Lou babe, we need to get Hannah and get the fuck out of here!"
"Don't have to tell me twice! The phone's…" She started and saw Tim nod grimly. "Motherfucker's disabled it and the lights. So we need to be proactive on our own. Keys. We know where they are, come on!"
"So does he," said a quiet voice. They turned to see Hannah standing behind them. She was as white as chalk, but Tim could see resolve in her terrified gaze. Respect gushed up in his heart, as did affection. Hannah Clarke was no one's fool. "I looked where Maria told us they were. He's taken them from the doorframes. We're trapped in here."
"Fuck that," Tim snarled. "Michael Myers wants to play tough guy with us? Boogeyman? Let him! He sure as fuck isn't going to kill any more of us! I promise you!" Hannah looked at Jeff one last time as the tears flowed freely down her face, managing a nod. Louise was also crying silently. Tim grabbed both girls by the hand and ran in to the lounge towards the main front window. "What…" Hannah tried to say through her chattering teeth as she shook with fear. Tim didn't answer, just tried the window. It was locked. "Motherfucker," he snarled, grabbing the coffee table they'd played Monopoly on what felt like a lifetime ago. He felt his grief intensify as he thought of Hannah trying to help Jeff at his rubbish Uno skills.
"You'll never win that way, you're meant to get rid of your cards not gain them, duh!" No! He shook himself. He couldn't think of that now! Not yet! He had to survive as did Hannah and Louise, then they'd morn Jeff the way he deserved. He'd get the best fucking funeral money could buy. Taking a deep breath, Tim slammed the coffee table against the window, which shattered. "Send me the bill Myers," Tim yelled in fury. "Motherfucker." Tim didn't see Myers standing in front of him, not even when the masked killer slit his throat with one shard of lethal glass through his neck.
Louise and Hannah screamed in unison as Tim fell backwards, landing in the shards of glass. Hannah shoved Louise as hard as she could towards the window. "Go!" She yelled at her friend. "There's nothing we can do for him now! We can't help him! Go!" Louise was shaking her head fiercely, tears streaming down her face. She knelt beside the dying Tim and put her arms around him, oblivious of the glass. "Tim!" She sobbed. "Tim please, hang on! We'll get you help! Just please stay with me! Please…"
"Lou… Louise!" Tim was gargling in his own blood. "Listen to me!" The urgency in his weak, dying voice silenced her and she looked down at him. His eyes were struggling to focus on her. Tears landed on his face. "Tim!" She couldn't speak. "Lou, I love you," Tim whispered. "I always have. Get out of here, don't let him kill you too…"
Then his eyes closed. "Tim!" Louise screamed. But she knew he was gone. Self-hatred grabbed her then. Years and years she'd wanted to tell Tim she loved him, as in really loved him more than a friend and it'd happened like this? He'd told her with his dying breath? "I love you too Tim," she sobbed. "I always have! I should've told you…"
"Louise!" Hannah yelled. "Darling I'm so, so sorry! But come on! We have to get out of here like he said or they'll have died in vain!" Louise knew she was right, but her body wouldn't obey her terrified brain. She couldn't move. Gently, she closed Tim's eyes and kissed his lips, once, the only kiss she would ever get from him, the last kiss. "I FUCKING HATE YOU MICHAEL MYERS!" She shouted so loudly she was sure her voice box itself ripped. Hannah shoved Louise towards and out of the window as fast as she could. But before she could follow her, Myers's strong hand had grabbed her ankle, pulling her back to the floor. "Louise!" She shouted. "Go! Don't try and play the hero! Get out of here! Just run as fast as you can and get help!"
"I can't leave you," Louise yelled back, tears streaming down her face. "You don't and you're dead," Hannah yelled to her as Myers began to drag her away from the window. "Please… Go!" Hannah was sure she saw her best friend's short, athletic frame shaking, but she managed a nod.
Louise couldn't help but look back as she ran and immediately wished she hadn't. Because the sight of her best friend gargling in her own blood and the huge slit across her throat, almost made her stop dead in fear. But she couldn't. If she did, Myers would doubtlessly come after her and she had to tell someone, somehow what'd happened to her friends this Halloween night from hell? She took a final deep breath, before running in to the night.
Haddonfield Horror House lives up to its name.
Triple H, the million dollar company behind the enterprise which has involved enervating the old Myers house, literally found a house of horrors when entry was gained to the house at just after 10 this morning Central time. A group of 4 British tourists had stayed there last night and the people who arrived to collect them were met with utter devastation. Next of kin were informed just hours ago before we could release names. Jeff Fraser, 22, Hanna Clarke, 22 and Tim Hamilton 21 were all found deceased within, killed in incredibly violent and bloody ways. "It was horrific," Tom Gest told us, the driver who'd come to collect the group with Maria Escott, the 32 year old tour guide whose worked with Triple H for three years. "Blood everywhere, glass, I've never seen anything like it in all my life."
Exact details of the manners of death haven't been released to us. But an inside source did say it looked just like Michael Myers's M.O. Smith's Grove state hospital were immediately contacted by the police, and confirmed that the masked killer of his sister Judith Myers in 1963 had indeed escaped the night before, during a routine transfer. They refused to give us any further details, but police were adamant the hospital had not disclosed anything to them beforehand about the transfer even taking place. However just in the last hour, a previous tourist staying in the Michael Myers house 2 years ago came forward and asked to talk to us, as long as we didn't reveal his name and hid his face.
"I paid the astronomic prices to stay in the Michael Myers house 2 Halloweens ago. I too was met by Miss. Escott that night. I received this text on my phone the night before, which reads Michael Myers escapes from Smith's Grove hospital night before Halloween. I asked Miss. Escott about it and whether it was true and she told me and the rest in my group who'd also received it that it was "a bit of harmless Halloween Horror" and "if we'd told you, there'd be no surprises left." According to Miss. Escott, it's something they send to every group of tourists who stay there, one reason they ask for all our numbers during bookings. I tried to mention it in the review to warn potential future guests, but when I looked at the website, that part of my review had been removed."
Miss. Escott has today been called in for questioning by the police about this and confirmed what this tourist had said. When asked if she'd known Myers actually had escaped from Smith's Grove, she adamantly denied it, saying of course they hadn't, they would've immediately called it off and refunded the tourists otherwise. This was after she was also challenged about the late cancelation charges tourists would face if they cancelled last minute. 2000 dollars. But a spokesman from Smith's Grove strongly disputes Miss. Escott's claims, stating he contacted Triple H just minutes after Myers's escape, ordering them to call the tour off and that they had not. When faced with this, Miss. Escott also denied the allegations. But police will be investigating this further. Louise Bell, the only survivor of the 4, has in the last few minutes managed to get to the police station and is currently under police protection. She has confirmed that it was indeed Michael Myers who committed the murders, thereby dispelling rumours which had started to circulate that she or Hannah Clarke may have been responsible. A crime of passion, perhaps. Some kind of gone wrong love foursome between the groups.
Maria Escott arrested.
The 32 year old tour guide of Triple H from Illinoi has just been arrested by police for negligence of duty. It comes after Smith's Grove were able to produce a recording of the phone call between them and Miss. Escott minutes after Myers's escape. In the call, Escott says they have already sent the fake news article and if they called it off now, Triple H would lose a vast amount of money. After Dr Samuel Loomis pleaded with her to do so, Miss. Escott stated they would. But Louise Bell one of Myers's survivors brought the huge 2000 dollar cancelation charge to the attention of the police, stating there was nothing in Triple H's booking policy which stated the charge would be that high. The documentation stated 500 dollars, not 2000. Police have now confirmed this. Miss. Escott finally broke down in interview and confessed she thought the Smith's Grove call was a fake, a "harmless bit of Halloween horror" of her own. But when she realised it wasn't, she panicked. The money was such they could not afford to lose, as it turns out Triple H were struggling much more than anyone knew. It is quite possible Miss. Escott may be charged with conspiracy to murder, because while she didn't kill the guests, Myers did, she knew the dangers and still allowed them to enter what turned out to be a death trap.