When Karen Strode is virtually dragged to a Halloween work party by 2 of her colleagues, she really doesn't want to be there. Firstly because she's desperately trying to avoid the sexual advances of a male colleague, and secondly because it's in Haddonfield, the last place she wants to be for her own private reasons. To her, the town doesn't just have her past trapped within it, also her heart.
Karen lowered her glass and sighed. Greg Lambert was watching her again from across the bar. Damn him, he didn't seem to get the message. She hadn't even wanted to be here tonight. Her friends and colleagues Rachael and Stacey had virtually dragged her with them, turning up at her house and basically kidnapping her. She supposed she could feel flattered they wanted her company so badly. But why here? Why damn Haddonfield? This town held so much of her past and she'd been relieved when she finally moved away. That'd been 2 years ago when her mother Laurie Strode died. Ironically, she hadn't been killed by the man who'd ruled her life with fear since she'd been 17. She'd died in a car accident 4 months ago. Karen blinked. She couldn't think about him, she just couldn't.
Ah, him. Michael Myers. Even thinking about him now caused a flutter of… Something in her stomach. Butterflies? She only wished her mother was still alive. How the hell would she react to this? The man Laurie had been terrified of, Michael Myers had been released from Smith's Grove 2 years ago and Karen had heard that something had stopped his killing spree. But what? She'd encountered Myers once when he'd broken in to Laurie's fortified house and had escaped. That'd been 4 years ago when Karen was only 16. Unbelievably, the killer hadn't made a single move to hurt or stop her. She'd looked back at him over her shoulder and wanted to slap herself for the thought which had crossed her mind even then. Damn he's gorgeous…
From her research, Karen knew Myers was still as silent as ever and despite no longer being considered dangerous had still not spoken a word. But what the hell had softened his evil heart? Karen was dying to find out. Sadly, she knew she never would. But she really didn't want to come face to face with the man and sincerely hoped he didn't still live in Haddonfield or if he did was nowhere near here. But it wasn't his violence she was afraid of. This is ridiculous Strode! She gave herself a mental shake. You're afraid of his God damn rejection? What? You wish you were his? She tried to squash those thoughts. That was crazy, wasn't it? So why was she still single? Why had she shunned any man's advances for the last 3 years? Why did she secretly long to come back to Haddonfield and find him and now she was here, why did she want to run as fast as she could in another direction? Damn you Michael Myers, she thought. You haven't got a clue what you've done to me. Truth be told, nor have I! I wish I didn't both really want it to stay that way and also really want to tell you… Surely I'm not basing all this fear on the possibility he'll reject me, am I? That's so… School girlish… But accurate… Come on Strode! Get a grip! Get through this and tonight in the hotel, then you can leave. It's not like he has a phone number so you can contact him. Just get home and this will be over. Even if you do have a broken heart because of a missed chance…
"Hey, Karen!" She was jolted violently from her thoughts, Daydreams? Of him by Greg's voice. He'd stopped right beside her now without her seeing. Shit. "I've been talking to you for the last 5 minutes," he said. "You were miles away." I wish I was, Karen thought. From you anyway. "Yeah sorry," she forced a smile. "Just tired." When would this creep get the message she wasn't interested? He'd been trying to flirt with her constantly lately, even in the office. He'd brush up against her in the corridors, once had even tried to kiss her. Karen had tried, gently at first to turn him down, but he wasn't getting the hints. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"No thanks," Karen turned to face him grudgingly. Best to try and be polite she supposed while in public. He was after all her colleague and was trying to go for a promotion. She privately thought that if he got it she'd quit. "I don't want a hangover for the journey home tomorrow."
"You're not driving though, are you?" Greg said. It wasn't a question. "I know Rachael and Stacey gave you a lift." Shit.
"No," she admitted. "But I really don't want to be drinking tonight. I haven't drunk for years." This was true. Since Laurie's death, she'd tried to avoid the stuff. She'd been crushed when she'd found out her mother had died in that damn car crash. She'd cried a lot since. In spite of Laurie's paranoia, fear and the way she'd raised her, she was her mother and Karen had loved her to pieces. But it wasn't just that. It was also she didn't want to give Greg any false hope that he had a chance with her. She knew only too well how men used alcohol to their advantage and she wasn't going down that road. Greg was a well-known flirt. It wasn't just her. Maybe if it had been she would've thought more of him and tried to be nicer about it. But no. The man flirted with every woman in a short skirt in the office and even some in pants. A fact only emphasised by the fact she was wearing pants right now. He was a creep.
A little while later when no one was looking, she headed out of the noisy hotel where the party was being held and they were staying that night to get some fresh air. The room the party was in was the only one people could smoke in and as a result, it was getting harder to breathe. Once outside, she sank on to one of the carved benches and pulled out her phone. Opening photos, she scanned through her pictures. There she was, Laurie. Her mother had hardly ever smiled; Michael had taken that from her. Yet Karen thought, you want to go after him? She smiled humourlessly to herself. Laurie would've probably quite literally killed her for her feelings and thoughts. But she couldn't help or stop them. Flipping to the left, after taking a breath, there he was. She'd taken a shot of him from the countless research Laurie had done over the years. He was of course masked and holding a knife, but Karen didn't care. His physical build, strength and height, not to mention she'd seen his face without that mask and he was the best looking man she'd ever seen in her life. But she wasn't basing her feelings for him entirely on looks. She wanted to know. Why hadn't he killed her? He could've done so easily. But he hadn't. Nor had he tried to harm Laurie that last time. Why? Karen put her face in her hands. This was getting her nowhere. She didn't even know where Michael was, if he even lived here now. "Damn it," she said under her breath. She knew she had to forget him and let go. Once she left Haddonfield it would be a lot easier. Until then… Until then what Strode? Go back in there and let Greg get you in to bed? Not bloody likely! It all seemed to hit her at once then. Her stupid, crazy feelings for Michael Myers, grief for her mother who would never know the turn around her enemy had achieved… It was all too much. She had to let the tears come. She didn't even want to be in this damn town. So much was tied to her here. Her mother, Myers… She didn't know how long she sat there but eventually she felt the soft hand on her shoulder. She looked up, hoping against hope it wasn't Greg. It was Stacey.
"Hey babe, what's the matter?" Her friend and colleague sat beside her, putting her arm around her. If only you knew, Karen thought.
"I'm sorry," she tried to wipe her eyes. "It's just this town. I grew up here and… Didn't have the best life and being here isn't helping."
"Your mom?" Stacey asked gently. "Babe I'm so sorry, you know what Rachael's like. She would've literally dragged you here otherwise. She found this place on Trip Advisor and has been hooked on the idea ever since! She wanted a Halloween work party for months! She might even have chosen Haddonfield for it on purpose… considering, if you know what I mean…" she trailed off.
Karen nodded. She knew that was true of Rachael at least, perhaps not Stacey. The girl was set on getting her own way. Karen smiled grimly to herself. "Sorry," she said eventually, trying to wipe her eyes. "It's not just that."
Stacey sighed. "Greg?"
Karen smiled a little more easily this time. "How did you possibly guess?"
Her friend rolled her eyes. "Because he flirts with any woman in a skirt," she hesitated, glancing at Karen's dress pants. "Well, and pants!"
At this Karen actually laughed. Stacey and Rachael were the only ones apart from her boss (who had to know) who knew about Laurie. They'd both had been absolute angels while Karen had been on compassionate leave, phoning her every day to check on her and twice coming round even though she lived a good hour away. "He flirts with any woman. He's been at me all night. Can I buy you a drink? Why aren't you talking to me…? It's really bloody draining. I've lost count of the number of times I've told him I'm not interested. That one thinks with his dick not his head, that's for damn sure."
"That's nearly all men though isn't it?" Stacey laughed. "He's not alone in that regard!"
Karen couldn't help but grin back. "Point taken." It was at that moment the man of the moment came out of the doors towards them. Karen groaned. "Oh bloody hell. Can't a woman get some peace around here?"
"Not when Greg's got his sights on you," Stacey rolled her eyes and stood up. "Greg, can you give us some privacy for a moment please?"
"Now come on ladies," Greg settled himself on the bench before Stacey could sit down, so he was between her and Karen. Karen felt her anger rising in earnest now. The guy was a total prick. "Can't a man join 2 lovely ladies out here tonight?"
Before Karen could stop herself, she'd stood up. "Not when we specifically asked you for some privacy," she said through gritted teeth.
"Ah come on Karen," now Greg actually took her arm, stopping her. It took all Karen had not to punch him to his smug little face. Prick, prick! "Don't be so hasty. I've been trying to talk to you all night and you've been avoiding me."
"Fucking hell Greg," Stacey had stood up now. "Don't you get it when a woman says no? Leave her alone damn it! Or do you need it spelt out. Fine. N.O."
"Protective aren't we?" Greg smirked. Now Karen was feeling something she hardly ever felt. Hatred. Genuine hatred. The guy was a first grade arsehole. He hadn't contacted her once while she'd been on compassionate leave, not once and now she was back he thought he could just flirt with her when he liked? Her feelings for Myers aside, no way was she having that. "Let go of my arm," she said softly. "You have 5 seconds."
"I'd do as the lady asks if I were you," Stacey warned. She knew Karen's history and knew she wasn't someone to mess with. If Laurie had taught her anything before she died, it was self-defence.
Karen didn't know if Greg was very drunk or just very stupid, because he stood up now facing her. He still hadn't released her arm and now he pulled her tightly against him. "Come on K," he said. A nickname she'd never let anyone use except Laurie and Stacey, least of all this bastard. "I've wanted you for ages. Just one fuck? Just once then I'll leave you alone? No strings attached, just fun?"
"YOU'RE ACTING LIKE AND ARE A FUCKING GRADE A PRICK!" Karen yelled, anger storming through her in a way it never had before in her life.
"You disgusting sleaze ball," Stacey yelled, but Karen only saw red. Raising her foot, she kicked him to the balls with her heel as hard as she could. He went down immediately, but she wasn't finished and punched him square to the mouth breaking several of his teeth. Karen heard applause. She turned and saw she had at least 3 witnesses. "Nice one Karen!" Another of her female colleagues said. "Someone should've done that ages ago. He had that coming."
"I agree," a male voice said. It was her boss. "Sorry Karen. I was going to fire him for his conduct towards women, he's been warned twice already. Are you ok?"
"Apart from seriously pissed off?" Karen said quietly. "Yeah, I'm fine." Greg had struggled to his feet clutching his groin and now his boss turned on him. "Get out of here. My office when we get back Dixon. You've crossed one too many lines tonight. You'll be lucky if Karen doesn't call the police. If she does, she'll have more than enough witnesses stating you provoked her should you try to defend your appalling actions. Not to mention this is by far from the first time you've treated women as sex toys. You disgust me and any decent man. Nor can you say you weren't warned. She asked you to let go, I heard her."
Greg's face was a mess of blood. He didn't even look at any of them as he turned and walked away, his tail between his legs. The women grinned at each other. Finally, he'd got what he deserved. "Thanks Nick," Karen said to her boss. "I appreciate what you just said."
"No problem. Do you want to press charges?" Karen sighed. "Right now, I just want to get to bed." Then out of this town and away from the man who owns my heart even though he doesn't know it before it breaks again because I want him so much but fear his rejection so it's best he never find out… "I'm really tired. If he's fired that's enough for me but if I get wind he's treated one more woman anywhere close to this again, I won't hesitate to do so." "You're too kind," one of the other women said. Karen was sure Nick nodded. "Well if you don't call the police I just might."
In spite of what Karen had said about sleeping, she found herself going for a short walk. She needed air, needed time to think before she could sleep. If she saw Greg again, she would quite possibly kill him. Plus, it wasn't like she was looking for someone, was it? She crossed dark streets she thought she'd forgotten, but which came straight back as she walked her home town. It seemed nothing had changed in the 2 years since she'd left. Same buildings, same lampposts. She wondered if she was automatically heading towards Laurie's house and stopped. She couldn't see that; it would be too painful. A new family had bought it from her three months after Laurie's death, which had given her the cash for the move.
It was the prickling on the back of her neck which first made her suspect she was being watched. She turned, but saw no one. Damn her mother's paranoia. She'd obviously inherited it. Such was her thought process, until a soft hand closed on her shoulder. She turned and her heart she was sure almost failed. What were the damn odds? Michael Myers was standing in front of her. He wasn't holding a knife or wearing a mask, but Karen recognised him instantly. She looked up at him, a difficult job he being at least 6 foot 10 and met his gaze. She almost stumbled. The last time she'd seen it and from all Laurie's pictures, it'd been blank, expressionless. Now, he was looking straight at her and actually seeming to register who he was seeing. His eyes were soft, Karen was sure of it. Even, sympathetic?
"Hello Michael," Karen didn't know how she kept her voice steady. Her heart was hammering at what had to be at least double speed and her head was spinning. This man had ruled her mother's life with fear, but in the end hadn't been who killed her. Not to mention the way he was looking at her now. Did he know Laurie was dead? "I… didn't expect to see you tonight. How are you?" She wasn't exactly sure why she asked him this, as he wouldn't reply of course. H didn't, but his hand remained on her shoulder. Karen was sure she felt her skin burn from his touch. She glanced around, the street in front of them was deserted. Even if it hadn't been, she had to say it. Not that, no way was she going to tell him how she felt, but she had to ask him at least this. "Michael," she said quickly before her courage failed her again. She wasn't sure if or even how he'd answer, but she had to try. She needed to know, somehow. Michael kept his eyes on her and she was sure he was listening. "Please may I briefly speak with you?"
To her surprise, he gently led her to the side of one of the buildings, the old post office where they would have privacy. She found herself smiling nervously at him. "Thank you. He moved his head in a slight nod. At first, she tried to think how to ask this, then it just came out before she could stop herself. "Why didn't you kill me that night?" She saw his eyebrows rise slightly as if surprised. She blushed a little under his gaze. "You had your chance," she continued, desperate to say it all now she'd started. "But you didn't, nor my mother. Why?" It was only then she noticed Michael hadn't removed his hand from her shoulder and now it tightened slightly. But she didn't feel the fear she'd expected, far from it as electricity seemed to shoot up her arm. Keep a hold on it! She shouted inside her head. For God's sake! You said you weren't going to tell him, so don't even let it slip! It was then she noticed he was holding out something. She glanced at him. A piece of card. Her hand shaking in spite of herself, she took it from him.
Karen Strode. I was sorry to learn of Laurie's death.
She stared at him, her mouth opening in pure shock, almost dropping to the floor. This man was sorry to learn Laurie was dead? He wouldn't have hesitated to kill her given the chance. Or at least, he wouldn't have before… "I, I…" Karen tried to speak, but no words came out. Then she saw something which stopped her dead. There was an ever so slight smile on his lips. Karen was sure of it. He knew, he understood why she'd reacted as she had. Of course he did. Suddenly the answer to her previous question didn't seem so important. Now all she wanted was to get out of there, away from him. Because if he kept smiling at her like that she'd melt in to his arms and… "Thanks," she finally managed to say, pulling back. "I wish you nothing but the best, Michael. Good luck in your future."
You fucking coward, she cursed, shouting it at herself as she walked fast away from him almost at a run. But it wasn't out of fear he'd kill her, oh no. Quite the opposite. You stupid fucking coward Strode! That was your chance and you've just walked away from it! Why, why, why! She knew she could try to find him again, but her chances of doing so were practically zero. It was only then she realised she was still holding the card with his message on it. With shaking hands she pocketed it. It was all she'd ever have of him now. She wasn't aware exactly when the tears came.
She only looked up when she detected someone standing in front of her. Her heart seemed to turn both to ice and hot with anger at the same time. It was Greg. "What?" She snarled. "Want more broken teeth?" She didn't care. If this bastard even touched her she wouldn't hesitate this time.
She wasn't expecting what happened then, which was probably why she was too slow to react. He had the element of surprise. Pulling her to her feet from the bench she'd sat on, he slammed her against the wall. Small he may be, but he was strong. She struggled, but it was useless. Desperately, she tried to remember everything Laurie had told her re self-defence. But most of that had been with weapons. All she had now were her hands. "You fucking bitch," Greg snarled, his breath stinking of alcohol hot against her ear. Despite that, she knew he was sober enough to know what he was doing. His voice wasn't at all slurred. "No man takes orders or violence from a cunt. Hear me? I asked you nicely, tried to be nice about it and you refused, so I'll take it anyway. That's a woman's place."
"You get one warning," she snarled, meaning it. God help her she'd use whatever means she could if this son of a bitch didn't back off. Greg only smiled. "I don't think so darling," he said before pulling out a flick knife and flicking the blade out. She stared at him in horror. He was serious. Had he been carrying that all night? He rested it against her neck, the metal cold, deadly before he reached for the zip on her dress pants with his free hand using his body weight to hold her to the wall. She desperately tried to think. This couldn't happen to her, it just couldn't. She couldn't kick him to the balls again because he had her against a brick wall. If she tried another punch he could and probably would slash her before she could hit him. Of course there was always the possibility he was bluffing, but she didn't think so. Not if he'd gone as far as to pull his knife on her. Oh no, he meant it. He was going to rape her at knife point. She found herself thinking of Myers then. He'd have slashed her by now…
Michael Myers. Damn him. Damn her for being such a coward. If she'd dared to tell him, would she be here now? What if… Karen! She yelled at herself. Stop it! Just stop! You have to think, get out of this first then you can wallow in your self-pity. But not yet! You want to get raped? No? Then think! She swung her free arm at him the one he couldn't grab because he was holding his knife. He snarled and deflected the blow then lashed out, his foot smashing in to her side. She staggered back against the wall then down it to the floor. Her side was agony. Greg was kneeling over her in a second once more reaching for her zip and she realised with horror she'd just made his job all the easier. As hard as she could, she raised her foot and it connected squarely with the side of his face. There was a satisfying crunch and she looked up to see him clutching a bleeding and probably broken nose. Bingo!
"You fucking bitch," he snarled, trying to stop the bleeding with his shirt. In his pain, he'd stupidly dropped his knife and Karen grabbed it before he could react. All the fight seemed to go out of Greg Dixon immediately, just proving what she'd always suspected. When it came to bullying women he was fine, but otherwise in any trouble of his own he was an outright coward. She scrambled to her feet, anger coursing through her. I could kill him, she thought. I could actually kill him… Now it was she who knelt over him, the knife steady in her hand. After years of learning how to defend herself and quite possibly kill, she'd never expected it to actually happen least of all this way. "Karen," Greg was deathly white. "Please I didn't mean it, I was just…"
"Ha!" She let out a cackle of mirthless laughter. "You lying little shit. You'd have raped me and we both know it." It was then that she saw Greg yanked to his feet. He'd gone if possible even whiter. She turned around and for the second time in an hour felt her heart skip. Michael was standing in front of them and had grabbed Greg by the neck, hauling him up. How much had he seen? Everything? But there was one difference Karen noticed immediately and ice shot back in to her heart. This time Michael Myers was wearing his deathly pale mask and holding a knife.
"Michael," she'd said before she could stop herself. "Please don't kill him? He's not worth it. Don't let everything you've achieved go not on a little shit like him. He's a coward, woman beater and sexual predator, that's all. He'll get what he deserves someday trust me. Please don't you do it? I was desperate to find you again to talk to you, I didn't finish what I wanted to say just now, I… and I don't want it to end like this…" She hadn't meant to say that at all. Greg was now looking at Myers as though death himself stood in front of him. Which she supposed, it did. Karen stepped up to them, glaring at Greg. "You harm one more woman and I find out," her voice was a deadly whisper. "Next time I won't stop him killing you. I am going to hand this knife in to the cops. She'd had the foresight to pick it up in a tissue, her DNA wasn't on its handle. "It's got your and my DNA all over it from where you held it to my neck." She saw Myers tighten his grip. Shit, probably shouldn't have said that. For the second time she hit Greg straight to the face. Greg was almost whimpering now, pleading with Myers. Karen looked at him in utter disgust. "Get out of here you sexist son of a bitch," she snarled. Myers released Greg who was running before she even saw him move. Next second, Michael's hand had closed gently on her arm. There was the electricity a second time… "Michael," she couldn't look at him. That terrifying mask… "I… I thanks." She put a hand to her side. She was sure it would bruise in the morning. She didn't know what else to say to him. Not unless she wanted him to know the truth… Did she? Was providence giving her a second chance to tell him? If so should she take it? Next moment, Michael had removed his mask and sheathed his knife. Seconds later, he handed her a second card.
Are you ok?
She looked up at him and this time her smile was genuine. "Yeah," she winced a little. "Just kicked I but I'm alright. Thanks for…" She didn't know how to finish. She glanced back down at the card. She hadn't read it all.
You weren't finished? Then I'm listening.
So this was it. Make or break. Tell him, don't tell him. Karen knew she had to think fast. She knew if she didn't she'd regret it for the rest of her life, but if she did and he rejected her… Karen! You can't think like that. Take the chance or don't. Because whatever choice you make there's no going back either way once you've done it. Risk rejection? Or eternal not knowing? Which is worse? She couldn't answer that. Both were unimaginably painful as far as she was concerned. But it had to be one or the other. It had to be and now. Before she could think about it further or stop herself, the words once again came pouring out of her mouth.
"Michael. I can't stop wondering why you didn't kill me that night, why you let both I and Mom go that last time. I've kept up Mom's research on you, interest I guess you'd call it, or at least at first. I've seen how you've changed; I knew when you were released from Smith's Grove. I know your killing has stopped and I was am, genuinely pleased for you. But I can't help wondering what changed? Why you didn't kill us that night. I guess you could almost say I've taken over my mother's obsession with you, but for different reasons. I wish Mum was still alive to see this, know this. You know I went to her grave only recently and told her. She died in a car accident. Damn drunk driver. Ironic huh? But now I'm the one with the problem she had. The one where I can't stop thinking, wondering about you Michael Myers. Where you were, what you were doing and how you were living now. When I knew our party was going to be in Haddonfield tonight, I refused to go you know. I didn't want to come back here, to Haddonfield. I was desperate to leave it all behind, try and move on. But at the same time I wanted to see, find and talk to you. Take the chance you wouldn't kill me based on what I know. I'm desperate to tell you something Michael, but I don't know if I can. I don't know how… How to say it, what words can do it justice. It makes no sense, not even to me and yet I, I…"
She stopped, tears in her eyes. Damn it she was so close, yet so far. Was it fear he'd kill her? Or… No. She knew what it was. Same as it'd been all along. His rejection. The fear of that was stronger than even that of him possibly killing her. That made no sense, but after losing Laurie, more pain was a horrible thought. But she already knew it was too late to go back. She was here, as was he and she had to tell him. She'd be out of here tomorrow back home and she'd never have to come back. At least she could leave with the knowledge he'd no longer be oblivious.
"Michael," she looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't exactly know how to say this, there's only one way I can, so I'll just give it to you straight. Ever since that night you let us go, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I've done my research; I've seen countless photos of you as Michael Myers the masked killer. I've tried to tell myself this makes no sense, but it's the facts and I can't escape that. I'm leaving Haddonfield tomorrow and don't plan on returning as I have nothing to come back for, but you have to know this before I do. I don't really want to leave, because I don't want to leave you. When I knew we were going to be here tonight I wanted to find you so badly! Michael you have no idea! You've been all I can think about, all I dream of, all I…" She took a deep breath. "Damn you Michael Myers I love you!"
As soon as those words left her lips, she ran as fast as she could. There. She'd done it, she'd said it, but hadn't stayed to hear his rejection. She just couldn't take that. When she finally reached her hotel, she was crying in earnest. God and she thought Greg was a coward. Nothing compared to her. She collapsed on her hotel bed and let her broken heart let its grief out. What kind of person was she? Maybe that was actually the reason why she was single. Because she feared a man's rejection. No, couldn't be. Because if it had she would've accepted advances, which she hadn't. Nope, there was no getting away from it. The man she truly loved was about to walk out of her life for good as soon as she left Haddonfield the next morning. "Shit," she sobbed in anguish in to her pillow. "Shit, shit, shit!" Again, she pocketed his second card, the last thing she would ever have from him now.
A few minutes later, there was a gentle knock on her door. Karen really didn't want to answer it, she was a mess. But when it came again she sighed, struggling up to open the door. Sure enough, there were Rachael and Stacey.
"Babe I'm so sorry," Rachael said immediately, pulling Karen into a hug as the 2 women entered her room. "Are you ok?"
These 2 women were the only ones who knew about Michael's and Karen's history, at least, the only ones who were still alive that was. Karen sank onto her desk chair and the other 2 sat on the bed opposite her.
"That fucking Greg!" Stacey fumed. "Thinks with his dick that one and doesn't take no for an answer! That was fucking amazing just now, when you punched him to the face! Are you ok?"
Karen hesitated, then decided her 2 friends deserved the truth. "That wasn't all that happened," she said, putting her face in her hands. "He found me again just now when I was out for some air." Quickly so as to get it over with, she told them what he'd done, before showing them the lock knife Greg had pulled on her.
"THAT FUCKING GOD DAMN ASSHOLE!" It was Rachael's turn to shout. "WHERE THE FUCK IS HE? I WILL KILL HIM!"
Again Karen hesitated. But she'd come this far hadn't she? These 2, her best friends deserved to know the rest. "I expect he's hiding in his room with his tail between his legs and 2 very sore balls," she said succinctly. When the other 2 raised their eyebrows, Karen smiled a little. "I kicked him right in the balls," she admitted. "Then…" Now she did stop. This was going to be exceptionally difficult to tell them. Could she? They might know hers and Michael's history and she had told them about her feelings for the silent, masked killer, but could she tell them she'd seen him tonight? The very reason she'd not wanted to come back here to Haddonfield in the first place?
Of course, Rachael seemed to detect something in her face because she spoke softly, and Karen could've sworn there was a knowing look in her eyes. "Then what, K?"
"He… um, encountered a certain man wearing a pale white mask," Karen almost whispered. Rachael and Stacey exchanged looks.
"No way," Stacey said in an almost awed voice. "Are you talking about…" she didn't need to finish. All 3 of them knew exactly who Karen met. Karen could only nod.
"Holy crap!" Stacey exclaimed. "Too bad he didn't kill him!"
"I kind of asked him not to," Karen admitted. "I said he wasn't worth it and he's already in enough trouble for the rest of his sorry life as it is. He'll go to prison for this and get fired to boot. I want to see him suffer for what he tried to do and for how he treats women in general."
The other 2 women nodded. "So?" Rachael asked, seemingly unable to stop herself, or hold the question in any longer. "Did you talk to him? Michael?"
Karen knew this was coming, knowing Rachael as she did, but still did she actually want to answer? Stacey seemed to have realised this too because she gave their colleague a gentle nudge as if to say hey, leave her be!
She smiled a little sadly. "I actually saw him twice," she confessed after a moment's pause. "I encountered him a little earlier too. I asked to speak to him." She debated showing them Michael's messages, but decided against it. That was private, just between the 2 of them.
"And?" Rachael demanded and Karen couldn't help but grin at her friend's excitement for her. She felt a gush of affection for both of them.
"And nothing," she looked away, blinking back tears. "I couldn't tell him, I let him go! Damn it! How can I tell him this? He wouldn't be interested in me for fuck sake! Michael Myers isn't interested in anyone!"
"How do you know?" The other 2 said in unison. "How can you be so sure if he doesn't even know?" Rachael finished.
Karen stared at her friends as though they'd gone crazy. "Oh come on!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "I don't even completely understand why I feel this way about him! Because he didn't kill us? Maybe. Or because he's damn gorgeous where not wearing that mask of his? Maybe! But shit, there's no way I could tell him! That's… that's insane! Why the hell would he even care?"
"Yeah, but do you want to go home tomorrow knowing you could've told him and didn't?" Stacey asked softly. "Always be wondering what might have happened if you had?"
"Please don't," Karen now did start to cry. "I can't think about that, it really hurts! Anyway, I've already lost my chance. I can hardly go out looking for him now can I? I… I did kind of blurt out to him that I love him, but then I ran like a fucking coward!"
Now both her colleague's eyes widened. "Wait, What?" Rachael asked.
Karen sighed... "I told him I love him," she repeated. "But then I ran for it like the fucking coward I am! He'd just saved me from Greg and it just… fuck! She rested her head on the desk. "It just came out! I don't even know where he is now, I can hardly go looking for him can I? This is why I really didn't want to come back here to Haddonfield. Because of Michael. I thought the chances were slim going on none I'd encounter him, but that's just what's happened! It's Halloween night for God's sake! Why isn't he out killing people?"
She saw Stacey and Rachael exchange significant looks and raised her eyebrows at them. "What?"
"You told us yourself that something stopped his killings," Rachael reminded her. "What if that something, or someone, was…"
"No!" Karen interrupted her before she could continue. "No, please don't say that?"
"Why?" Stacey asked. "Because you're afraid we might be right?" Karen couldn't answer.
A little while later, the other 2 left. Karen slumped back onto her bed, desperately trying not to cry all over again. Fucking hell! This was truly a Halloween night from hell! Not only had Greg tried to get the shot in she'd been fighting off for months, but she'd also encountered Michael Myers! Both things she'd been desperate to avoid, though for entirely different reasons. Michael Myers would never care about her; she was deluded to think otherwise. Now she'd been right. It was too late to do anything about it, even if she wanted to. He didn't even know where they were staying and she didn't dare go out and look for him, for fear he'd turn her down or maybe even… she shivered a little. It was Halloween, he might try and kill her.
She clamped down on that thought as soon as it surfaced. Surely he wouldn't, would he? After all, he'd had plenty of time earlier that evening when they'd met in the street and hadn't. Then the second time after Greg's attack and he hadn't. Michael Myers didn't lure victims into a false sense of security before attacking so… Punching her pillow into a more comfortable shape, Karen closed her eyes. What the fuck did it matter anyway? She'd missed her chance, blurted it out to him the coward's way before bolting. What kind of person was she? No way could she even think of trying to find him now.
She didn't know how long she'd been there when she once again heard quiet knocking on her door. Shit. Had someone heard her crying? But no that was impossible. She'd turned her head into her pillow, making sure that wouldn't happen. Maybe Stacey had come to check on her. She raised her head and called through the closed door, unsure if her friend would hear her. "Stake, I'm ok. Thanks for yours and Rachael's comfort earlier, but please just leave me alone now? I'll talk to you in the morning I promise." No answer, but the knocking continued. Quiet, but persistent. Maybe it was Nick? No, he'd wait until the morning she was sure of this. She pulled out her phone and text Stacey in case her friend hadn't heard through the door, the same message she'd just shouted. Seconds later, a reply came back. Babe I'm in my room, I'm nowhere near yours. Rachael is asleep in hers. It's not us at your door. I wonder who it could be.
Was she misreading her colleague's words, or did Stacey know something? Karen inwardly groaned. What had her colleagues done now? They were forever trying to help her, make her happy, she loved them like sisters. But who the hell would be knocking on her door at this hour? Only her colleagues knew this was her room or that she was even staying here.
For a terrifying moment she wondered if it was Greg. Then she dismissed that thought. He wouldn't knock, she smiled riley. Let alone come to her after what she'd done to him and the fact he'd almost died. Hell he'd probably be struggling to even walk right now and would have a very high voice for a while.
Standing on shaking legs she slowly opened her door and for the 3rd time, her heart flipped. Because it was Michael Myers who was standing there. Once again he wasn't masked. Before she knew what was happening, he'd taken her arm and was leading her back in to her hotel room. The door clicked shut and locked. She looked up at him again and tried to make her mouth move. But it wouldn't. It seemed to have gone dry. But running this time would be a lot harder seeing as he was in her hotel room now. How had he known which room she was in or even which hotel? Haddonfield had 2 after all. Then it clicked and unable to stop it, affection hit her all over again. Stacey and Rachael must've found and told him! That was the only explanation she could think of! They'd seen pictures of him before after all. Damn those 2, they were determined she find happiness, but this wasn't the right way to do it! After all, Michael Myers didn't love just as she'd told them, he was probably about to reject her, the very thing she'd feared all along, maybe even kill her. But then, she mused. Like Rachael had said, at least she'd know. She felt tears once more and desperately tried to blink them away.
"I'm so sorry," she was unable to hold back the tears. "I just had to tell you. When I leave tomorrow you'll never see me again! Did Rachael and/or Stacey come and find you? How else would you know where I was? I just needed you to know, I'm…" He was holding up a third card.
Karen. Enough.
Next second Michael made his move and pressed her against the wall. But there was no violence or aggression like that which Greg had shown. Then his arms closed around her pulling her close to him, before he leant down and claimed her lips with his.
It was at that moment in her life Karen Strode fully understood for the first time the meaning of butterflies shooting through her. Of feeling as if she was walking on air. It was heaven. Then his mouth was moving against hers as he kissed her. Leading her to her sofa, he knelt in front of her so she could reach him and their kiss deepened and intensified. Karen clung to him as their tongues met and began to lovingly dance.
"Michael," she gasped his name eventually. "Michael Myers I love you…" His arms tightened still further around her, pulling her tightly against his strong chest. Yet again their lips met. Hungry, almost desperate. Karen had secretly longed for this ever since that night 4 years ago. Although she hadn't realised it at the time. His lips seemed to melt into hers. She almost fell into his arms and against him, unable to move. She had gone completely weak. She felt his hand against her hair then, stroking it affectionately back from her face.
"I was so scared to tell you, "She blurted out. "So scared of your rejection, not your violence. Michael I knew you wouldn't hurt me; I knew it! But you have no idea how badly you could hurt my heart! Oldest one in the book I know but it's true! Michael Myers, I love you! I don't know when, I don't know why! Actually that's not true. When was that night 4 years ago, I just didn't know it at the time? I…"
He stopped her but this time by lifting her up in his arms and towards her huge bed. "Please," she'd pleaded. "Take off my clothes?"
She was certain this time there was a soft smile on his lips, as he started doing so, before lifting her into bed.
"Please stay?" She begged; suddenly sure he was going to reject her after all by leaving. But the words were no sooner out of her mouth when he was removing his own clothes and sliding in besides her, pulling her back in to his arms. "I ran from you because I was so afraid of rejection," Karen breathed. "I deliberately stayed single, desperate to talk to you before giving up. You had my heart ever since that night. Please don't ask me why? Maybe it was because Mum's been afraid you were going to kill her for years and you let her go? Or because you didn't kill me? Michael I don't know, I just…"
This time there was no mistaking the loving look in his eyes and his soft smile. She pressed against him, seeking out his eyes, desperate to speak, but unsure how. Desperate to tell him she needed him in her life, that he was her everything… It was then she felt his warm hand on her arm. He was holding another card to her eye level.
Karen. You won't face any rejection from me. Not now, not ever.
"Michael," the tears filled her eyes yet again and she tried to blink them away. Yet again he turned her head towards him to take her lips with his. He kissed her again and again and she fully expected to find out she was dreaming any second. But it didn't happen. She wasn't sure when she fell asleep in his arms, but when she woke up he was still there and the first thing she felt was when he kissed her.
When she told Stacey and Rachel she didn't need a lift back that morning, her friend's smiled knowingly at each other, confirming Karen's suspicions of the night before? They had put 2 and 2 together, and Karen was almost certain had somehow found Michael and told him where Karen was staying. All she had to do was nod and her colleagues immediately understood, pulling her into a hug and squealing "you go girl!" In unison just as Michael entered the reception they were standing in. "Hi Michael," Rachael smiled at him. She saw his eyebrows rise and grinned. "I'm Rachael, Karen's colleague and friend and man you're all she talks about." Karen blushed, but knew there was no point denying this. It was after all the truth. Michael stepped to her side and took her hand in his. She squeezed it tightly before holding it against her cheek. Her 2 friends smiled with a soft "aww." So it had clearly been one or both of the others who'd gone to find Michael the night before. Karen looked at them both with a, what did you do? Look, but both looked innocently back at her, their eyes widening theatrically and Stacey said "what?" Karen rolled her eyes, but couldn't help grinning. She had never been more thankful to them both in her life.
It didn't take Karen long to get things sorted with work. It turned out that after Greg was fired, she was next in line for the promotion. She grabbed it with both hands. It turned out her plans had been entirely wrong. She didn't leave Haddonfield that day, she didn't leave it again. The only time she did was to commute to work. She'd moved in to Michael's house that very day, Nick only too happy to attend with some friends of his to act as free removal men driving her possessions to the house and helping her end her tenancy agreement on her old flat. She'd dared to ask Michael one night why he'd changed and he'd written it'd been her. She'd stared at him sure he was joking, but there wasn't a hint of a smile on his face. She'd cried when he'd told her that.
"I was so afraid of your rejection," she said as they sat over dinner one night a week after she'd moved in. "I knew I wouldn't be able to contact you after I left, I thought that would make it easier. But then I saw you in the street and…" She couldn't go on. She looked up and saw he was gently smiling at her across the candlelit table. Who knew Michael Myers had a romantic streak? The table was beautifully laid when she'd come in from work, including the candles and a bottle of champagne. Soft music was playing in the background. It was her favourite meal. Over the first week Michael had asked her constantly about her life as had she, his answers coming in writing. She'd never tell him this, but she actually found his silence incredibly sexy. When they were done he came to her, taking her hand to help her up. "You're such a gentleman darling," she smiled at him. "Who said chivalry was dead?"
He led her in to their living room by the hand and Karen felt for the second time her jaw drop. The room was absolutely covered in flowers. Hundreds of them. She covered her mouth as tears rushed to her eyes. "Michael," she stared at him. "Darling, I…" But Michael stopped her again, but this time in a way she totally hadn't seen coming. By dropping to one knee. Now Karen did let the tears go, she couldn't help it. He reached in to his suit pants pocket and drew out another card.
"Michael," Karen could hardly speak. His name came out in just above a whisper.
Karen Strode, marry me?
She tried to speak but the lump in her throat was too big to allow for speech. So instead she knelt beside him, grabbed him in a tight hug and kissed him passionately as she broke down. "Yes," she was finally able to sob. "Oh Michael Myers yes, yes, yes!" He lifted her up in his arms and upstairs to bed. They hadn't yet made love and he hadn't pushed her. But tonight she needed, wanted him so badly. She had never felt happier or more loved in her life. "Michael please," she breathed as they kissed in their bed. "Make love to me?"
That night, Michael Myers took her virginity. They made love again and again and finally fell asleep tight in each other's arms just as dawn was breaking.
"You look gorgeous," Stacey and Rachael gushed together as they helped finish off the final touches. She'd only asked for the 2 of them as bridesmaids, but the registry office was packed with all her colleagues including Nick. It was 3 weeks after Michael's proposal and Karen had never felt so happy in her life. When she walked down the aisle in her stunning white dress, she couldn't help wondering what on earth Laurie would say if she could see her now. She was only marrying Laurie's worst fear. Not anymore he's not Mum, she thought as Nick took her hand to give her to Michael, in a father's place. He'd told her the promotion was hers and she wouldn't lose it but not to worry about it until she came back from her wedding and honeymoon leave.
It seemed to take forever to Karen, but finally the registrar had said "Michael, you may now kiss the bride." Finally, oh finally his lips were on hers, her husband's. She held him tightly, unable to hold back her tears of happiness. Their friends had booked them in to the bridal suite of the very hotel it had all started in, same with the reception. Stacey had given a speech about how Karen was the best at her job, a valued resource. As beautiful as it all was and as happy as she was they'd done this for them all Karen wanted now was to be alone with her husband on their wedding night. She'd read so many romance books where wedding nights had happened and now, at long last, it was her turn.
When it finally came, it was better than she could have ever dreamed. Her friends had placed a bottle of expensive Champaign and nibbles in the suite, along with a card signed by the whole office, (minus Greg of course) wishing them all the happiness in life. Her husband made love to her again and again. First in the warm water of the Jacuzzi, then the soft luxurious sheets of their bed. Karen had broken down completely when they entered the suite and the first thing her husband had done was hand her another card. But this one was laminated in gold.
I love you with all my heart, Karen Myers.
As sleep finally took her in their marriage bed safe in the arms of her husband, Karen smiled to herself. Her fear of his rejection had almost stopped her becoming the happiest woman alive. If Michael hadn't come to her that night, she would've let it win. She was sure he'd been out of her reach, too good for her. But he expected nothing from her, just love. He treated her like his princess.
She remembered Stacey asking her once, "Even if you do find and meet him again, what do you want from him though Karen? What are you hoping for?"
Karen had looked in to the eyes of her friend and colleague and answered in 4 simple words. "Just to be his."