Joanne Turner looked at Dr Loomis raising her eyebrows. "Why'd you pick me, Sam?"

"Because you're the best female guard we have," He replied.

"Or rather the only one of the two of us on this ward who was willing," Joanne said in contempt. Dr Loomis ignored her comment. "You're also good at being cheerful, kind and compassionate. You're also not afraid to show the patients whose boss if needed."

Joanne snorted. "Whatever. Fact is Jamie wouldn't do it so you had no choice but to ask me."

"Are you saying you'd rather not?"

She sighed. "No Sam. But I know why I have to. You told me that she's terrified of men being too close to her, and if they are she could regress. I get it, I do. I've just… Never looked after a totally blind person before."

"You'll just have to guide her from place to place and stay with her in the yard to keep her safe. That's the only difference. As long as she doesn't cause you trouble you'll be fine.

"If she does? Or if there's a problem and I'm needed elsewhere?"

"I've put a policy in place that you are not to leave her no matter what happens. Even if every other guard is needed, you won't leave her side. As for her causing you trouble, I can't see that being likely. Even if she tries, you'll have your protective equipment plus the advantage of sight, as horrible as that sounds. You're in control Joanne, not her."

She hesitated for a moment longer then sighed. "Fine. I'd better go and introduce myself properly to her then, huh?"

"Hey, Hayward! How many fingers am I holding up?"

6 year old Danielle Hayward said nothing. She was used to this by now. The other children's mocking laughter echoed across the playground. Even at 6 they were clever and cruel. Whereas most bullies got caught if an attack was visual, with her it only depended on hearing. They could whisper spiteful remarks in her ears and the teachers would be none the wiser. She'd also long given up running to her parents in tears. She'd never doubted they loved her, but she was also sure that they didn't really… Well, know how to cope with her blindness. She'd only had a 15% chance of surviving, due to being born 15 weeks earlier than she should've. Somehow, she'd fought back against the odds and lived. According to her parents, she'd died 5 times and they'd had to keep poking her to keep her alive. Although her parents had tried not to show it, she always knew she was… In their eyes, to use their exact words, "less than perfect." She'd heard them say so once when they thought she was asleep,

"Come and play with me. There's a swing over here…" Only for her to be pushed into a muddy and stinking hole. "Kids are kids," was all her parents would say when she tried to talk to them about it. "I'm sure you'd be the same and give as well as you get." Both of which were untrue.

There were also incidents where kids wrote fuck on her homework as she wouldn't see it, along with other spiteful messages. Without her vision, she was vulnerable, and the school bullies jumped at the chance to tease her. When she got her first white cane, the bullies would hide it and one even bent it. That was the only time her parents got involved when there was money in it. It always was money for them. Canes were not cheap to replace, starting price was at least $50 and her parents demanded the culprit, or their parents replace it.

As she grew into her teens, the bullying continued, just changed its form. Instead of pushing her into holes or asking about fingers, they hid her things so she couldn't find them. Left her lost in corridors when they were supposed to be guiding her to a class if she wasn't sure where it was. They had squashed her Braille documents until they were almost unreadable and torn. She had a support assistant who tried to help, regardless the bullies always found a way to torment her. Even the teachers in the higher grades had tried, but still, it continued. Even when some were caught and put in detention, it didn't discourage others. She had asked her parents, begged them to let her attend a special school for blind children and young adults, but they'd refused. "Too expensive" they'd said, their typical answer.

"Hello Danielle."

She was jolted out of her memories by the voice outside her cell. For a second she wasn't sure where she was. Then it clicked. Smith's Grove following her suicide attempt. Damn, damn him! He'd probably be only too happy…

"Sorry didn't mean to startle you."

She stood from the bed and felt her way to the bars. She wasn't allowed her cane in here just in case she "harmed herself or someone else with it." She inwardly scoffed at that. Without it she felt lost, as if part of her was missing.

"Hello there. I'm Joanne, I'll be your guard while you're here. I'll be with you when you're outside in the yard. If there is anything you need or need any help, just let me know and I'll do what I can for you. Of course, any of the guards will be here for you as well, but I'm assigned to you so you'll mostly be dealing with me."

You mean carer, she thought with another wave of bitterness. If she had a dollar every time someone had said she needed a carer she'd be a millionaire by now. She made no response. She hadn't spoken since they'd found her… Well there and she wasn't about to start now. She didn't feel ready for it. She just gave Joanne a very brief nod.

"You're in a small room," Joanne continued and Danielle noticed she didn't use the word "cell." Well that was what it was so why not? She hated her already. "You've got the bed you were sitting on, a desk and did you find the screen at the back with the sink and toilet behind it when my colleague showed you? Do you need me to show you again?"

She shook her head. She wasn't stupid. Who did this woman think she was? An idiot?

"There's a call button next to your bed just above your pillows, just press it if you need us. You have two men on either side of you so I'm sure if we don't hear you, they'll attract us for you."

Yeah right, Joanne thought. The one on your left is Michael Myers. He'd kill you and all of us given half a chance. The one on your right is a sexist asshole. Just the perfect cell-block mate for you given your circumstances. She shook those thoughts away. But she wasn't allowed to give the patients each other's names. If they introduced each other in the yard, if they were aware enough it was fine. But she herself could not tell them. If Myers and the guy on the other side heard, that was only because she'd had to use Danielle's name, but there was no reason for her to use theirs at this point.

"Do you need anything now?"

Danielle shook her head. Joanne handed her a huge folder through the bars.

"You need to read this; every patient gets a copy and of course yours is in Braille. If you have any questions or if there is anything you don't understand please let me know. We will bring fresh water to your cell every day and depending on behaviour, breakfast is communal. Ok? Don't worry, you'll be well looked after. If you have any questions just hit that button."

Danielle heard her walking away as she lay back down on the bed, listening to the rattle of her keys, and the crackle of her radio. She didn't have to touch it to know Joanne had a gun on her belt. She knew all the guards on this ward did. For some reason that made her nervous. Also handcuffs, a baton and pepper spray. She hadn't planned on causing trouble, but even if she had she wouldn't stand a chance. Ha. So they thought putting it in Braille was all they had to do to get her respect? No fucking chance! She wasn't here for trying to steal chocolate after all. She was bitter, angry and just wanted out of this life.

"First impressions?" Joanne asked Dr Loomis hours later. Her shift was almost over, which meant the other guards had to oversee Danielle for the night. But as she'd already had her time out in the yard and her first session with Dr Loomis, she wouldn't be going anywhere until the morning.

He shrugged. "Quiet, unresponsive. I get the feeling she wants to talk but something is stopping her. Whether it's fear I don't know. But I will keep trying. I think her silence is due to depression more than anything else. It'll just take time. It's obvious she's really unhappy or she wouldn't have attempted to take her own life. I intend to find out what happened and help her get through it."

"So, you're hoping she won't be here long term?" Jack, another guard, asked.

"She's not criminally insane, she just needs help. Being blind on top of what happened doesn't help her. She's been brought to us for that care and help. So let's give it to her eh?"

"Or because her parents didn't want her," Joanne muttered in disgust. "I read her file. Come on Sam, what else can you call that, it's absolutely despicable?"

"I agree," said Dr Loomis. "I think it would be fair to say we all feel sorry for her, so let's do the best we can for her ok, ladies and gentlemen? Do you think you can do this, Joanne?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, it shouldn't be too difficult. Just guide her to where she needs to be and make sure she's ok. I will admit I did feel sorry for her when I saw her. She's clearly gone through hell."

Danielle lay on the narrow, hard bed, scanning her folder. Ok so maybe she'd been a little harsh earlier. Joanne had only been trying to help and putting it in Braille was pretty decent of them. It didn't say anything she wasn't expecting. Don't misbehave or you're in solitary, and so on. She smiled bitterly to herself. The only way she'd misbehave was… No. She shook the thoughts away. There was no way in hell she'd even get close to it with all this damn security around. A couple of the male guards had come to say hi, she could tell that they were standing a good distance away by how far their voices sounded. She was thankful for this. Men terrified her after what… Stop it! She shouted at herself. Stop thinking about it! Fuck just stop thinking Hayward!

Exhaustion must have taken hold then because the next thing she knew she was woken by a harsh buzzing sound. She shot up in bed, covering her mouth. "Jesus what the fuck was that?" She yelled at no one in particular.

"Breakfast bell," said the man on her right. "Means be ready in 10 minutes. If only I could help you get ready darlin'. Although it'd be a lot longer than 10 minutes while I fucked you. I'd love to slide my big hard cock into your dripping wet…"

"Shut the fuck up sleaze ass," She turned away. Dick. The guy began to laugh softly. It sent a shiver down her spine. She knew the men on this ward were extremely dangerous, so she had to be very careful. Winding him up probably wasn't a good idea, but he'd pissed her off with that remark. Who the fuck did he think he was? For the first time she was thankful there were barred doors between them.

"Or," the man continued laughing. "There's the guy on your left. Never speaks that one. Although I think he's fucking awesome, I certainly wouldn't want to be alone with him, murderous son of a bitch he is! You got the short straw there didn't you babe? Me or Michael Myers?"

"Michael…" The word came out in just above a whisper and she caught her breath. She was next door to Michael Myers? Fucking hell! Of course she'd heard of his case. When the government had finally helped her get a computer with a screen reading program on it, a piece of software which converted text on screen into audible speech, she had to be very careful as the internet was controlled by him, he monitored everything she did… she'd googled Myers. She loved horror, fact or fiction and Michael Myers' case was legendary. She'd been considering asking Joanne about him last night and it turned out he was in the next fucking cell?" "Jesus," she breathed.

Exactly 10 minutes later the doors opened and a group of guards came in. "Morning Danielle," said Joanne's voice. "It's Joanne. We're just going to help our other patients out then I'll give you a hand, ok?" But she wasn't fooled. They wanted to get Myers out before her. Just in case… she shivered. He really was one very dangerous man. Fatally so. Sure enough, seconds later she heard what sounded like heavy chains being fastened from her left. Holy shit. Now she couldn't deny it. Even through her bitter and angry facade, she was a little… If not unnerved, downright terrified.

"Move it Joanne!" A guard called.

"I can't. You have to… First." She heard the hesitation even though Joanne tried to hide it. So she'd been right.

"It's fine," the male guard snapped. "Just move."

Dick, she thought. Now she was seriously starting to re-evaluate last night's statement. Maybe Joanne really did give a damn about her, she wasn't just a name on the clipboard. Seconds later her cell door opened and Joanne took her arm. She lent close and whispered to her guard. "I know who's on my left! The guy on my right told me. Michael fucking Myers? Jesus Christ! That's…"

"It's ok," Joanne murmured back. "Nothing will happen to you. I promise."

She did something she'd never expected to do then. She reached out her hand. The guard hesitated for just a second, clearly wondering if she had intent. She smiled at her slightly and Joanne relaxed and took her offered handshake.

"Sorry I was a bit… Last night," Danielle said as Joanne released her hand. "It's nice to meet you Joanne."

"It's fine," her guard replied. "Everyone's a bit… Twitchy when they first arrive, and you've got extra reasons. It's nice to meet you too and I'll do all I can to help you while you're here. Come on."

Joanne could hardly believe she'd heard Hayward speak, but against her job's rules she decided to keep this exchange to herself. She seemed to trust her, and Joanne wouldn't break it by telling Dr Loomis or anyone else. She guided her newest charge down the corridor.

Danielle heard the clink of chains right beside her seconds later and felt her blood run cold. She didn't have to be told that Michael Myers was walking right beside her. She couldn't stop a slight shiver and Joanne must've felt it because she softly tightened her grip.

"It's ok," she whispered again.

They entered the dining room of the high care ward in silence. Danielle felt strangely comforted when Joanne didn't leave her side, not even once. But eating was an issue. She'd struggled with it right up until her attempt on her life and she couldn't see that changing soon. Joanne tried to persuade her to eat something and unlike with previous people, she didn't snap back at her. She knew Joanne was sincerely trying to help. Or if she wasn't, she was a damn good actress. If she was tricking her, she would get her back somehow.

"Where is he?" She breathed to Joanne.

"It's ok, he's on the other side of the room," Joanne said softly. "You're perfectly safe."

At college She really thought things were starting to look up. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Music without too much trouble. It seemed to her that as people grew up, they were less prone to bullying. Well, the ones she was working with anyway. She had a great support network and even managed to make a few friends. The college helped her get the equipment and Braille documents she needed to pass her courses. It wasn't until her 3rd year things took a sharp turn. Not that she realised it at first. That was when she met him.

After breakfast the patients were led out into the huge exercise yard. Once again Joanne was with her the whole time. The odd patient approached her and even said hi. She was surprised, but she didn't answer, just managed a weak smile. That was a first for her though. She hadn't smiled in almost a year. To her total and complete shock, her cane had been handed to her in the dining room. It seemed someone had explained how important it was. She felt so much better once she was holding it in her hand again. She thanked whoever it was from the bottom of her heart. People who could see didn't have a clue how important it was or how it made you feel when holding it. As if you had some semblance of control for a start. Independence.

A little while later they were led back to their cells. As she walked, her cane lightly touched someone's arm.

"Sorry Sir," she said softly. No response. She turned to Joanne who pulled her slightly to the side. She was right. Oh Jesus, had she just hit the arm of Michael Myers?

"Shit, was that…" She breathed to Joanne who simply said, "Its ok."

Well, she reasoned, as Joanne locked her cell door, she was in here for attempting suicide as it was, that accidental hit may have just helped her get there all the faster.

"Didn't realise you were into that sort of stuff," the guy on her right mocked her. "But I don't think Michael Myers is! I am though. Do that to me instead next time baby and I'll fuck you until you bleed." She felt her blood go cold. Of all the people to see what had happened, him, the sexual predator next to her. So she had just hit Michael Myers. Good thing you want to die as it is Hayward, she thought. Because you just signed your fucking death warrant.