"I'm sorry," said the disembodied voice on the other end of the line, when whoever it was answered. Today they sounded like a child. Adam cursed silently. Why did they insist on using fucking voice changing software? He hated it. It wasn't like he knew their name after all, was it? It made them sound like a fucking twat. "The number you gave us isn't coming up as Danielle Hayward's in our database. It's just blank."

"What?" Adam snapped. "How could that happen?" This news made him even angrier. He knew the criminal organisation he was using was accessing an illegal database full of everyone's phone numbers and who they belonged to. How could it not be showing as her number? It was right there in his phone for fuck's sake.

"It means she's changed it."

For a second, Adam was speechless with rage. What, the, fuck? How fucking dare she! He forced himself to calm down enough to speak. Danielle Hayward was dead for this. This was disobedience of the highest order. "So why am I still getting her voicemail?"

"It means it's been changed using a Domestic Violence code. Your number will be linked as the abusers, and the call will be sent straight to voicemail. This is to prevent the abuser from knowing that the number has been changed. It's something they can do."

Now, Adam was seeing red. So she had them involved now did she? What the fuck was it with them? Domestic Violence? What a load of crap! Women were being taught their place! That was all! Adam had always said it should be law. He wasn't doing anything wrong! If they disobeyed a man, they deserved to be beat, fucked, whatever. What was so wrong with that? Men are in control, simple as that. Fucking Domestic Violence! He scoffed in disgust. Stupid fuckers. Women were second class and society is too fucking stupid to make it legal.

"Then I need you to get me a DV ID code," Adam snapped. "So I can trick them into giving me her new number. How difficult is it?"

"Actually," said the child's voice, which was probably a man although he'd never know for sure, "it's almost impossible. It will require a hell of a lot of technical skill and hacking security systems. Domestic Violence victims are very, very well protected."

Adam fought down the desire to teach this guy his views about so-called Domestic Violence, but restrained himself. Whoever he was talking to wouldn't care. Hell they'd changed their fucking voice because they didn't want him to know what they really sounded like! So why the fuck would they care? He took a deep breath. "Can it be done?"

"We can try, but it'll take a lot of time and it'll cost you."

Adam cursed out loud this time. His, yes his, fucking cunt was costing him a fortune. This time, the idea of killing her sounded even better. By God he was tempted. He knew Illinois had the death penalty, but Adam was too angry to care. Besides, they wouldn't catch him if he played his cards right. "How much?" He asked the child's voice on the end of his phone.

"Depends how long it takes, but it'll be $1000 before we even start."

He'd do it, but when Danielle Hayward was released, he would kill her. No waiting for her to use a rope this time, he'd plunge that machete straight into her damn throat and slit it. She'd cost him so much money with her disobedience, he wanted her dead. "Do it," he said to his contact. "Also, how much longer?" he snapped at the… God knows who it was on the other end of the phone. "Before I can even track her in that place? It's been a week, God damn it! What the fuck am I paying you for?"

"It'll be ready tomorrow Sir," the child's voice replied. "We had to get all the programming done to meet your expectations and that takes some time you know. It has to be something we can smuggle in there without the guards or quacks being any the wiser. This took a lot of technical skill to prepare."

Adam sighed. "Fine! But it better be ready tomorrow. Then your man in there will have it the next day?"

"Yes Sir," the child's voice said. "We've already briefed the person who'll be handing it to our mole in Smith's Grove. His gadget will have a way for him to contact us and we can then connect him to you."

"Right," Adam said. "What about the other bitch?"

"She still goes through that gate every night Sir, no change there and we can't get through it. They have a very strict system in order to stop anyone tailgating other vehicles. We've tried searching for it on both public and illegal domains, but no information as of yet to where it leads. We will keep trying though. Do not forget, you'll need to pay us another $500 in 2 days for us to keep going on both counts. We don't get the money, we stop."

"Yeah I know that already," Adam said. Greedy fucking bastards, he thought. "You'll get your damn money. But if you stop working, I stop paying. Got it? I call the shots here, as I'm paying the money young man!"

Adam heard what sounded unmistakably like a laugh, before the phone went dead. Little shit. If that really was a boy on the other end, he deserved a good slap across the face. Several perhaps. Just as it did, there was a knock on his front door. That would be his pussy. Good, he needed it. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Right now he was angry enough to fuck her until she bled, and if he did that, he'd face a hefty bill, or maybe worse from this high class whore's pimp. Couldn't risk it. But by God he wished he could.

…

Lost in thought, Danielle couldn't help herself. She picked up her cane, unfolded it and rolled its roller tip against the soft wall, enjoying the satisfying whack it made every time it hit. The sound helped her relieve some of the mounting stress, anger, and frustration. Once she got her Apple ID changed, hopefully this would all be over. The calls, at least.

"Enjoying yourself?" came the amused voice of Dr Stark from outside the door, making Danielle jump. She'd been miles away as she was hitting the walls with her cane.

"Sorry!" Danielle blushed. "I like the sound," she did it again to show which sound she meant. "It helps my stress, as ridiculous as that sounds."

"Not at all," Dr Stark said. "They're designed to be hit. You carry on. Anything that helps is a good thing right? Jack said you were looking for me?"

"Yes," Danielle admitted. "I want to talk to you, but it can wait until tomorrow, aren't you going home soon?"

"Now we both know that's not true," Dr Stark buzzed Danielle's door open and actually sat beside her on her bed. "You know we have a session tomorrow and you would've waited until then. The very fact you asked Jack to find me now shows that something's obviously bothering you. What is it?"

"Damn therapists," Danielle muttered, but was unable to stop a grin. "How do you do that?"

Dr Stark chuckled. "It's a gift, Danielle. Seriously, how can I help you?"

"I'm being serious," Danielle said stubbornly. "Aren't you going home soon?"

"That's irrelevant," Dr Stark said. "You asked for me, I'm here. I'll be here as long as you need me."

"You get paid overtime for that, right?" Danielle asked, suddenly anxious. Her problems weren't that serious, in the grand scheme of things and could wait until the next day if it meant Dr Stark had to stay past her shift's end.

"You're a sweetheart Danielle," Dr Stark touched her arm. "But don't you worry about me. It's fine. What do you need?"

Danielle sighed, realising she wasn't going to win this particular argument. "Can I talk to you?" She asked. "In the office? But can I ask one small thing this time?" She lowered her voice. "Can I sit on your side? Just for once?"

Dr Stark chuckled. "I don't see why not, but it's not that special. I just thought you wanted that side because it's the patient's side and has the water machine and tissues. I would say the paper and pens… But they're not of much use to you, the Braille machine hasn't arrived yet."

This made Danielle laugh. She couldn't help it. "But of course you can. Come on."

Danielle could hardly believe her ears. They must trust her. This was the final proof! She was going to be allowed to sit on the same side of the glass as Dr Stark. She was willing to bet she was one of if not the first patient to ever be given that privilege.

"So, Danielle." Dr Stark said once they were sitting in the therapy room. Danielle was now sitting in a luxurious leather chair opposite her doctor who was behind the handsome mahogany desk. "How can I help you?"

Danielle hesitated for a moment, not sure how best to embark on what she wanted to say.

"I did what you suggested," she said quietly after a few minute's silence. "I spent the last week thinking and trying to sort my damn head and heart out. And I arrive at the same conclusion every time."

Dr Stark didn't press her and Danielle knew she was waiting, and would wait as long as she needed. She took a deep breath.

"I think I'm falling in love with a masked serial killer."

"So…" Dr Stark said slowly. "What are you wanting to hear from me? Are you expecting me to condemn you for it? Say it's not a good idea? Sorry Danielle, I'm not going to say either of those things. You are your own woman and this is entirely your choice."

Danielle nodded. Her heart had picked up speed. She'll say no, said a nasty little voice in her head. I bet anything. Don't bother…

Something about her thoughts must've shown on her face because Dr Stark gently said, "what is it, Danielle?"

"I'd like to be with him," Danielle said, the last 3 words coming out in a fast mutter, as if she was trying to get them out as quickly as she could.

Dr Stark chuckled. "Sorry? I didn't catch that."

Danielle took another deep breath and this time managed to get her words out slowly enough to be understood.

"I'd like to be with him, Dr Stark. I mean literally, as well as maybe in the relationship sense. Can he come down to my cell? Even if only so I can talk to him? I have to get this out… Or I might lose my nerve."

Stark reached forward and lightly touched Danielle's arm. Danielle felt a sinking in her gut and knew what she was going to say before she said it.

"I'm really sorry Danielle, we can't do that at the moment, for your own safety. I know Michael would most likely never hurt you, but we can't take the risk right now. I know the kill he committed before was because you were being sexually assaulted and it's obvious to Loomis and I that he really cares about you. But right now, it can't happen. I'm sorry. Soon though, I promise you that."

Absurdly, tears rushed to her eyes and Dr Stark handed her some tissues. "Why?" She managed when she could speak. Was this what a broken heart felt like?

"Hey Danielle," Dr Stark soothed, again touching her hand. "It's only because it's coming up to Halloween."

Danielle looked blankly at her, not understanding, then clapped a hand to her mouth. She'd completely forgotten. She reflected, that meant she'd been here for almost 3 months. She let out a shuddering breath. "Shit," she breathed, speaking the word through a long exhale.

"Exactly. But I promise you as soon as it's over, we'll talk again. Ok?"

Danielle shivered a little. She knew as well as anyone, the events of 1963 and 1978. Myers normally only killed on or around Halloween, unless he had other reasons. Even then she was pretty sure he killed even if he didn't have one. But she understood why Stark wasn't prepared to take the risk. Danielle, like many she assumed, couldn't help wondering why Myers had killed his sister in the first place. But she sure as hell wasn't going to ask the killer. She didn't want to join her.

…

Gemma Stark sat at her desk after guiding Danielle back to her cell a few minutes later and let out a long, slow sigh. She'd had a pretty good idea what Danielle had wanted to talk to her about given their conversation the week before. She'd also seen her and Myers interacting in the yard. He'd held her hand every day. For the first time in her professional career, Gemma Stark began to wonder if she'd made a mistake. Or at the very least, been too hasty with her refusal. There was no way Myers would try to harm Danielle. Was there?

She poured herself some coffee from the pot by her desk and looked out the window towards the common room. It was almost empty now; most of the inmates were back in their cells. Should she go and speak to Loomis right now? Ask him what he thought? Yes she was a trained Psychiatrist just as he was, but on this particular occasion, she felt uneasy. Had she made the right choice?

It was true, ever since Danielle had attempted suicide, causing her to be committed into Smith's Grove, that Myers had certainly kept a close watch on her after a few weeks. Dr Stark had always insisted to Dr Loomis that Michael was a man, and could love the same as anyone else. Seeing his and Danielle's interaction had only strengthened her conviction in that regard. Should she have allowed the move? She'd seen the tears in Danielle's eyes when she'd refused… Yet…

Dr Stark sighed again. There was still the fact that Halloween was coming up, and they all knew Michael Myers was at his most dangerous on October 31st. Whether to Danielle or not, it was too big of a risk. Right?

She remembered the conversation she and Dr Loomis had just hours after Michael had first held Danielle's hand.

…

"I may have to accept your mistake," Dr Loomis said as they sat in his office, Danielle safely back in her cell. "There may be something left for Michael after all. Did you see that?"

"I did," Dr Stark said curtly. Her tone made Dr Loomis look up at her in surprise. "What?"

"You stopped the guards from intervening. Why? Danielle could've been killed Sam! You were furious with Joanne the first time Danielle accidentally crossed his line and now you're allowing it to happen? Don't you think he's just luring her into a false sense of security?"

Dr Loomis shook his head. "Michael doesn't work like that. He just kills on the spot. I think he's fascinated with Danielle, purely because she cannot see him. He's probably never met anyone with her condition before."

Dr Stark snorted. "Yeah, ok Sam. What difference will that make to a cold blooded killer? If anything it would help him! She'll be easier to kill because she can't see him! Fascinated? Please!"

"Then why did he hold her hand out there?" Dr Loomis asked quietly. Though Dr Stark knew her boss was asking a rhetorical question. "Why did he not just make an attempt on her life right then?"

"How should I know?" Dr Stark stood up and slapped her hands on the desk in frustration. "I'm not Michael Myers! But I still say you're making a big mistake! You're the one who says there is nothing left, yet you're letting them get close so he can hold her hand! Joanne rushed over, and I saw you and her physically stop the guards from stepping in! Why? Are you trying to use Danielle as some kind of…? Pawn to prove you're right? She could get killed!"

There was a long silence. Eventually, Dr Loomis spoke quietly.

"No Gemma," he said. Using her name for one of the very few times in their working relationship, but it got her attention. "I believe that what we saw was real. I'm serious. Michael crept up on Judith while she was naked and brushing her hair for God's sake! You're right. Danielle would've been an easy victim, stupidly easy even, guards or not. But he didn't touch her! That's what I'm saying. He held her hand, and if you ask me, he felt protective towards her! I'm hoping Danielle will prove me wrong, not right. He may have just met the one person who can get through to his heart, based on the simple fact that she can't see him."

"That…" Dr Stark spluttered. "That's… I'm sorry Sam but have you finally lost it? That's… Well insane! You've been trying to reach him for years! 35 to be exact if you include before 1978. Why the hell would a blind person make any difference?"

"Michael has scars too," Dr Loomis said very quietly. "He is, whatever else he may be, still a man."

"I just think you could be putting Danielle in danger!" Dr Stark persisted. "I'm her therapist, Sam! It's my job to look after her, and you're letting her stand beside a cold blooded killer!"

"Just give me the benefit of the doubt. Ok? You were there. The guards will step in if they need to, they told us as much. But I honestly believe Danielle and Michael could help each other through their separate pasts."

"Insane," Stark said again, standing and leaving without another word.