"Ok," Townsend Shon the beam of the flashlight forwards, its light giving them a surprisingly far view of the tunnel ahead. Let's move!"

In terrified silence, the group began walking. Laurie's heart was pounding fit to burst. If it was him, her husband down here with them tonight, he held so much power over her it was unreal, and that wasn't even mentioning her life.

"Laurie?" Lynda came up beside her and put her arm around her. "Laurie, are you ok? Do you… do you really think Michael's down here again tonight?"

Laurie couldn't lie to her best friend, not even about Michael. "Yes," she breathed.

"You sure that's not just wishful thinking on your part?" Lynda asked in a whisper. "I mean I know how much you care about him, I know you love him, so…"

"Right now, I wish it was. You're right, I fucking adore the merciless killer! But I… I'm scared to tell you the truth, LYNDA. I'm so afraid you…" her voice trailed off.

"If it's because you think I'm going to pull an Annie or Paul on you," LYNDA said, her voice still low but firm now. "You are so wrong, Miss Strode! So, so wrong."

"You don't know what I have to say yet though," Laurie countered, looking her friend straight in the eyes.

"That's as Maybe, but whatever it is I'm with you Laurie, always."

Laurie felt the sting of tears at these words. "Thanks, but I'll remind you of that before you walk away in a minute."

"No chance," LYNDA vowed. "Please Laurie, tell me, what is it? What makes you so sure it's Michael? Also, don't think I haven't noticed how quiet and sad looking you've been recently, because I have. I was going to ask you about it tonight actually. So you, I want answers. I love you."

Laurie glanced forward and saw the rest of the group a little ahead. Townsend kept looking back, making sure they were with him. Laurie deeply respected the billionaire after tonight.

"Dr Loomis called me a few weeks ago," she began. "Said that there was a way for…" she swallowed. "Michael to be released. Now as you can imagine, I was like what the hell? That was when the doc told me and I quote, all Michael's chances hang on you."

LYNDA's eyes widened. "How?"

"Please," Laurie pleaded again. "Promise me, LYNDA. Promise me you won't abandon me?"

"Never!" LYNDA's words were so sincere, as was the hug she pulled her into, Laurie couldn't doubt her. Taking a deep breath, she whispered the five words she was so afraid of telling anyone, most of all LYNDA. "Michael had to take a wife."

There was a short silence, as LYNDA processed what Laurie had just said. "What?" she breathed eventually. Laurie just nodded to her.

"You…" LYNDA took her hand and squeezed it, indicating to Laurie she was still right by her side. Laurie's heart nearly burst with love for LYNDA Van Der Klok at that exact moment. She was no longer the immature, boy crazy teen just then, she was a full groan woman. "So you're telling me that Michael Myers is now your husband?"

Laurie was touched beyond words at how LYNDA was dealing with this. All she could do was nod once more.

"Is…" LYNDA hesitated. "Is that why you turned Cramer down? Or, one of the reasons?"

"Well yes," Laurie smiled sadly. "I'm a married woman, even if I am married to a merciless and silent serial killer, and man who doesn't give a damn about me! I'd say that's a pretty good reason, wouldn't you?"

"Well yes," LYNDA agreed. "That and he's a down right prick!"

Laurie couldn't help but laugh. "Fuck I love you LYNDA V," she grabbed her in a fierce hug. "I love you so much!"

"It's mutual gal," LYNDA squeezed her tightly. "So you think, Mrs. Myers," Laurie half flinched, half sobbed at her married name. "That your husband is down here tonight? If so, surely it's because of you? Maybe there's some sort of… power in your marriage so he knows where you are, maybe he's looking for you right now."

"Or after me," Laurie said softly. "To kill me."

"I'm no expert on how Michael Myers thinks, but I somehow doubt it. So he had to agree to marry you, in order to be released?" Laurie nodded.

"Dr Loomis told me that it was the CEO's idea, something to do with money of course! He's made no attempt to kill anyone since he left me. But if he does care, why the fuck did he leave? Why was I just… you know, used for sex? Maybe Ben took a leaf out of his book."

LYNDA glared at the back of Cramer's head in front of them. "I saw how happy you were in those months he was with you, whether it was just for sex or not. But surely he must've felt something for you, because that's a big sacrifice to make even for a release from Smith's Grove."

Laurie snorted with derisive laughter. "Wouldn't stop Michael Myers."

"That's as maybe, but you have no proof his intentions towards you are… deadly."

"Oh please," Laurie wanted to roll her eyes, but LYNDA looked at her sternly. "I'm serious. If we do encounter him, let's see what happens."

"I'll remind you of that too when I have his knife in my neck," Laurie smiled faintly.

"STOP THERE GUYS," Townsend shouted back to them. The two girls ran to catch up with the group. "Please…" Laurie began just before they were in earshot.

"Don't tell anyone?" LYNDA finished and pretended to seal and zip her lips. "My lips are sealed. Seriously, I would never, ever do that to you."

"Andy's angry," Laurie breathed. "I… let slip I thought I knew the answer as to why Michael would be down here tonight once more."

"Don't worry, I'll deal with him," LYNDA said and Laurie couldn't help but smirk.

"Everything ok?" LYNDA asked as the girls reached Townsend and the others. Townsend was frowning at his map with intense concentration.

"I… seem to have a page missing."

"What the fuck?" Ben exploded. "Are you telling us we're fucking lost? You're the billionaire who owns this fucking thing, you of all people should know where we fucking are!"

"Shut up Cramer," Laurie, LYNDA, Andy and Katie said in unison.

"Which I do," Townsend said evenly. "But even I need a map, Mr. Cramer. Money does not buy head mapping abilities." Laurie covered her mouth to keep from laughing, and saw Townsend smiling faintly at her.

"So now what?" Andy asked. Laurie stepped forward and surprised herself by taking the tour owner's hand.

"Tom, it wouldn't surprise me if… if your missing page is in the same position as the slashed wires of your tractor are." Townsend squeezed back and they smiled respectfully at each other.

"What," Ben started again. "Someone's taken the fucking page?"

Townsend let out a long breath. "I don't know. So we just have to keep moving, I have some water in my bag, but… it's back on the tractor. I'll go get it."

"NO!" Laurie almost shouted. She forced her voice lower. "That's a stupid idea Tom! Split up, down here? With… with who knows what danger we might be in?"

"I still say you know s…" Andy began, but stopped when LYNDA took his hand. "Leave it, please," she murmured to him. "We'll explain all when we get out."

"What?" Andy looked at Laurie in disgust. "Has she told you something?"

"Yes," LYNDA affirmed. "But she's my best friend and I'm not going to betray her trust. Let's just get out of here and I'll tell you… we'll explain it then." Andy hesitated for just a moment, then sighed and nodded, shooting Laurie an apologetic look. "Ok. Sorry, my nerves… they're shot to shit!"

"One of us has to go back to the train," Townsend interjected. "I have water there, also possibly the missing map page. We have no choice, one of us has to go back. I've also got a spare flashlight just in case this one runs out. We can't all go, one of us needs to stay with the others for light, and to direct the person back to them if necessary."

"Shit!" Andy cursed. "I should've brought the three I took from the shop down here."

"It's ok," LYNDA activated the headlamp on her helmet. Townsend nodded in approval. "These last 8 hours, I remember from last time, so we should be ok, right?"

The tour owner nodded again, then looked at Andy. "Let's not play the 'what if' game, it won't do us any good. But like I said, at least one of us has to go back. The map directs you back to where the train is." He raised a page and showed them. "You can't get lost."

"I'll go," Laurie said without thinking. All she knew was she needed space, to get away from Ben, to think.

To long for Michael?

"NO!" Andy, Townsend and even Ben said in unison. Laurie put her hands on Townsend's and Andy's arms, to indicate no offence was intended here. "With all the respect in the world," she glared at Ben to show he was excluded from the respect part. "Please don't be sexists? I'm just as capable as anyone, I can read maps well and I can get there and back in… what, 5 tops?"

"No sexism intended," Townsend said quietly and Andy nodded. Ben however didn't say or do anything.

"Look I know," Laurie said, speaking directly to the two men only. "Of course I know. But please, let me do this? Someone has to, so I'm as good as anyone."

LYNDA caught Laurie's eye at that moment and both girls immediately knew what the other was thinking. You're hoping to meet Michael first, aren't you.

"Even if Laurie does get them and get back," Katie spoke up finally, her voice quiet. "What's the plan then?"

Townsend smiled, but there was no humour in it. "Keep walking until we find the way out." He then leant close to Laurie and LYNDA and whispered three words which made them both shiver. "Survive until daylight."

Laurie knew that was indeed her husband's cruel, literally unspoken challenge to them, his game. Survive long enough to get out. She'd bargained with him before and he'd let them go, but this time? She was only his damn wife now! Would she be so lucky? Or would he just ruthlessly slaughter her friends as one final act of cruelty towards her? His leaving had ripped her in two mentally, his knife could do the physical damage and finish her off. "Look," Laurie spoke quietly but urgently. "One of us has to go, let me." She reached out and took the flashlight from Townsend, then the map before he'd even opened his mouth. Scanning it quickly, she turned around and prepared to walk away. Townsend opened his mouth again and Laurie showed her safety whistle with the flashlight, then began to walk away, her eyes glued to the paper in her hand.

Ben Cramer watched Laurie walk away into the darkness, only visible via LYNDA's headlamp. He could not deny it, he was angry. How fucking dare Laurie reject him like that, and with no good reason apart from 'I'm not interested?' Well the bitch had it coming, he loved her and she would damn well accept his love. He was not one to be told no, and having been told so was a sting he was not prepared to deal with.

He waited for his chance, and it came while LYNDA, Andy and Townsend were looking intently at something on the map. Then as quietly as he could, he turned and began to quickly follow the fading beam of Laurie's flashlight.

Laurie reached the train easily, and picked up Townsend's bag. It was surprisingly heavy considering this was only supposed to be a brief visit, but now she was glad of it. Hoisting it onto her shoulders she turned, shining the flashlight forward, keeping her eyes pealed for anyone, anything. During the walk back to the train she'd tried to keep her mind on anything but Michael or Ben. Thinking about either of them caused a nasty twisted feeling in her stomach, though for entirely different reasons. Michael terrified her, Ben she merely hated. Yet, she loved Michael Myers, not something she could escape from easily, especially considering she was now Laurie Myers in the eyes of the law…

Walking back though was not so easy. She kept her eyes fixed on the return route, and despite what she'd said being true she was good at map reading, nothing looked the same going in reverse. She stopped and took a deep breath, trying to reign in approaching panic. "Breathe, Laurie," she murmured to herself. "Just breathe."

Knowing her husband's twisted sense of humour as she did, Laurie had no doubt that if he was down here right now, he was watching her. The hairs had stood up on the back of her neck, a clear indication someone was indeed doing just that. She took determined steps forward, equally determined not to let fear rule her, or let herself give in. And especially not to want her husband to appear… She cursed. "Fuck!" Michael Myers had got under her very skin and worst of all he of course knew it! He was probably amused right now by it. "Cruel bastard," Laurie muttered. "Yet I fucking love him and he knows it!"

She forced herself to take a final deep breath, then commence walking again. The prickling on the back of her neck was not letting up, someone was indeed watching her. But she forced herself not to stop, the others were depending on her.

That was when she was slammed back first into the brick wall. All Laurie's breath shot out of her and she was so shocked, she was unable to fight back. It had to be Michael, had to be. This was exactly what he would do, her husband.

"I warned you once," a voice snarled in her ear and Laurie felt her fear ramp up despite her best efforts. Ben. As he was speaking, he reached in her pocket and snatched her safety whistles, pocketing them himself. Shit! "I tried to be nice about it, I tried to do the thing you women love and be romantic," he spat the last word as if it was something tasting vile in his mouth. "But you rejected me you stone cold fucking bitch! So now, I will just take what's mine! I love you Strode, and I will not take no for an answer! I'm going to fuck you right here, right now."

She tried once again to resist, but he was too strong. He shoved her back against the wall with no show of gentleness this time, his lips smashing against hers with nothing but lust. Laurie's head smacked into the Brik and immediately stars exploded behind her eyes along with blinding pain. A second later, she felt something trickling down the back of her neck. Blood. Her blood.

Ben's hands grabbed her breasts again, before he unzipped her pants for the second time and started fingering her. Laurie tried once more to struggle, but the bang to her head had made her movements sluggish and weak. But she'd be damned if she was going down without a fight. Townsend's heavy bag had also smashed into the brick when she had, and she desperately tried to reach to it with her hand behind her back, hoping she'd find a safety whistle, or even a sharp object she could wound him with. Ben continued his sexual assault, totally unperturbed by her struggles. She couldn't even scream because his mouth was covering hers. Laurie thought fast then had an idea. Moving her mouth against his as though she was reciprocating his kisses as Ben once again took down his own pants then pulled hers down, she waited for just the right moment before she bit his bottom lip as hard as she could.

"FUCK!" Ben screamed, staggering backwards. Laurie was shocked to see blood running down his face. How hard had the bite been? Well good!

"YOU FUCKING BITCH," Ben tried to grab her again but she dodged out of the way. Immediately she heard running footsteps once again. Her heart nearly stopped with love. It was Andy. Despite everything he'd said, how angry he'd been, despite the look of anger in his eyes, he was there again when she was in trouble.

"DO YOU EVER FUCKING GIVE UP?" Andy shouted at Ben, glancing at his bleeding lip. Laurie desperately tried to pull up her pants, gasping for breath. "Nice bite, Laurie. I came on behind you," Andy said. "Had a feeling this little cunt would try something again, I'm sorry I was right." He reached forward and punched Ben straight to the face. There was a sickening crack as Ben's nose broke, spirting blood. Andy then saw Laurie's head wound.

"You son of a bitch," this time his voice was quiet, deadly quiet. "I'm going to fucking kill you this time."

Townsend, LYNDA and Katie appeared behind them a moment or so later, and Townsend immediately took his heavy bag from Laurie's shoulders. "I've got a first aid kit in here," he opened it and applied anti-septic to Laurie's head. She winced and he gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry."

When he'd applied bandages, the group began to walk again but this time, Ben's hands were tied behind his back with a piece of rope from Townsend's bag. Andy was glaring at him with undisguised hatred as was LYNDA, who had a tight arm around Laurie. She was shaking.

"Fuck," Laurie stumbled to a holt in yet another pitch black passage, clutching her head. "Fuck, I… I can't…"

"Babe you have to," LYNDA said, sounding close to tears. Townsend moved to her other side and put his arm around her, Andy on the other, with LYNDA behind her. "Lean on us," Townsend instructed softly. "We'll help you walk, it's ok, we're here."

"Need a… minute," Laurie said groggily, unable to think. Dizziness threatened to take over and she staggered. Both men tightened their grips. "Feel sick, I…" Townsend tipped cold water onto her forehead and Laurie jolted with a wince, but her eyes opened.

"You have to stay awake sweetheart," Townsend soothed and she felt a rush of affection for him at these words. "You can't pass out down here, there's nothing we can do for you here, let's get you out and straight to the hospital. I'll take you myself I promise. Just keep walking, not far, you can do it."

"I'll be taking this rapist down to the police station," Andy glared at Ben. "That's if I don't kill him first!"

"Fucking try it asshole," Ben snarled. "I'd take you down in a second!" Laurie couldn't help but smile weakly. Andy was twice Ben's size.

"That all the testosterone big guy?" Andy taunted with a sneer. "Need to get rid of your tiny little erection?" Ben made to speak, but Andy smashed him across the face for a second time.

"Good one," Townsend said approvingly, as Andy again put his arm around Laurie and the group slowly started walking again, LYNDA keeping a tight hold of Ben's rope with Katie.

"You want to treat Laurie like a toy?" She snarled. "Ok then, then you'll get treated like the dog you are!"

One thing Townsend didn't tell Katie was that he'd looked in his bag and the missing page to his map was nowhere to be seen, making them certain Laurie's theory was correct. Tractor wires slashed; way out stolen. Just what they needed.

"I… I need a rest, please," Laurie begged, clutching her bandaged head. Blood was beginning to seep through the bandages by this point.

Gently, Andy and Townsend eased her into a sitting position. Laurie gasped for breath, tears finally rolling down her face. LYNDA immediately pulled her into a hug as she sat beside her, murmuring soothing words in her ear that only they knew.

"I am going to kill him," Andy fumed, as he and Townsend took over holding Ben's rope. Katie was helping Laurie drink some water, LYNDA was applying fresh bandages to her wound. As gently as she could, Katie wiped the residue from Laurie's face.

"So tired," Laurie said, her eyes closing.

"Laurie!" LYNDA almost shouted, causing Laurie to jolt and open her eyes. "You have to stay awake babes," Katie soothed. "You can't sleep. Here, eat this." She'd found some chocolate in Townsend's bag and before she could ask him if it was ok, Townsend had nodded. Katie held the chocolate up to Laurie's mouth, her hands were shaking too badly to do so herself, and both girls smiled at her when she took a small bite.

"Told you chocolate heals everything," LYNDA smiled lovingly at her best friend and Laurie managed a faint chuckle back. "Well it's not working quickly enough on this occasion." Katie chuckled with them.

Andy and Townsend watched Laurie anxiously, before Townsend opened his mouth to speak. "Ok guys, we don't have ages in these lights, we really should…"

It was Ben's stifled scream which stopped him, Laurie was sure Andy had just pulled on the rope too hard on purpose or something. Good! But when Andy let out a quiet, "fuck," Laurie knew that wasn't the case. LYNDA and Katie looked up and went completely white. Laurie couldn't see from her sitting position and made to stand, but couldn't.

LYNDA leant close and whispered in her ear. "Don't move, but I'm certain you out of all of us are perfectly safe. After all, it's not like your husband will kill you, is it?"

At these words, Laurie forced herself to her knees, ignoring the pain and dizziness she got as a reward. Glancing up, she saw immediately what LYNDA was talking about.

Because Ben was being held against the brick wall by the throat, a lethal knife against his neck and the person both holding him to the wall and the knife to his neck, was a tall man in navy blue coveralls. He was also wearing an instantly recognisable deathly white, pale mask.