The first thing Laurie noticed when they arrived at 'Doom Tunnel' was that nothing had changed apart from the 'CLOSED' sign across the main entrance, where the now empty gift shop was. Reaching into his car's trunk, Townsend handed her a helmet. "Just in case," he said simply. Laurie didn't argue she knew all too well what could happen down there, so she just nodded in thanks and took it, strapping it on as Townsend did the same. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she felt the safety whistle she'd attached to the zip by its chain, so another Ben couldn't happen and he'd snatch it. She remembered Andy helping her do it and smiled affectionately. Damn, he was a true friend. Even now he was still on her side.
"Good thinking," Townsend smiled, showing her his own whistle. He'd done exactly the same as she had. "Might be from my attraction, but they could be useful anywhere. Ok, are you ready?"
Laurie nodded, stepping towards the 'CLOSED' sign. "How do we get past this?"
Townsend reached into his pocket, drawing out a key. A second later the entrance door was open. She followed him through into the once stocked gift shop. "Wo," she breathed. "Eery."
"Yes it is rather," he agreed. "Certain people have all the merchandise now." She grinned back at him.
They reached the steps and he gently took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "Laurie, I'll ask you for the last time."
She surprised herself by kissing his cheek softly for only the second time since knowing him. "I'm sure, let's go."
Glancing to her left, she saw the tractor and train which had transported them all the previous time. Townsend followed her gaze. "It's fixed, I just haven't had it moved yet as it's not needed anywhere else. Do you want us to take it?"
"Nah, the walk will do me good. Was it hard to fix?"
Townsend grinned as they began to descend below ground. "No, but I'll tell you this, Michael had slashed the wires good, needed a whole new set to be welded into place."
"Yep that sounds like Michael," Laurie said and shivered slightly. "With a knife as we've seen, he's lethal."
…
"You're shitting me," Jars stared after their target and the woman. "We're… going down there?"
"What's the matter, Jars?" Box taunted, a cruel sneer on his lips. "Scared of the dark without mommy to hold your hand?"
"Enough!" Flask snapped. "Just fucking enough! Let's go!"
Jars gulped and for a second there was genuine fear on his face. Box saw it and to the surprise of the other two his expression softened and he clapped a hand on Jars' shoulder. "Hey it's cool, we've got light and a shit load of weapons, plus the way out won't be hard to find. It's all good. Plus we're not separating, right Flask?"
"Indeed," Flask affirmed. "We do not separate under any circumstances."
Jars took a deep breath and nodded, hoisting the backpack from the car.
"Take the crowbar out now," Box advised and Jars did so.
"Damn it," he said as he hefted the heavy metal. "I want to see this imbedded in that bastard's skull…"
"Which perhaps you will," Flask said. Neither he nor Box had ever asked Jars what his 'personal' reason was for hating Townsend so bitterly and in truth they didn't really care, but for Box at least he couldn't deny he was curious. Maybe tonight they'd fine out?
Turning on their one powerful flashlight, the three men descended the steps into the pitch darkness in pursuit of their target once again.
…
Andy could not sit still, and LYNDA understood why. "Fuck," Andy jumped to his feet. "We have to, L, we have to follow them."
LYNDA knew he was right; in truth she'd been thinking the same. "I thought it was just me," she admitted. "But I feel really… on edge. Something doesn't feel right, but I'll be damned if I know why! I know they'll be fine, but…"
"I hear you," Andy was already pulling on his jacket and grabbing his car keys. "Ready?" Taking a deep breath, LYNDA nodded.
"Fuck 'Doom Tunnel', she breathed as they ran out to Andy's car. "After this I never want to see that fucking place again!"
"Again I hear you," Andy nodded and she saw him glancing back over his shoulder. It wasn't hard to guess why, he was looking for Michael. But judging by the fact neither of them felt the prickling on the backs of their necks now, the masked killer had indeed gone.
"Did you see how he just…" LYNDA clicked her fingers. "Disappeared?"
"Yeah," Andy shivered a little. "Jesus that guy is fucking terrifying!"
LYNDA nodded adamantly. "Thank God my name is LYNDA Van Der Klok and I'm Laurie Strode's… uh Myers' good as sister…"
"Indeed," Andy smiled at her as they jumped into his car and within seconds, were driving the now familiar path out of Haddonfield and towards 'Doom Tunnel'. What awaited them below ground, LYNDA tried not to think about. But her gut feeling was shouting at her that something was wrong and she would protect Laurie Myers with her life if she had to, no questions asked.
…
"Seriously?" Laurie stared in disgust and hatred at the graffiti sprayed onto the gravestone by God alone knew who. 'DEAD FUCKERS.' "So inventive," she sneered. "If you're going to vandalise a gravestone with a message, could've come up with something better than that, twats."
Townsend looked equally angry as he reached into his bag and pulled out powerful cleaning spray and a cloth. Laurie raised her eyebrows.
"I told you I was checking on it," Townsend said. "I meant it. I have a few things with me just for this type of scenario." She felt a huge rush of respect for him at these words. He really did care about Jason, Duncan and Patrick. She reminded herself again that she loved their killer, and had to look away for a second. He gently touched her arm. "Hey," he murmured. "I know, he's a man too."
"How do you do that?" She gaped at him as she took the spray bottle from him and sprayed some on the cloth he was still holding. "Read my damn mind so easily?"
He chuckled. "The look on your face." Together, they began to clean the damage from the headstone, Laurie spraying, Townsend wiping. Some people had no taste, respect or even good colour choice! The spray was a horrible pink she hated. Maybe that was the whole reason behind it.
"Grosse colour right?" Townsend grinned.
"Stop it!" She slapped his arm. "You're going to say 'the look on your face again' aren't you?"
"No, it's just a fact!" She laughed. "Yeah, it's disgusting, worse than the message… almost."
…
"I don't fucking believe it," Jars breathed. "He's left the door unlocked, stupid twat!"
"Probably thinking he's safe," Flask smirked. "We are about to prove him wrong."
"You'd have thought the rich bastard would've at least posted a security guard here," Box said incredulously. "Christ knows he's rich enough to hire one!"
"Probably doesn't see any point," Flask breathed back. "This place is supposed to be closed after all," he gestured at the 'CLOSED' sign in front of them. "Nothing to protect anymore either, gift shop's empty."
As quietly as they could, the three men began to move, Flask covering the flashlight with his hand so just enough came out for him to see the map Bottle had given him. Jars gripped the crowbar as tightly as he could and Box followed behind, holding a pair of handcuffs. Proper metal police ones. He doubted they'd have to use them, but Flask had asked him to hold them at the ready just in case.
"Almost there," Flask breathed suddenly. "Get ready!" Reaching to the backpack Jars carried, he drew out the pistol. Bottle had insisted this was to be used to force cooperation and nothing more unless absolutely necessary, so Flask as the leader would take it. Box's heart was beating surprisingly fast as they quietly approached the gravestone. So this was it, the chance they'd been waiting for to get back at the arrogant rich fucker, and if all went well make millions in the process.
…
"I think that's as good as we're going to get it," Laurie said eventually, lowering the spray bottle. "You can hardly see it now."
"Agreed," Townsend nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "The sad thing is we're probably wasting our time, someone else will just come and replace it."
Laurie sighed sadly. "You're probably right, but at least it's no one we know and they're just mindless vandals with nothing better to do. Needs must we'll just come down and clean it again, and again."
"We?" Townsend smiled at her.
"Well yes," she handed him back the spray bottle. "I've done it once; I'll do it again. As I said we're a team tonight, Tom."
He chuckled. "You making up more T's?"
She looked at him confused, then laughed. "Team tonight Tom? Nah, just rolled off the tongue."
He grinned. "Looks like Laurie!"
She rolled her eyes. "That was terrible! How long you been thinking that one up for?"
"Sorry," he smirked. "Couldn't help myself! Revenge! We ready?"
She nodded. "Hell yes." Now Laurie really was starting to feel sleepy and also desperately hoping Michael would be there when she got back home. She needed, missed and loved him so much.
"He'll be there," Townsend murmured, yet again reading her mind. "Your face," he added as she opened her mouth and they both chuckled. "He loves you; I'm telling you. Let's just get out of here and you'll be back with him soon."
"You talking about your maker, Townsend? If so you will be with him very soon," said a voice behind them. They both turned, just as the crowbar whipped through the air and collided with the back of Townsend's skull.
…
Laurie tried not to scream as the three huge men stepped out of the darkness. Immediately she extinguished her helmet's headlamp, knowing already it was too late. "Nice try darling," one of the men sneered and she felt the click of metal handcuffs closing around her wrists, before she was shoved to the ground. "Stay still and be a good little girl and you won't get hurt. Maybe…"
With her hands cuffed behind her back, Laurie couldn't move. Desperately she tried until a heavy boot kicked her in the ribs and she fell back, gasping in pain. "Try that again and you're dead," a voice said close to her ear, just before she felt the cold metal of a gun against her head. "Do not move." Meanwhile, the other two men descended on Townsend and Laurie could only watch in utter horror as they began to relentlessly attack him. The blow to his skull had mercifully knocked him out, and that really was a mercy as he was kicked, punched and attacked with the crowbar and a vicious looking knife.
Where's Michael when you need him, Laurie thought. They'd run like hell! Cowardly fucking bastards, three to one! Michael would destroy all of you single handed!
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" One of the men who appeared to be the leader shouted. "WE NEED HIM TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST TALK!"
"He's unconscious," one of the men gloated, kicking Townsend's still form again. "How's he supposed to talk?"
"It would help if you stopped kicking him just for a minute," the man snapped at his colleague, viciously throwing cold water on Townsend's face. To Laurie's horror it worked, and his eyes fluttered open. Instantly his face went white with agony. She suspected his ribs were broken and his skull was fractured. So much anger and hatred filled her that for the very first time she understood Michael's need to kill. If she had her way, one or all of these men would die for this.
"Well hello Tommy," the leader sneered. "Time to wake up!"
Townsend was gasping for breath and Laurie's heart ached for him. She wanted to help him so badly it hurt. She had never felt such anger in her life.
"Don't worry your little girlfriend's fine," one of the men gestured at her. "We haven't touched her… yet." One of the others stepped forward. "Well hello Tommy, remember me?"
Townsend's eyes had fluttered closed again, so the man who'd just spoken slapped him across the face, causing them to reopen. He was by now covered in blood and still bleeding. If he didn't get medical help soon… she didn't want to think about it.
"You," Townsend murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Me," the man sneered. "So glad to regain your acquaintance you son of a bitch!"
Townsend tried to move, but his injuries made that impossible. The man kicked him back to the ground. "You're going to fucking listen to me," he snarled, kneeling over the brutally beaten man. "Like you never did before!"
"That…" Townsend struggled to speak. "That was… was years ago!"
"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" The other man shouted suddenly, placing both his hands and feet either side of Townsend to keep him in place. "YOU ALWAYS LOOKED OVER ME, SNEERED AT ME LIKE I WAS SHIT ON YOUR GOD DAMN FUCKING SHOES! YOU NEVER HAD TIME FOR ME, YOU ALWAYS MADE ME FEEL SECOND BEST NO MATTER WHAT I DID! YOU WERE A TYPICAL FUCKING SCHOOL BULLY!"
Laurie could hardly believe her ears. So this was all over a pathetic school grudge? Townsend could quite possibly die for it!
"Nothing I did was good enough for you," the man continued no longer shouting, his voice was deadly soft now. "So look at you now! Fucking billionaire with all your attractions, more money than I would ever see in my entire life, with your band of friends who were just as bad as you! Even when I told you my dad was in hospital you didn't care! You could've easily helped me with his treatment, but you did not and he died because of it, because of you!"
"I… I owed you nothing," Townsend just managed to say. "You… you were just… jealous." He winced in agony.
"FUCK YOU!" The man was shouting again. "YOU KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE AND YOU NEVER CARED! I WAS ALWAYS SMALLER THAN YOU IN EVERYTIHNG INCLUDING HEIGHT! YOU USED THAT AGAINST ME YOU RICH SON OF A BITCH, YOU ENJOYED HAVING ALL THE POWER OVER ME, DIDN'T YOU? NOT ANYMORE YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY ME BACK IN SO MANY WAYS, NOT JUST THROUGH YOUR BANK!"
He gave Townsend another hefty kick and Townsend rolled over as limply as a doll. Laurie now had tears pouring silently down her face. This was unbelievable. This man sounded like a jealous bastard who hadn't made it in life as Townsend had and his only way of revenge was to literally fight back with violence. Though she was terrified, she also felt a fierce resolve. They would not get away with this, no way in hell. She would cooperate, do whatever they asked her to ensure their survival, but when she got out of here, they would pay.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" The leader shouted again as the other man raised the crowbar. "WE DON'T WANT TO KILL HIM… yet!"
"Speak for your fucking self," the man rounded on his boss.
"Look, as I told you if he's dead he can't do what we're asking for, duh!"
"What do… what do…" Townsend couldn't finish the question; he was too badly hurt. Blood was now coming from his mouth and Laurie's panic increased. He was close to death already.
"What the fuck do you think?" The leader sneered. "Money, you rich motherfucker! We'll take your little girlfriend there for ransom if we have to!"
Over my fucking dead body you bastards, Laurie thought. God I wish you'd find out who my husband is, you'd be the ones dying then!
"She's…" Townsend tried to say.
"Not your girlfriend? Yeah what fucking ever! Of course you'd say that!"
"I'm married you sons of bitches," Laurie wasn't sure where her courage was coming from, but fury had taken over both her fear and possibly rationality. But the brutal attack she'd just seen on one of her friends had activated the fire within her. Raising her left hand, she showed them her wedding ring. "It isn't to Tom!"
"Well either way you're clearly friends," the leader sneered at her. The look in his eyes made her shiver. It was cold, and she was sure she could also detect lust in it. No! She thought. No, fucking, way! Not again! I'll die first!
"You have one chance," he turned back to Townsend. "Give us money, or we do exactly what we've said we will."
"How's he supposed to give you money when he's half fucking dead?" Laurie snapped, again unable to help herself. Jesus girl, you want to die too without telling Michael you love him?
"You've got a week," the leader said. "If you go to the police, she will die. If you tell anyone, she will die. If you don't pay, she will die!"
"Ha," she sneered. "You'll have to find me first."
"Oh, I don't think so pretty," the leader assured her." Laurie tried to believe he was bluffing, but was he? Yes these were only three men, but how big was the whole organisation they worked for? Had Townsend landed in the middle of a whole gang? Knowing how rich he was it was hardly surprising if the answer was yes. But Laurie would stand by him no matter what happened. She would never, ever dessert him. They'd come too far for that; she considered him a true friend.
"Besides before you even think about how you're going to escape, you'll have to get the handcuffs off and get above ground, won't you? He dropped a bag at their feet. "A little food and water, use it well! A week is a long time after all. Good luck getting above ground handcuffed, pretty! That may be… a bit of a challenge, wouldn't you say? Will you really leave your little shag on the side to die?"
To her horror, one of the other men leant in and kissed her to the lips, forcing his tongue into her mouth. She couldn't fight because of the handcuffs and he'd grabbed her head with his other hand, clearly anticipating the head-but.
"Fuck you're hot," he panted in her ear as he drew back. "When I come back in a week, I'm going to fucking come inside your tight pussy, bitch! I would now if we had time but I'm going to fuck you soon, I swear to God!" To her disgust, he kissed her again and his hand slipped between her legs, grabbing her over her clothing. The other men whistled and chuckled. Laurie hated every single one of them. The question now was how the hell would they get above ground? She was handcuffed and Tom was fatally injured. No way would she leave him even to get help, she couldn't. This was bad.
"Goodbye," the leader sneered at both of them. "See you next week… maybe!" With a cheerful wave, the three of them began to walk away.
Laurie was thinking fast. Despite being sexually assaulted, she was unhurt and she knew she had to think. She was the only one who could get them safely above ground. She thanked every God who existed and also those who didn't that Tom had told LYNDA and Andy they would call in two hours maximum. Surely when they didn't hear from them they'd do as he said and call the cops, right? Of course they would! Laurie knew LYNDA better than anyone and she was a woman of her word.
Townsend's eyes fluttered open again and Laurie moved to him as fast as she could with her hands cuffed behind her back. "Tom? Talk to me, please!"
He coughed and more blood left his mouth. Laurie again tried to force down her panic. There was no way he'd last even a day without medical help, she had no idea how the men thought they'd get their money with this stupid plan, she was no criminal mastermind and even she would've done things better than they had! Tom might be dead before they got a penny from him! What on earth were they hoping to accomplish?"
"Laurie," Townsend murmured, clearly dazed and fading fast. She couldn't grip his blood covered hand of course, so she did the only thing she could and softly kissed it. "Tom, stay with me, please! It's going to be ok! You told LYNDA and Andy two hours; they'll call for help I know it!"
"Glad you're with me," he murmured and Laurie desperately fought off tears. He couldn't die, he wouldn't! God help her she'd make sure of that! "Yes and I'm not going anywhere," she just managed through the lump in her throat. She found herself thinking again of Townsend's words to her earlier that night. 'Quite frankly, I don't fancy having to answer to Michael if you don't get home safely on my watch.' This time they didn't sound quite so sexist, they sounded like reality.