Lynda and Andy continued driving as fast as they could get away with. The last thing they needed was some arrogant annoying cop stopping them for speeding just then. As Andy drove, Lynda reached into the back and retrieved a first aid kit.

"Good thinking," he smiled at her.

"Yeah, but I just really hope we don't need it," Lynda didn't smile back.

Within 40 minutes they were there. Jumping out, they both ran towards the 'CLOSED' sign.

"The doors open," Andy pointed. "So they've obviously gone down."

Lynda nodded. "So why haven't they come back up?"

Andy glanced at his watch. "I would estimate they've been down there for about an hour 40 now, they should've been back up by now because it would take them about an hour to get back to Haddonfield to call us." Lynda tried not to think about what that might mean. Andy put his arm around her. "We'll find them babe," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "I'm sure they're fine."

"Are you?" Lynda looked straight back at him, a challenge. "Then why were you so agitated at home?"

Andy sighed. "Yeah ok," he said simply. "Let's go."

The two of them ran through the still unlocked door and towards the steps down into the darkness. Andy pulled out two of the 'Doom Tunnel' flashlights and handed her one.

"Thanks babe," she took it. "Now listen. Don't argue with me, please. I'm going to go ahead, just in case they really are in trouble." She gestured at the tractor and train. "I think that's fixed, it looks like it, try it and if it works you drive down on it in case we need it." Andy hesitated for just a second, then nodded possibly because of Lynda's glare. "Ok." She didn't wait for another word or give him a chance to object, instead she descended as fast as she could, keeping her flashlight ahead of her and clutching the red first aid kit as tightly as she could in her other hand. She'd only got a few steps below ground when she stopped, her ears pricking up. Was that a safety whistle?

…

"Stay with me Tom," Laurie pleaded, exercising everything she had not to panic. If he died down here, it would be something she'd never forget and would probably traumatise her for life, plus she just couldn't lose a friend like this. The fact he was injured because of such a cruel, premeditated criminal attack made her feel sick with anger and fear.

"Here," he muttered, but she was certain he hadn't understood what she'd said. Desperately she pushed a bottle of water towards him, feeling utterly helpless due to her fucking handcuffs. Just as she'd feared, he was too weak to even pick it up. "Come on," she begged him, now fighting back tears. "Please, Tom!"

To her horror, this time he made no answer and his eyes closed again. "FUCK!" Her desperate shout echoed through the pitch black tunnel and now panic did threaten to take hold. That was when she saw him gesture weakly at his jacket pocket. "What?" Her voice trembled on the edge of a sob. Tom did it again so she crawled over and just managed to unzip it using her teeth. All that was inside was a safety whistle. She looked up at the dying man and could've sworn he'd nodded. "The… the whistle?" This time he could only grunt in response. Laurie lifted it up behind her back and her eyes widened.

Although the safety whistles looked cheap, they actually had a truly lifesaving feature. At the push of a small button on the side, the chain would extend to a long length, enabling it to reach the mouth from any situation. Laurie clenched it behind her back as hard as she could and squeezed the button. She tried to clamp down on the hope which threatened to expand in her chest as the chain extended from the whistle. Now she could blow it with her hands cuffed behind her.

Her hands shaking wildly, she brought the extended chain up until she felt the plastic whistle touch her mouth. She had one exactly the same in her jacket, but there was no way she could reach hers. "Tom," she said uncertainly. "This is going to be loud…"

Even in his critically injured state, she was certain he gave her a look which said so be it. She returned his determined gaze and now she was in the right position, with her free hand she grasped his. Taking a deep breath she began the SOS signal on the safety whistle. Three short blasts of three seconds each, pause, then repeat.

…

Any doubts LYNDA had that it was indeed a safety survival whistle were extinguished when she recognised the distress signal. Breaking into a run she listened desperately, trying to track the whistle's location. Behind her she heard the soft whirr of the electric tractor and her heart soared with affection for Andy. He'd done as she asked. He stopped beside her and she jumped into the train. Andy pushed the throttle lever forward picking up speed, heading towards the whistle as fast as they could go.

…

At first when Laurie saw the tractor coming towards them, she thought she was having some fear induced nightmare. That she'd open her eyes only to find she'd dreamed the whole thing, or that the tractor was being driven by the criminals back for another go at both of them. But when she dared to close and reopen them, there it was! She stopped whistling and before she could stop herself, she burst into tears.

Andy and LYNDA jumped down from the tractor and train and ran towards them. "Markaz medics," Andy said but he was totally serious. Laurie's tears only increased when neither of them asked her what'd happened, just turned immediately to Townsend. LYNDA knelt at his side and opened the first aid kit.

"Fuck," Andy said in horror. "He's bad!"

"Crowbar," Laurie said simply, too numb and in too much shock to say more. Again, Andy simply nodded as he and LYNDA began doing what they could for the badly injured man.

"We need to get him out of here," Andy said. "Like now."

"We were ambushed," Laurie said as LYNDA helped her drink some water. "Three criminals attacked us, handcuffed me and…" she swallowed, hardly able to look at Townsend. "Beat him to…"

"He's not going to die!" Andy said firmly. "Not on my fucking watch he isn't!"

These words only made Laurie cry harder. LYNDA bandaged Townsend's wounds as best she could, then on the count of three, she and Andy gently lifted him into the train, so he was lying across three seats. Carefully, LYNDA belted him down with the three seatbelts so he couldn't move or fall.

"Babes," Andy said to her. "You need to go on ahead, back up to the surface. We need an ambulance now! We also need the cops with a fucking handcuff key!"

LYNDA and Andy then helped Laurie to her feet and into the seat behind where Townsend lay before LYNDA belted her in. "On it," she said to Andy, before she was running as fast as her feet could carry her.

Jumping into the tractor, Andy spoke into the microphone hooked above the driver's seat, presumably used when tour guiding. His voice came out of a small speaker on the tractor's roof. "Hold on folks, I'll have you out of here in no time!"

"You're a fucking life saver," Laurie said to him, hoping to God it was true in every sense of the word. Putting the throttle lever into drive, the tractor shot into the darkness, it's powerful light pushing it away with ease.

Laurie began to cry all over again when she saw the light from the moon just above them. Andy slowly drove the tractor up the specially designed steps and stopped just in the entrance. Within five minutes, they heard the whale of sirens. Laurie felt sure she was going to faint with relief.

An ambulance and police car skidded to a stop beside the entrance, just as LYNDA jumped out of the police car. At her side was Michael. Laurie felt a surge of both joy and fear at the sight of her husband. He wasn't masked or holding a knife (of course not as he'd just got out of a cop car,) but his eyes were their usual cold, emotionless even now. Was he still angry at her for earlier and now even more so for putting herself in danger? Immediately the paramedics ran to the train and Townsend. Carefully unbuckling him and lifting him onto a stretcher.

"Fantastic job you guys," the lead paramedic praised Andy and LYNDA. Laurie couldn't agree more. She could only cry harder as the stretcher was rushed towards the waiting ambulance.

"We'll do our very best for him," the female paramedic said, putting her arm briefly around Laurie's shoulders. Laurie didn't like the sound of that, it sounded to her ears at least as though Townsend didn't have much of a chance. She could hardly be surprised given the level of injury he had, but…

"WE NEED A HANDCUFF KEY OVER HERE NOW!" A police officer yelled. "MOVE IT!"

Laurie felt someone take their place in the train beside her and turned her head. It was Michael. She desperately wanted to speak to him, but she was still in shock. She felt his strong arm come around her shoulders pulling her to his side. His gaze however was still cold. Maybe that was just him? She tried to console herself but even she didn't really believe it. He was angry and rightly so but even given that, he was still making sure she was alright.

One of the officers produced a handcuff key but before he could use it, Michael took it from him and it was he who unlocked her handcuffs. The relief was indescribable. She moved her arms and heard them both click loudly. She gasped in pain at first, but it soon started to wear off.

"Mrs. Myers," a police officer said and she felt another rush of relief. They knew she was married and Michael was legally released. Thank God! She hadn't fancied trying to explain that! "What happened?"

Laurie was shaking too much to answer at first. She took several deep breaths, unsure if she was going to cry or throw up. She felt Michael's arms around her tighten.

"Go easy!" Someone snapped and looking around, Laurie saw a third paramedic, standing beside LYNDA. Andy had gone with the ambulance. "This woman's in shock! A bit of tact please gentlemen!"

"Agreed," one of the officers said. "Easy Atkins! Yes we need info as soon as possible, but this isn't the way to get it!"

"Mrs. Myers," the paramedic said soothingly, handing her a hot cup. "Drink this, it's coffee." She tried, but found her hand was shaking too badly to do so. She felt Michael take hold of the cup and support her shaking hand, guiding it to her lips. As soon as the first sip hit, Laurie instantly felt a little calmer. Nor could she help herself when she wrapped her free arm around her husband. "I'm sorry," she breathed to him. "I…"

He kissed her, his lips soft against hers and she nearly melted into a blubbering mess right there. She clung to him as tightly as she could and felt him stroking her back. Looking up, she was certain that this time she could see concern and love in his gaze.

"Mrs. Myers," the officer who'd snapped at his colleague said gently. "When you're ready, are you able to tell us what happened?"

"I'd gone down underground with Tom to check on the gravestone," Laurie began, her voice shaking. She forced herself to go on. "We'd just finished cleaning it when…" but she stopped.

'If you tell anyone, she will die. If you go to the police, she will die.'

"Yes?" The officer encouraged.

"We were attacked," she said in just above a whisper. "Three men attacked us, beat Tom really badly and handcuffed me."

"What did they want?"

"Money," she said simply. No danger there.

The two officers nodded to each other grimly. Then came the question Laurie had been dreading. "What did they look like?"

"It was dark," she said quickly, knowing as she said it the officers wouldn't buy that. She was after all still wearing her helmet equipped with its powerful headtorch. As if reading her mind both officers glanced at it. It was only then she realised her headtorch was still on, although on the lowest setting. Quickly, she turned it off. Shit!

"Well you clearly had light," the officer with no tact said. "So you must've seen something? What did they look like?"

"She's a victim, not a suspect!" The other officer once again snapped. "Go easy damn it!" As he spoke, Laurie saw him glance at Michael. No shame there either. She gave him a weak smile. Get on the wrong side of Michael Myers, you wouldn't live to tell about it. She thought back to Townsend's words which had deeply frustrated and annoyed her earlier, and perhaps there was more truth in them than she'd given him credit for. She was after all Laurie Myers, Michael Myers' wife. Not a possession, but he loved her. If anyone hurt her, of course he'd react. She just hoped he'd do so without killing the perpetrator.

"I… I couldn't see very well," she lied. "They… they had masks on."

Her husband shot a look at her and she realised with a jolt of… something, he didn't believe her. Why did Michael Myers have to be so damn sharp?

"Masks?" The second officer asked. "What kind of masks?"

"Ski masks," she said simply. "I could only see their eyes through the wholes."

There was a long silence as the two officers shared a long look. Laurie was certain they didn't buy it either, she'd answered too fast. "Did they threaten you at all?" The first officer asked and to her surprise his voice was now finally gentle.

"No," she said. Too fast, Laurie!

"Are you sure about that?" he leant towards her and all she wanted to do was shrink back into the train seat and disappear. Michael's eyes too were fixed on her face. She was trapped.

"Mrs. Myers," the officer now laid a soft hand on her shoulder. "We'll protect you, but we need to know the truth. What really happened down there?"

"I…" she started, without a clue what she'd been about to say. Michael put both his arms around her now and drew her into him, kissing her once, then twice. The police officers smiled, both of them this time. Laurie didn't know if she was brave or stupid, but she leant forward and whispered in her husband's ear. "I can't, if I tell anyone including the police, they'll kill me."

Instantly she saw his eyes darken, but this time she didn't feel fear, she felt… safe? Facing the officers again she spoke softly. "Sorry, I can't. If I do, they'll kill me."

"Is that what they said?" The second officer asked. She nodded once. "If I tell the police, I'll die." This time there was no doubting it. Laurie saw both officers shoot a glance at Michael and smiled grimly. Right then they were all on the same page.

"They'll have to find you first," the first officer said quietly. "We won't let that happen. Just tell us Mrs. Myers, did they really have masks on?"

She took a deep breath. "No," she whispered. "But…"

"So you saw their faces?" She could only nod.

"Please tell us?" He said softly, touching her shoulder again. "We'll catch them I promise you."

Gathering her thoughts, Laurie finally took a deep breath and told them exactly what she'd seen. Their brutal attack on Townsend, their handcuffing her, then the third man's vicious sexual assault and threats to rape her upon their return. There was no doubt about it this time, Michael's eyes had darkened with pure anger. She felt herself shiver. Thank God she couldn't be more accurate on her descriptions, because Michael may well have faced execution then for their murders. Not that she'd be too sorry to see them go, but not him!

"There were three of them you say?" One of the officers asked. She nodded. "All you saw were three tall men carrying a crowbar and a pistol?" She nodded again.

"Ok, thank you Mrs. Myers. Now we can't make you of course and this is not a command, but we would really like you to go with your friend there," he gestured to LYNDA, who'd sat beside Laurie also with her arm around her listening in horror. "To at the very least, let these guys have a look at you." She glanced up and saw a second ambulance had parked behind the police cruiser. Michael released her, stood and took her hand, helping her down from the train and steering her firmly towards the waiting ambulance. "I think that's her told," LYNDA smiled at the officers before following them.

"Michael," Laurie murmured to her husband as he helped her up the ambulance steps. "I…" she couldn't finish. How could she? There was so much she wanted to say. Michael shook his head as he pushed her into the care of a waiting paramedic. She looked desperately back at him, but he was already walking away.

"Hey that's just Michael," LYNDA murmured as she climbed into the ambulance to join them. "You know that, he'll be back soon I promise."

"More faith than me," Laurie muttered as the motherly looking paramedic pushed her onto a waiting bed. "Now you just lie there my dear and let me check you over, ok?"

"Yes Mom," Laurie said before she could stop herself and LYNDA and the paramedic both laughed.

"I hear that all the time I have that reputation," the paramedic smiled and Laurie liked her instantly. "My name's Tracey, but you can call me 'mom' if you like I really don't mind."

Laurie couldn't help herself again then, she sat up ignoring Tracey's protests and hugged the paramedic. She nearly cried when Tracey hugged her back. "You're very sweet darling, but come on lay back down for me now ok? You've been through a lot and you might be in shock. Just be a good girl and do as I tell you!"

"Yeah," LYNDA chimed in. "This woman talks sense! Now do it!"

"Have you had an update on Tom?" She desperately asked Tracey as she lay back down. "Please tell me the truth?"

"Not yet sweetheart," Tracey said as she gently began to remove Laurie's clothing, which were she only now realised, covered in Townsend's blood. Her heart broke all over again. "But I promise you as soon as I know anything I'll tell you."

"Please," Laurie pleaded, staring at her bloody clothes.

"I swear," Tracey murmured and to Laurie's shock but gratitude softly kissed her cheek. "I promise as soon as I hear anything."

"Andy's with him," LYNDA reminded her softly. "He can update us too. Tom's tough, he won't let this beat him."

Laurie couldn't help it; she began to cry again. Instantly LYNDA's arms were around her, her voice in her ear shushing her. Tracey continued her gentle check-up, but to Laurie it all might as well have been going on on another planet. All she cared about were Townsend and Michael. How she wanted her husband with her so badly, the way he'd simply walked away from her during her time of need hurt. She couldn't deny that. She knew LYNDA was right, 'that's just Michael,' but it didn't help her right then. He was her husband and where was he when she needed him the most? She knew Michael Myers wasn't the romantic type of course, but still…

"He'll be back," LYNDA whispered. "I promise you." How the hell did she do that? All Laurie could do was believe her; she had no faith of her own remaining tonight.

…

The Squeezed Lemons Public House was not somewhere Box wanted to be. Not tonight, not ever. He hated the place; it was too rough even by his standards. But this was where Bottle had ordered them to meet after they'd completed their operation, so here they were. Didn't mean he had to like it though.

"So you left them down there?" Bottle asked bluntly.

"Yes Sir," Flask nodded to their boss. "It seemed the best thing to do as we didn't anticipate he'd have a bitch with him."

"Makes sense," Bottle nodded and Box felt a rush of relief. At least they weren't about to get reprimanded for what Bottle considered a mistake.

"They won't get out Sir," he said now. "The woman was left handcuffed and our target was at death's door when we were done with him," he snickered.

Bottle's face darkened. "Well you'd better hope he doesn't die Flask, at least not until we have our millions. He does, it's on your head. You were in charge tonight."

"Yes Sir," Flask nodded, feeling like a told off school boy. Shit this man scared him. No shame there though, he scared a lot of people.

"What about you, Jars?" Bottle asked, turning to him.

"What about me, Sir?" Jars asked. "I did exactly what you asked along with the rest of us."

Bottle glared at him. "Don't BS me! We all know you hate the target more than the rest of us combined, are you honestly telling me you left him alone? I don't fucking buy it! We all know you have some sort of pathetic school grudge against him, something which would give you in your mind more than enough reason to attack and maybe kill him!"

"This is true Sir," Jars nodded. "But I swear when I left he was still alive! Yes I may have… knocked him about a bit, but not enough to prove fatal."

"You'd better hope not for your own sake Jars! Right, listen to me all of you! I don't trust that you didn't make some stupid fuckup Jars, so I want you back down there right now! I want you to confirm the target is still down there where you left him, I don't give a fuck about the bitch, even though we all know you're desperate to fuck her! Go!"

"Now, Sir?" Jars' voice shook.

"Now," Bottle clarified with a cold sneer. "What? You say he's fine, so you should have no problem should you? Get down there, check and then tell me. If all's well, you will indeed be fine! You two, do whatever you want but keep your fucking head's down! Got me? Last thing we want is the pigs showing up! You told the bitch if she told them anything she'd die?" They nodded. "Let's hope she's scared enough by that then to keep her fucking mouth shut!"

"Sir," Flask said. "She won't get out, we made sure of that. He's too injured to even stand and she was handcuffed. They've got no fucking chance without outside help, and no one knew where they were."

"You'd better pray you are correct about that Flask," Bottle glared at him now. "Or your life too will end."

"I swear, Sir," Flask nodded. "They won't be found."

"Well let's hope Jars tells us just that when he gets back from checking on them then, eh? Jars, go!"

The man known as Jars stood up, his legs shaking. It was clear to all of them that he did not want to go back down into 'Doom Tunnel' alone, but he had his orders. Swallowing, he left the pub. He knew he'd be fine, who could move when they were either handcuffed or badly injured? But still, why did it have to be him? Why couldn't Bottle have sent Flask or Box? He knew their leader had a dislike for him, but why did he have to be the one in trouble just because he fucking hated Thomas Townsend? It was like Bottle was personally targeting him, and he didn't like that at all.