Chapter 10

Three rings, four rings, five... and then- "Hello, we are not available now. Please leave your name and number after the beep," the computerized voice droned. Rosalyn had always been too lazy to record her own outgoing message.

"Rosalyn, this is Jonah."

"Oh, no." She cringed at the name. Jonah was her boss. "It's been three days now with no word from you. We're getting worried, Ms. McLee-ahd."

Rosalyn scoffed. Sure you are. "It's pronounced McCloud," she corrected the machine.

Rosalyn McLeod, that dark Irish lass. Who cares? No one misses me, she thought bitterly and rolled over in bed. "No one," she said aloud. The sound of her own voice hung in the silence for a moment. Abruptly, her thoughts turned to Michael.

She hadn't seen her masked avenger in over a week. The thought had occurred to her that he'd come while she was at work. So she stayed home for a day. Now she wondered if he was ever coming back at all. It was this awful, lingering thought that had kept her in bed for the remaining two days. What if something had happened to him? Impossible. Nothing could stop Michael Myers. Maybe he just- didn't want her- anymore. Maybe he was tired of her. Maybe-

Tears were streaming down her face now. Didn't he understand why she was trying to help him? Didn't he care? But why should he? She was nothing- to him or anyone else. Rosalyn McLeod was nothing.

Nothing.

Rosalyn woke up three hours later. It was dark outside now. Her mouth was terribly dry and her head was pounding. She got up and, tripping and stumbling all the way, found the Advil. She popped two of the small tablets into her mouth and followed them with two glasses of water. I'll bet I'm dehydrated. She was about to fill the glass again when she heard a noise outside that made her jump. It was sort of a rustle and then a metallic clang. She sat listening a second before bolting for the door.

"Michael? Michael!" She bounded down the stairs and ran around the side of the house. "Michael, please come out!" She stopped.

Sable came slinking out of the shadows. She looked up at Rosalyn with her goldenrod eyes and mewed questioningly. Rosalyn stood stunned as the black cat weaved itself around her legs. "You're losing your mind again, you crazy little girl," she accused herself. "Foolish little girl," she continued as she walked back to the house in a daze. "He's not coming back. Why would he come back to you, little girl?" She kept going, completely oblivious to the dark figure half-concealed in the brush.

When she got inside, she collapsed on the floor in front of the door and bawled like a baby. "Come back, Michael! Come back! Please come back Michael," she cried over and over. She stood up and looked out the window. "No?" She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed her keys off the stand by the door. Then, she opened the door and headed for the car, not caring that she was barefoot and in her nightgown. "He'll never come back- never." She got in the car. "Never come back- never." She jiggled the key in the ignition and sped away from the house. "Never come back- never come back," she repeated as she drove. Suddenly, she hit the brakes and the car screeched to a stop. She'd arrived and she was ready. She stepped out of the car and moved to the edge of the bridge. She climbed up on to the guardrail and looked down into the deep, dark water. The metal was cold on her feet and she nearly lost her balance. For a moment, the whole world was dark and cold. For a moment, as she looked down, Rosalyn felt almost- afraid. Then everything came crashing back to her- the reality, threatening to crush her. Michael- lose my job- who cares? NO ONE!

Rosalyn jumped.

The water was cold and her body jolted when she hit. As her lungs began to take on water, she began to sink into the dark. She couldn't see a thing. Something brushed her hand. Then a hand grabbed her and pulled. No! Let me die! It let go of her almost on command but then an arm wrapped around her waist. They made it to the surface and some of the water forced its way out of her lungs. She choked on it and gasped for air. Who was this intruder? She struggled angrily, even as she was pulled to shore. Once on land, her rescuer let go.

"No!" Rosalyn turned from her rescuer. She choked on water and was sent into a coughing fit. "No! I don't want to breathe! Just let me go!" A hand touched her soaked hair. She shivered and slapped it away. "Leave me alone," she snapped. Why doesn't this person say anything? She gasped. Would he- ?

She turned her head and slowly looked over her shoulder. There sat Michael. He tilted his head quizzically and held out his arms.

Rosalyn was shocked. "Michael? Michael!" She squealed happily and threw her arms around him. She looked up and watched as he took a finger and put it to the lips of the mask in an effort to quiet her. She was getting dizzy. She felt almost drunk. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Michael Myers." Then she kissed the rubber mask and fainted.

Michael looked down on her unconscious body. He looked around. He didn't see anyone, so he picked up his knife. He knew what he had to do.

TO BE CONTINUED...

~*~