The man named Jars parked the battered grey Vauxhall back at the entrance of 'Doom Tunnel', seething. He didn't think it was right or fair he had to do this alone. Fair enough he was checking on one badly injured man and one handcuffed pussy, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Bottle had been personally picking on him Jars was certain of it. He had no idea what the 'pathetic school grudge' was even about, and he was jumping to unfair and incorrect conclusions.
The first thing he noticed was that 'Doom Tunnel' was as empty as when the three had left it just over an hour ago. Sighing, he headed back down into the darkness. The quicker he got this over with, the better.
…
"Fucking hell," Box breathed as he and Flask ordered their second beers from the Squeezed Lemons bar. "That was… close. It could've gone so much worse."
"For Jars it did," Flask snickered. "Stupid fool. He made it so obvious he hates the target; I'd bet you anything that's why Bottle sent him back down there now."
Box sighed. "He's an idiot, I'm not even sure why Bottle wanted him with us. He's hot headed and makes too many rash decisions and mistakes."
Flask nodded. "On that I agree with you. But he's obviously got some valuable asset for Bottle to keep him on."
Box rolled his eyes and smirked. "Well fuck knows what that is."
Flask grinned. "He's also got some school grudge against the target, though I'll be damned if I know too much about it."
Box considered. "The guy told me once his dad died of cancer when he was in school, and he was jealous of the target because his parents were filthy rich or something. They wouldn't help him with his father's treatment."
Flask snorted. "Dudes weren't even friends."
"Yeah I know," Box nodded. "Guess he just saw the money he didn't have and desperately needed and when the target refused, he resorted to bullying and hating him. Hardly the way to get what you want but…" he shrugged.
The two men finished their seconds pints in silence, before Flask got to his feet. "I'm out of here Box, I really need some sleep."
Box nodded. "Yeah, think I'll follow you on that one."
The two men headed out of the pub and towards the road. Due to the fact the Vauxhall was now being used by Jars; they had no choice but to walk home. Fortunately, they only lived a few short blocks away.
"Fuck it's cold," Flask grumbled, pulling up his jacket's hood. "Jesus! Why the fuck couldn't Bottle have given us another car? Tight ass!"
"It is nearly three in the morning," Box reminded him with a grin.
"Whatever," Flask rolled his eyes. "Let's just get fucking moving before my cock freezes and falls off!"
"God forbid," Box snickered. "What would your latest conquest say? You have a different woman every 24 hours!"
"Fuck off," Flask glared at him. The two men continued walking in silence.
"Did you see that?" Box asked suddenly, pointing into the trees a little ahead of them. Due to the time of night it was pitch black, but he was certain he'd seen something in the shadows. Or someone.
"Nope," Flask shook his head. "Seeing things again Boxy?"
"Call me that again I'll punch your fucking eyes out," Box growled. "Not funny!"
"Ah chill out," Flask grinned. "No need to get your knickers in a twist, just messing around."
"You're only saying that because you know I could beat you to a fucking God damn pulp," Box looked away. There it was again, movement just beyond the reaches of his vision. "I'm serious Flask," he said, trying not to sound as worried as he was beginning to feel. "I saw someone through there."
"Probably someone just taking a walk," Flask shrugged. "We're nearly back now anyway. Plus, you and I both know we're perfectly capable of defending ourselves against anyone.
Accept perhaps Michael Myers, Flask thought. He had of course never asked, but he was almost certain Box was too young to remember 1963, he was only a teenager after all. Now was not the time to bring that pile of shit up though. No point in scaring the kid any more than he already is.
Just as they reached Box's Street, Flask glanced over in the direction the kid had been looking. He too was convinced he saw something at that moment. A flash of white? What the fuck? He thought. You were thinking of Myers so you saw something which looked like that Psychopath's mask? Get to bed already damn it!
Luckily it didn't seem Box had seen what he had; Flask breathed a sigh of relief. Although now he couldn't deny it, he was uneasy. The sooner he got back home the better. Even though he never considered them, Box who had married young had a wife to think about, Flask was a loner by his own choice, as Box had said, a different fuck toy every day. Who would miss him if something were to happen to him?
Don't get all sentimental now you dick, just get home for fuck sake!
"See you later," Box said, as they reached his small house. "Doubtless Bottle will be contacting us when Jars gets back."
"Doubtlessly," Flask yawned. "Wish he'd just leave us the fuck alone for a while though, we've been up most of the fucking night and I need to sleep!"
"I hear you," Box agreed. "Night."
Flask was too tired to respond, so as Box unlocked his gate he turned and started walking away. All he wanted now was to get home, inside, where he was safe. No fucking way I saw that white mask, he thought as he picked up speed. Seeing things. Flask had never been so relieved to reach his house in his life as he was that night.
…
"Are you fucking insane?" Andy stared at Laurie in disbelief as she finally stepped out of the ambulance. He'd returned in a squad car just a short while ago, after doctors at the hospital had told him the best thing he could do for Tom right now was let him sleep, but that they would contact him the moment anything changed. "You've already gone through enough hell; have you been watching too many horror movies and now want to star in your fucking own?"
Laurie stared at her friend, taken aback by his what seemed genuine anger. Why did he care so much what she did? LYNDA too was looking at Laurie as if she'd gone crazy. "I have to," Laurie said quietly. "Tom's stuff is down there; I can't just leave it for those fuckers to come back and steal."
"Um, don't you think Tom would care more about your life and wellbeing than his material shit?" LYNDA said. "God knows he can easily afford not just new stuff but the whole fucking shop!"
"Right," Andy agreed. "Why is this so important to you? What the hell do you think Michael will say about this? Well… write."
"Yeah," LYNDA nodded.
"What do you suggest?" Laurie asked, her own anger spiking now.
"FUCKING LEAVE IT!" Andy shouted and now she did stare at him in shock. "A FEW BITS AND PIECES HERE AND THERE ARE HARDLY WORTH YOUR FUCKING SAFETY! JESUS CHRIST Laurie, WE JUST RESCUED YOU FROM THERE AND NOW YOU WANT TO GO BACK? TALK ABOUT A SLAP IN THE FUCKING FACE!"
"Sorry but I agree," LYNDA said. "Of course we'd never stop you if that's really what you want to do, but really? Are you sure," now she put her arm around Laurie and drew her into a hug. "Are you sure you're not just feeling reckless and angry because Michael walked away at your time of need? Are you sure you're not just wanting to do something risky out of rage?"
Andy sighed. "Ok, now I admit that was low, Michael just leaving like that. But fuck Laurie, he's Michael Myers! What did you expect? Him to stick around and present you with a bunch of flowers and grapes?"
Laurie sighed. "No of course not, but…" she let out a breath. "Damn it! I… I just have to do this, that's all!"
"Fine," Andy snapped. "Then we're going with you, no fucking arguments!"
LYNDA sighed. This was the last thing she wanted to do but she also knew Andy was right, they couldn't let Laurie do this crazy stunt alone. "You know Michael's not going to be happy about this, right?" She asked softly.
"Then he should fucking be here to stop me," Laurie snapped. She knew she probably sounded like a child, but she was past caring. Of course she'd known Michael Myers wasn't normal husband material, but to walk away when she needed him? Not cool. Yes he'd stayed while she talked to the cops, had kissed her, but…
Lynda nodded. With that last statement, she couldn't disagree. Nor could Andy, judging by his nod in turn. "Wish he was," he muttered. "Jesus," he looked resigned. "Come on then. Let's fucking get this over with!"
"I don't want to do it anymore than you do," Laurie murmured to him as they started heading back towards the still parked tractor and train, three seats of which were now covered in Tom's blood. "But… I don't know, I feel I… I have to."
"Whatever," Andy nodded. "Just get in already."
"You don't have to…" Laurie tried. Andy turned his glare on her. "Don't you fucking dare say we don't have to go with you, if we don't go, you don't either!"
"Yeah," LYNDA piped up. "Just shut up Laurie and get in the fucking thing!"
Andy opened the trunk of his car and produced two 'Doom Tunnel' helmets, handing one to Lynda and donning one himself. Laurie was still wearing hers. "Let's just go before I lose my nerve!" Jumping into the tractor, Andy spoke into the microphone as Laurie and Lynda sat in the train behind him on the three seats not covered in Tom's blood. "You owe me for this Myers, damn it!"
Before long they'd reached the spot the horrific assault had happened. They knew this because the floor was stained with Tom's blood. His bag lay just where he'd left it. Getting out of the train Laurie moved to grab it.
"Not so fast beautiful," said a sneering voice beside her left ear, before she felt the cold metal of a gun pressed against her head for the second time that night. "Might I suggest you stay exactly where you are?"
Laurie looked up and felt both fear and terrible anger. It was him, the man who'd threatened to rape her and assaulted Tom the worst of the three men. "You," she glared at him with undisguised hatred, there was no fear on her face despite his loaded firearm.
"Me," he smirked. "How about that fuck now then, pretty? Seen as you've come back down here straight into my clutches of your own free will. "You two," he barked at Andy and Lynda. "Move and she dies!"
"I told you this was a fucking bad idea," Andy groaned, putting his face in his hands. "Jesus Christ!"
Laurie meanwhile took off Tom's bag and opened it. Inside was the bottle of cleaning spray, two cloths and two bottles of water. Their captor snickered. "What you thinking of with those, pretty? Cleaning up his blood? Yours might join his if you're not careful. Now get on the ground and lie still while I fuck you. Be a good little girl and I might, I said might, let you all go afterwards."
"Over my fucking dead body," Andy snarled and again, Laurie felt the rush of affection for him. She'd got them into this position, yet still he was protecting her.
"That can be arranged," the man smirked cruelly at Andy. "If that's what you want. I'm warning you, don't, move."
Andy appeared to be fiddling with something in his pocket, but Laurie couldn't focus on that. She knew she had to fight back in some way but how?
That was when Lynda gasped, Andy murmured "oh, shit" and their captor staggered backwards, his gun still trained on Laurie's face. Laurie glanced up and that was when she saw it. The deathly pale, emotionless white mask and the huge chef's knife worn and held by the tall man who was slowly, calmly advancing towards them.
…
"You have got to be fucking joking," Box said into his phone.
"Well I'm fucking not," Bottle snapped. "Get up, wake Flask and get the fuck down there! Now! You have your orders!"
"How…" Box started. "How do you know he's in trouble?"
"I gave him an hour," Bottle's voice was soft but dangerous. Box knew he was treading on thin ice. "He hasn't come back when all he was doing was checking on the prisoners. This time you're the leader box, so don't you dare fuck it up! Get Flask and go! If you argue any further, you'll be going alone. Got it?"
"Ok boss," Box said immediately, feeling utterly pissed off. What the fuck had Jars done? Where was the stupid bastard? Maybe he'd gone too far and killed the target in his anger and stupid hatred? "Fucking hell," he muttered as he hung up. Flask ain't going to like this…"
On this, he wasn't wrong. Flask was indeed furious when Box banged on his door, Bottle having failed to wake him with a phone call.
"Jesus H Christ," Flask snarled. "What the fuck has the stupid twat done now? Man I want to fucking kill him! We have to go down there to find the stupid kid? Fuck's sake, he's acting like a child!"
"I agree," Box nodded tiredly. "But Bottle will hurt or maybe even kill us if we don't."
"I'm going to fucking kill him when we find him," Flask growled. "We'll have to take your car."
Box nodded again. "Yeah, let's go." Reaching into his nightstand, Flask grabbed a gun. "I swear it, he's going to have a fucking bullet in his head when we find him! Stupid fucking idiot! I told you, he's rash and he makes stupid fucking mistakes! Why the fuck hasn't he come back up yet? Fuck I'm going to kill him!"
"Let's just get moving," Box touched his colleague's shoulder. "I'm totally with you on that one, but we need to find him first."
…
"FUCK!" Lynda screamed in utter terror, just as their captor was spun round and slammed against the wall, the lethal knife at his neck. Laurie looked up straight into the masked eyes of her husband but had to look away. His glare was cold, deadly. Shit, if any of that anger was directed at her she too was quite possibly dead, death penalty be damned.
That was when the man made his move, swinging the crowbar up in a lethal arch, the solid metal smashing into Laurie's shoulder with such force, she was knocked to the ground. Lynda ran over to help her.
Andy jumped out of the tractor and Laurie didn't know if he was exceptionally brave or unbelievably stupid, as he turned to face the masked killer. "Mr. Myers, don't kill him, I've got a better idea! Although given what he just did to your wife, part of me wants to say fuck it, just be done with the bastard!" Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the handcuffs Laurie had been cuffed with. Stepping forward, he snapped them into place on the man's wrists, cuffing his hands behind his back and grabbing his gun. Lynda and Laurie both gasped in unison, as Andy laid a soft hand on Michael's arm. "If you kill him Mr. Myers, we'll have no proof for the cops. We have to take him back above ground! They'll chuck him in prison for a damn long time, he's not worth a death sentence."
Laurie felt yet another rush of respect for Andy, damn he was a good man. She remembered the day she'd first met him when she'd thought him arrogant and a fool. How wrong she'd been. Lynda obviously had learnt the same, as she'd fallen in love with him.
Andy trained his gun on the man's head, who was now deathly white. "Move!" He snapped. "Get in the train and keep your fucking hands up!"
Lynda picked up Tom's discarded bag and tossed it onto the train's floor at her feet. "Laurie," she said quickly, but with no panic. "Get in next to me! I'll stay behind this bastard!"
The man who just a few minutes ago had been planning to rape Laurie was now visibly trembling as Andy manhandled him into the blood covered seats. "Laurie," he ran forward and helped her up. She was deathly pale and yelled with pain as he did so. Her shoulder was at the very least dislocated. Michael looked at all four of them, his deadly and furious glare still in place and Laurie saw the other three shiver with terror. She couldn't blame them!
"GO!" Lynda shouted to Andy, who pushed the throttle as far as it would go and they shot up the tunnel.
"Fuck," Laurie only then realised her teeth were chattering. "If that angers at me, I'm fucking dead!"
"He's certainly… not happy," Andy was as pale as she was. "Shit."
"FUCK!" Andy swore at the top of his voice, slowing the tractor. Their panic had compelled him to move as fast as he could even though they were… according to Laurie at least, safe from Michael's rage. Now though, he wasn't so sure. "FUCK, WE'RE LOST!"
"Tell me you're kidding," Laurie said weakly, now deathly white and clutching her shoulder. "Please."
"You're the one who wanted to do this," Andy rounded on her. "Fine so we've got his bag, we've also got one of the bastards who hurt Tom," he glared at the man behind him. "But now 'we're fucking lost and there's a killer down here with us, again! This time though, he's angry! Michael Myers angry, equals well, bad!"
"Yes I know that," Laurie snapped back. "I'm only married to the guy! Please, move!"
"What's the fucking point if we don't know where we fucking are? Give me a minute damn it!"
"Yeah? You bring a map?" Lynda turned to him, but her tone wasn't hostile.
"No," Andy admitted. "But I am trying to remember it from memory."
"I don't think we've ever been down this far," Lynda said quietly. Laurie felt a spike of fear in her chest. Given he was so angry, would Michael help them? Surely he would, right? She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
Andy was just about to move the tractor forward when something hit the train so hard, it felt like they'd been hit by a large animal. Without offering any resistance, the train tipped onto its side. But for their seatbelts, Laurie and the others would've all been thrown out. As it was, they were stuck. Andy leapt out of the tractor to try and help, but was stopped when this time it was him who had the cold metal of a gun pressed against his head.
"Turn around," a soft voice said. "Slowly, no sudden moves."
Laurie and Lynda only then realised with horror that the gun Andy had taken from the first man had been knocked from his hand by the force of the impact of whatever or whoever had hit them. As they watched, the second man picked it up.
"Get out of the train," the second man said, his voice just as soft and dangerous. "Slowly. Then sit on the ground with your hands up and don't fucking move! You," he snapped at Andy. "Uncuff him! Now!"
Andy hesitated briefly, but only long enough for the gun to press against his skull. "I'm warning you," his captor threatened. He had no choice. Pulling out a key which Laurie was certain he'd taken from the cops, he slowly uncuffed the first man, his hands shaking.
"Now you can fuck whichever girl you want or both," the second man said to the first. "Just be quick about it!"
If it is indeed I who's made Michael this angry, Laurie thought. I deserve whatever is about to come my way. Better that than dead. If Michael's going to kill me anyway, what have I got left to fight for?
"OVER OUR DEAD BODIES!" Lynda yelled, leaping out of the train and launching herself at the second man and knocking him to the ground with a fast tackle. Laurie couldn't help the flash of admiration for her friend at this. That was until the second man grabbed her by the neck and began to squeeze. "Maybe I'll fuck you instead," he snarled in Lynda's ear.
Laurie couldn't move, she was trapped against the ground, her seatbelt still holding her in place. They were truly safety belts in every sense of the word, the belt had quite possibly just saved her life. Well, for now. When Tom recovered, she'd thank him for this. If I'm not dead.
Yet again, none of them saw it when Michael once again appeared. The man strangling Lynda was yanked to his feet with such force, she was surprised his head didn't pop clean off. She looked up, gasping for breath and saw him slammed face first into the brick wall. Michael Myers towered over him, the knife at his neck and that same ice cold fury in his eyes which they could just see through his mask.
"Laurie!" She gasped. "WE NEED TO MOVE AND NOW!"
Neither of the other two men moved anywhere near fast enough to react, as Michael Myers slit the second man's throat as if cutting cheese! Blood spirted into the air and he fell back, gargling in his own blood.
"FUCK ME!" The third man shouted. "JESUS, BOX!"
The man apparently known as Box looked up at his two colleagues, the light fading fast from his eyes as they took on the lifeless blank look of death. "Go," he just managed to say with his last breath, before his eyes closed once and for all.
The third man who had the second gun reacted without thinking and fired, the bullet coming within an inch of Laurie's face, but still cutting her cheek deeply which immediately started to bleed.
"That," Andy said, his voice very quiet. "Was the last and worst mistake you'll ever make in your life, idiot. WATCH OUT!" He shouted to Laurie as Michael moved so fast none of them saw it and grabbed the man who'd just shot her by the hair.
Laurie was still trapped in the side down train and couldn't move, the belt holding her in place, the one time she didn't need it. This time it was a hindrance, a trap, not a safety measure. "Give me a fucking hand," she said through gritted teeth due to the pain in her shoulder and now left cheek. "For fuck's sake!"
"We…" Andy hesitated. "We can't, the train's too heavy. We… we need to go and get help."
"You are fucking kidding me," Laurie snarled. She knew only too well Michael could lift it with ease, but would he really leave her trapped in his anger? NO, NO! She shouted at herself again and again. HE WOULDN'T, HE JUST WOULDN'T!
WOULD HE?
"If this thing tips any further it's going to crush me," Laurie said, unable to disguise her panic now.
"Won't let that happen," Andy assured her, but she could hear his voice was shaking. "I fucking swear Laurie! I'll die first!"
Somehow, the man who Michael had slammed against the wall had got free and started to run. Laurie, Lynda and even Andy all screamed, as Michael began to follow him in absolutely no hurry like a cat stalking a mouse.
"Oh Jesus," Lynda covered her mouth. "He's fucking terrifying! Fuck, he's got no chance…"
"He's out for the kill," Laurie said. "Right now I don't even think he cares that I'm trapped or even that I'm his wife. All he can see is the kill."
"Good riddance when it's these fuckers," Andy said, glaring at the third man who was still with them. "What the fuck's your name?"
"I… I'm known as Flask," the man just managed to say, now as deathly white as they were.
"Got any tea in you?" Andy snarled in utter contempt. "Get this fucking thing off Laurie, and we might… I said might tell the cops you helped us. Don't, we'll let Michael Myers deal with you! And put down that fucking gun!"
Flask was shaking and did so without argument. "Doesn't mean I fucking trust you," Andy warned as he grabbed it from the ground. "Get the fuck up and help me or die! Your fucking choice asshole!"
Both men tried to right the train to free Laurie, but the carriage was built so solidly they could not lift it. "Fuck," Andy was shaking openly now. "Fuck, I… I can't…"
Laurie could hear the panic and even tears in his voice and felt affection swell in her heart for him. He wasn't afraid for himself, but for her. "Andy, it's ok, just go and get help. I'll be alright."
"Run the risk of that thing falling on you?" Andy glared at her. "No fucking way, over my dead body!"
"Christ," Lynda said from a little way up the tunnel, her hands over her mouth. "Michael could and will stalk that guy for ages, he's inhumanly patient and it's fucking scary! Terrifying is what it is, that guy's a dead man running!" Laurie and Andy shivered.
"Please," the man known as Flask pleaded. "I'll do whatever you ask, just… just let me live?"
"Coward," Andy snarled. "Bit late for that, should've thought of that before you pissed around with and then shot Michael Myers wife and one of our friends!"
About a minute later there was a stifled scream from further up the tunnel. It seemed that Michael had indeed had enough of toying with his latest victim. Lynda turned away, looking as if she were about to vomit. "Do I want to know?" Andy asked.
"No," Lynda gagged. "He… he cut his fucking stomach open!"
"Jesus fucking Christ," Andy and Flask said together.
It was then they all heard the slow, calm footsteps walking back their way. Andy, Lynda, Laurie and even Flask looked at each other in pure terror.
"Mrs… Mrs. Myers," Flask said. "You're his wife, can't… can't you…"
"Ha!" Laurie laughed bitterly. "Right now he's furious with me too Flask, what I say won't make a fucking bit of difference if he's made his mind up to kill every fucking one of us including me!"
Michael stopped right in front of them once more and all they could hear was his calm, measured breathing. To Laurie it made him even more terrifying if that was possible. He was out for the kill and not in the slightest out of breath. He's not human, she thought. Just as Dr Loomis said he wasn't. "Michael," she pleaded, and instantly her husband's ice cold glare was on her. God, she wouldn't say with 100% certainty that she wasn't going to die tonight under that look. "Michael, please… help me…"
The killer stepped forward, once again in no hurry what so ever until he reached the overturned train. His eyes met hers and Laurie actually recoiled, her face deathly white with terror. His glare not wavering an inch, her husband slowly lifted the train so it was once again upright.
"Thank you," Laurie said in relief, hastily undoing her previously locked seatbelt and forcing her way out through the barriers of pain in both her shoulder and face. Of course her husband said nothing, made no move to help her, nor did he even acknowledge what she'd said. It was as if she hadn't spoken. Lynda cast Laurie a terrified look as if to say 'fuck, he's seriously angry at you for something.' Laurie could only nod. The only thing coursing through her veins right now apart from the pain was adrenaline. If she stood there for one more moment under his deadly furious glare, she'd probably go crazy with fear. Without even thinking or with any idea where she was going, she turned and began to run as fast as she could. Lynda called desperately after her but she didn't stop. Andy blew a safety whistle to call her back, she didn't stop. Her husband was indeed angry at her and she had to get out of there, before her own funeral had to be arranged. Despite everything Dr Loomis had assured her of when she'd married Michael, she right then didn't feel safe at all. She was as much pray to him as anyone was right now, and that thought terrified her beyond imagination. All she could do was run, keep running and not look back. Running from her husband's murderous rage, which right now was directed at every single one of them but mostly at her. That look in his eyes… she had never felt so scared in her life.
Yeah, sneered a voice in her head. Outrun Michael Myers, good job babe, because you know that'll work!
She knew the voice was right. Michael could and would stalk her for hours if necessary, the same way he'd just stalked and slaughtered the man who'd threatened to rape her just hours before. But even so she didn't stop, couldn't stop. Not even in her worst nightmares had she ever envisioned a scenario where she was running for her life from Michael Myers, her own husband but right now here she was and as much as she hated it, she knew the chase would be on. Sooner or later, Michael would be in pursuit and when that happened, she didn't even think the fact she was his wife would save her. Michael was angry, killing and dangerous. She knew that if her husband wanted to kill her, she didn't stand a chance. All she was doing now by running was delaying the inevitable, but her fight or flight instinct had kicked in and right now, it was flight.
How? How is this happening? I'm running from my own husband's rage, praying he doesn't kill me and knowing he could and will catch me all too easily! Not just that, where exactly are you planning on going Myers? Home? Ha! It doesn't matter where you go, he'll catch you, you're already caught!
Laurie couldn't help it. As she continued running, she finally succumbed to the tears which had been threatening since this whole thing began. She was alone, hurt and terrified, and her husband, the man who was supposed to keep her safe was right now on her trail as a potentially deadly enemy. Laurie was thankful she didn't have one of the guns at that moment, suicide would've been such a tempting option to get away from the fear, terror and yes, the longing to be held in the arms of the dangerous, silent masked killer who she knew would soon be in pursuit.