A Little Understanding II
Chapter One
Halloween 1979
Laurie Strode sighed as she threw down her books on her bed, moving to the window, she smiled as she looked out over the familiar backyard. She heard the door slam downstairs and tilted her head, she would usually expect this sound an hour later, but there it was.
She jogged down the stairs and looked at the briefcase by the door, then moved into the kitchen, finding it's owner and cheerily walking up to him. "You're home really early."
He jumped and looked at her, then laughed. "Yeah, it's Halloween, remember? Tutoring didn't run as long."
She sighed. "Guess I didn't, sorry. I just got here myself."
He looked at the clock. "Why? It's four."
She laughed. "Lynda wanted to get my measurements for my dress."
"Ahhhhh," he grinned at her. "And when is this wedding of hers?"
"Two weeks, you know her, she loves to procrastinate." Laurie laughed. "Enough about me, how was your day big brother?"
He chuckled. "Fairly good, ran into Ben Tramer at the office."
She froze, awkwardly watching him. "What office?"
"Oh, just turned in my service hours report, that's all. Worry not, I'm still stuck with teaching and tutoring, though I'm surprised parents will let me do that much."
She smiled softly. "Yeah, but you're good at it."
He sipped his coffee and shrugged. "Speaking of good at, how'd you do on your English paper?"
"A-, due to a messed up bibliography and a spelling error."
He laughed. "Don't look so glum, that's still pretty good."
She sighed. "How did you manage college when you were in an asylum faking catatonia?"
"First," he said. "It was a sanitarium. Secondly, I have the Myers writing skill."
She frowned. "Dad never wrote..."
"Well not for his job, but he and Mom used to like doing it in their spare time before you were born, and Judy was always good at it. And you have the knack too, I've read your work."
She blushed. "Guess I just like writing."
He smiled. "Nothing wrong with that."
She sighed. "Well, I have a buttload of homework, I'd better get to it."
He nodded. "If you need help let me know, I'd be more than happy."
She too nodded. "I'll be upstairs."
~That Night~
Laurie laughed as a group of trick-or-treaters left the front porch, looking back at the house in suspicion. She leaned against the post, bowl of candy in hand. It had taken Michael and herself the entire summer to restore their childhood home, but it had gone smoothly, the house looked just as it had when they had lived there last. It was, by all rights his home, Loomis had helped him pay for it, Laurie had negotiated with her father on the price, but Michael insisted she lived there while she went to school, he drove her every morning, and she usually walked home.
"Trick or treat!"
She smiled at the children on the porch and bent to put candy into their bags. "Ok kids, be safe."
They ran to their mothers and went on, Laurie heard the screen door creak open, then slam and smiled more. "Do you remember that one time I fell of this porch?"
He laughed. "Yeah, Mom brought you in screaming and couldn't quiet you."
She smiled. "I didn't stop crying until you let me touch your bear, I was so happy to touch that thing!"
His hand rested on her shoulder. "I've put you through hell for 16 years Laur, I'm really sorry."
She shook her head. "No, it isn't all your fault, you know that."
He sighed. "Not all, but still, my name's haunted your whole life." He walked to stand next to her, hands in his pockets, face to his shoes. He shuffled a foot against the wood and looked at her. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like, if none of this had happened?"
"Over the past sixteen years?"
He nodded. "If I hadn't killed Judy, and Mom and Dad hadn't died."
She smiled softly, her eyes fell to the bowl. "We'd have been a family. Judy would have moved out a year later, probably pregnant by her, "friend", I would've had someone to play with, then you'd move out and have a great job, a family, I'd still probably be a bookworm, with big dreams but little expectations."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I've thought basically the same. See what evil's influence can do?"
She frowned. "You aren't evil, Michael."
He sat on the porch side, and swung his feet. "I wasn't, but I have been corrupted Laur, I mean, I feel nothing when I kill, no remorse, no hatred, no anger. Just this... need." He shook his head. "I mean, I don't kill whoever, I used to kill who I was told to kill, then I killed who I had to kill, I still would. I killed Wynn because he came after you, I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop."
A tear slid down her face. "I wish I could make it go away, Michael. But regardless what you think or deny, only you can do that."
"Trick or treat!"
She hurriedly gave the children the last of the candy, and looked around. "It's getting dark, we better go in."
He nodded and followed her inside, she got rid of the bowl and jumped when the phone rang. She picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hey Laurie, it's me."
"Oh hi Annie."
"Listen, Old Jerko's here and he needs some help fixing the stove, can Michael come help?"
"Oh, ok hang on I'll ask him," she put the phone to her chest, "Michael, Paul needs some help fixing the stove, can you go?"
He tilted his head. "Sure, tell her I'll be right over." He went to get his jacket.
She brought the phone to her face. "He'll be right over Annie, what were you up to?"
"Dr. Dementia, and popcorn, as usual, how about you?"
"Ah," she shrugged. "Just handed out candy. Heard from Lynda?"
"No, she always makes the most out of Halloween. Say, why don't you come over too? You can watch it with me while the men are busy."
"Oh all..." she froze as she watched Michael drive down the street. "No can do, Michael just left."
Annie snorted. "Brothers, you could always walk, it'll take them a while."
Laurie looked around, beginning to get the chills. "I think I will, Annie. I'll be over soon."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye." Laurie hung up the phone and hurriedly grabbed her sweater and locked up, completely creeped out at this time. She began to walk down the street with a quick pace, clutching her arms around herself, watchful for prankers or just weird guys. She turned after having seen something, looking back to see no one, and shrieking as she bumped into someone who grabbed her tightly.
"Hey Laurie."
She laughed. "God Bill, you scared the shit out of me!"
He chuckled. "Sorry cutie, but you weren't paying attention."
She blushed. "I thought I saw someone. So give me some breathing space, anyway Bill Lloyd, you know Michael doesn't like you around me."
He rolled his eyes and kissed her cheek. "He's your big brother, of course he doesn't."
"I'll talk to you later, Bill, I have to get to Annie's."
"Need a ride? I'm parked right there."
She eyed him, then nodded. "You try anything and I'll kill you."
"Thanks Bill," Laurie moved to get out of the car when he grabbed her arm gently. "What?"
"Listen, I know you worry about what Michael thinks and all but, Laurie I really like you. Why don't we go out sometime?"
She sighed and looked at him. "We'll see Bill. We'll see." She got out and hustled up to the house, knocking and being almost immediately pulled in.
"All right Strode, details, details, details!" Annie's bright face made her laugh and move in.
"It was Bill Lloyd, he gave me a ride."
Annie jumped up and down and clapped her hands. "Bill Lloyd! He's cute Laurie! Good for you!"
Laurie shook her head. "I'm not going out with him, he just always hits on me." She shrugged. "He isn't my type he's too... frisky."
Annie rolled her eyes and flung her hands into the air. "I give up on you, you are going to be a virgin for the rest of your pathetic life!"
"There isn't anything wrong with that," Michael came into the room, wiping his hands into a towel. "I'm 22 and I'm a virgin."
Annie bit her lip and strode up to him, flaunting. "I can change that for ya."
Laurie rolled her eyes. "Ew, I'm gone."
Michael shook his head and looked out the window. "God, what did you say to him to piss him off that much."
Laurie looked next to him and her brow furrowed. Bill's car was still out front, waiting. "Great, he'll kill us once we leave."
Michael laughed. "Oh yeah, sure he will. As if I'd let him."
She smiled. "Overprotective."
"Easygoing."
"Crazy."
"Bookworm."
"Killer."
"Valedictorian."
"Jerk."
"Hey! I didn't deserve that!" He shook his head. "This jerk saved your life twice."
She smiled and hugged him. "I know, thanks big brother."
"Awww look at Lil Laurie sucking up!" He shook his head. "Anytime."
"C'mon Laurie, The Blob is on, only the cheesiest horror movie on the planet!" Annie plopped down onto the couch and Michael went back into the kitchen, Laurie soon followed her friend.
After only a few minutes she turned to her. "Annie," she paused. "Do you have a crush on Michael?"
Annie eyed her. "Why?"
Laurie rolled her eyes. "You're so flirtatious."
"Well he's only cute, strong, smart and he has a record." Annie shrugged. "A lot of girls have a crush on him, even though they're scared of him."
Laurie smiled. "They have good reason. But he's cool, I've really missed him."
"I can't believe you remembered him, you were only two when everything happened!" Annie sighed. "Lucky, if I had a brother that looked like that I'd have people pay me just to see him!"
Laurie laughed. "Yeah, you'd probably be dating your brother then."
"Doubt it, that gets a bit too gross, my dad's a cop, remember? He'd figure it out."
Michael and Laurie hastily made their way down the steps, holding hands. Both eyed Bill's car, but Michael didn't allow them to dawdle, he helped her in and locked her door, then got in and drove them away.
When they arrived home he assured her it was fine and she went to bed, quite tired. Meanwhile he sat and looked out the window, unsurprised to see Bill's car pull up outside, they had been followed. "Son of a bitch." He mumbled, closing the curtains and going to turn the light on. He went upstairs and checked on Laurie, one light left on in her room. He didn't blame, and so didn't turn it out. He went to his room and sat up, staring out the window at the brave young man that was desperate for his little sister's affections. Soon he was tired and fell asleep, unaware of the sound of someone on the stairs. He hadn't remembered to check the back door to see if it was locked.......
Laurie blinked as she felt someone lift her, but her sleep heavy eyes couldn't determine who it was. Probably Michael, maybe she fell asleep downstairs. Or at Annie's house. She yawned, but kept her eyes closed, she was being placed into the front seat of a car.
But wait, they had left Annie's and Michael had sent her to bed when they had gotten home. Curious, she opened her eyes and screamed at the sight of Bill. He shook his head as she struggled to open then door, but the lock that kept it closed in case of children was on. It could only be opened from the outside.
"I tried to do this the nice way Laurie but you've got your head so far up your brother's ass you cant see that this is ok." He pulled against the curb and got out, going to her door and opened it, then dragged her into an old field. "Now we're going to do this the hard way."
Laurie struggled against him but he threw her down hard, her head hit a stone and now she was only semi-conscious. She could tell he was moving her clothing around, but went completely unconscious before anything happened, it was simple to see what was going on. It was Halloween night though, the most unlucky night in her family's history.
She woke several hours later, Bill's car was there but Bill wasn't. She got onto her knees, but couldn't find the strength to stand, she had to. It wasn't morning yet, but it was close, and she wanted to get home to Michael and fast. She forced herself onto her feet and slowly began walking, thankful to hear a familiar voice shout, "Michael! Here! She's here!"
She could see Loomis now, and she moved towards him more quickly. She was extremely dizzy but determined. Loomis was so close now, running to her, Michael could be soon just shy of him. She collapsed into the doctor's arms, exhausted. "Sam, Sam..."
"Shhh, what happened? Why were you here?"
Michael came up, and froze upon seeing the torn state of her clothing. Blood trickled down her thighs and coated the back of her skirt, which had been under her apparently. He felt himself grow sick, seeing the car. "My God, Laurie what did he do to you?"
Loomis now noticed and moved her to her brothers arms, withdrawing a pistol and moving to the car. He swung the doors open to reveal no one, then scanned the field. Nadda. But he could see where it had happened, the long grass was bent and slightly bloody.
Michael shook his head. "Could he really have been so rough as to have made her bleed?"
Loomis shook his head, returning to them. "Did you learn nothing? He had to break through her hymen to get what he wanted, he tore tissue of course she bled! It isn't serious, but painful and messy." He shook his head. "We'd better get her to the hospital, to check for injuries."
"Well Miss Strode, you look fine, you have a bump on your head that'll hurt a bit and of course well, you know. But that will pass sooner. We'd like you to come back in about a month, for some annual tests."
She nodded. "I will thank you, can I leave?"
The nurse nodded. The doctor soon returned with her release forms along with a police officer that had talked to her. "Sign these please." She did and the doctor left.
"Miss Strode I just want to let you know a report has been filed, and we will arrest Bill lloyd for what he's done to you. Now we have support groups for women who've gone through these kinds of things and here are some pamplets for them. Now you remember, this was NOT your fault."
She nodded and he left her to change, she came out and Michael took her home, all doors and windows locked. He stayed in her room with her, angered beyond comprehension. This man, this Bill, had gone too far. He had hurt Laurie, and no one ver got away with that.
No one.
Well, it's a bit longer, but I hope you like it anyway. Please review! Ideas always help.
