Disclaimer: I don't own the Halloween series or the characters except the ones I invented.
Author's Note: Pleeeease review guys, flames welcome as well but try and be civil.
Chapter 7: Samhain
October 31st 2004
"And in other news the digital entertainment world mourns the loss of upcoming
internet king Freddy Harris who was shot and killed last night in an apparent
robbery. Police are still looking into.." Sara turned the T.V. off and stared at the
black screen for a minute.
Freddy was dead and all she felt was numb. She got up and ran to the bathroom where she started to throw up.
She was just washing up and reorganizing herself when there was a knock on the door. She walked over to the door and answered it, it was Miles. "Sara, I uh.." Miles was trying to tell her something and she already knew what, "Freddy, I know. I saw it on the news."
He walked in and placed a hand delicately on her shoulder. She broke, she fell into his arms and started sobbing, "Why does everyone I love die! Why!?" He held her and soothingly replied, "Its ok Sara, you haven't lost everyone, I'm still here." She looked at him and wiped away her tears, she forced her self to calm down and smiled, "I know."
He smiled back and stood in the doorway as she plopped in her computer chair, "Well, come in dork." He laughed and stepped in closing the door. "I want to thank you for coming with me to Dr. Wallace's office yesterday, it really helped that you were there." Miles blushed as Sara thanked him, "Hey, no problem." He thought about the appointment, it had been….weird.
"Hey, how'd you get here? it's a long way to campus from your house." Sara waited for an answer. Miles blushed, "Well, I asked Jesse if we could stop by so I could see how you were doing. She's waiting outside."
Jesse sat in her car and looked at her watch, "C'mon Miles, school starts in 15 minutes…" looked in her rearview mirror and smiled as college students walked to their classes, that would be her in a couple of years.
Her whole life was ahead of her but still, Jesse was finding her attention drawn to her boyfriend. She had noticed a drastic change in Dan's behavior ever since that peculiar John Tate had come to his house.
Jesse rummaged through her purse and found a piece of gum. She stared vacantly out her driver window as she blew a bubble. She zoned out, thinking about college, Dan, her life and his place in it.
Then she noticed something odd, a man was standing in the far ends of the campus, partially hidden under a large tree. The shadows obscured his face but she got a feeling, like he was watching her.
She focused on the man, she could only partially make out a face, only it wasn't really a face, it was, wrong. Jesse got a shiver when a loud knock made her leap out of her skin.
"Hey Taylor open the door!" Miles waited as a spooked Jesse unlocked the door and let him in. "What's the matter with you?" he asked. Jesse turned and looked back to the tree but the figure was gone, "Nothing I guess, just my imagination." She pulled some hair from her face. Miles put his seatbelt on and drummed on the dashboard as Jesse turned the car on. She glance outside once more before she drove off.
Sara walked into the dorm bathrooms, towel and shampoo in hand. "Hey S&M!" Sara turned around and smiled dryly, "Hey Ellie." S&M, that's what Ellie called her, Sara continued on to the showers as her giggling friend followed, "Where's your puppy?" Ellie jumped as she asked.
Sara grimaced, "Miles isn't a puppy, he's more like a kitten." Ellie laughed, "How long are you going to string him along?" Sara blinked, "I'm not stringing him along, were friends. Good friends."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "Please, your orgasm friends or haven't you let him run threw the bases yet?" Sara smacked Ellie on the shoulder, "You big slut, not everything is about sex Ellie. Miles is sweet, he's special." Sara smiled as she spoke, casually twirling her hair.
Ellie made a mock gagging sound as she stuck her finger down her throat, "Oh spare me the Dawson's Creek bullshit. Look, I gotta get to Trig, I'll catch up with you later ok? Bye S&M." Ellie twirled as she bounced off, leaving Sara to contemplate her innocent friendship.
She stripped down and entered a shower pulling the curtain back behind her. She turned the faucet on and adjusted the temperature. Sara closed her eyes and let the warm water wash over her body.
She thought about her life, about her friends who had died, about Miles. She thought about Michael Myers and wrapped her arms around herself as she got cold. Those black eyes, so relentless. He truly was the perfect killing machine. Sara thought about the date.
It was the Devil's day to play and she had a bad feeling. Myers had escaped two years ago, he was out there and she knew he's be back. She only hoped she wouldn't be caught in the middle of his return.
Lindsay drank a cup of coffee as she typed up her report for Dr. Wynn. Her initial interview with Sara Moyer had been successful and today she had plans to speak individually with John and Thom.
She needed to give them as much help as she could to find John's girlfriend. Just as she was finishing her last paragraph the phone rang. Lindsay answered it, "Hello?" "Hi Dr. Wallace? This is John, John Tate."
Lindsay stopped her typing and swirled around in her chair to face her filing cabinet. "Yes John, this is a surprise. Are you alright? Did you find Molly yet?" There was a pause on the other end, then John responded, "No, not yet. Sheriff Grayson put out an all out alert for her, he thinks she might have been kidnapped." John stifled the urge to scream.
"John, listen to me. We will get her back. Don't lose faith. Now, what can I do for you?" Lindsay opened her filing cabinet and pulled out the file on Laurie Strode as she spoke. "Are you there John?" John responded, "Yeah, I'm here. You're a psychologist right? Well, I could really use some therapy, are you free today to talk?"
Lindsay rummaged through the file and found a recorded interview she had had with Laurie, "Well, yes I suppose if you need to talk. Why don't you come down to my office, or better yet, why don't we just meet somewhere in town." Lindsay scanned through the session notes as John responded, "Ok, that's great um, why don't we meet at the park. What time works for you, I know its early."
Lindsay checked her watch, it was already nine, "The park is fine, just give me a couple of hours to finish my morning appointments. How does eleven thirty sound?" "That sounds fine, ok I'll see you then, thanks doctor." Lindsay smiled, "Your welcome, bye John."
She hung up the phone and walked over to a locked cabinet near her door. She pulled out a key and unlocked the first shelve. She opened it and dug through a series of filed meeting sessions.
She found the one she was looking for and reached into the file and pulled out a tape labeled 'Strode: session 05-13-99' Lindsay walked over to a television set sitting on a counter near her desk and popped the tape into the VCR.
The pushed the PLAY button and the screen came on. Lindsay watched a session she had with Laurie strode two years before her death. She had remembered something about John but she couldn't completely figure out what it was.
Lindsay peered at the screen as the tape played. 'Laurie! Are you even listening to me? Your brother is still out there and we both know it. You know where he is don't you. Don't you want to help me stop him so he doesn't kill anyone else. We can stop the bloodshed together but you have to trust me.'
Laurie sat vacantly looking out the window, she didn't respond and Dr. Wallace was agitated, 'Why do you hide yourself from the world, burying yourself in this little room. Your son could be in danger don't you care? I know you love your son but you have to be there for him. Don't you remember what happened to Jamie? You abandoned her and look what happened, she died alone without her mother there to help her. Do you want that to happen to John? Do you want your brother to get your other child as well?'
Laurie closed her eyes tightly as a tear rolled down her left cheek Lindsay watched the screen intently and paused it as Laurie concealed her emotions. "I wonder if he knows…" She asked herself as she stopped the tape.
Miles and Jesse sat in class listening to the teacher lecture when Dan came in late, "Daniel, do you have a pass?" Dan handed the teacher a pink slip and took his seat next to Miles, "Hey man, you feeling ok? Jesse told me we weren't picking you up today cuz you weren't feeling well."
Dan ran his hands over his face and looked over to Jesse who was smiling. He could see she was concerned by the worried expression in her eyes. Dan folded his arms and looked back to Miles, "Yeah man I was feeling kinda sick earlier but I'm better now so mom gave me a ride after Thom left for work."
Miles noticed Dan's hands were a little shaky, "Are you sure your ok, you look kind of pale." Dan settled his hands under his desk and whispered back, "I'm fine really, must be coming down with something I guess."
Jesse watched her boyfriend talk to Miles and immediately knew what was wrong, she could tell by his anxiousness and shaky hands, he'd been cutting again. She cursed herself for not making him come to school. She should have known something was up when he just called her and said he wasn't coming to school, and on all days for Christ's sake.
Miles noticed a red stain forming on Dan's sleeve, "Hey what the hell is that! Did you slice yourself?" Dan covered his arm and stood up drawing some attention from the other students and the teacher, "Daniel are you ok?" the teacher inquired as Dan headed for the door.
Dan forced a smile and quickly replied, "Yeah I'm fine Mr. Williams I just need to run to the bathroom." He dashed out of the room before the teacher could argue. Dan ran down the hallway and turned a corner almost tripping and falling down the flight of stairs waiting for him. He was feeling dizzy and he was worried he had cut to deeply. He half walked, half fell down the stairs and made his way to the men's room.
He checked if it was empty then closed and locked the door. He walked over to the sink and rolled up his sleeves, the blood on his fresh wounds was welling up and Dan quickly turned the faucet on and began to rinse his arms off.
He wrapped some paper towels around his arms to stop the bleeding then he tossed them away and looked down at himself. His arms were pink with blood stains and the cruel slashes were glaring up at him. He winced as he noticed the severity of his injuries. He rolled his sleeves back down and exited the bathroom. He rested his back on the door and whispered to himself, "Why are you doing this to yourself…"
"That's what I'd like to know." Dan whirled around and saw Jesse walking towards him with her arms crossed. She looked mad but also worried, "I thought we were past this Danny, I thought you had stopped."
Dan looked away as Jesse approached him. She grabbed his arm with one hand and pulled his sleeve up. She gasped as she saw his cuts and looked up into his dark blue eyes, "Dan….baby. How long have you been doing this?" Dan looked to her and saw the concern in her eyes, he felt guilty now. "Only today Jesse, its just, I don't know…"
Jesse brushed his bangs our of his eyes and soothingly responded, "I think I do, have you checked your calendar? It's Halloween." Dan closed his eyes and Jesse held him close, she knew he needed her right now but this was becoming harder and harder for her to deal with.
"Eight years Dan, its been eight years, why would this year be any different?" She held him and waited but he wasn't answering. "Look, I know your upset about tonight, but Stephen is really looking forward to going out with you. We can hang out tomorrow night."
Dan laughed, his girl was always being so selfless, "Its not that Jessica. I'm worried about tonight. John Tate, you know that guy staying with us right now?" Jesse nodded and Dan swallowed before he continued, "Well, he's Michael Myers' nephew. Something's up this year I can tell. My old house gets painted red two years ago and now the fuckers nephew is staying at my house, this isn't right, I can feel it."
Jesse turned and walked a couple of steps, she was thinking. Then she turned around and marched back up to Dan, "Listen to me Daniel Strode, you have a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend, and your whole life ahead of you. I am not going to let you fuck that up because of some freak in a mask ok?"
Dan stared at her in shock, it was the first time he had seen her take such an initiative, "Ok Jesse….I'll try and stay cool." Jesse leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before answering, "You better." She grabbed him by his sleeve and dragged him back to class.
Thom got out of his car and walked into the police station. He went up to the front desk and asked the officer there if the sheriff was available, "Sure, he's in his office. I'll take you there." The officer led Thom past the jail block and into the back. They walked down a hallway and stopped at the last door, "Here you go." Thom thanked the officer before he walked off.
Thom knocked on the door, "Mark? It's Thom, do you have a minute?" Thom waited before Sheriff Grayson opened his office door, "Thom, what's up?" They shook hands and Thom entered the office.
"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. Any luck yet on finding Molly?" Thom took a seat as Mark picked up his mug of coffee and took a gulp, "Sorry to say but no, were still looking for the Carmichael girl. Its been over thirty-six hours since she went missing but were trying our best. I've got officers searching all the way out to Hardin County, we'll find her."
Mark could tell something else was bothering his friend, "Something else wrong Thom? Kara and the boys doing ok?" Thom smiled at the mention of his family, the most important people in his life. "There fine. Kara's been having nightmares but that always happens around this time of year. Dan's taking Stephen out trick or treating tonight and Kara and I made plans to go out for dinner but…"
Mark waited for Thom to continue, "But?" Thom looked at Mark with a worried glance, "I'm not sure I want to leave the boys alone tonight. I mean, with everything that's been going on. John, Molly, I think it might be too risky to go out tonight and let out guard down."
Mark folded his arms and thought a moment before replying, "Thom, how long have we known each other?" Thom looked at him, "About four years, why?" Mark slammed his hand down on the desk and shouted back in laughter, "Have you ever known me to slack of on my job!? Now if something comes up this year, me and my boys can handle it. I've got the best squad in six counties working here and if Myers does decide to show his mug round here, we can give him a nice farewell party."
Thom laughed and got up. He walked over and looked at a picture of Mark and his wife and baby, "How's Grace? She and the baby doing alright?" Mark smiled and looked at his wedding band, "Yeah their doing good. Grace is still tired and all. Docs say she will be for a couple more weeks so she took some time off from work."
Thom looked at The baby in the picture and remembered holding Stephen in his arms. He knew the responsibility that came with fatherhood now, "Yeah, I miss my assistant at work. Maybe I'll go visit her sometime with Kara. Once you guys are up to it the three of you should come over for a barbecue again."
Mark laughed, "Kara and grace love gossiping about us don't they. Diane too, they've got there own little Ya-Ya Sisterhood don't they." Thom laughed. "I don't watch chick flicks but yeah they're pretty close."
Suddenly a knock came at the door and a young deputy walked in. Mark and
Thom looked up at him and Mark asked, "Yeah Henderson. What is it?" Henderson looked at them and slowly replied, "Sheriff, we need to get down to the cemetery right away. There's been an incident."
Thom and Mark looked at each other and got up. Thom had a knot in his stomach now, this wasn't right. "Mind if I tag along Mark?" Mark looked back as he put on his coat and Sheriff's hat and shrugged, "Yeah sure, maybe you can help." They followed Henderson out the door.
Kara was putting some dishes in the dishwasher when their cat Jonesy snuck up behind her and brushed up against her leg. She jumped, "Jeez! Oh, hey Jonesy, where's Zoe?" Kara wiped her hands off and picked up her furry friend. "Are you hungry hmm? Did Zoe eat all of your food, lets go find her."
Kara walked out of the kitchen and wandered down the hall looking for Zoe. She stepped on one of Stephen's toys and cursed herself. "Shit. Stephen, how many times do I have to tell you?" She put Jonesy down and grabbed the toy. It was a truck, one of Stephens favorite toys.
Kara went upstairs into Stephen's room and put the toy back into his little toy chest. She folded up some clothes on the floor and put them in the closet. She saw the light on his desk was still one and went over to turn it off. She noticed a notebook of his lying on the desk.
Kara smiled and opened the notebook glancing through her son's drawings. She flipped through it and saw pictures of spaceships, superheroes and dinosaurs. Then she flipped to one page and her blood froze. She dropped the notebook and stepped back. "My god…" She ran out of the room and went straight for the phone.
Back in Stephen's room a picture sketchily drawn was still face up on the desk. It was a picture of Stephen smiling and holding hands with a man in a long black coat and hat. The background had been scribbled with red crayon and looked like smeared blood.
John had left the Doyle house about a have an hour earlier, he had wanted to walk to the park where he was meeting Dr. Wallace. He needed to get out of that house. He enjoyed spending time with Kara and they had gotten to know each other a lot but John was just too wrapped up in finding Molly.
He sat down on a park bench and checked his watch, it was eleven thirty. Lindsay was running late. John thought about if this was really a good idea. He didn't really know much about her other than she was friends with Thom. Did he really want to involve her in all this, if something did happen tonight he didn't want her to be caught in it too.
"Earth to John." John snapped out of his deep thoughts and looked up to see a pretty woman in a black sleeveless shirt and a white skirt. She took her sunglasses off and sat down next to him, it was Lindsay, "Are you alright John? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
John laughed, "I've been seeing a lot of ghosts these past few years. It's not the dead that frighten me though, it's the living I'm worried about." Lindsay slipped her hand into her pocket and turned on a tape recorder before replying, "Well, we all see ghosts. So what did you want to talk about?"
John looked at her and inquired, "You knew my mother didn't you?" Lindsay blinked, how did her know about her sessions with Laurie? He had stopped visiting her months before they started having sessions. John continued, "Didn't she baby sit for you when you were a kid?" Lindsay sighed, "Oh of course, that's right she did. I imagine you were quite close to your mother."
John frowned, "I thought we were, but she hid a lot from me. Now I wonder if I ever knew her at all." Lindsay leaned in close to John and whispered, "Why are you here John? In Haddonfield I mean. Why have you come to this poor town?" John looked at her with a dark look in his eye, "I've come to learn about my mother's past and Michael Myers. Thom and Kara can help me."
Lindsay looked away, thinking about all these people. John, Thom, Kara, Sara. Was this right? Was she doing the right thing by keeping them all in the dark. Exposing her true intentions would compromise the whole project and probably cost her her job. Still though, she felt like she was lying to these people who were looking to her for help.
"John, do you think this year will be another bloodbath?" John turned pale and quietly answered, "I don't know." Lindsay opened her briefcase and pulled out a packet of papers. She read aloud, "1963, 1978, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2002. Why would this year be added to that list of infamous dates. Why would this year be another massacre?"
John thought hard and looked at Lindsay, "Because we're all here. All of the survivors, we're all in town now. That girl from the web cam massacre lives here in town. Thom and Kara live in town. Stephen and I are here and we're the last."
Lindsay played dumb in order to assess how much John knew, "The last?" John nervously cracked his knuckles, "Where the last of his kin. His bloodline, Thom and Kara's adopted son Stephen is Jamie…my sister's son. He's my nephew." John laughed as he realized he's met a new relative and under such grim circumstances.
"Michael has spent forty-five years hunting down all his living relatives. He got my mom and sister and now he's going to come for me and Stephen, I know it. That's why I'm staying here until after Halloween. If god willing, nothing happens, then I should find Molly and she and I can go back to California and get married."
Lindsay was trying to keep from getting spooked, but she knew what he was saying was true. If all these people gathered here were in town tonight, Michael might come back. Dr. Wynn had assured her that was unlikely, that Michael would have to be too weak. Lindsay wondered if by gathering all these people together, that she had inadvertently triggered a bomb that would surely go off tonight.
"John, I think we should talk to Thom, Kara and Sara. They should all be filled in on this." "Oh they already know. At least Kara and Thom do. I haven't met Sara Moyer yet." Lindsay noted that in her mind, "I spoke with her yesterday, I think you two should meet." John looked at her confused, "Why, she shouldn't be in any danger unless she is related to Michael or in his way."
Lindsay frowned, "She and one other person escaped the massacre two years ago John. Last night Freddy Harris; the other survivor; was shot and killed. If we're in trouble I think she needs to know." Lindsay got up and checked her watch, "Listen, I have to go. I have to meet with my supervisors in twenty minutes. Why don't we try and get together with the others this afternoon. We can all meet at my office at Ridgemont Sanitarium."
John's eyes widened, "Um, I really don't want to go to a mental institution if it' alright. Too many bad memories of seeing my mom's last home." Lindsay nodded, "That's fine. I'll call you later this afternoon then and we'll make plans ok? Have a nice day John." John waved to her as she walked off.
Lindsay left John sitting on the park bench as she walked towards her car. She pulled out the tape recorder and turned it off. Then she got out her cell phone and dialed a number. "Dr. Wynn? Yes, I just met with him and I met with Sara Moyer yesterday. You knew that didn't you. Have you been keeping tabs on me? I can handle this myself. No I am not compromising the situation I am merely trying to assess their ability to cope with their histories. Yes, I know. Tonight, you promised me no one would be mislead Dr. but I haven't told them anything about the project. Yes, after tonight we can tell them everything. Ok. I'm heading back to Smith's Grove now. Bye."
Lindsay hung up and got in her car. She peered out over the horizon and looked at the people in town. She hoped that tonight went according to plan. She would take all of the survivors to Ridgemont to evaluate and take statements from. Then the national guard would pick them up and put them all into protective custody until tomorrow. Once they were safe, and Halloween was over, they would be released.
Lindsay was getting an aching suspicion of Wynn though. Why was he so anxious to get John and Stephen into custody? He had promised her that none of them were going to be exposed to any danger but if Michael decided to come home, then all bets were off.
Thom and Mark got out of the squad car and followed Henderson. They walked past a couple of officers and Mark nodded to them. Thom had the unsettling feeling they were about to find Molly Carmichaels corpse. He prayed this wasn't so.
"What's going on Gibbs? Henderson didn't fill me in." Deputy Gibbs walked over to the sheriff and Thom, "Sir, there were several robberies we assume during the early morning. The groundskeeper called us and we thought best that you see for yourself. "See what?" Thom asked as they made their way past several gravestones.
"This." Gibbs pointed to an empty plot. It had been dug up and both the coffin and head stone were missing. "Who's plot is this?" Thom asked loudly. "WHO!" he shouted. Gibbs looked to the sheriff who signaled for him to answered, "It' um, belongs to Jamie Loyde." Thom closed his eyes. "It's happening."
"Nothing's happening Thom, just calm down its probably just some kids playing Halloween pranks." Thom glared at him, "Stealing gravestones and coffins isn't a prank! Is this the only one?" Thom looked back and forth and noticed officers standing around another grave a ways away.
Sheriff Grayson looked to Gibbs, "Did anything else get taken?" Gibbs nodded, "Yes sir, uh, the head stone and coffin of Judith Myers is also missing." Thom laughed in a mixture of ironic humor and sarcastic terror, "You know what this means don't you! A missing head stone in 78, a stolen coffin in 89. He's back, he's back and we're fucked!"
Mark grabbed Thom by the shoulders and shook him twice, "Calm down Thom! We don't know that." He turned to Gibbs and barked out an order, "I want three units up in Hardin county down her A.S.A.P. Get a hold of the sheriff in Langdon and tell him to put his boys on full alert. Get me on the horn with the governor, if that fucker Myers is in town I want all units riding this town like a bull tonight. Move!" Gibbs ran off to the squad car and motioned for other officers to get on their walkie talkies.
Thom's cell phone rang and he quickly answered it, "yeah!?" he was still very agitated. "Thom! Stephen, he's drawn something. Its Wynn, he's seen him. God, what do we do?" Kara was frantic and Thom needed to shout to calm her down, "Kara, calm down! Listen, I'm at the cemetery. Two coffins are missing. I want you to pick up Stephen and Dan and meet me at the police station." He hung up and walked up to Grayson, "Mark, we need to get my wife and kids."
Dan walked down a long hallway towards the cafeteria. He bumped into Ms. Harris who was exiting her classroom with a stack of papers. She dropped her papers when he bumped into her and had knelt down to gather them up. "I'm sorry Ms. Harris I wasn't watching where I was going." Dan knelt down and helped her with the papers. "I was just grading these Antigone papers from third period. I do believe yours is due seventh hour, I hope you finished it." Dan mumbled something and stood up with her.
"Are you and Jessica still coming in after school for tutoring?" Ms. Taylor adjusted her glasses and brushed of her shirt as she stood up. "Oh, yeah we are. She's gonna help me catch up on the last couple of assignments." Dan turned to leave when Ms. Harris quickly added, "I hope you do. Oh, and happy Halloween."
Dan froze, then he turned back and forced a half smile. Ms. Harris headed on to the teachers lounge where Mr. Williams was stirring a cup of coffee. "Hey Elizabeth. Are we still on for lunch?" Ms. Harris smiled and set her papers down on a table, "What are the choices today Martin, meatloaf or tuna casserole." Mr. Williams grinned and pulled out his wallet, he checked it's contents and looked back to Ms. Harris, "Well, what say we skip the cafeteria food and go out." Ms. Harris looked at her clock and then back to Mr. Williams, "Alright Martin, but I have to be back by one. Sixth period may be your prep hour but I have a class."
Dan sat down at a table next to Jesse and Miles who were chatting, "Hey have you guys seen Scott today?" Jesse motioned to Miles who shrugged, "I haven't seen him in a couple days. Maybe he got arrested." Dan looked down at his meatloaf and pushed it aside in disgust. He needed a jump start. "You guys wanna go for a walk?" Dan asked them and they agreed.
Miles had his hands in his pockets as Jesse and Dan walked hand in hand. The blood stains on his sleeves had dried and were mostly faded but Miles knew. "Thinking about Sara?" Jesse looked at Miles immediately turned red, "No, I'm just thinking about tonight."
Dan leaned in and smirked, "Yeah well the first time can cause a lot of stress." Jesse smacked him and he laughed, "I'm joking! I wasn't stressed at all." Jesse smacked him again. "Don't mind him, he only thinks with his other head. Don't worry about tonight Miles, I'm sure you two will find whatever your looking for."
Dan and Jesse kissed and Miles rolled his eyes. Their kiss was broken off by a woman's voice shouting from across the campus, "Dan! Dan, we have to go now!" Dan looked up in surprise, "Mom?"
Kara was running up to her son in a hurry, she needed to get him to the police station until Thom told them it was ok to go home. "Dan, I need you to come with me, its urgent. Stephen's in the car. We have to get to the police station." Dan looked at her in surprise, "Wha, why? What's going on" Jesse and Miles looked at each other then back to Mrs. Doyle who was tugging on Dan's arm. "We don't have time, we need to go…now."
Dan turned back to his friends, "I guess, we'll hook up later tonight." Jesse and Miles waved as Dan and Kara swiftly made their way to the car. Stephen was sitting in the front seat looking out the window at them. Dan got in the back and Stephen turned around, "Hi Danny! Mom says we get to get out of school early today, I think it's for my birthday." Dan smiled, "Your probably right birthday boy, how does it feel to be nine years old?" Stephen made a farting noise, "It sucks so far! Mom said I cant open my presents until after the party."
Kara started the car and drove off, she was really stressed. She had to get to the police station, meet Thom and find out what the hell was going on. Then, if everything was ok, she had to get her boys home, get ready for the party and make sure it all went well. After the party she had to get Stephen and Dan ready for trick or treating which she was seriously considering not letting them do. She hoped Stephen had seen the picture he's drawn on T.V. She prayed that the coffins were just stolen for a Halloween prank but she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She looked at her son humming to himself and peered back at Dan gazing out the window. She needed to stay calm for their sakes, especially Stephen, "So are you ready for your party Stephen? I got your costume ready so after we meet up with Daddy, we can go home and get you changed. Timmy, Sherry, and the others will be over at three thirty so that gives us about three hours to get ready."
Stephen giggled at the thought of all this excitement, "I hope there's lots of candy in the piñata, especially jolly ranchers!" Kara looked at Dan through the rear view mirror, "I'm sorry I had to pull you out of school Dan. You and Stephen will still be able to go out tonight though….I hope." Dan thought about that, and frowned, "Don't forget mom, I have to go to school tonight to tutor with Jesse and Ms. Harris."
Kara sighed, she'd forgotten about that, "Damn! Oh, sorry Stephen" Stephen didn't like it when his parents swore and always gave them 'the look' when they did. Kara ran a hand through her hair as she adjusted her schedule for the day, "Ok, we'll meet dad, go home, and have the party while you and Jesse are at school. Oh wait, I need you to help supervise."
Kara growled at the slow driver ahead of her and beeped at him, this was very frustrating for someone as organized as her. She always had her time so well managed but now she had to run to the police station first with no idea how long that would take, and now she had to adjust her schedule so Dan could tutor, go trick or treating, and allow her time with Thom. She had a feeling her date with him had officially been cancelled.
Thom greeted Kara and the boys at the police station and hugged her tightly, "I'm glad your alright." She smiled, "The boys are a little confused and I told Stephen this was part of his birthday present so your going to have to make something up for him to do." Thom looked over to Stephen who was looking at all the officers and equipment. "Hey birthday boy, I have a present for you. Have you ever seen a police station?" Stephen bounced over to his dad and gleefully squeaked, "Not until now dad."
Thom smiled and picked Stephen up, "Well what if I could get the sheriff to give you a tour?" Stephen shouted, "Oh cool! Could he? Could he really!?" Thom walked over to Sheriff Grayson, Hey Mark. Today's Stephen's birthday, do you think you could give him a quick tour of the station?" Thom set his son down as Mark laughed, "Well sure. Hey Stephen, why don't I take you back and show you the interrogation room, ever seen double sided glass?" Mark and Stephen walked off hand in hand as Thom turned back to Kara, his expression changing from happiness to concern.
"Kara, Judith Myers and Jamie Loyde's headstones and coffins where stolen this morning. Now I think something's up and I need you to come with me tonight to talk to my friend Lindsay. She's a psychologist working on the Myers case and I think she can help us." Kara nodded and bit her lower lip, "Are the boys going to be safe?"
Thom looked over at Dan who was waiting for an answer, "Yes, they should be. Mark's got every officer for three counties coming into town tonight, Haddonfield will be safer than it has ever been." Kara gave a huge sigh of relief and squeezed Dan's hand. Dan was also relieved, so tonight would be fine. He just hoped everything played out like his parents were assuring him it would.
John sat alone in the Doyle house. He had his head in his hands and was trying to clear his mind. Jonesy jumped up onto the couch and purred next to John. "Hey there, you know my fiancé loves cats. I was thinking of buying one for her when I get home." John smiled to himself. After tonight if everything went smoothly, he could go back home and forget about all of this. His mother's past would not become his future, he was through chasing her demons and it was time to put this behind him and focus on Molly and their life together.
A knock cam from the front door and John went over to open it. A young woman with brown hair stood there nervously playing with her pink scarf. "Sara? Sara Moyer?" John greeted the woman and invited her in. "Thanks for coming over, its nice to meet you." Sara sat down on the couch and smiled up at the handsome man, "Well, I must admit I was surprised to get your call, I mean well, the past few days have been kind of strange for me." John sat down next to her and asked, "How so?"
"Well, today's Halloween as I'm sure you've noticed and a lot of weird shit has been happening. Freddy's dead, I met a woman who wants me to come to Ridgemont sanitarium tonight and put me under safe watch until tomorrow. I have a bad feeling, don't you?" John knew this girl had met his uncle so they immediately had an initial bond from which to expand on, "My mother died two years ago. She was supposedly killed by another patient but I think my uncle got her. I know it. You met him two days later and I know your probably still dealing with it. I'm staying with a family who also encountered my uncle about eight or nine years ago. We've all been contacted by Dr. Wallace and we're supposed to meet her tonight as well. I've had a bad feeling ever since Thom Doyle emailed me last week."
Sara sat there in silence for a moment before responding, "Dr. Wallace said she's trying to help us. She said that the possibility of Michael returning is next to nothing but they want to be safe, I don't know why this year is so important but I'm going. If it will keep me alive until next Halloween, I'll jump through any hoops they want me to." John looked at her and thought about the situation, "Who's 'they' anyways? The police? The FBI, the national guard? What are we getting ourselves into and why the hall are they doing this if Michael isn't even in town?" Sara looked at him contemplating this, "I don't know. I really don't."
Mark came back with Stephen who was all smiles as he ran over to Kara and Thom, "I got to see the shooting range, and the detectives offices!" Kara looked over to Mark and lifted an eyebrow, "I hope you didn't show him the jail block." Mark laughed, "Nah. Don't worry I took good care of him." He turned to Thom, "Go on home Doyle, I got this under control. Take Kara and the boys home and I'll call you if anything comes up." Thom gave a half smile and led his family out to Kara's van, "Go on Kara, I'll follow you."
They drove off, heading home just as sixth period was starting at Dan's school. Kara had to get Stephen changed and ready for his party then she had to get Dan off to school, "Hey Dan….about tonight." Kara asked her eldest son as they drove, "Since the party gets done at about five and you don't need to be at school till five thirty, do you think you could take Stephen along and then take him trick or treating afterwards?"
Dan looked at his mom and groaned, "Mom, cant you take him? I mean, I don't know how long tutoring is going to take." Stephen also whined, "I don't want to be stuck at his boring school all night." Kara tried negotiating, "Look guys, this is the best I can do. Stephen, Dan has to go to school. Dan, Stephen really wants to go trick or treating now either you can miss your study session or Stephen can miss going out tonight."
Stephen turned around and pleaded with Dan, "Oh Please take me out tonight Danny! I really wanna go. I can come to school with you if I have to, I'll be good I promise. I'll split my candy with you if you take me." Stephen gave Dan his most pathetic look and even Dan couldn't resist, "Aw, man Stephen why do you have to pull the abandoned dog look all the time. Ugh…fine, I'll take you but your gonna have to wait for me to finish my study session first." Stephen yelped with joy and Kara grabbed his arm, "Sit down Stephen do you want me to drive us into a ditch?" "Sorry mom" Stephen sat down but glanced back at Dan and smiled.
They continued driving with Thom following. John and Sara continued to chat back home and Lindsay was sitting in her office typing up reports. Only five hours till sunset. Darkness would soon be falling and the night of Samhain would begin. The residents of Haddonfield prepared for a festive holiday totally unaware that their little town would be turned upside down tonight.
~TBC
*Hey guys, I hope you liked this chapter. Yay! Halloween s finally here in the story and now the real terror can begin hehehehe…….
Author's Note: Pleeeease review guys, flames welcome as well but try and be civil.
Chapter 7: Samhain
October 31st 2004
"And in other news the digital entertainment world mourns the loss of upcoming
internet king Freddy Harris who was shot and killed last night in an apparent
robbery. Police are still looking into.." Sara turned the T.V. off and stared at the
black screen for a minute.
Freddy was dead and all she felt was numb. She got up and ran to the bathroom where she started to throw up.
She was just washing up and reorganizing herself when there was a knock on the door. She walked over to the door and answered it, it was Miles. "Sara, I uh.." Miles was trying to tell her something and she already knew what, "Freddy, I know. I saw it on the news."
He walked in and placed a hand delicately on her shoulder. She broke, she fell into his arms and started sobbing, "Why does everyone I love die! Why!?" He held her and soothingly replied, "Its ok Sara, you haven't lost everyone, I'm still here." She looked at him and wiped away her tears, she forced her self to calm down and smiled, "I know."
He smiled back and stood in the doorway as she plopped in her computer chair, "Well, come in dork." He laughed and stepped in closing the door. "I want to thank you for coming with me to Dr. Wallace's office yesterday, it really helped that you were there." Miles blushed as Sara thanked him, "Hey, no problem." He thought about the appointment, it had been….weird.
"Hey, how'd you get here? it's a long way to campus from your house." Sara waited for an answer. Miles blushed, "Well, I asked Jesse if we could stop by so I could see how you were doing. She's waiting outside."
Jesse sat in her car and looked at her watch, "C'mon Miles, school starts in 15 minutes…" looked in her rearview mirror and smiled as college students walked to their classes, that would be her in a couple of years.
Her whole life was ahead of her but still, Jesse was finding her attention drawn to her boyfriend. She had noticed a drastic change in Dan's behavior ever since that peculiar John Tate had come to his house.
Jesse rummaged through her purse and found a piece of gum. She stared vacantly out her driver window as she blew a bubble. She zoned out, thinking about college, Dan, her life and his place in it.
Then she noticed something odd, a man was standing in the far ends of the campus, partially hidden under a large tree. The shadows obscured his face but she got a feeling, like he was watching her.
She focused on the man, she could only partially make out a face, only it wasn't really a face, it was, wrong. Jesse got a shiver when a loud knock made her leap out of her skin.
"Hey Taylor open the door!" Miles waited as a spooked Jesse unlocked the door and let him in. "What's the matter with you?" he asked. Jesse turned and looked back to the tree but the figure was gone, "Nothing I guess, just my imagination." She pulled some hair from her face. Miles put his seatbelt on and drummed on the dashboard as Jesse turned the car on. She glance outside once more before she drove off.
Sara walked into the dorm bathrooms, towel and shampoo in hand. "Hey S&M!" Sara turned around and smiled dryly, "Hey Ellie." S&M, that's what Ellie called her, Sara continued on to the showers as her giggling friend followed, "Where's your puppy?" Ellie jumped as she asked.
Sara grimaced, "Miles isn't a puppy, he's more like a kitten." Ellie laughed, "How long are you going to string him along?" Sara blinked, "I'm not stringing him along, were friends. Good friends."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "Please, your orgasm friends or haven't you let him run threw the bases yet?" Sara smacked Ellie on the shoulder, "You big slut, not everything is about sex Ellie. Miles is sweet, he's special." Sara smiled as she spoke, casually twirling her hair.
Ellie made a mock gagging sound as she stuck her finger down her throat, "Oh spare me the Dawson's Creek bullshit. Look, I gotta get to Trig, I'll catch up with you later ok? Bye S&M." Ellie twirled as she bounced off, leaving Sara to contemplate her innocent friendship.
She stripped down and entered a shower pulling the curtain back behind her. She turned the faucet on and adjusted the temperature. Sara closed her eyes and let the warm water wash over her body.
She thought about her life, about her friends who had died, about Miles. She thought about Michael Myers and wrapped her arms around herself as she got cold. Those black eyes, so relentless. He truly was the perfect killing machine. Sara thought about the date.
It was the Devil's day to play and she had a bad feeling. Myers had escaped two years ago, he was out there and she knew he's be back. She only hoped she wouldn't be caught in the middle of his return.
Lindsay drank a cup of coffee as she typed up her report for Dr. Wynn. Her initial interview with Sara Moyer had been successful and today she had plans to speak individually with John and Thom.
She needed to give them as much help as she could to find John's girlfriend. Just as she was finishing her last paragraph the phone rang. Lindsay answered it, "Hello?" "Hi Dr. Wallace? This is John, John Tate."
Lindsay stopped her typing and swirled around in her chair to face her filing cabinet. "Yes John, this is a surprise. Are you alright? Did you find Molly yet?" There was a pause on the other end, then John responded, "No, not yet. Sheriff Grayson put out an all out alert for her, he thinks she might have been kidnapped." John stifled the urge to scream.
"John, listen to me. We will get her back. Don't lose faith. Now, what can I do for you?" Lindsay opened her filing cabinet and pulled out the file on Laurie Strode as she spoke. "Are you there John?" John responded, "Yeah, I'm here. You're a psychologist right? Well, I could really use some therapy, are you free today to talk?"
Lindsay rummaged through the file and found a recorded interview she had had with Laurie, "Well, yes I suppose if you need to talk. Why don't you come down to my office, or better yet, why don't we just meet somewhere in town." Lindsay scanned through the session notes as John responded, "Ok, that's great um, why don't we meet at the park. What time works for you, I know its early."
Lindsay checked her watch, it was already nine, "The park is fine, just give me a couple of hours to finish my morning appointments. How does eleven thirty sound?" "That sounds fine, ok I'll see you then, thanks doctor." Lindsay smiled, "Your welcome, bye John."
She hung up the phone and walked over to a locked cabinet near her door. She pulled out a key and unlocked the first shelve. She opened it and dug through a series of filed meeting sessions.
She found the one she was looking for and reached into the file and pulled out a tape labeled 'Strode: session 05-13-99' Lindsay walked over to a television set sitting on a counter near her desk and popped the tape into the VCR.
The pushed the PLAY button and the screen came on. Lindsay watched a session she had with Laurie strode two years before her death. She had remembered something about John but she couldn't completely figure out what it was.
Lindsay peered at the screen as the tape played. 'Laurie! Are you even listening to me? Your brother is still out there and we both know it. You know where he is don't you. Don't you want to help me stop him so he doesn't kill anyone else. We can stop the bloodshed together but you have to trust me.'
Laurie sat vacantly looking out the window, she didn't respond and Dr. Wallace was agitated, 'Why do you hide yourself from the world, burying yourself in this little room. Your son could be in danger don't you care? I know you love your son but you have to be there for him. Don't you remember what happened to Jamie? You abandoned her and look what happened, she died alone without her mother there to help her. Do you want that to happen to John? Do you want your brother to get your other child as well?'
Laurie closed her eyes tightly as a tear rolled down her left cheek Lindsay watched the screen intently and paused it as Laurie concealed her emotions. "I wonder if he knows…" She asked herself as she stopped the tape.
Miles and Jesse sat in class listening to the teacher lecture when Dan came in late, "Daniel, do you have a pass?" Dan handed the teacher a pink slip and took his seat next to Miles, "Hey man, you feeling ok? Jesse told me we weren't picking you up today cuz you weren't feeling well."
Dan ran his hands over his face and looked over to Jesse who was smiling. He could see she was concerned by the worried expression in her eyes. Dan folded his arms and looked back to Miles, "Yeah man I was feeling kinda sick earlier but I'm better now so mom gave me a ride after Thom left for work."
Miles noticed Dan's hands were a little shaky, "Are you sure your ok, you look kind of pale." Dan settled his hands under his desk and whispered back, "I'm fine really, must be coming down with something I guess."
Jesse watched her boyfriend talk to Miles and immediately knew what was wrong, she could tell by his anxiousness and shaky hands, he'd been cutting again. She cursed herself for not making him come to school. She should have known something was up when he just called her and said he wasn't coming to school, and on all days for Christ's sake.
Miles noticed a red stain forming on Dan's sleeve, "Hey what the hell is that! Did you slice yourself?" Dan covered his arm and stood up drawing some attention from the other students and the teacher, "Daniel are you ok?" the teacher inquired as Dan headed for the door.
Dan forced a smile and quickly replied, "Yeah I'm fine Mr. Williams I just need to run to the bathroom." He dashed out of the room before the teacher could argue. Dan ran down the hallway and turned a corner almost tripping and falling down the flight of stairs waiting for him. He was feeling dizzy and he was worried he had cut to deeply. He half walked, half fell down the stairs and made his way to the men's room.
He checked if it was empty then closed and locked the door. He walked over to the sink and rolled up his sleeves, the blood on his fresh wounds was welling up and Dan quickly turned the faucet on and began to rinse his arms off.
He wrapped some paper towels around his arms to stop the bleeding then he tossed them away and looked down at himself. His arms were pink with blood stains and the cruel slashes were glaring up at him. He winced as he noticed the severity of his injuries. He rolled his sleeves back down and exited the bathroom. He rested his back on the door and whispered to himself, "Why are you doing this to yourself…"
"That's what I'd like to know." Dan whirled around and saw Jesse walking towards him with her arms crossed. She looked mad but also worried, "I thought we were past this Danny, I thought you had stopped."
Dan looked away as Jesse approached him. She grabbed his arm with one hand and pulled his sleeve up. She gasped as she saw his cuts and looked up into his dark blue eyes, "Dan….baby. How long have you been doing this?" Dan looked to her and saw the concern in her eyes, he felt guilty now. "Only today Jesse, its just, I don't know…"
Jesse brushed his bangs our of his eyes and soothingly responded, "I think I do, have you checked your calendar? It's Halloween." Dan closed his eyes and Jesse held him close, she knew he needed her right now but this was becoming harder and harder for her to deal with.
"Eight years Dan, its been eight years, why would this year be any different?" She held him and waited but he wasn't answering. "Look, I know your upset about tonight, but Stephen is really looking forward to going out with you. We can hang out tomorrow night."
Dan laughed, his girl was always being so selfless, "Its not that Jessica. I'm worried about tonight. John Tate, you know that guy staying with us right now?" Jesse nodded and Dan swallowed before he continued, "Well, he's Michael Myers' nephew. Something's up this year I can tell. My old house gets painted red two years ago and now the fuckers nephew is staying at my house, this isn't right, I can feel it."
Jesse turned and walked a couple of steps, she was thinking. Then she turned around and marched back up to Dan, "Listen to me Daniel Strode, you have a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend, and your whole life ahead of you. I am not going to let you fuck that up because of some freak in a mask ok?"
Dan stared at her in shock, it was the first time he had seen her take such an initiative, "Ok Jesse….I'll try and stay cool." Jesse leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before answering, "You better." She grabbed him by his sleeve and dragged him back to class.
Thom got out of his car and walked into the police station. He went up to the front desk and asked the officer there if the sheriff was available, "Sure, he's in his office. I'll take you there." The officer led Thom past the jail block and into the back. They walked down a hallway and stopped at the last door, "Here you go." Thom thanked the officer before he walked off.
Thom knocked on the door, "Mark? It's Thom, do you have a minute?" Thom waited before Sheriff Grayson opened his office door, "Thom, what's up?" They shook hands and Thom entered the office.
"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. Any luck yet on finding Molly?" Thom took a seat as Mark picked up his mug of coffee and took a gulp, "Sorry to say but no, were still looking for the Carmichael girl. Its been over thirty-six hours since she went missing but were trying our best. I've got officers searching all the way out to Hardin County, we'll find her."
Mark could tell something else was bothering his friend, "Something else wrong Thom? Kara and the boys doing ok?" Thom smiled at the mention of his family, the most important people in his life. "There fine. Kara's been having nightmares but that always happens around this time of year. Dan's taking Stephen out trick or treating tonight and Kara and I made plans to go out for dinner but…"
Mark waited for Thom to continue, "But?" Thom looked at Mark with a worried glance, "I'm not sure I want to leave the boys alone tonight. I mean, with everything that's been going on. John, Molly, I think it might be too risky to go out tonight and let out guard down."
Mark folded his arms and thought a moment before replying, "Thom, how long have we known each other?" Thom looked at him, "About four years, why?" Mark slammed his hand down on the desk and shouted back in laughter, "Have you ever known me to slack of on my job!? Now if something comes up this year, me and my boys can handle it. I've got the best squad in six counties working here and if Myers does decide to show his mug round here, we can give him a nice farewell party."
Thom laughed and got up. He walked over and looked at a picture of Mark and his wife and baby, "How's Grace? She and the baby doing alright?" Mark smiled and looked at his wedding band, "Yeah their doing good. Grace is still tired and all. Docs say she will be for a couple more weeks so she took some time off from work."
Thom looked at The baby in the picture and remembered holding Stephen in his arms. He knew the responsibility that came with fatherhood now, "Yeah, I miss my assistant at work. Maybe I'll go visit her sometime with Kara. Once you guys are up to it the three of you should come over for a barbecue again."
Mark laughed, "Kara and grace love gossiping about us don't they. Diane too, they've got there own little Ya-Ya Sisterhood don't they." Thom laughed. "I don't watch chick flicks but yeah they're pretty close."
Suddenly a knock came at the door and a young deputy walked in. Mark and
Thom looked up at him and Mark asked, "Yeah Henderson. What is it?" Henderson looked at them and slowly replied, "Sheriff, we need to get down to the cemetery right away. There's been an incident."
Thom and Mark looked at each other and got up. Thom had a knot in his stomach now, this wasn't right. "Mind if I tag along Mark?" Mark looked back as he put on his coat and Sheriff's hat and shrugged, "Yeah sure, maybe you can help." They followed Henderson out the door.
Kara was putting some dishes in the dishwasher when their cat Jonesy snuck up behind her and brushed up against her leg. She jumped, "Jeez! Oh, hey Jonesy, where's Zoe?" Kara wiped her hands off and picked up her furry friend. "Are you hungry hmm? Did Zoe eat all of your food, lets go find her."
Kara walked out of the kitchen and wandered down the hall looking for Zoe. She stepped on one of Stephen's toys and cursed herself. "Shit. Stephen, how many times do I have to tell you?" She put Jonesy down and grabbed the toy. It was a truck, one of Stephens favorite toys.
Kara went upstairs into Stephen's room and put the toy back into his little toy chest. She folded up some clothes on the floor and put them in the closet. She saw the light on his desk was still one and went over to turn it off. She noticed a notebook of his lying on the desk.
Kara smiled and opened the notebook glancing through her son's drawings. She flipped through it and saw pictures of spaceships, superheroes and dinosaurs. Then she flipped to one page and her blood froze. She dropped the notebook and stepped back. "My god…" She ran out of the room and went straight for the phone.
Back in Stephen's room a picture sketchily drawn was still face up on the desk. It was a picture of Stephen smiling and holding hands with a man in a long black coat and hat. The background had been scribbled with red crayon and looked like smeared blood.
John had left the Doyle house about a have an hour earlier, he had wanted to walk to the park where he was meeting Dr. Wallace. He needed to get out of that house. He enjoyed spending time with Kara and they had gotten to know each other a lot but John was just too wrapped up in finding Molly.
He sat down on a park bench and checked his watch, it was eleven thirty. Lindsay was running late. John thought about if this was really a good idea. He didn't really know much about her other than she was friends with Thom. Did he really want to involve her in all this, if something did happen tonight he didn't want her to be caught in it too.
"Earth to John." John snapped out of his deep thoughts and looked up to see a pretty woman in a black sleeveless shirt and a white skirt. She took her sunglasses off and sat down next to him, it was Lindsay, "Are you alright John? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
John laughed, "I've been seeing a lot of ghosts these past few years. It's not the dead that frighten me though, it's the living I'm worried about." Lindsay slipped her hand into her pocket and turned on a tape recorder before replying, "Well, we all see ghosts. So what did you want to talk about?"
John looked at her and inquired, "You knew my mother didn't you?" Lindsay blinked, how did her know about her sessions with Laurie? He had stopped visiting her months before they started having sessions. John continued, "Didn't she baby sit for you when you were a kid?" Lindsay sighed, "Oh of course, that's right she did. I imagine you were quite close to your mother."
John frowned, "I thought we were, but she hid a lot from me. Now I wonder if I ever knew her at all." Lindsay leaned in close to John and whispered, "Why are you here John? In Haddonfield I mean. Why have you come to this poor town?" John looked at her with a dark look in his eye, "I've come to learn about my mother's past and Michael Myers. Thom and Kara can help me."
Lindsay looked away, thinking about all these people. John, Thom, Kara, Sara. Was this right? Was she doing the right thing by keeping them all in the dark. Exposing her true intentions would compromise the whole project and probably cost her her job. Still though, she felt like she was lying to these people who were looking to her for help.
"John, do you think this year will be another bloodbath?" John turned pale and quietly answered, "I don't know." Lindsay opened her briefcase and pulled out a packet of papers. She read aloud, "1963, 1978, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2002. Why would this year be added to that list of infamous dates. Why would this year be another massacre?"
John thought hard and looked at Lindsay, "Because we're all here. All of the survivors, we're all in town now. That girl from the web cam massacre lives here in town. Thom and Kara live in town. Stephen and I are here and we're the last."
Lindsay played dumb in order to assess how much John knew, "The last?" John nervously cracked his knuckles, "Where the last of his kin. His bloodline, Thom and Kara's adopted son Stephen is Jamie…my sister's son. He's my nephew." John laughed as he realized he's met a new relative and under such grim circumstances.
"Michael has spent forty-five years hunting down all his living relatives. He got my mom and sister and now he's going to come for me and Stephen, I know it. That's why I'm staying here until after Halloween. If god willing, nothing happens, then I should find Molly and she and I can go back to California and get married."
Lindsay was trying to keep from getting spooked, but she knew what he was saying was true. If all these people gathered here were in town tonight, Michael might come back. Dr. Wynn had assured her that was unlikely, that Michael would have to be too weak. Lindsay wondered if by gathering all these people together, that she had inadvertently triggered a bomb that would surely go off tonight.
"John, I think we should talk to Thom, Kara and Sara. They should all be filled in on this." "Oh they already know. At least Kara and Thom do. I haven't met Sara Moyer yet." Lindsay noted that in her mind, "I spoke with her yesterday, I think you two should meet." John looked at her confused, "Why, she shouldn't be in any danger unless she is related to Michael or in his way."
Lindsay frowned, "She and one other person escaped the massacre two years ago John. Last night Freddy Harris; the other survivor; was shot and killed. If we're in trouble I think she needs to know." Lindsay got up and checked her watch, "Listen, I have to go. I have to meet with my supervisors in twenty minutes. Why don't we try and get together with the others this afternoon. We can all meet at my office at Ridgemont Sanitarium."
John's eyes widened, "Um, I really don't want to go to a mental institution if it' alright. Too many bad memories of seeing my mom's last home." Lindsay nodded, "That's fine. I'll call you later this afternoon then and we'll make plans ok? Have a nice day John." John waved to her as she walked off.
Lindsay left John sitting on the park bench as she walked towards her car. She pulled out the tape recorder and turned it off. Then she got out her cell phone and dialed a number. "Dr. Wynn? Yes, I just met with him and I met with Sara Moyer yesterday. You knew that didn't you. Have you been keeping tabs on me? I can handle this myself. No I am not compromising the situation I am merely trying to assess their ability to cope with their histories. Yes, I know. Tonight, you promised me no one would be mislead Dr. but I haven't told them anything about the project. Yes, after tonight we can tell them everything. Ok. I'm heading back to Smith's Grove now. Bye."
Lindsay hung up and got in her car. She peered out over the horizon and looked at the people in town. She hoped that tonight went according to plan. She would take all of the survivors to Ridgemont to evaluate and take statements from. Then the national guard would pick them up and put them all into protective custody until tomorrow. Once they were safe, and Halloween was over, they would be released.
Lindsay was getting an aching suspicion of Wynn though. Why was he so anxious to get John and Stephen into custody? He had promised her that none of them were going to be exposed to any danger but if Michael decided to come home, then all bets were off.
Thom and Mark got out of the squad car and followed Henderson. They walked past a couple of officers and Mark nodded to them. Thom had the unsettling feeling they were about to find Molly Carmichaels corpse. He prayed this wasn't so.
"What's going on Gibbs? Henderson didn't fill me in." Deputy Gibbs walked over to the sheriff and Thom, "Sir, there were several robberies we assume during the early morning. The groundskeeper called us and we thought best that you see for yourself. "See what?" Thom asked as they made their way past several gravestones.
"This." Gibbs pointed to an empty plot. It had been dug up and both the coffin and head stone were missing. "Who's plot is this?" Thom asked loudly. "WHO!" he shouted. Gibbs looked to the sheriff who signaled for him to answered, "It' um, belongs to Jamie Loyde." Thom closed his eyes. "It's happening."
"Nothing's happening Thom, just calm down its probably just some kids playing Halloween pranks." Thom glared at him, "Stealing gravestones and coffins isn't a prank! Is this the only one?" Thom looked back and forth and noticed officers standing around another grave a ways away.
Sheriff Grayson looked to Gibbs, "Did anything else get taken?" Gibbs nodded, "Yes sir, uh, the head stone and coffin of Judith Myers is also missing." Thom laughed in a mixture of ironic humor and sarcastic terror, "You know what this means don't you! A missing head stone in 78, a stolen coffin in 89. He's back, he's back and we're fucked!"
Mark grabbed Thom by the shoulders and shook him twice, "Calm down Thom! We don't know that." He turned to Gibbs and barked out an order, "I want three units up in Hardin county down her A.S.A.P. Get a hold of the sheriff in Langdon and tell him to put his boys on full alert. Get me on the horn with the governor, if that fucker Myers is in town I want all units riding this town like a bull tonight. Move!" Gibbs ran off to the squad car and motioned for other officers to get on their walkie talkies.
Thom's cell phone rang and he quickly answered it, "yeah!?" he was still very agitated. "Thom! Stephen, he's drawn something. Its Wynn, he's seen him. God, what do we do?" Kara was frantic and Thom needed to shout to calm her down, "Kara, calm down! Listen, I'm at the cemetery. Two coffins are missing. I want you to pick up Stephen and Dan and meet me at the police station." He hung up and walked up to Grayson, "Mark, we need to get my wife and kids."
Dan walked down a long hallway towards the cafeteria. He bumped into Ms. Harris who was exiting her classroom with a stack of papers. She dropped her papers when he bumped into her and had knelt down to gather them up. "I'm sorry Ms. Harris I wasn't watching where I was going." Dan knelt down and helped her with the papers. "I was just grading these Antigone papers from third period. I do believe yours is due seventh hour, I hope you finished it." Dan mumbled something and stood up with her.
"Are you and Jessica still coming in after school for tutoring?" Ms. Taylor adjusted her glasses and brushed of her shirt as she stood up. "Oh, yeah we are. She's gonna help me catch up on the last couple of assignments." Dan turned to leave when Ms. Harris quickly added, "I hope you do. Oh, and happy Halloween."
Dan froze, then he turned back and forced a half smile. Ms. Harris headed on to the teachers lounge where Mr. Williams was stirring a cup of coffee. "Hey Elizabeth. Are we still on for lunch?" Ms. Harris smiled and set her papers down on a table, "What are the choices today Martin, meatloaf or tuna casserole." Mr. Williams grinned and pulled out his wallet, he checked it's contents and looked back to Ms. Harris, "Well, what say we skip the cafeteria food and go out." Ms. Harris looked at her clock and then back to Mr. Williams, "Alright Martin, but I have to be back by one. Sixth period may be your prep hour but I have a class."
Dan sat down at a table next to Jesse and Miles who were chatting, "Hey have you guys seen Scott today?" Jesse motioned to Miles who shrugged, "I haven't seen him in a couple days. Maybe he got arrested." Dan looked down at his meatloaf and pushed it aside in disgust. He needed a jump start. "You guys wanna go for a walk?" Dan asked them and they agreed.
Miles had his hands in his pockets as Jesse and Dan walked hand in hand. The blood stains on his sleeves had dried and were mostly faded but Miles knew. "Thinking about Sara?" Jesse looked at Miles immediately turned red, "No, I'm just thinking about tonight."
Dan leaned in and smirked, "Yeah well the first time can cause a lot of stress." Jesse smacked him and he laughed, "I'm joking! I wasn't stressed at all." Jesse smacked him again. "Don't mind him, he only thinks with his other head. Don't worry about tonight Miles, I'm sure you two will find whatever your looking for."
Dan and Jesse kissed and Miles rolled his eyes. Their kiss was broken off by a woman's voice shouting from across the campus, "Dan! Dan, we have to go now!" Dan looked up in surprise, "Mom?"
Kara was running up to her son in a hurry, she needed to get him to the police station until Thom told them it was ok to go home. "Dan, I need you to come with me, its urgent. Stephen's in the car. We have to get to the police station." Dan looked at her in surprise, "Wha, why? What's going on" Jesse and Miles looked at each other then back to Mrs. Doyle who was tugging on Dan's arm. "We don't have time, we need to go…now."
Dan turned back to his friends, "I guess, we'll hook up later tonight." Jesse and Miles waved as Dan and Kara swiftly made their way to the car. Stephen was sitting in the front seat looking out the window at them. Dan got in the back and Stephen turned around, "Hi Danny! Mom says we get to get out of school early today, I think it's for my birthday." Dan smiled, "Your probably right birthday boy, how does it feel to be nine years old?" Stephen made a farting noise, "It sucks so far! Mom said I cant open my presents until after the party."
Kara started the car and drove off, she was really stressed. She had to get to the police station, meet Thom and find out what the hell was going on. Then, if everything was ok, she had to get her boys home, get ready for the party and make sure it all went well. After the party she had to get Stephen and Dan ready for trick or treating which she was seriously considering not letting them do. She hoped Stephen had seen the picture he's drawn on T.V. She prayed that the coffins were just stolen for a Halloween prank but she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She looked at her son humming to himself and peered back at Dan gazing out the window. She needed to stay calm for their sakes, especially Stephen, "So are you ready for your party Stephen? I got your costume ready so after we meet up with Daddy, we can go home and get you changed. Timmy, Sherry, and the others will be over at three thirty so that gives us about three hours to get ready."
Stephen giggled at the thought of all this excitement, "I hope there's lots of candy in the piñata, especially jolly ranchers!" Kara looked at Dan through the rear view mirror, "I'm sorry I had to pull you out of school Dan. You and Stephen will still be able to go out tonight though….I hope." Dan thought about that, and frowned, "Don't forget mom, I have to go to school tonight to tutor with Jesse and Ms. Harris."
Kara sighed, she'd forgotten about that, "Damn! Oh, sorry Stephen" Stephen didn't like it when his parents swore and always gave them 'the look' when they did. Kara ran a hand through her hair as she adjusted her schedule for the day, "Ok, we'll meet dad, go home, and have the party while you and Jesse are at school. Oh wait, I need you to help supervise."
Kara growled at the slow driver ahead of her and beeped at him, this was very frustrating for someone as organized as her. She always had her time so well managed but now she had to run to the police station first with no idea how long that would take, and now she had to adjust her schedule so Dan could tutor, go trick or treating, and allow her time with Thom. She had a feeling her date with him had officially been cancelled.
Thom greeted Kara and the boys at the police station and hugged her tightly, "I'm glad your alright." She smiled, "The boys are a little confused and I told Stephen this was part of his birthday present so your going to have to make something up for him to do." Thom looked over to Stephen who was looking at all the officers and equipment. "Hey birthday boy, I have a present for you. Have you ever seen a police station?" Stephen bounced over to his dad and gleefully squeaked, "Not until now dad."
Thom smiled and picked Stephen up, "Well what if I could get the sheriff to give you a tour?" Stephen shouted, "Oh cool! Could he? Could he really!?" Thom walked over to Sheriff Grayson, Hey Mark. Today's Stephen's birthday, do you think you could give him a quick tour of the station?" Thom set his son down as Mark laughed, "Well sure. Hey Stephen, why don't I take you back and show you the interrogation room, ever seen double sided glass?" Mark and Stephen walked off hand in hand as Thom turned back to Kara, his expression changing from happiness to concern.
"Kara, Judith Myers and Jamie Loyde's headstones and coffins where stolen this morning. Now I think something's up and I need you to come with me tonight to talk to my friend Lindsay. She's a psychologist working on the Myers case and I think she can help us." Kara nodded and bit her lower lip, "Are the boys going to be safe?"
Thom looked over at Dan who was waiting for an answer, "Yes, they should be. Mark's got every officer for three counties coming into town tonight, Haddonfield will be safer than it has ever been." Kara gave a huge sigh of relief and squeezed Dan's hand. Dan was also relieved, so tonight would be fine. He just hoped everything played out like his parents were assuring him it would.
John sat alone in the Doyle house. He had his head in his hands and was trying to clear his mind. Jonesy jumped up onto the couch and purred next to John. "Hey there, you know my fiancé loves cats. I was thinking of buying one for her when I get home." John smiled to himself. After tonight if everything went smoothly, he could go back home and forget about all of this. His mother's past would not become his future, he was through chasing her demons and it was time to put this behind him and focus on Molly and their life together.
A knock cam from the front door and John went over to open it. A young woman with brown hair stood there nervously playing with her pink scarf. "Sara? Sara Moyer?" John greeted the woman and invited her in. "Thanks for coming over, its nice to meet you." Sara sat down on the couch and smiled up at the handsome man, "Well, I must admit I was surprised to get your call, I mean well, the past few days have been kind of strange for me." John sat down next to her and asked, "How so?"
"Well, today's Halloween as I'm sure you've noticed and a lot of weird shit has been happening. Freddy's dead, I met a woman who wants me to come to Ridgemont sanitarium tonight and put me under safe watch until tomorrow. I have a bad feeling, don't you?" John knew this girl had met his uncle so they immediately had an initial bond from which to expand on, "My mother died two years ago. She was supposedly killed by another patient but I think my uncle got her. I know it. You met him two days later and I know your probably still dealing with it. I'm staying with a family who also encountered my uncle about eight or nine years ago. We've all been contacted by Dr. Wallace and we're supposed to meet her tonight as well. I've had a bad feeling ever since Thom Doyle emailed me last week."
Sara sat there in silence for a moment before responding, "Dr. Wallace said she's trying to help us. She said that the possibility of Michael returning is next to nothing but they want to be safe, I don't know why this year is so important but I'm going. If it will keep me alive until next Halloween, I'll jump through any hoops they want me to." John looked at her and thought about the situation, "Who's 'they' anyways? The police? The FBI, the national guard? What are we getting ourselves into and why the hall are they doing this if Michael isn't even in town?" Sara looked at him contemplating this, "I don't know. I really don't."
Mark came back with Stephen who was all smiles as he ran over to Kara and Thom, "I got to see the shooting range, and the detectives offices!" Kara looked over to Mark and lifted an eyebrow, "I hope you didn't show him the jail block." Mark laughed, "Nah. Don't worry I took good care of him." He turned to Thom, "Go on home Doyle, I got this under control. Take Kara and the boys home and I'll call you if anything comes up." Thom gave a half smile and led his family out to Kara's van, "Go on Kara, I'll follow you."
They drove off, heading home just as sixth period was starting at Dan's school. Kara had to get Stephen changed and ready for his party then she had to get Dan off to school, "Hey Dan….about tonight." Kara asked her eldest son as they drove, "Since the party gets done at about five and you don't need to be at school till five thirty, do you think you could take Stephen along and then take him trick or treating afterwards?"
Dan looked at his mom and groaned, "Mom, cant you take him? I mean, I don't know how long tutoring is going to take." Stephen also whined, "I don't want to be stuck at his boring school all night." Kara tried negotiating, "Look guys, this is the best I can do. Stephen, Dan has to go to school. Dan, Stephen really wants to go trick or treating now either you can miss your study session or Stephen can miss going out tonight."
Stephen turned around and pleaded with Dan, "Oh Please take me out tonight Danny! I really wanna go. I can come to school with you if I have to, I'll be good I promise. I'll split my candy with you if you take me." Stephen gave Dan his most pathetic look and even Dan couldn't resist, "Aw, man Stephen why do you have to pull the abandoned dog look all the time. Ugh…fine, I'll take you but your gonna have to wait for me to finish my study session first." Stephen yelped with joy and Kara grabbed his arm, "Sit down Stephen do you want me to drive us into a ditch?" "Sorry mom" Stephen sat down but glanced back at Dan and smiled.
They continued driving with Thom following. John and Sara continued to chat back home and Lindsay was sitting in her office typing up reports. Only five hours till sunset. Darkness would soon be falling and the night of Samhain would begin. The residents of Haddonfield prepared for a festive holiday totally unaware that their little town would be turned upside down tonight.
~TBC
*Hey guys, I hope you liked this chapter. Yay! Halloween s finally here in the story and now the real terror can begin hehehehe…….