WARNING This chapter contains disturbing and violent imagery of a
graphic nature. If you are not 18, maybe you shouldn't be reading this
chapter. I don't own any of the Halloween characters (obviously) except the
ones I created specifically for this story. I would also like to add that I
do not own the lyrics to the song 'Down With The Sickness' by Disturbed. I
am only using the lyrics to facilitate the plot.
Chapter 19: Beyond Hell
Ridgemont Sanitarium October 30, 1988
"I'd assumed Dr. Loomis would be here. Michael Myers is still his patient." The Smith's Grove attendant lifted an eyebrow as he spoke to the good doctor. Dr. Edward Hoffman was signing several release forms. He smugly replied, "If Loomis read memos he'd be here. Fortunately his position is more ceremonial than medical and with Myers gone, my hope is that he'll either transfer, retire...or die." Hoffman tore the form off his clip board and handed it to the medical attendant. The other attendant, the woman, had finished prepping Myers and looked up at the two gentlemen in the next room, "I'll right, let's move him."
The two attendants moved the comatose bogeyman on the stretcher outside into the pouring rain. It was a cold night and Dr. Hoffman could see his breath as he followed close behind, his jacket flapping in the wind. The two attendants were assisted by the two ambulance drivers who hopped out of the trunk of the vehicle. The male attendant spoke to one of the drivers, "Watch it." The driver took the back end of Myers' stretcher and turned it towards the ambulance. The other driver looked at the woman and took Myers' fluid bag, "I got this."
Hoffman watched as the four of them loaded Michael into the ambulance, "I can safely say that Michael Myers is now in your hands." The male attendant looked at Hoffman with a smile and said, "Yeah well I guess you're happy to see him go." Hoffman nodded as the stretcher was buckled into place inside the ambulance. The woman hopped into the back of the ambulance as she said, "Locked and loaded." The drivers headed to the front of the vehicle while the male attendant said, "Now let's roll." As he shut the back doors. The attendant turned back to Dr. Hoffman as the heavy rain drenched them both, "Night Doc." Dr. Hoffman smiled and replied, "Drive carefully." The attendant nodded and headed into the vehicle.
Dr. Hoffman walked forward and looked down into the ambulance through the door's window. He saw that comatose body lying there ever so still. Hoffman knew what was going to happen, he knew exactly what was about to take place. He gave a subtle nod to the patient before turning around and heading back into the sanctuary of the hospital. Hoffman knew what he had released upon the world. He was just doing his job though, it was out of his hands. Whatever transpired in Haddonfield tomorrow night would have nothing to do with him. Hoffman turned his head back and looked over his shoulder. He watched the ambulance drive away and eventually disappear into the night. Whatever happened in that town would be out of his hands...those poor bastards.
October 31st, 2004 Haddonfield, IL
"I'll right, let's get the tows out here to drench the lake." The tall strong black deputy signaled for a group of troopers to meet him at the lake's shore. He turned around and looked at the mangled pile of metal which used to be an ambulance and sighed, "God damn..." He turned back and started walking towards dry land. His boots squished in mud and his legs splashed through the murky water as he passed several other officers in the lake. The deputy climbed onto the grass and walked over to another officer, "Any word yet from Grayson?" The officer shook his head, "Fraid not officer Ford, but we did contact the hospital to tell them we located the missing ambulances."
Jared Ford patted his fellow officer's shoulder and turned to face a crew of busy policemen, "All right listen up people. I know it's been a long night for everyone but it's not over yet. I want as many men as we can spare out in the woods looking for any survivors. Tell the divers to double up and take turn searching the lake. And somebody please contact the Sheriff or Deputy Henderson. Let's move people!" The other officers quickened their pace as they worked.
As the chief deputy in charge of the scene, Ford had been at the hospital along with everyone else when they'd gotten a call from a patrolman just outside of Mill Creek. Apparently Sheriff Grayson had given the order for several squads to head over to Smith's Grove while Henderson had requested the units at the Doyle residence to track down the ambulances carrying Stephen Doyle and Michael Myers. Well, they found the vehicles but the only people they'd found so far were the paramedic's bodies.
So now there was a group of cops driving to Smith's Grove, and the rest had gathered at the Mill Creek Bridge, or more precisely, just beneath it. The police force was spread so thin right now that the station was damn near empty. Jared sighed and ran his hands over his face. He took off his deputy hat and rubbed his bald head.
A policeman nearby opened a flare and shouted, "Over here!" Officer Ford put his hat back on and ran over to the other police man along with about three other officers. They gathered around the shore line as a diver emerged from the black water. He dragged a body with him as he waded through the mud and grass. The officers backed up to give the diver some room as he lay the body down. Ford took out his flashlight and flashed it on the body. He flinched and said, "It's another paramedic, looks like he's been through a blender."
The large black man turned off his flashlight and looked at his fellow officers, "Let's bag him." He walked away from the group and headed over to a deputy who was just getting off his radio. He was standing next to his squad car, bathed in red and blue light. Ford looked at him and said, "Please tell me that was the sheriff you were just talking to."
The deputy shook his head and replied, "No sir, that was the Hospital. They just notified me that the morgue was broken into." Jared raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?" The young deputy cleared his throat, "Yes sir, The morgue was broken into and several bodies were removed. They're um...missing."
Jared looked around at the chaos. A crane was being used to pull the first crashed ambulance out of the lake while a team of men were examining the other crashed vehicle and the bodies surrounding it. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples then asked, "Ok, so how many bodies do we have so far?" The young deputy answered, "Well five bodies were stolen from the morgue sir and I-"
Jared interrupted him, "How many bodies have we found her deputy..." The young man wiped the sweat from his brow, "Oh, I see. Well, so far we've found six bodies. The three medics from that ambulance over there." The young man pointed to the crushed ambulance at the foot of the great tree. Several body bags were being carried away. The officers were trying to turn the vehicle over to get at another body underneath. The young officer continued, "We're drenching the lake still for the others. We found two so far and then there's the body up on the freeway."
Officer Ford turned and walked away saying, "Nice work deputy, keep it up." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. He sat down on the hood of one of the squad cars and examined the area.
"There he is! Hurry up so we can get a statement." Jared looked up and immediately dropped his cigarette and stomped it, "Jesus Christ...." He grumbled and stood up and adjusted his hat and walked over to the bustling group of reporters approaching the scene.
"This is a crime scene folks You're gonna have to leave!" The tough black deputy was trying to keep his cool but was beginning to get frustrated. For the past couple of hours he and the rest of the towns police force had been running from place to place. First the high school, then the Doyle residence, now here.
One of the reporters; a pretty woman with curly blonde hair stepped forward with her microphone aimed at the deputy, "Officer Ford, is it true that Michael Myers is in Haddonfield again to wreak havoc?" She snapped her finger and the camera man zoomed in on Officer Jared Ford who looked at the camera in surprise and then looked back behind him at the police activity, "Well, I, uh. The police are not ready to make an official statement at this time." He started walking through the crowd in order to turn their attention away from the crime scene.
"Officer Ford! Can you give us any information on the investigation tonight? What can you tell us about Myers, is he still at large? Have there been casualties?" The reported was relentless in her questioning and Jared gave the same response each time, "No comment at this time." Eventually Deputy Ford lifted his hands to silence the bustling crowd and said, "Look, this is an ongoing investigation of a criminal nature. I cannot release any details at this time. As soon as I get more information I will let you know but from now I need you to clear the area. This is a crime scene!"
A tall reporter wearing glasses asked, "Officer, where is Sheriff Grayson? Can he give us a statement?" Officer Ford quickly replied, "Sheriff Grayson is unavailable at this time. No more questions please." He turned and walked away from the onslaught of questions. Jared walked past several officers and shouted, "Get those reporters outta here! And get a hold of Grayson!" Ford took a deep breath and headed back into the mass of cops, body bags and bed and blue lights.
Doyle Residence
Kara was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a mug of hot cocoa. Officer Kyle Henderson sat across from her on the other end of the table. He was holding his mug and quietly sipped it. He eyes her cautiously, after her last breakdown he wanted to be careful of what he said. They sat there quietly drinking their cocoa, carefully avoiding the red stains near the back wall. The heavy rain could be heard perfectly from the opening where the back door used to be. The smell of death was still there but was slowly being washed away by the scent of chocolate.
Kara looked up above Kyle and focused on the clock. "It's after eleven..." Kyle turned around and looked at the clock, "How bout that." He turned back to Kara and cleared his throat, "Why don't I drop you and Dan off at a motel or something. You guys shouldn't spend the night here. I mean, the place is a wreck and well..." He looked at the hole in their kitchen wall. Kara looked at it and blinked. She yawned as if the sight of the carnage wasn't even a surprise anymore. Kara turned back to her mug and stared vacantly into it.
"No, I can't leave. I need to be here when Thom and Stephen get back. And Dan, he's probably already asleep. I can't wake him now..." her voice trailed off as she ran her finger around the rim of the mug. Kyle sighed and looked at his watch.
Suddenly his radio went off and they both jumped in surprise. Kyle got out of his seat and walked into the living room as he lifted his radio from his belt, "Yeah, Henderson, over." A stressed voice replied, "Henderson, this is Ford. We've found the two ambulances, they, god damn. They're crunched up pretty bad, looks like they lost the road in the storm and drove right off the bridge."
Kyle's eyes widened and he turned pale. He quickly whirled around to find Kara still sitting at the kitchen table drinking her cocoa. Had she heard that? He hoped she hadn't, it was a shock he wasn't sure the woman could handle.
Kyle replied on the radio, "Ok, We're gonna handle this nice and quiet. No press, no publicity got it?" Ford responded, "Yeah I already had to clear a group of reporters. Jesus, they're all over this Kyle. The whole god damned town is spooked. I got calls coming in at the station, everybody and their uncle is 'positive' they've seen Myers tonight!"
Henderson quieted down and replied, "All right, let's keep a lid on it for now. Any word from Sheriff Grayson yet?" Ford answered, "Fraid not. He's at the outskirts of town and in this weather his radio's probably got a weak signal." Henderson kept an eye on Kara as he quietly replied, "Ok, here's the big question. How many bodies at the scene? Did you find the kid or Dr. Wallace, or Myers for god's sakes." Ford replied rather glumly, "Definitely no sign of the kid, all the bodies are adults. We got two females, both paramedics. God, the medics and drivers were slaughtered man. No sign of Myers either."
Henderson took a few breaths. Ok, so this was good, at least there was a chance that Stephen and Wallace were ok, "Ok, keep trying to get a hold of the sheriff. I'm gonna stay here with Gibbs. Keep me informed." Ford replied, "Ok, over and out." Henderson put his radio back on his belt and walked back into the kitchen. He stood there looking awkwardly at Kara. How was he supposed to relay this kind of information to her without her becoming hysterical again.
"They found the ambulances didn't they." Kara had no fluctuation in her tone as she asked the question. It wasn't even a question really, more of a statement as if she already knew the answer.
Henderson's eyes saddened. He quietly, if not meekly replied, "Yes." Kara slowly stood up, still holding her mug of cocoa. Suddenly she threw it hard against the wall. It shattered into pieces of glass and drops of cocoa. Kara didn't cry, she didn't whimper or shake. She just tightened her fists and looked up at Henderson with angry eyes, "Did they find my son?"
Henderson backed up two steps and folded his arms as he shook his head, "No, no they didn't. There was no sign of your son or Dr. Wallace. That's good though, maybe they left and went to get help or-""Did they find Michael?" Kara cut Henderson of with her hardened question. Henderson rubbed the back of his head, he didn't want to say. Kara shouted at him, "Did they find him God Damn it!" Henderson held his hands up in defense, "No, they didn't find him either."
Kara closed her eyes and walked out of the Kitchen. She stormed through the living room and out the front door. Kara walked out into the front yard, into the cold rain and said, "Doyle, you'd better find my baby." Kara looked up into the cold night sky and ran her hands through her dampening reddish blonde hair. Her medium length sunny locks of hair fell limp and wet in her face as she took several deep breaths.
Henderson was back in the house. He had gone upstairs and filled Gibbs in on the situation. He was walking down the stairs with the lanky officer when Kara came back into the house. She closed the front door with a dripping hand and waited for the two men to reach the ground floor before she took a few steps up the stairs. She looked at the two officers and said, "I'm going to take a shower and change clothes." She didn't wait for either men to reply before walking the rest of the way upstairs. Gibbs was about to head up after her but Henderson held his hand out, "No, let her go. She needs the alone time. We can stay down here."
Kara walked up the stairs and stopped at Dan's room. She leaned up against it and knocked, "Dan, are you awake? I'm going to take a shower, let me know if you need anything ok?" She bit her lip when no response came. She backed up and looked at the bottom of his door, there was no light coming from the other side.
Kara turned around and headed the rest of the way down the hallway into the bathroom. She turned on the light and closed the door behind her. She locked the door for good measure and then slipped her damp blouse and pants off. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror. She stared at her wet figure. Her bra and panties were clinging to her body like unwelcome visitors. She quickly discarded them and grabbed a towel out of the linen closet.
She set the towel down on the sink counter and her gaze slowly traveled to the sink itself. Her eyes widened slightly as she placed her fingers in the sink. Several drops of blood had pooled in the sink and Kara had no doubt in her mind who they were from. Dan. He must have been tending to his cuts and bruises Kara thought as she turned on the faucet and washed away the blood.
Kara finished cleaning the sink and turned the faucet off. She walked tenderly into the shower and pulled the shower curtain shut behind her. She turned on the shower faucet and felt the warm streams of water wash over her. She lost herself in the relief and closed her eyes, letting the water cleanse her of the nights torment.
Whilst Kara was washing away her sorrows, Dan was quietly succumbing to his. The seventeen year old boy lie on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He was blanketed in darkness and the only sound in the room came from his mouth as air slipped in and out of him. His arms were sliced and bloody but he didn't care. Pain was irrelevant. His open wounds were only a means to relief the true anguish which lie deep within him. This cancer was eating him from the inside, hollowing out his organs and changing his body into a shell, something for which a truly wicked being may rest within.
Dan turned his head to the right and looked at the radio sitting on his night stand. He reached over and grabbed his headphones and placed them in his ears. Then he attached the ear phones into the radio and pulled out a CD. He placed the CD in the stereo and turned it on. The music flooded his mind as Disturbed's 'Down With The Sickness' played loudly in his ears.
Henderson and Gibbs were downstairs trying to keep busy. Gibbs was pacing back and forward nervously while Kyle sat with his radio speaking to officer Ford, "Make sure the press doesn't find out about what's going on over at Smith's Grove. The last thing sheriff Grayson needs is a bunch of press parading over his investigation."
Kyle set his radio down and looked up at Gibbs, "Leo, would you stop wearing a hole in the floor?" Gibbs stopped and looked up at the ceiling, "You know, he's been in there ever since we got here practically. Wonder what he's doing." Kyle stood up and walked past Leo patting his shoulder with a smirk, "Probably dreaming about his girlfriend."
Leo walked over to the couch and sat down. He took out a cigarette and a lighter. Kyle turned back to Leo just as the lanky man was lighting up. Kyle shook his head and said, "Put that out for god's sake. We're in a private residence." Leo rolled his eyes and put the cigarette out, "Sorry, I smoke when I'm nervous. And right now, I'm pretty fuckin nervous."
Kyle ran a hand through his hair and said, There's nothing to be nervous about." Leo snapped back, "Bullshit there isn't. You saw that school tonight. You saw what those people, those bodies. What he did to them. God, and then Dave and Cole!" Kyle narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "That's enough. We'll have time to grieve later. Right now we have to stay level headed for Kara and Dan." Leo wiped some sweat from his brow and said, "Yeah well I'll feel a whole lot better when this damned night is over."
Meanwhile upstairs
Kara was standing under the shower with her head looking down at the ground. She stared at the drain as the hot array of water jetted onto her neck and back. She felt her whole life spiraling towards the inevitable just as the water was circling the drain. Her medium length blondish red hair dangled in her face as she held her hands against the bathroom wall in front of her.
Kara kept processing what had happened tonight. What the hell had she been thinking letting Dan and Stephen go out! She mentally cursed herself for allowing them to be subjected to such horrors. She thought back nine years to her and her son's first encounter with Myers. They had only met him once but it was enough to drastically change Dan's personality. No longer did the innocent blonde cherub exist, now he had been murdered and replaced with a chronically self mutilating depressed time bomb.
It hadn't even been Michael that had tormented them the most that fateful night nearly a decade ago...but Wynn. Holding Jamie captive, sending Michael to murder Jamie. Sending him after Stephen and Kara's family. Kara had been pushed to the brink of sanity the night she found her parents, brother and best friend slaughtered like sheep. She had found her courage however sitting up in Thom's room after witnessing Beth repeatedly stabbed by Michael. In that moment when she saw her son walking into her house and realized what was awaiting him, Kara instinctively put aside her fears and let her maternal instinct give her the strength to go after him.
Kara thought about what had happened after she and her son had made it back to Thom's house. They had been ambushed by Wynn and his men. Even that sweet old lady Ms. Blankenship had been working for him all along. Kara, in a fit of blind panic, had thrown herself out of the second story window of the boarding house and fallen into unconsciousness.
What she remembered after that had been blurry and to be honest, Kara would be happy to just not remember any of it. She had been taken into some kind of religious church, strapped down and been the victim of some sort of satanic ritual. She remembered Wynn had poured that vile blood down her throat and then manipulated Dan; her own son; into slicing into her flesh.
Kara splashed some warm water onto her face and dismissed the foul memories that plagued her. She thought about her precious Stephen, where was he? Was he alright? God; if there really was one; please bring him back to me. Kara thought about this as she splashed the water into her face. And what about Dan? He had been acting so weird earlier, I mean sure, she expected her son to be in shock. To cry and swear and be angry and afraid, but he had just....stopped. It was like any emotions in him had bled out from his wounds.
Back in Dan's room...
'Can you feel that? Oh shit! Oh ah ah ah ah! Drowning deep in my sea of loathing Broken your servant I kneel, Will you give in to me? It seems what's left of my human side Is slowing changing...in me. Will you give in to me?'
Dan trembled as he lye in his bed. He clenched his hands onto the mattress as the harsh music assaulted him. He closed his eyes tightly and succumbed to the wanton lust to be raped by the melody.
'Looking at my own reflection When it suddenly changes Violently it changes Oh no, there is no turning back now You've woken up the demon...in me.'
Dan's mind's eye was forced open to allow the images to pour into his head. Violent images of death and destruction. The young man broke out in a thin sweat which moistened his quivering body. The blood on his arms slowly oozed onto the mattress as he held the bed down tighter. Dark and twisted pictures flashed in his mind and he couldn't make them go away. Images of rotting corpses. Flashes of a gleaming butcher's knife sinking deep into virgin flesh. Penetrating metal ripping into bodies, crimson pouring from the wounds like paint. The music continued as his mind was warped.
'Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
Dan's breathing increased in speed as he started slightly panting. His feet twitched and his back arched slightly. The visions in his head picked up speed as the music grew to a deadly volume. Grisly images of people; men, women and children alike; being burned at the stake. Horrible portraits of cruelty the like of which Dan had never seen in his most wild of nightmares.
The black eyes of a cold soulless person quickly zooming out to reveal an innocent child dressed in a clown costume. The images flashes and changes to the child now covered in blood and holding a knife up. The images morphs into Michael Myers standing in all of his terrible glory, the knife still poised and dripping with blood.
The image of the blood stained child clown returns and quickly disappears in another flash. The image flashes back and forth between the child Michael and the monster he became. The image is suddenly covered in a red filter as we zoom out from what is discovered to be a puddle of blood. A drop of blood drips into the puddle which causes it to ripple like water. A man in a black coat and hat whose face is blurred to obscurity holds his hands up in might.
'I can see inside you, the sickness is rising Don't try to deny what you feel Will you give in to me? It seems that all that was good has died And is decaying in me Will you give in to me?'
Dan's bloodshot eyes fluttered open and shut like he was having a seizure. The bed began to shake slightly as the boy's body contracted and spasmed. The energy of a most unholy source was coursing through the boy's veins. His blackening heart pumped faster and faster, spreading the hatred through his system like a virus. Electrical charges pulsed through his brain as the images flew past it.
A shadowy figure cloaked in blue fog slowly walking towards the screen. A scream breaks the night. Ravens flying away into the foggy night. The image of a jack-o-lantern laughing at us as the candle within it flickers. A girl with long blonde hair lying dead on her bedroom floor, her naked breasts splattered with blood. Her flower printed panties slowly staining with the freshly spilt blood.
A fast paced image of a staircase, we see through the eyes of a killer as we run down the stair case and out the front door. Another cut, the laughing jack-o-lantern smashing into pieces as it hit's the ground. Pulp flying out of the eyes holes inter cut with blood spurting out of a teenage girls chest as she screams in pain, the spikes she is impaled on churn her insides as the farming equipment hums in the background.
'It seems you're having some trouble In dealing with these changes Living with these changes Oh no, the world is a scary place Now that you've woken up the demon...in me
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
Dan grunted slowly as his chest pounded. His temples throbbed as his mind was pounded by the nightmarish sights and sounds. Images of a red room filled with people in black cloaks. Millions of red candles flicker as we pull back to see them placed in the shape of the Thorn symbol.
Another image appears of a rotting corpse littered with flies dancing about it. Another image of the man surrounded by blue fog walking towards us, he is closer now and we can just barely see a hint of the white in his face. An image of a woman flying over a high roof along with Myers. He uses her own hand to drive a long butcher's knife into her back. More raven's flying out into the air. Another image of the woman now falling backwards into the darkness below.
'And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream! No mommy, Don't do it again I'll be a good boy I'll be a good boy, I promise No mommy don't hit me Oh Ooh! Why did you have to hit me like that mommy? Don't do it! You're hurting me Oh Ooh! Why did you have to be such a bitch?'
Dan let go of the mattress with his hands and slowly tightened them both into fists. He slowly bit down on his lip. His eyes stopped fluttering and clenched tightly shut. Blood slowly started pooling in his mouth as he continued to bite down on his lower lip. Heavy breathing fills the background as we see several quick cuts of tombstones. 'Judith Myers' 'Jamie Lloyd' 'Laurie Strode' 'John Tate' The image of a young boy; Stephen; holding a rose over a gravestone. Another image of a gravestone marked 'Kara Doyle'. An image of a blood red rose falling onto the grass in front of the grave stone.
The image of his mother appeared. She was much younger and knelt down in front of the child form of Dan himself. She hugged him. A knife poised at a fat belly, the image pulls back to reveal a young Dan Strode aiming the sharp implement at his grandfather's gut. The image of the man in black saying "Kill for him"
'Why don't you Why don't you fuck off and die? Why don't you just fuck off and die? Why don't you just leave here and die? Never stick your hand in my face again bitch Fuck you! I don't need this shit You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore Would you like to see how it feels mommy? Here it comes, get ready to die!'
The blood in Dan's mouth overflowed and dribbled down his chin. His knuckles turned white as his fists tightened even more. The blood in his veins rushed through his body. The images flashing in his mind increased in pace again, becoming a rapidly moving blur of macabre visions. Knives piercing flesh. Skeletons crumbling into dust.
A room engulfed in flames. Kara strapped to an altar. A shadowy figure standing over her clutching a knife in both hands raised above his head. The image clears and is revealed it be Dan himself! Sudden images of loved ones, his mother, his uncle Tim, his grandma Debra and his grandpa John. All mutilated and dead. The images whirl at lightening speed as the finale of the song reaches it's tortuous crescendo.
' Oh ah ah ah ah! Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
The song ended and Dan's back arched. His hips bucked as if he were having an erupting orgasm. His eyes fluttered open as his body fell limp. The room stopped spinning and returned to it's original dark and quiet form as Dan lye there breathing deeply. His body may have been settled into his bed like a body nestled in it's grave, but Daniel Strode was gone. The shell left behind took slow and deep breaths as it gained its strength. His eyes opened just as a flash of lightening illuminated the once pitch black room. Those eyes, those black as coal eyes stared up at the ceiling.
Smith's Grove Sanitarium
Lindsay briskly descended into the deepest regions of the old hospital. Thom and Mark followed close behind. Mark looked at the walls suspiciously, why the hell were there torches lit everywhere? What was this, a castle? He studied the ancient stones which made up the walls in this dark stairwell. Mark had only been to Smith's Grove on several occasions, mainly for publicity during charity benefits that the hospital held. This was a side of the charitable hospital that Mark had never seen, and he didn't like it.
"I investigated the hospital's original schematics and architectural designs. The hospital is built right on top of the sewer system that travels right into Haddonfield. Were standing above nearly a hundred different sewer tunnels which lead into various parts of town." Lindsay spoke as she continued to descend into the heart of darkness. Thom frowned and said, "So that's how he's been able to travel the city so swiftly..."
Mark grew frustrated and said, "Now wait just a minute. If Michael has been using the sewer system then how come no one's ever been able to find him in there?" Lindsay stopped and looked back. She shone her flashlight into Grayson's face and said, "Parts of the sewer system are abandoned and haven't been maintained by workers for decades."
Thom looked at Lindsay and said, "It makes sense. I mean, how else could he have been able to show up anywhere in town over the years with out being spotted." Lindsay stepped down from the stairwell and flashed her light around her surroundings. They had emerged from the stairwell into a large underground cavern. Bricks reached up into the damp and musty roof. Lindsay took out a handkerchief and covered her mouth, "We're in the sewer." She pointed her flashlight outwards and saw the ledge where they were standing on. She saw where the ledge ended and dropped off into the grimy water below.
Thom walked up behind her and said, "So where to now?" Lindsay looked up at the high brick ceiling. She saw the cascades of water pouring down on them. She looked back at the two men and said, "I'm not sure. I think if we continue through those tunnels we should end up right underneath the central offices.
Mark walked past Thom and Lindsay and looked down at the water. He sniffed and made a face then said, "We'll, let's get moving." He adjusted his hat and hoisted his rifle before stepping off the ledge and into the raw sewage below.
Lindsay cringed as she looked down at Mark who was trudging through the slimy grunge. He turned and looked up at them, "Well? What's the hold up?" Thom patted Lindsay on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry Linz, it'll wash off." He jumped down off the ledge into the sewage and walked over to Mark. The two of them looked at Lindsay. Thom smiled and looked down, he was knee high in sewage but at this particular moment he had more important things to worry about than hygiene.
"Lindsay, We need to find John...and Stephen." Thom pleaded with Lindsay and she could see the desperation in his eyes. Lindsay thought about everything Thom's family had been through. She thought about Stephen, how he wasn't even Thom's son and yet he treated him like he was. Lindsay knew Thom would be devastated when he found out who Stephen's real father was.
Lindsay's eyes softened, she sighed and climbed down the ledge into the nasty sewage. She took a deep breath and gagged slightly. She quickly brought the handkerchief up to her mouth and looked at Thom, "Let's move quickly." Thom turned around and nodded to Mark. Mark took a step forward and looked around. It was dark. The kind of darkness where you're not sure whether you're walking into a wall or not. Mark looked back at Lindsay, "A little light please?" Lindsay flashed the light in his face again and he squinted, "Everybody keeps doing that to me..."
Lindsay pointed to the center tunnel and the three of them began walking through the water. Lindsay heard a squeaking and looked to her side and screamed. Thom jumped and turned around, "What is it!?" Lindsay used a shaky hand to point at what had freaked her out. Thom looked and rolled his eyes. A rat was swimming around in the water. Thom looked at Lindsay, "Oh big deal. You know, there are hundreds of those down here, we just can't see them because there underwater at this very moment." Lindsay glared at Thom, "That's not funny." Thom smirked and said, "Kinda yeah."
Lindsay grimaced as she noticed the many rodents swimming and crawling around the filth which she herself was knee high in. Mark stopped moving and quickly said, "Dr. Wallace, can you shine that light up there?" He was pointing upwards. Lindsay lifted her flashlight and the beam hit a dirty ledge which led into another tunnel.
Mark started walking over to it. He climbed out of the fecal swamp and up onto the ledge. He looked to the right of the tunnel entrance and noticed several rusty ladder bars leading upwards. He looked up and saw a manhole cover way up in the ceiling. "These bars are corroded, but we might be able to climb up there." He reached for the bar and pulled on it to test it's strength, "It feels strong enough."
Lindsay looked up at the manhole and then turned and started walking further into the abysmal labyrinth. She held her flashlight outward and started down the long dripping tunnel. She strained to see into the darkness but it was too strong. Lindsay looked at Thom and said, "I don't think we should go up to the surface yet. We still haven't traveled far enough to be under the central offices." Thom nodded and looked up at Mark who sighed and jumped back into the slimy sewage, "Alright, but we'd better stick together. It would be way to easy to get lost down here."
Back in the cult lair...
Dr. Wynn held the flickering candle in his hand and stared down at John. John looked up at the elderly man in horror as he prayed for salvation. A man in a black suite suddenly walked into the room. He briskly walked through the crowd of cultists and approached Wynn, Um sir? We have a slight problem." Wynn turned and looked at the young man, his patience wearing thin, "Well what is it?" You man leaned in close to Terrence and quietly spoke in the doctor's ear, "The sheriff and Thom Doyle have broken into the facility. They found Dr. Wallace and the three of them entered the sewer system." Wynn lifted an eyebrow and turned back to John. Wynn looked around the room and ran his free hand over his reddened face to smear the sweat away.
Wynn looked at John and said, "It seems the cavalry has arrived. Come to save the children have they?" He looked down at the candle in his hand and walked back over to the alter and set it down. The cult members began whispering amongst themselves, curious of their master's action. Terrence looked at his faithful members and said, "It seems the lambs have decided to come willingly to the slaughter. We shall not disappoint them."
Wynn looked over at the man in the suite and said, "Go tell the security team to let the patients loose in the facility. Yes...let them wander. Tell them to let our star patient loose as well. Have them escort him down into the sewer. We'll let Michael deal with our guests." Wynn walked over to the altar and picked up the butcher's knife. He handed it to the suite and said, "And give our lad his toy back, you know how he never goes anywhere without it."
The suite quickly disappeared and Wynn walked back over to John, "Well, you're a lucky devil aren't you. Don't think I've decided to spare your life. Oh no Mr. Tate, I still plan on sacrificing you, but first I'm going to let you live long enough to watch your friends die."
Dr. Wynn turned and walked away from John who was struggling in vain anger. He approached Stephen who was weeping in his chair, bound like a helpless rabbit. Terrence leaned in to look Stephen in the eyes, "Your daddy has come to save you." Stephen's eyes lit up in hopeful joy but were quickly filled with angry tears when Wynn added, "Michael's going to cut his heart out."
Wynn reached forward and pulled the gag from Stephen's mouth. The little boy was about to scream but bit his tongue. He thought about what would happen and decided that it was useless to call for help. Even a child as naïve as Stephen Doyle knew when to keep quiet. Dr. Wynn smiled and stepped out of the way so Stephen could look across the room at John. John tried to reassure the kid with his eyes but at the moment he wasn't quite able to convince himself he would get out of this predicament alive.
Dr. Wynn looked over at John and said, "By the way, how goes your wedding arrangements? I hear you've been very busy preparing for the big day. I do hope your fiancé isn't disappointed." John's eyes widened as a storm of rage course through his body. Wynn walked over to him and removed the gag. John shouted out, "If you touch Molly I swear to god I will kill you! Do you hear me? I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Wynn smiled and turned back to Stephen. He walked over to the young boy and gently patted him on the head. Stephen looked up at him confused and said, "You're the shadow man aren't you?" Wynn nodded his head and said, "Yes, yes I am and you are a true prodigy child. The fact that your conception went so smoothly is utterly...a miracle." John lifted an eyebrow and asked, "What are you talking about?" Terrence turned and looked across the room at the young man. He sighed and began walking towards the wall of corpses. Wynn walked up to the second corpse from the left. The corpse under the tombstone marked 'Jamie Lloyd'.
John felt his stomach grow increasingly upset as he watched Wynn approach his dead sister's body. Wynn approached Jamie's corpse and ran his hand across the rotting skull, "She was so innocent at one time. So young, and sweet...like honey and clovers." John struggled in anger at the lewd comments being made about his sister. Wynn looked over at Stephen and said, "Are you thinking about your mommy right now?" Stephen looked down at the floor. He was indeed thinking about his mother. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go home and sit in his mom's lap and have her pat his head and sing until he fell asleep.
Terrence looked at John and then turned his cruel gaze back to Stephen, "Aww, well child...your mommy's right here." Stephen's head bolted up, his eyes widened as he stared at Dr. Wynn in fearful shock. Stephen wanted to throw up. He worked up the courage to meekly ask, "W-what do you mean?" Terrence looked at the skull in his head, it's dead face staring back at him. He suddenly and quite viciously twisted the skull to the right so it was staring directly in Stephen's direction. Wynn narrowed his eyes and said, "Stephen, meet Jamie Lloyd...your mother."
Back in the sewer
Lindsay felt the cold filthy water gradually inching it's way up her waist as she, Thom and Mark traveled deeper and deeper into the sewer tunnels. Mark stopped suddenly and turned to his companions. We're at a crossroads." Thom peered ahead of the sheriff and said, "Shit, which way do we go." Lindsay pointed the flashlight from left to right and examined the three tunnels in front of them.
The grimy brick tunnel the three of them were standing in suddenly split into three separate tunnels. Each tunnel was equally dark and menacing. Water poured from all three sewer ceilings. Lindsay stepped past Thom who instinctively grabbed her shoulder and said, "What are you doing?" She turned to look back at him and said, "I'm going to try and get a closer look." She stepped forward and was about to wade past Mark when the burly man stuck his arm out to block her.
Lindsay scoffed and said, "What do you think you are doing?" Mark looked at her with narrowed eyes and said in an authoritative voice, "Now listen Doctor, if anyone is going to go into those tunnels to explore it will be me." Lindsay frowned and said, "I am perfectly capable of investigation by myself." Sheriff Grayson cut her off as he yanked the flashlight out of her hand, "Not down here. Now stay here while I check to see where these tunnels go. Keep her here Doyle."
Lindsay started marching forward as Mark was turning to head into the tunnels when Thom reached forward and yanked her back by the arm. Lindsay glared at him and said, "This is outrageous. I am not a child. I can do this." She became aggravated and in a mild fit of frustration she lifted her arms and thrust them down which caused a gush of dirty water to splash all over both Thom and herself. Lindsay sputtered and coughed. She lifted her hands in disgust and looked down at her soaked turtle neck and coat. Thom was similarly sputtering and spitting water out of his mouth. He used his hands to wiped the dripping mess from his face and looked at Lindsay dryly, "You were saying."
Lindsay's angry eyes softened and a quivering smile crept onto her face. She started giggling. Thom smiled and looked down at his shirt which was likewise, covered in sewer water. "Look what you made me do!" Lindsay said defensively. Her tone was hiding her laughter as she ran her hands through her long black locks. She squeezed the water out of her hair as Thom and she laughed at the utter ridiculousness of what had just happened.
"Hey guys!" Mark called to Thom and Lindsay from in the central tunnel. Thom and Mark both started walking forward. Thom squinted and called to mark, "You find anything yet?" Mark's voice echoed back, "Not yet. The tunnel goes on for a ways still. The flashlight isn't doing much good either. The lights just reflecting off the walls down here, I can't see for than three feet in front of me."
Lindsay called out, "We're coming in there." She started trudging forward and suddenly stumbled. The water deepened by a good two feet. Mark heard the woman's startled cry and added with a touch of sarcasm, "I forgot to mention that the water gets deeper the further in you go!" Thom stepped in after Lindsay and called back, "Thanks for that Mark." Thom knelt down and helped Lindsay back onto her feet. The tail ends of her gray trench coat was puffed out and floating behind her. Thom shivered and Lindsay looked at him, "It's getting colder the deeper we get." Thom replied, "I'm fine, let's just move fast."
Lindsay felt the cold water splash against her chest as they walked forward. It was becoming increasingly difficult to walk as the water was already up to their chests. Thom called ahead to Mark, "How deep does this water get Grayson?" There was a pause and no answer came. Thom realized awfully quickly that the light at the end of the tunnel was nearly gone and he and Lindsay were in almost complete darkness. His voice cracked as he called out, "Mark?"
The light suddenly pierced Thom and Lindsay's eyes and Mark responded with a muffled voice, "Yeah! Sowwy bout that. I'm howlding my wifle above my head and I've got the frashlight in my mowf." Thom and Lindsay both shared a sigh of relied before Lindsay called, "How much farther is the tunnel?" A beat. "About fifty more feet or so. I'm just about to the other side."
Mark was maneuvering his way through the murky depths with both arms stretched above his head holding his rifle out of the water's reach. He bit down on the small flashlight and aimed it outwards as he worked his way to the end of the damp tunnel. He finally emerged out of the tunnel and found himself in another cavern much like the one they were in before.
This one however had no manhole on top for any light to escape from so the only light in the room was coming from the flashlight in Mark's mouth. Mark felt the water slowly decrease in height and soon he found himself back at waist length in the sewage. Mark lowered his rifle and took a look around. There weren't any ladders leading upwards. No other exits except for one tunnel which was right in front of him. Mark felt like his was trapped in between two giant snake heads, with one open mouth behind him and one in front, both eagerly waiting to devour him.
Lindsay and Thom were slowly moving forward half walking, half swimming towards the end of the tunnel. Lindsay looked at Thom and could barely make out his outline in the almost nonexistent light. "I guess this is a bad time to mention I'm a bit claustrophobic." Thom smiled to himself and replied, "At least you're not afraid of the water."
Mark was slowly moving towards the tunnel entrance in front of him when a shrill squeak startled him. A rat was shrieking and in a moment of surprise, the flashlight dropped from Mark's mouth. "Oh shit!" He cursed himself and looked down at the murky water. He used his left hand to steady his rifle above the water while using his right arm to reach into the sewage and search for the flashlight.
Back in the tunnel Thom and Lindsay were beginning to feel the effects of the prolonged exposure t such cold water. Thom could hear Lindsay's teeth quietly chattering and said, "We'll be out soon." Lindsay replied, "I kn-now. At l-least I have a warm c-coat." Thom felt his own short jacket soaking up the ice water like a sponge. Thom looked ahead and whispered, "What the hell is taking him so long." Lindsay reached forward with her hands as the light disappeared, "I can't see a damn thing." Thom called out, "What'd you do, drop the light?"
Mark cocked his head and called back, "Yeah, sorry!" Mark was moving his arm through the water trying to reach the cold muddy ground beneath. He felt the flashlight stuck in some mud and started trying to grasp at it but it kept slipping through his slimy fingers. Another shrieking rat startled Mark. He looked up and saw another rat swimming out of the tunnel in front of him. "I'm stuck in a giant toilet..." Mark looked back down at the dark water and felt the flashlight slip through his fingers again.
Several more rats were scurrying out of the tunnel ahead of him as he finally grabbed the flashlight. He held it up to his face and frowned as he saw the light start to dim. He smacked it a couple of times. The light was fading on and off. More rats were swimming out of the tunnel now and Mark looked forward. He aimed the dimming flashlight at the deep tunnel in front of him. Nothing but darkness stared back at him. He felt his heartbeat quicken slightly as more rats suddenly began swimming frantically out of the tunnel. The screeched and whined as they desperately swam out of the tunnel as if they were trying to get away from something.
Mark tapped the flashlight a couple more times before it fizzled and went out. The tiny splashes of the escaping rats began to increase around Mark. He twirled around to the tunnel behind him and saw the rats crawling up the walls and disappearing into nooks and crannies. The rats squeaked and cried as they ran for shelter. Mark could hear splashing footsteps in front of him and called for Thom and Lindsay, "You guys almost out here?"
Thom called back, "Yeah were almost there!" Mark turned back around to the tunnel in front of him and stared at the void. Darkness surrounded him and all he could here were the splashing and hisses of vermin. Mark instinctively grabbed his rifle in both hands and held on tightly. He took a step forward and peered into the darkness. His eyes were starting to adjust and as he gazed into the nothing...a silhouetted form began to appear before his very eyes. Mark felt his blood run cold as a shape slowly formed out of the darkness...just feet in front of him.
Thom and Lindsay were both reaching there hands outwards and trailing the sides of the tunnel as they sloshed forward. Lindsay stopped suddenly and whispered to Thom, "Do you hear that?" Thom tilted his head in the darkness and the two of them listened to the frantic sounds of a hundred rats scurrying around in front of them. Lindsay shrieked in disgust as one fell on her shoulder. Thom covered his head and hunched his shoulders as an onslaught of rodents scurried past them.
Mark's eyes widened as he realized what was approaching him. He barely had time to aim his rifle when a large hand shot out of the darkness and tightly grabbed his throat. Mark fired his rifle at a crooked angle and in the sudden flash of light from the blast, he caught a quick glimpse of the pale pasty mask in front of him. "Jesus! Agh!" Mark's cry was stifled as the hand around his throat lifted him off his feet. Another hand shot out on Mark's left. The hand was grasping a huge shiny blade. The knife sparkled and glistened in the darkness as it was fiercely thrust into Mark's left shoulder. He screamed in intense pain as the knife was quickly pulled out and thrust down again; harder; into his left clavicle.
Thom and Lindsay froze in terror as they heard a scream followed by a loud gunshot. A quick bright flash was followed by splashing and Marks agonizing screams. Then, there was silence again. Thom and Lindsay stared blindly ahead to the end of the tunnel. Their breathing was both ragged and harsh. Lindsay was about to call but Thom quickly whispered, "No! Don't make a sound." Lindsay clasped her hands over her shivering mouth as she waited for something, anything to happen.
She was startled by something floating in the water bumped into her forearm. She slowly reached outwards and felt the flashlight in her hands. Lindsay held it to her chest as a wave of relief washed over her. Panic soon took over again as she realized it wasn't on. She tapped it and cursed quietly, "Damn it, it's not turning on. Please...fucker." She smacked it and a tiny flickering light shot out of the flashlight and lit up her face. She looked at Thom who was pale and blue in the faint light. He slowly looked forward and downwards. Lindsay slowly followed and aimed the flickering light outwards. She looked down and gasped. She held her breath as her free hand covered her mouth. Thom looked down and felt his heart drop into his stomach. The water had streams of red flowing in it. Mark's sheriff's hat slowly floated towards them.
Lindsay and Thom slowly looked ahead as they heard a quiet splash. Suddenly a massive shape flew towards them! Lindsay screamed and Thom gasped as Mark's body was hurled into them head first. He landed face first in the shit infested sewage and simply floated head down in the grime. Lindsay's hands were shaking as she aimed the flashlight at Mark's body. She felt her stomach fill with cement as she saw the angry wounds in his shoulder.
Thom croaked out the words in a voice constricted with fear, "Lindsay...we have to move. Now!" Lindsay looked forward and aimed the flickering light ahead of her. She screamed and felt a gush of warmth as she urinated into the water in sheer terror. Michael Myers was walking towards them. His pale mask splattered in blood. His dark overalls clinging to his body and dripping with water. His breathing was heavy and his butcher's knife was glistening and stained red with blood.
TBC
Author's Note: Hey guys. YAY! Michael finally returns after several chapters of being AWOL. I'm thinking I'll be able to wrap this story up with two or three more chapters. But fear not! Hopefully the ending will leave you craving more which is good because I'll soon begin writing Halloween 10 : ) As always, keep the feedback coming and enjoy this chapter and the ones coming ahead.
Lizzard
Chapter 19: Beyond Hell
Ridgemont Sanitarium October 30, 1988
"I'd assumed Dr. Loomis would be here. Michael Myers is still his patient." The Smith's Grove attendant lifted an eyebrow as he spoke to the good doctor. Dr. Edward Hoffman was signing several release forms. He smugly replied, "If Loomis read memos he'd be here. Fortunately his position is more ceremonial than medical and with Myers gone, my hope is that he'll either transfer, retire...or die." Hoffman tore the form off his clip board and handed it to the medical attendant. The other attendant, the woman, had finished prepping Myers and looked up at the two gentlemen in the next room, "I'll right, let's move him."
The two attendants moved the comatose bogeyman on the stretcher outside into the pouring rain. It was a cold night and Dr. Hoffman could see his breath as he followed close behind, his jacket flapping in the wind. The two attendants were assisted by the two ambulance drivers who hopped out of the trunk of the vehicle. The male attendant spoke to one of the drivers, "Watch it." The driver took the back end of Myers' stretcher and turned it towards the ambulance. The other driver looked at the woman and took Myers' fluid bag, "I got this."
Hoffman watched as the four of them loaded Michael into the ambulance, "I can safely say that Michael Myers is now in your hands." The male attendant looked at Hoffman with a smile and said, "Yeah well I guess you're happy to see him go." Hoffman nodded as the stretcher was buckled into place inside the ambulance. The woman hopped into the back of the ambulance as she said, "Locked and loaded." The drivers headed to the front of the vehicle while the male attendant said, "Now let's roll." As he shut the back doors. The attendant turned back to Dr. Hoffman as the heavy rain drenched them both, "Night Doc." Dr. Hoffman smiled and replied, "Drive carefully." The attendant nodded and headed into the vehicle.
Dr. Hoffman walked forward and looked down into the ambulance through the door's window. He saw that comatose body lying there ever so still. Hoffman knew what was going to happen, he knew exactly what was about to take place. He gave a subtle nod to the patient before turning around and heading back into the sanctuary of the hospital. Hoffman knew what he had released upon the world. He was just doing his job though, it was out of his hands. Whatever transpired in Haddonfield tomorrow night would have nothing to do with him. Hoffman turned his head back and looked over his shoulder. He watched the ambulance drive away and eventually disappear into the night. Whatever happened in that town would be out of his hands...those poor bastards.
October 31st, 2004 Haddonfield, IL
"I'll right, let's get the tows out here to drench the lake." The tall strong black deputy signaled for a group of troopers to meet him at the lake's shore. He turned around and looked at the mangled pile of metal which used to be an ambulance and sighed, "God damn..." He turned back and started walking towards dry land. His boots squished in mud and his legs splashed through the murky water as he passed several other officers in the lake. The deputy climbed onto the grass and walked over to another officer, "Any word yet from Grayson?" The officer shook his head, "Fraid not officer Ford, but we did contact the hospital to tell them we located the missing ambulances."
Jared Ford patted his fellow officer's shoulder and turned to face a crew of busy policemen, "All right listen up people. I know it's been a long night for everyone but it's not over yet. I want as many men as we can spare out in the woods looking for any survivors. Tell the divers to double up and take turn searching the lake. And somebody please contact the Sheriff or Deputy Henderson. Let's move people!" The other officers quickened their pace as they worked.
As the chief deputy in charge of the scene, Ford had been at the hospital along with everyone else when they'd gotten a call from a patrolman just outside of Mill Creek. Apparently Sheriff Grayson had given the order for several squads to head over to Smith's Grove while Henderson had requested the units at the Doyle residence to track down the ambulances carrying Stephen Doyle and Michael Myers. Well, they found the vehicles but the only people they'd found so far were the paramedic's bodies.
So now there was a group of cops driving to Smith's Grove, and the rest had gathered at the Mill Creek Bridge, or more precisely, just beneath it. The police force was spread so thin right now that the station was damn near empty. Jared sighed and ran his hands over his face. He took off his deputy hat and rubbed his bald head.
A policeman nearby opened a flare and shouted, "Over here!" Officer Ford put his hat back on and ran over to the other police man along with about three other officers. They gathered around the shore line as a diver emerged from the black water. He dragged a body with him as he waded through the mud and grass. The officers backed up to give the diver some room as he lay the body down. Ford took out his flashlight and flashed it on the body. He flinched and said, "It's another paramedic, looks like he's been through a blender."
The large black man turned off his flashlight and looked at his fellow officers, "Let's bag him." He walked away from the group and headed over to a deputy who was just getting off his radio. He was standing next to his squad car, bathed in red and blue light. Ford looked at him and said, "Please tell me that was the sheriff you were just talking to."
The deputy shook his head and replied, "No sir, that was the Hospital. They just notified me that the morgue was broken into." Jared raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?" The young deputy cleared his throat, "Yes sir, The morgue was broken into and several bodies were removed. They're um...missing."
Jared looked around at the chaos. A crane was being used to pull the first crashed ambulance out of the lake while a team of men were examining the other crashed vehicle and the bodies surrounding it. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples then asked, "Ok, so how many bodies do we have so far?" The young deputy answered, "Well five bodies were stolen from the morgue sir and I-"
Jared interrupted him, "How many bodies have we found her deputy..." The young man wiped the sweat from his brow, "Oh, I see. Well, so far we've found six bodies. The three medics from that ambulance over there." The young man pointed to the crushed ambulance at the foot of the great tree. Several body bags were being carried away. The officers were trying to turn the vehicle over to get at another body underneath. The young officer continued, "We're drenching the lake still for the others. We found two so far and then there's the body up on the freeway."
Officer Ford turned and walked away saying, "Nice work deputy, keep it up." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. He sat down on the hood of one of the squad cars and examined the area.
"There he is! Hurry up so we can get a statement." Jared looked up and immediately dropped his cigarette and stomped it, "Jesus Christ...." He grumbled and stood up and adjusted his hat and walked over to the bustling group of reporters approaching the scene.
"This is a crime scene folks You're gonna have to leave!" The tough black deputy was trying to keep his cool but was beginning to get frustrated. For the past couple of hours he and the rest of the towns police force had been running from place to place. First the high school, then the Doyle residence, now here.
One of the reporters; a pretty woman with curly blonde hair stepped forward with her microphone aimed at the deputy, "Officer Ford, is it true that Michael Myers is in Haddonfield again to wreak havoc?" She snapped her finger and the camera man zoomed in on Officer Jared Ford who looked at the camera in surprise and then looked back behind him at the police activity, "Well, I, uh. The police are not ready to make an official statement at this time." He started walking through the crowd in order to turn their attention away from the crime scene.
"Officer Ford! Can you give us any information on the investigation tonight? What can you tell us about Myers, is he still at large? Have there been casualties?" The reported was relentless in her questioning and Jared gave the same response each time, "No comment at this time." Eventually Deputy Ford lifted his hands to silence the bustling crowd and said, "Look, this is an ongoing investigation of a criminal nature. I cannot release any details at this time. As soon as I get more information I will let you know but from now I need you to clear the area. This is a crime scene!"
A tall reporter wearing glasses asked, "Officer, where is Sheriff Grayson? Can he give us a statement?" Officer Ford quickly replied, "Sheriff Grayson is unavailable at this time. No more questions please." He turned and walked away from the onslaught of questions. Jared walked past several officers and shouted, "Get those reporters outta here! And get a hold of Grayson!" Ford took a deep breath and headed back into the mass of cops, body bags and bed and blue lights.
Doyle Residence
Kara was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a mug of hot cocoa. Officer Kyle Henderson sat across from her on the other end of the table. He was holding his mug and quietly sipped it. He eyes her cautiously, after her last breakdown he wanted to be careful of what he said. They sat there quietly drinking their cocoa, carefully avoiding the red stains near the back wall. The heavy rain could be heard perfectly from the opening where the back door used to be. The smell of death was still there but was slowly being washed away by the scent of chocolate.
Kara looked up above Kyle and focused on the clock. "It's after eleven..." Kyle turned around and looked at the clock, "How bout that." He turned back to Kara and cleared his throat, "Why don't I drop you and Dan off at a motel or something. You guys shouldn't spend the night here. I mean, the place is a wreck and well..." He looked at the hole in their kitchen wall. Kara looked at it and blinked. She yawned as if the sight of the carnage wasn't even a surprise anymore. Kara turned back to her mug and stared vacantly into it.
"No, I can't leave. I need to be here when Thom and Stephen get back. And Dan, he's probably already asleep. I can't wake him now..." her voice trailed off as she ran her finger around the rim of the mug. Kyle sighed and looked at his watch.
Suddenly his radio went off and they both jumped in surprise. Kyle got out of his seat and walked into the living room as he lifted his radio from his belt, "Yeah, Henderson, over." A stressed voice replied, "Henderson, this is Ford. We've found the two ambulances, they, god damn. They're crunched up pretty bad, looks like they lost the road in the storm and drove right off the bridge."
Kyle's eyes widened and he turned pale. He quickly whirled around to find Kara still sitting at the kitchen table drinking her cocoa. Had she heard that? He hoped she hadn't, it was a shock he wasn't sure the woman could handle.
Kyle replied on the radio, "Ok, We're gonna handle this nice and quiet. No press, no publicity got it?" Ford responded, "Yeah I already had to clear a group of reporters. Jesus, they're all over this Kyle. The whole god damned town is spooked. I got calls coming in at the station, everybody and their uncle is 'positive' they've seen Myers tonight!"
Henderson quieted down and replied, "All right, let's keep a lid on it for now. Any word from Sheriff Grayson yet?" Ford answered, "Fraid not. He's at the outskirts of town and in this weather his radio's probably got a weak signal." Henderson kept an eye on Kara as he quietly replied, "Ok, here's the big question. How many bodies at the scene? Did you find the kid or Dr. Wallace, or Myers for god's sakes." Ford replied rather glumly, "Definitely no sign of the kid, all the bodies are adults. We got two females, both paramedics. God, the medics and drivers were slaughtered man. No sign of Myers either."
Henderson took a few breaths. Ok, so this was good, at least there was a chance that Stephen and Wallace were ok, "Ok, keep trying to get a hold of the sheriff. I'm gonna stay here with Gibbs. Keep me informed." Ford replied, "Ok, over and out." Henderson put his radio back on his belt and walked back into the kitchen. He stood there looking awkwardly at Kara. How was he supposed to relay this kind of information to her without her becoming hysterical again.
"They found the ambulances didn't they." Kara had no fluctuation in her tone as she asked the question. It wasn't even a question really, more of a statement as if she already knew the answer.
Henderson's eyes saddened. He quietly, if not meekly replied, "Yes." Kara slowly stood up, still holding her mug of cocoa. Suddenly she threw it hard against the wall. It shattered into pieces of glass and drops of cocoa. Kara didn't cry, she didn't whimper or shake. She just tightened her fists and looked up at Henderson with angry eyes, "Did they find my son?"
Henderson backed up two steps and folded his arms as he shook his head, "No, no they didn't. There was no sign of your son or Dr. Wallace. That's good though, maybe they left and went to get help or-""Did they find Michael?" Kara cut Henderson of with her hardened question. Henderson rubbed the back of his head, he didn't want to say. Kara shouted at him, "Did they find him God Damn it!" Henderson held his hands up in defense, "No, they didn't find him either."
Kara closed her eyes and walked out of the Kitchen. She stormed through the living room and out the front door. Kara walked out into the front yard, into the cold rain and said, "Doyle, you'd better find my baby." Kara looked up into the cold night sky and ran her hands through her dampening reddish blonde hair. Her medium length sunny locks of hair fell limp and wet in her face as she took several deep breaths.
Henderson was back in the house. He had gone upstairs and filled Gibbs in on the situation. He was walking down the stairs with the lanky officer when Kara came back into the house. She closed the front door with a dripping hand and waited for the two men to reach the ground floor before she took a few steps up the stairs. She looked at the two officers and said, "I'm going to take a shower and change clothes." She didn't wait for either men to reply before walking the rest of the way upstairs. Gibbs was about to head up after her but Henderson held his hand out, "No, let her go. She needs the alone time. We can stay down here."
Kara walked up the stairs and stopped at Dan's room. She leaned up against it and knocked, "Dan, are you awake? I'm going to take a shower, let me know if you need anything ok?" She bit her lip when no response came. She backed up and looked at the bottom of his door, there was no light coming from the other side.
Kara turned around and headed the rest of the way down the hallway into the bathroom. She turned on the light and closed the door behind her. She locked the door for good measure and then slipped her damp blouse and pants off. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror. She stared at her wet figure. Her bra and panties were clinging to her body like unwelcome visitors. She quickly discarded them and grabbed a towel out of the linen closet.
She set the towel down on the sink counter and her gaze slowly traveled to the sink itself. Her eyes widened slightly as she placed her fingers in the sink. Several drops of blood had pooled in the sink and Kara had no doubt in her mind who they were from. Dan. He must have been tending to his cuts and bruises Kara thought as she turned on the faucet and washed away the blood.
Kara finished cleaning the sink and turned the faucet off. She walked tenderly into the shower and pulled the shower curtain shut behind her. She turned on the shower faucet and felt the warm streams of water wash over her. She lost herself in the relief and closed her eyes, letting the water cleanse her of the nights torment.
Whilst Kara was washing away her sorrows, Dan was quietly succumbing to his. The seventeen year old boy lie on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He was blanketed in darkness and the only sound in the room came from his mouth as air slipped in and out of him. His arms were sliced and bloody but he didn't care. Pain was irrelevant. His open wounds were only a means to relief the true anguish which lie deep within him. This cancer was eating him from the inside, hollowing out his organs and changing his body into a shell, something for which a truly wicked being may rest within.
Dan turned his head to the right and looked at the radio sitting on his night stand. He reached over and grabbed his headphones and placed them in his ears. Then he attached the ear phones into the radio and pulled out a CD. He placed the CD in the stereo and turned it on. The music flooded his mind as Disturbed's 'Down With The Sickness' played loudly in his ears.
Henderson and Gibbs were downstairs trying to keep busy. Gibbs was pacing back and forward nervously while Kyle sat with his radio speaking to officer Ford, "Make sure the press doesn't find out about what's going on over at Smith's Grove. The last thing sheriff Grayson needs is a bunch of press parading over his investigation."
Kyle set his radio down and looked up at Gibbs, "Leo, would you stop wearing a hole in the floor?" Gibbs stopped and looked up at the ceiling, "You know, he's been in there ever since we got here practically. Wonder what he's doing." Kyle stood up and walked past Leo patting his shoulder with a smirk, "Probably dreaming about his girlfriend."
Leo walked over to the couch and sat down. He took out a cigarette and a lighter. Kyle turned back to Leo just as the lanky man was lighting up. Kyle shook his head and said, "Put that out for god's sake. We're in a private residence." Leo rolled his eyes and put the cigarette out, "Sorry, I smoke when I'm nervous. And right now, I'm pretty fuckin nervous."
Kyle ran a hand through his hair and said, There's nothing to be nervous about." Leo snapped back, "Bullshit there isn't. You saw that school tonight. You saw what those people, those bodies. What he did to them. God, and then Dave and Cole!" Kyle narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "That's enough. We'll have time to grieve later. Right now we have to stay level headed for Kara and Dan." Leo wiped some sweat from his brow and said, "Yeah well I'll feel a whole lot better when this damned night is over."
Meanwhile upstairs
Kara was standing under the shower with her head looking down at the ground. She stared at the drain as the hot array of water jetted onto her neck and back. She felt her whole life spiraling towards the inevitable just as the water was circling the drain. Her medium length blondish red hair dangled in her face as she held her hands against the bathroom wall in front of her.
Kara kept processing what had happened tonight. What the hell had she been thinking letting Dan and Stephen go out! She mentally cursed herself for allowing them to be subjected to such horrors. She thought back nine years to her and her son's first encounter with Myers. They had only met him once but it was enough to drastically change Dan's personality. No longer did the innocent blonde cherub exist, now he had been murdered and replaced with a chronically self mutilating depressed time bomb.
It hadn't even been Michael that had tormented them the most that fateful night nearly a decade ago...but Wynn. Holding Jamie captive, sending Michael to murder Jamie. Sending him after Stephen and Kara's family. Kara had been pushed to the brink of sanity the night she found her parents, brother and best friend slaughtered like sheep. She had found her courage however sitting up in Thom's room after witnessing Beth repeatedly stabbed by Michael. In that moment when she saw her son walking into her house and realized what was awaiting him, Kara instinctively put aside her fears and let her maternal instinct give her the strength to go after him.
Kara thought about what had happened after she and her son had made it back to Thom's house. They had been ambushed by Wynn and his men. Even that sweet old lady Ms. Blankenship had been working for him all along. Kara, in a fit of blind panic, had thrown herself out of the second story window of the boarding house and fallen into unconsciousness.
What she remembered after that had been blurry and to be honest, Kara would be happy to just not remember any of it. She had been taken into some kind of religious church, strapped down and been the victim of some sort of satanic ritual. She remembered Wynn had poured that vile blood down her throat and then manipulated Dan; her own son; into slicing into her flesh.
Kara splashed some warm water onto her face and dismissed the foul memories that plagued her. She thought about her precious Stephen, where was he? Was he alright? God; if there really was one; please bring him back to me. Kara thought about this as she splashed the water into her face. And what about Dan? He had been acting so weird earlier, I mean sure, she expected her son to be in shock. To cry and swear and be angry and afraid, but he had just....stopped. It was like any emotions in him had bled out from his wounds.
Back in Dan's room...
'Can you feel that? Oh shit! Oh ah ah ah ah! Drowning deep in my sea of loathing Broken your servant I kneel, Will you give in to me? It seems what's left of my human side Is slowing changing...in me. Will you give in to me?'
Dan trembled as he lye in his bed. He clenched his hands onto the mattress as the harsh music assaulted him. He closed his eyes tightly and succumbed to the wanton lust to be raped by the melody.
'Looking at my own reflection When it suddenly changes Violently it changes Oh no, there is no turning back now You've woken up the demon...in me.'
Dan's mind's eye was forced open to allow the images to pour into his head. Violent images of death and destruction. The young man broke out in a thin sweat which moistened his quivering body. The blood on his arms slowly oozed onto the mattress as he held the bed down tighter. Dark and twisted pictures flashed in his mind and he couldn't make them go away. Images of rotting corpses. Flashes of a gleaming butcher's knife sinking deep into virgin flesh. Penetrating metal ripping into bodies, crimson pouring from the wounds like paint. The music continued as his mind was warped.
'Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
Dan's breathing increased in speed as he started slightly panting. His feet twitched and his back arched slightly. The visions in his head picked up speed as the music grew to a deadly volume. Grisly images of people; men, women and children alike; being burned at the stake. Horrible portraits of cruelty the like of which Dan had never seen in his most wild of nightmares.
The black eyes of a cold soulless person quickly zooming out to reveal an innocent child dressed in a clown costume. The images flashes and changes to the child now covered in blood and holding a knife up. The images morphs into Michael Myers standing in all of his terrible glory, the knife still poised and dripping with blood.
The image of the blood stained child clown returns and quickly disappears in another flash. The image flashes back and forth between the child Michael and the monster he became. The image is suddenly covered in a red filter as we zoom out from what is discovered to be a puddle of blood. A drop of blood drips into the puddle which causes it to ripple like water. A man in a black coat and hat whose face is blurred to obscurity holds his hands up in might.
'I can see inside you, the sickness is rising Don't try to deny what you feel Will you give in to me? It seems that all that was good has died And is decaying in me Will you give in to me?'
Dan's bloodshot eyes fluttered open and shut like he was having a seizure. The bed began to shake slightly as the boy's body contracted and spasmed. The energy of a most unholy source was coursing through the boy's veins. His blackening heart pumped faster and faster, spreading the hatred through his system like a virus. Electrical charges pulsed through his brain as the images flew past it.
A shadowy figure cloaked in blue fog slowly walking towards the screen. A scream breaks the night. Ravens flying away into the foggy night. The image of a jack-o-lantern laughing at us as the candle within it flickers. A girl with long blonde hair lying dead on her bedroom floor, her naked breasts splattered with blood. Her flower printed panties slowly staining with the freshly spilt blood.
A fast paced image of a staircase, we see through the eyes of a killer as we run down the stair case and out the front door. Another cut, the laughing jack-o-lantern smashing into pieces as it hit's the ground. Pulp flying out of the eyes holes inter cut with blood spurting out of a teenage girls chest as she screams in pain, the spikes she is impaled on churn her insides as the farming equipment hums in the background.
'It seems you're having some trouble In dealing with these changes Living with these changes Oh no, the world is a scary place Now that you've woken up the demon...in me
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
Dan grunted slowly as his chest pounded. His temples throbbed as his mind was pounded by the nightmarish sights and sounds. Images of a red room filled with people in black cloaks. Millions of red candles flicker as we pull back to see them placed in the shape of the Thorn symbol.
Another image appears of a rotting corpse littered with flies dancing about it. Another image of the man surrounded by blue fog walking towards us, he is closer now and we can just barely see a hint of the white in his face. An image of a woman flying over a high roof along with Myers. He uses her own hand to drive a long butcher's knife into her back. More raven's flying out into the air. Another image of the woman now falling backwards into the darkness below.
'And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream! No mommy, Don't do it again I'll be a good boy I'll be a good boy, I promise No mommy don't hit me Oh Ooh! Why did you have to hit me like that mommy? Don't do it! You're hurting me Oh Ooh! Why did you have to be such a bitch?'
Dan let go of the mattress with his hands and slowly tightened them both into fists. He slowly bit down on his lip. His eyes stopped fluttering and clenched tightly shut. Blood slowly started pooling in his mouth as he continued to bite down on his lower lip. Heavy breathing fills the background as we see several quick cuts of tombstones. 'Judith Myers' 'Jamie Lloyd' 'Laurie Strode' 'John Tate' The image of a young boy; Stephen; holding a rose over a gravestone. Another image of a gravestone marked 'Kara Doyle'. An image of a blood red rose falling onto the grass in front of the grave stone.
The image of his mother appeared. She was much younger and knelt down in front of the child form of Dan himself. She hugged him. A knife poised at a fat belly, the image pulls back to reveal a young Dan Strode aiming the sharp implement at his grandfather's gut. The image of the man in black saying "Kill for him"
'Why don't you Why don't you fuck off and die? Why don't you just fuck off and die? Why don't you just leave here and die? Never stick your hand in my face again bitch Fuck you! I don't need this shit You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore Would you like to see how it feels mommy? Here it comes, get ready to die!'
The blood in Dan's mouth overflowed and dribbled down his chin. His knuckles turned white as his fists tightened even more. The blood in his veins rushed through his body. The images flashing in his mind increased in pace again, becoming a rapidly moving blur of macabre visions. Knives piercing flesh. Skeletons crumbling into dust.
A room engulfed in flames. Kara strapped to an altar. A shadowy figure standing over her clutching a knife in both hands raised above his head. The image clears and is revealed it be Dan himself! Sudden images of loved ones, his mother, his uncle Tim, his grandma Debra and his grandpa John. All mutilated and dead. The images whirl at lightening speed as the finale of the song reaches it's tortuous crescendo.
' Oh ah ah ah ah! Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.'
The song ended and Dan's back arched. His hips bucked as if he were having an erupting orgasm. His eyes fluttered open as his body fell limp. The room stopped spinning and returned to it's original dark and quiet form as Dan lye there breathing deeply. His body may have been settled into his bed like a body nestled in it's grave, but Daniel Strode was gone. The shell left behind took slow and deep breaths as it gained its strength. His eyes opened just as a flash of lightening illuminated the once pitch black room. Those eyes, those black as coal eyes stared up at the ceiling.
Smith's Grove Sanitarium
Lindsay briskly descended into the deepest regions of the old hospital. Thom and Mark followed close behind. Mark looked at the walls suspiciously, why the hell were there torches lit everywhere? What was this, a castle? He studied the ancient stones which made up the walls in this dark stairwell. Mark had only been to Smith's Grove on several occasions, mainly for publicity during charity benefits that the hospital held. This was a side of the charitable hospital that Mark had never seen, and he didn't like it.
"I investigated the hospital's original schematics and architectural designs. The hospital is built right on top of the sewer system that travels right into Haddonfield. Were standing above nearly a hundred different sewer tunnels which lead into various parts of town." Lindsay spoke as she continued to descend into the heart of darkness. Thom frowned and said, "So that's how he's been able to travel the city so swiftly..."
Mark grew frustrated and said, "Now wait just a minute. If Michael has been using the sewer system then how come no one's ever been able to find him in there?" Lindsay stopped and looked back. She shone her flashlight into Grayson's face and said, "Parts of the sewer system are abandoned and haven't been maintained by workers for decades."
Thom looked at Lindsay and said, "It makes sense. I mean, how else could he have been able to show up anywhere in town over the years with out being spotted." Lindsay stepped down from the stairwell and flashed her light around her surroundings. They had emerged from the stairwell into a large underground cavern. Bricks reached up into the damp and musty roof. Lindsay took out a handkerchief and covered her mouth, "We're in the sewer." She pointed her flashlight outwards and saw the ledge where they were standing on. She saw where the ledge ended and dropped off into the grimy water below.
Thom walked up behind her and said, "So where to now?" Lindsay looked up at the high brick ceiling. She saw the cascades of water pouring down on them. She looked back at the two men and said, "I'm not sure. I think if we continue through those tunnels we should end up right underneath the central offices.
Mark walked past Thom and Lindsay and looked down at the water. He sniffed and made a face then said, "We'll, let's get moving." He adjusted his hat and hoisted his rifle before stepping off the ledge and into the raw sewage below.
Lindsay cringed as she looked down at Mark who was trudging through the slimy grunge. He turned and looked up at them, "Well? What's the hold up?" Thom patted Lindsay on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry Linz, it'll wash off." He jumped down off the ledge into the sewage and walked over to Mark. The two of them looked at Lindsay. Thom smiled and looked down, he was knee high in sewage but at this particular moment he had more important things to worry about than hygiene.
"Lindsay, We need to find John...and Stephen." Thom pleaded with Lindsay and she could see the desperation in his eyes. Lindsay thought about everything Thom's family had been through. She thought about Stephen, how he wasn't even Thom's son and yet he treated him like he was. Lindsay knew Thom would be devastated when he found out who Stephen's real father was.
Lindsay's eyes softened, she sighed and climbed down the ledge into the nasty sewage. She took a deep breath and gagged slightly. She quickly brought the handkerchief up to her mouth and looked at Thom, "Let's move quickly." Thom turned around and nodded to Mark. Mark took a step forward and looked around. It was dark. The kind of darkness where you're not sure whether you're walking into a wall or not. Mark looked back at Lindsay, "A little light please?" Lindsay flashed the light in his face again and he squinted, "Everybody keeps doing that to me..."
Lindsay pointed to the center tunnel and the three of them began walking through the water. Lindsay heard a squeaking and looked to her side and screamed. Thom jumped and turned around, "What is it!?" Lindsay used a shaky hand to point at what had freaked her out. Thom looked and rolled his eyes. A rat was swimming around in the water. Thom looked at Lindsay, "Oh big deal. You know, there are hundreds of those down here, we just can't see them because there underwater at this very moment." Lindsay glared at Thom, "That's not funny." Thom smirked and said, "Kinda yeah."
Lindsay grimaced as she noticed the many rodents swimming and crawling around the filth which she herself was knee high in. Mark stopped moving and quickly said, "Dr. Wallace, can you shine that light up there?" He was pointing upwards. Lindsay lifted her flashlight and the beam hit a dirty ledge which led into another tunnel.
Mark started walking over to it. He climbed out of the fecal swamp and up onto the ledge. He looked to the right of the tunnel entrance and noticed several rusty ladder bars leading upwards. He looked up and saw a manhole cover way up in the ceiling. "These bars are corroded, but we might be able to climb up there." He reached for the bar and pulled on it to test it's strength, "It feels strong enough."
Lindsay looked up at the manhole and then turned and started walking further into the abysmal labyrinth. She held her flashlight outward and started down the long dripping tunnel. She strained to see into the darkness but it was too strong. Lindsay looked at Thom and said, "I don't think we should go up to the surface yet. We still haven't traveled far enough to be under the central offices." Thom nodded and looked up at Mark who sighed and jumped back into the slimy sewage, "Alright, but we'd better stick together. It would be way to easy to get lost down here."
Back in the cult lair...
Dr. Wynn held the flickering candle in his hand and stared down at John. John looked up at the elderly man in horror as he prayed for salvation. A man in a black suite suddenly walked into the room. He briskly walked through the crowd of cultists and approached Wynn, Um sir? We have a slight problem." Wynn turned and looked at the young man, his patience wearing thin, "Well what is it?" You man leaned in close to Terrence and quietly spoke in the doctor's ear, "The sheriff and Thom Doyle have broken into the facility. They found Dr. Wallace and the three of them entered the sewer system." Wynn lifted an eyebrow and turned back to John. Wynn looked around the room and ran his free hand over his reddened face to smear the sweat away.
Wynn looked at John and said, "It seems the cavalry has arrived. Come to save the children have they?" He looked down at the candle in his hand and walked back over to the alter and set it down. The cult members began whispering amongst themselves, curious of their master's action. Terrence looked at his faithful members and said, "It seems the lambs have decided to come willingly to the slaughter. We shall not disappoint them."
Wynn looked over at the man in the suite and said, "Go tell the security team to let the patients loose in the facility. Yes...let them wander. Tell them to let our star patient loose as well. Have them escort him down into the sewer. We'll let Michael deal with our guests." Wynn walked over to the altar and picked up the butcher's knife. He handed it to the suite and said, "And give our lad his toy back, you know how he never goes anywhere without it."
The suite quickly disappeared and Wynn walked back over to John, "Well, you're a lucky devil aren't you. Don't think I've decided to spare your life. Oh no Mr. Tate, I still plan on sacrificing you, but first I'm going to let you live long enough to watch your friends die."
Dr. Wynn turned and walked away from John who was struggling in vain anger. He approached Stephen who was weeping in his chair, bound like a helpless rabbit. Terrence leaned in to look Stephen in the eyes, "Your daddy has come to save you." Stephen's eyes lit up in hopeful joy but were quickly filled with angry tears when Wynn added, "Michael's going to cut his heart out."
Wynn reached forward and pulled the gag from Stephen's mouth. The little boy was about to scream but bit his tongue. He thought about what would happen and decided that it was useless to call for help. Even a child as naïve as Stephen Doyle knew when to keep quiet. Dr. Wynn smiled and stepped out of the way so Stephen could look across the room at John. John tried to reassure the kid with his eyes but at the moment he wasn't quite able to convince himself he would get out of this predicament alive.
Dr. Wynn looked over at John and said, "By the way, how goes your wedding arrangements? I hear you've been very busy preparing for the big day. I do hope your fiancé isn't disappointed." John's eyes widened as a storm of rage course through his body. Wynn walked over to him and removed the gag. John shouted out, "If you touch Molly I swear to god I will kill you! Do you hear me? I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Wynn smiled and turned back to Stephen. He walked over to the young boy and gently patted him on the head. Stephen looked up at him confused and said, "You're the shadow man aren't you?" Wynn nodded his head and said, "Yes, yes I am and you are a true prodigy child. The fact that your conception went so smoothly is utterly...a miracle." John lifted an eyebrow and asked, "What are you talking about?" Terrence turned and looked across the room at the young man. He sighed and began walking towards the wall of corpses. Wynn walked up to the second corpse from the left. The corpse under the tombstone marked 'Jamie Lloyd'.
John felt his stomach grow increasingly upset as he watched Wynn approach his dead sister's body. Wynn approached Jamie's corpse and ran his hand across the rotting skull, "She was so innocent at one time. So young, and sweet...like honey and clovers." John struggled in anger at the lewd comments being made about his sister. Wynn looked over at Stephen and said, "Are you thinking about your mommy right now?" Stephen looked down at the floor. He was indeed thinking about his mother. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go home and sit in his mom's lap and have her pat his head and sing until he fell asleep.
Terrence looked at John and then turned his cruel gaze back to Stephen, "Aww, well child...your mommy's right here." Stephen's head bolted up, his eyes widened as he stared at Dr. Wynn in fearful shock. Stephen wanted to throw up. He worked up the courage to meekly ask, "W-what do you mean?" Terrence looked at the skull in his head, it's dead face staring back at him. He suddenly and quite viciously twisted the skull to the right so it was staring directly in Stephen's direction. Wynn narrowed his eyes and said, "Stephen, meet Jamie Lloyd...your mother."
Back in the sewer
Lindsay felt the cold filthy water gradually inching it's way up her waist as she, Thom and Mark traveled deeper and deeper into the sewer tunnels. Mark stopped suddenly and turned to his companions. We're at a crossroads." Thom peered ahead of the sheriff and said, "Shit, which way do we go." Lindsay pointed the flashlight from left to right and examined the three tunnels in front of them.
The grimy brick tunnel the three of them were standing in suddenly split into three separate tunnels. Each tunnel was equally dark and menacing. Water poured from all three sewer ceilings. Lindsay stepped past Thom who instinctively grabbed her shoulder and said, "What are you doing?" She turned to look back at him and said, "I'm going to try and get a closer look." She stepped forward and was about to wade past Mark when the burly man stuck his arm out to block her.
Lindsay scoffed and said, "What do you think you are doing?" Mark looked at her with narrowed eyes and said in an authoritative voice, "Now listen Doctor, if anyone is going to go into those tunnels to explore it will be me." Lindsay frowned and said, "I am perfectly capable of investigation by myself." Sheriff Grayson cut her off as he yanked the flashlight out of her hand, "Not down here. Now stay here while I check to see where these tunnels go. Keep her here Doyle."
Lindsay started marching forward as Mark was turning to head into the tunnels when Thom reached forward and yanked her back by the arm. Lindsay glared at him and said, "This is outrageous. I am not a child. I can do this." She became aggravated and in a mild fit of frustration she lifted her arms and thrust them down which caused a gush of dirty water to splash all over both Thom and herself. Lindsay sputtered and coughed. She lifted her hands in disgust and looked down at her soaked turtle neck and coat. Thom was similarly sputtering and spitting water out of his mouth. He used his hands to wiped the dripping mess from his face and looked at Lindsay dryly, "You were saying."
Lindsay's angry eyes softened and a quivering smile crept onto her face. She started giggling. Thom smiled and looked down at his shirt which was likewise, covered in sewer water. "Look what you made me do!" Lindsay said defensively. Her tone was hiding her laughter as she ran her hands through her long black locks. She squeezed the water out of her hair as Thom and she laughed at the utter ridiculousness of what had just happened.
"Hey guys!" Mark called to Thom and Lindsay from in the central tunnel. Thom and Mark both started walking forward. Thom squinted and called to mark, "You find anything yet?" Mark's voice echoed back, "Not yet. The tunnel goes on for a ways still. The flashlight isn't doing much good either. The lights just reflecting off the walls down here, I can't see for than three feet in front of me."
Lindsay called out, "We're coming in there." She started trudging forward and suddenly stumbled. The water deepened by a good two feet. Mark heard the woman's startled cry and added with a touch of sarcasm, "I forgot to mention that the water gets deeper the further in you go!" Thom stepped in after Lindsay and called back, "Thanks for that Mark." Thom knelt down and helped Lindsay back onto her feet. The tail ends of her gray trench coat was puffed out and floating behind her. Thom shivered and Lindsay looked at him, "It's getting colder the deeper we get." Thom replied, "I'm fine, let's just move fast."
Lindsay felt the cold water splash against her chest as they walked forward. It was becoming increasingly difficult to walk as the water was already up to their chests. Thom called ahead to Mark, "How deep does this water get Grayson?" There was a pause and no answer came. Thom realized awfully quickly that the light at the end of the tunnel was nearly gone and he and Lindsay were in almost complete darkness. His voice cracked as he called out, "Mark?"
The light suddenly pierced Thom and Lindsay's eyes and Mark responded with a muffled voice, "Yeah! Sowwy bout that. I'm howlding my wifle above my head and I've got the frashlight in my mowf." Thom and Lindsay both shared a sigh of relied before Lindsay called, "How much farther is the tunnel?" A beat. "About fifty more feet or so. I'm just about to the other side."
Mark was maneuvering his way through the murky depths with both arms stretched above his head holding his rifle out of the water's reach. He bit down on the small flashlight and aimed it outwards as he worked his way to the end of the damp tunnel. He finally emerged out of the tunnel and found himself in another cavern much like the one they were in before.
This one however had no manhole on top for any light to escape from so the only light in the room was coming from the flashlight in Mark's mouth. Mark felt the water slowly decrease in height and soon he found himself back at waist length in the sewage. Mark lowered his rifle and took a look around. There weren't any ladders leading upwards. No other exits except for one tunnel which was right in front of him. Mark felt like his was trapped in between two giant snake heads, with one open mouth behind him and one in front, both eagerly waiting to devour him.
Lindsay and Thom were slowly moving forward half walking, half swimming towards the end of the tunnel. Lindsay looked at Thom and could barely make out his outline in the almost nonexistent light. "I guess this is a bad time to mention I'm a bit claustrophobic." Thom smiled to himself and replied, "At least you're not afraid of the water."
Mark was slowly moving towards the tunnel entrance in front of him when a shrill squeak startled him. A rat was shrieking and in a moment of surprise, the flashlight dropped from Mark's mouth. "Oh shit!" He cursed himself and looked down at the murky water. He used his left hand to steady his rifle above the water while using his right arm to reach into the sewage and search for the flashlight.
Back in the tunnel Thom and Lindsay were beginning to feel the effects of the prolonged exposure t such cold water. Thom could hear Lindsay's teeth quietly chattering and said, "We'll be out soon." Lindsay replied, "I kn-now. At l-least I have a warm c-coat." Thom felt his own short jacket soaking up the ice water like a sponge. Thom looked ahead and whispered, "What the hell is taking him so long." Lindsay reached forward with her hands as the light disappeared, "I can't see a damn thing." Thom called out, "What'd you do, drop the light?"
Mark cocked his head and called back, "Yeah, sorry!" Mark was moving his arm through the water trying to reach the cold muddy ground beneath. He felt the flashlight stuck in some mud and started trying to grasp at it but it kept slipping through his slimy fingers. Another shrieking rat startled Mark. He looked up and saw another rat swimming out of the tunnel in front of him. "I'm stuck in a giant toilet..." Mark looked back down at the dark water and felt the flashlight slip through his fingers again.
Several more rats were scurrying out of the tunnel ahead of him as he finally grabbed the flashlight. He held it up to his face and frowned as he saw the light start to dim. He smacked it a couple of times. The light was fading on and off. More rats were swimming out of the tunnel now and Mark looked forward. He aimed the dimming flashlight at the deep tunnel in front of him. Nothing but darkness stared back at him. He felt his heartbeat quicken slightly as more rats suddenly began swimming frantically out of the tunnel. The screeched and whined as they desperately swam out of the tunnel as if they were trying to get away from something.
Mark tapped the flashlight a couple more times before it fizzled and went out. The tiny splashes of the escaping rats began to increase around Mark. He twirled around to the tunnel behind him and saw the rats crawling up the walls and disappearing into nooks and crannies. The rats squeaked and cried as they ran for shelter. Mark could hear splashing footsteps in front of him and called for Thom and Lindsay, "You guys almost out here?"
Thom called back, "Yeah were almost there!" Mark turned back around to the tunnel in front of him and stared at the void. Darkness surrounded him and all he could here were the splashing and hisses of vermin. Mark instinctively grabbed his rifle in both hands and held on tightly. He took a step forward and peered into the darkness. His eyes were starting to adjust and as he gazed into the nothing...a silhouetted form began to appear before his very eyes. Mark felt his blood run cold as a shape slowly formed out of the darkness...just feet in front of him.
Thom and Lindsay were both reaching there hands outwards and trailing the sides of the tunnel as they sloshed forward. Lindsay stopped suddenly and whispered to Thom, "Do you hear that?" Thom tilted his head in the darkness and the two of them listened to the frantic sounds of a hundred rats scurrying around in front of them. Lindsay shrieked in disgust as one fell on her shoulder. Thom covered his head and hunched his shoulders as an onslaught of rodents scurried past them.
Mark's eyes widened as he realized what was approaching him. He barely had time to aim his rifle when a large hand shot out of the darkness and tightly grabbed his throat. Mark fired his rifle at a crooked angle and in the sudden flash of light from the blast, he caught a quick glimpse of the pale pasty mask in front of him. "Jesus! Agh!" Mark's cry was stifled as the hand around his throat lifted him off his feet. Another hand shot out on Mark's left. The hand was grasping a huge shiny blade. The knife sparkled and glistened in the darkness as it was fiercely thrust into Mark's left shoulder. He screamed in intense pain as the knife was quickly pulled out and thrust down again; harder; into his left clavicle.
Thom and Lindsay froze in terror as they heard a scream followed by a loud gunshot. A quick bright flash was followed by splashing and Marks agonizing screams. Then, there was silence again. Thom and Lindsay stared blindly ahead to the end of the tunnel. Their breathing was both ragged and harsh. Lindsay was about to call but Thom quickly whispered, "No! Don't make a sound." Lindsay clasped her hands over her shivering mouth as she waited for something, anything to happen.
She was startled by something floating in the water bumped into her forearm. She slowly reached outwards and felt the flashlight in her hands. Lindsay held it to her chest as a wave of relief washed over her. Panic soon took over again as she realized it wasn't on. She tapped it and cursed quietly, "Damn it, it's not turning on. Please...fucker." She smacked it and a tiny flickering light shot out of the flashlight and lit up her face. She looked at Thom who was pale and blue in the faint light. He slowly looked forward and downwards. Lindsay slowly followed and aimed the flickering light outwards. She looked down and gasped. She held her breath as her free hand covered her mouth. Thom looked down and felt his heart drop into his stomach. The water had streams of red flowing in it. Mark's sheriff's hat slowly floated towards them.
Lindsay and Thom slowly looked ahead as they heard a quiet splash. Suddenly a massive shape flew towards them! Lindsay screamed and Thom gasped as Mark's body was hurled into them head first. He landed face first in the shit infested sewage and simply floated head down in the grime. Lindsay's hands were shaking as she aimed the flashlight at Mark's body. She felt her stomach fill with cement as she saw the angry wounds in his shoulder.
Thom croaked out the words in a voice constricted with fear, "Lindsay...we have to move. Now!" Lindsay looked forward and aimed the flickering light ahead of her. She screamed and felt a gush of warmth as she urinated into the water in sheer terror. Michael Myers was walking towards them. His pale mask splattered in blood. His dark overalls clinging to his body and dripping with water. His breathing was heavy and his butcher's knife was glistening and stained red with blood.
TBC
Author's Note: Hey guys. YAY! Michael finally returns after several chapters of being AWOL. I'm thinking I'll be able to wrap this story up with two or three more chapters. But fear not! Hopefully the ending will leave you craving more which is good because I'll soon begin writing Halloween 10 : ) As always, keep the feedback coming and enjoy this chapter and the ones coming ahead.
Lizzard