Here we are people! I finally updated YAY! Enjoy!
Rated R: For strong horror content, violence and language.
Chapter 21: The Prodigy
Prodigy: A person with exceptional talents or powers, a portentous sign or event; an omen.
Smith's Grove Warren County Sanitarium
November 1st 1963
8:15 AM
It was a crisp cold morning in Haddonfield Illinois, the rain had come and gone during the early morning hours and a cold chill now blew through the town. Quiet whispers and murmurs flew around as the gossip started to spread. The wind chilled lawns and exposed naked breath as the previous nights storm left the browning grass sleek with dewdrops. The sister was dead. The child was locked up. The parents were leaving town.
The quiet little suburbs of Haddonfield were now stuck in a thick layer of gloom which had seeped into the town overnight. The morning fog was thick, like an ominous sign of that which was to follow.
Dr. Loomis pulled into the front parking lot of Smith's Grove and turned the engine off. He sat quietly in his driver's seat pondering the weather. It wasn't unusual to have fog after a rainy night but this morning it seemed to blot out anything more then ten feet in front of you.
Sam reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed his briefcase then got out of his old Rolls Royce and quietly slammed the door. He had bought this car used at a reasonable price but it seemed to fancy for his liking. Sam shivered and adjusted his turtle neck so it would warm his neck more. He buttoned up his brown suite and moved hastily towards the hospital.
Sam walked inside and felt the warmth from the heaters relax his body. He ran his black leather gloved handthroughhisthinninghair and started walking down the hallway. Sam's wet shoes squeaked as he walked down the hallway towards his office. Sam was nonchalantly checking his watch as he walked past Dr. Wynn's office. "Sam! Could you come in her for a moment please?" Dr. Loomis' boss called out from his office when he saw the middle aged balding man walk by.
Sam backed up and cautiously entered his boss's office, "Yes Terrence?" Dr. Wynn smiled pleasantly and motioned for Sam to sit down, "Sam my friend, hell of a morning eh?" Sam smiled and took his gloves off. He brushed a hand over his black moustache and set his gloves in his lap, "Your right about that Terrence."
Dr. Wynn leaned forward in his desk and his face grew serious, "Sam, I wanted to talk to you about your first patient today." Loomis looked up surprised and lifted a surprise, "Sir? Why, is there something different about this one?" Terrence leaned back and adjusted his tie as he continued, "As a matter of fact Sam, there is. This is not your run of the mill introverted isolated child. Michael Myers is for all intensive purposes clinically fine. At least he was until about ten thirty last night."
Sam narrowed his expressive eyes and asked, "What happened?" Dr. Wynn looked down at the case file on his desk and reached out to push it towards Dr. Loomis, "It's all in there Sam. I should mention that the department is already close to maximum capacity as far as children residents go. So if you're able to make a diagnosis, let me know so we can see about getting him transferred to a less eh 'secure' facility."
Sam opened the case file and began thumbing through the police report and medical examiners report. Same slowly stood up and reached for his briefcase with his free hand, "I'll let you know what I find Terrence. Good day." Same walked out of the room silently before Terrence could reply. Terrence pulled a cigar out of his coat pocket and lit is before picking up his phone and making several calls.
Sam walked down the hallway completely engrossed in the case file. He reached into his jacket pocket and found his keys. He stopped at his office without even looking and unlocked the door while he continued to read. Sam quietly read aloud as he removed his overcoat and set his briefcase on his desk, "Severe dissonance, distanced and extremely non-responsive to visual or verbal stimuli. Total lack of moral reasoning and judgment…unwilling to communicate with nurses and doctors…appears to be physically healthy…"
Dr. Loomis closed the case file and walked left his office. He started walking quickly down to the end of the hallway and scurried down the flight of stairs. He entered the lower level and walked into the children's ward.
He approached the waiting room and saw two people…not quite people anymore. The woman was sitting on the couch smoking what looked to be her fiftieth cigarette of the day and the man was burning a hole into the carpet with his pacing. Dr. Loomis walked in and cleared his throat. The two people looked up at him with pink bloodshot eyes. Dr. Loomis smiled warmly and said, "Hello, sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Dr. Samuel Loomis; I'll be looking after your son. Do you need anything? Water or some coffee?"
The man; Peter Myers; stared at Dr. Loomis as if looking right through him. His sweaty face was frozen in an expression of anguish. He didn't blink, just stared at Dr. Loomis and said, "There's nothing left." He walked forward; past Sam; and left the room. Audrey stood up and left as well leaving Sam standing there in confused silence.
Dr. Loomis exited the waiting room and went next door. He entered the interview room and approached one of the orderlies, "Is he ready to speak?" The orderly shook his head and said, "Dr. Loomis, I don't know if he'll ever be ready to speak. He hasn't said a word since he's been here." Dr. Loomis nodded and said, "I'd like to see him now." The orderly nodded and headed into the back of the room towards a single white door marked 'Authorized Personnel Only'. Sam followed the orderly and watched him unlock the door.
Sam quietly surveyed the room and spoke to the orderly, "Leave us please." The orderly nodded and walked past, but as he did he whispered to Loomis, "I'll be right outside keeping watch Doc, lemme know if you need anything." The orderly left the room and closed and locked the door leaving Dr. Loomis alone with the patient.
Dr. Loomis stood there for a moment decided how to go about this. He quietly walked towards the table and pulled up a chair. He sat down quietly and just looked at the child. Sam thought about how small this child was. How could someone so fragile have caused the kind of mayhem he saw in the crime scene photographs? That poor girl had been butchered and this was the person responsible?
The child sat perfectly still, looking downward at the ground. His hands were placed neatly folded in his lap. His dark brown curls fell in his face, blocking out any facial features.
Sam crossed his arms and sternly said, "Michael." The boy did not move. Sam thought for a moment then said again in the same monotone voice, "Michael. Look at me."
The child did not move at first, but then; slowly; he lifted his head and looked up at Dr. Loomis. His eyes caught the doctor off guard and Sam found himself trapped in the child's stare. Those eyes, they were so…dark.
Sam couldn't look away, he was being sucked in, the child's eyes were cold as ice, they showed no signs of any conscious, or soul. They were the eyes of a merciless killer and this realization sent a chill up the good doctor's spine.
Sam set the case file on the table and pulled a pen out of his coat pocket. He began jotting down a few noted based on his observations. He noticed how Michael rarely blinked. His face was neutral and blank. It barely resembled a face really, more like a mask.
Sam clicked his pen a couple of times and set down on the table. He flipped through the papers and found a few blank sheets. Dr. Loomis took one of the sheets of paper and slid it across the table to Michael. The boy looked down at the paper but didn't make a move. Dr. Loomis set the pen next to the paper and quietly said, "Michael, I'd like to know what's on your mind. If you won't tell me, then maybe you'd like to draw it. Just draw whatever you're feeling, go on it's alright."
Sam waited but the child didn't move, "Go on Michael, show me what you're thinking." The boy still made no move and Dr. Loomis felt a slight chill in the empty room and asked the child, "Are you cold?" The child said nothing but Sam could see he was shivering slightly.
Sam got up to try and offer the child a blanket. He walked over to a nearby couch and lifted the blanket from it. As he was returning he noticed Michael holding the pen. Sam smiled to himself and walked up behind the boy. He noticed a figure drawn on the piece of paper.
Dr. Loomis leaned in next to Michael and peered down at the drawing. It was an odd symbol, a line with a triangle attached to it. Dr. Loomis reached forward to grab the paper when the child suddenly and viciously swiped the pen across the side of Sam's face.
Sam yelled out in pain and stumbled back. He looked up at the small boy in shock and surprise and fell onto his rear. He brought his hand up to his cheek and felt the sharp stinging. His fingers had blood on them. Michael clutched the blood-tipped pen in his fist and sat still staring across the room at the blank white brick wall.
The orderly came rushing and saw Loomis sitting on the ground nursing his cut cheek, "Jesus what the hell happened?" Dr. Loomis didn't respond, he just looked at the silent boy. The orderly marched over to Michael and yanked the pen out of his hand, "I'm taking him to his room now Doctor, you should go see one of the nursed about that."
Dr. Loomis slowly stood up and watched as the orderly yanked Michael out of the room by the small hand which had slashed his face. He looked back down at his bloody hand and felt the stinging on his face. 'That was no boy…' Dr. Loomis thought to himself, 'that was a monster.'
Smith's Grove Warren County Sanitarium
October 31st 2004
Thom and Lindsay panted as they ran through the empty confines of Smith's Grove Sanitarium. Lindsay's damp shoes squeaked as she moved and her long trench coat left a dripping trail of water behind her. Thom was nervously looking around as they rounded a corner and entered a pale dark hallway with white walls and marble floors. Lindsay turned to Thom and stopped, "We're in the C-Wing." Lindsay looked down at her feet and saw the puddle she was standing in. She quickly removed her clinging trench coat and tossed it to the ground.
Thom froze suddenly. Lindsay looked at him and said, "What is it?" Thom lifted a finger and quietly shushed her, "Listen" he whispered. Lindsay froze and quietly listened to the cold empty hallways. Slowly, she began to hear the noise. A vague echo like mass of…voices. Lindsay strained to listen and quietly asked, "What is that?" It was at this point that Thom caught sight of one of the patient doors in the hallway. His eyes widened as he noticed it was slightly ajar. Thom looked around the hallway and noticed all the doors were slightly ajar, barely noticeable unless you were looking.
Thom started walking forward, towards the hallway corner, towards the sounds. Lindsay rushed up after him and asked, "What!" Thom moved quickly and Lindsay had to limp to keep up. Thom quietly asked, "Linz…where are all the patients?" Lindsay stopped in her tracks as Thom continued on. Thom disappeared around the corner as Lindsay looked around at all the patient cell doors. Her lip quivered in confused anguish. Her head snapped up to the corner Thom had just rounded when she heard him call, "Lindsay!" Lindsay began limping towards the corridor. She saw the shadow of a man coming around the corner and picked up pace, "Thom! I'm coming, I'm almost-"Lindsay was just about to round the corner when she bumped into…not Thom.
Her voice was cut off in shock as a scraggly looking man bumped into her. The man was dirty and had missing teeth; his white patient garment had urination stains in it. The man looked at Lindsay and started rapidly patting her shoulder while babbling, "Little girl lost in the woods, big bad wolf gonna eat ya! Hehe!" Lindsay pulled away from him nervously and slid past him while shouting, "Thom?"
She turned around the corner and a shocked expression washed over her face. Dozens of mental patients; the entire c-wing; were wandering around out of their cells. Lindsay gasped and frantically began searching for Thom, "Thom! Where are you!?" She saw him at the other end of the hallway being molested by an old woman.
Lindsay started pushing her way through the moaning, babbling crowd of schizophrenics and tried to reach Thom. Thom was fending off the hungry hands of an old woman who was making unwanted advances towards him. She giggled like a little girl and whispered, "C'mon Daddy, no one has to know." Thom pushed her away disgustedly and shouted to Lindsay, "Linz! We have to find Stephen!"
Lindsay cried out in discomfort and disgust as dozens of hands touched her, groped her, and grabbed her. The mental patients began to sing loudly together like a drunken tavern crowd, "Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream, make him the cutest that I've ever seen…"
Lindsay screamed out, "Stop it! All of you!" She managed to claw her way through the crown of patients and reached Thom. Thom was still fending off the old woman. Lindsay grabbed Thom by the arm and yanked the rifle out of his hand. She looked at all the patients and shouted, "Go back to your cells now!" Then she lifted the rifle and aimed it at a surveillance camera. She pulled the trigger and a loud shot fired causing the camera to explode in a stream of sparks. The patients all started screaming, some cried, others laughed. The old lady started clawing at her face and shouting, "Deliver us from evil! Deliver us from evil!" Lindsay pulled Thom away from the old lady and the two of them hurriedly walked to the end of the hallway and found a staircase.
Lindsay looked at the sign on the door as Thom approached it and shouted, "Wait! Don't!" Thom didn't listen and plowed through the door, causing the fire alarm to go off. Thom looked back as Lindsay sighed, "Too late now." Thom started heading down the stairs and called back to Lindsay, "Well it's not like they don't already know we're here."
As Thom and Lindsay climbed down the stairs, Lindsay asked, "How the hell did they get out of their cells." Thom snorted in disgust, "How do you think Linz? Didn't you do your research? How did Michael escape the first time back in 78'? All the patients got loose and took over the hospital. It had to have been Wynn."
Lindsay limped down the stairs and replied, "I still don't know why the hell he would spend his life devoted to such madness." Thom looked back at Lindsay and said, "Because he belongs in one of those cells just like those patients."
Meanwhile; in the front parking lot of Smith's Grove Sanitarium; the rain continued to fall from the sky although it had lessened in force a great deal. Water rushed into the ditches and manholes. Suddenly, one manhole, just nearby the front entrance, began shaking slightly. The cover popped up and five shaking fingers clawed out from underneath.
A shivering, bleeding, possibly dying Sheriff Grayson pulled himself up and out of the manhole all the while clutching his angry shoulder wounds with his left hand. He collapsed onto the moist blacktop and caught his breath.
It had been purely by the will of god that Mark had managed to grab that ladder when he did. The rushing water had flushed him through the sewer system and he knew he'd only have enough strength to reach his arm up once. He did so and just held it in the air hoping and praying that he found something to grab. He then used every ounce of energy he had to force himself up that ladder. His left arm was damn near limp and as he tried to stand up again, it fell uselessly to his side.
Mark strained his eyes to make out the blurry cars parked around him. He had spent so long down in pitch black that the lights from the hospital were hurting his eyes. He locked his sights onto the police car and slowly started walking forward, stumbling to the ground several times. Eventually he made it to the police car and slowly opened the driver door. Mark fell into the car on the driver's seat and used his right hand to try and reach for the radio. He swung the radio piece up onto the seat and used his trembling fingers to turn the machine on.
Between coughs and in a strained hoarse voice, Mark called out for help, "All units…all units. I need ba-backup right away at Smith's Grove over." A voice came over the radio, "This is Ford over, what the hell's going on Sheriff?" Mark strained to speak and coughed up his reply, "It's all gone to hell here! We need all the men we can spare, bring em' all. He's here, he's here…" Ford replied, "Who's there sir!?"
Mark's eyes bulged and his face turned red as he screamed out the answer, "Michael Myers! God damn it now get your asses down here now!" Mark collapsed and passed out as Ford continued to call out for back up.
Doyle Residence
11:55 pm
Kara walked out of the bathroom wearing a dark green robe. She pulled her damp medium length hair around back and tied it into a ponytail. Kara sighed and looked at the wall where Diane had been found. She closed her eyes and looked away as she began walking down the stairs.
She found Kyle pacing back and forth in the living room while talking on his walkie-talkie, "I can't just leave! They need us to be here in case you know who decides to come back. He's there? I'll send Gibbs but I'm staying to take care of Kara. Over." Kyle lowered his radio and looked up as Kara walked into the living room. Kara crossed her arms and said, "What's going on now." Kyle rubbed the back of his neck, he didn't want to just blurt it out, he wasn't about to freak her out again, "Uh, well, Sheriff Grayson just sent an all units bulletin out. He needs all able men to get down to Smith's Grove Sanitarium." Kara's eyes widened, "What? Why! Did something happen? Is Thom ok!?" Kyle quickly replied, "No, no, we don't know what's going on yet. Their sending police choppers there and we're going to send anybody currently out on patrol. That means their going to have to leave the ambulance crash site I'm afraid…"
Kara's hands were shaking, she was near her breaking point, "You tell your sheriff that they better find my son." Kyle was about to say something when Officer Gibbs interrupted them by walking into the room, "Hey Henderson, did you get the message? Ford said Sheriff wants our asses at the funny farm pronto!" Kyle looked at Leo and then back at Kara, "You go on without me, I'm not leaving Kara and Dan here alone. I'll stay and keep guard, you go on." Kyle smiled and Kara smiled back gratefully.
Leo looked up at Kara and then back at Kyle, "Alright, I'm outta here. I'll keep you posted." Leo stepped over the broken glass and walked out the front door. Kyle watched as Leo took off in the police car. Kyle could see his breath; he closed the door and looked at Kara, "It's getting pretty cold out there."
Kara turned around and started walking back up the stairs, "I have to check on Dan." She disappeared up the stairs and left Kyle to stand alone in the living room. Kyle walked over to the couch and picked up his rifle. He made sure it was loaded and then walked out the front door and stood out on the porch guarding the house.
Kara made her way down the upstairs hallway and stopped at Dan's room, "Honey, Thom and Stephen will be home soon so don't worry ok? Just say a prayer for them." Kara reached up and placed a hand delicately on the white door. She leaned up against it and listened for any sounds. She heard nothing, "He must be asleep."
Kara walked down to the end of the hall and went into her and Thom's room. She closed the door behind her. Kara looked at her empty bed and hugged herself tightly, she wished Thom could be there to hold her in his strong arms. Kara looked up at the ceiling, and quietly spoke, "Please god, bring them home safely."
Unknown to Kara, Dan was not asleep. The boy slowly sat up on his bed and looked at his alarm clock. It was five minutes until midnight. Dan stared out into the darkness. He stood up and walked over to his window. The young man peered out his window with hollow eyes and saw Kyle on the front porch standing guard. Dan started backing up and disappeared into the darkness…
Meanwhile
"Please stop it! No more!" Stephen cried out with a hoarse voice. Dr. Wynn looked at the broken child and smiled, "Don't worry; it will all be over soon. Once its midnight, Halloween will be over and the prophecy will be fulfilled." Stephen meekly answered, "P-prophecy?" Wynn's eyes were glazed with madness, "Yes, your father will complete his destiny by killing you and John, then the curse will be passed onto your surrogate brother." Stephen closed his eyes, "No! That's not true!" His daddy would never hurt him, he loved him and mommy and Danny.
John didn't speak, all he could think about was that blurred image of Molly's anguished face from the projector screen. God, was she really dead? He hadn't heard anything from Molly since he'd arrived in Haddonfield except for that phone message she'd left him the night she said she'd arrived. All John could do now was wait and pray somebody stopped this madness.
Dr. Wynn lifted up his coat sleeve and peered at his watch. A sickeningly menacing smile spread across his face, "It's almost midnight! The curse will soon be finished passing!
"Not so fast you mother fucker!" Dr. Wynn turned around in anger and shouted, "Who dares!?" The cult members all began whispering in shock as Dr. Wynn saw who had spoken. Thom and Lindsay had found their way into the cult lair and Thom was aiming the rifle at Wynn.
John looked up in relief and Stephen began crying with joy, "Daddy!" Thom looked around the room in disgust. He saw Stephen and John both tied up to the chairs. A wave of rage shot through Thom as he saw what they had done to his son. Dr. Wynn smiled and said, "You're too late Mr. Doyle. It's already begun, you can't stop fate." Thom poised the rifle and spat, "Fuck fate, I can stop you."
Lindsay quickly came out from behind Thom and whispered in his ear, "Thom there are people all over the place, we're outnumbered." Thom looked around the room and shouted, "If any of you freaks even breaths, I'm blowing your boss's head off!" The cult members all grew silent and still, glaring at the insolent man.
Thom looked at Dr. Wynn and narrowed his eyes, "What you've done to my family, to this town…I should have blown your head off in court." Dr. Wynn laughed and said, "Yes but then you'd be behind bars and not here about to die."
Lindsay noticed the altar full of corpses and gasped, "Thom look." Thom turned and saw the bodies. His eyes widened in shock and filled with angry tears as he read the tombstones, "So, you've gone to all these lengths, and for what? Some shitty family reunion. You're sick Wynn."
Stephen was crying and shouted out, "Daddy I want to go home!" John looked at Thom and Lindsay and said, "Wynn's psycho! He's gonna sacrifice us and thinks some curse is going to make Dan go crazy."
Thom froze and remembered what happened nine years ago. He remembered Kara talking about how Dan drew a knife on his grandpa. It hit Thom as he remembered all the police reports about Jamie stabbing her step mother and Laurie strode going insane and decapitating that paramedic. It all made sense now. They were going to do the same thing to Dan which meant…Thom gasped, "Kara!"
Thom quickly turned to Lindsay and gave her the rifle. Lindsay almost dropped it and shouted in bewilderment, "What are you doing!" Thom looked at Wynn and said, "If he moves, shoot him." Thom started walking over towards Stephen. His angry glare towards Wynn shifted as he turned towards his innocent son. His eyes warmed and filled with fear for his son's safety. Thom reached his arms out to Stephen as he walked towards him and said, "Its ok son, I'm coming to get you. I'll untie you and then we can go home."
Stephen started squirming in his seat impatient for his dad to release him, "Daddy! Don't let the boogeyman get me again!" Thom closed his eyes and tried not to burst into tears at that moment as he thought about how terrified his son must have been tonight, in the school, in their own home, in the ambulance and now here. Wynn would pay for what he had done to Thom's family but right now Thom needed to focus on getting his son safely home to Kara. After that he would deal with Wynn and Dan.
Thom reached his son and placed a moist hand on the little boy's face, "Let's go home kiddo." He started fumbling with the ropes trying to untie his son. John watched and waited impatiently, keeping his eyes on Dr. Wynn. He was suspicious of how calm Wynn was right now.
As Thom struggled to free his son, Lindsay kept the rifle aimed at her boss. Dr. Wynn grew smug and said, "Well Dr. Wallace, You've finally joined the brigade. I'm surprised it took you so long to figure everything out. Did you use you're little keycards to get out of your cell? I'd have thought you'd just give up and let yourself rot in their just like Jamie did." Lindsay's eye twitched and she angrily shouted, "Shut up!"
Terrence laughed and took a step forward, "Or what, you'll shoot me? Please Dr. Wallace, you haven't got the spine. You've always been spineless, ever since you were a little girl and you let your baby-sitter die."
Lindsay felt tears in her eyes, "I'm warning you…" Terrence started slowly walking forward and Lindsay found herself backing up, still hiding behind the rifle. "You are weak Lindsay, that's why you got into this position." Terrence matter-of-factly said. Lindsay's eyes widened, "What do you mean?" Terrence clucked with laughter and said, "Oh please! Do you really think someone like you could have gotten a position like this without someone like me pulling a hell of a lot of strings?"
Lindsay shuddered with disgust, "You played me! You used me!" Dr. Wynn's smile faded and he angrily shot back, "You let yourself succumb to the lust for power and prestige! You allowed yourself to be blinded to what was really going on. Your pride and vanity led you to where you are Wallace. I counted on your weak will for power so I could use it to my advantage. You brought all the sheep to the slaughter; Sara, Thom, Daniel…Laurie."
Lindsay screamed out in anger, "Stop it!" She looked at John suddenly; his deadened eyes stared at her with contempt. Lindsay looked up at Laurie's corpse. She stared at Sara's body and let the tears fall freely, "John I, your mother, I never meant to…I just wanted to help stop him!" John looked down at his lap and Lindsay felt the pain in her heart grow.
Wynn was right, this was her fault. Their blood was on her hands. She found Laurie and gave the information to Wynn. She led Sara to her death and now because of her, they were all here. Lindsay started backing up as the guilt overwhelmed her. She didn't notice the blackness behind her, or that it was a doorway from which something was emerging…
Dr. Wynn smiled and calmly said, "Oh Dr. Wallace?" Lindsay looked at him in horror. Stephen saw the shape forming right behind Lindsay and gasped, he couldn't speak. Thom slowly started to turn around as Lindsay continued to back up. Dr. Wynn stared at Lindsay with steely eyes and said flatly, "You're fired."
Lindsay's eyes went from confusion to blind pain in an instant as a sharp pain seared into her back. Stephen found his voice and felt it leap up and out of his throat. The small boy started shaking and let out a guttural cry. Thom and John both shouted in unison, "Lindsay!"
Lindsay screamed as Michael appeared behind her and slammed his knife into her back. Her throaty scream echoed in the room as she was lifted off her feet. She dropped the rifle and felt neurons shooting through her legs and spine. She lost the feeling in her lower half as her legs twitched.
Thom quickly finished untying Stephen and began running towards Lindsay's aid. Michael lifted Lindsay high and Stephen felt the terrifying sense of déjà vu from earlier that night when he had seen Dan's teacher in the same position.
Michael threw Lindsay across the room and her body went flying off the knife and crashed into the stone wall next to them. Dr. Wynn raised his hands into the air and began shouting like a preacher, "Praise the inflicted one! He has come to deliver the final sacrifices!" All the cult members got on their knees and began murmuring and chanting as Wynn shouted.
Thom stopped in his tracks as he stared at Michael. He looked behind the shape and saw Lindsay lying in a pool of blood, staining her shirt and long black hair, her eyes were flickering open and closed. She was trapped in a place between life and death and Thom knew it. He saw the rifle lying by her side and thought about his options. He could leave Stephen and grab the rifle to blast Michael or Wynn, or he could grab Stephen and try and escape.
"Hey Thom! We gotta get the fuck out of here man!" Thom quickly whirled around and shouted, "Oh shit, John!" John was still tied up to the chair and was struggling like mad to escape. Thom realized his fatal error in turning away from Michael. He slowly turned around only to find the shape right behind him.
Michael slammed his head into Thom's and the man fell back hard. Thom rolled over onto his stomach to try and crawl away but Michael lifted up his grimy boot and slammed it down on Thom's shoulder. Thom cried out in pain as this was the side where he had nearly torn all the muscles in his arm from reaching for that sewer valve handle.
Michael began crushing his boot into Thom's shoulder and Thom could feel the bone starting to crack and break. Stephen stood up suddenly and shouted at the top of his lungs, "STOP IT NOW!"
Dr. Wynn let out a terrifying laugh and his words echoed through the room, "It is time! The hour is midnight and the prophecy will be fulfilled!" At that moment Thom felt the pressure around his shoulder decrease as Michael lifted his foot off the man. Thom rolled over and looked up at Michael in shock, the shape started to tremble. He was trembling!
John peered over his shoulder in confusion as the Shape brought his shaking hands up to his head and thrust his head back as if her were letting out some massive scream. His silent scream filled the room as the onlookers stared.
Thom seized the opportunity while Michael was thrashing about in what seemed to be pain. He quickly crawled across the floor over to Lindsay and grabbed the rifle. He looked into her bluing face and saw her glazy eyes, "I'll be back for you soon." Thom grasped Lindsay's weak hand and gave it a squeeze, "I promise." All Lindsay could do was quietly whisper the words, "Michael…son…" before passing out.
Thom turned his sights back to Michael and slowly stood up. Dr. Wynn didn't notice because he was too engrossed in watching what was happening to his vessel, "It's happening, Thorn is leaving his body and entering another's! The curse is being transferred. Now all we need to do is spill the blood of the final sacrifices and the transference will be finished!" Dr. Wynn looked almost giddy.
Michael started thrashing his head around as if it were about to explode. Suddenly, he fell to his knees and his hands fell to his sides. His head slowly lowered and he just sat there kneeling, seemingly unconscious, like an empty shell.
Thom heard Wynn and hastily moved past Michael and over to his son, "We have to move! There going to come for you two now." Stephen was standing at John's side and began pleading with his father, "Hurry! He's still tied up!"
Thom looked at John and said, "Close your eyes." John gave a perplexed, Thom nodded and John understood. He closed his eyes as Thom lifted the butt-end of the rifle and began pounding it into the chair supporting John. The stiff wood cracked and broke and John fell backwards onto the floor. Thom reached downward to help John untie the knots and then helped John up to his feet.
Thom looked at John and then reached down and scooped Stephen into his arms. His heart filled with relief as he held his boy in his arms after what seemed like an eternity. Thom turned and looked across the cult lair over to Lindsay lying on her side unconscious. Thom and Stephen rushed over to Lindsay's aid and didn't even notice that Dr. Wynn had walked over to Michael.
The madman stood in front of the shape and looked down at him like a king about to knight a great man, "You have served your purpose for over forty years. Now it is time to slaughter your last of kin and pass the knife onto a fresh new vessel." Michael slowly rose to his feet. He turned around and watched as Thom and Stephen tried to revive Lindsay. He turned his attention to John who was standing in front of the alter. Wynn hissed, "Now Michael, finish it! Kill them both and fulfill your destiny!" Michael grasped his knife tightly and began walking towards John.
John, unaware of the approaching horror, was standing in front of his mother's corpse. He placed a shaky hand on the cracked tombstone and a single tear fell from his already puffy pink eyes. So much had been taken from him, his childhood, his father, his mother, Jamie, Molly…"
John opened his eyes suddenly when he heard Thom scream out, "John! He's right behind you!!" John whirled around and found himself face to face with that horrible blood spattered rubber mask. Michael shot his hand out and tightly grasped John around the throat. He began squeezing and John felt his windpipe slowly closing up. His air supply was being cut off. Michael stared at John's terrified angry eyes with no expression of any kind, just two hollow sockets of death.
John fell to his knees, his eyes were bulging and his face was turning purple as he choked. John brought his weakening hands up around Michael's arm but as the life slowly drained out of him, so his grasp did loosen. Wynn stood behind Michael and hissed, "Do it now Michael! End the curse and be released!" Michael started trembling as if he was fighting to keep his grip, but his grip loosened and John dropped limply to the ground-still alive.
Wynn turned his cold gaze to Thom and Stephen who stared at them with horrified expressions. Stephen looked down at Lindsay and started to cry, "Help us…please help us." Thom was holding her hand tightly but had to let go as Michael began walking towards them. Thom stood up and quietly whispered to Stephen, "Stay with her." Stephen tried to cry out but before he could Thom began running towards Michael while aiming the rifle.
Michael quickly smacked Thom aside with one swift slap. Thom fell to the hard ground and crashed into the Thorn shaped layout of red candles. The candles tipple over and slowly caused the tiny flames to grow larger. Michael was now hovering over Stephen who was clutching Lindsay's unconscious body in his arms.
Wynn walked past Thom who was clutching his rips which felt like they'd been cracked. Wynn looked down at Thom and smiled, "You've come so far, and for what? To watch the child die at the hands of his real father." Wynn looked back up to Michael and said, "Now, do it. Kill your son Michael. Kill for Thorn. Kill and be free."
Thom struggled in between short gasps for air to shout out, "His…son? Stephen…no!" Thom realized the dark truth that he'd spent nine years praying never came to reality. Stephen was Michael's son and Michael was about to kill him. Dan...Kara…Stephen…they were all damned.
Thom felt the tears fall freely as he uselessly tried to crawl towards Stephen's rescue. He was so close; Stephen stared up in horror as Michael lifted his butcher's knife and prepared to make his final kill. Thom; a broken man; tried as a father to whisper something to his son, "Stephen…I love you…"
Suddenly; just as Michael was about to strike; something happened. He caught sight of his son's eyes. Stephen's terrified eyes stared frozen on those black holes in Michael's mask. That same expression of fear Stephen had shown at the high school, in his house, in the ambulance.
Michael felt a force deep inside him; it caused him to abruptly stop in his tracks. Wynn was caught off guard and watched in confusion. Michael stood frozen, his eyes actually seeing Stephen for the first time, not through the blinded sockets of a cursed monster, but through the eyes of a father. Michael slowly lowered his knife and tilted his head. Stephen stood up slowly in a mixture of terror and confusion. He was in awe and strangely drawn to the monster man.
Michael slowly knelt down on one knee so the two were at the same eye level. Stephen felt his body moving, he felt himself walking towards Michael but he couldn't stop himself, all he could do was stare into those black holes. Michael dropped the knife and it fell to the brick ground with an echoing clatter.
Thom was trying to stand up and reach his son, "Stephen, what are you doing…" Michael had really smacked Thom, he had hit his head earlier in the sewer and this fall to his ribs was taking its toll on him. All he could do was try and stand up and get to his son.
The cult members began to whisper to themselves in quiet confusion as Michael slowly lifted his hands almost as if to beckon the child towards him. Wynn angrily shouted, "Michael! What are you doing? Kill him!"
John was gasping for breath and slowly coming to. He looked up and saw his mother's skull staring down at him, his stomach churned and he sat up and tried to steady himself. He heard the cult members' whispers and looked to where the commotion was coming from. He saw Michael kneeling down, he saw Stephen slowly walking towards the boogeyman, ands he saw Thom just barely standing up.
John shouted, "Thom! Your son! Save him, don't you fail him, don't you dare let him down! Get to him now!" John was about to stand up when the flickering orange light caught his attention. He looked to the right of Thom and saw the knocked down pile of candles. He saw their flames dancing across the floor and noticed the empty gasoline can they were getting dangerously close to.
John sucked in his breath as the flames hit the can and lit it up from the inside. A trail of spilled gasoline began to come to life with fire and it began moving fairly quickly. John realized suddenly that he was doused in the gasoline and that the trail was leading the flames right to him! He barely had time to scream and roll over as the flames suddenly consumed him.
John screamed in agony as the fire coursed over his body, he quickly rolled over and managed to through himself into a large puddle of water that had formed from the tunnels flooding. Thom looked back at Thom and tried to shout out but his voice was barely heard.
Wynn looked back at John and smiled to himself, "Well, one down, one to go." Michael reached for Stephen and neither he nor his son heard John as he screamed in pain. All they could hear was the sounds of their own breathing. Stephen took one more step forward, over Lindsay's body and walked into Michael's embrace. Michael grasped Stephen's shoulders and they stood there in silence.
Thom was torn as to what to do, he could barely stand up and he needed to save Stephen but John was suffering to. Thom saw the smoke billow off of John as he rolled in the puddle to put the flames out. Thom made his decision, he turned around and started crawling towards John. He could here John crying out as he lie there in the puddle, partially burned but still alive.
The cultists had slowly started backing away from the small fire as it began to grow. Wynn hadn't noticed, he yelled at Michael again, "Damn it Michael! Kill him now!" Wynn turned in a huff and began walking towards the wall where the cultists were standing. An emergency fire axe was encased in a glass case mounted on the wall and Wynn walked over to it and kicked it. The glass shattered and he reached inside to grab the axe. He turned his angry glare back to Michael and Stephen. He started marching towards the two…
Stephen was completely taken in by those dark eyes, his mind began flashing images from his childhood, birthdays, holidays with Dan and mom and dad. Stephen quietly said, "Dad." Michael suddenly started convulsing and shaking and Stephen was snapped out of his daze, He realized where he was and who was clutching him and screamed very loudly.
Thom was tending to John when he heard Stephen's shriek. He looked down at John whose hair was smoking and whose face was black with smoke, his arms and legs were slightly burned but he was still alive. Thom turned and saw Michael shaking and Stephen struggling to get away from him. The man mustered all his strength and stood up again, he began limping as fast as he could towards his son just as Dr. Wynn was also approaching the two. Thom raced to try and beat Wynn but he just couldn't move fast enough.
Michael's shaking increased and a terrible howl suddenly filled the room, for the first time in over four decades, sound escaped Michael's ancient throat as he screamed in a mixture of rage and pain. He threw himself back and released Stephen who fell backwards next to Lindsay.
Meanwhile, just as Michael was howling in pain, Dan was in the bathroom with the door closed and locked. He clutched his head in a similar pain and suddenly smashed his head forward into the bathroom mirror. Large pieces of glass exploded into the bathroom counter and floor as a large trail of blood fell from Dan's forehead. He slowly stared into the shattered mirror as his hand reached for the counter drawer. He opened the drawer and pulled out a large straight razor…
Kara was in her room praying when she heard the noise. She jumped up suddenly and raced out of her bedroom. She flew down the hall and found the bathroom door slightly ajar, the lights were off...
Outside the Doyle house, officer Kyle Henderson was keeping watch, unfortunately he wasn't looking behind him as a dark figure slowly opened the front door. Kyle barely heard the creaking of the door opening; he slowly started to turn around to look behind him when hard force smashed over his head. Kyle felt the living daylights knocked out of him as a large flower vase was smashed over his head. He fell to the ground and an unseen force began dragging him off the porch and into the bushes near the house…
Kara had opened the bathroom door and stepped inside when she yelped in surprise. He quickly flipped the bathroom light on and jumped back; she had stepped in glass and cut her feet. She looked around in surprise and fear, the bathroom mirror was shattered, there was blood on the wall and the counter drawer had been pulled out…
Back at Smith's Grove, Michael's howls died down and he slumped back down. Stephen froze and stared at the man who wasn't moving. Stephen didn't notice his father trying desperately to get to him. He didn't notice John slowly sitting up and looking at his charred hands, and he didn't notice Wynn stomping towards him with the fire axe.
Wynn finally reached Michael and stood behind him. He raised the axe over Stephen just as the boy looked up and gasped in fright. Wynn was sweating profusely and his angry breath was hard, "If you won't kill the little bastard, then I'll do it myself!" Michael's head shot up and just as Dr. Wynn was about to smash the axe down on Stephen, Michael swiftly grabbed his knife and whirled around, he sharply jammed the knife into Terrence's stomach!
Terrence's face turned pale as he stood in shock. He stumbled back and dropped the axe. He looked down at the knife sticking out of his stomach and the burned hand holding it. Michael stood up and Wynn looked into his black eyes. For the first time in years, Terrence felt afraid, "Michael?" What Terrence saw in Michael's eyes was not the clouded gaze of a cursed man, it the angry glare of a monster. Those dark eyes were filled with rage and hatred. Michael was finally free, and he was very, very angry.
TBC
OK, so, here we are now folks, the second to last chapter to this story! Only one more to go, it's been a long time coming! I am SOOO SORRY I kept to all waiting so long. Was it worth it? Please say yes…lol seriously though, I meant to finish this chapter sooner but this semester has been so unbelievably busy! I literally haven't had time to work on it, but I sat down tonight and worked past midnight so I could finally finish this chapter. The next chapter will be the end to Halloween 9 Bloodline and I hope it kicks a whole bunch of ass! I have been working on this story for over a year now, from conception to completion and I am so happy that it turned out this great! Thanks to everyone for all the support even when I made you wait for so long! I promise it won't be this long of a wait for the last chapter.
Liz