4
I was surrounded by darkness. I was dreaming, and in this darkness I heard screaming and the slash of metal swishing through the air. It was a pattern now. Slash, scream, slash, scream, slash…then nothing.
Sirens woke me up that night. Screaming and chattering. I sat up quickly and looked at my window which was right beside the bed. I opened the curtains to see there were mixtures of blues and reds. Police cars, I had concluded. My eyes widened. They were at Michael's house. I rushed from my bed and out the door of my room. By now mom was dead asleep from drinking, so nothing woke her. I ran down the hall towards the front door. Something was wrong. Was Michael hurt? Did that evil step father of his finally do something to him?
I charged out the door and rushed down the street. My feet were bare and they hurt against the asphalt. The views were getting closer and closer. I stopped now as I saw paramedics strolling… bodies away. My eyes widened as I noticed one of the bodies, his sister, Judith. She was covered in blood, eyes closed, body limp. Someone killed her. More bodies came out. Judith's boyfriend came out just as one of the paramedics were zipping him up in a body bag. Ronnie was next, his throat slashed. My eyes widened as people were standing around in small groups muttering and talking. Police were commanding that they go home and back away.
This wasn't happening. Some lunatic broke into their home and killed them? What about Deborah or... Michael. Michael couldn't come out in a body bag, I would not believe it. I shook my head as I felt my heart begin to race. I couldn't breathe. I looked around the area. Reporters were here and someone was holding back Mrs. Myers. She was alive and okay, but screaming as she was trying to race to Judith.
Where is he, where is Michael? My eyes locked on to a police car, and there he was sitting there looking straight ahead. He was okay, but why was he there and not as his mother's side?
"Michael!" I yelled moving pass the road blocks that separated the crowd from the crime scene. "Michael! Michael!"
I was screaming hard now as cops lifted me off my feet trying to contain me. Michael didn't look at me, yet he heard me I know he did. Two cops had been trying to talk to me, but I would not listen.
"Michael! Michael please it's me it's Kyra!" I called out. Slowly his head began to turn to me. He was not happy to see me; he was not trying to give much effort in the turning of his head. But when he looked at me, I knew something was wrong, wrong with him. His eyes were dull and were not filled with any life. He didn't seem to care about his friend who shouted for him.
"Little girl get back!" a cop yelled shoving me back to the point I fell to ground. I cried out a bit, another cop coming to help me.
"What the hell is wrong with you she is a child!" he yelled helping me up. Now there was a loud scream, a roar almost. I looked up to see Michael banging his hands hard onto the glass door. "Get him out of here!"
His hands turned to fists and his beatings grew harder and louder. The window was sure to burst. The car began to drive off with him still screaming in the back.
"Are you alright?" the officer asked, and I looked up at him in shock. "It's okay honey my name is Officer Leigh Brackett. That officer had no right to shove you. I've had him sent away."
My mind was still a blank somewhat as I looked down. He was gone, my friend, my only friend.
"What did he do?" I asked looking back at Officer Brackett. "Why did you take him away?" The man sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"It's going to be hard to believe, but that boy killed his step father, his sister and his sister's boy friend." he told. My body loosened instantly at his words. My mouth dropped with shock and slowly I looked down at the ground. He did this? My friend? My stomach churned and I felt I would throw up immediately.
"What will happen to him?" I asked. He sighed and shook his head.
"I don't know." he said in all honestly. I closed my eyes as tears streamed down my face, and over my scar. I felt his large hand on my back. "What's your name?" I looked up at him.
"Kyra Deville. Michael was my only friend." I said. He nodded and smiled slowly leading me from the scene.
"Well Kyra I'll be your friend. Come on let's get you back to your house." he said. I nodded and started to lead him to my house. It was a long night leading into morning for me. I didn't sleep until my body forced me to sleep a day later.
My mom eventually found out what happened. Seeing yellow tape around the Myer's home confirmed her suspicions. She had been on the phone talking to her friends.
'I knew he was trouble. I just knew it.'
Michael was admitted to Smith's Grove Warren County Sanitarium after a very long trial. My mom wouldn't take me to see him. Luckily Deborah allowed me to come with her to see him after a few weeks of begging. I hadn't seen him since that night it all happened. I was riding in the front seat looking out the window as Deborah drove. Her eyes, they were different. They weren't tired or annoyed like they usually were. But they were confused and lost. I felt really awkward being in the car with her as we drove to see Michael.
"Mrs. Myers, are you alright?" I asked lowly and she looked at me finally, her eyes jumping back to normal and she cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. She smiled softly.
"Yeah, Kyra I'm alright. I'm just… really sad and confused." she said and I nodded softly.
"I'm sad and confused too." I replied. She gave a saddened smile and just took my hand as if to give me comfort, but I think she needed it too. Her youngest child, Angel, was home with a baby sitter. She was the only one Michael truly cared for. I wondered if he even cared about me. We arrived at the hospital, checked in, and waited outside for him. It was just an open space with a few benches. I don't know why I was expecting a playground. Deborah and I were both sitting down and waiting.
"Kyra… did Michael ever tell you he was upset about anything? Or that he wanted to hurt anyone?" she asked lightly. I looked at her and then looked away thinking back to our past discussions. Had he mentioned it? I mean I know he said he disliked his step dad, but I dislike my mom. That didn't mean I wanted to hurt her. I shook my head.
"No. I would have told you." I lied. She gave a light smile and nodded. We heard one of the doors of the building open and we both looked to see Michael coming out being escorted by two men in white. My body somehow became filled with life and I moved from the table and stood up facing him. He was in a white jump suit and his hands were chained. I was stunned by this.
"Why are they treating him like an animal?" I asked looking at Deborah who sighed.
"He's proven that he needs to be heavily guarded." she replied. As Michael drew closer, I noticed his hair was matted and covering his face as he wore a one of his brown masks. Man I should have brought mine. Walking behind the two large guards, I noticed a slim man in a brown coat walk around them all. Deborah moved to shake his hand.
"Hello Mrs. Myers and who is this little one?" he asked now looking at me. I looked away not wanting him to really look at my face.
"Hi Dr. Loomis, this is Kyra. She's Michael's best friend." she said and I just glanced up at him.
"When can Michael leave?" I asked lowly. The doctor sighed and got down on one knee before me.
"I'm sorry Ms. Kyra, but Michael did a very bad thing and has to stay here for a while because of it." he said lightly. He spoke to me like I was some baby. I just looked away and then moved over to Michael. The two large grownups in white took a few steps back but kept a close eye on everyone. I just stood in front of him and he just looked down at the ground. He never looked at me and just remained quiet. I almost didn't know what to say.
"I've missed you." I said looking at the ground and looking at him from time to time. He didn't respond and this worried me. "Michael, what's wrong, why won't you talk to me?" Was he mad at me?
"How about we all sit down and chat." Dr. Loomis offered. I glanced back at him before looking at Michael again. We all sat down. Dr. Loomis and Michael sat across from Deborah and me.
"Has he said anything at all, doctor?" she asked. Dr. Loomis sighed and shook his head.
"No. He seems to be going backward in all of our sessions together. There are no more violent outbursts or any emotions what so ever. It's as if he is retreating back into a state I had never seen before." he explained. Not talking? Does that mean he won't talk to me? Michael hasn't even looked up at me since he came out here. What should I say to him, what can I say to him? I felt immediately sad that he wasn't trying to show the doctors that he should be let out. I placed my hands on top of the table in front of Michael, and slowly turned my palms so they faced upward. I wasn't sure if I saw it right, but I could have sworn I saw Michael glance up at my hand.
"You promised…" I said lowly. I just waited for him to respond, wondering if our night of trick or treating meant anything to him. I opened myself up to him and that night of the murders… he opened himself to me and here I am, still here. He slowly let his arm creep out from beneath the table and slowly reached out to let the tips of his fingers touch mine. It wasn't what I expected, and apparently Dr. Loomis wasn't expecting this either.
"Good God." he whispered. Deborah looked at us stunned, and I looked at Michael to see him looking at me through his mask. His hair covered up his face, but I could still see his eyes. He was still in there. My friend was still in there.