Chapter 6: Approaching Doom.
- One Month Before Halloween - September 1970 -

Revenge.

His actions were purely and simply revenge.

I lay awake in bed. Samantha was awake as well. We didn't speak, understandably so.

She'd told me, she stabbed him. Multiple times. He returned the favor, making her suffer through the wounds she inflicted on him. He did the same with me, stabbing me exactly where I stabbed him, forcing me to kill my friend, when I was trying to save her.

But, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it. The pleasure he took in each strike, trapping his victims, pinning them, allowing them to realize there was no escape, before killing them. He'd even killed me. Three times now. And, I was supposed to be his friend.

Shifting my position, I rolled over, seeing Samantha quietly staring at me. I wonder what she thought of me? Did she believe that I hadn't struggled enough? That I let him use me to kill her?

We weren't alone. And neither of us needed Nancy to overhear, so she could go and tell the doctors that we were being attacked by Michael in our sleep. Loomis would probably lose his cool.

It didn't take long for me to roll back over. I couldn't stand that look of betrayal in her eyes.

My fingers traced over the burn on my wrist. His mark. The mark that tied all of us together. There were still times I would get phantom pains, the mark would still burn. I took a deep breath, recalling the last year I'd spent with Michael, each interaction we had. I replayed every significant event.

"How do you feel when you're near Michael? Do you feel fear?" Had been Dr. Wynn's first question to me, the day after I decided to sit across from him.

Dr. Loomis' question was next. "Has Michael said anything to you? A greeting, a threat? Anything at all?" I should have realized he had it out for Michael back then.

"Gonna try and befriend the devil, huh?" Nancy's comment. "He'll kill you, you know?" Last year I didn't believe a word of it. Michael seemed like a sweet child.

The first response I'd ever gotten from him was just a simple shrug of the shoulder, when I told him I didn't want him to be alone. Later that day was the first time our eyes met. He just seemed annoyed by the doctors watching our every move. Now, I knew there was much more hidden behind. His hatred for this place, his loathing of Loomis.

I should have taken the hint when the doctors decided it was best to separate us. If not, their warning, then from the first dream I had of him. The white room, the feeling of no escape, those masks, the blood splashed across the floor. I was taken to his home, where I walked upstairs, seeing him examine a knife, freshly coated in blood.

Samantha's blood.

He stabbed my left shoulder, strangled me, threw me down the stairs. All while I suffered in reality, nearly losing my life. Luckily the doctors were able to stabilize my seizures. Without any drastic measures.

I was locked inside of my own mind, not able to awaken. Because he didn't want to let me go. He met me at my bedside, I begged him to help me and when I fell back to sleep, in my coma, I re-awoke in his world. He stabbed me twice more, ending my life in that world.

Samantha tried to warn me of her connection to Michael. But, she couldn't find the words, not without me thinking she was crazy. I hadn't realized how afraid of Wynn, she was. I didn't know the horror's that lay behind him.

Chelsea was unaware of everything that happened, and encouraged me to continue pursuing my friendship with him. I brushed the dreams off as just dreams.

Michael took my hand. I noticed his scar.

Anthony attacked me soon after, due to some grudge against Michael.

The same night, Michael killed Anthony.

I was so bewildered by his actions, I couldn't figure out what to say. So in the end, I asked if he would confirm that Anthony's death was his doing. He spoke to me. Just the simple word: "Yes" But, that word was significant.

He took joy in taking Anthony's life, and he took joy in showing his work to me.

A thought suddenly occurred to me that I mumbled out loud. "He wants me to enjoy it too."

"Probably. I mean, you two do have that creepy bond." Samantha offered from across the room. "Don't worry, Nancy isn't here."

I turned back over. "Where is she?"

She grumbled, laying on her back. "I don't know, screwing around with James, maybe, Michael finally decided to kill her." There was a bit of bitterness to her tone. "Do you ever sneak out to see Michael?"

"No."

"Well, since Nancy is gone, you should. Maybe ask him why the fuck he gets off of killing people. Why he likes killing the only soul here that sees him as more than a monster."

I sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm pissed. If he wants to play with you, he can leave me out of it. He didn't even show mercy…" She turned back over, facing me again. "How did he kill you? Did he even? Or did you two just make out over my corpse?"

What did I even tell her? She was right in a way. "Sam, he's obsessed with me."

She laughed. "So you did make out over my corpse? What the hell…"

"I think he was trying to send us a message. He stabbed you, like you said you stabbed him, and as soon as you died, he jammed the knife into my neck, like I did to him."

"So, he didn't kiss you?"

"He did. He pinned me to the door, watching me bleed out, and right before I woke up, he kissed me."

"What a freak."

The door to the room opened, Nancy made a disgusted sound, before throwing a book at me, which hit me in the back. "You're freaking boyfriend is out stalking the halls and totally ruined my moment. Tell him it's passed lights out and he needs to go to sleep."

I rolled my eyes, replying, snarkly "You were breaking curfew."

"Yeah, but, I had a reason, aside from being a creep." She scoffed.

Standing, I hesitantly made my way to the door, knowing I'd have to sneak around staff and security. Michael was waiting for me.
The door opened with a slight creak. I didn't see him.

Quietly, making my way down the hall, searching for him, I heard footsteps and the jingle of keys. "Who's there?" The voice came from Wallace, security. He was rather lenient when it came to discipline, as long as you normally stayed out of trouble.

When I turned the corner, I felt a hand reach out and grab me, pulling me towards them, it was Michael.

For some reason, I smiled, seeing him. He cocked his head, a confused look across his face.

"Hey, you kids can't be out at this-" Wallace halted, illuminating Michael and I with his flashlight. "Elaine, Michael? You two never break the rules, what are you doing?"

"Uh-umm…"

His flashlight moved, illuminating our hands. A smile stretched across his face. "Well, you two aren't causing any harm, and I know you haven't been able to hang out lately, so, I'll tell you what, as long as you two don't do anything reckless, the shower rooms are always empty at this time of night. You can talk or whatever there for a while. Just don't get caught coming back, I won't be able to save you."

Michael tugged at my arm, alerting me to follow him. Wallace continued his sweep of the building.

The closest shower room was the girls room, and we entered cautiously, headed all the way to the back, if anyone did enter, we'd be able to hide. We sat on the benches. Michael still clutched my hand.

"Why are we here?" I felt as if I was talking to a wall at this point. His face always blank, even when dragging me around the building. I was getting frustrated. "Michael, do you remember the dreams? Killing Sam, killing me?" Still nothing, not a glance, not a smile. I yanked my hand free, standing. "What do you want from me!?" My voice was a bit louder than it should have been.

Finally, he looked up at me, reaching to grab my hand, pulling me back down to the bench.

"Why don't you talk to me…? How do you expect to be my friend if you hurt me without explanation?" I continued to probe, almost not caring if the reaction I got was violent. "I want an answer!" Again, I pulled my hand free, pushing him away from me. "It's like you're two different people. And both sides are stubborn.."

Once again, I made it to my feet, ready to walk out on him. I almost made it to the door, before I turned around, moving to the bench behind him, sitting down again, my back against his own. "I don't know what to do…" My voice was softer this time. "It's not like I can just abandon you, if this damn mark doesn't force us together, Wynn will…"

He moved, straightening his spine, glancing back at me.

"Just talk to me.. Talk to me, so I can help you." Michael scoffed, leaning forward. I knew I was probably just repeating what the doctors had told him hundreds of times.

Sliding to the edge, half facing him, I threw my arms around the back of his neck, pressing my head to his back.

"Do you remember killing me tonight?" A hand covered my own. "Is that a yes?" Michael stood, facing me, placing his hand on my cheek, before moving it to my neck, tracing the area he stabbed. He did remember.

"Is it like a guilty pleasure?" He pushed me against the wall, pinning me as he had in the dream. Another yes. "You hurt me, Michael." I pushed against him. Surprisingly, he allowed me to put some distance between us.

This time I was ready to leave, turning and headed towards the door. He grabbed my hand, before putting his arms around my neck, resting his chin on my head.

Samantha had pretty much kept Michael and I away from each other. Dr. Loomis did the rest. Michael stayed in his room most of the time now. There were no more dreams, no more midnight visits. It was peaceful. But, I felt as if something was missing.

Samantha turned towards me during free time. We were both sitting on the bench in front of the window. "Give it a few years and I'm sure Michael will start sneaking out to see you a lot more."

I closed my book, staring into space. "Do you really think he'll act like James does around Nancy?"

She closed the distance between us, keeping our conversation a bit more secretive. "No, of course he won't. He's way more violent. There's no denying his urges. He likes to scare people, make them feel helpless. It'll only get worse the more he ages. And the older he gets, the older you get. You're his main target here. And he isn't actually killing you, so I'm guessing he has ulterior motives."

Looking around to make sure the doctors weren't too close, she leaned in and whispered again. "Michael's case is probably going to get dismissed, If Wynn has anything to say about it. Whenever you get out of here, you two can probably meet up. Maybe he'll actually talk to you."

"Or maybe he'll just go on a killing spree. He's a psycho." Nancy chimed in, plopping down in the seat behind us. "Oh, now that James is gone, your gonna hang around us?" Samantha raised a brow. "Yeah, nothing better to do."

"Anyway, having boy troubles with Michael? Maybe, I could help? I don't know much about him, if anything, but, I can give you some tips to make yourself irresistible."

"Not every problem can be solved by flaunting your body around." Samantha snapped, glancing at me to make sure I was alright. I smiled in response.

Nancy sighed, "That serious huh?"

I nodded.

She was confused. Not understanding how the two of us could possibly have problems, when, Michael never spoke. "Sooo, does he like talk to you or write, something like that?"

There was no way I was about to tell Nancy that he'd ever said a word to me. Even if she was acting nice right now, she'd easily run and tell the doctors. I hadn't forgotten the times she tried to get us in trouble.

I took a deep breath, thinking about how much information I wanted to give her. "He communicates with stares and body language."

"That's creepy."

Neither of us could disagree with her. It was a little unsettling. The way you could talk to him, yell at him, and he just sat there, paying no mind.

I had picked up on a few hints he gave, his main communication was his stares. They told nothing, and everything at the same time. Michael was talented, keeping anyone he didn't want to know, from seeing his few expressions.

When we met in the shower rooms, I knew what each movement meant. When he tugged on my hand, pulling me back down next to him, he was telling me to calm down, I was being too loud and could end up drawing attention to us. Again, when I left, and came back, sitting behind him, he'd titled his head as if he were asking if my tantrum was over. He was hard, yet easy to speak with.

If he wanted to answer, you'd know everything. If he didn't, you were left with mystery. Like Dr. Loomis. Michael didn't want to answer to him, because of his hatred for him. He answered to me, because he liked me.

It was strange.

"Michael is complicated." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

Nancy huffed. "That sucks. I've always wanted to know what he sounded like. Since he's such a creep, his voice must be dreamy. That's how all guys are."

Sam let out a laugh. "So does that mean James was a creep? You always said his voice was nice." Nancy didn't like being teased. "You're just jealous that none of the guys are into you."

We all quieted down, whenever a heavy footfall neared. "Are you girls getting along? This is surprising."

I froze. The voice belonged to Wynn. Samantha moved away from me, putting distance between her and the doctor. He walked around until he was standing in front of me. "Elaine, would you like to go see, Michael?"

Wynn waited for this moment. With everyone around, in the main room. There was no way I could refuse without causing a scene. He knew it.

Nodding, I stood, following him through the room, and to the halls.

Hands clasped behind his back, he walked next to me. "Why are you avoiding him?"

"He hasn't been out in the common room." That was obviously only part of the reason. Ever since that last dream, I'd been trying to distance myself, if only a little. And with Dr. Loomis being over paranoid, it was easy to keep away from him.

His lips pursed. "You haven't asked to see him in nearly three weeks. Do you not miss him?"

"Your curse has been working just fine, if that's what you're worried about!" I hissed through my teeth.

"Now, that is what I like to hear."

I was lead through the familiar corridors, heading towards the solitary wards. There was rarely anyone here. A couple nurses made their way through, checking on whoever was admitted, and of course, security made rounds as well.

A young male scream could be heard coming from one of the rooms. It wasn't Michael, I didn't recognize the voice. As we passed the nurses station, Wynn pressed a button, calling the other station near my ward. "Mary, please send someone over to assist me with Tony. He's having yet another episode."

Quickly he walked me to the free room, shoving me inside before closing the door. I turned, seeing him walk over to the next room, working to calm whoever was screaming down.

My attention turned back to the place I was in, examining the room until I saw Michael standing in the corner, leaning against the wall to the right of me. He didn't seem well. Glancing out the window to see more nurses show up, I decided that moving away from the door was a good idea and I approached, Michael.

I reached out, to touch his shoulder, wondering what was wrong. "Hey…"

It was barely a whisper, but, I could've sworn I heard Michael speak, though it was nothing audible, more of a grumble than anything.

Immediately I jerked my hand back. "S-sorry… Are you alright?"

Silence.

"So, I only get one word a year?" I tried joking, but, the glare he gave me when he glanced back told me he wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Seriously, what's wrong?"

Last time we'd been here, everything was quiet. Now, Tony was screaming, I could hear the doctor's conversation with him. Futile attempts to calm him.

"Just sedate him! We'll deal with the rest later." Wynn hollered to a nurse.

"What on earth is going on?" The new voice belonged to Loomis.

Michael turned, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the corner, covering my mouth with his hand. He didn't want to be discovered, which was a smart idea.

Loomis and Wynn bickered about the best choice for Tony, ultimately Wynn's choice of seduction won, after Tony has apparently struck one of the nurses, her shriek echoing through the walls. It sounded like Loomis was the one to tend to her wounds.

After all the ruckus had ended, Loomis started asking about our whereabouts, he wanted to search the building since neither of us were in our wards, nor were we in the common room. Wynn tried reasoning with him, telling him that he probably overlooked us. It was a weak lie, Loomis seeing right through it.

"You know where the children are, don't you? Why are you hiding them from me?"

"Because your paranoid delusions are keeping them apart! If you haven't noticed, that girl is what's best for Michael." Wynn retaliated.

Dr. Loomis was furious. "What's best for Michael is to be sent to a better facility, to spend his days in solitary until he is tried and punished for his crimes!"

"As you originally suggested… And as I said before, we are here to provide support for these children, not abused or coddle them." There was a crash, a clipboard or similar object thrown. "And what do you think you're doing, allowing them to sneak off? You are coddling them!"

The jingle of keys. "Do you not see how much they support each other, Sam?"

"What I see, Terence, is a lost cause and a girl with a future, who is wasting her time on someone she will never, should never, be with."

Michael let go of me, moving away. I grabbed his hand, smiling at him. He didn't deserve to be treated in such a way. Confusion filled his expression, his brows furrowed, staring at my hand, at how tightly, desperately I clung to him.

The door swung open. Loomis and Wynn both walked in. Anger displayed on both of their faces. Michael pulled his hand free, refusing to look at either doctor. Something was definitely on his mind.

I stepped between him and Loomis. Rage boiling deep inside my stomach. "You can't talk about him like that. You're supposed to be helping him and recently, all you've been doing is hurting him. You're the lost cause!"

A hand clenched the fabric of my shirt. Michael pulled me behind him, standing next to Loomis, eyes down to the floor.

Wynn held his hand out. "Elaine, come with me. Samuel, take Michael back to his room and meet me in my office."

Not another word was exchanged between them, and they took the two of us different paths back. In order to avoid the tension between one another.

"Have you always felt so passionately about, Michael?" Wynn finally asked, feet before the girls ward. He opened the door only a crack, waiting for my response. "There has to be a reason he killed everyone he's killed." I didn't know exactly why, but, I wanted Wynn to know that I knew about the other deaths.

"Well, that's one way to look at it." He replied, opening the door, allowing me to enter before walking away.

The mark was burning again.

I tossed and turned in my sleep, before settling on my left side, tracing the mark with my fingers.

In truth, I was worried. About how much of my thoughts were corrupted by this curse, about Michael's true motive behind everyone he's killed? If he was alright? What did Loomis think of me, now that I stood up to him, for Michael?

What did Michael think?

What did he think about anything?

Sighing, I turned once again. Wishing that there was some way I could trigger one of those dreams. I wanted to talk to him.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, the dim lights in the hall flickered. Amanda and Evelyn passed, chatting about the coming storm. They were on their way to check the local stations, making sure the storm wasn't too harsh. A lot of work went into making sure everyone was protected.

I closed my eyes, hoping to drift to sleep again. The storm wasn't going to be bad. The wind wasn't howling, the rain was barely falling, lightly tapping against the window.

- 1971 -

Months passed, same routine. Christmas dinner, New Years celebration. Samantha was more distant from me after I'd killed her, but, we were still fairly close.

Nancy was a wild card. One day she liked you, the next she didn't. She seemed to be more interested in Michael than before, with James around. And, as Nancy was, she also told us how much she disliked him.

I had another dream, waking up in Haddonfield. But, I was alone. Samantha said she hadn't had those dreams in quite a while. I never saw Michael, at one point I even called out to him, hoping for a glimpse of him.
Searching through every house, each room, I found nothing. Even the symbols were gone.

In March, Dr. Loomis had him locked in solitary for reasons that were kept quiet from the patients. Rumor spread that it was for Michael's protection, because Loomis was lashing out at him, yelling, demanding him to speak.

With Michael having no family, there would be no lawsuits. Solitary was the only way to separate those two, keeping Loomis in line.

Loomis left for two weeks, rumors surfaced that he quit, that Michael killed him, or that he was fired. Dr. Hill informed everyone that he was simply taking a much needed vacation. Grannel became Michael's caretaker while Loomis was gone. She didn't spend nearly as much time with him, it was refreshing to actually see him out in the common room a few times.

A dark cloud loomed over him. Samantha and I could both feel something was wrong. The reason we both settled on, was that he was looking for his next victim.

Last year was rather peaceful. No missing persons, not suddenly dead staff or patients. At least, not in the juvenile ward. Aside from Mason's. Which was purely coincidental.

We tried to figure out who was next, but, we failed.

In April, Roger was found dead in the boys' ward. He bit off his own tongue and choked on his own blood in the middle of the night. Loomis was on vacation when this happened and Michael hadn't been blamed. However, as soon as he returned, Michael was the prime suspect. He'd gotten in arguments with not only Wynn, but, Carpenter too.

From May through August new patients were admitted.

Amy Martin, a shy girl, with short blonde hair, who happened to be bulimic.
I felt bad, after every meal, she was escorted around by a doctor, making sure she actually keeps the food down.

Karen Stafford, she was more talkative, her hair was also short and blonde, but curly. She smiled and laughed a lot, but was struggling with depression. She didn't like being alone, and didn't mind who she was next to, whether it was Nancy, or Michael.

Stephan Ashley, he had jet black hair, and was rather laid back, despite the fact that he was here for killing his sister's boyfriend. He saw him raise a hand to her and went into their parents' room, taking his father's gun and hunting him down on his way home, shooting him without a second thought.

Lawrence Hurst, brown hair, he acted out a lot, and part of that acting out had been stealing and distributing prescription pills.

Shawn White, his hair was ginger, he was also admitted for depression. Coming directly from the hospital after attempting to take his own life. He was also pretty reserved. And his first few days were spent in a padded cell, for his own safety.

Finally, there was Leon Brady, he was violently bipolar, also spending a lot of time by himself. He was actually a fairy sweet boy once his medicine was sorted out.

Samantha and I grew weary. Going from five patients to eleven, in just a few months. Michael finally had the room to himself and suddenly, the boys' ward was nearly full again.

Again, Sam started mumbling in her sleep, Nancy's name was mentioned. Michael was targeting her, or so it seemed. Sam had warned her last year that he was going to kill her, and she dismissed it as incoherent rambling.

Samantha has never been comfortable speaking about the link she shared with Michael. Mentioning that she'd randomly peer into his mind, see things through his eyes. I noticed his stares, but, Sam, she could feel the hostility. She knew each person he hated. Anthony, Nancy, Tony, Roger, Loomis. They'd been his main targets and two had already been taken out.

With all the knew emotions mixing, arguments between patients, between the doctor's. One thing was apparent:

There was going to be a bloodbath.

To be continued…..