Take a Hike

Chapter 2

The first six hours of the drive went smoothly.

Almost too much so that it really should have been a warning sign in and of itself. However it wouldn't be until the bus was at its scheduled pit stop did a breakout idea come to the forefront. And the man, who went by Ace, that put forth the idea wasn't as unhinged as those around him. One would dub him a genius if they had known but he kept his card close to where even the doctors remained unaware. His eyes were always calculating behind a façade of happy aloofness. He knew his plan would work despite its utter simplicity. Riots were annoying but if done properly, as he knew he could orchestrate smoothly, it would be Ace's best shot out of here. He didn't care if the uproar could possibly cause death to fellow inmates since to him they were just manipulable flesh puppets. Unfortunately there was one factor Ace was well aware of that could cause his escape plan to fail before it could properly be executed.

And that was in the form of Michael Myers.

The giant had broken away promptly from the group of criminals once the guards had let them off the bus for a mobility stretch and bathroom break. All done outside and under keen watchful eyes. Ace knew he had to get the big guy to either go along with his plan or at the least not hinder it. He had just the way with a simple few words of information he had overheard over the weeks leading up to this transport. It would be better to deal with Myers first then tell the others of his breakout plan so they wouldn't get testy too early. So Ace approached the mask-wearer under the disguise of following a rock he had been kicking idly.

"Hey Myers."

No response.

"You're one of Dr. Loomis's patients, right?"

Still nothing but Ace suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Myers's attention was on him. Perfect. He knew the guy hated the doctor by the rumors going around and the Doctor himself knew it too since the guy had left the institute before it's planned departure to lessen any possible idea of Michael's to go after the man. Ace grinned inwardly as the man's plan was his key to persuading Myers. "I overheard from some staff that Loomis left early to New Jersey to see family before retirement."

Silence.

"They say he probably left ahead of this trip because it would've been so easy for you to break away and go after him." Here Ace gave a faint head motion to the guards remaining stationary in a circle around the group of relaxing convicts. "Less guards, more inmates to watch for, really is the best setup."

There was seeping heaviness in the air around Michael's body. Ace guessed the rumors really were true. Part of him wondered what that pacific doctor had done to get the infamous monster on their ass but overall he could care less as long as it assisted in his escape plan. He kicked the small rock causing it to bounce off Myers's own set of prisoner issued boots. His eyes finally met the darkened eye sockets of that infamous mask. Ace shuddered at the sight. This man really was daunting to even look at, however his freedom was on the line so he ignored his body's natural instincts to danger and asked the sealing or breaking question.

"So wanna help me help you in breaking out?"

Ace wasn't prepared at all for the big hand suddenly fisting the front of his prison jumpsuit and yanking him bodily off his feet. He couldn't help the nervous gulp at being inches away from that haunting mask. Then he saw it. The faint incline of the head just before Myers shoved him away causing him to fall feet away onto his ass.

He ignored the two guards who had rushed over to see what happened. Ignored the questions prompted with the end of a beating stick as his eyes watched the mask-wearer return to their previous position and state of ignoring all around.

Ace didn't care one bit though about the harsh shove or the gravel biting into the wounds on his palms.

Michael Myers had agreed!

Boarding the bus went the same as it did the first time only there was a simmering excitement among a few of the passengers. Those that would be able to implement the breakout plan Ace had were told discreetly and informed to wait toward the nearing end of the trip to act. The plan officially started when Ace had managed to get himself seated behind Myers, whispering a favor of the man to break the bar when he gave a sign. Once he was free he would use the key he had swiped from the guard seated beside him who clearly was tired from staying awake for almost 12 hours while being on constant high alert. They really should have divided the inmates into two smaller groups on separate buses so it'd be less strenuous but their lack of ideal planning was his gain.

Ace spent the majority of the ride telling a long story to the guard sharing his seat in the back to better lull the man into a deeper state of sleepiness. It worked. He reached forward, carefully so as not to jostle his chains too much, and tapped the bar his and Myers's chains were hooked to. He held his breath as nothing happened for a few seconds that felt like minutes then there was movement. Michael's hand curled around the bar. Ace threw the small rock he had kicked around earlier at another prisoner who was known to be rowdy and loud in the head. It was timed perfectly. The idiot's shouting of murder to whoever hit him combined with the influx of chain jiggling from others muffled the noise of the bar breaking. Ace whispered a genuine thanks tinted with awe at just how strong this giant actually was.

After checking on the guard beside him, the man was completely out cold, he swiftly did away with his own restraints and pulled Mayer's own toward himself along the bar to unlock theirs. It wouldn't do to piss the big guy off by not releasing him too after what he had just seen. Ace had never been more thankful that Myers hadn't done anything more than push him away. He signaled to another inmate to get the attention of the one seated in front of Michael before he slid the key toward their seat. He breathed out in relief when he saw their foot trap the key underneath. He kept his eyes trained on the guards while he held the bar to keep the distant vibrations of the chains sliding off the bar where Myers had broken it in two places.

Once everyone on their side of the bus was free of the bar Ace put into motion the part of the plan that involved the others. He threw another rock at the same guy who blew up even more this time. Their raging gave the perfect cover for the freed prisoners to surprise attack the guards. The convicts who had been given certain instructions followed them through; the guards were beaten as a means of distraction as they were cuffed to whatever parts of the bus in reach by sly hands.

Of course all the noise woke up the guard beside Ace but a quick elbow to the temple put the man back to sleep. The driver of the bus clearly had no idea what to do during the riot as the lives of the guards were still in their hands and dependent on their driving skills. It was a moot point though as the driver was knocked out with a heavy hit of a beating stick and forced to exchange seats with a freed inmate. The bus swerved suddenly causing everyone standing into a seat or slamming into some park of the bus's interior and instantly clued in the following patrol car something was seriously wrong. Not that it mattered as the prisoner driving the vehicle made sure to ram the bus into the remaining guards so their car was crushed against the side of the mountainside.

There would be no surviving for them or their fellow guards inside the bus.

The gas station was definitely a place that had seen better days maybe three decades ago but its functionality was proven to still be good by the proof of cars still pulling in and out. Michael surveyed the bland area from where he stood in the lining trees that somewhat half circled the place. Beside the gas station store was an auto body shop loosely attached to the other building by a mere overhanging metal yawning. This building looked a bit newer in comparison and yet not any less grungier; however that didn't stop anyone from using the car shop as one just pulled into the loading bay.

Michael had come across the lone gas station some time after ditching the others at the wreckage. He had the same amount of wanting to join them as he did when they were all still at Smith Grove's; which was absolutely none. The man who had introduced himself as Ace struck up some nudging attempt to get Myers to go with him but he refused. It would have ended verbally if it had not been for a nosey inmate who deemed Michael's silent but physical response of 'no' being an unforgiven slight against the man who had planned their freedom.

The guy was dealt with promptly.

Their body was most likely still being propped up by the broken framework of the bus's side mirror speared through the corpse's back and stomach. Ace had barely reacted to the kill despite being feet away from the giant. The man merely shrugged when that mask slid to him and offered a friendly goodbye of "See you around, big guy" with a smile that did not morally fit the situation. Not that either of them cared for such normalicy Myers had pointedly walked away from the crash site in the opposite direction of where the mass of his fellow escapees were which led him to coming across the public pitstop.

Michael watched two people get out of the vehicle and someone who had been beyond his view range approached the pair. Now this guy has piqued his interest. The man wore a typical uniform for those in the machine trade; a cotton overall suit in a dark hue to help keep grease blemishes hidden. Their uniform was clearly worn to disrepair even from this distance but that mattered little to Michael after a brief look down at the prison uniform of matching orange jacket and pants with a black shirt and boots.

He knew what he wanted and it was going to be his.

The backdoor pushed open silently without any delay allowing the silent giant to step inside unheard. His steps were quiet despite his build as he moved further into what looked to be a breakroom. He could see a ratty couch against the far wall with a folding table put in the space between the sofa and tv stand that had seen better days. On the screen was some game show but what really caught Myers's attention was the folded clothing that seems to have been dropped onto the tv distractedly. His hidden eyes looked to the only other door for a moment before he headed toward the tv, picking up the clothing, and giving it a look once he unfolded it. It was a fresh mechanic uniform like the one he had seen the worker wear just minutes ago. This one seemed bigger in size.

The overalls were baggy even on Michael. He guessed the item was discarded due to a sizing issue as the man he had seen was a little on the short side compared to the two people they had been standing next to while talking. It didn't matter to him if he got what he wanted with or without bloodshed but part of him did figure this probably was better. He still had to track down Dr. Loomis and that was a task with some hitches already in place as is. Being a convict came with zero perks outside of the fear factor.

Some noises from the main part of the auto garage building drew Myers's attention. His gaze slid over a small kitchen area prompting him to do a second look as a thought struck him. He chucked the prison clothes in the corner nearest to him and headed toward the kitchen nook, hidden eyes scanning the surfaces around. The item he was looking for lay discarded in a dingy small sink atop of a pan still stained with bits of cooked meat. He shook off the clinging water from the kitchen knife and wiped it dry against his pant leg before heading back out the way he came in. Michael was about to return to the woods to walk along the main road out of view when he saw a group of young people somewhere around their 20s step out of the gas station with camping gear. Their loud boisterous voices caught his attention further as they spoke of hiking and their end goal being somewhere in New Jersey; a place Ace had said Dr. Loomis had run away too. Trailing this group would be the most efficient, and probably the least likely to get him caught and tossed back into prison, way to get the doctor.

Michael didn't need to wait long for the group to head out as they seemed keen on sticking to a schedule they had set for themselves. They followed a trail made by other long distance hikers leading from the opposite side they had come from when going to the gas station. The pathway over time faded out and in some places either picked up again or was completely overtaken by nature once more. No one in the group seemed to have become aware or even had the inkling that they were being followed by someone let alone a serial killer.