Michael was stunned, not that Loomis shot him, Loomis had been waiting to do that for a long time.
What stunned Michael was that he wasn't angry. No, he was afraid.
Afraid of what, thought? Loomis? Dying? No. He was afraid, horrified to lose Cynthia again. If Loomis finished him off or took him back to the sanitarium, he'd lose the only family he had left. If he lost his sister, he didn't see a point in living at all.
It was as if a switch had been flipped in his head that put Michael back in control and The Shape was the one that was trapped.
Michael watched as Cynthia ran out of the room while Loomis pointed the gun at his head. Michael couldn't move, couldn't talk. He was stunned with fear. But paralyzed by the almost foreign feeling of pure fear. He hadn't felt anything like this since the night he killed Judith. He had felt fear since then, of course. But nothing as strong as this.
He saw Loomis glaring down at him ready to take the shot. "I know what you are, Michael. I can see that evil that's consumed you. There's no point in keeping Evil alive, is there Michael? And I know what I can do to get rid of that evil."
Michael watched as Loomis' finger tightened on the trigger.
No! You can't die! Not yet! Cynthia needs you. You need her. Don't leave the only family, the only person who actually cares about you. Don't leave your sister.
Michael forced himself upward only for another bullet to hit his head sending him falling out the window.
————————————
His eyes shot open as his body moved and his hands reached for the first thing he could grab. Laurie.
When his vision cleared, Michael was standing in front of a police force holding a knife to Laurie's throat as guns were trained on Michael.
Laurie stood still as a statue. Michael glanced around, his eyes landing on his sister, who was standing just in front of Loomis who was still pointing his gun at Michael.
Michael's grip tightened on the knife. He knew no one could shoot him if Laurie was in the way. Michael wasn't going to die. He still had a chance to remake his family with Cynthia.
Cynthia stepped forward and spoke calmly, seeing the fear in his eyes. "Michael, it's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you. Just take it easy…."
Cynthia was speaking calmly, but Michael was afraid. He couldn't lose her. Not again. He had to protect her. He had to keep the only other person he still had left.
Michael's grip tightened on the knife yet again without him even realizing it. His eyes were locked on her as his breathing became heavier.
"Michael, you don't have to do that. Laurie's my friend. She won't hurt you either, right?" Laurie nodded nervously.
Michael wasn't concerned about Laurie as he was about everyone else, especially Loomis. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to be treated like a monster and isolated from everyone and everything. He didn't want to be stuck with Loomis rambling in his ear about how much of an evil monster he was.
As Michael finally focused back on Cynthia, the fear in his eyes faded just a little. Laurie could be trusted, yes. But Loomis? No. Never Loomis.
He was so quick to draw his gun on Michael that he didn't even bother to question him, just fired without a second thought to the situation. He didn't care about Michael, he didn't think of Michael as anything more than a monster, as evil.
Cynthia seemed to understand what was scaring Michael and she tried to help him. "Put your guns down! It's fine, he's not gonna do anything! Trust me. Please."
Slowly but surely, the officers lowered their guns and backed off a little bit. Loomis sighed but followed suit as well. Cynthia nodded in a silent thanks before turning back to Michael. "See, Michael? It's okay. I won't let them hurt you, and they won't hurt me either. I promise. Please, just drop the knife at least so we can talk, can we do that, Michael?"
Michael was breathing hard, unable to control his rapid breathing as he stared at the knife that was still held tightly in his grasp. He didn't want to drop it, didn't want to let it go. He didn't want to let go of what little control he had left.
But he also didn't want to harm anyone, especially not Cynthia.
Michael's eyes flickered towards her as she begged him to drop the knife.
Cynthia offered him a gentle nod of approval as Michael loosened his grip on the knife, not letting it go through. "Mike….Michael…"
Michael didn't say anything, and his grip loosened on the knife little by little. He didn't move away from Laurie though, still keeping her by his side. But he felt like dropping the knife would be a risk. The gun that Loomis was aiming at his head at the beginning of this ordeal could just fire off and kill him, couldn't it?
Cynthia continued as she had Michael's attention. "Can I ask you something, Michael?"
Michael tilted his head in curiosity. "I know you're scared. But I don't know what it is you're afraid of. Are you afraid of…the cops?" Michael slowly shook his head.
"Okay…are you afraid of what happens next?" Michael held her gaze. "You don't want to go back, do you? To Smith's Grove"
Michael tensed a bit as he eyed Loomis' fixated stare.
Going back to Smith's Grove was one of Michae's nightmares. He could never forget how he was treated like a freak there, Loomis telling him how evil he was every chance he got. He'd do anything to never go back.
Michael's face contorted into a grimace and he glanced back at Loomis briefly before looking back at Cynthia. She knew his fears. He could see it on her face as well. She was trying to help him not get thrown back into that hellish place.
Cynthia nodded in sympathy. "Yeah, I get that. I can't imagine how lonely that would be…and I'm sorry you had to go through that. No one should have to endure being treated like that, especially not you. You don't deserve that, ya know? You're not a monster. Not to me. You're my brother. And I do care about you, Michael. I love you. My brother…" Cynthia smiled with tears in her eyes.
Michael's eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. His sister loved him. His sister really loved him. Even after everything he had been through, she still loved him unconditionally. He thought for a moment. Love... What was love? Something he had never felt... But something he wanted to feel. To feel accepted without question... Just like Cynthia made him. He could feel himself choking up with emotion as he lowered the knife a bit more.
"Please let me help you, Michael…please…" Michael held Cynthia in his gaze as he lowered the knife completely and let it fall to the ground.
He looked back up at her, the tears in his eyes now flowing freely. She had accepted him, still loving and forgiving him after what he had done, after who he was. She didn't see a monster. She saw her brother, and she cared.
He couldn't say a word as emotions overwhelmed him. He simply let the tears fall down his cheeks as he tried to process everything.
Cynthia's smile grew as Michal let Laurie go. "Thank you…" Michael dropped the knife and nodded.
"Mic-" BANG!
Michael felt immense pressure as he stumbled back and more bullets hit him like a hammer hitting a nail.
Michael's vision went blurry as he saw Cynthia cry out "No!" and rush to his side. Michael stumbled backward, pain searing through his entire body even with the blur of his vision. He was losing vision fast, but his hearing was still clear. The sound of the gunshots was still ringing in his ears, as was the sound of his sister crying out, "No!"
He was fading fast and his thoughts couldn't stay focused. He was losing consciousness as all he could think about was his sister. He couldn't leave her. Not yet. Not like this.
Michael felt Cynthia pull him into her arms in a warm embrace, holding him tightly. Michael gasped as a cool breeze hit his skin, starting him.
Michael's eyes widened as he realized that Cynthia had taken off his mask. The mask that had hidden his face for so long had finally been removed. He could barely take in how he felt, what was happening.
His sister... was caring for him. She was embracing him, her touch was delicate and gentle and almost motherly. She was showing him love and affection that he had never felt before, making his whole body shiver. He couldn't think, he couldn't move. All he could do was cry. The feeling was surprising to him.
"Michael…"
He flinched as a warm hand touched the side of his face in a gentle, tender motion. Michael didn't stop the tears from streaming from his dark blue eyes as he stared up at his sister who was also crying.
Cynthia stared down at her brother seeing nothing but a scared young man with a childlike innocence that broke her heart even more. She didn't see a monster behind his eyes, she saw a boy who was suffering and in desperate need of love. Love he should've had a long time ago.
There was a certain calmness that came over Michael as he looked up at his sister. He wasn't afraid of her, and he wasn't afraid of being seen. Maybe because it was the one time when he felt loved for who he was.
The mask was off, the world could see his face, and he was able to look at his sister freely. He didn't feel afraid or ashamed. He felt calm, like everything would turn out just fine.
Cynthia sniffled as she glanced at his wounds before eyeing him softly.
She once again smiled, her voice cracked as she spoke almost in a whisper, leaning close to his face.
"It's okay, Michael. It's okay now. Everything's going to be fine. I promise you…" Michael didn't even bother to wipe his tears. He just stared up at his sister's comforting face. It was hard to believe what was happening, what was even being said to him, but to Michael… it all felt right. His sister had taken time to truly see him instead of just assuming.
A warm glow seeped into his body, like a comforting blanket of love enveloping him. It felt like finally being home. Home.
His gaze softened to the slightest hint of a smile on his face. Home was good. He was home now, in his sister's arms…
Michael felt the pain and exhaustion leave him with a feeling of walking on clouds. Light. Soft. Free.
His eyes fluttered closed slowly as the lightness of this feeling took him over. He felt nothing but warmth and relief as he began to slip away.
Home. He was finally home.
"It's okay…you can rest now, Michael…" Michael felt himself drifting away as one last thought crossed his mind, staring at his sister.
I'm sorry…
THE END