Thirty-six hours to execution.
Fuck, fuck! This is it; I'm getting closer to being fucking fried! What the fuck is that twat Thompson even doing? Masturbating probably!
Derek Chancer turned over on his hard bed and tried to close his eyes for about the four hundredth time that night, but nothing he did seemed to work. His thoughts were going round and round in a continuous circle, it felt like he was on a God damn merry go round or something. The Valium he'd been given hadn't worked either, every time he tried to sleep his nightmares contained electric chairs, skull caps, restraints…
Thompson had visited him that afternoon, saying the usual bullshit he'd been spouting since Derek had first arrived on Death Row. "I'm trying everything I can, I don't hold out much hope," blah, blah, fucking blah! That's all it was as far as Derek was concerned now, talk. Legal talk to cover the lawyer's own sorry failing ass! But as much as he didn't like it, Derek also knew he was very probably right. He was about to burn and there was nothing he could do about it. The only thing he had left to look forward to being his last meal, and he didn't hold out much hope for that being grate either. Even if they did give him exactly what he'd requested it would probably be the cheapest shit they could find. Hell! Why spend a lot of money on a man who would soon be dead right? When the food he was eating was about to become text on a God damn autopsy report!
He'd made the mistake of asking some of his fellow inmates when he'd first arrived, and he soon realised his error.
"Put it this way," one snickered from his left-hand side. "You'll be wired, get a buzz and one hell of a shock in both senses of the word!"
He guessed this was Death Row's version of dark humour, in the same way men condemned to die in the gas chamber often used the statement, "Take a deep breath," to one another. Their way to cope with what scared them shitless, but it didn't settle him at all.
"What are you expecting?" Another asked, a nasty inflection in his voice. "Someone to sit you down in a comfortable chair with your book and a teddy? Say, just close your eyes little baby and go to sleep?"
Derek flushed. "I…" he stopped himself. He had no idea what he'd been looking for. Comfort? Reassurance? How the hell could these guys tell him what it felt like? They hadn't taken their seats in old sparky yet. It wasn't like someone who already had could come back and tell them what it was like!
"PUT A PLUG IN IT NEW BOY," another prisoner shouted down the corridor, to renewed guffaws of mocking laughter.
"NO," shouted another. "PULL THE PLUG ON IT!"
The laughter continued. Derek knew these guys were under just as much stress and fear as he was, and this was purely their way of coping with it. That however didn't mean he liked it. Why did it have to be at his expense?
"HE'S NOT VERY SWITCHED ON, IS HE?" Another guffawed. Derek rolled his eyes. How many electricity puns would he have to endure? Shit. He wished he hadn't even opened his mouth. Now he was facing it himself he found that for the very first time, he regretted using electricity on his female victims. He secretly feared it, which was why he'd used it. Now it didn't seem like such a good idea. Or as he'd thought previously, perhaps it was karma. Yet again he found himself thinking and rethinking his actions in Smith's Grove. God he'd been a fucking idiot! Why the hell had he got involved with Dawson in any way? He should have known and realised that if he was caught, it would lead him straight to the chair, as indeed it had.
He knew he should have pretended, played the game with that fucking shrink Loomis, put on a show of rehabilitating, getting better. That Loomis' therapy was working. But no. Instead, what had he done? He'd booked his seat right into old sparky. He'd let his desire for money and further rapes and kills get the better of him and it'd cost him his life.
"Fuck," Derek Chancer whispered into his thin Death Row pillow. "Fuck." He was a trapped rat, a sitting duck for the very electricity he was so afraid of, and he knew it. He had to accept defeat there was nothing Thompson would be able to do, his dislike of the lawyer aside. The pigs and quacks had way too much evidence against him. He had a clock ticking loudly over his head, ticking away the time he had left to live one tick at a time. His life was over, he was going to die in thirty-six hours' time.
…
Danielle snuggled into Michael's side, her headphones in her ears reading a book. It was one she had been dying to finish and she couldn't think of a better place to do so than in the arms of her lover. Finishing the chapter, she was currently on; however, she could not resist taking her earphones out just to lie beside him. Whether he was asleep or awake she wasn't sure. But she wasn't going to speak just in case he was asleep. Standing, she slowly walked to the desk, put her phone back down upon it and carefully poured herself some water from the jug.
Slipping into one of the chairs as she sipped it slowly, she found herself thinking about everything she'd gone through with Adam just a few days before. Or perhaps she should say the late Adam now. That thought made her smile a little. She didn't think she'd ever smile at someone's death, but his? That was a different story. Plus, she was certain he would've done a damn sight more than smile if her suicide attempt had worked. He'd locked the fucking garage door to leave her in there to die after all!
"Don't think about that," she whispered to herself in the silence of the night. "Don't."
Taking a deep breath, almost absently her hand went up to the scar on her cheek running her finger across it. Damn. She still remembered the pain of that even now. As he'd ejaculated, Adam had slashed her face with that fucking knife! All because she'd been talking to her male tutor about her assignment. When Adam had first threatened her about talking to him, she'd even gone as far as to ask college for a female replacement, but they'd apologised and said they didn't have one. To this day, she wondered why she hadn't been strong enough to tell someone there about the abuse. It wasn't like Adam had been standing behind her and she knew as much. But her fear had got the better of her. That was one mistake she kind of regretted. Although could she regret her suicide attempt completely now it'd ended up making her happier than she could remember being for many years?
She'd done the one thing against all odds because of it she thought she would never do, fallen in love. She'd vowed when she first entered Smith's Grove that wouldn't happen. Even though she'd known (or thought she had) that it wouldn't, not here, she wasn't even going to chance it. She never planned to have a man again. Now?
As she touched her scar, she realised it was starting to hurt a little. Had she rubbed it against the pillow in her sleep or without realising? She sighed, her finger now going to the ones on her shoulder, then arms. Shit! Adam had made damn sure he would never leave her alone, even in death. His marks were all over her.
Hey.
She started as Michael's hand fell on her shoulder as she read the message. "Sorry," he'd caught her looking at her scars. "I…" she stalled. What the hell could she say? But he simply filled up her glass again then his, before sitting opposite her and texting her again.
Talk to me. Are they hurting?
To her frustration, she found herself blinking back tears. Instantly he was there, pulling her into his arms as he knelt in front of her again and placed her hands on his ears.
"Shh," he whispered before for only the third time, whispering into her ear. "Shh, I'm here."
His tender actions and words tipped her over the edge and her tears finally started falling. His arms tightened around her, he pulled out a tissue from the always kept full box on the desk and started wiping her eyes.
"I'm so sorry darling," she said quietly her voice shaking. "It's just… shit! I got up to get a drink of water, sat down and found myself looking at my fucking hundreds of scars! It just made me think that in a way, Adam's got what he wanted even in death."
In what sense?
"Because I've got all these scars, his marks all over me and they will never be gone! Even from beyond the grave he's taunting me, I'll always know what he did! Please, let me say this? I know you said I shouldn't say it again and that I'm not, but these scars do make me feel ugly. Not just this one," she tapped the one on her cheek. "But also there," she said, removing her pyjamas to show her whole naked body. "These, these, and these." She gestured to her shoulders, arms, chest and legs. Hardly any of her body had been left unscarred from his vicious abuse. She felt Michael's gentle and warm finger on one on her shoulder, then her arm. She guided his hand to the huge ones on both her breasts. "You, see?" She just managed to say over the lump in her throat. "They're fucking everywhere!"
He pulled her into his arms, she was still naked. Her back was just as scarred as the rest of her was.
Listen to me. All these scars show is how brave you are, how strong you are, how determined you are. When you put that rope around your neck, you were hoping to die weren't you.
She could tell it wasn't a question. "Yes of course," she said quietly. "I'd had enough, I couldn't do it anymore. It was the only way out I could see."
But you survived.
"Only because Nigel was there, he saved my life. At first, I really wished he hadn't. When I was told, I was going to Smith's Grove, I would've tried to kill myself again had I not been under suicide watch in the hospital! I was deemed a high risk to myself, and I couldn't understand why they couldn't just leave me alone to die!"
Because you still had things to live for. Your family, your friends, your life. If you'd killed yourself, you would have had him win.
"Yes, I know, if I had ten dollars every time someone's said that…" she cuddled tightly against him, and he wiggled his ears. She couldn't stop a small chuckle. "Thanks darling. I know, but at that time I couldn't see that. You know this one here," she tapped her cheek again. "I got it because Adam said, "I told you not to talk to him, you slut," regarding my male tutor, before he raped me and as he came, he slashed my face open, then my inner thigh. I even asked the college for a female replacement, but they said they didn't have one.
Did they not probe further and ask if you had a reason for it?
She laughed a little. "No, I wish they had! I'm guessing they just assumed I'm a woman, so I wanted to be helped by a woman. Before you ask me babe, I didn't tell them because I was so scared. I often wonder if I had, what would've happened? Would I have still tried to kill myself and ended up here?"
Thinking about it won't do you any good, however.
"I know," she sighed. "I've been trying as hard as I can for months not to think about it. You know, it's ironic really. I tried to kill myself, came damn close if not for Nige and now I'm here in the arms of a serial killer whom I love. I really, really wanted you to kill me, you know.
Indeed. You asked me to do that very thing.
"So why didn't you?" She asked in a whisper, the question she'd really wanted an answer to for months.
He pushed her head to his shoulder and cradled her close to him. "Please?" She breathed. "Please tell me. Tell me the truth?" Leaning in, he kissed her before he replied.
At first, it was because I didn't get the chance. There was a time I would've killed you without hesitation. But as time passed, I started to realise I couldn't. Yes ok, at first it was because I knew I'd spend a long time in isolation if I tried, whether I managed it or not. But then you started to… change me, which I still don't completely understand. I know I think what you're going to ask me next, why did I hold your hand that first time? I don't know, probably… well I could tell you it was, so you knew where I was and not to come any closer, but…
She smiled at him now and kissed him back. She understood. He didn't know why he'd done it, not really.
I don't know. Maybe because even then I took note of the fact you can't see me and that made you vulnerable. It didn't mean I wouldn't kill you if I had a chance though. Then when I carried you into my cell so Joanne could treat your head after Jefferson tripped you up, I'll tell you something, I was seriously considering doing it that night.
"Really?" She asked in surprise. "Wo. That makes you dangerous then because you hid it well. You made me feel safe and cared about. Was that a false sense of security?"
Perhaps. I was going to strangle or smother you in your sleep.
"In my sleep? That's not your usual M.O, is it?"
It isn't. So that should tell you something. Even in wanting to kill you, I was… if you like minimalizing the pain you'd feel.
"So, what happened then?" She asked. "Why didn't you if you were planning it?" She heard him sigh softly.
I don't know. You started talking to me telling me your name and other things, a bit about your life and why you were here and I… I must have changed my mind.
As she was reading this message, she was rubbing one of the scars on her left arm without realising it. She felt him lovingly remove her hand from it and put it back on his left ear.
Stop touching them, you'll make them hurt.
"Sorry S…" she said again and cursed. "Fuck!" She lightly hit the desk. "Shit! I told you Adam was having the last laugh even beyond death!"
"Shh, shh." Michael kept repeating as he pulled her to her feet by the hand and back over to the bed.
No, he is not, don't let him. Come on, try to get some sleep. I'll be right beside you. As for Adam, he can't hurt you again, I made sure of that. I promise you, he can't. As for his ghost or whatever you wish to call it, I'll keep that away too. No "Sir," from your mouth to me, try and stop it. Please?
She could only nod as he helped her back into bed. He got in beside her, pulled her back into his arms and both hands onto both his ears.
Better?
She smiled, unable to stop herself. "Thanks darling, thank you so much."
For what?
"I don't think I could do this without you," she said sincerely. "I might have tried to kill myself again. You know the water jugs? I tried to run my fingers across it on one of my very early nights here, trying to find a sharp edge to slit my wrists with.
Good luck with that, they're designed specifically to stop things like that.
"I noticed," she sighed. "Back then I was furious. Now… I'm so glad they did design them that way!"
As am I.
"Why, did you try it too?" She joked with a small laugh. He sighed again and she was certain he rolled his eyes.
Very amusing… or not.
She rested her head back on his shoulder against the pillow letting out a long breath. She knew she should do what he said and try and get some sleep, but could she when her mind was still running at one hundred kilometres per hour? Once again, she found her finger on the scar across her cheek. It was starting to twinge.
Hey stop that. What's the matter? Does it hurt?
As she read this, he firmly but lovingly pulled her hand away from it.
Any time you want to touch one of your scars just touch my ears instead.
At this, she laughed properly. "Now that sounds like an offer I can't refuse," she said. "Thanks so much, Michael. Not for that as such, but for your care and kind words.
I believe it's called love, isn't it? As for what I just said, I mean it.
"I think so," finally, she yawned. "That's what I've been told.
Well then, why don't we find out together?
"Now that's definitely an offer I can't refuse," now she kissed him. "That sounds like an amazing idea Mr. Myers."
Is your facial scar hurting?
"Yes," she admitted finally. "It is."
It's a little red. Have you rubbed it against something?
"Not that I know of the pillow perhaps?"
Do you want me to call for some cream to soothe it?
"Would you? I can do it if you want…" she leant towards the call button. Again, he pulled her lovingly back.
No, please let me do this for you. You don't have to do everything for yourself anymore. Yourself, or others. Please, let me take care of you. I know it will take you a while to get used to but please let me start here.
It was such a caring message, she once again felt tears sliding down her cheeks. He once again wiped them away as she nodded. "Thank you, Michael Myers," she sniffed. "I love you so much!"
He pressed the call button and a minute or so later, one of the guards was there. She wasn't sure who as she didn't hear their voice just the rustle of Michael passing them a piece of paper. A couple of minutes later she heard a pot being placed on her nightstand, before Michael was back in bed at her side and she felt cold, soothing cream on her cheek.
"Oh my God," she sighed with relief. "Thanks so much Michael, shit that feels good. Please don't ask me babe, please just do it? It's you, the one man I trust beyond anyone else!"
He kissed her mouth softly before he slowly started moving his hands over her body, applying cream to each of her scars. When he reached the one very close to her vaginal entrance, she smiled to herself, remembering the first time she'd let him touch it. How things had changed since then. She shivered as the cold cream made contact. "No," she said quickly. "It doesn't hurt darling, please keep going. It's just cold!" He chuckled, but continued what he was doing.
Once he was done applying it to her back, he put the pot down and pulled her back into his arms. "Careful," she warned. "You don't want to get this stuff on you."
That matters nothing to me, it's the least of my worries. Just lie still and let it do its work.
She nodded. Despite what she'd said to him about not getting any sleep, she soon found her eyes closing. She tried to fight it off but couldn't, and before long she was dead to the world in Michael's arms.
…
Danielle slept like a log. She didn't even hear it when the cell door buzzed open. As a result, when she woke up, she was alone. For a second she was concerned, until she checked her phone.
Sleepyhead. I have gone to get breakfast and then out into the yard. I have been told to tell you that Dr Stark says take your time and press the call button when you're ready. There is a flask of tea on the desk, you just hold down the button and drink out of this one. See you soon. M.
She smiled at the message. Michael Myers writing, "Sleepy head?" who would've thought? But then, Michael Myers even texting, who would've thought?
Just as he'd said, she found the flask of tea on the desk and took a sip. It was the perfect temperature and made just how she liked it. Sitting in one of the chairs once more, she began to think about the day ahead. While she appreciated Dr Stark had told her she wouldn't push her to talk until she was ready, she knew she'd have to at some point for her treatment to work.
She wasn't even sure how she felt about everything that had happened recently. Sure, she was pissed off Adam had managed to get to her so damn easily plus a little angry with the DASC for several reasons, but nor did she want to be the kind of victim who constantly complained. But she also knew she would probably have to tell Dr Stark how she was feeling, again, if her treatment was going to be successful.
Letting out a long breath, she picked up her phone and tapped a number. Nigel.
"Hey sweetheart," he greeted, picking up her call on the second ring. "You, ok?"
"Morning Grandad, any news?"
"Nothing yet babes, no change since yesterday. Tim practically begged Colin and Dave to go home and get some rest, but he's got no chance of getting Emma out of that chair, not even if he tries at gunpoint."
She smiled sadly. "Good luck trying, but then she is Charlotte's… our mom." That thought still took some getting used to, she was an adopted Avery.
"That's what I said, but I still think she could go home and at least try to sleep. Charlotte's going to need her when she wakes up. I've been taking them food and things into the hospital."
"I told her that before I left," she admitted. "But it will take a very brave person to tell mom she should try and get some sleep at home or even in the hotel."
Nigel chuckled sadly. "Yes, but I do intend to try again today. I've offered to stay with Charlotte so your family including Tim can get some rest."
"Thanks, I wish there was something I could do."
"There is though. You're in Smith's Grove getting the treatment you need and letting yourself recover. Just like Emma, you'll be no use to Charlotte when she wakes up if you don't."
"I know you're right, but I still feel helpless up here."
"What about Michael however?" She was glad to hear a definite note of teasing in Nigel's voice. "I'm sure he's helping you, yes?"
"He's been amazing," she said truthfully and totally seriously. "I don't know what I'd have done without him actually."
"Then that just proves my point. I promise you I'll call day or night when there's even the slightest news."
"I know, thanks Nige. I love you."
"Love you too darling, you take care now you hear?"
"You, too." She hesitated for a second, then spoke again. "Nige?"
"Yes D?"
"I think Dr Stark wants to talk to me about everything I went through… you know with Adam soon."
"And?"
"Well," she rubbed her forehead. "Shit. I'm not sure how I feel about it."
"Talking about it? Or what happened?"
"If I'm honest. I was so mad with the DASC when I first got rescued."
"Why is that?"
"Because first they let Charlotte get hurt. I don't care how good their supposed app is, there must be more they could have done. I mean ok, maybe they couldn't have stopped the hit and run I refuse to call it an accident because it wasn't."
"That we all know and agree on. You know what I think?" Nigel's voice was gentle. "I think you're wanting to blame them for what Adam was able to do to you."
"Well fuck!" She slammed her hand down on the desk. "Of course, part of me wants to blame them! I asked them for two security guards, and they fucking went um, ah about that before eventually agreeing to it! I had two God damn security guards with me that day and I was still kidnapped!" She lowered her voice a little. "Now I don't want Joanne to feel guilty about what happened, she was knocked out with Chloroform for Fuck's sake! But the other guy? Jason? I can't help but blame him somewhat. He was standing there with a fucking real gun and didn't save me! Doesn't appear to me he even really tried".
Nigel made a soft noise of agreement. "Yes, I can't deny I think he could've done more. He works with domestic violence for a living, you'd think he'd be better trained/prepared for a situation like that. Dr Stark told me yesterday the DASC might be taking disciplinary action against him because he didn't do enough to protect you."
"I wish that didn't make me feel a little better," she admitted. "I don't want someone getting into trouble with my name on it but by the same token he kind of deserves it."
"The hospital has CCTV," Nigel continued. "The whole incident was captured so they have plenty of evidence to convict Jason with. He should've shot, taken someone down, even taken a shot at Adam."
"Now for that I'm kind of glad he didn't," she said with a slight grin. "Because if he had, Michael may not have been able to finish that fucker off!"
"Yes ok, on that I'm with you completely," Nigel chuckled. "Damn I wish I'd been there to see it! Cut his head clean off, didn't he? Fucking awesome!"
"Yeah, then someone else in the house picked his head up by the ears." She was careful not to say it had been none other than Chris Leach, as she wasn't sure how much Nigel knew about that part of the rescue mission. As if reading her mind however, Nigel spoke again.
"I know it was Leach."
"Huh? How?"
He chuckled. "Rick told me. He directed them to where Adam was holding you."
"Really?" She felt absurdly touched. Here was a top crime lord trying to save her life. "He also got me unchained when Adam had chained me to a bed to rape me. It was a Misogynist's house, so the bed had rings on it for chains."
"Fuckers," Nigel muttered. Even though he wouldn't see it she nodded.
"He also punched Adam in the throat," she said with barely disguised relish. "It was fabulous."
"Didn't a certain someone knee him in the balls and almost pull his ears off too?" Now she could hear he was grinning.
"What?" She put a hand to her heart in mock outrage. "How dare you suggest such a thing Mr. Manning! I would never do such a thing to Adam! Well, except if he kidnaped, raped and abused me. Oh, wait…" Next second they were both laughing. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Maybe she could do this after all.
"That's better," Nigel said when they'd both regained their composure. She had to admit it felt good to laugh, really laugh.
"Thanks Nige," she said gratefully. "But I'm still a little… apprehensive. She paused for a second. "Nige, do you think…" she tried again. "If Dr Stark agrees to it, would you mind being on Facetime when I tell the whole story? I only want to tell it once and to the people who matter to me the most. I owe you my life Nige. If it hadn't been for you, I'd be dead now. I love you to pieces." She was silent again and when she next spoke her voice had a hint of sadness in it. "Remember that time I took you a chicken dinner and Adam lost his fucking mind?"
"I do," he said quietly. "I really wanted to get you out of there. As I told you, I wanted to be on the rescue mission, but Dr Loomis said it was too dangerous as Adam knows… knew me and knows well… knew people. As much as I didn't like it, I knew he was right. Quite honestly? I don't know how you didn't do something sooner than you did."
She chuckled a little. "Maybe I thought he'd change or something? Some deluded part of me? But men like that don't change, they just get worse."
"At least you got to have the revenge you loved by pulling his ears that hard."
"Yeah," she grinned. "That was amazing. I told him the only thing I'd miss about him were his ears."
Nigel laughed out loud. "Awesome! Good one D. In answer to your question, my phone will be with me all day. If you want to do what you suggested, just hit that button and you'll be right in my ear. Oh sorry, I mean ears!"
She giggled this time. "Did I tell you it was none other than Michael himself who told me Adam is dead?" Nigel asked after a short companionable silence.
"No? Really?"
"I was telling him in the hospital about how I couldn't help with the rescue as Adam knows me and I wished I was there to kill him. Michael wrote me a message which said something like, "I think the word you need is knew and as for killing him, that's not possible unless he's able to die twice."
She snickered. "That sounds like a Michael response."
Nigel chuckled. "Yeah, he's very… blunt, isn't he? He doesn't hold anything back."
"Nope," she said affectionately. "With Michael you just must learn to read between the lines. He put, "Sleepyhead," in a text to me this morning because I slept so late."
"Aww," Nigel said. "That's cute. I wish you both only the best. I'd better get going now D, I want to keep watch over Charlotte for a while as Tim really needs some sleep himself. But I will tell a nurse you will be calling me, and they'll be more than happy to take over for a while whilst I'm on the phone."
"Thanks Nige, I'll call you later then. Love you."
"Love you too D." There was a click. He was gone.
…
She took her time getting ready and finishing off her tea. Ten minutes later she finally hit the call button.
"Hey, you," came Mel's voice.
"Mel? What are you doing here? Aren't you on late shifts now?"
"I did an extra early just for you," Mel chuckled as she buzzed open the door. No, I'm still on my early shifts."
"Oh, and I felt flattered for a second there, you ruined it!" she pulled back from Mel's arm to pull her into a hug. Mel hugged her back.
"Come on then you, do you want breakfast?"
"To be honest, I'm not actually that hungry. My stomach's all over the place."
"Because of today?" Mel squeezed her arm. "Dr Stark isn't going to push it; you can talk when you're ready. Don't think the longer I wait the longer I'm here either. I can tell that's what you're thinking. That's not the case but telling your story might really help."
"How do you do that? Damn. Next time I go to a casino, tell me which numbers to bet on for the jackpot will you?"
Mel chuckled. "I could tell by your face."
"Meh, lies."
Mel laughed. As they entered the dining room, Danielle felt like she was back at the start again, but this time it was Mel trying to persuade her to eat not Joanne. She managed a small bowl of scrambled eggs and another cup of tea.
"Where is Dr Stark?" She asked.
"Right here actually," came her doctor's voice.
"Oh my god!" she clapped a hand to her heart. "How the hell do you do that Dr Stark? Damn, you'd be one hell of a good stalker, not to mention mind reader!"
Both Mel and Dr Stark chuckled. "I was just coming in to grab a coffee actually, the machine in the staff canteen has run out, again." She stressed the last word and rolled her eyes.
"For God's sake," Mel said. "How many times have we told them we need a bigger machine in there? There's no way one that size will last all of us very long."
"Yup," Dr Stark agreed. "But tell the powers that be that."
"Maybe you'll get a new one now Andrews has gone."
"This is true," Mel and Dr Stark said in unison before laughing.
"Yeah, he wasn't exactly Mr. generous with his money," Mel agreed. "From what I've heard, Mr. Cutter our new CEO is."
"There you go then, problem solved! Dr Stark I want to talk to you today, I want to tell you the whole story. But and I don't know if this is the right word to use… on one condition?"
"Ok, and what's that?"
"That I only tell it once, and that once is to all the people I feel deserve to hear it. You, Dr Loomis, Mel, Joanne, Rick, Jack, Michael and of course, Nigel. I've already asked him if he would be on Facetime when I told it to which he agreed. So, it's just whether you'll allow that?"
"You know, that sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Don't worry about saying conditions, I think if there's anyone who deserves that it's you."
"Well said," Mel agreed. "Thanks. I'm touched you trust me enough to hear your terrible ordeal."
"Did I tell you Michael wrote, "Sleepyhead," in my text this morning?" She asked with a grin.
"He didn't?" Dr Stark sounded disbelieving. For answer Danielle pulled out her phone and showed them the message.
"Who would've thought," Mel stared at the screen. "Aww, he's trying to be romantic when he never has before. It's cute."
"Indeed, it is," Dr Stark said. "You really have got through to him in a way no one else has before."
"I don't know how," she admitted. "I've wondered that for ages. I mean I didn't do anything special as such, I'm just me, a totally blind woman who tried to kill herself following domestic abuse. What's so special about that?"
"That's a question you'll have to ask Michael," Mel smiled.
"Yeah, I know, but I can't stop thinking about it. Surely, I didn't get through to him just because I'm blind? What made him so protective of me and why? I mean yeah, that first time I crossed his line totally by accident Dr Loomis went mad." She smiled a little. "I didn't hear it, Joanne told me later. I mean weeks later. Yet Michael didn't even try to kill me then and he so easily could've done. I've wondered why he held my hand, sent me that letter, looked after me when Jefferson tripped me up and killed him when he threw his cum in my face. It makes no sense. To answer you Mel, I did ask him, but I don't think he knows either."
"Yuck, that's vile!" Mel pulled a face. "Thank God I didn't see that, or I'd have hit the roof too! Good on Michael! You want my advice? Like I said to you yesterday. Enjoy it, live it, love it."
"Oh, I am, doesn't stop me from wondering, but I am, and I wouldn't change a thing. I just mean what was so special about me that an infamous serial killer fell in love with me? Why did he protect me in the first place and not just try to kill me? I asked him that last night too."
"What did he say?" Mel and Dr Stark asked together.
"He said that the first night I was in his cell after Jefferson tripped me up, he was seriously considering strangling or smothering me in my sleep."
"Seriously?" Mel looked shocked.
"I said something similar. I said, "That makes you even more dangerous then because you hid it well. Were you trying to give me a false sense of security?" He wasn't sure. But then I asked him 'so why didn't you?' He said when I started talking to him telling him my name and about myself that he just couldn't. He must've changed his mind.
Mel let out a low whistle. "Wow.
"So, Dr Loomis was sure you were safe," Dr Stark said softly. "He could've been so terribly wrong."
"So could I," she nodded. "Michael didn't give me any clue I was in danger so I wouldn't have blamed you. It's not like my ghost would've come back to haunt you or anything Dr Stark."
All three of them chuckled at this.
"Joanne, Rick and Jack are not in until one," Dr Stark said. "So, we can wait until then if you like? In the meantime, shall we take you back to your other half? I'm sure you're heartbroken without him!"
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Mel and Danielle said together this time. Dr Stark rolled her eyes.
"Tell mine that, I miss my husband Luke every day when I'm not at home."
"But think of the plus sides!" she raised her hands in the air and spoke in a dramatic tone. "You get to spend that time with me! How lucky are you?"
"Oh of course," Dr Stark said. "Why didn't I think of that? I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Oh, get lost," she started laughing as did the other two. It felt so good to be able to laugh again. There was a time not so long ago when she had been certain just that small, simple pleasure was lost to her for the rest of her life.
…
A few minutes later, Mel guided her out into the exercise yard and towards Michael's yellow warning line. Darren and William were the guards either side this morning.
"Morning ladies," William greeted. Darren just grunted and she had to hide a grin. Mel had confided in her once that Darren was not a morning person. "Darren's here too," William said as if reading her mind. Could everyone do that so easily this morning? Had there been something in her tea? "He's not a morning person."
Stepping over the yellow line, she heard the now very familiar clinking of chains as Michael stepped towards her then his cuffed hand on her arm. "Morning darling," she yawned. "Sorry, I was so tired. Thank you so much for your text this morning telling me the tea was there. Are you ok?"
As she said this, she realised he wouldn't have his phone on him and even if he did his chains prevented him from answering. But as if on cue, he bent his head down, so she was touching his ears and wiggled them twice. She chuckled, but new what this meant. Yes. Hesitantly she moved her head towards his, taking his mouth in what she thought would be a brief kiss. She was hesitant in case Michael pulled back; she knew he wasn't affectionate in public. However, he didn't, and the kiss was a lot longer than she'd expected.
"Get a room you two already," William quipped from one side of the line. She also heard one of the patients who always said hello to her wolf whistle.
"Yes alright," she said but wasn't in the least embarrassed. "Show me where to go and we will."
Darren and William laughed. Michael took her hand as best he could with his cuffs on.
"I bet they're not exactly comfortable," she murmured sympathetically. "I'm sorry darling." He wiggled his ears in her hands again, just the answer she loved.
…
Dear Mr. Evans,
I am writing to inform you that your request to witness the execution by electrocution of Mr. Derek Julian Chancer in two days' time has been accepted.
We would ask you please to come to the Maximum-security unit wearing your Smith's Grove uniform and displaying correct ID. When you arrive, you will have to remove your firearm and other equipment, before submitting to a search. Once this is complete; you will be transported via prison van to the death chamber.
Due to the notoriety of this electrocution, there will be a high number of witnesses within the witness room on Thursday evening. You will all be asked to try and remain silent and medical assistance will be available should any of you need it.
Please arrive no later than 4PM to enable timely security checks and transportation. The inmate is scheduled to be executed at 6PM.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully, Rachael Parker. death Row Clerk.
…
At just after 1PM, she was guided by Joanne with Michael at her side towards one of the Smith's Grove conference rooms. She had never entered one before. She couldn't stop a small smile when her guard and friend told her tea, coffee and biscuits had been served and were on the huge table. "There's white chocolate cookies," she nudged her, causing her to smile faintly again.
She knew full well Dr Stark would have waited if she needed for this conversation, but it was being done just the way she'd asked and for this she was extremely grateful. She pulled out her phone to ring Nigel as discussed, and almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a phone ringing right in front of her just as her call connected.
At first, she was certain it was just impossibly weird timing, until she felt the arms around her and heard they're signature whistle. "Nigel?" She asked in shock.
"Hello kiddo," the older man squeezed her close. "Dr Stark called me after she talked with you and offered to put on a private plane so I could be here in person for you not via Facetime. Charlottes in good hands," he added before she could ask. "The whole family finally got some rest, even Emma albeit only a few hours on her part and are with her right now in the hospital. You need me, I'm here."
"I… I can't believe this," she felt tears of gratitude rushing to her eyes. "Dr Stark is… is a legend."
"She's a damn good woman this is true," Nigel released her. "Mr. Myers?" He turned to the killer extending his hand. "Nice to see you again."
The doors hissed open electronically at that moment. "We're ready when you are," said Dr Stark's voice. "Like my little surprise?"
"I don't know how to thank you, I really don't."
"It's not a problem. Don't worry, we just kept the door shut so your surprise wouldn't be spoilt if one of us mentioned it. We haven't talked about you at all, you'd know if we had because your ears, yes ears, would be burning," she laughed. "Please come in, this is your meeting after all, you have the floor completely.
"You've even provided refreshments," she smiled at her doctor.
"Yes indeed, white chocolate cookies just for you." Dr Stark took her arm and led her to a seat. She noticed it was luxurious leather and extremely comfortable. Nigel was sitting on her right, Michael her left.
"You're at the head of the table," Dr Stark said. "I say again this is your meeting."
She felt a rush of affection and love for everyone in the room at that moment. "How do I close the doors?" She asked. She loved gadgets like this. Dr Stark chuckled, but it was Michael who directed Danielle's finger to an indented button built into the head of the huge table. She pressed it, and the doors electronically hissed closed with a whoosh of compressed air. "That's cool," she smiled.
"Thought you'd enjoy that," Nigel chuckled.
"Ok," Dr Stark stood up. "Let's let our head know who's in here, shall we?" she felt tears rush to her eyes as the voices she loved most in the world apart from Michael and her family started to speak.
"Rick."
"Jack."
"Joanne."
"Mel."
"Dr Loomis."
"Dr Stark."
"Nigel."
Michael put his arm around her and squeezed her close, as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Thanks guys," she could hardly speak over the lump in her throat. "Thank you so much for all being here. This may seem a strange request, but is anyone able to record this? I want my family to hear it, but at the same time I don't want to say it all again."
She heard a soft beep. "These conference rooms have inbuilt microphones recorded onto our secure server," Dr Loomis said. "Give me just one second to turn it on."
There were two further beeps before Dr Loomis spoke again. "Ok, we're rolling."
"Thanks Dr Loomis," she said gratefully. Joanne handed her a cup of tea made just as she liked it and two white chocolate cookies.
"Thanks Joanne." She took a sip and bit into a cookie before taking a deep breath. She felt both Nigel and Michael squeeze her hands in unison.
"Ok," she began. "Well, I'm sure you all know what happened to poor Joanne here, knocked out by a fake nurse." She just knew Joanne had winced. "For what it's worth," she raised her voice a little. "I don't blame her whatsoever for what happened, and I hope none of you do either. Dr Stark told Nigel who told me that the DASC may be disciplining Jason for what happened that day. Apparently looking back at the footage, he could've done more, there was room for him to take a shot at Adam. Shame, he was out on his luck there, I personally would rather be shot than have my head cut clean off!" There were murmurs of agreement around the conference room.
"So, he put me over his shoulder's kind of like a fireman's lift? That probably wasn't difficult considering I don't weigh much and had lost a hell of a lot of weight during my time with him before arriving here. But you guys are treating me like a VIP today," she smiled a little.
"No more than you deserve," Joanne said to more murmurs of agreement.
"Well thanks, Dr Stark I can't thank you enough for moving so fast to get Nigel down here in person."
"It was my pleasure."
"Mine too," Nigel agreed. "You need me, I'm there. End of story."
"I don't know how many of you know this," she affectionately pulled Nigel's left ear, making everyone laugh. "This man here with the awesome ears I might add," everyone laughed again. "Was the very man who saved my life that terrible day." She stopped as there was a round of applause. She could almost feel the heat coming off Nigel's face. Her heart surged with love as she realised Michael was applauding too.
"I… I…" Nigel stammered, bright red. "I didn't do anything."
"Bull!" she tweaked his right ear this time. "Come on Mr. Manning, I want to go back to the beginning for just a second. Please, tell them your… our story?"
"You're a bugger you are kid," Nigel hugged her. "I'll get my own back for this."
"I look forward to it," she smirked.
"I was sitting at my living room window, and I heard him shouting at you."
"As per fucking usual," she muttered, just as Nigel said the exact same thing. They smiled at each other.
"I saw you come out of the house and head towards that fucker's… sorry, late fucker's garage. I was immediately concerned because the deceased was a self-employed handy man with a lot of sharp tools in there and that he wouldn't care if you got hurt. So, I followed. I got there just in time to see you standing on a chair putting a rope around your neck just before Adam locked the door. So, I ran back to my house and got a knife and a sledgehammer. I know what you're thinking," he looked around the room. "Why couldn't I have just smashed it over Dawson's now missing head, right? Oh, believe me," he smiled grimly. "I thought about it, I really, really did. But I also knew you would need me when you got through this, and I'd be no help in prison. I got back out there just as Adam put the key in his pocket and started walking back to the house, he was even fucking whistling!"
"Motherfucker," Jack muttered. "Talk about cruel irony. You love whistling."
"I thought exactly the same thing Jack," Nigel nodded. "So, I broke the door down with the sledgehammer as soon as I heard you knock the chair over. I got in and you were already hanging by your neck. I cut you down and called for help. I told the police what happened, what I'd seen after you were rushed to hospital and Adam was arrested." There was another round of applause, which made Nigel blush again.
He lost his wife Sophie to cancer," Danielle said to the room at large. "About six months before this happened so a year ago now. Give or take. I sort of… became the daughter he never had. I'd take him meals sometimes, much to the late Adam's… displeasure."
"Fucker," Nigel almost snarled. "I hope he burns in hell for the rest of eternity."
"That trial was an absolute farse," Joanne spoke up now. "Eleven to fucking one and all because of her son? What the fuck?" Nigel must've given her a questioning look because she added, "I was behind the screens."
"Oh of course you were," Nigel clapped a hand to his forehead. "I forgot that."
"I got the impression Judge Spinner didn't want to release him," she said. "It sounded like every word was causing her pain."
"It probably was," Joanne agreed. "But I heard the juror in question Duckworth got a damn heavy sentence for perverting the course of justice."
"So, she should," Nigel muttered.
Danielle drank some more tea and then started speaking again, her voice growing steadier as she got into her story.
"So yeah. Adam carried me out of the hospital over his shoulders, but he was disguised as a doctor, so no one gave him a second glance," her tone was bitter. "I don't know what happened next but I'm assuming he must've put me into some kind of vehicle. But I was unconscious myself at this point having also been injected with Chloroform. When I woke up, I was in that guy's house and Adam was taunting me. "Time to wake up, welcome home, told you I'd get my property back," and so on. That's all I was to him you see, property. I wasn't a woman; I was a piece of meat. But then all women are to guys like him." She took another bite of her white chocolate cookie and a long sip of tea before continuing.
"What followed over the next few hours was… well as you can doubtlessly imagine, hell. There's no other word for it. Pretty much as soon as I got into that house from hell, Ashley raped me. "I can't fuck her like this," he said when he was lying on top of me trying to rape me. He asked someone to get him some fucking porn. Said, "Look at this pussy, scarred to hell and not in the slightest attractive.""
"Didn't he consider," Jack's voice was dangerously soft. "That the reason you were, "Scarred to hell,"" he stressed the quote. "Was because of the so-called man who'd brought you there?"
She laughed humourlessly. "Probably Jack, but he wouldn't care, hell he'd probably congratulate Adam for it. It just meant he couldn't get an erection! That's all he cared about!"
"This is the point where I tell you that all the features in the app worked," Dr Loomis said. "The audio was activated, we heard that pig say that to you, and we also saw everything."
"Shit! So that's why he's dead! I did wonder… I mean I didn't tell anyone he'd raped me."
"It activated as soon as you hit panic, Dr Loomis clarified. "We all heard and saw the whole thing. Jack, Rick, Michael and I."
She couldn't stop herself smiling at them for this knowledge. No wonder Michael had made Adam's kill so brutal, even with all the things he'd done to her over the years. His anger had probably been made even stronger by hearing and seeing all that. She shivered a little at the thought, to more murmurs of agreement. They obviously all knew what she was thinking. Thank God my name wasn't Adam Dawson.
"They'd brought food," she continued after a second's pause. "But of course, they weren't going to cook it. Seriously? When there's a bitch in the house? Don't be stupid!" She sneered. "I had to cook them dinner and…" she lowered her head at this point, feeling the humiliation all over again even though she was now safe and among those she loved. Again, Nigel and Michael both squeezed her hands. She took a deep breath. "I had to be naked while I did it," she said softly.
There was a shocked silence, but nobody interrupted her. She was grateful for this, because it gave her time to get her thoughts and terrible memories straight in her own head. "So, you'd hope I'd be left alone while I cooked right?" She laughed, but there was no humour in it. "Wrong. I was sexually assaulted all the way through. They kept touching and licking my breasts and vagina, some even sticking their tongues inside me. They treated me like an animal when they told me where everything was. "Eggs, mushrooms, plates, get on with it, wench! There may be some for you if you behave, but that depends entirely on the say so of your master Mr. Dawson. That's entirely his decision.""
"No fucking way!" Rick burst out.
"I wish I could say I was surprised, but that's what Misogynist's do Rick. Women are just property, nothing. They cook, do housework and get fucked at the man's slightest whim."
That was when Michael put his arm around her again and squeezed her close to him. She understood what he was trying to say. "I'm so glad I'm not in that position anymore, a man really loves me this time." There were soft murmurs of, "Aww," from the rest of the room as Michael kissed the top of her head.
"Once I was done," she continued. "They sat and ate it while I was totally ignored of course. I just remember sitting there thinking please, please don't find any shell in your eggs any of you, or fuck knows what you'll do to me. I knew they were all misogynists, so it wouldn't matter which one of them I'd committed that huge mistake against I'd pay for it. But thankfully, one small mercy I suppose no one said there was so I got away with it."
"Got fucking away with it?" It was Nigel's turn. "Fuck me! What the fuck is wrong with these so-called men? They're the animals, not the women they hate!" She was certain everyone nodded.
"Finally, Adam said it was, "Time for my fucking." He dragged me up the stairs and was in the process of putting on a condom to rape me."
"Hang on a second," Dr Loomis spoke quietly. "I believe you fought back. Don't you go forgetting this Miss Avery or I'll say it for you."
She blushed. "It wasn't a huge thing," she muttered.
"I mean it," Dr Loomis said sternly, and she gave him a genuine smile.
"Ok," she put her hands up in mock surrender. Adam was still taunting me, and I said, "Go to hell, Adam."" There was another round of applause, but this one was for her. She felt herself go as red as Nigel had. "Thanks," she flushed. "It didn't do me much good though. It was this which caused Adam to chain and handcuff me to the damn bed! He said, "I suppose just because you've been locked in that nuthouse you think you can talk to me like that?" Told me I was wrong, all the usual shit. I was his, he was going to fuck me until he was done, I was his property and never getting away from him, you know the script by now. He had just started raping me when you guys broke the door down. Dr Loomis," she added. "I heard one unfamiliar voice apart from yours, Rick's and Jack's. Who…"?
"Ah yes, that would've been Scott. He is another of our guards who was our driver from Haddonfield airport to the house that night."
"Ah," she nodded. "Ok that makes sense. Well, you know the rest. You guys got in, Mr. Leach unchained and helped me, and Adam was relieved of his head." She shivered a little. "I'll be honest I'm glad I didn't see it, but the sound…" she trailed off. "I don't think I'll sleep properly for a while. To quote Jack, "Fuck that's my sleep gone for a year.""
"Well yeah," Jack said. "It was horrific to see. No sympathy whatsoever for Adam you understand but still…"
"No, I get it," she assured him. "The thump is what haunts me."
Michael put his arm around her again and hugged her to him tightly. "Don't apologise," she said against his shoulder. "He deserved exactly what he got, but shit. Certainly, the material of nightmares!"
"Was awesome when you almost pulled his ears clean off his head though," Rick said to soft chuckles. "She said, "That's the only thing I'll miss about you Adam, your ears." Amazing!" Everyone laughed again.
"That sounds exactly the kind of thing you'd say," Nigel snickered.
"Well, it's true," she again raised her hands in mock self-defence. "He had amazing ears, but that's it!"
"As nice as Michael's?" Joanne teased.
"Hell fucking no! Michael's ears are sexy as all hell! No one's got nicer ears than Michael Myers!" Michael moved so she was touching said ears and wiggled them in her hands. The smile which lit up her face she was sure bought Nigel close to tears.
"Thank you," Dr Stark said after a while. "You did well, we're all very proud of you. Not just for your bravery that night, but for talking about it all again now."
There was another round of applause. This time Michael kissed her lips in front of everyone, causing a cheer to break out.