Dr Hazard opened the office door and saw the new CEO sitting behind his desk, wearing a tailored suit and tie. He did not look pleased, but she didn't think anything of this at first, assuming that was just his default expression or something. Maybe he needed his coffee? "Please take a seat," he said. She sank into the seat opposite him and waited for him to speak.
"Dr Hazard, in all my years of working here, I have never, ever been so disappointed and angry at a staff member in my life, as I am currently with you. You have crossed so many lines this morning, everything from moral to ethic. I don't even know where to start with your conduct. As I understand it, you've been on leave for a year, is this correct?" She nodded, too stunned to speak. What the hell? "Right," he continued, his gaze not leaving her face. "So, what on earth Dr Hazard, made you think you could just come back in here and act like you're the one in charge? You know nothing about Danielle Avery's circumstances or position within this hospital, and you immediately ordered her chained, without checking first if there was a reason why she was not. Not only that, but you then put her straight in solitary, admittedly she had technically broken a rule, but I heard what she shouted. "Dr Loomis, Jack, Rick, I'm in trouble!" Does that sound like someone, "Messing around," to quote your very words, to you?"
"I don't know what she was scared of though Sir," Dr Hazard said, keeping her voice calm and professional. "I was in charge, and I was only chaining her as the rules state, and she acted like I was going to kill her."
"But again, you did not check with Dr Loomis or even Joanne for that matter if there was a reason she was not chained, or hell; even ask Danielle herself. Why? You had no idea why she was even in Smith's Grove; you haven't been here for twelve months. But you just stormed back in and inserted your authority, which I might add you didn't have in that ward. Need I remind you Dr Hazard that you work in medium security, not high, so you had no right to decide about one of Dr Loomis' patients without speaking to him first. I haven't been CEO long, but I have already read some reports on you, your constant desire for control in whatever ward you work in and even those you don't. You have just locked a totally blind young woman in solitary, with no thought for her welfare or even safety."
"Sir," Dr Hazard was now struggling to keep calm, if she was honest with herself, she was starting to feel scared. This was not at all the promotion and praise she'd thought she'd receive when she'd first entered this office. "Hayward has nothing to fear the cells are tiny, there's nowhere for her to go. Ok she's blind, but it's not like she can get lost, is it?"
"You really have no empathy, do you?" Cutter said quietly. "I've heard that said about you, but this just proves it. Your only concern is practicality. How would you feel if I blindfolded you right now and locked you in one of the cells down there? Unable to see, nothing to hear, total empty silence. Are you telling me you wouldn't be scared? If only a little?"
Dr Hazard decided to humour him and considered his question for a moment. Yes, maybe she would be a little unnerved, but Hayward had nearly had a full-on damn panic attack when she'd been chained then taken away. A little over the top, she thought.
"I certainly would not have had a panic attack Sir," she said eventually. "That was a little melodramatic, was it not?"
"I can't believe my ears," Cutter said. His voice was quiet, but she knew he was disgusted. "Wow. You are supposed to be a doctor here looking after mentally and, in some cases, physically ill people? We really need to take better looks at who we employ in such positions, wouldn't you say?"
"What are you implying, Sir?" She asked, her voice cold now.
"I am implying Dr Hazard, that you will be very lucky indeed to keep your position here, I am seriously tempted to dismiss you, I have more than enough evidence to do so on this alone. Not to mention the fact that Dr Loomis' worst fear was that you would take them to court if he let Danielle out without my authority, and he and his guards would go to prison, purely for trying to help a vulnerable person. Quite frankly Dr Hazard, you make me feel sick. I certainly would not want to be cared for by you."
"Excuse me," Dr Hazard's voice was ice now. "Who exactly do you think…"
"I'm talking to?" Cutter laughed grimly. "Someone who is very likely to lose their job and be struck off the medical register, that's who I'm talking to. I will call you back in once I have considered things thoroughly, but it's not looking good for you. I don't know how anyone, especially a doctor, could be so cruel and cold. Now please leave my office, I have what might be your last job for you to do."
Dr Hazard glared at him now, if she'd lost her job what did she have to lose? "So, what, exactly, is that, Sir?"
"You are to go down to solitary, either alone or with guards and let Danielle out immediately, with a grovelling apology. That's the very least that young lady deserves from you, although I won't blame her if she doesn't want to accept or even hear it."
"Down to solitary, Sir?" Dr Hazard said, trying not to let her fear show. She'd always hated the dark, right from when she was a child. Not to mention being underground…
"Really Dr Hazard," Cutter said with a grim smile. "Surely, you're not scared, are you? Maybe now then you understand some of how Danielle felt when you so cruelly locked her in there, and you can see let's not forget that little fact."
Without another word, Dr Hazard stood up and left the office. Cutter had hit the nail on the head. She was scared, and she fucking hated it! But there was no way she was going to let that arrogant little prick see it though. Damn, why couldn't it have been Andrews behind that desk? He'd have seen it her way immediately and would've helped her with the court case. Why had he even lost his job in the first place? That was one piece of information she didn't know, and she wanted to! It was probably some total miscarriage of justice, just like she was going through now. Cutter hadn't heard the last of this, she'd report it to anyone she could, get him fired as well as Dr Loomis and his idiot guards. It was clear they ran on emotion, not rules. A stupid and dangerous thing to do when dealing with their patients, especially on the damn high security ward! What if Hayward had attacked them, what then? They needed some serious training. She needed to get herself a damn good lawyer, get around Cutter then start working on the road towards getting herself in charge and really showing everyone how this hospital should be run. Once this whole thing with Hayward had blown over, she would make a start on doing just that.
…
Jack stepped out of the elevator, and joined Rick in the staff canteen where he was drinking a coffee. His colleague looked as exhausted as he felt. Although Danielle didn't know it, her conversation with Mel and Dr Stark a few weeks ago had come to fruition. Cutter had indeed replaced the coffee machine in the staff canteen with a much better one. Jack headed over to it and got himself a coffee through the touch screen commands, then joined Rick at his table. "You ok man?" He asked.
Rick let out a long sigh. "Whew, what a shit storm this day has turned into. As soon as Dr Loomis told us Dr Hazard was back, I knew we were in trouble, I just didn't know how fast things would go to hell. Dr Hell? She's certainly earned that nickname just this morning alone."
"Ain't that the truth," Jack nodded. "Poor Danielle, my heart is breaking for her."
"I know, but Joanne's with her, she's in safe hands and we'll get her out as soon as we're able."
As if on cue, Oliver Cutter himself entered the canteen, looked around then approached their table. "Good morning gentlemen," he greeted them.
"Good morning, Sir," Jack and Rick said together.
"Do you mind if I join you for a moment?" Cutter asked.
"Of course not," Rick said. Cutter smiled at him and took the seat across from the two guards. "Well gentlemen, as much as I wish this was just a social chat to pop in and say hello, chew the fat as it were, I'm afraid that's not why I'm here, as you've probably guessed." Looking at him, Rick noticed the CEO looked almost as tired as they and Dr Loomis were. "First off I want to say I'm very sorry for what happened to Danielle, that was totally needless and exceptionally cruel."
"Why are you the one apologising Sir?" Jack asked, echoing Rick's exact thoughts. "You weren't the one who locked her down there or chained her, were you?"
"Indeed not," Cutter smiled at him sadly. "But I know enough from the little I know about Danielle that this cannot have been pleasant or easy for her. So, I take some responsibility for the selfish and heartless way my staff member acted towards one of our patients. I always have done, even when I was deputy CEO to Andrews. So, here's the deal. I have told Dr Hazard in no uncertain terms that she is to go down to solitary and let Danielle out, with a grovelling apology I added."
Jack snorted, unable to help himself. "That woman doesn't apologise to anyone."
"That's as maybe," Cutter sighed. "But if you're willing, I'd like you to go down with her. Nothing to do with her, but because Danielle knows and trusts you, and I want her surrounded by people she trusts when Dr Hazard is anywhere near her. I saw you fire your gun Mr. Evans, and nothing is going to come of that for you. You were more than justified in your actions, trying to protect one of your patients."
Rick flushed. "Thank you, Sir, I was just so angry, and I didn't think."
"To me, that just proves you're a good man and you care about those you're protecting and in charge of. Dr Hazard isn't even on your ward, which makes this whole thing even more of a problem. For her, that is. So, gentlemen, are you willing to do this?"
"Don't even need to ask," the two said in unison and Cutter smiled at them. "I thought not. It's clear you really care about Danielle, and I can see why, she's a good woman whose been through a lot from what Dr Loomis told me. Thank you, I appreciate it."
"It would be our pleasure," Rick said. "Not for Dr Hazard, I might add."
Cutter simply smiled again, stood up and left. "He's a good man," Rick said. Certainly, better than Andrews ever was."
…
Destiny Hazard was furious, furious. Who the hell did Oliver Cutter think he was to talk to her like that? She had been the one following the rules, it had been Dr Loomis and his goons who were violating them not her. Now she had to go down to solitary like some damn slave and apologise to the patient she'd locked in there as, in her eyes, fully justifiable punishment. It made her blood boil. Cutter had just told her after coming to her office that Evans and Grant would go down with her. Privately she would've preferred her own guards, but Cutter had told her firmly this was not up for negotiation. Considering how much trouble her job was already currently in, she decided, with gritted teeth, not to fight him further on it. She entered the staff canteen and immediately saw Grant and Evans sitting at a table together. She had to fight hard not to glare at them, especially Evans. He'd tried to shoot one of her guards and almost hit him. The nerve of him! She approached the table and looked coldly at the two men.
"Grant, Evans, I hear you are accompanying me down to solitary momentarily. You are to go ahead of me, just in case Hayward tries something against me upon her release." The two guards simply nodded, saying nothing. The absolute insubordination made her even angrier, but for now she had to clamp down on it. Who did they think they were? They were only guards, and they were always under a doctor's command. She was still a doctor, at least right now. That last thought made her even more determined. No, she would keep her job and qualification if it was the last thing she did. Maybe she'd leave and go to somewhere like Glass Hill, where she could really show those lunatics who was boss.
"Ready when you are then," she said dismissively, really wanting to say put down those coffees and do as you're order! But of course, she couldn't. Still without a word the two men got to their feet and walked to her side. She gave them a cold nod as they walked out of the staff canteen and back towards the elevators. As they walked, Grant appeared to scratch his right ear twice.
"That's a woman who doesn't know please or thank you," Rick whispered in his ear as they walked ahead of her as instructed, or more accurately commanded to do. Jack turned his head ever so slightly towards his friend, and Rick saw the tiny head camera he was wearing.
"Dr Loomis advised it," Jack whispered. Mr. Cutter passed it to me just now."
"Good thinking," Rick whispered. "Did you catch that… interaction?"
"Yep, I will show it to Dr Loomis as soon as I can. We're not even her guards, we're a rank above hers, so she has no business talking to us with such blatant disrespect."
"Yeah, and we still have to protect her," Rick muttered. "God! I almost wish Danielle would do something to her, but we both know she'd never do anything like that. But in this case, I sure as shit wouldn't try too hard to stop her!"
"Let's go," Hazard snapped, joining them at the elevator doors. Rick couldn't help himself and gave her a mock bow. "Certainly mam," as he pressed the call button. Hazard glared at him but said nothing, that was a relief. The woman never knew when to stop giving orders and just shut up.
…
Joanne's heart broke all over again, when Danielle lay down on the hard bed bench and pulled the thin blanket over her. She looked utterly defeated and appeared to be trying to sleep. The sight tore Joanne apart. That bed was not in the least comfortable and Danielle should not even be lying on it! It was so unfair. Where the hell was Cutter with his authorisation? If it didn't come soon, she was going to release Danielle and to hell with the consequences, she'd face them willingly. What she'd said to her was true, she really was starting to love her like a daughter. It was hurting her deeply to see this happening to her.
Pulling out her personal phone, she texted Rick.
Babe, what's happening? What Danielle is going through is really upsetting me, is there any word on releasing her yet?"
For some reason the message was not delivered, he either had his phone off or was in a place with no cell service. But as far as she knew the only place that would happen was down here, so did that mean they were making progress? God, she hoped so.
…
As directed, Rick and Jack moved ahead of Dr Hazard, not even looking around to see if she was following them. They knew exactly where Danielle's cell was, but they had been asked by Cutter to wait for Dr Hazard there, and for her to be the one to let Danielle out and apologise for her mistake.
…
Dr Hazard headed into the darkness, turning on a flashlight she'd sneaked from the equipment store. There was no way in hell she was coming down here without one. She hated the dark so much! She saw Grant and Evans walking fast ahead of her, but she didn't care. They were just there to protect her when she reached Hayward's cell, after all it wasn't like there was anything else down here which could hurt her, whereas Hayward might. As she headed further into the darkness towards where she was sure the solitary cells were located, she heard dripping water. Glancing around, she saw the walls where she was standing were damp, grey stone. Where was the water coming from? Just how big was this punishment underground area? She knew staff also kept supplies down here, but surely solitary wasn't this far down, was it?
Eventually she had to stop when she reached what was unmistakably a collapsed tunnel. Ok, now she was lost. She tried to ignore the flickers of unease and fear starting to press in on her. She hadn't brought a radio or any type of communication device down with her, because she'd figured she wouldn't need it. Where the fuck were the guards? "EVANS, GRANT!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Her voice echoed loudly off the damp walls, but the guards did not respond. Could they not hear, or were they simply ignoring her? Surely their professionalism wouldn't let them, would it? The very professionalism she'd been criticising just minutes ago…
Swallowing down these unpleasant thoughts, she resumed walking. Surely, she would find the cells eventually. As she glanced to the right, she was certain her flashlight picked up something. Looked like a flash of white? But when she looked again, it was gone. Must have imagined it, she thought. Getting jumpy! Come on Hazard, you're better than that!
No, she had to be lost. Turning, she walked back the way she had come, looking over her shoulder every few seconds. Where the hell were those two fucking idiot guards? There it was again; this time she couldn't tell herself she'd imagined it. A flash of unmistakable white. What the hell? She stepped forward, desperately trying to see anything through the utter darkness she was in, but without success. She was also certain her flashlight's battery was running out, the beam seemed to be dimming which was the last thing she needed. As she stood there trying desperately both not to panic and to think what to do, all she could hear was the dripping of water. Where the fuck was she? She'd seen odd pieces of what were clearly rubbish scattered around as she'd passed, broken metal poles, unrecognisable machinery clearly unfit for use and other things she would never be able to identify, thick rust coating everything. She was just considering her next move, when she felt the lethal point of one of those poles entering her neck. She spun on the spot, blood immediately pouring from the gaping wound in which the pole was still lodged.
Falling to her knees she looked up, now coughing up blood and this time there it was. An unmistakable, deathly white, pale mask. "Michael Myers," she just managed to gasp, finally seeing the man who wore it towering above her. The silent killer stood over her, looking down and admiring his handy work before reaching down and yanking the pole out of her neck. Blood sprayed from her body, spattering the walls of the tunnel which would now be her tomb. She looked up and made eye contact with Myers, his eyes the last she would ever see, black, cold ice. She'd read something once about the eyes of Michael Myers being the abyss, now she was finding that out for herself, just before she died. Her last thoughts before her world fast started to turn black were of that kiss Myers had given to Hayward. Surely, surely this wasn't… did he love her? If so, she by her treatment of Hayward had signed her own death certificate, truly living up to her initials. It wasn't long after this that death became not just her initials, but her reality. Perhaps this was lucky for her, because she didn't feel it when Myers slashed open her abdomen with the same pole, he'd slit her throat, all the while his breathing calm, steady, before he once again melted into the shadows as if he'd never been there. Blood dripped from the deceased woman's body, which was already beginning to cool. The tunnel and damp walls looked on, indifferent, uncaring that they now held a grave.
…
Chapter 75, Two different men
…
Danielle raised her tear-soaked face as Rick and Jack appeared. "Hey D," Jack greeted. "The CEO has authorised your release right now, we're just waiting for Dr Hazard."
"I don't want to…" Danielle began.
"See her?" Jack reached through and took her hand in his. "I know sweetheart, believe me I totally understand that."
"So do we," Rick and Joanne said in unison.
"But Mr. Cutter has requested that Dr Hazard lets you out herself and apologises to you. If only to keep her job," he added bitterly.
She snorted. "Apologises? I don't want to hear a fucking word that bitch has to say!"
"He expected you to say that," Jack said. "But he wants her to let you out, she's on her way right now."
"Where the fuck is she?" Rick muttered, glancing over his shoulder. There was no sign of Dr Hazard anywhere.
"Maybe she's done a runner," Jack muttered bitterly. "Couldn't face apologising to anyone like I said!"
"For fuck's sake," Rick scowled and turned back towards the tunnel. "I'll be right back D," he said before he walked away fast.
"Does she really not care?" Joanne looked at Jack in disbelief. "Jesus! Dr Loomis… she hesitated then went on. "Dr Loomis sent me a text saying that she told Mr. Cutter that it wasn't like Danielle could get lost. Ok she's blind, but the cells are tiny and there's nowhere for her to go."
"Fucking hell!" Jack glared at the wall. "Oh my God! Just… wow! No empathy much?"
"I know," Joanne smiled sadly. "Mr. Cutter apparently said to her that they needed to take a better look at who they employ as doctors in the future." She glared at the wall too. "Understatement of the year!" They were speaking very quietly so Danielle could not hear, Joanne could never have told her this.
"Come on," Jack said, now sounding annoyed. "Where the holy hell is she? Fuck it! Dr Loomis gave it to me!" He stepped to the door and tapped in the new code, and it buzzed open. Danielle stepped out and he pulled her immediately into a hug. "We'll stay here and wait for her," he murmured. "But I couldn't have you in that cell a second longer."
"Thank you, Jack," Danielle was crying again.
"Hey, hey," Jack soothed, again putting her hands on his ears. "We're here."
"Jack," Rick's voice came over his radio, once again behind static this far below ground. Joanne didn't have hers as He'd taken her vest back into the block with him when she'd stayed with Danielle. "Hazard did come down with us, right?"
As Jack wasn't wearing his earpiece, Danielle heard but he didn't care. She deserved to hear this. Pulling it out of its pouch, he replied. "Yeah, I saw her behind us. Why, can't you find her?"
"No. Stupid woman. Did she get lost?"
"It's not our fault if she did," Jack said. "I've got her on camera telling us to go ahead of her and wait at the cell." He didn't add what she'd said about Danielle possibly attacking her, no way would he tell her that part. But Rick understood.
"Yeah, but I can't find her anywhere. Damn this place is huge, we need fucking maps! Is Danielle, ok?"
"I'm fine," Danielle called, just as Jack squeezed the talk button.
"That's my girl," Rick's voice came back. "I'll be right back with you when I've found her. She has something to say to you." Now, Jack handed Danielle his radio.
"I don't want to hear anything she has to say," Danielle said. "I hate her for what she's done to me."
"Totally understandable, but we have our orders from Mr. Cutter. It'll only be this once, then we'll make sure you never have to see her again, Dr Loomis and we promise. That's if she even keeps her job here, of course."
Danielle scoffed, then handed Jack back his radio. Ten minutes passed, still without any sign of Rick and Hazard. "What the fuck?" Jack muttered, pulling it out again. "Rick?"
"Sorry, still no…" that was when he made a gasping noise and sounded like he stumbled backwards.
"You, ok?" Jack called immediately.
"Holy… fuck… shit… this… this is… she… she's dead!"
"What?" Jack said, almost shouting it. "What the fuck do you mean she's dead?"
Danielle gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. Clearly, she'd come to the exact same conclusion they just had. "But that… that's impossible," she muttered, thinking aloud. "He was locked in that… that cell, wasn't he?"
Jack squeezed her shoulder and laughed grimly. "That ever stop Michael Myers before?"
"Fuck," Rick sounded like he was about to simultaneously run away and throw up. "It… it's bad!"
"Where are you?" Jack said. "I'm on my way!"
Joanne didn't know what came over her, but she grabbed Danielle's arm, and the two women ran after Jack who didn't stop them. After a few minutes they stopped, and Danielle was sure for the very first time she heard Jack gag.
"Jesus Christ!" He bent over, desperately trying to breathe.
Danielle didn't miss the Deja vu when Joanne spoke, her voice quiet, saying words she'd said to her before for the third time. "Don't move Danielle, there's… there's blood everywhere."
"How…" Jack was shaking. Despite Joanne's warning, Danielle moved towards him and pulled him into a hug. She was astonished but touched when he rested his head on her shoulder, clearly trying to pull himself together.
"Fuck me," Rick turned away. He'd seen his fair share of corpses in his life, but never one anywhere near as bad as this. Destiny Hazard's throat was slit from ear to ear and her abdomen was sliced wide open like a gaping mouth. This could be had to be, the work of only one man. If one could even call him a man that was. Michael Myers was his name. "How?" Rick said, fighting with his own insides not to throw up. "How could he…" he thought back over his conversation with Dr Loomis and shivered. He knew exactly what had happened. As for how, he'd never know."
There was of course times Danielle had impressed all three of them with quick thinking, but now, doing the very thing that had put her down here in the first place once again, she pulled Jack's radio from its pouch and spoke. "Dr Loomis, Ryan, William, it's Danielle. Please humour me I must ask you. Is Michael in his cell right now?" Her voice was strong, if not shaking a little.
"Hi Danielle," said Ryan's voice. "Yes, he's right here."
"So, if he's…" Jack looked as pale as Rick now. "How…"
"Maybe Michael didn't do it?" Danielle suggested. Joanne was prouder of her for her self-control and how she seemed to be taking control of the situation than she would or could ever tell her. It was almost as if she too was one of the guards.
"Danielle," Jack laughed, but with no humour. "Do you know anyone else who'd slit someone's fucking throat through the neck then slice open their stomach?"
Danielle recoiled and Jack immediately felt guilty. He shouldn't have told her that. "Fuck, I'm glad I can't see her!"
"So am I," Joanne and Jack said together. Rick was still taking deep breaths. Danielle moved over to him and began to rub his back.
"Let's not forget how angry he was when she did all those things to you," Jack said quietly. "He was… he was fucking dangerous is what he was!"
"I…" Rick finally straightened up a little, giving Danielle's hand a grateful squeeze. His was ice cold and shaking. She clutched it and held it against her, trying to give him some of her body heat. He squeezed back again. "I didn't want you to hear this before Danielle, but earlier on when I ran to the elevators it was me running off you heard, Ryan had just radioed us saying Michael wasn't in his cell. I got up there and he was gone! Dr Loomis came back into the block about a minute later, we took him there fast and… and Michael was standing right at the cell's fucking door! It was as if he'd never left!"
"You mean," Danielle said, her voice soft. "He… what? Disappeared from his cell?"
"Would you put it passed him?" Rick whispered. She immediately shook her head.
"You think he… what? Came down here to see where I was? Or… or something?"
"I don't know, but…"
"No," Jack said, his face almost as white as Michael's mask. "I think he went to get his mask."
"Huh? How? It's in Dr Loomis' office, isn't it?"
This time it was Rick's turn to laugh. "To echo Jack, would you put it passed him?" Yet again, she shook her head. She didn't realise she was shivering until Joanne put her arms around her.
"Fuck…"
"Quiet," Jack said.
"But… but there's no proof! How are we going to prove it was even him? Ok so he… might have disappeared from his cell, we still don't know that for an absolute fact as Ryan didn't see it happen. He says Michael was gone, but… well he's had his own trauma lately, what if…"
"You could and should be a detective Danielle Avery," Rick said. "Because we, meaning I and Dr Loomis repeated to his face. Had he taken something he shouldn't? He was adamant he was not tripping or something like that."
"Ok," she said slowly. "So, let's go on the assumption Michael did leave his cell and get his mask somehow. How the hell would he know Dr Hazard was going to come down here, did Dr Loomis say anything in his earshot?"
"No," Rick and Jack said together. Rick decided then and there not to tell her or even the other two about Myers' cruel, amused smirk when they'd looked at him. That was one piece of information he would keep to himself.
"Maybe just because he's Michael Myers," Joanne said very quietly. "We all know he has some kind of… supernatural abilities, whether we accept it or not. He was furious Danielle, furious. He loves you and you had been very, very cruelly mistreated. Need I say more?"
"Someone needs to get Dr Loomis," Jack said. "I'll go, hang on a sec. Danielle, could you do me a favour and hold onto this for me again please?" He slid his equipment vest back onto her as he'd done before, and she couldn't stop a small smile. "Thanks sweetheart, be right back." She'd never heard anyone run so fast.
"Wow," she said quietly. "I knew you guys were fit, but damn! He can sure run quickly!" There was a pause, before she asked another question. "Any sign of a murder weapon?"
"You must love true crime or something," Joanne said, smiling faintly.
"I do like watching it or at least I used to," Danielle admitted, squeezing her friend's arm. "But is there?"
"Nothing obvious," Rick said. "Damn Danielle, how do you do this? You've just been through a terrifying ordeal I don't doubt when it's considered you can't see a damn thing, then you just step in and take charge? You're more in control than any of us!"
"Agreed," Joanne said. Danielle smiled sadly.
"I don't know, I guess because I can't see this I can think straight, that's all I can suggest."
"Whatever it is you're damn impressive girl," Rick said adamantly. "You were the only cool head when we saw this!"
They heard running footsteps at that moment and Dr Loomis and Jack appeared. Dr Loomis took one look at the grizzly scene before he had to look away." "God damn it…"
"Detective Avery has her own theory," Rick said, smiling at her. "Tell him what you told us, Danielle."
Dr Loomis stepped forward and pulled Danielle to him, as if to protect her from the horror around them even though she couldn't see it. "I told Mr. Cutter you were strong now," he said.
"She was the only one who took control when we got here," Joanne said. "She was in more control than any of us were!"
"Is that why you're now wearing an equipment vest?" He squeezed her close. "You one of my guards now?"
"She damn well should be," Rick said. "She'd deserve it after this!"
Danielle blushed. "Rick told me about what Ryan… said happened at Michael's cell, that he just… wasn't there, then how he ran up to see for himself and indeed he wasn't. Then when you came back into the block and they told you, you went with them, and Michael was right there by the door."
"That's correct," Dr Loomis said.
"So, he just… what? Vanished?"
Dr Loomis let out a long sigh. "You told me once you've done extensive research on Michael Myers before you even came here. If that's the case, surely you know I shot him six times on Halloween night in 1978 after he killed all those people?"
She nodded. "Of course."
"He… he just vanished that night, too. I looked down naturally to expect him to lie hopefully dead on the ground and… and he was gone."
"But from a crime standpoint there's no proof. He's not here, there's no murder weapon, how the hell would he know Dr Hazard was even coming down here right now? Did you tell him?"
Dr Loomis laughed, in the same humourless way Rick and Jack both had. "Of course I didn't."
"Then how…" Danielle couldn't go on.
"Because he's Michael Myers," Dr Loomis almost whispered.
"So, what in the hell are you intending to do? Just stroll up there and say, "Hi Michael, here's your coffee. Oh, and did you commit a brutal and bloody murder underground by cutting Dr Hazard's throat and slitting her stomach?" Sure, he's just going to smile and write, "Oh yes, that was me!" Get real Dr Loomis!"
Immediately she opened her mouth to apologise, but Dr Loomis hushed her. Jack and Rick were both nodding to her too, though of course she didn't know this.
"You're… you're right Danielle," Dr Loomis said quietly, his voice not quite steady. "Of course you are. No, of course I'm not."
"Then we'll never prove it. There's no weapon, evidence, ok there's a possible motive, but that's not enough to prove he did it."
"Possible?" Jack exclaimed. "Um, Danielle, I seriously am not intending a pun here, but are you blind? He fucking adores you! I thought you were clever! Come on! Of course there's a motive! He was fucking furious. You should be very glad you didn't see his eyes up there, they… they were so cold, terrifying and cruel! Of course there's a damn motive! You! Wake up!"
"Let's… let's get out of here," Dr Loomis said, taking Danielle's arm. "We need to get someone down here to… to retrieve the body and do what needs to be done."
"I say again there's no proof. Think about it! Rick, you said he was gone as did Ryan, but that doesn't prove anything because you saw him back in his cell before this even happened. That's why I radioed to ask if he was still there. Ryan said he was, so we have no one to tell us he pulled a vanishing act between then and now."
"Damn it Danielle I know you're right," Jack said.
"So do I," Rick and Joanne said together.
"But… but the motive! How… how else do you explain it? She does this to you, the woman Michael Myers loves, then she dies in the goriest way imaginable?"
"Yes, we know that, but that won't stand up in a court of law. If Michael had been covered in blood, surely Ryan would've told us just now, right? If he doesn't have a drop of blood on him somehow, how would anyone ever prove he did it? Hell, this place is full of crap, lethal metal poles and stuff, Joanne told me earlier when I asked her where I was! How do we know Dr Hazard didn't have some kind of… accident?" She kicked a foot to make her point and it clanged loudly off an unknown piece of metal. "See? Ok it would have to be a… horrible and very unfortunate accident to cause both her throat and stomach to be slit open, but… this place is fucking lethal! She got lost, she was nowhere near my cell you said, so for all we know that's what happened. Evidence wise, that's where it would go if you tried to prosecute Michael for this. I'm not saying you are going to prosecute; I know he's not going anywhere. I'm just saying that not even you Dr Loomis can prove this!"
He sighed, squeezing her arm again. "That's why Michael Myers is so damn dangerous," he said quietly. "Yet you Danielle Avery no one else, have done something to him. He loves you and come on proof or not let's be real, he's just killed the woman who treated you so badly today. Her injuries are way too brutal to be anything or anyone else. It's like he's two different men when necessary. Kind and loving to you, then dangerous and silent to his enemies. Ok we can't prove it, but you damn well know it was him, don't you?"
Danielle took a deep breath. "Yes," she whispered.
They reached the elevators and the five of them crowded into one. Rick pressed the reception button and the lift slowly rose. As soon as they walked out and back into the block, the four of them saw Michael standing at his cell door, looking right at them. Dr Loomis locked eyes with his patient and could see the satisfied smirk on his face. It was almost as though he was goading them, after all he of course knew exactly what Danielle did. Yeah? Go on then, prove it. He was also not wearing his mask but that didn't of course mean anything. Heading into his office, he checked the cabinet where Michael's mask was and sure enough it was still there, it hadn't moved.
Or had it?
He sighed. Whether he liked it or not, Danielle was spot on in what she'd said. They would never be able to prove anything about this killing. Or slaughter might be a better word for it.
He walked back into the block and stopped dead in shock. Because Michael was looking at Danielle and now his eyes were warm, kind, longing? His guards had seen it too, judging Joanne was blinking back tears and Rick and Jack looked stunned. It was, just as Dr Loomis had said, like he was two different men.
Danielle walked forward a few steps towards Michael's cell door. Instantly, Michael reached his hand through and took hers as soon as she was close enough, before pulling her gently against it. When the three guards looked at each other this time, it was clear they were all thinking the exact same thing. Dr Hazard died for what she did to Danielle, so I'm sure as hell not going to try and separate them!
Dr Loomis seemed to be thinking the same, because he quietly told Danielle to step back just for a second and opened Michael's cell door. Immediately, the killer had her tight in his arms and she rested her head against his chest, once more holding back tears. It looked as though he'd never let her go again. She knew they had to talk, but right now she didn't want this moment to end. Leaning down, Michael placed her hands on his ears, and she let out a tearful laugh. Dr Loomis followed them as Michael turned and led her back into the cell, they'd shared for so many nights. As soon as they were inside, Dr Loomis closed the door, but as promised did not lock it.
"We'll leave you to it," Joanne said, looking at the two of them with teary eyes. The sight was so sweet, so un-Michael Myers! He didn't look anything like the man who, although they had no proof, they strongly suspected had just slit Dr Hazard's throat and stomach wide open. "You know what to do if you need us," she finished, as they and Dr Loomis walked away, the door to the corridor closing softly behind them.
…
"Why were you and Dr Hazard separated?" Dr Loomis asked Rick and Jack once they and Joanne were in his office.
"She told us to, in no uncertain terms," Jack said, turning on his head camera.
"Grant, Evans, I hear you are accompanying me down to solitary momentarily. You are to go ahead of me, just in case Hayward tries something against me upon her release."
Dr Loomis nodded after hearing Hazard's words. "Her only fear was Danielle hurting her," Jack said, smiling bitterly. "So, we just went straight to her cell as instructed, whereas it appears Dr Hazard got lost and…"
"Met Michael Myers," Rick finished, looking a little sick again. "Jesus! I don't think I'll ever get those images out of my head, just like Dawson's decapitation. Thank you very much, Myers!"
Jack nodded in agreement. "He'd probably write you're welcome if he could hear you now," he said humourlessly. "Damn that guy has a sick, warped, cruel and twisted sense of humour."
"You're just learning that now?" Joanne smiled slightly at him. "Keep up."
…
Sitting down on the double seat they'd used so many times as soon as the door was closed, Danielle waited for Michael to text her something. She had so much she wanted to say, but as Joanne had advised would hear him out first. When he still said nothing, she spoke.
"You first," she said quietly. Eventually, her phone buzzed with a message from him.
Danielle, we need to talk. I heard everything you said last night and while I understand what you're saying and your point of view, I will not change my mind. I love you, but I am too afraid of what might happen if we stayed together.
"So that's it?" She asked, feeling a flicker of anger. "You're just going to what? Give up on us after everything we've been through? Adam, everything?"
Dawson has nothing to do with this, this is between us.
"Oh, be real Michael, you only killed Adam in the way you did because we were together! Are you seriously telling me that because of one little slip you're going to let everything end now?"
Hardly a "Little slip," Danielle.
"You're still not listening to me, are you? I'm telling you that it doesn't matter, I don't want to lose you Michael, I can't! You are taking the decision totally away from me! Can't you even think about my point of view?"
I did. I thought about it extensively last night, I hardly slept because of it. I can't put you in that danger again. I know what you're saying and what you want, but I will not let it happen. I'm sorry.
"So that's it? We're over? Just because you're too selfish to at least talk about it with me. Does my opinion and my feelings not matter at all? Not that that's new to me of course, but I never expected it with you, Michael."
Don't you dare! Don't you dare compare me with him!
"I'm not, I'm just stating facts. He didn't care about my feelings, now it seems neither do you."
You don't know what you're talking about.
She laughed bitterly. "Don't I? Oh, Michael I think I do! I might be a woman, but I'm sure as shit not stupid! What about all the happy times we've had together, huh? You just going to pretend all of it never happened? What about all the promises we made to each other. I told you when we got together that I wasn't messing around with you, that still stands. So why won't you at least listen to me?"
I have done, and you're just repeating yourself like a broken record. You don't care what I did, you want to be with me regardless. I could argue you do not care about my feelings either at this point.
"That's so unfair," she said quietly, stung by this. "I have always cared about your feelings, always. The reason you don't want to be with me is because you hurt me, in totally understandable circumstances I might add, you needed a kill, and you were pushed over the edge. I've told you it's ok, and you're still adamant we're done."
Indeed, and we are.
"You can't be serious," she gaped at him now, starting to feel num. "That's it? Nothing I can say will change your mind? I'm telling you I love, forgive and need you, but you just don't care."
Don't presume you know how I feel, please.
She let out a whoop of laughter. "Well, it's clear, wouldn't you say? You're telling me we're over! How can I not presume I know exactly how you feel when you've just told me that? You're not even willing to discuss it! Funny kind of love, Michael! You love me so much that you want to end the relationship? Yeah, that makes sense! You selfish bastard! Why the fuck did you kiss me out there then? Was that all for show with Dr Hazard? Or was it just to rub a little reminder in my face about what I've lost? All because you got angry, and you couldn't deal with it? I didn't do anything to cause this, it was all you! Don't expect me to come crying to you again Myers, not now I know exactly where I really stand with you! Were you just using me? A fling for comfort like I thought at the very beginning. If so, thanks for killing Adam, but you've broken my fucking heart in the process! You might know how to break physical hearts, now welcome to breaking them in pieces mentally, Myers! Oh but of course you won't understand anything about that, as it seems when push comes to shove you don't even have a heart! Why did you make me so happy, only to do this now? Were you planning this from the very start? Huh? God, I don't know you at all do I? It's all about you and nothing I say makes any difference! Just unbelievable. Maybe you are as pure evil as they've always said? What are you going to do to be rid of me then, kill me now? So now the real Michael Myers comes out, the hard ass killer! How dare he love; he doesn't do love! So how dare a woman love him and plead with him to stay! Were you just using me for sexual pleasure? At least answer that! That is, if you have any fucking decency left in your stone- and ice-cold excuse for a heart!"
She didn't even know it was coming, when he once again had her against the wall. This time though, it wasn't a gentle, romantic move, he slammed her. She felt her head hit the thick foam and thanked any God out there and those who weren't that the techs had made it as thick as it was. As a result, Her head came nowhere near the hard stone beneath. She had absolutely no chance of reaching the call button either, as it was by the door. Another painful memory flashed through her then, Michael showing her where the call button was in his cell that night a long, long time ago. Holding her against the wall as he kissed her hungrily the night they'd returned to Smith's Grove. There were so many memories she had of him, which would be just that forever now, memories. Them sharing the chocolates, talking for hours, their physical intimacy…
That was, if she lived past tonight. Now she felt raw, paralysing fear, but she still loved him. She knew she always would. He held her tightly to the wall; she couldn't move at all. All she could do now was wait. Once again, she could hear his calm, measured breathing, always a danger sign. Now her only option was to see what he decided to do next. Was he about to grab her bruised throat once again and this time, finish the job?
…
"My good God!" Oliver Cutter exclaimed as he looked at the pictures of Dr Hazard's badly mangled body. Her throat slit as was her stomach. "What the hell happened?"
Dr Loomis swallowed hard. "That's the problem Sir, we… we don't exactly know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Cutter demanded. "Your guys were there, weren't they?"
"Well yes Sir, but… no. Jack recorded footage of Dr Hazard commanding them to go ahead of her and wait at the cell on the head camera you gave him, to protect her in case Danielle tried to attack her. Something I might add Danielle would never, ever do. No matter what Dr Hazard did."
"Cutter's face softened for just a second. "I don't think she would either. Is she ok?"
"She's fine, she's out of solitary of course and back in her room. Michael's looking after her for us."
The CEO nodded. "Good. Ok So back to the business at hand, what in God's name happened to Hazard?"
Dr Loomis sighed and radioed for Jack and Rick to come into the office. The two guards obeyed immediately, entering the CEO's office within minutes. They recounted the story of what had taken place below ground, and Dr Loomis showed Cutter the footage of Hazard ordering them to go ahead of her and wait at Danielle's cell.
"So, you did?" Cutter asked the two guards.
"Yes Sir," they said together. "Her only concern was us protecting her from Danielle when she let her out," Jack finished.
"The sad thing is I believe you," Cutter sighed. "So, what in the hell could've slit her throat and stomach like… like this/"
"I think the word should be who," Rick said. "But with one problem Sir, it'll never be proved."
"Myers?" Cutter said immediately.
"Who else?" Jack smiled grimly. They told Cutter about how Ryan had stated Michael was gone from his cell, how Rick had also seen that was the case, but by the time they could inform Dr Loomis and he'd looked for himself, Michael had returned.
"That guy is one scary man," Cutter said quietly. "Everyone knows that, but… what? He can just… disappear from his cell? If that's the case, why didn't he just leave Smith's Grove years ago?"
Dr Loomis shook his head, as did the other two. "I don't know Sir, maybe because he couldn't go that far? That's something we'll never know. We can't exactly ask Michael," he smiled humourlessly. "Can we?"
"So, he… what? Went down below ground and… and slaughtered Dr Hazard? How else can you describe these pictures?"
All three of the others sighed. "That's the problem," Jack said. "We'll never prove it. Michael was in his cell, we checked with Ryan as soon as we found her, and he was there. So, he would've had to move incredibly fast to kill her and get back."
"Not necessarily," Rick said. "We didn't find her for… what? Ten minutes?"
"Someone would've seen him!" Jack burst out in frustration. "How could he just… pop back up?"
"Because he's Michael Myers," Dr Loomis repeated.
…
It felt to Danielle as though hours had passed once again, just as it had that morning when she'd made the radio call. But again, it could only have been seconds. Michael made no move to grab her throat, or to hurt her in any way, but neither did he release her from against the wall. Finally, he made his move, and what he did was so unexpected she didn't know how to react. He lifted her clean off her feet, so her head was at his shoulder, her feet were not touching the ground. He could carry her so easily, and usually she found this amazing and sexy. Right then though, she was starting to feel terrified. Then, his lips slammed into hers.
Adam had kissed her with lust of course, this felt almost just like that. If it was possible to kiss someone out of anger, that was what was happening now. Michael forced his tongue into her mouth, and she knew better than to try to resist. His lips were rough, almost commanding. She knew he was angry. Very angry. His kisses were long, deep, and she was certain if she could see his eyes right then they would be cold, intense ice. She didn't dare touch him, for fear of how he'd react. He was angry already; she didn't want to make it any worse. Yes, in part because she didn't want to risk getting hurt even if by accident, but mostly because she didn't want to anger the man she still adored.
She wasn't sure how long he kissed her for, but eventually he let her drop back to her feet, before he shoved her away from him. For a second, she just stood there, totally shocked. What the hell was that? Now her own anger took hold a little, she couldn't stop it. "What was that? Way to satisfy your lust because we hadn't gone all the way yet?" She heard him scoff. Son of a bitch, she thought. When she spoke, her voice was soft, but shaking with hurt and anger.
"Fuck this, I'm going into the room next door. You've made your feelings very clear. Just wanted one last kiss, did you? God, I hate you Myers, still playing with my heart even now! You tell me we're over and then fucking kiss me! Thanks a bunch! I came here in the first place for trying to kill myself, why don't you just do what for all I know you wanted to do all along and do it for me!"
She reached the cell door; thankful it wasn't locked. No way did she want any of the guards to see her in this state, tears now running down her face. She just needed to get somewhere quiet, alone, where Michael would not hear her when she did eventually cry herself to sleep.
She'd just pushed it open however, when Michael grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
Don't bother, I am leaving. You stay here, as you know this room.
He pushed her to the bed, and a few seconds later, she heard his shoes clicking on the concrete floor outside the room, as he walked away. She hated herself for noticing it, but she couldn't deny she was grateful he'd been the one to leave, and even texted, "You know this room."
"God damn you, Michael," she muttered, before finally pressing her head into her pillow, and giving free reign to the tears now pouring down her face.
…
Oliver, Rick, Jack and Dr Loomis stood in the tunnel where Dr Hazard had died, blood still covering the floor. They were careful not to touch anything, as the police would be getting involved, they had no doubt.
"There's a lot of crap down here," Cutter said, staring at all the broken and sharp metal and other trash covering the whole space. "Is it possible…"
"That's your decision Sir," Dr Loomis said. He sighed. "I must tell you; I was so proud of Danielle. She took control of the situation so well and voiced to me, Rick and Jack exactly what we said to you in the office. There's no proof, this place is full of lethal metal, for all we know she had a horrible accident. To quote Danielle's words, it would have to be a horrible and very unfortunate accident to split both her throat and stomach open, but it's not impossible. Hell, I even checked my office, Michael's mask was still there. He never kills without his mask on if possible. It's his… his very name after all."
"Do you suspect foul play?" Cutter asked.
"We might think and highly suspect it," Jack said. "But thinking is not enough to prove anything. Ok Michael is already a serial killer, but there's nothing to tie him to this kill and of course the clever bastard knows it! We even did what you just did Sir and looked for anything with loads of blood on it. Nothing. If he did use a weapon, he's hidden it incredibly well."
"Michael doesn't hide his weapons," Rick said. "I know enough about him to know that he would've just dropped it right there." Dr Loomis nodded.
"So… what?" Cutter said slowly. "Do we think Michael is responsible for this?"
"Again, what we think doesn't mean anything," Dr Loomis said. Come on Sir, using logic everything points to Michael. Danielle was cruelly treated by Hazard, chained and put in solitary. But as Danielle also said, how would Michael have known Dr Hazard was going to come down there? I never told him, but then again, he is Michael Myers like I've said hundreds of times."
The CEO sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "We can't call the cops," he said. "Like you say, there's no proof. Besides which even if there was, Michael isn't going anywhere is he? This kill, we can't do anything about. Got to hand it to Michael, he is one clever guy."
"No shit," Rick and Jack said together. "That's what makes him so fucking dangerous."
"Sorry Sir but I can't say I'm very sorry," Jack muttered. "The woman was an absolute bitch! But" he sighed. "She was still a human being, I know. Well at least I think she was!"
Cutter smiled grimly at him. "I hear you. Ok, I am going to take the decision that Dr Hazard had a horrible accident down here. It's dark, dangerous. I see she had a flashlight on her shoulder, but the battery has run out. She obviously didn't check that before going down there. With all this metal down here, she must have tripped over something and…" The others nodded. "That has nothing to do with who she was and the events which had just taken place," he continued. "It is truly what I think happened. There is no evidence at all Myers was out of his cell when she died, as no one looked, and nothing is seen on the cameras. His mask is still in your office you said Dr Loomis, and there is nothing showing him wearing it tonight." He sighed again. "We'll bury her somewhere above ground, it's not right to leave her down here." The others nodded once more.