As Laurie caught her breath, believing she had finally gained an edge over Michael, she suddenly felt a cold, unnatural sensation creep through the air. Michael, who had staggered back from her attack, now stood unnaturally still. His head tilted slightly, as if listening to something only he could hear.
Then, without warning, the voice spoke again in Michael's mind, stronger and darker than ever before. "*Fine*" it growled. "*I'll do it myself.*"
In an instant, Michael's consciousness was pushed aside, stripped of control over his own body. He became a helpless spectator, trapped within his own mind, forced to watch as the entity that had whispered to him all these years finally took full control. His wounds closed instantly, his strength returning tenfold, as if the body was no longer constrained by mortal limitations.
Laurie, sensing something was terribly wrong, turned to face Michael—but it was too late.
With inhuman speed, Michael's body, now fully controlled by the voice, darted forward. Before Laurie could react, the knife was driven deep into her back with a brutal force, the cold steel plunging into her flesh. Laurie gasped, her body seizing in pain as the blade twisted, cutting through muscle and bone.
Her knees buckled, but before she could fall, Michael's arm shot out and wrapped around her neck, pulling her close. The strength of his hold was suffocating, ironclad, as if the life was being drained from her. Laurie struggled, her fingers clawing at Michael's arm, but it was useless. She was trapped.
The voice, now using Michael's body as its vessel, laughed—a cold, cruel sound that echoed in the night.
"*You've fought for so long, Laurie*" it said through Michael's unmoving lips, the words coming out in a low, guttural growl. "*But now, it ends. There is no more escape. You and your bloodline will die here, by my hand.*"
Laurie's vision blurred, the pain radiating through her body like fire. She could feel the life draining from her, but still, she fought. Her fingers dug into Michael's arm, trying to pry it away, but his grip was like steel.
Allyson, having heard the struggle, turned back from the sheriff's car and screamed when she saw her grandmother being held by Michael, his knife buried in her back.
"NO!" she cried, rushing toward them, the crowbar still clutched in her hands.
But the voice, now in full control, turned its head toward Allyson. It smiled behind the mask, sensing the fear and desperation radiating from her.
"*Come closer, child*" it hissed. "*Join your grandmother in death. Your bloodline will be extinguished tonight.*"
Laurie, despite the agony she was in, turned her head slightly toward Allyson. Her eyes, filled with both pain and love, met her granddaughter's for what might be the last time.
"Run… Allyson… don't look back," Laurie whispered, her voice weak but determined. She didn't want Allyson to suffer the same fate.
Allyson froze, torn between her instinct to fight and her grandmother's desperate plea. But the sight of Laurie being held captive, her life hanging by a thread, pushed her over the edge.
With a scream of fury, Allyson charged at Michael, swinging the crowbar with all her strength. But the voice was ready. It let go of Laurie's neck just long enough to deflect the blow, catching Allyson's arm mid-swing with impossible speed. The crowbar clattered to the ground, and Allyson found herself staring into the cold, emotionless mask of Michael Myers.
"*Foolish girl*" the voice whispered. "*You can't stop what's already begun.*"
With a swift motion, the entity controlling Michael's body shoved Allyson backward, sending her sprawling to the ground. She gasped in pain as she hit the dirt, but she scrambled to her feet, refusing to give up.
Laurie, bleeding and barely conscious, used the last of her strength to reach for the small knife she had hidden in her boot. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt, and with a final surge of willpower, she lunged upward, driving the blade into Michael's side.
The voice roared in fury, momentarily distracted as Laurie's knife found its mark. Michael's body jerked, his grip on the situation wavering as the entity inside him battled for control.
"*Not yet*" Laurie gasped, her voice barely audible. "*Not while I'm still breathing.*"
The voice howled in Michael's mind, furious at being challenged, but for the briefest moment, Michael Myers himself surfaced from the darkness, his control flickering as Laurie's defiance disrupted the entity's hold.
Allyson seized the opportunity. She grabbed the fallen crowbar and, with every ounce of strength she had left, slammed it into Michael's back. The force of the blow sent him staggering forward, releasing his grip on Laurie completely.
Laurie collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, her body trembling from the pain and exhaustion. Allyson rushed to her side, tears streaming down her face.
"Grandma! Stay with me!" Allyson cried, wrapping her arms around Laurie.
Michael, or rather the entity controlling him, slowly turned, rage building in its dark eyes. But for the first time, there was a flicker of something else—a struggle within.
The voice snarled inside Michael's head, fighting to regain full control. But Laurie's final act of defiance had weakened its grip. Michael stood there, motionless, as the battle for control waged within his mind.
Laurie, barely able to lift her head, looked up at her granddaughter. "Go, Allyson… it's not over… but you have to live."
Allyson shook her head, refusing to leave. But as she looked back at Michael, she realized this might be their only chance to escape. Whatever was happening inside him, it wouldn't last long.
With tears in her eyes, Allyson helped her grandmother to her feet, supporting her weight as they stumbled toward the sheriff's car. The fight wasn't over, but for now, they had a chance.
Behind them, Michael stood still, the voice in his head screaming in fury as it struggled to regain its control.
But the Strode women had survived the night. For now.