Two hours later.
"One. Two. One. Two. Check."
"Can hear you loud and clear George," Roy said. The two techs were now testing out the doorbell. She would have in essence her own PA system. If she picked up the small handset and depressed the "talk" button, her voice would come out of a small speaker on the outside of her cell door.
"Jesus, they must trust her," George remarked. "This is hardly ever done. Maybe she's entertaining herself noisily at night if you know what I mean?" He winked.
Roy glared at him. "Will you shut up? It's not our business to speculate. We just do as we're asked." Despite his words, Roy strongly suspected she was being abused or something to that extent. A loan woman on this ward full of dangerous male Psychopaths? He felt sorry for her. Totally blind to boot.
"Hello, guys?" Dr Loomis' voice came out of Roy's drop, water and damage proof radio designed for when working. This was good in his job, except for the fact it was damn heavy. He never wore it on the designated pouch on his vest for just that reason.
He pulled it out and spoke. "Go ahead boss?"
"I forgot to say. Can you leave the walls as they are? They already have soft material on as you can see and they're used by patients for stress, to hit them and so on."
"Yep, no problem boss, we haven't touch them. Just testing out the doorbell system now."
"Brilliant, thank you." The radio clicked off.
"Pass me the shank," George gestured at the saw. "This piece isn't measured right."
Roy sighed. George was an ok guy to work with, but he'd never hang around with him on a personal level. He was crude and sexist. No wonder he never seemed to have a girlfriend.
As George began sawing at the foam, the machine's noise cutting out any possibility of conversation, which suited Roy just fine, the younger tech brushed his sweat soaked hair behind his ears. That had been Michael Myers. Michael God damn Myers who'd helped them carry that foam in. Good fucking god! How and why were they not dead right now? Roy knew about the notorious masked killer, as much as everyone else near and far did. Yet, he'd just helped them out. Ok, so he'd carried some sheets of foam for them, hardly a huge thing, but still. What the hell? Despite not being allowed to ask, Roy Larson would give anything to do just that.
"Can you go out and listen?" George broke him out of his thoughts. "I'll try and talk to you."
The two men had removed the barred door and replaced it with a sheet of solid metal. This was only done for maximum proofing. It had a sheet of metal in its centre which could be lowered right to the floor at the push of a button, relieving the claustrophobia and compression on the ears. When closed, it was like entering a hearing test booth. The foam now covered the floor completely.
"She'll think she's got her own private bouncy castle," George had remarked. "Have the time of her life on too much medication," he'd grinned. Not to mention she'll probably be asked to call people down to reception." He put on the tone of a PA announcer. "Dr Loomis, can you go to the main reception building please? I mean, the damn thing even chimes when you press the "talk" button!"
Roy crossed into the corridor and closed the door. He listened and only vaguely heard George's voice. "Hey you ugly fucker. You are hearing this?"
He opened the door and walked back in. "I heard you," he said without a flicker of a smile and saw the, "oh shit" look which crossed his colleague's face. George Atkins appeared to have no professional boundaries. "That bit of floor by the door isn't done completely," Roy gestured. "There. That's how I heard you."
"We're out of foam," George said. "Fuck. I don't want to lift that stuff myself again. I'll do my damn back in."
"It's our job," Roy said through gritted teeth. "Come on."
As the two men walked out of the block, Roy saw Michael Myers was back in his cell. He'd probably heard the PA test and the deafening saw several times. As George went on ahead, Roy approached the killer's bars. Within a second, a guard whose badge said Jack was at his side.
"Excuse me," Roy kept his voice very low. "You're Michael Myers, aren't you?"
The killer met his gaze and Roy felt himself shiver. Myers' gaze was cold, blank, no emotion at all. "Thanks for your help back there Mr. Myers."
Nothing. Roy gave the killer a small nod and hurried after his colleague, Jack following behind him to let them back in to the block with the foam. At least Roy now knew for certain he'd been right. Damn. Michael fucking Myers… If he hadn't seen it for himself, he'd never have believed it.
The two men finished off the door, then tested the doorbell. At the push of a button she would hear a musical tinkle, indicating someone was outside her cell. She could then pick up her phone to speak to them. There was another handset on the outside which the other person would speak through if the conversation was private, and they didn't want her voice out of the speaker. Or they could just use it as a standard intercom system.
This time for the final test, Roy stayed in the cell, and he did the talking. George hadn't heard anything.
"You know that's a security risk if they don't close the hatch or the window?" George said and they quickly tested it with them open. Closed, they could hear nothing. Even open sound was reduced by the foam. Roy felt his contempt soften a little. It was George who'd brought that fact up, not him. Maybe he wasn't as bad as Roy had first thought.
Next, the two men pulled out glue guns and began sticking the foam down permanently to the floor. Once in its position, it couldn't be moved. The glue was so strong the bottle had bright red signs all over it.
HOT OR COLD, THIS LIQUID IS LETHAL. DO NOT HANDLE WITHOUT GLOVES OR SAFETY GLASSES!
So much so that two pairs of disposable gloves and safety glasses were provided with each bottle. It would burn your skin off if it contacted flesh and clothes would also be burnt right through. It was safe to touch only when dry and set.
Roy noticed the bottle even had Braille on it, something he'd never noticed before. He wondered what it said. Hopefully the same as the print. Too bad he couldn't ask her to read it for him. They pulled on their safety gloves, glasses, masks, and overalls and set to work.
Finally, they were all done. The foam needed to be left for another hour to completely set to the cell floor. Jack let them out and they met Dr Loomis again in his office, informing him they were done.
"Thank you, gentlemen," Dr Loomis said. "You will be paid by tomorrow morning. Grate day's work, thank you very much."
…
Samuel Loomis waited until the techs had left before he let Chancer out of solitary. The killer looked furious, but it was clear he didn't dare say anything. That was just fine with Dr Loomis. He and three guards escorted Chancer back up to his cell. He and Dr Stark had considered sound proofing Chancer's cell, but Dr Stark had squashed that idea.
"It'll be like a red flag," she'd said. "We know it's you so be very careful. How would we ever prove it then?" Dr Loomis had conceded the undoubtedly valid and correct point.
But now, there was no way in hell Derek Chancer would be able to hear anything Danielle said. He couldn't see her cell from his either, so would have no idea it had been modified for just this purpose. He'd think his precious iPod was broken. That was just fine with them. The longer he remained clueless the better.
The techs had warned the cell would smell very strongly of the glue for a while. Dr Loomis smiled and told them he'd pass the message on. Dr Stark would brief her in any case, he explained. Showing her all the buttons and so on.
Now Dr Loomis sat in his office, still unable to get his head around what'd happened earlier between him and Michael. This was far from the disturbed young boy he'd known. The one who he strongly suspected though of course could not prove, had almost drowned a girl named Sophie in the apple bobbing vat at the age of 7 when she beat him at musical chairs. Or the nurse who'd fallen down the stairs, fracturing her pelvis. What the hell had she managed to do to him which no one else had? Was it her vulnerability? Powerlessness? The fact she seemed to be depending on him if only unconsciously. As Halloween night drew in, Samuel Loomis knew what he had to do.
…
Adam couldn't deny he was worried and a little uneasy about the text he'd received earlier that day, re Danielle's reports. It said their man inside was almost caught and as a result was now on edge, nervous. Refusing to speak, only text. Adam was also angry. He'd thought their "man inside" was cleverer than that. Seemingly he'd been wrong. Derek Chancer had obviously made some kind of mistake which could cost Adam knowing where his bitch was, and that was simply not ok with Adam Dawson.
"That's not good enough," he snapped at the unknown person on his phone when he made the call. "I want answers. I'm paying you a fucking shit load for them."
"Don't worry Sir," the unknown voice, this time a child's, said in his ear. "He's not stopping his work; he just wanted you to know what'd happened."
"What?" Adam laughed incredulously. "That he made a fuck up? Sonny, I don't care what fuck up he made, if I get the reports on my property! I don't want to hear how "on edge, nervous" he is. I don't care! I just want to know what my property is saying and doing. She belongs to me. You get me?"
"Yes Sir, completely. But the boss has said to tell you that following this… Unfortunate incident, you won't have to pay us anymore money until our man has something to tell you."
"I should think not," Adam growled. "It also better be something good!" He slammed down the phone.
What the fuck had Derek Chancer done? Adam had to commend and credit him for managing to get the iPod back. That must've taken good lying skills. Despite what he'd said on the phone, he couldn't deny he was curious. If someone as cunning and sneaky as Chancer could get caught, what had he done?
Adam had just kicked out tonight's whore when his phone rang hours later. He answered it, not recognising the number. "Yes?" He snapped. He was tired and just wanted sleep.
"Sir," said a man's voice. "We have a message from our man. He says and I quote, I don't think I can keep doing this. It's getting way too dangerous. He's on to me and he's the one man who scares me shitless. My life's worth more to me than what this guy's paying."
Adam felt his fists clench. "Excuse me? What the fuck are you on about? He's not stopping now; I'm paying good money for this! I wouldn't care if it was Michael fucking Myers on his case! He'll continue and that's the end of it!" He slammed down his phone.
But as he lay down to sleep, he felt himself shiver. He couldn't lie, if Michael Myers had been on his case for anything, Adam Dawson would be running in the opposite direction as fast as he could. Michael Myers was the one man who terrified him.
But of course, it wasn't Michael Myers. That's why he'd used the name. The idea was so insane, preposterous even that it didn't even need thinking about. That was as crazy as the people in that loony bin! Michael Myers would kill her as soon as look at her. He'd kill anyone as soon as look at them. Michael Myers care about her? Adam laughed out loud. That's hilarious!
…
Samuel Loomis approached Michael's cell slowly and carefully. This time when two of the night guards approached him, he didn't try to stop them, just smiled at them in gratitude.
The silent killer was standing by his door, his back turned to the bars. As usual his gaze was emotionless, blank. Dr Loomis tried not to shiver. Even after all these years, that cold, icy stare could do this to him.
"Michael?" He said and quietly. The killer didn't turn, but Dr Loomis could sense his gaze on him.
Was he pushing his luck? He knew something had happened between him and the killer earlier that day however small it was, but this was Halloween night. Was he making a possibly very dangerous mistake?
The killer didn't as much as move, but nor did he look away. Dr Loomis tried to make eye contact, but with Michael facing away from him, this was impossible.
"Are you, ok?" Dr Loomis murmured, asking the killer the question Michael had asked him just hours before. "Can I do anything for you?"
Now Michael did turn to face him, and Samuel Loomis took an automatic step backwards. He just knew his patient was hearing the call of the kill. The two guards stepped forward, so they were sandwiching him between them.
Once again Dr Loomis remembered the young Michael. Even at 7, everyone staff and children alike, had been afraid of him. He commanded that ward back then. Whether it was trying to drown a girl for beating him at musical chairs or giving a young boy a terrible rash for not returning a game to the killer.
It seemed as if nothing had changed with Michael becoming an adult. Everyone still feared him and with good reason. Would the killer try to target him? Despite everything, Dr Loomis didn't think so. Michael knew Dr Loomis was trying to help him and even as a child had grudgingly acknowledged his authority. But was that still true even as a grown man?
Dr Loomis realised he wasn't the only one thinking these thoughts when unable to stop themselves it seemed, Richard and Ash drew back slightly. Dr Loomis stepped up to the cell door within Michael's reach.
"Sir," Ash said quietly, a warning. "Step back."
Dr Loomis didn't move. He turned to Richard and spoke quietly but firmly into his ear.
"I need you to trust me. This is an order. Do not argue with me. Please Richard, this is vital. Go and open her cell and bring her up here, but not close enough to touch."
"Sir," Richard said, just as Dr Loomis knew he would. Dr Loomis could understand it totally too.
"Please," he said quietly. "Bring as many guards with you as you wish, but this is really important."
Richard looked at him for what seemed like minutes, then very slowly nodded. He walked away towards the cell. Ash looked at Dr Loomis bewildered, then in anger.
"Sir, what the fuck are you…"
"Need I remind you who's in charge here?" Dr Loomis' voice was ice. He then softened it. "Please, Ash. I know what I'm doing. He'll get nowhere near her." Unless I say so, he didn't add.
Michael hadn't moved an inch, his unflinching, blank gaze still on his doctor, seeming to be waiting to see what his next move would be.He knows, Dr Loomis thought.He's playing with me, like a cat with a mouse.
…
Danielle sat in her new cell, at least she considered it a new one, not sure how she felt. Apart from feeling like she was sitting in a hearing test booth. Dr Stark had assured her she could have the screen open whenever she liked to ease the compression to her ears, and she was grateful for this.
Three hours earlier when Dr Stark had taken her out of her cell, she'd said "it's my turn to entertain you for a while," before explaining what was happening.
She couldn't deny she was relieved. This way there was no way Chancer would be able to hear a word she said. Or anyone else for that matter. She and Dr Stark had talked over coffee and her doctor had told her a little about herself. Favourite food, films and so on.
But it wasn't just Chancer she was thinking about regarding not hearing her. Her emotions were all over the place and for the last couple of days, she'd felt certain she was about to cry. Now, she could do it in total privacy.
Everything was building up. The fact Adam was still not leaving her alone even now, had gone so far as to have someone watching and reporting on her was bad enough. Then… Then there was Michael. Fuck. That was one complicated mess right there. She could no longer deny, to herself at least, how she felt about the masked serial killer. God knew she'd tried for long enough. She'd resolved to tell Dr Stark this as soon as they spoke the next day. She'd had long enough to think about it. She loved him.
Dr Stark had shown her what all the buttons did and had joked she would be asked to make announcements for people if they needed the guards. she felt self-conscious about her voice coming out of the small speaker outside her door and resolved to use it only when she had to. She didn't like the fact it chimed like a public address system when she pressed the "talk" button either. Everyone knew she was going to speak then. It made her feel like she was being above everyone else, like she was important enough to have this feature. In truth she hated it.
Dr Stark had pressed the doorbell, so she'd heard it and showed her how to open the screen in the door. She'd also relocked the Perspex compartment by her pillow as it was now useless.
She took a deep breath, trying to fight down her emotions. Halloween night or not, she was missing Michael. But what if he was hearing those voices again? The ones which told him to kill. She felt herself shiver.
As if on cue, her doorbell rang, and Richard's voice came through the handset when she picked it up. "Hello?"
"It's Richard. Dr Loomis wants you."
She stood up as Richard opened the solid metal door. She felt her ears pop and could only hope she got used to it.
As Richard led her down the corridor and she heard two other guards join him, she felt her heart turn to ice. No. They weren't, were they?
However, she might… Did feel about Michael Myers, she couldn't be with him tonight. Had Dr Loomis gone mad? Or had she got it completely wrong? Was she being taken somewhere else?
But all too soon, she was confirmed correct when she heard Dr Loomis' voice. "Michael, look to your left."
Danielle Hayward had never been able to see anything, not since birth. But she'd heard her sighted friends describing being under a stare so intense or cold they could almost feel it burning them or turning them to frozen stone. On that Halloween night, she truly learnt for the first time what they meant. Because she didn't have to see it to know that right now, she wasn't under the stare of a caring man who'd let her touch his ears, but the cold, intense stare of a silent, cold-blooded killer. She didn't even hear herself scream.
…
The Shape stood at the door of his cell, the call of the kill for once totally silent. For a second time he hadn't reacted, hadn't comforted her. Her scream had cut right through him, straight to his heart. That was certainly a first. Normally for him the scream and panic of a victim was euphoric, arousing even. Not this time. This time it caused a jolt of something he could only recognise as pain. He didn't want to hear her scream, and certainly not because of him. Now, or ever.
She'd been taken fast back to her own cell and Dr Loomis had sighed softly and walked away. He'd wanted to say something to his doctor. Hell, he'd almost spoken for the first time in thirty-five years. "Stop!"
But of course, he hadn't. All he knew was he needed her with him. Wanted her. Loved her?
He had once heard Dr Loomis say he radiated menace when he had the desire to kill, and the fact a blind person had even felt it, meant it must be true. The fact that he didn't want to hurt said blind person aside…
He knew what he had to do. He had to keep a sharp eye out for her. If she got close enough to him, guards, or no guards, he would make his move. This time she would be left in no doubt that she was and would forever be safe from his need to kill. Twice he'd failed to show her this, he wouldn't do so a third time.
…
"Well that went well, didn't it?"
Samuel Loomis looked across the desk at Dr Martin and smiled tiredly. "Very. Shit. I'm getting too old for this."
"I wouldn't go that far. You just… Had the wrong feeling so to speak, and you had very good reasons for thinking the way you did?" The aging doctor ran his hand across his forehead, removing his suit jacket and slinging it over the back of his chair. "I would've said the same."
This made Dr Loomis look up at him in surprise. "Really?"
Dr Martin smiled a little sadly. "Yes. Jesus Sam, we were all fooled by Michael Myers. Don't you remember when he was 7? He asked for a Halloween party?"
Dr Loomis laughed grimly. "Oh yes. All too well."
"He even told you I'd have no objections didn't he." Dr Martin said. It wasn't a question. "I don't know if that was because I was… Am afraid of him or if I genuinely believed he should be released and couldn't understand why he was here. I saw him too you know. A 6-year-old boy attending court in a cute suit and tie…" He sighed. "No remorse, right or wrong understanding, perfectly happy to admit he'd killed his sister… You were the one who had its right Sam. You called him a "homicidal Psychopath." That was a damn lot closer to the mark than we were. I and Nurse Kramer included."
Dr Loomis sighed. "Except in this case I'm still not sure. I stand by what I said when I stated he radiates Menace when he needs a kill and is hearing the voices telling him to do so which is normally what happens in cases like his, but…" Dr Loomis removed his glasses and slowly replaced them. "If even she could feel it that just confirms what I said all those years ago."
Dr Martin removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt as if he was suddenly overheating. two years older than Dr Loomis, yet his subordinate. He respected his boss and often went along with what he said with no argument. He couldn't stop himself thinking back to that Halloween party thirty-four years ago. What an absolute disaster it'd been.
"I knew you were going to try and trap Michael," he said quietly after a moment's pause. "Like, set something up or at least watch for it. You put us on "red alert" didn't you? You had yourself and two other staff members specifically watching Michael. Were you hoping he'd try and hurt someone, so you had evidence for Judge Christopher? So, he'd have to stay here?"
Dr Loomis smiled a little sadly. The two doctors had talked about this before of course, but now it seemed particularly relevant.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "I believe so. It was Michael after all who asked for the damn party. "Can we have a Halloween party, Dr Loomis?" I couldn't believe my ears. I remember exactly what I said. "You of all people…" But he kept on about it for weeks. He clearly felt very strongly for the idea."
"Yeah, and said I wouldn't object," Dr Martin said with a small smile. "Sure, enough I hadn't. I didn't see the harm in it, but then I didn't see Michael Myers as a homicidal killer either."
"You're right," Dr Loomis conceded. "I did have you all on "red alert." I was only half joking. Sophie beat him to the last chair in musical chairs, then…"
"I still find it strange the lights went out when they did," Dr Martin said, finishing Dr Loomis' sentence. "It wasn't windy that night at all was it? When they came back on, there was Sophie, drenched from the waist up and she'd stopped breathing. Yet…"
"Michael's hands were perfectly dry, and he was standing at least ten steps away?" It was Dr Loomis' turn to finish the sentence.
"Exactly," Dr Martin said. "But you still believe that was Michael's doing all these years on?"
Dr Loomis nodded without hesitation. "Yes."
Dr Martin let out his breath in a long, low sigh. "Christ. Then we have a blind woman on our ward and… What? Michael just… Changes?"
"I wouldn't say just," Dr Loomis said. "It took time. But yes, I would agree something has happened between those two. Wouldn't you?"
"Well, yes, based on what I've seen. Although I've never met her. How could she change Michael Myers so completely? A man who ruthlessly and without mercy killed a group of teenagers in 1978. Carried his sister's fucking gravestone and placed it on a bed above the head of one of his victims?" Dr Martin shivered a little at that.
Dr Loomis could only shrug. God knew he'd asked himself that very question often enough. He didn't mention to Dr Martin what'd happened between him and Michael in the yard earlier that day.
"Perhaps it's her vulnerability," he said eventually. "Michael likes the hunt before the kill. Hunting her would be too easy for him as she wouldn't see him. An easy kill if you will."
Dr Martin shivered again. "Ok, but that doesn't mean he'd change the way he has towards her, does it? I haven't seen them interact, but you've told me enough Sam! Shit. He lets her touch his God damn ears! What the hell?"
Dr Loomis smiled a little. "Perhaps I thought that if he saw her on Halloween, it might calm his need to kill down seeing as she's changing him."
Dr Martin chuckled. "That worked, didn't it? That cold, icy stare of his. Jesus. No wonder so many people were afraid of him, even as a 7-year-old boy! Now he's an adult it's even worse. I mean come on! A blind person could detect it. That must be why she screamed. Right?"
"That I can't disagree with," Dr Loomis nodded. "But I can't help wondering if we took her back to him right now would the same thing happen twice?"
"You're not going too," Dr Martin looked horrified. "Are you?"
"Not tonight, no. I've called Nurse Hathaway to talk to her and she's just arrived. She has had a huge shock. I'm not completely ruthless."
Dr Martin smiled at his boss. "No offence intended."
"None taken. I can see why you asked that. But no is the answer. But I may go back and see Michael myself in a few moments."
Dr Martin nodded. "Just be careful."
Dr Loomis met his colleague's eye and returned the nod. "I will. No worries there."
…
"Hi. I'm Nurse Rachael Hathaway. Dr Loomis has asked me to check on you after what just happened. Are you ok?"
The two women were sitting in her cell, window closed so they couldn't be heard. She had only met this nurse once in passing. The nurses only entered this ward if requested by one of the doctors or guards. If extra help was needed or a patient needed one for whatever reason.
She gave Hathaway a faint smile. "Yeah," her voice shook a little despite her best efforts to stop it doing so. "Just…" She let out a long breath. "Fuck! I've heard my sighted friends describing being under a freezing, intense, cold stare but of course me never understood what they meant. Until now. Jesus! Michael was feeling the need to kill, I know that, and I couldn't even see his face! He just seemed to… God this will sound crazy, but I must be honest. He seemed to radiate threat, menace. I just wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as I could! I thought I was going to faint! I didn't even realise I'd screamed until afterwards."
The hatch opened a little and one of the guards passed her a cup of tea.
"Thanks," she said gratefully. Who is it?"
"It's William. Dr Loomis says drink that."
"You haven't drugged it have you?" she finally managed a small grin. "Calming drug or something?"
She heard William chuckle as he walked away, but he didn't answer her question all be it asked in gest.
"Dr Loomis probably has asked for a calming drug to be put in it," Hathaway said. "But it'll help. Trust me. Drink it, Come on."
She smiled at her but made no argument, taking a sip of the hot sweet tea. After a few sips, she started to feel calmer and strongly suspected her suspicions had been correct.
"That's my girl," Hathaway squeezed her arm. "Drink it all up now."
She took a few sips before she spoke again. "Have Dr Loomis or Dr Stark told you what's happened lately regarding Michael and I?"
"They've certainly hinted that you appear to be changing him. I think that's why Dr Loomis did what he did tonight."
She smiled grimly. "Yeah. He wanted to see if Michael would kill me of all people."
"So, do you think he would have if given the chance? Really?"
"Uh, yes!" she wondered if Hathaway had grown an extra head. "Duh! That stare… If I'd been close enough, I wouldn't be talking to you now nurse Hathaway! I'd be in a damn body bag!"
"I'll ask you again," Hathaway's voice was very gentle, soft. "Do you really, really think he would have?"
Something in her tone made her do what Hathaway was clearly asking her to do and consider the question carefully. She thought of all the times Michael had let her touch his ears, held her at night, even the one time he'd touched her cheek. How he'd carried her that day long ago when Jefferson had tripped her up. How he'd been nothing but gentle towards her, caring for her. It was Halloween tonight after all. She checked the time on her phone. It was 9PM on October 31st. Of course, Michael would feel like this tonight. After a moment, Hathaway quietly spoke.
"See? You don't think he would have really, do you? It's Halloween, that's all. But even given that, I don't think he would've attacked you, even if the guards had walked away and left you by his door. Do you? Seriously?"
"I don't know," she said truthfully. "But I would like to think not, nurse Hathaway."
"Please, call me Rachel."
"Thanks, Rachael." That made she feel a little more at ease. All be it a tiny thing. She contemplated whether to tell this kind stranger about her growing feelings for Michael. How she strongly believed more so every day, that she was falling in love with a ruthless serial killer. A man who made Adam look like a real gentleman. She'd rather face Adam angry any day than Michael Myers just once. Yet, she loved him. This was getting harder and harder to deny as the days went on.
Something of her thoughts must've shown on her face because Hathaway said, "do you want to talk about it?"
She smiled at her. "I think you can work it out, can't you Rachael? I'm here because I tried to kill myself after my ex drove me to it with relentless abuse, rape, assault, controlling behaviour, you name it. Then I meet probably the most dangerous man in the country if not the world and…" She ran her hands through her hair. "Fuck! I don't even know what the "and" is! Something happened between us. He's cared for, been kind to, looked out for me and I don't know why! Even today the doctor's asked Michael to be with me while someone's cell was searched. They clearly trust him to protect me. They must do. Now this? Shit. Have I just undone everything between us/?"
"Is that really what you think?"
"I don't know!" she lightly struck the soft wall with a loud bang which echoed slightly around even the sound proofed cell. "What am I supposed to think?"
"So, if Dr Loomis took you back to Michael's cell right now, are you saying you'd refuse to go out of fear for your safety? Do you truthfully think that Michael would hurt you? I don't. I think it much more likely he'd comfort you this time and would somehow all be it in silence, apologise for his actions. Don't you? If you're honest with yourself?"
"Perhaps," she conceded the point. Even now she couldn't bring herself to say an outright yes, even if she was certain in her heart of hearts that Hathaway was right.
"I thought so," Hathaway said, her tone jokingly triumphant. She couldn't argue with her, just lightly slapped her to the arm. Hathaway laughed.
"But if he did," she said, more to herself than Hathaway. "I'd go. I'd be there right now if I could. I can't deny how I'm almost certain I feel about him now Rachael. Killer or not. He's been kinder to me in a few months than my ex was in six. Oh yes, he started off kind at first, of course he did. Get the fish in the net and all that. But then…"
"He made you happy once though, yes?"
"I thought so," she said. "I must have done, considering I damn well moved in with him. Stupid stuff really. He'd do things I liked, make me feel cared about. Guide me to lectures, look out for me at night, and make sure I got back to my dorm safe after parties…" She found herself blinking back tears. "Oh yes, did everything he had to, to make me believe he was Mr. Nice Guy. Then… The truth came out. But not until I'd moved in with him. You know some of my friends didn't like him. They even warned me to be careful, that something wasn't right about him. God, I wish I'd listened!"
Hathaway took her hand now. "Love can make us all deaf," she said softly. "Love is blind, too."
She laughed quietly. "Yeah, it sure was for me. I couldn't see any of the signs my friends warned me about."
"Are you still in touch with any of them now?"
"A couple by text from in her eyes and phone call. One has completely turned her back on me, said I warned you and you should've listened, so you deserve what you got."
Hathaway squeezed her hand tightly. "Then she's no friend of yours."
"Yeah, I know," Danielle sighed. "But my best friend Charlotte was convinced Adam was the Mr. Nice Guy he claimed to be. She was desperate to be with him and it was clear she wanted nothing more than for us to break up. It ruined our friendship for a while. Ha," she laughed sadly. "She soon found out the truth alright."
"How do you mean?"
When I was locked in here, Charlotte went in for the kill. Although not the way she intended," she smiled grimly at Hathaway. "She started dating Adam and of course he was as kind to her as he'd been to me at first. Then she moved in with him and boom! All hell broke loose. But at least she came to her senses. She was in court with me to see him sent down. Well, that was the plan." She clenched her fists. "Fucking one juror refused to find him guilty. Said her son had been through similar and he was innocent, so she wasn't going to make the same mistake herself."
"I'm so sorry. So, what happened?"
"Oh, he got released of course. Given every order under the sun not to contact us, but he's not keeping it. He's messaging me under different ID's so the cops can't prove it's him, but I'm keeping all of it as evidence. I've got a DV worker from here."
"Good," Hathaway said. "That's a good first step towards recovery. Your second might be a man named Michael Myers."
She only realised she was blushing when Hathaway chuckled. "Maybe," she said quietly. "But tonight…" She shivered again. "I don't think I'll ever get that out of my mind. Seriously. Something about his manner tonight said I'm a threat, don't come near me. I wish I could explain it better."
"You don't have to," Hathaway said. "I understand. Believe me."
Danielle did believe her.
…
An hour later, Dr Loomis approached Michael's cell. The killer was standing exactly where he'd left him, at his door but was now facing the bars. Dr Loomis spoke quietly. "Michael?"
The killer didn't as much as move but did make eye contact with his doctor. Dr Loomis could hardly believe the feeling which hit him when their eyes met.
Sympathy. There was something in Michael's gaze he'd never seen before. Intense, full of an emotion it was clear Michael didn't understand. But Samuel Loomis did. It was regret. He regretted not having comforted her, being unable to control the call of the kill and letting her detect it. It was, no pun intended, killing him.
Dr Loomis couldn't stop himself when he touched the killer's arm very lightly. "Michael," he said very quietly. "It's ok, this is normal, you know. What you are experiencing is something any man would. This is a good thing, believe me. She's talking to one of our nurses at this moment, but you will be with her again very soon. I promise you this."
The killer just looked at him. Dr Loomis felt his sympathy intensify. Michael didn't have a clue what was going on in his own heart. He slipped away and returned a few minutes later, handing Michael a black coffee. But not through the hatch, he handed it straight to him, ignoring the incredulous looks from the guards. This was between him and Michael and most of them would never even come close to understanding what had just happened this Halloween night.
…
Derek Chancer had almost dozed off when he was woken by the scream. What the fuck? At first, he thought it was one of his dreams. He often dreamed of women screaming, it was great masturbation material. But this hadn't been a dream, he was sure of it. This had been real. In which case there was only one woman it could've been. That bitch. What had upset the blind idiot this time? Too bad it wasn't him shoving his cock into her before killing her.
He heard soothing voices and fast footsteps but by the time he'd got to his door to look, they'd already gone up the corridor. So, it had been Danielle and she'd sounded close. What the fuck had happened?
Then he looked out and that was when he saw that Michael Myers was standing at his door, staring right at him. Derek Chancer didn't feel fear often, he could remember only one time in his life when he had. When he was told, he was going to face the death penalty for his crimes. But he was feeling it now. That stare. So cold, menacing, dangerous. Not to mention that when Derek met the killer's gaze it seemed to intensify. Chancer could almost feel the killer's hatred of him. He looked away incredibly quickly and headed back to his bed.
Did Myers suspect him? He'd wondered this before now, but the way he'd looked at him had just made it worse. Mind it was Halloween, he tried to assure himself. Of course, Michael Myers wanted to kill tonight. He'd killed his sister on Halloween at 6 after all. But this? There had been something in the killer's gaze, Chancer was sure of it. Thinking about it made him shiver. Getting back to sleep this time was nowhere near as easy.
…
Danielle lay in her cell after Rachael Hathaway had left. Her mind was racing. Almost absently, she reached over to the new handset mounted on the wall just by her pillow and began to feel it again.
Dr Stark had shown her how it all worked earlier that day. Now she touched the bell-shaped button, which was an extra call button, the square one which opened and closed the screen in her door and the circular shaped one which would enable her to speak without picking up the handset, her voice would come out of the speaker on the outside of her door.
She couldn't lie, she felt comforted having two call buttons. Just in case she had to reach one fast. Not that she'd ever tell anyone that, not even her doctors. But it was certainly a fact she couldn't deny.
After Hathaway had gone, she had opened her screen. It relieved the compressing feeling on her ears, like she was indeed taking a hearing test. But she couldn't deny either that it being closed made her feel safe when she was having a conversation, knowing no one could hear her.
That led her thoughts back to Derek Chancer. Had it been the notorious woman killer who had indeed been watching, listening to, and reporting on her? That was a horrible thought. How much had he been paid by Adam to do this? That said, she knew Adam well enough to know he'd spare no expense on tormenting her. Reminding her she wasn't safe, even inside Smith's Grove. That made her angry now more than afraid. Who the fuck did that son of a bitch think he was? She knew he viewed her as his "property," a view any misogynist took, but he was going out of his way to make that clear. She was determined to show that she, Danielle Jamie Hayward, belonged to nobody but herself. She was no man's "property." Or women for that matter.
She reached over and pressed the call button on her handset. Testing it. Within a minute, Ash was there.
"Hi, its Ash. You, ok?"
"Hey ash," she spoke quietly as it was getting late. "Can I please have a glass of water and two painkillers? Got a headache from hell."
"You haven't taken any recently?"
She knew why he was checking. Some patients would abuse it, use them as drugs. Guards, doctors, and nurses wrote down whenever they gave a patient painkiller for just this reason.
"Nope," she smiled at him. "You're more than welcome to check if you need to."
He appeared to consider this for a moment, then spoke. "Nah, it's ok. The docs trust you so I will. Don't prove I've made a mistake."
"Thanks Ash. I would never do that."
He was gone, returning a minute or so later with the water and tablets.
She'd only just taken them when her phone rang. It was nearly 10. She felt a jolt of panic, then immediately shouted at herself. For fuck's sake Hayward! You can't flinch every time your phone rings or you get a text message or Email. That's what he wants! But she still checked the ID. Her heart soared. Charlotte. She pressed the button to close the screen, then answered.
…
Derek Chancer could just see Danielle when her screen was open. It appeared she'd had a new door fitted for some reason. God knew why. He heard the distant ring of her phone and snatched up his "iPod." Here was his chance to earn some money by listening to her. Plus, he couldn't deny he was interested to know who that bitch was talking to himself. He put on the earphones and pointed it in the direction of her cell.
…
"Hey charlotte!" she tried to keep her voice light, cheerful. She'd already decided not to tell her friend anything of what had just happened between her and Michael. Charlotte would only worry about her and that wasn't fair. She had enough on her plate already.
"Hey you! How are you?"
"Oh, you know me. Doing well thanks. Docs are really helping me."
"Not just the doctors though, I bet?" Charlotte said with a laugh.
"Well, no," she admitted, her face growing hot, and she was thankful Charlotte couldn't see it as this was an Audio call not a video one. Even if he could've and might have nearly killed me tonight, she didn't add.
"What are you doing this Halloween?" She asked instead to change the subject.
"Actually, I've just got back from a Halloween party. It was great fun. Someone had rigged up their house like a haunted one. Music, sounds, fake blood the works."
"Cool," she said, trying not to sound sad. She would've loved to be there for that. She loved haunted houses, horror movies and such.
"They said they'll do it again when you can come," Charlotte said, obviously reading her mind. But as they'd been best friends since the age of 5, she shouldn't have been surprised by this.
"Thanks," she said, managing to grin and it was genuine.
"You should've seen the amount of food Dan. It was ridiculous. We'll all have enough left over for the next month."
She laughed. "Nice!"
"It suits me," her friend agreed. "Means I don't have to cook for a while."
She laughed out loud this time. Charlotte could always do that for her no matter what was going on. It felt good. "You hate cooking! Any excuse to get out of it and it's got your name on!"
"Too damn right," Charlotte said, laughing too. "Not to mention I'm useless at it and would burn water!"
"Well," Danielle said. "I didn't want to say anything but…"
"Yeah alright," Charlotte laughed. "Point taken. Shut up. I get it!"
Despite all the precautions they'd given her, Danielle still lowered her voice. The casual chat she didn't care if he… Anyone heard. But this?
"They've majorly modified my cell," she said quietly. "They believe someone on the inside was reporting on my movements and words to Adam. That's how he knew you were going to be here yesterday! Fuck I'm so sorry Charlotte! Are you ok?"
"We figured it was something like that," Charlotte's voice was bitter. "Jesus Christ! Will that bastard ever give up?"
"Knowing Adam no," she said grimly. "I don't think he knows what give it up even means."
"Don't you worry about us though?" Charlotte said, her voice stern now. "Colin and dad were there as mom; I was perfectly safe. We called the police immediately. Are you ok? Jesus! Haven't you been through enough? Mind, given who's protecting you… I'm surprised he's not running in the opposite direction. Both Adam and whoever's behind this."
She realised she was blushing again. "I'm fine," she said, not entirely truthfully. What'd happened with Michael was still really hurting, but God she wanted to be with him. Right now. She was missing him so bad, unbelievably so and the worst part was she wasn't completely sure why.
Oh yes you are, said her internal voice. Stop denying it Hayward! You're missing him because you love him! Now just face it like a woman! Stop being such a coward!
"You sure?" Charlotte asked, clearly hearing her hesitation.
For a second, she teetered on the verge of telling her best friend what'd happened. But she couldn't. Charlotte couldn't help her with this, however much she might want to.
"Is it Michael?" Charlotte asked. This time she hated the fact Charlotte could read her so easily.
"Kind of," she admitted. "But it's a long story."
"Do you want to talk about it? I'm here D, you know that. Always."
"I know Charlotte. Same here for you. Thanks babe. But it's… Complicated."
"Is he with you now and that's why you can't talk?"
"No, he's not. Honestly. I'm not under duress. It's just… Fuck! I don't know how to explain it."
"Do you want me to leave it?"
For a long time, she hesitated. Part of her wanted to say yes, but the other…
"Shit," she sighed. "I don't know C. It was… Strange. Damn scary. Dr Loomis took me to his cell tonight. It's Halloween and he wanted to see how Michael would react, I think. Well… Let's just say I've heard you and others describe being under an intense cold stare, but of course I've never fully understood that until now. Until tonight. Jesus C! It was… Was terrifying. They sent a nurse over to talk to me."
"Damn," Charlotte whistled. "But I don't think he'd ever really hurt you, D. Look how close you've become over the last few months. Hell, he's treated you kinder the last few months than Adam did in six!" Danielle laughed.
"What?" Charlotte asked.
"That's almost word for word what I said to nurse Hathaway. She asked me if I was given the opportunity to go back to Michael's cell tonight, would I?"
"And?" Charlotte's voice was quiet. She was sure she already knew the answer.
"What do you think?" She retorted. "Of course I damn well would! He's all I can think about Charlotte! I… Fuck! I think I love him!"
"I knew it," Charlotte said in a sing song voice. "I just knew it! Go, go girl! Go for it, tell him!"
"Chance it with a man who makes Adam look like an angel?" she spoke just as quietly as her friend now. "Someone who's killed God knows how many people? I would rather face Adam angry any day than Michael Myers just once! Someone who never speaks. Someone who…"
"You love," Charlotte cut across her, raising her voice firmly over hers. "Stop trying to find a way round it. You love a killer. Ok. Who's anyone else to judge? He cares about you, you've seen that, as have I. You deserve to be happy Miss Hayward! Got it?"
"Yes mom," she said. She couldn't deny the truth in Charlotte's words, or in the fact she was just trying to find excuses not to act. But why? Was it because she was genuinely afraid of a relationship after Adam? Or could it perhaps be normal girl nerves when facing a man one liked? Perhaps it had nothing to do with him being a killer at all. Maybe she was just too shy to tell him.
"Come on," Charlotte sang again, "tell him! I don't mean right now, but soon. You going to let your fear stop you? Let it slip by because of one motherfucker? A misogynist like that? I haven't. I told you. I'm with Tim now and I'm happy. Sure, I remember things Adam did, but Tim isn't Adam. I must remind myself of this. Michael isn't Adam either. You must remember this. Even if his… Life choices are… Unusual."
This made her laugh for real now. "That's one way of putting it!"
Charlotte laughed with her. "You know what I mean."
There was a comfortable pause between them before Charlotte spoke again. "So, you were saying? What have they done to your cell?"
"Oh yeah! Damn C! It's like being in a hearing test booth! I kid you not! It's totally sound proofed! Like, seriously. I have this little handset I pick up and my voice comes out of a speaker on the outside of my door. It even chimes like a PA when I press the talk button."
Charlotte burst out laughing. "Brilliant. You'll be asked to call people down to reception!"
She mentally rolled her eyes. "Don't you start?"
"Had that already, have you?" Charlotte was still laughing.
"Twice at least."
"Awesome. I love it."
"It's like fort Knox on the ears," she said. "When the screens shut it's really compressed. But at least it means no one can hear me."
"I bet you absolutely love that," Charlotte teased. "Fort Knox on the ears. Your favourite thing, ears!"
"Ok, ok!" she started giggling now despite herself. God, she loved Charlotte Avery. She could always cheer her up no matter the circumstances.
"I bet Michael regretted it after you'd gone," Charlotte said after a short pause. "Seriously. I bet they'll reunite you and he'll comfort you the best way he can. You'll be touching his ears all night. I guarantee it."
"I hope you're right," Danielle tried to keep longing out of her tone, but knew she'd failed when Charlotte replied.
"It's ok. I promise you; I know I am. He cares about you, you know that. He'd never hurt you, not in a million years."
Danielle smiled. "Thanks Charlotte, this is why I love you so much."
"No problem, I'll send you the bill in the post!"
"Ha."
"Who's kidding?"
The two girls laughed again, then lapsed in to a comfortable, companionable silence, even over miles of phone cable.