Chapter Text
"Miss. Strode, are you going to ask to watch up close?"
"Miss. Strode, do you hope he speaks before the end?"
"Miss. Strode, do you have any last words you want to say to him?"
"Miss. Strode, will you be able to forgive or feel sorry for him at all?"
Laurie looked up at the last question and actually laughed at the reporter. Stupid idiot. "Yeah," she snapped before she could stop herself. "Of course I will. He only killed my best friends and almost killed me. Devastated. Forgiveness? When hell freezes over!"
"Master Doyle, what about you?"
Laurie could hardly believe the reporter had dared to address a 12 year old child. She held Tommy's hand tighter and walked faster. She could also hardly believe Mr. and Mrs. Doyle were even allowing him to witness this. But they'd insisted.
He tried to kill him," Mrs. Doyle had said. "Tommy's a lot tougher than he looks. He's asked to do this."
Laurie couldn't deny she had to agree with that statement. It was almost as if his near death encounter at the hands of Myers had made him stronger. Most children would've curled in to a ball. Like she almost had and she'd been 17 at the time. Tommy looked back now and simply spoke 5 words to the reporter, which sent a chill down Laurie's spine.
"You can't kill the Boogeyman."
Laurie remembered all too well how Tommy had said exactly the same thing on the night in question. That'd been 4 years ago and finally, finally, Myers had been taken to Illinois State prison to face the death penalty. It seemed some sensible judge had actually listened to him at last. Myers would never change, never stop, Loomis was the expert and if this was his suggestion then it should damn well be carried out! At last, it was.
They'd set off that afternoon on the 2 hour train journey to the prison. Laurie had asked Tommy twice if he was sure he wanted to witness this, but he'd just nodded firmly both times. It seemed he was sure alright.
Finally they reached the prison and were expertly and thoroughly searched before being escorted in and to the witness room. Members of the press were already there and they looked at Laurie and Tommy as they entered, as if they were nuggets of pure gold. Laurie gave them a disdainful glare. Neither she nor Tommy would be commenting, no way. As soon as this was over, they were out of here.
…
The death house in Haddonfield was silent, still. All the guards knew their roles, knew their jobs. The single occupied cell was under constant watch, the tall man within not as much as twitching. If he knew what was happening, he certainly showed no fear. 5 guards had been with him on the drive from Smith's Grove to the death house. A judge had ruled just 2 days before, with Loomis's recommendation. Myers's total silence, seeming dormant behaviour unnerved all of them. There were only hours to go.
Dr Samuel Loomis entered the death house at 6AM, heading straight to Myers's cell. The shape didn't even turn to look at him. Loomis stared at his patient, trying not to show his emotions, but all he felt right then was contempt. This man had no conscience, no empathy, and no soul. He needed to die. There was no doubt in Loomis's mind. All the other Psychiatrists at Smith's Grove who had studied Michael at length had also given evidence to the judge, who just the day before had given the green light. "If he's released or even kept in Smith's Grove," Loomis had said. "He'll kill again. I guarantee it."
"Michael," Loomis said now, looking at Myers who didn't as much as turn. "Do you have any idea where you are? You're going to die tonight man. You should at least say something." Total, deathly silence.
"Be careful," Loomis had warned the guards before they drove here. "He's very, very dangerous. Keep him under constant watch. Both during the journey and in the cell. Not for taking his own life, but for trying to take one of yours."
"Michael!" A guard called down the heavily guarded corridor. "Your last meal request?"
"Are you really expecting an answer?" Loomis looked at him with barely disguised contempt. "Dream on. He hasn't spoken in 20 years!" Of course, nothing. The guard shrugged. "Whatever you like." He walked away, back to his post.
…
The press continued to shout questions at Tommy and Laurie, who ignored them. Tommy hadn't spoken a word since his statement, "you can't kill the Boogeyman." Laurie still wasn't sure it was a good idea for him to be here witnessing this, but if that was what he wanted and his parents had given him the ok, who was she to argue? She'd only been his babysitter after all.
"Here we go," one of the press members murmured quietly. Was that excitement in her voice? Laurie glared at her in disgust.
…
Myers was handcuffed and led in to the execution chamber. Loomis was right behind him. As Myers hadn't said a word or made a single request, his last meal was standard prison fair. All through Michael's last day on earth, he hadn't taken his eyes from his doctor. His blank, emotionless gaze even now made Loomis shiver. When asked for a final statement, Myers didn't speak a word. The warden glanced at Loomis, who didn't look surprised.
Michael was now securely strapped down to the gurney, the execution team quick and efficient. They had only opened the witness room curtains when the first needle had been inserted, the harmless drip flowing through before the fatal, lethal doses began. The prison Chaplin stepped in and up to Michael, laying a gentle hand on the killer's shoulder.
"Not so close," Loomis warned.
"Man," a guard looked at him. "He can't move an inch."
"This is Michael Myers," Loomis said simply. "I take no risks with this man."
Now, Myers's gaze flicked to Loomis and the doctor felt himself shiver. He was asked a final time if he wished to speak, nothing. Seconds later, the injections began via the machine. Loomis saw it when Michael's eyes flickered, then closed. He couldn't stop the soft sigh of relief. Was Haddonfield going to be finally safe from the Boogeyman?
He looked through the curtain and to his surprise he saw Laurie Strode and Tommy Doyle in the witness room. The 10 year old boy's gaze was fixed on Myers, steady, unblinking. "You can't kill the Boogeyman," the child said very quietly. His parents had written to Loomis the week before, stating their son wanted to witness the execution and was that ok with him? What could he say? They were his parents and if they were ok with it he could hardly say no. Even if he did think it was the worst idea he'd ever heard in his life.
As stated, Loomis leant forward, his ear against Myers's chest. The Chaplin's gentle hand remained on Myers's shoulder. Myers didn't as much as flinch, or make a single sound. Not until Loomis heard the slight cough as his lungs collapsed. Seconds later, the beating of his heart stopped. Moments later, Michael was pronounced dead by the prison doctor.
"How did he face his death like that?" One of the guards asked, his voice shaking a little. "I think that was the most chilling execution I've ever over seen. Not a word, not a sound. No fear, nothing. Like, no emotion at all."
"He's Michael Myers," Loomis repeated. "He doesn't possess emotion, just pure evil. If he hadn't been strapped down, one of you would be dead as opposed to him. That's not a threat, it would've been a promise."
"Well I won't be sleeping for a while," the pale faced guard turned away. "Never seen that before in my life. Damn he's… He was one scary man."
"Pure evil," Loomis solemnly nodded. "Purely a killing machine. That's all he lived for."
It was then he noticed that Tommy Doyle was staring through the glass intently at Michael's corpse. He stepped through and placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're safe now," he said quietly. "He's dead."
"You can't kill the Boogeyman," Doyle repeated.
A few minutes later, the witnesses were being escorted out, Michael's corpse was still strapped to the gurney. The guards would remove it upon their return, something they never allowed the witnesses to see to stop it distressing them. Murderer or not, it was still a dead corpse they were moving.
It was the shocked yell of one of the guards as he walked back in to the execution chamber which brought the others running to his side. "What…" One of the guards began then stopped, clearly unable to speak.
"It has to be a prank," one said weakly eventually. "Someone's done this."
"No one's been here man." His colleague snapped. "We were all getting the witnesses out. This room's been locked and the guard who unlocked it was the one who yelled for the rest of us."
Loomis ran in then and stopped in his tracks, staring at the gurney. His eyes widened in horror.
"What the fuck doctor?" A guard almost whimpered. "Where is the body?"
The gurney was totally empty. That was what they thought until one of the guards looked down and covered his mouth trying not to scream in horror. It wasn't empty after all.
There was a small piece of card on the pillow, written in red. It didn't look like red ink either. It looked like blood. On it, was 5 simple words.
"You can't kill the Boogeyman."
…
"We need to tell the witnesses." Loomis spoke calmly but firmly. Trying to get his point through to the white faced shocked and terrified guards.
"What?" The white faced guard who'd discovered Michael's body gone from the gurney stammered, looking at him as if he couldn't believe his ears. Either that or he hadn't heard.
"We need to tell the witnesses!" Loomis repeated, raising his voice this time.
"You… You're not serious?" Another guard asked.
"I am, very. It could be life or death."
"Be real man!" The first guard snapped. He still looked shocked, but it also looked like he was trying to get himself back under control. "We can't do that! It'll scare them to death!"
"It could actually mean their deaths if we don't," Loomis countered. "Trust me! This is Michael Myers! He's a killer, pure and simple! The first people he'll be after are those who witnessed his… Attempt execution."
"How do we know someone hasn't taken the body?" The prison Chaplin spoke up for the first time.
"Because no one's been here," the guard said. "Did you see something?"
The priest shook his head. "No, but… There's… There's no way a dead body could just… Get up and move… Is… Is there?"
"You're the religious one," another guard sniped. "You'd know best of all of us. Didn't Christ do just that?"
"ENOUGH!" Loomis shouted the word and they all fell silent looking at him. "We can worry about the blame, when and how later. All we need to concern ourselves with now is that Michael Myers is still alive and out there somewhere! I told you! Did you not listen? Open your ears, fools! I shot the man… Or whatever he is 6 times with a gun 2 years ago and it didn't deter him! This… Thing is an unstoppable killer! That's just been proved! We couldn't even execute him properly!"
"But…" But…" The prison doctor stammered. "I pronounced him dead! His damn heart had stopped beating! How the…"
Loomis gave a bitter laugh. "He's Michael Myers," he repeated. "He can make you believe he's dead. God knew he did it to me in78!"
"So," the first guard said slowly. "You really, seriously think we need to inform the witnesses?"
"Yes." Loomis said vehemently. "Now!"
…
"WHERE THE BLUE FUCK IS THE BODY?"
Warden Christopher Amos was furious. Who the hell had taken the body from the damn gurney? Not to mention they'd only have seconds in which to do it. The room had been UNOCCUPIED very briefly. "I TOLD YOU SOMEONE SHOULD'VE STAYED IN HERE AND KEPT AN EYE ON THE CORPSE! I, UNLIKE YOU, TOOK DR LOOMIS'S WARNING SERIOUSLY! YOU, CLEARLY, DID NOT!"
None of his guards could answer. They just looked at him, their faces deathly pale. Dr Loomis had run out with 2 of the guards to stop the witnesses from leaving. He was of the opinion that they were all safer staying in the prison. At least for now. As he'd been proved correct about Michael against all logic, none of them had argued with him.
"Sir," a guard said weakly. "We… We don't know. You should ask Dr Samuel Loomis."
"WHAT THE FUCK DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH IT? YOU WERE EXECUTING THE DAMN GUY! HE WAS JUST HIS DOCTOR! DID HE TELL YOU SOMETHING I SHOULD'VE KNOWN PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION?"
"Uh, yes, but you nor any of us listened."
The warden mimicked Loomis's voice. "He's Michael Myers, he's dangerous, keep an eye on him before and after the execution." He scowled, glaring at his guards.
"I don't believe a word of it! What a load of fucking rubbish!"
"That's the problem," the Chaplin said quietly. "We should have believed it. He's gone and that's why."
…
Laurie reached the prison gates with Tommy and then halted. Something was wrong. She was sure of it, but she just couldn't put her finger on what. She turned around looking from side to side, but there was no sign of anyone. That was what freaked her out the most. Where were the guards who were supposed to let them out? Tommy looked straight back at her, his young face grave and grim.
"I told them,” he said quietly. "And you."
Laurie frowned at him. "What?"
"I told them. And you," Doyle repeated. "You can't kill the Boogeyman."
Before Laurie could answer, Dr Samuel Loomis came running up to them. Laurie took one look at his face and knew immediately.
"Please," she almost whimpered. "Please don't say it?"
Loomis just nodded grimly at her. Laurie felt her knees buckle and one of the guards with Loomis grabbed her to stop her falling straight to the hard concrete.
"We need to get back inside," Loomis said. "Now!"
"You think he's still here?" Laurie asked, horrified.
Loomis shrugged. "He's Michael Myers, who knows? He could be anywhere by now. But it's better not to take the risk."
Laurie and Tommy didn't even think about arguing further. They followed the doctor and guards at a run back towards the doors.
…
He stood, breathing calmly and deeply, wanting nothing except the kill. They had tried to execute him, they'd failed. It'd been ridiculously easy to overpower the first guard who'd seen him. He hadn't even had a chance to cry out before he'd had his neck snapped. Once he was dead, he'd taken the gun from the guard's holster.
2 guards had tried to apprehend him further on, and with 2 cracks they were no more. They of course hadn't expected him to be armed and that was their mistake.
He knew what he'd have to do. Hide in the shadows, wait. They'd come out soon enough. He knew that inside the prison itself he wouldn't be able to kill all of them. There were too many guards. So he would wait. He knew who his targets were. He slunk off in to the darkness. Not long now. He could wait for his kill.
…
2 hours later.
"We've searched the prison all over Sir," one of the guards reported to Amos. "There's no sign of him. Someone must've driven him out in a car or something."
"Did you see a damn car?" Amos snapped. "These fucking gates are guarded 24 hours man! Plus he'd only just died! How could they have gone to him so fast? In the few seconds no one was with the corpse! Fuck! God damn it!"
The guard couldn't answer. Of course he couldn't. Christopher Amos knew that. But if the body wasn't found; this would be very bad for him. How the fuck could a dead corpse just get off its gurney and walk out? Simple. It couldn't. He'd also considered the possibility one of his guards had done it. But why? It wasn't like they'd want to give Michael Myers a funeral!
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Fuck he was tired. But damn it he wanted an answer. He wouldn't sleep at night without one.
"We should let the witnesses go," he said quietly eventually. "If he's not here…"
"Not a good idea," said a voice. Amos turned. It was Samuel Loomis. "If he's not here, letting them go is a really, really serious mistake. They're safer here than outside for fuck sake!"
"Come on!" Amos threw up his hands. "We can't play witness escorts forever!"
"So you're willing to risk it and let them die?" Loomis stared straight at him. It was an intense, cold stare. "You'll have their blood on your hands Mr. Amos."
"You trying to tell me how to do my job?" Amos retorted.
"No Mr. Amos. I'm telling you how to keep those people alive. Laurie Strode, Tommy Doyle. They've encountered Michael Myers before. They'll be his first targets! He wouldn't hesitate to kill them. Laurie certainly."
"We can't look after them for the rest of their lives!" Amos said in exasperation. "Jesus!"
"No, that's true. But what you can do is get them a police escort home and protection until we find him."
"HOW MANY OFFICERS DO YOU THINK WE'VE GOT?" Amos exploded. "JESUS CHRIST! WE DON'T HAVE OFFICERS WHO CAN JUST SIT AROUND GUARDING THE WOMAN AND THE KID! HE'S YOUR PATIENT! YOU SHOULD HAVE WARNED US!"
Now Loomis did laugh. A nasty, bitter, sarcastic sound. "I did! You just didn't listen!"
This time, the warden couldn't retort. Because, after all, Loomis had indeed done just that.
…
Finally, Laurie and Tommy were allowed out in to the early morning air. It was now three AM; the execution had taken place at midnight. The guards had told them there was no sign of Myers so they were safe to leave, but they were still searching.
"Hang on a sec," Laurie glared at the guard. "If he's definitely not here, surely we're safer in than out?"
The guard sighed. "That's what Dr Loomis said, but it's the warden's orders."
"So he's happy to have more blood on his hands then if Myers finds us?" Laurie said furiously.
Another guard had tried to distract Tommy so the child couldn't hear this conversation, but Doyle was not deflected. Now, he looked back at the guard, grim determination in his young eyes. Bravery? The will to fight? Laurie couldn't help it. She felt a gush of affection for him and pulled him in to a tight hug.
Slowly, Laurie and Tommy retraced their steps back to the gates. The guards were all searching the prison a second time. Laurie knew it was futile. Michael Myers was surely long gone by now. She just hoped he wasn't anywhere near them.
They were let out by the guard and started slowly walking towards where Laurie's car was parked. The guards had assured them that if they shouted, they'd be heard if they ran in to trouble. Laurie had a torch in her hand one of the guards had given her, casting its powerful beam around them as they walked.
"What was that?" Tommy said suddenly.
Laurie looked around and inadvertently Shon the torch right in his face. Doyle recoiled from the light.
"Sorry Tommy! I'm… I'm just jumpy! What was what?"
"Me too," Doyle agreed. "I was just sure I…"
But he got no further. Because that was when the tall, dark shadow appeared in front of them, blocking their path. The car was literally metres away, but both of them realised the same fact at exactly the same time.
They weren't reaching it alive.
Before Laurie could scream, she was grabbed by the throat in an iron vice. She looked up, straight in to a deathly white masked face.
HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET HIS MASK BACK? Shouted her mind. That was her first thought before the panic even kicked in. She struggled for oxygen and fought with the hands which had their death grip on her. Tommy on the other hand had turned and was running as fast as he could towards the gates.
Laurie felt the fight draining out of her, along with her life. The last thing she felt was blinding pain, as her neck was snapped.
…
Humans, like all animals, have a specific sense which tells them when they're in danger, even if their brain and eyes aren't aware of it yet. This was the sensation Tommy Doyle got when his fight or flight instincts kicked in. He stopped and very slowly, he turned.
That was when he saw the gun pointed straight at his back. Slowly, the young boy raised his hands. The masked killer stopped in front of him, once more blocking his path. Tommy didn't cower away. Whether because he was young and didn't fully understand what was happening, or because he genuinely wanted to fight to the death. But he looked straight back at Michael Myers, not lowering his gaze.
The killer grabbed Tommy by the collar of his little shirt and shoved him against the car. Hard. Doyle winced and waited for the next, deadly blow.
But it didn't come. He slowly looked up.
Michael Myers was still standing right behind him. Doyle turned his head back to look at the killer from over his shoulder.
Myers shoved him back against the car for a second time. That was when Tommy Doyle understood.
There was a clatter, which seemed abnormally loud in the night stillness as the keys to the vehicle landed at Tommy's feet. The young boy bent down and picked them up, expecting Myers to attack him at any second. But nothing happened.
Michael Myers was giving Tommy Doyle a warning. Drive out, don't go back in there and alert the guards and he would live. For tonight at least.
Tommy stood stock still, then slowly looked back at the killer, this time not moving from the side of the car so Myers wouldn't shove him against it for a third time. Not to mention his slim patience would possibly run out and he'd kill him just for the hell of it.
Tommy couldn't deny he was scared of Myers of course and only being 10, he'd obviously never driven a car before. But he was sure he could do it long enough to get down to the nearest house, town or village and get help. It was better that, than dead.
Unlocking the car, Tommy looked back at the killer one last time and nodded.
"Ok," he said quietly, indicating he understood. "Ok."
He slid in to the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition. As he moved the driver's seat as far forward as it would go so he could reach the pedals, he looked out again. Myers was still there, watching him with an emotionless, blank, cold gaze.
Tommy looked in the glove box and found Laurie's phone which she hadn't taken in to the prison to avoid having to hand it in. He set it on the passenger seat and released the hand break, slowly pulling away from Myers. Tommy wished he was older. Perhaps if he had been he could've driven the car straight in to the masked killer and ran him down. But he couldn't. He was a kid. He didn't have the stomach for that.
As he pressed very lightly on the accelerator, he pressed the button to wind down his window. He then picked up Laurie's phone and hit dial on Samuel Loomis's number. As it began to ring, Tommy looked back. Myers was apparently gone, but Doyle wasn't relaxing yet.
"I did tell them," Tommy Doyle said out loud to the night air and possibly to Myers. "I did warn them. You can't kill the Boogeyman."