Tuesday, October 11, 2022

My Ending for Halloween Ends

Michael Myers, the stain of Haddenfield, Illinois, hobbles down Raney Street. His body battle damaged, battle damaged by Her. The Her he's chasing now. The Her that has eluded him for decades. His dark eyes see her up ahead, fifty yards at least. She's running, yelling for the trick-or-treaters to hide. Some listen, some don't.     
    Michael stabs one of them, a teenaged girl wearing a witch's outfit. She lets out a blood-curling scream before her body hits the ground hard. Some people run, some people don't, thinking this is a silly Halloween prank. Michael's head tilts side-to-side as he watches the girl's body go limp. A guy, dressed as Lady Gaga, kneels down beside the girl and checks for a pulse. He stands up, face pale and mouth ajar. Somehow, he utters, "Damn, man. You killed her." He pauses, looking at Michael up and down. "You really are him. Michael, Michael Myers..."
    With a quick slash, Michael slits the guy's throat. As blood squirts from the wound, the trick-or-treaters take notice and begin to run. Michael gathers himself; he looks up ahead and sees Her. Her face is saddened and scared yet determined. Determined that this will be their final act. Their final fight. Their final Halloween. She disappears behind a building. Michael gives chase. His body aches but he doesn't care. His mission tonight is to finish Her. He walks around the town. Surprisingly, people are still out, celebrating the holiday. His holiday: HALLOWEEN. 
    Oncoming sirens stop him. He stands in the shadows, looking around cautiously. He sees a diner, Bill's Diner. He puts his knife inside his blood-splattered overalls and stumbles into the small establishment. Michael sits at an empty booth. He takes off his white, emotionless mask and places it beside him. 
    A waitress hurries over and asks, "What can I get for you tonight, Hun?" 
    Michael says nothing. He doesn't even acknowledge her standing there. He just looks at the wall.
    "Hello," the waitress says, pulling out a pen and paper from her apron. "What can I get for you tonight?"
    A loud bang, caused by falling pans makes everyone jump. Everyone except for Michael. A voice from the kitchen screams, "Damnit, Delores, can you help me for a sec?!"
    The waitress screams back, "Okay, Earl, I'm coming! Geez, whole damn town has gone crazy tonight." She places a hand on Michael's shoulder and leans down to his ear. "They're saying some psycho has been running around all night killing people. But this town should be used to it; it happens damn near every Halloween." She begins to walkaway then stops and looks at Michael. She notices the blood on his outfit and the mask beside him. For a moment, she thinks this guy is too old to be dressed up for Halloween. But this is 2022 and the world is different now. "Nice costume," she says. "I'll have Earl whip you up something really quick."
    Michael looks around, looking for Her. The Her he desires to kill. The Her he almost killed forty-four years ago. He can feel the night getting late. Soon, he'll lose his urge to kill. The urge only comes on Halloween. Maybe next year, he thinks as he watches a drunk woman fiddle with an old jukebox.
    "Here you go, Hun," the waitress says as she places a plate in front of Michael. "It's on the house too because I like the strong, silent type."
    Michael looks down at the plate. He could eat. He hasn't eaten in a while. As he picks up an onion ring, JOURNEY'S 'DON'T STOP BELIEVING' starts to play. Suddenly, the door to the diner opens and...


SCREEN FADES TO BLACK for ten seconds and credits begin to roll.

THE END