Trick or Treat

Anna drifted slowly out of sleep, shifting. Her shoulder throbbed. Why was it throbbing?
She turned over to get her weight off her painful shoulder and was confronted with a damp coppery smell, like wet earth singed by lightning. Anna opened her eyes a little and remembered where she was – curled against Michael in an underground room. Her head was resting on one of his muscular arms and he was so warm…
She really wanted to go back to sleep.
This wasn't an option, however, as her mind was already wide awake. Unfortunately, moving wasn't much of an option either, because Michael had her in a very tight embrace and didn't seem to want to let go, even though he was also asleep.
Anna sighed, exasperated, and curled up against him, thinking.

Obviously she couldn't stay down here forever. For one thing, people would notice. For another thing, she'd go insane from boredom in about a week.
\Well, that's not necessarily true. More like Michael and I would run out of things to do…\

So she needed to go back topside. And get rid of Loomis. She was sure now that Michael had some vague memory of being human, hidden somewhere, and Loomis' constant hounding wouldn't help anything. If anything, it would drive the seed deeper down inside.
\Besides, I love him.\

Anna blinked. The thought was so bizarre… but true. Insofar as she could tell, she did love him.

\I am the single most dysfunctional person on the planet.\

Question was, did he love her back? Probably not, though he certainly felt something – his actions indicated as much. Was he capable of someday returning her feelings?
If the photo was any indication, he had loved before, and possibly could again.

That was a nice thought.


Michael sighed and rolled over on his back, pulling her half on top of him. Anna twisted around until she could look him full in the face. Funny, without the mask on he looked normal. And sleeping he looked calm… at peace. Not in the least bit frightening.
She smiled a little and bent close to his face, wanting to memorize his expression. Strands of her hair brushed against his cheeks, tickling him and drawing him out of whatever he was dreaming.

Michael was startled for a split second at seeing Anna so close, then slid a hand behind her neck and drew her down for a kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair, eliciting a muffled groan, and moved fully on top of him. He moved from her lips down to the mark he'd made on her shoulder, nuzzling it with hidden pride. Everyone who saw it would know she was off-limits – even Loomis.
Anna made a quiet, contented sound and let her head fall on his chest, listening to his heart beating. He held her close, exerting a not-unpleasant pressure that left her feeling slightly confused as to where her body ended and his began.

They lay that way for who-knew-how-long, just being with each other, before Anna finally decided to broach the subject of her need to return topside.

"Michael… you know I can't stay down here forever."

Michael's eyes narrowed and he breathed out harshly in what was almost a growl. Before she could react he'd flipped them over and started trailing soft kisses down her neck. She put one hand on his chest and pushed a little.

"I know you're trying to distract me. It's not going to work – if I don’t go back soon people will notice. They'll worry. And Loomis – he'll never give up. I don't think it's in his nature. Not as long as he thinks you're here, anyway. But if I go topside and tell him that you let me go at the town limits and drove off, he'll have no reason to stay. Once he leaves, I'll come back here and tell you, and we'll be free of him."

He seemed to consider this for a moment, looking intensely at her. Anna looked back at him, equally serious. Then he got off her, letting her sit up, and Anna began to dress herself. \I hope the plan works as well as I need it to…\

////////////////////

Anna managed to get halfway to the front desk at the police station before someone recognized her. For about five minutes she had to shout her request to see Dr. Loomis over an auditory avalanche of exclamations and questions. Finally, some enterprising young plainclothesman went and got the doctor, who hurried her into an interrogation room for some quiet.

"What happened?"
"He kidnapped me, and then he let me go. Near the town limits. And then he left."

Loomis gave her a hard look. Anna kept her face carefully blank.

Then he saw the bruise on her shoulder. She'd covered it with her shirt but it had shifted when she sat down, revealing the mark. Anna noticed where his gaze went and blushed. Loomis raised an eyebrow.

"I see… and you feel he's no longer a danger?"

\He knows. Ohmygod, he knows…\ Anna kept her eyes level with his as she responded, giving each word a peculiar emphasis.

"No – I don't think he'll be back."

Loomis nodded.

"Let us hope he does not return, Ms. Mitchells."

He smiled at her, for a moment becoming simply a kindly old man, then left. Anna stayed in the room, calming herself before going out to file a report.

////////////////////

Two hours later the police let her go. She followed a winding path to the Myers house, then looked carefully around her before going up the stairs and entering. The house was dark and silent, as always… but no longer something to fear. After all, Anna knew the boogeyman now.

"Michael?"

He faded out of the shadows at her voice, appearing quite suddenly at her side. She turned to face him, speaking softly.

"Loomis is gone. I don't think he'll be coming back."

Michael tilted his head slightly, then stretched out his hand. She took it and allowed herself to be drawn into a tight embrace, closing her eyes.

She was home.