Jake's POV:

《Sorry Jake, but I need to be alone...》

Those words made me feel bad. I don't know why the others reacted that way, nor why Y/n was in those horrible conditions. I respected her choice, but I would never stop looking for her.

I was continually forced to watch my friends die, but I have never felt so incapable in my life until then.
I wanted to let her know that I would always be there for her...I wanted to tell her how important she had become to me.

- - -

Nea's POV:

I looked Meg in the eye.
《What the fuck happened earlier?》

She didn't seem to know the answer either...
Y/n ran off to the camp with us, but then why was she in that state? It's useless to ask at the bear (David), since he was killed by the Cannibal.

No one spoke and the atmosphere was really irritating me.
《What the hell do you all have now?》I grumbled.

《What do you say...》  Laurie spoke, who was standing.
《Do you think it's normal to see such a thing?!》  She suddenly raised her voice and looked down at me, who had just sat down.
I never could stand when someone yelled in my face...

《I don't expect anything better from this place, but now I think you're all exaggerating...》  Maybe, I didn't understand the gravity of the situation yet, but I didn't feel like judging a teammate without knowing exactly what had happened.
Without saying anything else, the blonde walked away.

《Nea, Y/n never told us about it, but there's something wrong since the first trial she had against the Shape...》
Claudette came over and told me in a low voice.

《So? Would you like to tell me that something else happened? What is it, then...?》  Now I was curious to know what it was, but it was useless to talk about it like that. However, Claudette didn't answer me and simply adjusted her glasses.

- - -

Steve's POV:

《What?! Are you serious, Nancy? It can't be true...》  I was shocked by her revelation.

《I tell you it is.》  She pulled me out to talk to me about something "important" but, damn, I never imagined such a thing.

《Did you bring me here, away from everyone, to tell me this? I thought you wanted to talk about us!》  I was serious as she kept telling me about Y/n and some stupid secret she was hiding.

《Well, I don't see anything strange about it...but why do you care?》  I asked her.

《I don't understand why Laurie got so mad. The point is that we aren't in a position to think about certain things.》  She answered seriously.

《Okay, detective...so what? Do you want to tell me that I should hit on her before Jake makes the first move?》
As I spoke, Nancy snorted.

《...why I keep talking to you...》

- - -

Y/n' POV:

Nothing... that was what I wanted to hear. I felt Jake slowly walk away leaving me in the dark. I was used to that, by now.

I didn't want to see others and was hoping not to enter in trials for a while, because I wouldn't know how to behave. My head was confused after what had happened. I kept thinking about Michael and why he acted that way.

That the Entity was trying to corrupt me, why I tried to communicate with him?

I was alone. The others would never know what kind of situation I was in.

Soon after, I met my beloved tree. I leaned against its trunk and, on the other side, I saw something hanging in the branches.

《A jacket? Whose...》

I reached out to grab it; Jake's scent was still present on his warm fabric.
I couldn't help but smile.

《That boy has a golden heart.》

- - -

I took refuge inside the cavity, after putting on the jacket.
My legs trembled as I bent them to lower. That terrible pain came back to my mind and I closed my eyes to chase it away, but the tears came back to make their way down my face. I remembered his hand wiping them gently...but how could I forget what he had done to me?

Despite this, my heart raced every time I heard him say my name.

《I can feel it...there's still something human inside him.》

- - -

Some time passed since then. Of course, I couldn't ignore the "call" and acted as always, maybe even better.
My teammates did the same thing, just to survive, but I felt their gaze anyway.

My attitude had changed. I had decided to endure any as long as I got stronger for me, for others and for him...as soon as I met him again.

- - -

Laurie's POV:

It was as useless as Quentin, Claudette or anyone else tried to convince me.

This time, it was Y/n's fault...how could she team up with a monster like Michael Myers?
He was never a human being and, like others, we had to fight him. Always.

《She may have been wrong, but I'm sure Y/n isn't a bad person and...and I think she's the only victim of all of this...》  Dwight came up with this, while looking inside his toolbox.

I didn't answer. I wasn't interested in talking about this now and continued with the repair.
It seemed quiet around us, as we were covered by a high wall.
When we were done, he looked at me as if he wanted to tell me something else, so I anticipated him.

《Listen to me, I don't want to talk about this. Also, if it is true that she's the victim, why didn't she ask for our help, here or at the camp? Whoever is right shouldn't feel guilty.》  I said firmly.

Dwight bowed his head. It was evident that he didn't know the answer and this was because he didn't think like me.

The last generator was missing when I heard Min's cry approaching.

She was injured, so we hid behind rocks to help her. I didn't have a med kit with me, so I couldn't do much.

《Thank youu Laurie!》  She looked at me with her big black eyes.

《Okay, but don't make too much noise. Let's go to the exit, Dwight is finishing the last one.》  She got up and followed me.

The lights still didn't ring, even though I had lowered the lever.

《W-what happens?!》  The Chinese girl asked.

《I don't know, maybe he couldn't finish it at the time...was someone with you?》  I was worried that something had happened to Dwight.

《Quentin was with me, but he was caught off guard and I couldn't save him...that damn was watching around the hook!》  Min was looking around. We were unprotected in that position.

《Who is the killer?》  I didn't know who he/she was.

《The Shape.》  She answered. Any other killer was better than him, because he was unpredictable.

《Anyway, I'll go see if Dwight is okay...》  I left her there, retraced my steps and when I reached the exact spot where the generator was, I found no one.

It didn't take long for the last reel to spin, so I crouched down to finish it.
I didn't feel safe; he could be around and catch me off guard without me noticing. My hands began to sweat and this did nothing but complicate my work...

As soon as it worked, I ran as fast as I could to the exit, sure that Min was there to open the gate, but she was gone...until I heard a noise.

《...Min?》  She appeared behind me walking slowly, when suddenly she fell to the ground. Her clothes were bloody and a deep wound had torn her chest.

He appeared soon after. His knife and mask were stained with the blood of his victims. I was the last one still alive...
He advanced towards me, shortening our distance. I had to flee or defend myself, somehow.

I reached down to grab a rock big enough to hit him in the face, but something pulled me by the collar of my shirt.

《Agh!》  I found myself on the ground, at his feet. I watched him from below trying to get away.
《D-don't come near me!》

I thought he was going to kill me, but instead he stared at me, as he had the first time in Haddonfield.
I knew it was useless to talk to him, but something made me ask him.

《W-what is she for you?》  His breathing seemed to stop, for a few moments. He must have known who I was referring to and gripped the handle of the knife tighter.

《...Y/n》

When he said her name, I was petrified. I had never heard him speak.
His fingers reached my neck squeezing it. I began to gasp and try to loosen the grip, but he was adamant.
He lifted me off the ground. I could feel his blade penetrate my skin.

I could do nothing but hear his last words.

《...is mine.》

- - -

When I walked back to the campfire, the pain in my abdomen disappeared but not those words...I couldn't believe he said such a thing.
Well, there was no emotion but was it a coincidence that he just said it to answer me?

《Laurieee, I'm so sorry!》  Min suddenly approached distracting me from my thoughts. She was sad for the trial's failure, even though there was no need.

《Never mind, we'll be better next time.》  I replied with a smile.

Dwight was also sitting next to us and was still shaking like a leaf, perhaps because he had had the same fate as Min.

Looking around, I saw Y/n. She was looking at me worried, as if she cared.
When I looked away, she walked over.

《I think we need to talk, Laurie.》

- - -

Y/n's POV:

Laurie followed me, away from everything, under the silent eyes of the others. Quentin told me they had met Michael, which is why Min was so mortified about Laurie's defeat.

《I'm sorry for you, Laurie, but I brought you here because I need to know something.》  I began, without too many words.

She looked at me seriously and as if I should blame myself for something, even though I had no intention of doing so.

《Sure, tell me, but first I'd like to tell you that, before he killed me, he called you...》  I was perplexed. I didn't expect her to tell me this.

《...what did he tell you?》  Knowing that he could talk to someone other than me gave me more certainty about my beliefs.

《No, I want to know what you wanted to tell me first.》  She crossed her arms patiently.

《I was wrong not to talk about this with you, but I was afraid you would judge me like everyone else...I don't know now what he said to you, but what I'm trying to do is to know who Michael Myers really is...》  Laurie was listening intently to me with her green eyes.

《I knew he wasn't like the others, from the first time I saw him and not only because he spared my life, but he also looked at me with his real eyes...or rather, this was what I thought before–...》  I interrupted the conversation and looked away.

《Before what?》  It was hard for me to continue, but now Laurie wanted to know.

- - -

Laurie's POV:

I should have expected everything, but not that.
When she told me that Michael had raped her, I didn't want to believe it, because I didn't imagine he could do anything other than kill his victims.

I couldn't speak or move, but the thing that kept me like that was the way she said it, fearlessly. I felt guilty for judging her, that I couldn't even look into her eyes.

- - -

Y/n's POV:

Suddenly, I heard a sob. After all, Laurie was a sensitive girl and masked it with a shield, but now I thought I had unintentionally destroyed it.

《I'm a damn fool!》  She cried.

《That's not true.》  I walked over to her, but she seemed to want to push me away.

《Yes! Stop pretending nothing, as if it was normal!》Her fingers pressed against her face hiding it.

《...I didn't say it was normal, because in this world it's none of that, but I certainly didn't tell you this to make you feel bad about me. I just wanted to confide and I don't want your compassion...》

I felt those words so bitter come out of my mouth. I no longer wanted to feel weak in front of others, but now it seemed that it was others who were. This place made us all feel bad, after all...

Laurie looked back at me, her eyes shining.
《Forgive me Y/n, I was unfair to you...I don't deserve it–》

She froze as I hugged her.
《I don't care, I don't want to fight with you about it anymore...》  It was hard for me to hold back too, especially after her arms moved to hold me tight.

For an instant, it was as if we were able to stop time, if it ever existed in there. I felt really happy, happy to have found a friend like her.

In front of me, not very far from us, I saw the smile of Claudette, Dwight and Jake. They had decided to follow us after we left.

《We others will also have to apologize to you...》  Claudette said; in truth, she hadn't done or said anything wrong, but her selflessness was such that she apologized for others as well. However, I didn't care.

Dwight twirled his thumbs nervously and apologized hundred times. It took Jake to stop him.
His almond-shaped eyes looked at me softly, as always.

《I'm glad things have settled down between you two, again.》  He said.

I parted from Laurie, who looked at me worriedly. She probably feared they had overheard our conversation, but they didn't.
As we went back, we laughed and joked, though not all of us, as we sat in a circle, as if we were teenagers at the campsite.

《Pff, right...we look like it.》  Nea affirmed and put her lips to a bottle of beer.

Beside her, the old Bill took the bottle out of her hand and looked at her crookedly.
《No, you are brats.》

We all burst out laughing under the snorted face of the thug girl.
Once finished, I noticed Jake staring at me.

《It's a bit cold tonight, isn't it? Who knows where my jacket has gone...》  He said suddenly. I was speechless.

《Oh my, I forgot to give it back!》  On the contrary, he laughed amused at my insane reaction.

《Hahaha I was kidding! You can keep it as long as you want...until you are well warmed up...》  I looked at him questioningly and he stirred.

《No, I mean...well, if you're cold you better cover yourself...!》  This time, I laughed at his red face.

《Hehehe, sure. Thank you very much, Mr. Park.》
I thought I said something wrong, because he lowered his head without looking at me, while Ace, from a distance, raised a thumb up at me.

On the other hand, Laurie watched me silently. She seemed to want to tell me something, but she smiled right after. Good, I was tired of all those fights.

- - -

The next challenge was at the Autohaven Wreckers.

I was inside the workshop; although it was a closed place, I decided to start with the generator that was there.

A few minutes passed and it was almost halfway through the work, until I noticed a silhouette approaching silently. Meanwhile, the generator exploded causing a loud roar.

《Damn, Y/n! Be careful...》  Bill's voice reassured me, but now the problem was that I had attracted the attention of the killer. We both left the building and remained crouched.

《Who is there?》  I asked the old soldier.

《Still don't know. Let's go through the window.》  Bill was in front of me and jumped over first, but when it came to me there was a pressure in my shoulder that threw me back in, to the ground.

I ignored the blow and jumped up to run towards the main entrance. Only then, did I turn to my attacker.

With his usual white mask, oddly clean, he looked at me motionless in the doorway.
But he ignored me, as he began to move in the direction of the other survivor who was with me. I decided to follow him.

- - -

The chase began and Bill, despite his age, continued to keep the distance between them great by jumping through the windows and blocking the passage thanks to the pallets.
Michael seemed to be moving slowly on purpose; the more time he spent chasing his prey, the greater the slash he would have inflicted when he caught him.

You knew it, when he changed his grip on his knife and his pass suddenly accelerated. Now, he was serious and unfortunately for Bill the space around him was open...there was nothing.

You started running towards him not caring about the noise you would have done and, when the killer raised the blade to hit him, you got in the way.

Blood began to drip from your arm.

《Y/n!》  The old man exclaimed behind you. The killer didn't expect you to get in the way, as you weren't his target.

《Go away, Bill! Don't worry about me...》  The other looked at you in disbelief. He grabbed your wrist to push you away from the killer, but he had already preceded him.

He tried to defend you, until the imposing figure of Michael stood between you two; on the other hand, you heard laments and feared he had mortally wounded him.

You pulled the sleeve of his suit.
《No! Don't kill him!》

That move wouldn't work a second time, and he kept hitting poor Bill with all his might.
You positioned yourself in front of him begging him to stop; the spatters of blood had revived his mask and stained his clothes.

He pushed you against the nearest wall and thrust the blade right next to your cheek.
Your last meeting didn't go well and he might even think about killing you, as he would have done with everyone else.

He brushed the other cheek and moved a curl from your face, but you pushed it away.
《D-don't touch me...》

But Michael cared little about what you wanted and he grabbed your jacket abruptly, intending to tear it off, but you stopped him.

《W-wait...! Not here. I don't want others to see us...》  Michael seemed to understand what you meant and moved his hand across your waist, to lift you up in the air.

It was so easy for him to take you up onto his shoulders. Your heart was beating fast and probably not just from fear.

- - -

Jake's POV:

I had heard Y/n's voice, not far from where I was. The Shape was taking her with him, but when he reached the hook he completely ignored it. Maybe he hadn't noticed that...

Anyway, I continued to follow him into the hovel and he went down to the basement.

If I could save her, I would have faced death a thousand more times for her.

I went down the stairs slowly, but there was something strange. They weren't at the foot of the hooks and I heard strange sounds coming from the darkness. I was sure it was Y/n's voice.

Was he going to kill her with his own hands? In that case, I had to stop him and I got closer.

Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I saw them too close.

《Michael.》  Y/n mentioned his name(?) in a calm and almost sweet tone. It wasn't normal. It couldn't be true.

She was forced to behave like this...there was no other explanation. I didn't know why, but that was causing my chest discomfort.
I had to ignore everything and run towards her, to get her away from that monster, but my feet didn't move in the slightest.

Until I saw it...with her fingers she pulled up the mask and brought her lips to those of the killer.

No...

That's impossible...