The Devil Walks Among Us; Book l - Completed 4/21/22

Hunting Grounds

Once arriving in Haddonfield, Michael began his search for Mia. Vaguely remembering her address, he understood that she had lived close to his childhood home on Lampkin Lane.

He stalked the outer perimeter of the neighborhood, keeping himself looming into the brush and trees to avoid being seen. Luckily, most people were out throughout the day for their jobs and kids were at school, leaving most neighborhoods relatively quiet. Walking towards what looked like an open field, a glimpse of a white blur caught his eye - a horse.

Stopping in his tracks, he turned to look in the horse's direction, seeing a woman on its back, a ball cap turned backward on her head and a rope in her hands. Michael tilted his head in confusion, watching her ride the horse as she swung the rope at a mannequin steer as it was being pulled by a man on an ATV. He had never seen such a thing in his life as he wondered why she was chasing a fake steer whereas she could go and rope a real one.

He stood and watched, intrigued by what he was seeing from a distance. The more he looked, the more he realized that the woman on the horse was Mia. Compared to how he usually saw her during their sessions, she had grit this time, a toughness that any man could compete with, and a passion that wasn't found in many people as it was clear she made time to do what she loved.

If she had been any other person, Michael would've easily taken it away from her. But once again, the sadistic voices in his head telling him to end her life and continue to replenish his satanic choices of killing were faded by his inner conscience.

He was in love.

And he was going to have her.

He stood in the shadows, watching her for the next hour until she decided to stop for the evening, sitting atop her horse, letting it catch its breath as she drunk from a bottle of water, her hands loosening the reins, unaware that the horse picked up on Michael's presence, looking in his direction, ears pricked forward. Eventually, she dismounted, patting her horse on the neck before leading towards the man on the ATV, "I'll see you later. Thank you for helping me, little brother!" He heard her say.

"No problem! You coming over to the house tonight? We finally got it finished in the middle of the month, you just have to see it!"

"Sure. I'll swing by later. We'll catch a movie or something."

Breathing heavily through his mask, he continued to stalk her, watching her every move, taking notes on her routine and when to make his move. He had every intention of wanting to kill her, just like the rest of his victims as he still swam in the same thrill of hunting her, but perhaps, he just liked the game he was playing, knowing well that he wouldn't hurt her, especially take her life. She was too good for that... Too good for him.

oOo

Halloween night in Haddonfield was no different than the last forty years - children skipping along the sidewalk, throwing candy, singing songs, setting firecrackers and sparklers - it was all a feeling Michael missed in his time being locked away. He decided to start his killing spree once most of the children decided to go home. He never kept track of time, but he assumed the two men and woman he killed so effortlessly were waiting to go to bed according to their attire.

With blood drying on his hands, he decided to make his move on Mia, knowing his blood lust and adrenaline rush from his hunting had subsided enough for him to ignore the constant chants of himself trying to talk himself out of the horrid four-letter word: love.

He arrived at the same location as earlier, looking over a small paddock, seeing the familiar white horse grazing with a brown horse not too far behind. Oh, how beautiful these animals were to him, but he knew not to get too close. He slowly approached the fence, turning his head to the left to see his surroundings, seeing her house in sight, a kitchen light glowing through the window, a small silhouette appearing before him.

Slowly, he approached the glass door that separated her and the back patio, looking at her through the glass, a short breath escaping his lips, sounding like a muffled growl through the mask. She seemed to be getting comfortable for the night - a baggy t-shirt and shorts clung to her body as her hair was in damp curls.

He took a step back as he watched her turn around to approach her ringing phone, avoiding her as he had begun to feel nervous. "Hello?" He heard her say, watching her bring the phone from her ear, pressing on the screen once, able to hear the man on the other line.

"Ms. Harris?"

"This is her."

"This is officer Frank Hawkins. I'm not sure if you've heard the news yet, but your former patient has escaped-"

"W-What?"

"Are you okay? Have you seen him, by chance?"

She shook her head, "No. The last time I saw him was this past week at Smith's Grove."

"Would you mind coming down to an address I'm about to give you? The Sheriff and I would like to speak to you."

"Why can't I just come to the station?"

"This is an active case, I'm afraid. We could use your help."

She sighed, "O-Okay. I'll be there in a bit. You caught me at the wrong time."

"My apologies. Thank you, Ms. Harris."

"Sure. What's the address?"

"707 Meridian Avenue."