Mr. Sandman (A Michael Myers fanfic)

Chapter Three

   A month passed. It's June now, and school will be out in a few days. I'm super excited. I'm going to DISNEYLAND in July! Disneyland! Y'know, that place with the castle?! And Mickey Mouse?! I cannot believe it. I'm gonna take so many pictures! I'll show all of them to Michael when I get back. I wish I could bring him with me. Maybe I'll bring something back for him, like a plushie or socks. Yeah, the asylum doesn't administer socks. Off topic... I think it's better to leave him here anyway. I don't think he's quite accustomed to the large crowds, heat, sounds... I only know this because a classmate in 3rd grade went once and told us about it. I've never been before.

   I opened the door to his room, almost slamming it against the wall, and burst inside. "MICHAEL! I'M SO EXCITED! I'm going to Disneyland next month! It's gonna be awesome! Jeepers, I wish I could bring you with me. I'll take loads of pictures for you though. Would you like me to buy you something? I have a lot of money from my job of mowing my neighborhood's lawns. $100! All to me! I made it this spring. Oh! And I have some from my allowance! My dad says I've got... uh, 4, uh, hundred! Yeah! $400! I got $500. Or did he say 4? Whatever, $104 is good too, right?"

   Michael was looking directly at me. I hadn't noticed because I was pacing back and forth and making huge hand gestures. He was sitting in a chair. That's new. He must have earned it. He had his body twisted to face me, and a peculiar look. Peculiar because he never has looks. But here, I feel like I could sense a hint of warmth. Eh. I'm probably too excited and the dopamine is making me trip out.

   "How's it been for you? Sorry for scarin ya. If I did, ehe..." I closed the door and walked up and sat on his bed, taking off my backpack full of goodies and putting it beside me. His eyes, head and body following me every step of the way. Creepy. When I sat, my knees were kind of spread, I hunched over and clasped my hands together. I looked up at him, he kept looking at me. After an awkward three or so seconds of silent eye contact I lifted myself up. "Uhhhhh... is today gonna be the day you tell me some of your family secrets? What gotcha put here? Why ya did it?" He kept looking at me. I am so uncomfortable. "Uhh..." I cleared my throat, "-was it som'n about your dad? Mom? Parent problems? Was your sister mean to ya? Is that what it was?" I say these things so casually because I say them almost every day. It's sort of a legal thing that I have to ask these questions. His deep, dark, void-like eyes seemed to be penetrating my own and combing my brain for information of some sort. His death stare won't shake. He's not even blinking. "Ey, Mikey, why are you lookin' at me all freaky like that for..." I leaned back and closed my legs as a sign of defense. He's never done this before. It's really freaking me out. I hesitantly glanced over to the clock, afraid that if I take my eyes off of him he'll pounce at me. I'm only supposed to be here for 40 minutes, I got here at 4:50, and now it's only 5:04. This is gonna be a significantly longer session, isn't it?

  "Bud, I'm gonna ask you in the politest way possible, would'ja please stop starin at me like that? I don't like it." What he did next made me more uncomfortable than before. He obeyed me. He looked down at my chest, then the ground, then he turned to look straight out the window. "Woah..." I gulped. My jaw hung open with my eyes widened, in shock. "Michael...?" He looked back at me. "Why... what... M-Mike you're- um, you're freakin me out here..."

  He tilted his head to the side, as if to say 'What do you mean?'.

  "I'm not... used to this... you're supposed to be an- an empty shell, eheh... right...? Inhuman...?"

  His head returned to its original position and he looked back out the window.

  "H-Hey, hey, I didn't mean that in a bad way... I'm just... surprised..." a faint smile formed across my face. He responded, he obeyed. There truly is more to him than just... well, nothing. "Michael, I'm..."

  He looked back. My smile only grew. "Michael, I'm- I'm so proud of you! You really are human! Oh- oh gee I would- I would hug you or something if I could... c-can I?"

  He blinked at me. "Alright, I'm gonna take that as a yes!" I squealed quietly, got closer and hugged him from the side again, just like those years before, but this time, with both arms. Shit... I felt like crying from how happy I was. "Hey, Michael? Don't let anyone know about this, okay?" I giggled. I know he won't tell anybody, but, y'know.. just in case.

 

  After a half hour, I told him all about Disneyland and the wonderful state that is California. I told him about all the stuff I would do with him, and the stuff I'll bring back for him if I have the money. I showed him pamphlets, books, drawings and other Disney memorabilia that I've collected over the years to show him what it's like there. I love Disney so much, what can I say? I was 9 years old when Walt Disney passed away. I had to stay out of school because I kept crying. Turns out, lots of other kids did as well. He was like a cool uncle to me. I almost missed that meeting with Michael because of how heartbroken I was.

  "And this, this is what I'm looking forward to the most, right here," I flipped a page of the pamphlet I was showing him- we were sitting together on the bed, showing him this booklet that consists of every attraction they have. "This is called the Pirates of the Caribbean. Apparently, it's a mix between your average dark ride, and a water ride! Back in elementary school, some kid named David went and he said there was a super big drop at the beginning! I'm so excited! Ah... I'm feeling butterflies in my chest from the anticipation-!"
  
   I looked over at Michael, he had his eyes locked on this one drawing on the back cover. "Mike?" I closed the book to see what he was looking at. "Ohh, that's Sleeping Beauty's castle!" He tilted his head again, but he never took his eyes off of it. He must really like it! "Hey, I'll take a picture of it for you. I'll even let you keep it. You can tape it on the wall, I'll ask Loomis if it's okay."

  The door opened to a nurse. "Josef, time's up. You gotta go."
   "Alright... bye Michael, I'll see you tomorrow, and I'll bring new stuff to show you, alright?" He didn't move his eyes from the drawing. "Oh heck, you can keep this. Don't damage it, alright? Is that okay?" The nurse shrugged. I put the booklet down on the bed and picked up my backpack full of Disney things and waved goodbye, giving him a warm smile and leaving through the door.

  I got into my car. "So, how was it this time? Anything new?" My mom asked. "N- well, yeah... he physically responded to my words, he used his body language. Maybe he wants to talk now but just can't. I- I know he used to when we were kids but, maybe he's forgotten how to after being mute for so long..."

  "Well, I don't know if that can happen," she said after pulling out and onto the road, "but with that boy? Anything is possible." I laughed awkwardly, "Yeah... he really is something else. He's always the same. Well, almost always, other than today he never changed. Just... he just was... there. Not all the way there but... agh..." I shook my head and looked out the window. It was sunset, it's almost always sunset when I have to leave. I like to imagine that Michael watches me as the car goes and watches it disappear as the colors in the sky change like a watercolor as the clouds float in the air, the wind making the trees dance below as a gorgeous display of the world he's not allowed to live in. I'd give so much to let him come out and explore the woods like I do with my friends... but I don't think that's possible anymore.

  Today gave me hope otherwise though, maybe it really is achievable to let him free. I just have to keep trying.