Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Sally, Matt and Laurie, like several large shopping bags full of candy, fruit punch and paper cups. The. Of City Hall, the old woman behind the desk pointed proudly at about 20 kab jack lanterns that set around the floor of the lobby. She smiled. I carved them myself, she said. Thanks, Laurie said they look great. I'll help you kids set up the refreshment tables. The old woman offered. I know you've got lots to do before the party begins a loud electrical sound throughout the lobby. The old woman clasp her hands over her ears. Oh, I can't stand that. That noise at you. Kids call music. Laurie laughs realizing that Jake was in the basement with the band. Thanks a lot for your help. She called the basement had been completely transformed. Spiderwebs and horrible looking monsters filled every corner of Mat's brilliantly designed means. Jake must have finished it up this morning. Laurie thought a strobe light flickered and smoke poured out of a fog machine that was tucked the two filing cabinets. Laurie, Matt and Sally smiled at one another as they traveled through their finish maze towards the pumping music that kept starting and stopping from the back to the basement. They spilled out at the end of the maze into a large cleared area designated to be the giant dance floor right in front of the. Inside the storage cage, Jake was talking to the lanky young guy with the long black ponytail about the song lineup, which they had written on a sheet of paper. A black curtain hung across the back of the chicken wire storage cage. The guy sitting behind the drum set with a short blond flattop twirled a drumsticks skillfully in his fingers while the chubby bass player plucked a few deep chords. Jake looked up from the sheet of paper and swung open the cage door to greet Lori. His white t shirt was damp with sweat. Lori gave him a kiss. Wow, this place looks awesome. Jake Jake turned to his band members. Yeah. Think these guys actually set up the stage? They helped me finish decorating the rest of the place. The three guys in the cage nodded and went back to their discussion of the song lineup. Mayor Jamison appeared from the end of the maze as the kids shattered. Looking good, he exclaimed. You kids have done a fantastic job. Fantastic. Sally smiled proudly as she fished the petty cash envelope from one of the plastic bags and placed it in the mayor's chunky here. Here you go. On time and under budget. There's still forty dollars left over. The mayor pumped her hand. Well done. You kids just keep the leftover money. I really appreciate your hard work and for coming through on this project, he said. His eyes darted nervously around the room. Do you think all the teenagers in town will come? Matt, step forward. Everyone who hadn't filled high will be here. It's the talk of the school, man. There's never been such a big Halloween bash in this town, ever. He said something the mayor thought of sent chills down his spine. He shivered as a few beads of sweat formed on his balding head. Halloween. He said, looking at the kids, trying to smile. He forced a laugh. This time of year just makes me a little nervous. You know, all the crazies come out. He loosened his tie. Don't worry, Sally assured him. We won't let anything happen to the files down here. The mayor whispered to himself. It's not the files. I'm worried. He looked at the kids. OK, I'll check in with you guys later. Lori, watch the mayor duck under a fake cobweb and walked back into the maze. She whispered to Jake, something's wrong with him. He seems really upset. I'm going to see if I can find out what's really going on. Matt had begun unfolding some card tables at the edge of the dance floor. Sadly, he call. Come help me, babe. Sally joined Matt as they set up candy, cookies and punch at the tables. Jake's drummer shouted. Come on, Jay. We need to rehearse the set. Man Jake, squeeze Laurie's hand. I've got to go. I'll see you later, OK? Laurie silently disappeared through the maze. She caught up with the mayor and tiptoed a few paces behind them all the way up to the second floor office. He fumbled through his suit pockets, dished out a large ring of keys and opened his office door, unaware that he was being followed. Just before his door closed, Laurie stocked it with her hand and slipped inside. She crouched down behind the mini refrigerator in his office. The mayor nodded to Police Chief Grandy, who was sitting before his Cherrywood desk. The door clicks shut behind Lori. It was too late to leave now. She was frozen in place, afraid that she'd be caught. Mayor Jamieson sat down, rubbing his hands together nervously. Things were under control in the basement. I do want extra police security over here tonight. Did you make any arrests yet? He asked anxiously. Andy rubbed his temples exposed by a receding hairline. Not yet, he said. We found the abandoned squad car early this morning on the north side of town. His expression became twisted in disgust. We found Officer Baker's body. A few hours later in the woods, Grandy looked as if he were going to be sick. He was hacked to pieces. He whispered. He paused for a moment as a wave of grief and fear washed over him. Michael Myers is back. He's back, Laurie, stomach knotted up. The mayor's voice boomed. You crazy son of a. That boy's long dead. You need to lay off the booze, old pal. Chief Grandy nodded his expression eerily serious. I've seen his work before too many times, and you know it. He paused and drew in a long breath. We've either got the real thing on our hands or one hell of a copycat. Mayor Jamison matters for him with his sleeve. He slammed his fist on the desk. I don't care if you've got Charlie Manson out there. I want a head on a platter. We can't afford to lose anyone else to the psychopath. Randy shifted nervously in his seat. All units are on the case. I'm considering calling a citywide curfew tonight. Vandalism reports have been flooding our switchboards. They're all the same. A jack o' lantern with a knife stabbed through. I think the killer is trying to warn us. No. No curfew, Jamieson explained. We can't panic people. Besides, the kids will be safe here. And you're not even sure what's going on out there. One dead cop and a bunch of freakin Jack Leonards don't mean squat.

It's taken me 10 long years to get this damn ghost town back on its feet after Brandi stood to his feet and sighed heavily. All right. But if anything happens tonight, it's your funeral, he warned. I'm going to drive Bobby Omar's place to see if I can find anything. The mayor poured himself a glass of scotch, was shaking hands. Laurie carefully opened the door and slipped into the corridor before they noticed she'd been eavesdropping. The police car last night, the alarm at Jake's house, the tree. Michael Meyers was trying to kill him. Laurie almost tumbled down the basement stairs and she ran to find her friends. Sally, Matt. She called into the basement. The music drowned out her voice. She ran through the maze to the dance floor where Jake and the band were rehearsing their new song. Jake Kamir Jake plays the music halted in. Jake stepped out of the storage cage. What's up? He asked. Her eyes were filled with terror. She told him what she'd just overheard. We're selling that? She asked anxiously. Jake put his hands on her shoulders. They just left to buy more candy. Are you sure the mayor wasn't just playing the joke on you? He didn't know I was in the room. She cried. Oh, Jake, what are we going to do? A twitching of terror rippled through his body. He'd always sort of believed the stories, but not really accepted them as he was now being forced to do. He pulled Laurie to the side of the stage and wanted to hear from her eye. He steadied his voice. Listen, Laurie will be okay tonight. I promise you, there's safety in numbers. The whole school will be here. Laurie looked into his eyes, thinking that he looks boyish and vulnerable right now. She could feel his fear. The spikier drummer tapped impatiently against the snare. Hey, Jake! He shouted. Come on, man. We haven't rehearsed in two weeks, Jake whispered. I've got to go now. Don't worry, we'll be fine. Laurie grabbed on to his hands. But the chubby bass player smirked as he sent out a subtle warning about playing the first verse of the funeral march. Jake repeated himself firmly. I've got to go, Laurie. He shook his hand loose from hers. We'll talk about it later. Laurie did not like being shoved aside, especially right now. What is it with the attitude, Jake? She shouted, startled by her own voice. We could be in serious danger and all you care about is playing rock star. Her comment hitting him like a kick in the crotch. She wish she could take it back. He stared at her coldly as his band members chuckled in the background. The drummer teased. You got to let the groupie treat you like that, man. Yeah. Really? Brenda would kick her skinny little bird if she heard anyone talking to you like that. John, the lanky guitar player Brenda who's Brenda? Laurie demanded in a singsong voice. The drummer teased. She doesn't know about Brenda. Shut up, man. Just shut up, Jake shouted. He felt like screaming. Laurie was waiting for him to say something, anything. She stood with her hands on her hips. Anger flashed in her eyes. He faced law, his expression, blank. She's no one. Just a girl I know. He said the guys burst into a fit of laughter in his explanation. The drummer was slapping his knee and laughing like a maniac. The guitar player threw back his long black hair. Maybe you'll find out who she is tonight, honey. He cracked Jake's face, turned crimson, and he wished he could have run out of the building. Oh, God. You didn't invite her, did you? The guitar player, smart. We didn't think you'd mind. Jakey Poo. You didn't tell us about your little sweetheart. Besides, you know how crazy Brenda is about you. The guys were giggling hysterically. Jake felt as if the room were closing in on him. This was the worst. The last thing he needed was for Lori and Brenda to be together in the same room. He hadn't told Lori about her. But then it never came up. He hardly even knew Lori and Brenda who she was. Something else. All right. He should have warned Lori that things were going so good. Too good. What a total disaster.

Lori choked back tears of humiliation. You'd better rehearse, but don't practice the selfish thing, rock star, because you've already got it down, she said coldly. And solving anything, she thought they had something to shake their hands up in the air. She stalked across the room. He called. Oh, come on, Lori. Don't listen to those jerks are just messing around. You've got the wrong idea. Lori, please.

She did not turn around to look at him. Thanks a lot, you stupid assholes. He yelled at the guys. The drummer imitated Jake and whined, Lorelei. Please come back in a rage. Jake, through the microphone. Stand across the stage. The guy suddenly became serious and very quiet. Hey, man, we're just screwing around. The chubby bass player offered softly. Jake kicked some imaginary dust on the stage four with his black doc Martins. Nobody understands me, he thought. Nobody. Everything in everything I do is misunderstood. He thought angrily. He picked up his microphone, hit it, freaking scumbags. The band went into a hard rock. No, Jake screamed out the lyrics, venting his frustration and red hot anger.

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