Ch 2: To Protect Another

Jamie came back to Ricky's tent having been slashed to pieces and him gone completely. Bonnie, Molly, and Nichole had all crowded towards the fire, still screaming for Ricky and trying to stay away from whatever had taken him. "Guys, guys! Calm down, what happened?" Jamie asked, running over and trying to keep herself from losing it.

"I-I don't know he just...We came out and the tent was destroyed and he was being dragged off into the dark!" Bonnie answered, shaking slightly while clinging to Molly.

"Did you see anyone? Or anything?"

"No, nothing at all. We only got out in time to see Ricky's legs as he was being dragged off." Nichole answered. Her eyes were wide with fear but she spoke clearly.

Jamie growled and dropped the nearly burnt out torch and lit up another branch in its place. "Get back to the car, the three of you. Do not separate and take lighting and something to defend yourselves. Get help and then get back here as fast as you can. I'm going to find him." Jamie spoke with a certain resolve that made it clear she would not leave until Ricky was with them again.

Molly put a hand on Jamie's shoulder. "At least let me come with you. It doesn't take three people to go for help but you can't go out looking for Ricky alone." Jamie stared at Molly for a moment before nodding.

"If you have made up your mind to come with me then. You two, go, now." She handed flashlights off to them as well as the one hunting knife they had brought for defense against any of the animals out here. Nichole and Bonnie were hesitant but finally headed off for the vehicle while Jamie lit up another torch and handed it off to Molly.

"Looks like this is all we have for our own defense. Let's go." Jamie's mind hesitated but her body did not, pushing forward to that darkened tree line once again. She didn't want to believe what her mind was currently screaming at her. "It's Jason! You know it must be and Ricky is as good as dead at this point! You should get the hell out of here while you still even have a sliver of a chance!"

But again, her body refused to listen. Dead or not, she wasn't leaving without Ricky. Molly stayed close behind Jamie afraid to make any noise but finally taking the chance. "Do you think-"

"Just crossed my mind. And honestly, yes, I think it might actually be him."

"What are we going to do then? I mean, what can we do?"

Jamie was silent for a moment as the walked, not having thought of that herself. "I....I don't really know. I just want to get Ricky back..." Her thoughts went on to what may have become of him at this point and her body stiffened as they walked. Now wasn't the time to worry, but the time to find Ricky before anything did happen.

Jamie stopped a moment, holding up the burning wood to get a look at where they were. "Any idea where we are even going?"

"None whatsoever." Molly answered.

"Maybe we should-"

"Jamie, don't even say those words. You know what will happen if the two of us separate in this kind of situation." Molly scolded.

"Yeah, sorry. I just don't know what to do. I mean, we are wasting time, time that Ricky probably doesn't have and then we will find him and...and..." Her voice became shaky as her mind whispered every horrible thing that was going to happen to him.

"Hey, don't think like that. I'm sure he'll be alright....We just need to hurry." Molly said, not having full confidence in her own words.

"Maybe if we find the sign again...We can find him." Jamie suggested, trying to get a hold of herself. Molly nodded and Jamie continued on, looking desperately for the only clue they currently had.

It felt as though time was dragging on forever, as the girls searched for the one thing that could even give them the falsest of hopes in finding their friend alive. When they felt about ready to turn and retreat back to "safety" there was the sign, as they had left it only a few hours ago. This time it held a darker meaning to them, as it was no longer all for fun, but a matter of life and death.

Jamie stared up at the sign, terrified of what they may find if they continued on. Silence filled the air as Molly and Jamie exchanged looks, each understanding what could happen to the other from this point on and there may be nothing either one would be able to do. Both nodded to each other and started down the threateningly dark path into Camp Crystal Lake.

Trees lined the area, forcing anyone to stay on the path that was no more than three people wide until it spread out just before the cabins after a good five minute walk. Everything here was worn down, showing years of neglect and abandonment. No one had come back to care for this place after it was closed down. Why bother?

Jamie scoffed to herself in disgust of the people that were once in charge of this place and how their negligence of one child caused the death of so many people. She gained a questioning look from Molly because of the sound but there would be no answer as Jamie stopped short, looking alert.

Molly stopped as well and listened closely. There was a very far off screaming that could be heard. It traveled to them from one of the further cabins and caused Jamie to drop her torch and run full speed in that direction. "Jamie, no!"

Her mind was elsewhere, not hearing the plea, as she rushed up the four stairs into the wooden cabin to locate the scream. Everything had fallen silent as Jamie spun in desperation, looking through the cabin for her lost friend. "Ricky! Ricky where are you!?" She called out, only to be silenced by a hand coming down over her mouth.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Molly whispered, hushing herself to listen to the heavy footsteps just outside. Thinking fast, she threw Jamie into the nearby wardrobe and closed the doors, putting a wooden chair against them.

"Molly, what are you doing!? Let me out!" Jamie clawed at the doors in an attempt to escape but stopped when she heard her friend calling out.

"Hey, come on ya mama's boy! Come get me, you fucking pussy!"

Heavy booted footsteps moved quickly across the floor as what Jamie assumed were Molly's moved quickly to the other side of the room and glass shattering. There was now silence and Jamie proceeded to press herself to the back of the wardrobe. She closed her eyes tightly, wanting to cry, to be afraid and lacking hope as yet another friend was missing. But this hardly seemed like the time.

Quietly, Jamie inched forward, pressing her ear to the wooden door, her heart pounding so hard in her chest that it was difficult to even hear anything. Silence, maybe he was gone. Maybe he followed Molly.

As if answering her question, the long blade of a machete was forced through the heavy doors, the sharp, blood stained weapon barely missing Jamie's face as she screamed and fell back. The doors were suddenly ripped open, the figure before Jamie leaving her speechless. Without a doubt, it was him.

He was tall, looking well over six feet as compared to Jamie's mere 5 feet 3 inches. His body was also broad and covered with very old, torn clothing that looked like it had been buried in the dirt for some time. The weapon remained in his right hand while his face was covered by the hockey mask that completed his overall threatening look.

All Jamie could do was stare, wide eyed with her back pressed tightly against the back of the wardrobe. He brought the blade up fast, having cornered the girl and planning on taking care of them all, one at a time.

She knew what would happen and only one thought crossed Jamie's mind at this point. "Jason!" Her hands flew up as if to protect herself, her eyes shut tightly against the fatal blow she expected. Nothing.

Upon taking the chance to open her eyes, Jamie noticed him still standing, weapon raised, his head tilted slightly to the side. Slowly, she lowered her hands, watching him closely.

"That's your name, right? Jason?" His arm slowly fell back to his side as he stared. Jamie swallowed hard and dared to inch closer to him. "I wish I had any idea of what to say but my friends and I will leave here. That's what you want, right? To be left alone?" She reached a shaky hand out, as if to comfort him. "We will go and-"

Before she could further attempt her bargain, Jason snapped out his free hand and grabbed Jamie, pulling her hard from where she sat. Without allowing her so much as a word to protest his actions, he reached down and pulled open a trap door that resided in the floor of the cabin and dropped her hard, slamming the door behind her. Jamie sat for a moment in confusion and pain, staring up at the floor he had dropped her through before standing and looking down the long stretch of mine before her.

Jamie had already come up against the worst. Whatever await her at the end of this tunnel couldn't be anywhere near as dangerous.