Chapter Twelve

On the long stretch of road before turning into Camp Crystal Lake Steve's jeep suddenly spluttered and then stopped dead in its tracks. Steve turned the ignition again and again until Becci pointed at the gas meter which blinked "empty".

"Oh goddamn it, don't do this to me now. We're so close!" Steve exclaimed as he tried the ignition again but to no avail. Giving up he angrily slammed his palms on the steering wheel before Becci placed a relaxing hand on his, her voice filled with reason, "Calm down Steve. It's not the end of the world. You'll just have to get one of the others to come out here with you in the morning and sort it out."

Steve's tension alleviated, knowing that Becci was right, "You're right Becci, what would I do without you?" He then leaned over to her and gave her a quick peck on those soft, red lips. She smiled, "Not much I imagine." This caused Steve to loom over her, his hands at her sides as he attempted to tickle her.

"No Steve! Stop! Hah! Hah! I can't take it! Hah!" She laughed, both knowing that she was very ticklish there before a flash of light disrupted them. Looking behind Becci Steve could see that they were headlights from a police car as the red lights on top of it flashed on and stopped just a several feet away from the jeep.

"Come on, let's see if the guy can offer us a ride back to camp," Steve proposed, leaving the jeep from his side whilst helping Becci out of hers once he got round to her. Hurrying to the parked car Steve opened the door and greeted the policeman inside, "Hi Officer."

"Hi Steve. Becci. Thought that'd go through anything?" The police officer replied, pointing to the jeep.

"It would've if it didn't run out of gas. Do you mind if you could give us a lift?"

"Sure. Hop on in before you get soaked even more," the officer gestured with a hand, Steve climbing in shotgun while Becci climbed into the back. Once they were in the officer drove off in the direction of the camp, leaving the jeep behind.

At this time back at the camp Brenda was in her dressing gown, sitting at a desk and writing in what seemed to be a diary. Once she had enough Brenda closed the book and turned off the desk lamp, making her way over to the candle resting on her bedside table. Striking a match she lit the candle and untied her dressing gown, revealing a long, white silky night gown underneath, before hanging it on its hook on the wall next to the bedside table. Picking up her book she climbed into bed, making sure she was nice and comfy and wrapped in its warmth before finding her page and started to read.

Before she could even start to read the page she thought she heard someone cry, "Help me!" somewhere outside, looking up from the book. She glanced outside the window opposite her bed and could only see the pouring rain, feeling as though she could've just imagined it. (CH CH CH AH AH AH)

"Help me!" There it went again, this time a little louder and proving to Brenda that she didn't just imagine it. Putting the book down she climbed back out of bed and reached for the torch next to the candle, sliding on her slippers and proceeding to the door. Opening it slowly Brenda switched on the torch and called out, "Hello!" shining the torch in all directions to see if she could spot the one calling her, the heavy rain making it difficult nonetheless. (CH CH CH AH AH AH)

"Hello?" Brenda called again, this time a little louder for them to hear.

"Over here! Please somebody help me!" It called again somewhere off in the distance.

That sounded like it was coming from the archery range, Brenda figured, immediately running in its direction, dodging branches and stepping into muddy puddles.

"Hello?" Brenda's nightgown was now completely drenched and if anyone was there with her, they would've seen her underwear underneath as the rain was making it almost see-through.

"Come quickly, please! Help!" It sounded even closer now, Brenda stepping up onto the stands in the archery range. She flashed the light inside but couldn't see anyone in them so she stepped down again and made her way slowly forward, seeing the targets in front of her from the flashlight's beam.

An unknown figure then opened up the fuse-box and flicked on the switch, the lights that loomed over the range turning on and almost blinding Brenda with their brilliance.

Spinning frantically on the spot Brenda looked all around, trying desperately to see who was playing around with her, the rain started to die down but still made it harder for her to see.

"All right! Come on out! You're not funny anymore! Not funny at all!" Brenda shouted, brushing away the wet strands of hair away from her face and receding away until she felt her back against one of the targets.

All of a sudden, before she even knew it, Brenda cried out in pain as an arrow was shot right into her shoulder, pinning her to the target behind her. Blood instantly seeped from the wound and dyed her white nightgown crimson as she tugged at it but found that it was securely lodged into the hay-filled target. Another arrow whistled through the air, this time impaling itself into her stomach, causing her to cry out again. As her life was draining from her body Brenda stared out and could just faintly see a figure standing a foot in front of the stands, a bow in hand and loading another arrow into it.

"SOMEONE HELP ME! AAAHHH!" She screamed with all of her might as the figure lifted the bow, aimed it straight at Brenda and fired. The arrow shot through the air and speared her right through her throat, pinning the back of it to the target. Brenda slumped, the arrows keeping her in place as the blood trickled from out her mouth and the other two wounds. Her eyes stared down at the muddy ground as the rain finally died…(CH CH CH AH AH AH)

In the counsellor's cabin Alice seemed to be in a world of her own as she paced the living room waiting for Bill to get back from checking the generator. She brooded around, trying to find something interesting to help past the time but inevitably sat herself down onto the couch. Taking Bill's guitar into her arms, she plucked the strings a couple of times but obviously couldn't play so she planted it back where she found it. Alice then noticed that the fire was dying out so she fell to her knees, took the poker from its place hanging next to the fire and poked at it, enjoying the silence and the sudden warmth the heat was emitting from it.

Suddenly she near enough jumped out of her skin, the door bursting open and a soaked Bill, garbed in his red raincoat, hurried inside and closed it behind him, "The generator seems to be okay."

"Bill, you scared me," gasped Alice, her hand on her heart as a smile appeared on her face, calming down again, "I thought I heard a scream just now." She asked, a hint of anxiety on her face and in her voice.

"How can you hear in that wind?" He asked, pulling his hood down and joining her by the fire.

"It sounded like Brenda." The worry wasn't leaving her face as Bill stood back up again, "I'd better take a look."

"Yeah and somebody turned on the lights at the archery range," she said, her gaze following him as he made his way quickly over to the window to check.

"Well I can't see anything." He was practically pressing his face against the window to get a better look but all he could see was the silhouettes of the trees and the other cabins accompanied by darkness.

Alice looked out from behind him, "Well they're off now."

Bill brushed past her, "I'm gonna go check it out," but the sound of Alice's soft voice stopped him in his tracks, turning back to her, "Bill? Can I come?"

Bill smiled, "Sure. Come on," he then held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to pull her along, a slight laugh escaping from her lips.