I hope you guys are reading my story. I know I had a little break there but I hope some of you guys are still with me. The action has finally begun. PLEASE REVIEW! It's the only way I'll know people are reading my story!
Disclaimer: I am not writing this as my own. All characters and ideas belong to Laurie faria Stolarz
Jacob POV
The moment Stacey spoke about the hole in the barb wire fence and claws marks, my mind started to race. It seemed as if our nightmares were connected. I think my reaction to her revelation caused Stacey and Trevor to have a false idea. Going back to the camp is something I never wanted to do. Why go back to the place that was hell? But that wasn't the part that bothered me so much. I was bothered by the fact that a new possibility had occurred.
I didn't speak much to Stacey before she left for a reason. I didn't want her to know and I knew if I sat down with her and the moment she smiled I would have told her. I also didn't want Porsha to know. The only person I wanted to reveal my new insight with is Trevor and I couldn't do that until I was alone with him. Porsha was kind enough to let us hang at her house until dusk. Her father was on a administration trip so it was just us three. We ate dinner at her house and waited until the time came. After what felt like days, the sun finally hung low in the sky. We said our goodbyes to Porsha and we both headed towards the campus gates. As soon as we turned onto the sidewalk, Trevor called my bluff.
"Jake I know something's wrong. What is it?"
I continued walking and waited for him to catch back up with me.
"I had the same nightmare Stacey did last night," I said once he appeared next to me.
"I thought you said the nightmares were over?"
"Well I thought so too. But even when I was having them I was convinced that they were about my accident."
"So you ran through the woods and found the bloody fence last night?"
I didn't answer him quite yet. I remained quiet as we crossed the street and passed the local pizza parlor.
I sighed and looked at Trevor walking next to me, "Not exactly."
"Okay, explain."
"I was the person Stacey heard screaming in her dream. I was the person who left the claw marks and the blood. It was me."
Trevor looked taken aback by the mere coincidence of having the connected dream with Stacey.
"What are you thinking?" he asked looking down at the sidewalk.
"I'm thinking we really did misread this thing."
"How so?" he said as we finally made it to the gates.
"Don't completely flip out on me okay."
"Come on Jacob I'm not that unstable."
"Um…I think it's Clay that's doing this."
"Clay!"
"Yeah."
"Jacob he's in prison."
"He could've got out."
"No I don't think so. All of them are in jail for a while especially Clay since he got charged with attempt of murder. They're not going to let him out after eight months."
"It happens."
"Well even if they did wouldn't they call us or something? You know, give us a heads up?"
"They're supposed to but the last time we spoke to the police we didn't know who or where the hell we were."
"Dude it can't be."
"Yeah Trevor it can. The letter "c", the camp, it fits. Plus he has a reason to come after me."
"But why would he mess with Stacey?"
"She was there that day remember. He knew we were connected somehow before he was taken away. It's the old trick. Get to the loved ones of the person you want."
"So you think he wants revenge?"
"Exactly."
"Wait. What about the woman in Stacey's dream? I've heard Clay yell and believe me he doesn't scream like a woman."
"That's the reason I didn't want to tell Stacey about this."
"Why?"
"I think Stacey heard herself screaming in her nightmare. I think the woman is her."
Trevor looked a little freaked out by all of this but I could see in his expression that he knew that it was a possibility.
"This changes things," he said leaning against the gate.
"Yeah that's why you have to promise me that you won't let anything happen to her tonight."
"What are talking about you'll be there to."
"For a little bit."
"What?"
"Stacey can't go near that camp. I'm the one Clay wants. He'll use Stacey to get to me. I can't let that happen."
"So we're going to split up?"
"Yes."
"Jacob that's like the number one rule in horror movies. Never split up!"
"Trevor this isn't a horror movie. It's real life. So please, you have to promise me you'll protect her no matter what," I begged placing my hands on his shoulders.
After several moments he looked me in the eyes and said, "I promise."
"Thanks. Stacey can't know anything about this, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah."
I could see from a distance that Stacey was heading our way.
"She's coming," I said informing Trevor.
Trevor placed his hands in his pockets and then said, "Crap, I left my cell phone at Porsha's."
"Don't worry Stacey will have hers."
"Yeah you're right," Trevor said as Stacey walked through the gates.
"Janie's car is parked in the B parking lot," Stacey said as she led the way to the car.
Once in the car we quickly talked the "plan" over. Unbeknownst to Stacey that plan was out of the window.
As I drove to the camp where I risked my life to escape, a million thoughts raced through my head. How could Clay get out of jail so quickly? Is the justice system that crappy as to let an almost murderer roam the streets? I also wondered what I would do or find when I faced Clay. Would he have the gun that he tried to use on Trevor and me that day? How would I protect myself from him? The scary thing is none of these questions are answered. But by the end of the night, all of them would be.
The bright full moon guided the way down the familiar road that led to the camp. It also helped Stacey remember where the hole in the fence was. We got out of the car and stepped out into the frigid air. All of us dressed warmly expecting to be out all night. Stacey gave each of us a flashlight to use and we used them to pull away the brush that surrounded the hole. The hole was too small for anyone to safety crawl through without getting any scratches from the loose barbs. I grasped the wire careful not to cut myself and held the wire while Stacey and Trevor made their way through. I then laid on the ground and carefully maneuvered my way through. I felt the barbs scrape against my back as I slowly made progress. Finally I was all the way through and as I stood up I realized we were in the clearing.
"This looks right," Stacey said walking ahead.
"Good, now what are we looking for?" I asked.
"Well in the nightmare a light always led to the woman. So I'm thinking we need to walk straight through the woods."
"Those woods are pretty thick," Trevor said walking up to Stacey.
"I know," she said as she took my hand and started walking.
I remember how thick these woods are too. Trevor and I walked out here all the time to talk and to get away from the camp. Once inside the darkness of the woods, we all three had a difficult time trying to figure out which way was north. Fallen trees caused us to deter off of our path as vines and thorns did also. The woods were completely silent. The only noise came from the sticks and twigs that snapped under our feet. Finally after what seemed like hours, we came across a giant fallen tree just like the one Stacey saw in her nightmare.
"This is it," she said, "We have to make it over this tree. A wooden fence is feet away from this."
"Okay, Trevor you go first so you can help Stacey on the other side," I said, " Here I'll give you a lift."
I put down my flashlight and held my hands together while Trevor griped the tree and placed his foot in my hands. I pushed him up onto the tree and seconds later I heard the thump of him landing on the ground on the other side.
"You got it Trevor?" I asked.
"Yeah send Stacey over," he said back.
"Gosh it feels like we're playing red rover," she said putting her foot in my hands.
Again I pushed her over the trunk while Trevor helped her down onto the ground.
"Okay I'm going to throw my flashlight over," I said and threw it over the trunk.
Then I griped the bark on the trunk and pulled myself up. Once on top I slide my way down to Trevor and Stacey.
"The fence is right here," she said pulling away vines and brush.
Seconds later a broken panel of a wooden fence appeared before us.
"Why do you think they put this up?" Trevor said.
"Probably to put an extra barrier from trespassers," I said.
I knew from experience that the camp lied beyond this fence. I knew these woods well. I knew Trevor knew too. I pushed the wooden panel and the force from the push cracked the rest of the panel. I was then able to move it aside. The long space revealed the cabins of the camp. And to my surprise, in one of the windows glowed a dim light. Someone was there.
"What is it?" Stacey asked as I moved aside to let her see, "It's the camp."
I looked at Trevor while Stacey was peering through the gap and gave him the this is the time where we split up look.
He shook his head in understanding and I said, "I'm going to check it out."
"No not by yourself," Stacey protested.
"I'll be right back. I'm just going to look. Besides you need to find this woman. She won't be in a cabin right. You saw here in the woods."
"Yeah but still. It's dangerous enough being in these woods but going to the cabins. You don't know what's in there."
"That's why I have to go. Don't worry Trevor's with you and I'll be right back."
I could tell from her expression that she knew I wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Okay be right back," she demanded.
"I will," I lied stepping through the gap and walking towards the place I previously called home.
I tried carefully to not make my presence known to Clay. If anything was working for me it was a surprise attack. I stepped behind the dark cabins guiding my way only by the full moon since I left my flashlight by the tree. No noise came from the lighted cabin. I slowly moved closer to the cabin and bent down close to the ground so I wouldn't be seen. I didn't think anyone was inside because if someone was you would be able to hear them walking or making some sort of a noise.
I quietly climbed the three steps that led to the door of the cabin. Anticipation and adrenaline filled my body as I carefully pushed the door open. I glanced inside and found no one sitting in the main room. So I then completely stepped into the room. In the corner a lantern sat on a stool and remained the only light source in the cabin. Shadows from the moon and lantern made seeing things hard in the large room. I quietly moved towards the kitchen which was pitch dark. Still no one. Not even a sound.
Then from behind a noise caught my ears. The sound didn't sound like much but it was definitely something. Fear encompassed me as I soon realized it was a person breathing. I swallowed and quickly turned but the pain of getting hit in the forehead with a bat enveloped me into complete darkness.
REVIEW!
