Beth drove as fast as she could. "Are you sure it was him?" she asked Nathan.

"It was Matthew," he said breathlessly. "I know it was."

"And the man?"

"Krueger. I've heard enough about him to know who he is."

Beth shook her head. "Lucy did it."

"What?" Nathan asked.

"I was reading her notes. She used your brother in some kind of way to bring back Jason."

"Jason? Beth, what the hell are you talking about? The son of a bitch that has him is Freddy!"

"That's what I don't get," she continued. "Everything she wrote in her book was on bringing back the spirit of Jason Voorhees."

He eyed her suspiciously. Strange how all this was happening around the time that Beth was doing her research. "None of this makes sense," he said.

"Jason is loose," Beth told him. "Those two kids that died at the wilderness store, both were decapitations. That's very characteristic of Voorhees."

He faced the windshield. "I don't wanna discuss this anymore. Just get me to Matt."

They arrived at Springlake General in record time, quickly making their way up to Matt's room. Nathan was about to hurry in when the door was suddenly slammed shut against him. He peered through the window.

Matthew's body was twitching and jumping as the medics tried to hold him down. He seemed to have no control over it. Nathan beat against the door. "Matthew!"

Suddenly a strong hand grabbed him by the elbow. Nathan whirled around to see the orderly Jeff. "Sorry, sir. You can't go in there."

"You can kiss my ass!" Nathan screamed.

"That's his brother!" Beth co-signed.

Jeff held up his hands in defense. "Sorry, Those are the rules. Dr. Sheridan is in there. Your brother will be okay." He guided the two of them to the waiting area. "Just be patient." Jeff was gentle, but firm.

Nathan and Beth settled onto one of the couches as Jeff walked away. Nathan was nervously wringing his hands. "I just can't sit here and wait for him to die."

Beth was silent. She didn't know what to say.

They both looked up expectantly as Dr. Sheridan and some medics exited Matthew's room. Nathan stood. "Is he okay?"

"Nathan, I'm glad you're here," said the doctor. "He's fine now. He just went into arrest, but we have everything under control. We need to move him to another room for observation."

"But he's still not awake," Nathan concluded.

"If you don't mind me asking," said the doctor. "What made you come to the hospital just as he was going into arrest?"

Nathan looked at Beth. "I had a hunch," he said. "We're very close. Is it okay if I see him?"

"Not just yet. Maybe after we move him."

"Can I stay all night?"

"Nathan, there are designated hours of--"

"Please. Maybe if I'm near him as much as possible, he'll wake up," Nathan said hopefully.

Sheridan finally folded. "That'll be just fine."

•Zero Hour•

The Hooded One surveyed the Demon Chamber. There were hundreds of them there, and they hibernated now. The vines that ran along the walls and throughout the chamber looked more like veins with the hot blood that flowed through them and fed the pods in which the spawn rested in their fetal positions.

He'd already chosen the Asmodion and the Kali-khan as the ones that would fight to bring the world to him. They yielded extreme power and he knew that once they were both unleashed, the world was as good as his. In return, he would offer his dominion. Earth was so much nicer. It was something he yearned for. However, he knew that only one could win.

Now it was just a matter of one of them being called forth. At this stage, only a human in the other realm could open the gateway. Neither of the demons could enter the realm of their own free will.

Suddenly, the Asmodion's pod began to tremble, the blood inside of it churning. It was being called. A strong gust of wind filled the chamber, along with a sharp, radiant light that broke apart to show the other realm. The Asmodion was suddenly shot out of the pod and through the vines. It traveled at a rapid pace, its mass stretching the vine to its limits.

The Asmodion was spit out of the vine's opening, right at the bottom of the gateway, it's red, slimy form hitting the ground with a thump. The verses filled the chamber: "Necro Asmod Rammellah! Necro Asmod Rammellah!" The Hooded One peered through the opening. The source of the chant was a meek girl in all black, passionately calling the demon forth with her arms raised above her head.

The Hooded One looked down at the demon that crouched at the floor. "This time, I want the world! Give it to me and my dominion is yours!"

The demon crawled forth and was sucked into the gateway.

The Hooded One acted fast. He hurried to the Kali-khan's pod and rammed his hand into its murky depths. He had to do it while the gateway was still open. He pulled the Kali-khan out by its neck. The demon released an animalistic roar as it was awakened, blood spewing from its mouth. He told the Kali-khan the same thing he told the Asmodion, adding, "The Asmodion is ahead of you. The two of you must battle for the supreme reward! Only one of you can win!"

The Kali-khan looked at him with fear in its eyes. Before it could utter a response, the Hooded One threw him into the opening just as the gateway was closing.

•The Present•

Rebecca Long pulled out her cellphone as soon as she stepped off of the train at the Springlake University stop. She dialed Gerald's number. She knew he would pick her up; it was late and his dorm was only five minutes away driving distance. Gerald's voice was thick with sleep when he answered. "Hello?"

"Honey, it's me," she said.

"Me who?"

"What the fuck do you mean, me who? It's Becky, you jerk! Do you have any other girls calling you?" she demanded as she stepped through the turnstile.

"I know it's you!" he said. "Good grief! Where are you?"

"I'm at the station, I need you to pick me up."

"Jeez, Becky! I wish you had told me this earlier! I have a big exam tomorrow."

Rebecca was infuriated. "So what! I just caught the last train back, it's late! I am not walking home! For godsakes, my roommate was just slaughtered! Show a little sensitivity!"

"Alright, alright! I'll be there shortly."

"Hurry!" She hung up and tucked the phone into her inside coat pocket.

Rebecca wrapped her scarf tight around her neck and made an attempt at zipping up her coat, but the zipper broke, falling to the snow. 'Shit!" she spat, and bent down to pick it up. As she did this, her phone rang. She knew it was Gerald calling back to either say he would be late, or try to get out of coming at all. Rebecca pulled out the phone and answered it irritably. "Gerald, I don't wanna hear your fucking excuses, it's late, it's dark and you are picking me up!"

"This isn't Gerald, bitch!" a low, gravelly voice said.

"Hello?"

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that cellphones fry your brain, Becky?"

"Who is this?" she demanded. "Gerald, this isn't funny!"

The line went dead.

She immediately dialed Gerald's number. It kept ringing until his answering service picked up.

This was sooo not funny!

Rebecca was all alone.

It was dark and cold, and there were no cars or people passing the station.

She tightened her coat around her body as the wind howled. "Gerald, hurry please," she said.

The phone rang again. She answered immediately. "Gerald?"

"How 'bout I reach out and touch ya!" the voice said.

A high static followed. The phone became extremely hot.

She tried to pull it away from her ear, but she couldn't.

It began to melt against her face.

She screamed.

and screamed some more until she blacked out.

•••

There was a low rumbling beneath her body. She looked up. Lights were flashing.

Rebecca was back on the train.

But it was different.

She climbed to her feet, grabbing one of the poles for support.

She felt the side of her face. It still tingled, but there was no sign of what had happened earlier.

What the hell was going on?

She was the only one on board.

Rebecca ran to the one of the car windows. The train was going so fast, she could barely tell where she was.

"Hello!" she called. "Somebody help me!"

There was a crackling sound over the loud speaker. "Welcome aboard the Springlake Monorail!" the announcer said. "Next stop: Hell!"

Rebecca looked up when the lights flickered out. The train sped up.

She held on for dear life, her coat and light brown hair flailing out behind her.

The landscape whirred by, but she noticed that it was dark red, fiery.

Grabbing the backs of the seats, she pulled herself towards the emergency break lever.

When she reached it, she used her elbow to break the glass.

She yanked the lever.

The train car screeched to a halt, throwing her backwards.

She slid across the floor, banging her head on the train wall.

All she could hear was her heart thumping, and her labored breathing.

She had to get off of this train.

The car doors opened, followed by the pleasant, automated female voice: "Doors opening."

Rebecca scrambled for the exit.

"Oh my god!" she whispered as a hot, gust of air invaded her lungs.

The sky was a burnt red as she'd earlier noted. There were hellish sienna mountains in the background, and there was nothing but flames beneath the elevated train track. The wind carried cries and roars of pain and agony.

She grabbed the guardrail as the train sped away.

She jumped and whirled around when she felt breath on the back of her neck.

Rebecca screamed.

It was him. She'd heard so many stories, none of which she believed.

He wore the dirty fedora. The red and green striped shirt under the dark trench coat.

And his face was burned as all to be damned.

His arm shot out and he grabbed her by the neck.

"Please," she begged. "Please don't kill me!"

He trailed one of his razor claws along her cheek, slowly, deliberately.

"Say it again!" he demanded.

"Please don't kill me, please!" she pleaded.

"Say it again!"

She cried out. "Noooo!"

Before she knew it, he had flipped her over the railing, down towards the fire. His laugh echoed in her ears as she fell.

•••

Rebecca hit the ice with a thump. Her eyes fluttered open. She saw the stars and the elevated train track up above. It was freezing.

It seemed like it had all been a dream.

Her head was throbbing. She tried to climb to her feet, but she slipped, falling back onto the ice.

She heard it cracking beneath her.

Nooooooo!

She tried again, but finally it gave, pulling her into the icy lake.

The freezing water immediately filled her lungs as she struggled for equilibrium.

When she was finally able to reach above the surface, she felt a hand grab hers . . .

Oh, thank God!

The hand pulled her up and out of the frozen lake. She choked, coughing the water up as she crawled to her knees.

Rebecca looked up, preparing to thank her savior.

And screamed for the last time that night.

All she saw was the chrome hockey mask. Then the machete swinging towards her face.

The last thing she heard was Krueger's voice:

"A hockey mask. Wish I'd thought of that . . ."

•••

Greg's home wasn't far from campus. Michelle still felt safe there, it was like the school had some kind of curse hanging over it. She felt even more safe when Coop, Hunter, Ricky and Tia decided to come over and keep her company as well. Strength in numbers was the idea.

"Has anyone heard anything about Matt?" Hunter asked, bringing a tray of drinks and snacks into the living room where they'd all gathered in front of the television.

They all gave assorted responses that they had not. They barely paid attention to the showing of Halloween that played on TV.

Hunter set the tray down. "Maybe if he woke up, he could tell everyone who killed Lucy, then the police would know who to look for if the same person killed Mickey and Angela." She settled down beside Coop.

"My parents are already coming to get me," Michelle told the others. "I cannot stay here."

"I hear that!" Ricky chimed in. He turned to Tia. "You comin' home wit' me, mami?"

Tia rolled her eyes. "Hmph! I might as well stay here."

There was a knock at the front door. Greg stood and headed for it. "I'll get it." He peered into the peephole and looked at everyone. "It's Gerald."

Greg opened the door and Gerald practically fell into his arms. "Becky!" he said breathlessly.

Greg ushered the blond boy in. "What's wrong with Becky?"

"I've been at the police station all night. She's dead."

The kids gasped.

"Oh no," Michelle said. She instantly regretted everything bad thought she had about Rebecca that day.

"Dude, what happened to her?" Greg pressed.

Gerald was shaking. "She called me to pick her up from the train station. When I got there, she wasn't around, so I drove around for a while looking for her. I followed the track all the down by the lake, and there she was." He gulped. He'd been telling this story all night, but he still couldn't handle it. "On the ice . . . her . . . her head! Her head was on the fucking ice five feet away from her goddamn body!"

"She was decapitated?" Michelle asked. "Oh God!"

"That makes four," Coop said ominously.

"Well I won't be five!" Ricky exclaimed, jumping up. "Are you coming wit' me or not, Tia?"

Tia was about to respond when all of the electricity in the house went out. The girls screamed.

"Shit!" Greg spat. "This is not good! I'm going to find the surge panel."

"Are you crazy?" Michelle asked. "What if someone is out there? Lemme go with you. I said I'd protect you, remember?"

"Michelle, I can handle it."

"I'll go with you,' Ricky offered.

"I am not leaving you!" Michelle persisted.

"Fine!" Greg said. "The two of you come with me."

Ricky made his way over to them with only the moonlight filtering in from the blinds helping him along. The others moved closer together. Hunter did a head count and told them to make sure the number stayed that way.

Nearly ten minutes later, the lights came back on. Everyone sighed with relief.

Then Michelle's bloodcurdling scream filled the house.

Hunter jumped up. "Michelle!" She hurried to the cellar with the others following her. Her feet pounded furiously against the steps. When she made it to the bottom she screamed too.

Michelle's body lay on top of Greg's, like they were making out. Only a spare poker from the fireplace protruded from her back. It went straight through her and into Greg.

"Where's Ricky?" Tia asked, her mouth agape.

The door to the cellar hung open. Ricky was nowhere to be found.

•••

Beth was tired. She'd spent the entire night up with Nathan at the hospital. Matt was still in his coma. The doctors had no idea what was going on, but Nathan kept the faith. She was hungry and needed some coffee. She made her way down to the hospital cafe, her mind racing with thoughts of everything that was going on. She tried to piece it all together.

Was Lucy the sole reason all these strange things were happening?

She sat down at a table across from two very proper looking gentlemen at their own table. One wore a stylish black pinstripe suit while the other wore black trousers and a cream colored sweater. They nursed their coffees carefully. Another newscast of the murders played on the television in the corner of the cafe. No developments since the last one.

Beth sat back in her chair, savoring the warmth of the coffee. She'd hardly touched her danish.

"Have you chosen the one who would bring it to you?" The words of the gentleman in the sweater made its way to Beth's ears. She paid it no mind.

"I have narrowed it down to two. They each have extreme potential and power. I have not made my decision," said the one in the suit. "However, they are gaining in their own way as the years advance."

"How will you make your final decision?" asked the one in the sweater.

"I have set a goal," the other responded. "Only they do not realize it. They have, however, been working toward it for a while."

Strange, Beth thought. Were they talking about boxers or something?

She turned to look at them, but they were gone. It was like they'd never even been there; the coffee cups did not remain, neither did a tip. The chairs were tucked under the table and Beth hadn't heard them push them in.

She blinked, trying to get a grip on reality. This was not the time to go crazy.

She jumped when her cellphone rang. She answered it immediately, hoping it was her editor or someone she recognized from her normal life-- The way it was before she came to Springlake. "Hello?"

It was Hunter. She sounded like she'd been crying. "Beth?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Michelle. She's . . . dead. And so is Becky!"

"Oh God."

"We're all at the police station. Please hurry!"