Beth eyed the monitor in horror, then turned to the doctor. "We're not the only ones in the building, are we?" she asked, not even wanting to hear the answer.

Malloy nodded solemnly. "We have to get out of here."

"Are there any other exits?" Hunter asked.

Malloy stared at the monitor. "Plenty, but they're all at the top. He was at the top, but-" She used the control panel to joggle through the camera views. "I can't tell where he is now."

"Let's go!" Beth screamed.

"Maybe we should stay here," Hunter said. "If we make any moves, we might cross his path."

Malloy returned to the monitors. "The only way to know where he is by the . . ." Her face formed a grimace. "Monitors."

"Oh shit!" Hunter spat. All of the views suddenly began to blink out, as if the killer was yanking every camera. "How is he moving so fast?"

"We don't have time for that!" Beth screamed. "Let's get the hell outta here!"

They exited the cryo-lab, it's large metal door slamming to the floor behind them. Malloy ran to the right, the girls not far behind her. "Every corner of the lab has an elevator," she said breathlessly as they ran down the sterile, brightly lit hall, "The only trick is choosing the right one." They stopped at a set of elevator doors and she pressed the up button.

Nothing seemed to be happening. No lights, no nothing.

"You mean one that works, right?" Hunter quipped.

"That son of a bitch!" Beth gasped.

"The stairwell," Malloy said, and ran farther down the hall. "We do have one advantage," she told them.

"What's that?" Beth asked.

"This entire lab is booby-trapped for Voorhees. It was built that way just in case that thing in the cryo-lab decided to wake up." They came to a large steel door and hurried in. The stairwell was dimly lit. The metal stairs loomed above them. They looked like so much work.

The three sets of feet pounded up, the doctor leading with Beth and Hunter close behind.

Before they knew it, they had covered three floors. Malloy huffed and puffed. "Okay, two more."

"Shit!" Hunter screamed as she lost her footing and stumbled forward.

Beth looked behind her. "Hunter!"

Hunter climbed back up. "I'm okay."

They turned another bend to follow the next set of stairs.

It all happened in a flash. The cover of an overhead airvent came crashing down. Beth and the doctor looked behind them as two gloved hands reached down and grabbed Hunter by the hair, pulling her up into the airduct. "Hunter!" Beth screamed, trying to reach for the girl. But it was too late; Hunter had gone up fast.

Hunter's scream was followed by blood flowing from the opening.

Beth stood there, watching in horror. "Noooo!"

"Come on!" the doctor screamed, grabbing Beth and pulling her as she ran.

The blood dripped from every subsequent vent, like Voorhees was dragging her body through the duct.

They finally came to the last door. Malloy turned to Beth. "Here goes." She pushed the door open and peered into the hall. Nothing. "Let's go."

They ran out into the hall. The exit all the way at the end of the corridor that bended to the right. There were five doors on each side of the hallway. In each space on the wall between the doors was a large red button.

He could come from anywhere.

They were halfway down the hall when one of the doors on the left swung open and a large metal pipe came crashing down towards Malloy's head. Beth screamed as the doctor ducked. It got her in the shoulder.

She faced Voorhees for the first time since being in Springlake. He was huge, hulking and pissed. The hockey mask gleamed. He swung for them again as they ran.

"The button!" Malloy screamed. "On the wall!"

Malloy broke away from her and slammed her fist into one of the red buttons on the left wall.

What looked like an oversized glass cylinder came crashing down from the ceiling, right in front of Voorhees. It began to fill with a clear liquid. He seemed to eye it quizzically for a split second, then kept advancing to them.

Beth noticed his sluggish walk. Yet everytime she looked away from him and looked back, he seemed to be closer. She slammed her hand against another button, directly opposite of the one Malloy pressed. Another cylinder came crashing down, missing Voorhees once again. It filled with the clear liquid.

He was onto them. He stayed against the wall, coming ever closer.

There was only one left and the doctor knew it. "Go!" she told Beth.

"But-" Beth started.

"Just get the fuck outta here!"

Beth made herself scarce as the doctor looked Voorhees squarely in the eye. "Come on, you fucker!"

Voorhees took large, deliberate steps toward her. When he was just close enough, he swung the pipe. The doctor was quick, jumping to the side and slamming her good shoulder into another red button.

The glass cylinder came crashing down, finally enclosing Voorhees this time. He swung his weapon in a vain attempt to break the glass of the booth. The booth began to fill with the liquid, starting at his feet and quickly rising. Voorhees looked around for a way out.

He struggled until the level of the liquid rose above his head. The doctor watched for a while, making certain he didn't make another move.

She hurried around the corner, screaming as she bumped into Beth. "I thought you were waiting for me out front," she said.

"I had to make sure it would work," Beth said, catching her breath. "What's inside that tank?"

"It's a liquid similar to nitrus oxide."

"Will it kill him?"

"If it doesn't he'll be sedated for a while."

"We have to let the police know."

"No!" the doctor said.

Beth's eyes widened. "No?"

"They'll roast me if they find out my daughter was responsible for this! I'll lose my fucking license!"

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll take care of it. You need to get the hell out of town!"

The doctor lead her out. Beth couldn't believe her partner Hunter was dead. She'd been helping her since she'd come. "I hope you don't plan to cover up what happened to Hunter," she said to Malloy, who was massaging her shoulder.

The doctor nodded wearily. "I'll think of something and call the cops myself, understood?"

"I hope so."

The doctor opened the outer gate for her. Beth shrieked when she was on the other side.

Ricky's charred body lay at her feet.

Fifteenth Century England

When it came, no one expected it, especially not Luke the Apprentice. It was something that further confirmed that he was involved in something he really shouldn't have been. He stood before the Master's temple as the town faced him, torches in hand. The Master was evil, and anyone associated with him was evil as well, and therefore should be put to death. There was no appeasing the mob; it had it's collective mind set on destroying Luke, the Master and the Master's temple. They screamed declarations of evil, the Devil, and ridding the town and the world of it.

The town was under attack because of it.

Whatever the Master had released was slowly murdering the town's people.

Luke the Apprentice knew the Master was evil and responsible. However, he was devoted. He was there to serve the Master, and protect the Master even when it meant his own demise.

He was passionate as he defended the Master, trying to keep the angry mob at bay. It was all a lie.

Dealing with the Master taught him of spirits and demons, making him understand evil in it's truest, purest form. The experience also provided a mirror effect. It lead him to believe the greater good as well. Everything required a balance and there was no evil without good and vice versa.

The tears that streamed from his cheeks were the evidence of this belief.

The blood that suddenly flowed from his hands and feet proved it even more, as his body broke into a sudden spasm.

The women of the town screamed as the mob backed away.

Suddenly there were cries of the stigmata.

Luke crumbled to the ground. Everything was a blur. He soon blacked out.

•••

Luke awakened on a thin, springy mattress. A matronly woman of the cloth stood over him. "You're awake," she whispered as she made the sign of the cross. She hurried to the doorway of the candlelit room. "Father Craven, he's awake!" She came back to the bed, leaning over him. "Are you alright, my child?"

Luke surveyed his surroundings. "I think I am. Where am I?"

The priest came in before he could get an answer. "He's disoriented," the nun told the priest. "We have to tell him what happened, Father Craven."

Craven knelt by the bed. "Do you remember anything?"

"Of course I do," Luke said quickly. "I stood on the steps of my master's quarters a little while ago." By God, he wasn't inebriated! Everything was very clear. "Then it happened. Stigmata? How can that be?"

The nun and the priest looked at one another. "A little while ago?" asked Craven. "Son, that was over half a year ago."

Luke abruptly sat up. "Half a year! What do you mean?"

"Your eyes have been closed all this time. But by the grace of God you have awakened," Craven told him.

"Half a year?" Luke asked again.

Craven nodded. "Yes, my child. Your master has since been executed. But whatever was released is still here."

Luke sank back into to pillow. "What have you been keeping me for?"

"We had to watch over you," the nun offered. "You are the only one that can stop it."

"You have seen this demon's power," the father added. "You know your master's work. You've also been chosen."

"Chosen? By God?" Luke asked. Is that why he began bleeding so profusely?

They both nodded to confirm his suspicion.

"But I can't," Luke objected. The master had been executed?

"You have to," Craven told him. "This thing, this evil demon, diminished the people of our town to but a few. We thought we had it, but . . ." His words trailed off.

"But what?" Luke demanded.

"We thought we killed it. But it's back. It kills in our dreams."

Luke shut his eyes, he was horrified. The master has been right. The Kali-khan had come back in people's nightmares. How does one kill such a thing?"

"We're begging you!" the nun said with emotion. "Please! Stop it!"

Luke looked into their eyes. His master was gone. He'd apparently been called for this duty. There was no one left to serve but God.

"I need water," he told them. "I am very thirsty."

The nun rushed to grant his request.

"Will you stop the suffering?" the priest begged.

"I can do it," Luke said.

The Present

Matt slumped against the stone wall. He was cold. This place was hot, but he was very cold. But he couldn't awaken from this dream, he refused to. He knew what Krueger would do once he woke up.

He could not let that happen.

He jumped when he heard the steel blades glide along one of the walls. Krueger was here. But Matt wasn't really scared. He had it all figured out. Krueger could not kill him while he slept. If he did, Krueger would be trapped in oblivion. That's why Matt had to stay asleep. If he woke up . . . Oh, the thought was too much to bear.

"Matthew . . ."the guttural voice called in a nearly sing-song voice.

A split second had passed before the burned face was before him. "Matthew!"

Matt looked at him, and spit in his face.

Krueger chuckled, not even bothering to wipe away the spit. "Sweet little piggy."

"Fuck you!" Matt said.

Krueger grabbed him by the neck. "Let me out," he snarled.

"Why don't you just kill me?" Matt challenged.

Krueger looked stuck for a moment, surprised that Matt had caught on. "I need you." Suddenly he threw Matt against the floor. "Let me out!" he roared.

"No!" Matt screamed. "You won't hurt another soul if I have anything to do with it."

Krueger laughed "People are just practice. I've moved on to bigger and better things. So LET ME OUT!"

He advanced for Matt, grabbing him and slamming him against the floor again. Smacking him around and doing as much damage as he could, all the while screaming for him to let him out. Weary and bruised, Matt wouldn't let his will fail him. He could see that Krueger was frustrated now, not being able to simply kill him.

"I see that this will be harder than I thought," Kruger said. He grabbed Matt's right hand and poised his claw above his fingers. "Let me out!"

Matt shook his head, knowing what Kruger was about to do yet still refusing.

"This little piggy went to the market!" Kruger said, then sliced off half of Matt's index finger. Blood spurted everywhere. The boy screamed. "This little piggy stayed home!" Another bloody part of a finger dropped to the ground. Still, Matt refused. "This little piggy had roast beef!" Another finger and a wail from a dizzy Matt. He tried to catch his breath. Everything was fuzzy. His mind was trying to leave this consciousness, It was becoming increasingly difficult to hold on. "This little piggy had none!" Part of his pinky went flying.

Krueger was ready for the thumb. "Let me out!"

Tears were streaming down Matt's cheeks. he couldn't take it anymore. Krueger let his body drop and laughed. "Thanks a lot, Matt!"

"Noooooo!" Matt screamed.

•••

Nathan jumped from his sleep at Matthew's bedside when he heard his brother scream. He held Matt down, who was awake, but was thrashing about wildly. "Matt!" Nathan screamed.

Matt regarded him in horror, then for some reason held up his right hand and stared at it.

"You're awake!" Nathan said.

Matt shook his head. "Nathan. No! He's out! I let him out!"

"What? Matt, who are you talking about?"

"Krueger," he said meekly.

Nathan looked at him silently for a moment. "But it was just a dream."

"No. He had me, you saw it! But I let him out by waking up! That's why I stayed out for so long."

If he hadn't witnessed so many strange things lately, Nathan would've sworn his brother was mad. Now he looked around the hospital room, as if expecting Krueger to jump out from anywhere.

Matt rocked in the bed. "I can still hear him laughing. I don't know where he is, but he's out there."

"Then we gotta go."

"It doesn't matter how far you run," Matt said ominously. "He can still get to you."

"That girl Lucy did this?" Nathan asked.

"She didn't mean to."

"What the hell do you mean she didn't mean to?"

Matt gulped. "She was trying to bring back Jason Voorhees. But Freddy came with him."

"So who killed Lucy?"

"Voorhees."

"The police will never believe this."

They both looked up as Dr. Sheridan entered. "You've recovered," he said to Matt.

"Yes. And I gotta go."

"Not so fast. We need to run some tests first."

"But you don't understand," Nathan said.

The doctor turned to Nathan. "I'm sorry, but we just can't release him from the hospital. He has to stay at least a couple more days." The brothers looked at one another and the doctor continued. "You should really go home and get some rest, Nathan. You're brother's recovered now so you really don't need to hang around."

Nathan almost protested, but he gave up. "Please keep an eye on him," he said.

"We will," the doctor assured.

Just as he was leaving the hospital room, he saw Beth running towards him. He stopped her by grabbing her arms. "Beth, what happened?"

"He's real. I saw him."

"Krueger?"

"Voorhees. But he got Hunter!"

"Hunter's dead?"

Beth nodded.

Nathan looked back at Matt's hospital room. How would they be able to tell him that all of his friends were dying?

"Do the police know?" he asked.

"Hopefully," was Beth's answer. "How's Matt?"

"Well, he recovered."

Beth brightened a little. "That's great. Now we can leave, right?"

"What?" Nathan asked, giving Beth a quizzical look.

"I mean, I promised I'd stay here until your brother came to, but now we can go, right?"

"Beth, listen to me. Lucy brought back Voorhees like you said, but Krueger got loose also."

She was out of breath. Her suspicion was true. "What?"

"Matt was in a coma because somehow, Krueger was stuck in his consciousness and he's been dreaming the whole time." Nathan knew that even as he said it, it sounded foolish. "But now that he's recovered he said that Krueger is loose. We have to stop him. And Voorhees."

"We may have Voorhees for a while." Beth briefly recounted what had happened at the lab. "But I have no idea what Malloy is gonna do." She was praying that the doctor would put science aside and just kill the thing if it woke up.

"She has to account for Hunter's death somehow," Nathan said. "The police-"

"This town is fucking brainwashed, Nathan. All the cops will do is tell us we're crazy and to leave town, which doesn't sound like such a bad idea right now."

"No, Beth," he told her. "If anyone knows how to fix this," he looked to Matt's room again, "it's him. Between the three of us and what Lucy wrote down, I think we can stop this."

"Us?" she said, before falling into his arms.

She hadn't had any sleep all night.