Chapter One - July, 2nd 2018

Adalade

The bus picking up kids for camp drove down my road early on a Monday morning. My mom had taken a job right away at a nearby diner, so she wasn't able to drive me to camp. By the time the sound of the bus registered in my brain it had already cruised about a block past our house. I hurriedly finished throwing my shit into a suitcase and peeled down the sidewalk to catch up. Thankfully, the driver understood and allowed me the ride I desperately needed.

It wasn't unlike being on a school bus, equally as long, tedious, and loud. The only real difference was the scenery, which was infinitely more photogenic than Rochester, NY. Good thing I'd thought to pack my camera.

"So… I'm guessing you're broke and car-less too?"

I had been so focused on the buildings downtown and trees passing by that the unfamiliar voice startled me. I turned my head toward the sound to see a dark-haired young man sitting in the seat across from me. His expression was expectant and mildly mischievous. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you-"

I could feel the prickling heat of embarrassment creeping up the back of my neck, threatening to redden my pale complexion. I waved a hand dismissively.

"No I wasn't… I mean it's fine." I answered, though it did little to make up for my minor social screw-up. "I tend to tune out the world most of the time."

He let out a quick breath through his nose, amusement alight in his piercing green eyes. "Yeah, you looked pretty zoned out, almost like you've never seen this place before."

I slowly turned my body to face him, already resigned to this conversation. I didn't want to be rude after all.

I responded with a shrug and a sigh. "You're partially right, I haven't done much exploring since we moved here in April."

"Really?" He asked. "Here I thought I was the freshest face in Crystal Lake, but you're like… new new." He seemed awfully pleased not to be the town newbie anymore. "I've been here just over a year now." He extended a hand towards me. "I'm James or Jamie, either one is fine honestly."

Defeated by his friendly demeanor, I returned his gesture of comradery. "Adalade… nice to meet you."

Below the placid surface of the lake, far down in the leaden depths, a monster lay sleeping.

The density of the water kept him buoyant; his hulking form drifting lazily about in the currents. Heavy rusted chains coupled with a moderately sized boulder left him tethered to the lakebed.

If one were to look into the eyes of his mask they would see that the features beneath were in a clear state of rest. A state whose stability would not last much longer.

Jason…

A voice rang out clear and authoritative through the murky water, despite all other noise significantly muffled and distorted.

It's time to wake up Jason…

Flexion in the fingers. A twitch of his malformed facial features. These were all signs that the monster was being roused by the distant instruction.

We've had peace for a long time now, but we have business to attend to once more.

The massive man raised his head slightly, instinctively glancing around to find the source of the voice. Though he already knew who it belonged to. Only too well.

They truly never learn, do they my dear boy?

Of course they don't.

Foolish intruders have reopened the camp again. Participants are already en route.

The beast was fully arisen, his consciousness bringing with it the intense sensation of suffocation. Precious oxygen burst through the battered hockey mask, rising to the unseen surface as distorted bubbles. His lungs filled with water, but it truly felt like the opposite. He was a young boy once more, thrashing in the hopes that he would gain purchase on the water surrounding him. He reached desperately upwards to grasp at any helping hands. But there were none and he continued to sink until the sheer volume of water around him drowned out all light.

Then, bolt upright he sat, eyes wild, undead chest heaving when introduced to air after so much time without. He was back home, or at least… it was the closest thing he'd had to a home since his death. A slow sigh escaped him, and he lowered his head into his hands. His mother's last words to him echoed persistently in his mind.

You know what you need to do…