Chapter 4: Still of the Night

~ Friday the 13th, 9:15 PM ~

Mike, Sienna, and Jackson were sitting in the Camp Crystal Lake Main Hall each holding several Uno cards. Sienna has won the vast majority of the games since the trio shifted from Clue to Uno. Jackson puts down a red 4 card and watches as Sienna grins like a Cheshire cat. She places a wild draw 4 cards down, calls blue and Uno. Her action forces Mike to draw four more cards. Jackson dropped a blue card but still had two cards. Sienna grins and is about to put down her last card when a giant flash of lightning and a huge thunderclap ring out and the lights in the hall go out.

"Son of a..." Sienna yells.

"Calm down," Mike says pulling out his cellphone and turning on the flashlight.

"Every time," Sienna says dropping her card in the dark.

"We know you beat us, sweetie," Jackson says pulling out his cell phone and turning on his flashlight. "What's your battery at Mike?" Jackson asks the boy scout.

"Sixty percent and dropping," Mike states.

"Mine is full. Jackson holds out his phone to Sienna. "You keep this Sienna. Mike and I will go start the generator."

"You're going to leave me here alone in the dark?" Sienna asks Jackson. It was one thing to joke how spooky the weather made the situation this evening. It was another to actually sit in this large dark hall, all alone, with a missing practical joker and his arch-rival running around in the dark with the opportunity to scare the living hell out of her.

"I know it doesn't take two people to start the generator but it will make things go quicker and easier. You are free to join us if you like." Jackson offers.

"No thanks. I'll just fend for myself." Sienna states.

"It really is the safest place to be." Mike reminds the blonde beauty. "We did a thorough check of the hall, all of the windows and doors are locked. The only way in or out is through the door Jackson and I will be going out. You can lock it from the inside and watch us from this window." Mike says pointing to his right side windows. Mike then pulls on his red rain poncho while Jackson pulls on his own identical poncho. He pulls the hood back and kisses Sienna's cheek while using his hands to rub Sienna's arms. "It's ok, I'll be right back," Jackson says trying to reassure Sienna.

"Promise?" Sienna asks. She doesn't know why, but for some reason, she has been spooked all evening by something eerie feeling.

"Cross my heart and hope to..."

Sienna puts her right index finger on Jackson's lips. "Let's not tempt fate." Sienna removes her finger and gives Jackson a kiss, Sienna holds the kiss for at least a minute before Mike clears his throat.

"Be right back," Jackson repeats walking out of the door. Sienna closes then locks the deadbolt.

The shadowy figure creeps along the wall out of sight of the two male counselors. The area is devoid of branches so the figure doesn't have to worry about a stray twig giving away their position. It watches as the two teen males walk at a gingerly pace. As the heavy rain has long since stopped they are not rushing to the generator cabin. The power lines from the town are prone to be knocked out which is why the backup generator was installed before the camp went live. While the line has not gone down thus far this year there was a first time for everything, particularly when they have help from outside forces. The figure knew the incoming storm was going to have torrential rains and high winds so a little help from their chainsaw ensured that the high winds would take down the pole. The generator is built almost on the edge of the lake (with its own walkway) that runs past the boy's cabins.

From the main window of the Main Hall Sienna watches Mike and Jackson as they begin to round the bend to their destination. Sienna knows that she will have to move to the right-side windows if she wants to keep an eye on them any longer. The lightning flashes and for the briefest of moments Sienna swore she saw someone to the left of where the guys were, almost like a figure was following them. Staring in the area behind the guys, all she can see is darkness. Sienna starts to think that her mind and eyes are just playing tricks on her and then the word set off another train of thought... trick... John.

Sienna grinned and wondered if his latest prank was just some childish attempt to scare his fellow camp counselors.

"We are not alone," Jackson whispers to Mike.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Mike replies.

"John." They say under their breaths at the same time.

Jackson motions with his hands for Mike to move ahead of him, then to spin around so that he can catch John off guard before he can pull off whatever prank he has concocted for them. Mike subtly nods his head in agreement and begins increasing his stride to get several steps in front of Jackson who has slowed his own pace.

The figure sees that its targets must suspect that they are being followed as one is moving quickly while the other has slowed down. More than likely they believe that it is the trickster pulling one of his pranks. It actually amazes the individual that none of the campers went looking for that boy prior to nightfall. Based on their observation the figure knew that he wouldn't be missed, but to go this long without anyone even yelling his name... stupifying. Based on a headcount there were only these two male counselors and the last blonde female counselor. The owner was gone and more than likely based on the trailer would not be back until late tomorrow.

Picking up the pace, the dark figure uncovers their weapon of choice for these two, a woodsman ax. The ax was so sharp that it split a log twice as thick as that jock's head. The killer was tempted to use it on him but while figuring out the best strategies for each group figured it would be best to use the ax on whoever went to the generator the killer thought as they close in on the male counselors. Ax at the ready, the dark figure breaks into a sprint.

Mike hears the heavy footstep and believes John is about to spring his surprise attack. Spinning about Mike yells, "Gotcha!"

However, it is Mike and Jackson that are in for a surprise. "Jackson, front ro..." But before Mike can finish his sentence the person following the guy lifts the ax and diagonally slashes its closest target... Jackson Fuller. The ax hits Jackson at the tip of his right shoulder blade and then comes down in a straight diagonal line. Mike watches the pain and anguish on Jackson's face as the caucasian teen's eyes roll into his head and his body goes limp and he faceplants into the lake. Mike watches as Jackson's body floats off into the lake, his poncho sliced open and blood seeping out into the lake water.

Mike sees Jackson's killer standing steps from where his co-worker landed. The killer still has the ax in hand and is now glaring in Mike's direction. The hood on their head is completely masking the killer's face. The individual appeared to match Mike's 5-foot 10-inch frame, and their build unless masked by their clothes was on par with his as well. The ax was the great nullifier. Mike watched as this individual began bouncing the ax handle in their left hand to intimidate Mike. Mike decided his best chance was to make a break for the wooded area behind the generator and hopefully lead the killer away from Sienna. Mike turns and sprints as fast as her shoes will carry him. He steps with his left and leans forward as he pushes off with his right foot. Mike pushes himself as fast as he can not looking back.

Unfortunately, the killer matches Mike's first few movements but what Mike does not see is the killer rearing the ax up, and over their head before swinging down and releasing the ax at just the right moment with all of their strength. The ax spins forward through the air making an eerie whirring noise as it does so. Just as Mike is about to reach the edge of the Generator shed the ax catches up to him and a sickening thud can be heard. Mike screams as the ax buries itself in his back between his shoulder blades. Mike falls forward and screams in agony from the pain of the blade. Using what little strength he has left Mike digs into the ground and pulls himself forward Inching slowly towards the generator door Mike pulls himself only to hear those heavy footsteps once more. They are not running this time, no, they are deliberately slow. Mike squirms forward with all his might before his back stings once more. The killer has grabbed the handle and arced it so Mike was not only unable to pull himself forward but the ax was keeping him hooked.

From the window, within the Main Hall, Sienna Logan could only watch the events as they unfolded. Like the guys, she thought that the figure was John pulling a prank or trying to scare Mike and Jackson. She didn't see the ax until it was raised above the individual's head and then came down across Jackson's back. She screamed as she saw him drop lifelessly into the lake and his body drifted slowly into the lake. Frozen in terror she can only watch as the figure armed with an ax chases after Mike and then launches the weapon in hand at her friend. As the weapon flew through the air Sienna hoped that Mike would either trip or move out of the way of the weapon. She can only cry out in anguish again as the ax strikes Mike in the back sending him to the ground. Tears stream down her face as she hears Mike's cries of pain. Knowing Mike does not have long and that the killer will soon be coming for her Sienna reaches for her poncho but realizing that its bright color will give her away she leaves it and heads for the back of the hall.

Sienna knows that Mike is not calling for help. He knows that Sienna stands no chance against a killer that has taken down Jackson and himself and has an ax in its grasp. As the killer came from right behind the two counselors the likelihood that all of their fellow counselors are dead is highly likely. The killer releases their hold on the ax handle and kicks Mike Manning forcing the screaming young man onto his back. Mike thought he was in pain before but the ax blade digs itself further into his body causing him excruciating pain. The last thing Mike sees upon opening his eyes is a set of icy blue eyes looking down on him before a boot crashes down on the right side of his rib cage forcing the ax blade through the left side of his body cutting his heart in half and piercing his chest cavity.

"One More..." a gravelly voice mutters as they look at the lifeless form at their feet. "Just One more..."

The killer moves to the Main Hall knowing that the last counselor was inside when her companions went to go start the generator. The tall blonde girl was watching from the window and saw her boyfriend cut down and her other friend axed to death. Of course, the girl would have the door locked but reaching into the black overcoat the figure pulls out a hatchet, the same hatchet that they used to kill John Craven earlier today. Faint traces of his blood were still on the weapon and finding the door locked the shadowy figure begins chopping at the area around the lock. Putting all of their strength into this the wood on the door splinters, then breaks. First the top, then the bottom, and finally the third side. With the wood around the lock now cut off the killer pulls the door open. The lock falls away from the door frame and hatchet at the ready the killer strolls in. Looking around they see no one in the main hall. The killer squats down and looks under each table in the dim light but sees no one. The blonde was wearing a pink top so they are definitely not present.

Moving to the back of the hall which was the kitchen area, the shadow figure begins knocking things over to reveal any possible hiding spots. After checking every conceivable spot the killer comes upon the one spot that they have not checked... the pantry. Calmly checking the doorknob the killer finds it locked. Jiggling it harder as if to pull the post out of the door frame the killer begins whacking at the door. This door is not as solid as the front door and in a matter of moments the door comes open. Pulling the door open the killer finds... nothing. Even in this low light, it is painfully obvious that the pantry is empty. The killer is irate that the counselor is not present. Looking over they see something that is odd. Walking to the back door they find the lock on the doorknob is in the unlock position. Turning the knob the killer finds the door is in fact unlocked. Something that changed from earlier in the evening. The killer realized that while they were cutting the door open that the blonde counselor was sneaking out of the back. She had plenty of time to escape and is now hiding somewhere on the campgrounds.

Growling in frustration, the killer sets the lock on the doorknob and closes the door behind them as they head for the generator room to start the power. "This ends tonight!" The killer says to no one in particular.

From her vantage point in the woods, Sienna Logan watches the dark figure make its way out the back door of the kitchen area for the Generator Shed. With the power restored the killer will have an easier time searching the cabins but as long as she stays in the woods Sienna should be fine. Or at least she hoped so. She would more than likely have a better chance at evading the killer if she could make her way to the other side of the campgrounds, past the archery range. The only thing that worried her was that the killer would know that as well and might have prepared traps. Sienna wasn't stupid, whoever it was that had killed Mike and Jackson more than likely also killed the others. If not they were not long for this world. As she had that thought the exterior lights came back on causing Sienna to duck back down in the thick brush that was concealing her.

Sienna realized that she could not use her yellow poncho as it was literally a sign that said, "Come Kill Me."She decided to run into the back and grab several black garbage bags. When she reached the brush she quickly steps into a garbage bag and ties it off to keep the water out. She lays another on the ground and pulls a third over her torso. Once inside the bag, Sienna takes a sharp knife that she grabbed from the kitchen and cuts an opening in the bag for her face. Leaning over she is virtually invisible to anyone looking about without a high-powered floodlight. While the raindrops fell onto her hiding spot the sound of the drops hitting the bag were only intermittent and it was hard to differentiate them from raindrops hitting the leaves.

Sienna sat hunched over and begins to sob as she relives the images of Mike and Jackson's deaths. She also tries to block out the thoughts that all of the other counselors that must be dead as well. The killer's actions were so visceral. It was like something out of a horror movie... only real. Sienna doesn't even realize it but as the gentle raindrops fall from the tree leaves onto the brush that she is hiding in the mentally traumatized Sienna soon quietly cries herself to sleep.

~ 11: 27 PM ~

Sienna eventually wakes up from her trauma-induced nap but fortunately does not freak out so badly that she gives away her position. Despite the fact that she made an opening in the bag to look out of her managed to lie so that she had air and was not making noise as she slumbered (not that she intended to in the first place). Sienna slowly lifts herself up into a crouched position and first checks behind her before she begins scanning the area of the camp. She doesn't see any movement so Sienna begins planning her next move.

Sienna knows that she can stay here until morning but the moment the sun comes up her position will be given away. She can try and make it to Melinda's cabin to look for the keys to her truck but there is a high probability that the area is booby-trapped as it is the most likely means of escape. Even if she could find a place to hide in the camp there is no guarantee that the killer won't stay until Ben returns with the supplies for the camp.

Sienna figures her best chance to get out of the camp alive is to disable the generator and then in the dark make her way to the main road. If she can cross the road she can hide in the woods until she comes across someone that can drive her to the sheriff's station. Sienna slowly slides out of the bag that she used to cover her legs, flipping the bag inside out she wraps it around her thin waist. Doing the same to the one she had on the ground, Sienna moves ever so slowly down through the brush trying to make as little noise as possible. She does her best to keep her makeshift poncho from catching on the branches, she moves with as much haste as possible. Moving around the Generator Shed, Sienna moves from the right wall, around the back, to the left wall and peers around the front. With all four sides checked Sienna slides into the dark shed. The sound of the generator is almost deafening as it is an old generator. She along with every other counselor were shown how to start and stop the generator. It was far easier to shut it off than start it in Sienna's opinion. She dare not turn on the inside lights as it was a sure sign that someone was in the shed. Sienna reaches for the power switch when she feels something sharp at her spine.

"What took you so long." A familiar sounding voice announces to Sienna.

To Be Concluded