Across the Lake

Chapter 11: The Book

...

It took me a while to figure out where the library was. None of the townsfolk wanted to tell me where it was located. As I drove through the small town, I eventually found it at the very end, hidden amongst the tall trees and around a bend. It was a small building made of brick and iron. The weather and foliage took a number on it, with broken shingles and crumbling stone steps from the tree roots underneath. I cautiously took the steps one at a time and opened the huge oak door. Inside was very dim, and musty. It didn't look like it updated very much since the 50s or 60s.

A librarian was sitting at a desk with a book in front of her. She also looked like she didn't get updated since the 50s or 60s. Grey hair tied into a bun with two black pens sticking out. Black skirt that went down to the ankles (scandalous). White blouse with stiff ruffles and a black brooch at her throat. Red horn rimmed glasses that glittered in the light of the lamp near her. I was surprised that the source of light wasn't candles.

I walked up to the desk. "Hi," I said in a shy, low voice. She looked up from her book at me, then smiled a tight smile. "Hello there, dear. Is there anything you need help with?" she asked. Her eyes were a dust grey, I wondered if the color had drained from her eyes from being in the library for so many years.

"I was wondering if there were any articles or books on Jason Voorhees?" I asked nervously, fumbling with my fingers. The librarian stared at me with a look of disgust behind her horned glasses. "There's no such books on that horrid story," she stated sharply. "If you want to hear that story, go on a camping trip or something." I felt my heart sink.

"I didn't know...I'm new here and-" I started. The librarian squinted her eyes at me. "Oh...you're the new counselor. I've heard about you...no surprise there..." she said in disgust. I narrowed my eyes.

"I'm not a new c-"

"If you aren't going to check out a book, then you can leave," she added sharply before going back to her own book.

I slowly moved away from the desk and walked towards the shelves. Fine, If she doesn't want to help me, I'll help myself... Maybe there will be newspapers about Jason. I had no idea where the newspapers might be in a library, and I didn't want to confront the snappy librarian again. I decided to explore around and hope I found something that could help me in the right direction. I walked along the shelves towards the back. The library was bigger than I thought. They had one room dedicated to old History texts, A children's section, and three shelves of Romance. Not a lot of Horror books I noticed, which made me a bit disappointed. Towards the very back of the library, I found magazines dated back to the 30's and 40's, so I took it as a sign that I was getting close.

I found a bunch of metal drawers and boxes filled with articles in the back that looked like they were donated to the library a long time ago. I crossed my legs and sat down in front of them. There were newspapers. Local. Printed back in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Finally.

I picked up the first one and was immediately looking at the wall through a giant rectangle in the newspaper. Someone had cut an article out of the newspaper. I leafed through it and found that the whole newspaper was looked through and had a few gaps. I looked through the other ones. Sure enough, all of them were looked through and cut out. Great.

I had a hunch that the local paper had written some stories that upset a certain librarian and she cut out the articles. I wondered if they were about Jason. I looked at the articles that weren't cut out, reading the titles: Constant Rains Cause Constant Flooding. Mayor Mayknot elected Once Again. Harvest Festival Cancelled Due to Rains. There was nothing here that could help me I finally realized, tossing the newspapers down in defeat.

No matter where I went, all the older generations didn't want to talk about the local legend. Keeping him a secret from the world. Pretending that he was just a legend, and that their town was normal to outsiders. The town looked like it relied on tourists for money, but didn't want the reputation of a killer. So far, it looked to be that Jason's mom was the real killer. Jason didn't seem all that bad, except for when he scared the crap out of me the first few times. Other then that, he's just a shy big guy.

I shook my thoughts away from Jason and decided to keep searching.

...

After hours of reading, my eyes started to hurt and the words were starting to blur. I found myself reading the same sentence over and over. Yawning, I rubbed my eyes and stood up. The library was a fruitless search. I had a feeling the librarian and the other townsfolk wanted it to be that way. Maybe my questions could be answered by Jason himself...if he could talk...

Just then I heard a whisper of a voice. I couldn't make out what it was saying. At first I thought a fan was going off somewhere, but the more I listened, the more I could make out words from it. I hesitated on which direction it was coming from.

I followed the sound till I was in front of a bookshelf up against a wall. I stared at it for a while. The voices sounded like they were getting louder behind the bookshelf. I looked down at my feet and saw scrapes. They went out from one side of the bookself in a U shape, as if someone has used the bookshelf like a door. I wondered if there was a secret room behind it, and the only way for it to work was to pull out the right book. I pulled a book out of the shelf that was bright red. Then a green one. Then all the red books, black books, green books.

After a while, I came to the conclusion that there wasn't a book mechanism that opened a door. Placing all the books back on the shelf in annoyance, I used my strength to pull, then push one side of the shelf away from the wall. The shelf scraped and groaned, causing me to stop. This library was so quiet, anything could be heard. I held my breath, making sure the librarian didn't hear me. After a few minutes of utter silence, I continued pushing the bookshelf further away from the wall. When it was two feet away from the wall, I stopped moving it.

Sure enough, I found a secret square hole in the wall behind the bookcase. Inside the square hole, which was about a foot and a half tall by a foot and a half wide, was a book. Surrounded by crosses and holy Mary candles, the book rested in the center, sitting upright. I gasped in terror, for the book's cover was that of a terrifying face, made of old leather from some unknown being.

There was something about this book that called to me. The whispers were so loud, they rang through my ears. I reached for the book. Once I touched the book, the lit candles immediately blew out from a sudden wind. I snapped my head around, feeling a presence behind me. No one was around. I shuddered before looking back at the strange book I now held in my hands. I opened the book to the first page, wanting to no longer stare at the grotesque face on the front. Surprisingly, the title was in English, and I was able to read it:

The Necronomicon. Inside were what looked to be spells and illustrations of beasts and monsters from another world. A black magic book?

I closed the book, looking back at the gapping open mouth of the face.

This discovery had to mean something. Why else would it call to me? I needed to look into this book further. I looked on the back. No barcode. No library stickers. It was hidden back here for a reason. Judging by the crosses and candles, I'm sure the librarian thought this was a book of the devil or something . I wasn't a religious person, but something about the book gave off a horrible auea. Evil like aura. More powerful than the devil if he was real. I wanted to take this book back to the cabin, but that was stealing. There was no barcode on it, and even if I did try checking this book out, I had a feeling the librarian was going to ban me from the library permanently.

I'll just borrow the book, I kept telling myself as I slipped it into my backpack. Shrugging the backpack back onto my shoulders, I began making my way back to the front, avoiding eye contact with the librarian, and walking out the door. The librarian didn't even look up from her book.

My stomach rumbled hungrily when I was done walking down the steps. I didn't have time to eat anything, and time in the library felt like seconds, while hours had ticked by in the outside world. I could tell my stomach couldn't wait the 25 minute without eating itself along the way back, so I decided to get something nice to eat at the town's diner.

Thankfully the diner wasn't too far from the library. Took the last parking spot in front of the tiny diner. It looked like it was made out of a train car. It had potted flowers in front and a neon sign that said Sally's Diner. The same diner my dad had gone to according to Sheriff Carson. I got out of my car, walking up to the front entrance. A bell dinged overhead. Heads inside the diner turned. I averted my eyes from all the faces staring at me. One of the waitresses told me to go find a booth.

I sat down in one of the red pleather booths in the back. A waitress came over in a red and white striped dress under a starch white apron. She looked to be in her 60's, wrinkles showing through her caked on make up. Her super bright red hair was piled up into a curly beehive. She gently slapped down the menu in front of me.

"Whatdoya want hun?" she asked me while smacking on a wad of pink gum, ruby red nails tapping the table impatiently.

"Erm...water? Please?" I asked nervously, hoping that's what she meant by what I wanted. She silently walked away from my table. I took a sigh of relief and leaned my head against the shiny plastic booth.

Today had been exhausting. I couldn't wait to go back to the cabin and not deal with any of these townsfolk. I bet thats why Jason hid from them.

I took a peek at the menu, but my eyes were so sore from straining to read in the dull light of the library, I closed the menu and rubbed my tired eyes. The waitress came back with my glass of water. Then she pulled out a pad of paper and pen. "What wouldja like to order?" she asked in her same tone of voice. Her mascara eyes staring at the pad of paper in her hand, the pen hovering above the paper in the other. I just asked for a burger and fries, not wanting to look at the menu again. A small town like this had to make burgers for lunch. The waitress wrote down my order and left. I sighed. Closing my eyes and resting my head against the back of the booth.

Just then I heard the ding of the bell from the door, causing my eyes to open. I looked over to the door

My heart skipped a beat, while my anxiety went from zero to seventy. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! It's Kennith. My ex boyfriend. I immediately felt sick to my stomach, wishing to teleport back to the cabin. I didn't want to encounter him right now. I left my house for many reasons, and he was one of them. I slid down into my seat, using the menu to cover my face.

What was he doing here? I peeked above the menu. He was handing out flyers to the locals. He wasn't alone. He was with a girl. Long black hair, cheerleader body, full on make up, expensive clothes. I could smell her perfume from where I sat. When they got closer, I could see what was printed on them.

They were flyers about the camp opening on Friday June 13th. My blood freezes when his icy blue eyes make contact with mine. Fuck. He gives me a shit eating grin and waves. I can't believe I even liked this guy at one point. He reeked of lies and too much axe spray. His hair was dyed black and had a rats nest. His shirt was black and had holes all over them. His cargo pants looked like they had never seen a washing machine. His shoes had more duct tape on them than shoes. A literal walking disaster. So many red flags on this guy. Kennith walked over and slid into the booth across from me. His hand grabs the girl's hand he was with, and pulls her into the booth next to him. It's suddenly very hard to breathe in the diner.

"Hey! I thought I recognized you. How's it been?" Kennith asked casually, acting as if we were old friends who just happened to run into each other. I didn't respond, just kept my eyes down on the menu.

Kennith doesn't seem to get the hint and keeps talking. "This is Victoria. She went to our high school. Remember?" he asked me as if I would even know all the cheerleaders he banged behind my back. I did not recognize Victoria at all. She had long black hair, a purple tank top on and a black skirt. Purple flip flops and black painted nails. She gave me a sneer as her piercing green eyes looked me up and down in disgust.

The waitress came over, noticing that I was accompanied. She rests her hand on her hip. "Do your friends want anything?" she asked, giving them the same venomous look she gave me earlier. I shook my head angrily. "No, I was just leaving," I said through gritted teeth, sliding out of the booth. Kennith's stupid grin disappeared from his face.

"Hey! wait, come on. I just wanted to talk," Kennith called out to me. I ignored him and kept walking.

"I heard you were working at the camp," I heard Kennith say.

That stopped me. I turned around. "Where did you hear that? From a crazy man?" Kennith pointed behind me. I turned around. Sure enough, there was Ralph Jr., eating a burger.

Victoria turned her head to Kennith with a frown on her face. "Did you make us come all the way out here to see your ex?"

Kennith flinched and quickly shook his head. "No! Of course not. I wanted to spend time with you, babe." He was lying, but surprisingly his girlfriend believed every word. Her hard face softened and she smiled with a full set of straight teeth.

Rage began to boil inside me, causing me to lift my head up. "He told me the same thing. Don't believe his lies, Victoria. He will cheat on you when he gets the chance," I warned her. I gave Victoria too much credit apparently. She was just as toxic and fucked up as Kennith was. She huffed and gave me a look.

"You are just saying that so you can get back with him. I'm not falling for your bullshit. Kennith loves me."

Kennith wrapped his arm around his manipulated girlfriend and gave me a look. "Yeah. I love her. She gets me," he said.

I glared at Kennith. "You are such an idiot. Go fuck yourself, Kennith." Before I walked out of the diner, he hands me one of the flyers. "See you on the 13th," he said with a shit eating grin.

I take it, crumple it up into a ball, and drop it on the empty plate in front of him.

"Go to hell."

I stormed out of the diner.

...

When I got back to the cabin, I found the place to be empty. "Jason?" I called softly. No response. No surprise there. I walked around the cabin. The sun was still high in the sky. My stomach rumbled. I never got to eat my food at the diner. Stupid Kennith. I went inside and made myself a quick sandwich. When I was done I went out again to look for Jason. It didn't take me long to find him amongst the trees. I was about to call to him when I noticed what he was doing. I stopped in my tracks and held my breath.

Jason had his hand out to a deer. A young female deer. Her footsteps were very quiet as she cautiously approached him. Once she didn't smell him as a threat, she came up to him within an arms length.

I watched him gently stroke his gloved hand between her ears. The deer seemed to like the conact and moved closer. In his other hand he had what looked to be a handful of corn. She stuck her black wet nose into his gloved palm and ate out of his hand. My eyes widened in surprise. I didn't know Jason had that ability with animals. I don't think anyone did.

A twig snapped under my foot. Both of their heads whipped around at the exact same time to me. The deer immediately stepped away from Jason and bounded away, white tail up like a flag, then was gone. Jason stood up to his full height as he continued to stare at me

I stepped forward. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare off your friend." He approached me without a sound. As big as he was, I had no idea how he walked around without being heard.

...

I shrugged off my backpack and pulled out the book. "I found this at the library. Do you know what this book is? It seemed to...call to me," I told him, lifting the book up higher for him to see.

Jason's eyes widened behind his mask as he stared down at the book. He slowly nodded his head. I lowered the book to my chest height. "What is this book? How do you know what it is?" I asked. Jason hesitated, trying to figure out how to answer me. He started to do sign language, but stopped when he remembered that I was not good at understanding ASL. Then he crouched down in front of me.

He drew a symbol into the dirt, then stood up, pointing at it, then the book. I opened the book, and flipped through its worn, yellowed pages till I found the same symbol. It was part of a spell to bring the dead back to life. My eyes widened before looking back up at Jason.

"You were brought back to life with this book?"

He nodded his head ever so slightly. So he wasn't a ghost, nor was he alive. He was the undead. It answered a few questions, but now it unlocked so many more questions. We both stood in silence for a while. The trees rustled around us. The birds chirped in the trees above us. My fingers tapped on the sides of the book.

"Your mom used this book to bring you back to life."

Jason didn't nod his head, or shake his head. I hesitated on asking the next question...

"Where is your mom?"

Jason stood still for a long time, I thought he had turned into a statue. Then he turned around and began walking in a direction deeper into the woods. He stopped and turned back to me, indicating he wanted me to follow him. Placing the Necronominom back into my backpack and zipping it up, I shouldered my backpack, and followed the undead man into the woods.