Chapter 17: Chapter 16
Meanwhile, a young woman named Chelsea Rogers was packing without any hurry while her heart was beating faster with every minute in anticipation. She was preparing for a camping trip with her boyfriend, Chris, and on their return home they planned to apply for marriage. Chelsea couldn't wait for this moment to happen, as having her own family was the most sacred dream of hers. Chris only supported this idea, deciding that now was the best time to do it and not to pull back anymore. He wanted to his beloved one to be happy, and seeing her eyes shining with joy, his own heart filled with warmth.
"Are you ready, honey?" Chris asked, carrying his large backpack into the car. "You'd better hurry up, otherwise we will reach the place by the sunset. I wouldn't like to arrive there when the night falls."
"Just a moment, I'm nearly finished!" Chelsea shouted from her room. "A few more things to pack and I'm coming down!"
She rummaged through her backpack once again to make sure nothing important is forgotten. And considering the trip to nature, nothing much was needed from what she used every day while living in the city. Comfortable and sporty clothes and shoes are a must on such trips, and those were the main things that occupied her backpack. When she was finally finished, Chelsea rushed down the stairs where her boyfriend was waiting, checking once more around the house to make sure they took all the necessities.
"Oh, there you are," Chris smiled to her. "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure, dear," she replied. "Oh, by the way, have you finally decided where exactly we are going?"
Chris scratched his chin and spoke:
"You know, I was thinking about it for a while, about a place where we would be alone and no one would disturb us. I say, how about a place called Camp Crystal Lake? Total silence and peace guaranteed," he winked.
"Camp Crystal Lake? Sounds nice," Chelsea grinned. "But… Wait a minute…" she suddenly stopped smiling. It seemed that the young woman was lost in deep thoughts.
"What is it?" Chris asked, tilting his head.
"I think I've heard this name somewhere," Chelsea said, trying to remember something. "Oh God, Chris, maybe we better choose some other place? I have a bad feeling about this."
"Why? What's wrong with this camp?"
"I think I now remember where I've heard about Camp Crystal Lake. I've read about it some years ago. Do you know that a boy drowned there in the fifties and two camp counselors were murdered? Then there was a big fire, and after some time someone poisoned the drinking water. Every attempt to open the camp failed. And during the last attempt there was a schizophrenic woman that killed all the new counselors, but died herself when the last survivor chopped her head off. This is what happened there," Chelsea's voice now sounded frightened. "Chris, I really think we shouldn't go there. Too many deaths have occurred in that camp."
"Sounds awful, but come on, this is all in past. All of it happened in the previous century, and now there is no one there anymore. Camp Crystal Lake has finally found its peace. The woman that you mentioned is long dead, so no one should disturb us there. So stay peaceful and try to forget the bad things," Chris hugged his frightened girlfriend, trying to calm her down.
"Well, I hope you're right," Chelsea sighed.
Both then walked out of the house, locking it firmly. One last time they checked the trunk to be sure that everything is there – a tent, two sleeping bags, a bag with food, and their backpacks. All was in place, and now it was time to leave. Chris and Chelsea boarded their car and he started the engine.
"Honey, could you place take the map from the glove compartment? I have to check which is the right way," Chris asked. Chelsea nodded and pulled out the map. It was the map of New Jersey state, and in a few moments Chris pointed to one spot with his finger. It had a name "Crystal Lake."
"Is that the camp?" Chelsea asked.
"No, it's the name of a neighboring town," Chris explained. "The camp is not shown here, but it is somewhere nearby. If we have problems with finding the way, we can ask someone in the town."
The journey lasted for a few hours, which wasn't too long, considering that Chris and Chelsea lived not too far from Cunningham County, in the area of which a small town of Crystal Lake was located. When they finally reached their destination, Chris parked the car at the grocery store and stepped out. Chelsea joined him. The town itself looked pretty neat, especially now, in a bright summer day. Each of the locals lived his own life, nothing out of ordinary. But it's not about the town that Chelsea was still worried. It was the camp, located somewhere in this area. The young couple entered the store to buy more drinks, as the weather was very hot. Despite having drinks in their food bag, they felt it was necessary to have more for refreshment. As they approached the cash to pay, Chris decided to ask for the direction.
"Excuse me, but is Camp Crystal Lake far away from here?"
Hearing the question, the cashier widened her eyes in terror, saying nothing. Chris and Chelsea noticed that the customers reacted in a similar way. Everyone looked shocked. It seemed like life around the young couple literally froze for a few minutes.
"What? Camp Blood?" one of the customers suddenly asked.
"Is it opening again?" someone else joined the conversation.
"Umm, no," Chris stammered. "We are just travelling and decided to go camping there."
"I see," the cashier finally spoke. "Well, it's still twenty miles away. If you have a car, then just drive straight the main road. At the cemetery, there are crossroads, and you have to turn left and then go straight. After ten miles, there will be a road sign to Camp Crystal Lake on the right. You won't miss it. But, if I were you, I would stay away from that camp."
"Why's that?" Chris asked.
"Haven't you heard about what happened there?" the cashier continued. "First, a boy drowned there in 1957, then, after a year, two camp counselors were killed. Second, after some time, when they tried to open the camp, there was a big fire, and the arsonist was never found. The next opening also failed, as someone had poisoned the drinking water. And in 1979, a woman, who worked in that camp as a cook, chopped up all the counselors except for one, and she beheaded that crazy woman, who was later identified as Pamela Voorhees. By the way, the drowned boy's name was Jason, and he was the son of Pamela Voorhees."
"You see, Chris? This is what I told you about before we left," Chelsea added.
"Oh, so you knew about it?" the cashier asked suspiciously.
"Well, yes, but isn't it all in the past? Now this camp is empty and peaceful," Chris objected.
"Yes, it is empty, but about it being peaceful… I'm not sure."
"What do you mean?" Chelsea asked her.
The cashier cleared her throat and told the whole truth.
"The problem is, that, according to rumors, people disappear in this camp. What's more, the same rumors say that Jason is still out there, and he doesn't like strangers snooping around the camp."
"What? Didn't he drown in the lake? He should be dead." Both Chris and Chelsea were confused now.
"So it says, but we are not entirely sure about what actually happened there, so unfortunately, I can't tell you any more information. If you still wish to go there, go on, but you have been warned. I don't want to scare you, but… all I can say is – be careful."
"All right, thank you," both nodded to her and left the shop, followed by strange looks of the customers. "I don't know about you, Chris, but I don't like it all," Chelsea frowned when they reached their car.
"Come on, babe, don't you take it that seriously," Chris hugged her waist. "Do you know what is the best way to attract travellers to some place? A good ghost story. And believe me, these things attract people, no matter how strange it sounds, and if you tell someone not to go there, people do will do the contrary and go and check it. Besides, if local inhabitants are superstitious, it's no surprise for such small towns as this one."
Chelsea said nothing, but just listened, looking somewhere aside.
"Legend or no legend, there is nothing out of ordinary," Chris continued. "Even if things had happened there in the past, now this place is absolutely peaceful. Nothing is going to happen. So cheer up, sweetheart! We return home refreshed and then prepare for the happiest day in our lives."
"Well, I hope it is like you say. Anyway, I feel safe when you are near," Chelsea finally smiled back.
"Don't worry, I won't let anyone harm you," Chris kissed her lips, and both sat into their car. "So, as we were told, when we reach the cemetery, we must turn right at the crossroads and go just straight. The turn to Camp Crystal Lake should be somewhere on the right."
"That's what I heard," Chelsea approved. "Don't hurry and drive a bit slower, so we accidentally don't miss the turn."
Chris nodded, starting the engine, and the young couple drove away in hope for a good camping time.
***
In the meantime, Jason, while sitting on the beach with Sherry, had a feeling of excitement inside. He felt that soon there will be guests in his camp again, and his flair has never failed him. Adrenaline rushed through his body, making his dead heart beat in anticipation. He just had to decide what to do with Sherry this time. Should he lock her again in her cabin? Or maybe let her watch how he hunted his victims down if she wanted to? He will solve this problem, so Jason wasn't worried about that. Soon his deadly hunt will begin again.
Very soon.
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