My name is Tommy Jarvis, and when I was 12 years old, my life took a turn for the tragic. A masked murderer named Jason Voorhees killed my mom and then tried to kill me and my sister. But I knew how to get inside his head. How to make him question everything he knew long enough to put him down with his own machete. But in the process of killing Jason, I ended up killing a part of myself as well. The fun loving kid who liked to create scary alien masks and toys died that night. All that was left with an orphaned kid that knew that true evil existed. Which is why I had to be ready for when Jason returned...
When I was 17, I thought he'd come back for me. Someone started killing the kids and counselors at a halfway house for the mentally ill that I'd been assigned to. I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't anymore, everytime I looked in the mirror, I saw... him. People were dying all around me and I knew it would only be a matter of time before he came for me. In the end, the killer turned out to be a copycat, but I was still broken. So broken that I nearly turned into the next Jason. Luckily I came to my senses before I harmed anyone, but I knew that for my own sanity, I'd have to make sure Jason Voorhees never came back. In hindsight, digging up his grave during an electrical storm and shoving a metal spike through his heart wasn't the best idea. A lightning bolt revived him, turning Jason into an undead, and virtually unstoppable killing machine. He came back, and I thought I'd stopped him for good by putting him into a watery grave, but I knew that wouldn't last. I knew that one day, Jason would return, and I'd have to be ready. Soon I'd discover that there were others out there like me. People who were terrorized by monsters like Jason. Monsters that would stop at nothing to murder everyone in their path. A dream stalker in Springwood; a killer doll in Chicago; a deadly gingerbread cookie in Texas; a Leprechaun in North Dakota, and dozens of others. Maybe if I could help kill these creatures, maybe I could regain a small piece of myself. But I couldn't do it alone, I'd need help. And that's when it hit me: I'd gather the survivors of these horrific events and form a team. A team that would end these nightmares, and then one day, when Jason came back, I wouldn't be alone in my quest. I could finally put Jason Voorhees back into the ground permanently. But where to start? I'd heard the rumors of a woman in Springwood called 'The Dream Master', who had the power to control her dreams. I'd start there, hoping that she could help me control my nightmares of Jason... * Springwood "My karate teacher says that I'm one of the best students he's ever had. If I work hard enough I can have my black belt in two years," the brunette headed boy said as he sat between two headstones that read 'Dan Jordan' and 'Rick Johnson'. "Mom says that it'll take a long time before I'm as good as you, Uncle Rick." Jacob Johnson reached into his backpack and pulled out a Japanese head bandana. "Mom said that this was yours when you were alive," Jacob told him. "I'm going to take good care of it for you. It's my most prized possession." Jacob looked down at his watch and stood up. "Gotta get going, but I'll be back to see you both soon. Love you, Dad. Love you, Uncle Rick!" As Jacob started running home, a newspaper flew by on the wind with the headline 'More Pre-Natal Deaths Hit Springwood'. * Tommy stood in the Springwood Library, looking through the occult section. He'd read pretty much every book they had in stock in other places around the country. He finally just randomly grabbed a copy of 'Voodoo for Dummies' and took it up to the counter where the head librarian was checking in the returned books. Tommy sat the book on the counter and stared at her, noticing her aged look and tired bags under her eyes. She looked far older than her 30 years. "Alice Johnson?" Tommy asked. "Can I help you?" "More than you know," Tommy told her. "I need to ask you a question about Freddy Krue--" Alice quickly grabbed Tommy by the ear and dragged him to an empty meeting room. She closed the door and turned to stare at him. "You DO NOT say that name in this town," Alice said in an angered tone. "This town has had twelve years of peace. Every night for twelve years I work my ass off to make sure that... he stays sealed away. I won't have some random stranger coming in and messing things up. Just saying that name spreads fear. If you're here to start trouble, I suggest you leave now." "I'm sorry," Tommy told her. "It's just... I need your help. There are other monsters out there, killing people and ruining lives. I'm putting together a team to fight them and--" "You want me to join," Alice said. "I can't. I have to face my monster every night to make sure he stays put. If he gets out, then every child and teenager in this town will die. I have to fight him every night so he doesn't get stronger. I have to continually erase my son's memory every time he comes to try to feed on his fear. I chose to stay in Springwood to keep him locked away, I can't leave just to play hero." "Why not just kill Fr-- him?" "Because he won't stay dead," Alice admitted. "Everytime you think he's dead he finds a way back. So the next best alternative is to keep him weak and locked away. Now if you'll excuse me, my shift is over and I need to get home to my son." Tommy sighed in defeat and handed her a piece of paper. "My number, I'll be in town for at least another day. Call me if you change your mind." "Trust me, I won't. Good day." Alice said as she walked out the door. * Alice returned home to the house she grew up in, which she now lived in with her 12-year-old son Jacob. Her father had passed away in his sleep four years ago, dying peacefully. Alice was grateful that he'd at least gotten to know his grandson for the first eight years of his life. Jacob had already started preparing dinner, and had been in the process of setting the table when his mother walked in. "Dinner's almost ready, Mom," Jacob told her. "I made spaghetti." "You know, I should be the one making dinner for you," Alice said as she kissed the top of his head. "You already do too much around the house." "I only cook, clean, take care of the bills and wait for the cable guy," Jacob said as Alice looked at him. "I only skipped school that once for it." "You still need to start taking it easy," Alice said as she sat down. "Maybe it's time we did what we discussed." "You mean--?" "This weekend we'll clear out the garage and you can turn it into your personal work out space like your Uncle Rick had," Alice told him. "We'll get his exercise equipment out of storage." "Really?" Jacob asked as he hugged her. "Thank you!" "But you have to keep up your grades and your regular chores." Alice said. "I'm already a straight A student and I do my chores anyway." "Okay, then," Alice said as she hugged him. "Let's eat." * Tommy sat in the library, reading through news articles on the computer. He'd managed to keep Jason at the bottom of Camp Crystal Lake, maybe there was a way to keep the Springwood Slasher contained so that Alice could help him. "No mysterious teenager or child deaths in the last twelve years," Tommy said to himself as he scrolled through the articles. "Wait a minute..." Tommy happened a series of articles over the last five years about mysterious pre-natal and newborn deaths in the area, just spread far enough apart so that no one would connect them. Tommy started a new Google search minutes later... * "Put the comic books away, it's time for bed." Alice Johnson told her 12-year-old son Jacob as he sat on his bed reading a 'Tales From the Crypt' comic while in his pajamas of a pair of sweatpants and a 'Silver Shamrocks' t-shirt he's inherited from his Uncle Rick. In fact, virtually everything in Jacob's bedroom had come from Rick, not that Alice didn't buy things for him, but Jacob relished living in his Uncle's old room, not wanting to replace a single item. He'd grown up on stories about Rick as told to him by his grandfather. Rick Johnson was the boy's personal idol, despite the two having never met. "Aw, mom, I don't have school tomorrow, can't I stay up late?" Jacob asked as he got under the blankets. "You need your rest, you're a growing boy," Alice said as she tucked him in. "And don't think I haven't noticed that you've been staying up late anyway." "Because I keep having bad dreams about the man in the sweater," Jacob told her. "If I go to sleep, he's going to be there. He really creeps me out just... standing there watching me." "Baby, we've had this discussion before, the man in the sweater isn't real, don't be afraid of him," Alice said as she kissed his forehead. "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you. Want me to keep the door open?" "Just a crack," Jacob said as Alice turned off the light. "'Night, Mom." Alice closed the door, leaving it open slightly as Jacob rolled over and tried not to fall asleep while yawning. The more he tried to stay awake, the more futile it became as his eyes started getting heavy, finally closing. After a few seconds, a noise caused Jacob to bolt up wide awake. And that's when the boy realized he wasn't in his comfy bed at home. He was sitting in an unkept yard with tall grass, a cracked sidewalk and dilapidated fencing. Jacob slowly turned his head to the sound of three little girls in white dresses playing jumprope a few feet away. "One, two, Freddy's coming for you. Three, four, better lock your door." Jacob knew he had to be dreaming as he stood up, but he could feel the cold, wet grass under his bare feet as he backed away. This was no ordinary dream, this time things felt different, like he wasn't in charge. "Five, six, grab your crucifix. Seven, eight, better stay up late..." As Jacob slowly backed away, he felt a door behind him. He slowly turned to see he was standing on the doorstep of the condemned Krueger residence. The house he'd been warned against going to, even being restricted from going down the same street as the old house. "Nine, ten, never sleep again." The door slowly creaked open as Jacob turned his head to see the girls were gone, replaced by two Rottweilers with human faces. The dogs shrieked at Jacob as they started rushing toward him. Jacob panicked and rushed into the house, closing the door behind him before the dogs could reach him. He could hear the dogs growling as well as the vibration of the door as the dogs scratched against it. "Come on, Jacob, wake up," Jacob said as he slapped himself a few times. "I'm in charge of my dreams, I can dream myself someplace better. The comic book store, my favorite pizza place, anywhere else but here!" He started breathing heavy as the sound of a chandelier swinging in the wind came from the dining room; the sounds of thunder and lightning were heard from outside; and the faint sounds of a baby crying were heard from all around, followed by the sounds of dozens of children in unintelligible whispers. "Mom, please, help me," Jacob pleaded as he tried to stay strong. The dinging on a bike bell could be heard as a tricycle wheeled itself in from the next room. "I just want to go home." As Jacob tried to pull the door open, a bladed finger tapped him on the shoulder. The boy quickly jumped around to find no one else was in the room with him. Not being able to open the door, Jacob slowly backed away before seeing the basement door entrance. "I can get out through the cellar," Jacob told himself as he headed downstairs. "I'll get myself out of this place." Slowly making his way downstairs, Jacob found the boiler room with dozens of hanging chains reaching down from the ceiling. He could feel the heat from the furnace as he tried to make his way to the cellar door. The sound of children giggling was heard as he saw two boys younger than him, dressed in white as they tossed a rubber ball to each other, although he couldn't see their faces. One had dark hair and the other dark blonde hair. "Which way is the way out?" Jacob asked as he slowly approached. "I don't know," the first boy said. "Rick, do you know the way out?" "I don't know, Dan, do you know the way out?" "Wait, I know," Dan said as both boys faced Jacob, revealing charred skeleton faces. "There is no way out!" Jacob screamed as he turned, running right into Freddy Krueger, who lifted Jacob up by his shirt and slammed him against the wall. "School's back in session, Jacob!" Freddy said as he raised his hand with a clawed glove, ripping Jacob's shirt down the front before tearing it open. "Time to learn a lesson from Professor Freddy!" "MOMMY!" Jacob screamed in pure fear. "Krueger!" A voice shouted as Freddy turned his head to see Alice standing at the end of the room, having been pulled into the dream by her son as soon he cried out for her. Her outfit was the exact same one she'd put Freddy down in after their first confrontation. "Put him down!" "Actually, I think I'll just gut him in front of you," Freddy said. He put a blade against Jacob's chest, drawing a drop of blood as he got ready to slice him open. Jacob started breathing heavily, trying his hardest to wake up. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I'll kill you, then the bitch." "NOOOO!" Jacob shouted as a sonic scream echoed through the basement, causing Freddy to drop him while his mother covered her ears. By the time Freddy recovered, Alice was already in front of him, kicking and punching him before a roundhouse kick sent him flying back against the wall. Jacob rushed to get behind her as Freddy stood back up and started laughing. "You're getting weaker," Freddy told her. "All these years of keeping me trapped in this house has been making you slower and more tired. Soon, I'll be strong enough to kill you and your brat." "You'll never get the chance again." Alice told him as fog started to surround Freddy as he started to disappear into the smoke. "See you real soon, Jacob," Freddy said as he vanished. "I'll see you REAL soon." * "I taught you to control your dreams, but I never taught you to do that," Alice said as she brought Jacob a cup of coffee to help him stay awake as he sat on the couch. His hands were visibly shaking as she handed it to him. "Where did you learn that scream?" "Sometimes when I dream, I get these weird powers," Jacob told her. "Sometimes I have superstrength, sometimes I can jump off of walls and have these really fancy moves. My favorite dreams are when I know how to do karate, though, like Uncle Rick." "You have their dream powers," Alice realized. "You must have gotten them from me when you were born, that's why I was never able to really use them again." "Freddy knew me," Jacob told her. "How? Why don't I remember him except for the few times I see him in the distance while I dream?" "Because I thought you'd be safer if you didn't remember him, so I used my dream powers to erase Freddy from your mind everytime he'd show up. He's been trying to get you for 12 years, but I've always been there to stop him," Alice said. "I've been there to stop him from taking any new victims, I even managed to trap him in his own house and seal it off from potential victims. But he was right. After all this time, I am getting weaker. If he lured you into his house... that means he is getting stronger. It's only a matter of time before he gets out to get new victims." "I can fight him," Jacob told her. "I can use my powers to fight him, I know I can kick his ass." "No, you can't," Alice said. "You can't use traditional powers to fight Freddy. Your Uncle Rick, my friend Kirsten, my other friend Mark... they threw everything they had at Freddy and it just bounced off of him like it was nothing. And everytime we think Freddy's dead... he just comes right back. The only way to keep him in check was to stay in Springwood and keep him at bay, but it looks like that might not work too much longer." "Can't anyone help us?" Jacob asked as a knock came at the door. "I doubt it," Alice said as she went to answer. "Who can that be at this hour?" Alice opened the door to find Tommy standing there. * "His name is Jason Voorhees," Tommy said as he threw pictures down onto a table. "He terrorized Camp Crystal Lake for years after his mother was murdered, until he was killed by me. But he... found a way back I'm embarrassed to say," Tommy said as he stared at the ground, ashamed that he was the one who had given Jason a new lease on life. "It's only a matter of time before he claws his way back and starts killing again. But he's not the only one." Tommy threw more pictures onto the table. "There's this Freddy Krueger character; a demon named Pinhead that's into S&M torture; A serial killer in Haddonfield that strikes on Halloween; A chainsaw wielding psycho in Texas; rumors of killer puppets at the Bodega Bay Inn in California; and those are just the beginning. There are a lot more monsters out there murdering innocent people. But there are also survivors, and I'm looking to get them together to fight back." "What, like a super team?" Alice asked with a laugh. "You're looking for strength in numbers. Most of these survivors are just lucky, they have no idea how to fight back against these things. I was barely able to take on Freddy when I first met him. Then he came back when I got pregnant and I was even more helpless since I had a living soul to worry about." "I want to be a super-hero," Jacob told him. "Can I be a part of your team?" "Definitely not," Alice told him. "Look, Mr. Jarvis--" "You can call me Tommy." "Tommy, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it just seems like you're leading lambs to the slaughter," Alice told him. "I'd be of no use against an undead hockey masked killer, and I'm certainly not sending my 12-year-old son into that kind of situation. Besides, we're still dealing with our Freddy problem." "We won't be defenseless, we'd train and have plans," Tommy told her. "We wouldn't be going in blind. Every survivor contributes what they know, we do the research then we go in and kill these bastards with everything we have." "Goodnight, Mr. Jarvis." Alice said as opened the door. Tommy gathered up the pictures and stood up. "I can help you fight Freddy, maybe even kill him." "Stronger willed people than you have tried and failed," Alice told him. "Nancy Thompson was the strongest of us and even she couldn't keep Freddy in his grave. Even his own mother couldn't keep him down." "Please, just give me a chance," Tommy said as he was ushered out of the door. "Give me a little time and I'll find--" SLAM! Alice turned to see Jacob just staring at her. "What if he could help us kill Freddy?" Jacob asked. "He's been doing this since he was my age." "How do you know?" Alice asked. "I-- I saw it in his head," Jacob told her. "There were these flashes when he was talking, I could see him killing Jason as a little boy. He was scared and broken, but he did it." "How is this possible? You weren't asleep while he was here," Alice told him. "Do you-- do you have powers outside of dreams?" "Sometimes I can see you thinking about Dad and Uncle Rick," Jacob told her. "I can see what you were like when you were kids, especially when you're daydreaming. I was just too scared to tell you about it. I can feel how scared you were to be alone before I came along." "Go to bed, we'll talk more about this in the morning. And stay away from that house, no matter what it takes," Alice said, now visibly shaking at the thought of what Freddy could do if he got ahold of Jacob. As soon as Jacob headed upstairs, Alice saw a folder Tommy had dropped on his way out. She picked it up and saw what Tommy had pieced together about Freddy. "Oh my God." * "Okay, Alice was a dead end, but I think the kid might have something," Tommy told himself as he returned to his motel room. "I just need to get him alone so I can talk to him, maybe he can convince his mom to join this fight." After stripping down to his boxers, Tommy got into his bed and stared at the ceiling for an hour before finally falling asleep. * The sound of children laughing woke Tommy up as he sat up in a strange bed. He looked around, realizing he had awakened inside of a cabin. "What the hell?" Tommy asked as he rushed to the window, seeing that he was at Camp Crystal Lake. "No, not here." Rushing outside, Tommy looked up at the darkened sky, knowing Jason wasn't too far away. "Come on, Tommy, wake up," Tommy said as he slapped himself. "WAKE UP!" A sinister laughter that he'd never heard before echoed around him before seeing the trio of girls in white dresses playing jump rope outside of the happen. "One, two, Jason's coming for you..." "Why can't I wake up?" Tommy asked as he saw a group of camp counselors on the pier, all of them wearing green and red sweaters. All of them were watching a boy drowning in the lake while pointing and laughing. When Tommy noticed the deformed boy, he realized who it was. "Jason?" "I guess shit can't float!" one of the counselors said in Freddy's voice while laughing. "You think you can save anyone? WRONG!" "What the hell are you?" Tommy asked as he tried to back up. "It's Freddy," Jacob said as he stood at the end of the pier. "He's gaining power somehow. I felt him coming for you so I came to try to help, but I don't think he can touch us. I think he's still trapped in his house." "Not for too much longer," Freddy told him. "Thanks to you two." "What's he talking about?" Tommy asked as he turned around and found Alice standing right in front of him. "Get back to my house and wake Jacob up," Alice told him. "And get him as far away from Springwood as you can." "What?" Jacob asked. "Mom, what's--" "He's been killing unborn children in their REM sleep," Alice told them. "Making them look like miscarriages. That's how he's been staying off of my radar while he gains power. He's been stealing their souls to make himself stronger." "I've been biding my time for twelve years, toying with you the whole time," Freddy said through the counselor. "Making you think you were winning when all you've been doing is wearing yourself out. I just needed enough power to get Jacob to start fearing me, and fear me he does. He can see my power everytime you think about Kristen, and Rick and Danny boy and how they died. You've been feeding him fear for me, Alice. And little Tommy here's put me over the top with how much he's scared of his old friend Jason. In a few minutes, I'll be able to start making Springwood my playground again." Alice looked at Tommy. "I have to keep him distracted. Get Jacob out of town, Tommy. Please. Teach him to use his powers so he can come back and finish this when he's grown up." Alice leaned in and whispered a message into Tommy's ear before she put two fingers on his forehead and woke him up in his motel room. After a few seconds he realized what she'd said to him before he woke up. "Shit!" Tommy shouted as he grabbed his pants and raced for the door. "MOM!" Jacob shouted. "Let me help!" "No," Alice said as she hugged him. "You need to run now. Go with Tommy when he shows up. You're the only one who can defeat him, but you need to train. I trust you to do this, Jacob, you've got all the powers to do this, I know it now. Kristen and Nancy, Rick, Debbie, Mark, Kincaid, Joey... you have all that power and more. Now you're the Dream Master." Alice kissed his forehead, transferring all of her powers to him as he disappeared in a small burst of light that floated away into the sky, just as Freddy started ripping his way out of the counselor's body, sending blood and chunks of organs flying out. Alice stood up and turned around just as Freddy finished cutting his way out, dropping the counselor's shredded body to the ground. He reached into the dead counselor's gut and pulled his hat out, shaking off the excess gore as he placed it on top of his head. "This has been a long time coming," Freddy said as he rattled his clawed fingers together. "I can't wait to taste your son's blood. You'll live just long enough to see me cut his intestines out." "You'll never touch him," Alice said as they paced around each other. "If I don't kill you, he will." "He's welcome to try," Freddy laughed as he slashed at Alice, who ducked and punched him in the face. Freddy just smiled at her. "What's the matter? Low on power?" "I have enough left to make sure he's safe," Alice said as she started punching and kicking him at Freddy, knocking him into the water. "Jacob's going to live." The water started boiling as the pier started to shake and fall apart. Alice started running as a demonic looking Freddy floated out of the water, floating over the water toward her. "He's going to die the most horrible death I've ever doled out," Freddy laughed as Alice started to run, but tripped on a root Freddy created out of the ground. "And just because you've been such a pain in my ass, I'm going to draw it out and have fun with him. His suffering is going to last as long as I can make it, and it's all thanks to you!" "Leave him alone!" Alice shouted as she tossed a machete at him. The machete impaled itself in his chest as Freddy just smirked. "Sorry, machetes aren't my style," Freddy told her as he pointed a bladed finger past her. "They're his." Alice turned around to see Jason Voorhees standing behind her with a machete in hand. "This is a new friend of mine. He's taking a little nap himself. But once I get more power, I'll wake him up, too!" The two monsters closed in on Alice as she closed her eyes. "I love you, Jacob," Alice whispered. "Be strong for me." * Tommy arrived at Alice's house and broke through the door before racing upstairs to find Jacob trying to render himself unconscious by ramming his head against the wall. "Jacob, stop!" Tommy shouted as he grabbed Jacob to pull him back. "That isn't going to help her!" "She passed all of her powers onto me!" Jacob shouted back with tears rolling down his eyes. "He's going to kill her!" "No, he's not," Tommy said. "You have to trust her, Jacob. She's going to be okay, but we have to get out of here before it's too late. She can only keep him distracted for so long, but we have to get you of town before Freddy comes for you." "What about my Mom?" "We have to trust that she knows what she's doing," Tommy said as he faced Jacob. "Just like I need you to trust me right now. We need to go." "We'll take my Mom with us, if she escapes, she'll wake up, right?" Jacob asked as he ran to her bedroom. "Mom?" There was no one there except a note for Jacob sitting on the bed. Jacob, I know this is hard, but I have to leave you now. Freddy's become too powerful to face on my own and this isn't your time. Find Tommy and have him take you out of town. You need to become the next Dream Master by mastering your dream powers. It's the only way to stop him for good. Don't worry about me, I have a plan to get away, but I need you to be safe and right now Tommy Jarvis is my only option. Freddy's loose, but he's bound to Springwood so he can't hurt you if you're far away. Please don't try to find me, if I survive, I'll find you someday. But right now we have to go down separate roads so we can reunite in the future. I love you, and I'm so very proud of you - Your mother Jacob started to break down as Tommy helped him downstairs before going to pack some clothes for Jacob. As he was preparing to leave the room, Jacob stood at the doorway before he grabbed his Uncle Rick's bandana off of his bed post. "I can't leave without this." Jacob whispered as held the bandana tightly in his hand. Minutes later, Tommy's truck was headed out of town as Jacob looked back at his house, trying to be strong. "We'll be back someday, I swear," Tommy said as he focused on the road. "And we'll bring help when we do." "What kind of help?" Jacob asked as Tommy just smirked at him. "The kind that'll curbstomp that dream stalking motherfucker into dream paste." * Westin Hills Asylum "She just showed up on our doorstep, looking like she'd been beaten and stabbed," the doctor said as they wheeled the patient in. "She was mumbling about bad dreams so we put gave her some Hypnocil to calm her until we can talk to her clearly. She was talking all kinds of insanity." "Then we'll keep her here for observation," Dr. Neil Gordon told her. "Put her in with our other star patient." As Alice was wheeled down the hall, she clutched a picture of Jacob tightly in her hand as Dr. Gordon whispered to her. "Don't worry, you'll be safe from Freddy here." * In the dream world, Freddy quietly laughed to himself as he watched Tommy's truck leave Springwood on a broken t.v. "Don't worry, Jacob, when you come back I'll have a huge welcome home party planned. But for now, I have all of my other children to tend to," Freddy said as he turned his attention toward a chained up soul sitting next to him, covered from head to toe in blood. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. Alice and Jacob may have gotten away, but I still have you to keep me company, and until little Jacob comes home, we'll have plenty of time to play." To Be Continued...
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Ed's Note - Be sure to read Mighty Max before you carve into The Gathering!
A Special Seriesfrom the mind of Tobias Christopher! Archives
October 2019
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