13 - Chapter One

         Tommy Jarvis opened his eyes and stared into the mirror. He frowned as he surveyed the damage that time had inflicted. There were wrinkles under his eyes and his hairline was receding. The black hair dye counteracted the effects of aging somewhat but the weary look in his eyes betrayed him and it would have been apparent to anyone that earned every one of his forty-two years. He sighed deeply and thought that he might have actually earned a few extra. However, given his past, he didn’t look too bad. He was extremely fortunate to be alive and he knew it.

Very few people survive an ordeal like the one he experienced when he was a boy; much less two more just like it. To say that he had been lucky was an understatement. Tommy was very aware that he was blessed and he made every effort to not take it for granted. Still, it had been twenty years since that night at Camp Forest Green and he had put as much distance possible between himself and his experiences there. The same could be said for the entire Crystal Lake region.

It took two years of intense therapy for Tommy to finally believe that it was all over. During that time he dated Megan Garris and they did their very best to cling to one another and cope. As much as they wanted to make it work there just didn’t seem to be any hope. There were too many shared bad memories for them to overcome. Megan had her own grief to process after losing her father and her friends. Watching Tommy relive ten years of pain and grief was just too much for her to handle.

They split up and she moved away from the area. Tommy did keep up with her and they remained friends in much the same way that veterans of combat did but he gave her the space she needed to heal. Even though they weren’t able to get past the baggage and make things work romantically, they were still connected to one another on a level deeper than most people. He had encouraged her as she went off to college and earned her degree in Psychology. It didn’t surprise him when she continued her studies and eventually became Dr. Megan Garris. He watched from afar as she started her own practice in Syracuse, New York. Her specialty was dealing with children who were survivors of traumatic events. She had thrown herself into her studies in order to overcome her past and she believed the best way to honor the memory of those she lost was to help others do the same. In the process she had become successful and she was soon one of the most sought out in her field.

It would probably come as no surprise that Tommy had gone in a similar direction. He never had the inclination to study but he had written a book chronicling his therapeutic journey and how he now spoke up for children who were the victims of violent crimes. Given his past, there was the occasional tabloid bloodsucker that would crawl out of the woodwork and want to exploit the “Jason” angle. Tommy answered those types of questions with the briefest and vaguest answers possible. He knew the truth about what he had experienced but he had no desire to relive it in the media or exploit it. He knew that Jason Voorhees was finally in the grave and he believed his best course of action was to help those who were living.

Tommy’s first book, The Long Road From Crystal Lake, had been a bestseller mostly by accident. Many had bought it expecting a blood-soaked memoir about the murders in 1984, 1989, and 1994. Tommy did address the trauma he incurred and the emotional baggage that he carried around as a result but he shied away from gory details and speculation about Jason. No one was more surprised when the book sold a million copies in spite of that fact. He appeared on several talk shows in the year following the book’s release and that is how he became an advocate for those who had experienced similar events.

His refusal to discuss or speculate about Jason helped to put that part of his past behind him. People eventually figured out that he was not going to discuss those things and for the most part, the questions stopped. He anticipated a few of them as he embarked on the book signing tour for his newest book, A Bandage For The Soul. It was getting ready to hit the shelves and he knew that the serious programs would avoid that type of exploitive journalism. He had earned respect and was treated as an expert on the subject. The internet wackos and tabloid shows were still out there and they would undoubtedly dredge the story up again now that he would be out in the public but Tommy had learned how to avoid and ignore them. If he was apprehensive about anything it was the upcoming visit to his sister Trish.

It wasn’t as if he didn’t want to see her. They remained very close, as one might expect, but she and her family still lived in New Jersey not far from Crystal Lake. Tommy once asked her how she could live in such close proximity to the place where their lives had been irreparably scarred. She smiled and told him that she wasn’t going to let the ghosts and demons in her past run her away from the only place that she had ever called home. He understood but admitted that he could never be that strong.

Trish had married a really nice guy named Joseph Sutter. He was New Jersey State Trooper and was stationed in the area just outside of Freemont, about one hour away from Crystal Lake. They met in college in 1986 and were married a year later. Their son, Joseph Jr. was born in 1989. He was an English teacher at the local high school and lived down the road from his parents. Their daughter Tracy, who was named after Trish and Tommy’s mother, was born in 1994. She had gotten pregnant during her senior year of high school. She had a little boy and named him after her uncle Tommy. His father skipped town shortly after graduation and was never seen from again. Tracy lived at home with her parents while taking college classes online.

Tommy had still been a minor and was in a state facilitated home when Trish married Joseph. He was still lost at the time and Trish had not been able to help him. She called and visited when she could but her life was moving in different direction. It hurt her and she always felt as if she had abandoned him but he never blamed her. It seemed like some sort of cruel cosmic prank. Every time Trish had a major life change, Tommy was facing the specter of Jason. He hadn’t been able to share in her joy and she hadn’t been able to help in his time of need. However, that was all behind them now.

When he entered therapy in 1995 they were able to seriously reconnect and reestablish the close relationship they had when they were younger. Tommy had been thrilled to jump back into Trish’s life and he loved getting to know his brother-in-law and his niece and nephew. He was especially attached to Tracy’s son Tommy. Perhaps it was because they shared a name or maybe it was something deeper. Whatever it was, he felt a connection to the bright eyed toddler than he had never felt with another person. As anxious as being near Crystal Lake made him feel, he knew it would be worth it to be with family.

There were a few more things he needed to do before hopping in the car and making the three hour drive from his small farm outside of Towanda, Pennsylvania to Freemont, New Jersey. The first thing on his list was to return a phone call to Larry Schnell. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to hit but Schnell had already left seven messages on the voicemail and had flooded his inbox with e-mails. None of the messages contained specifics. They were mostly one or two sentences suggesting that Schnell had an offer that he couldn’t refuse. Tommy knew who Schnell was and was familiar with some of his work and that only made him dread the phone conversation even more.

Larry Schnell was known nationwide as the face of ViReal TV. They were one of many trashy tabloid shows that specialized in hidden camera and viewer submitted footage. Their accompanying website and YouTube channel boosted the number of active viewers into the millions. A story on their show or website was guaranteed to go viral and eventually be picked up by the mainstream media. Because of his shrewd business ethics and his willingness to run any story, Schnell had become quite wealthy. More than one of his peers had publicly called him a bloodsucker due to his lack of compassion and restraint.

Tommy dialed Schnell’s number and waited. After a few seconds Schnell answered, almost in a scream.

“Tommy Jarvis! How are you?”

Tommy sighed and responded, “I’m well.”

“That’s great buddy.”

Tommy hated it when strangers pretended to be friendly.

“Mr. Schnell, I only have a moment. What is it that you would like to discuss?

Schnell laughed in a way that could only be described as slimy.

“I’m glad you ask. Are you aware of my influence in the world of media and entertainment?”

Tommy paused and considered his response. He had no use for Schnell but wanted to maintain some sort of dignity. After several seconds of silence he answered.

“I am aware of your television show and your website.”

“Good, good, then you know I am capable of promoting you in a way that no one else can offer.”

Tommy chuckled.

“Really? Why exactly do I need promoting?”

“Tommy, come on. We know that you have a new book coming out soon. Don’t you want this one to race to the top of the bestsellers list too?”

Tommy sighed.

“Mr. Schnell, I appreciate your concern but that’s not why I wrote the book. I’m sure it will do quite well on its own.”

He was getting ready to say something else when Schnell cut him off.

“Tommy, let’s be real here. You’re not going to tell me that you aren’t promoting this book are you? I mean, you’re not going to sit here and tell me that you’re not getting ready to start a national book signing tour are you? That’s not what I’m hearing is it?”

Tommy sighed even deeper. He had spent years working on his temper and it took quite a bit to get him riled up. Schnell, however, was quickly pushing him in that direction.

“Look Mr. Schnell, I appreciate the offer, I really do. The truth is that I am already booked for a two solid months. I have signings in several cities and I have four television appearances. I really don’t have room in my schedule for one more.”

Schnell laughed obnoxiously on the other end.

“Tommy, baby, who can give you the exposure that ViReal TV can? Seriously, name one.”

Tommy smiled his head. He was at his breaking point.

“Mr. Schnell, once again, I appreciate it but I’m sure that Conan, Fallon, Good Morning America and the Today show are quite capable of promoting the book.”

He waited for Schnell respond, curious as to how he would answer. After a long pause Schnell chuckled.

“What, no Letterman?”

Without missing a beat he shot back.

“Yeah, he’s retiring next year and there isn’t a slot. I’m hoping Colbert will squeeze me in when he takes over.”

Tommy grinned and hoped that he had pissed Schnell off. He was ready for the conversation to be over. There was an uncomfortably long period of silence and Tommy was just about to say goodbye when Schnell finally responded.

“Yeah, we probably can’t help you out much with the book. You’re right.”

Tommy prepared to thank him and hang up but Schnell spoke up.

“Truthfully, that’s not the real reason I’d like to meet up. I just thought it might sweeten the pot a bit.”

Tommy felt his stomach tighten. He did not like the way the conversation had turned. He knew Schnell’s reputation and if the book wasn’t the real reason he contacted him, then he was afraid to know the truth.

“Okay Mr. Schnell, what do you want?”

There was silence on the other end and in his mind Tommy could imagine Schnell leaning back in his chair, putting his feet up on the desk, and taking a huge puff from a cheap cigar. The truth was that Tommy’s imagination wasn’t too terribly far off. Schnell was sitting at his desk and he was smoking a foul smelling cigar. His feet, however, were firmly planted on the floor.

“Tommy, you do realize what year it is?”

Without thinking, he replied.

“2014. Why?”

Schnell chuckled again. Tommy was starting to hate the sound of it. He thought for a moment and then it dawned on him. He understood what Schnell’s angle was. He remained silent and waited for a response.

“That’s right Jarvis. It’s 2014. That’s an important year for you isn’t it?”

Tommy knew exactly what he was talking about but refused to play along.

“I’m not sure I follow you Mr. Schnell.”

“Jarvis, cut the formal bullshit. You know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s been thirty years since Jason hacked up all those folks in Crystal Lake. It’s been thirty years since you faced him down.”

There was another long pause, as if Schnell was letting it sink in. Tommy could feel the anger starting to simmer. He was not going to play this game. He stood there, gripping the phone so tight that his knuckles were turning white. Schnell realized that he had gotten to him and went in for the kill.

“It’s been thirty years since that bastard killed your mother.”

In the past, that would have been enough to send Tommy into a rage. He took a deep breath and fought that rage that was now boiling. He cleared his throat and spoke calmly into the phone.

“Look Mr. Schnell. I am aware of the amount of time that has passed since those tragic events. I have spent a good portion of my life dealing with them. I can now say that they are firmly in my past and that is where I intend to leave them.”

“In your past huh? That’s nice. What about the events from twenty-five years ago, when that crazy ambulance driver killed all those folks at the halfway house you were living in? You over that too? Have you put that in your past? Or what about the mess that happened at Camp Forest Green in 1994? That was just twenty years ago. They changed the name but it was still Crystal Lake, right? Have you put that in your past?”

Tommy had to fight himself to let Schnell finish. He nearly cut him off twice but he was determined to not let that jerk get the best of him. He waited a couple of seconds after Schnell stopped speaking and then answered.

“I don’t expect you to understand. There really is no way that you can. I accept that. However, I am not going to live in the past or let it dictate the course of my future any longer. I survived those things and have worked my ass off to move beyond them. I haven’t forgotten. I still think about those who died. I always will. But I’m not dead. I am alive and I am living in the present. There is nothing for me to gain by rehashing those memories. I have been there and I have done that. Now, is that all?”

Schnell didn’t hesitate.

“Actually Tommy, it’s not. We’re going to do a retrospective with or without you. I don’t think you appreciate how big this is going to be. Forget about your past for a minute. Do you realize that this is the thirty-fifth anniversary of Pamela Voorhees’ killing spree at the original camp? It’s been fifty-five years since she killed those first two campers after little Jason drowned. This is going to be the story of the year and you need to be a part of it.”

Tommy stopped him.

“I need to be a part of it? Don’t you mean that you need me to be a part of it?”

Schnell laughed that irritating laugh again.

“Jarvis, I don’t need shit from you. It’d be nice if you’d cooperate but we’re moving along with or without you. We’ve already started contacting other survivors. We will do this.”

“What other survivors?”

“Ah, that got your attention didn’t it? Well, I’m not at liberty to say right now. Let’s just say that there are some surprises in store.”

The floodgates opened and Tommy’s anger finally spilled out.

“Listen to me you son of a bitch. If you go near my sister and her family I will personally kick your ass. Do you understand me?”

“Jarvis, there’s no need to get bent out of shape. There’s no need to threaten violence. I can promise you that we won’t go near Trish if you’re willing to work with us. What do you say? Meet with us and do one little interview. That’s all we want.”

Tommy could feel the blood pounding in his head. It was the first time in years that he had lost his cool and that bothered him. He wanted to reach through the phone and grab that lowlife by the throat and choke him. That thought bothered him even more. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down. He knew that he was going to regret this decision but he responded.

“I’ll meet with you and discuss the possibility of taking part in your show. I’m not promising to be on it or to do your interview. All I am agreeing to is a meeting but it is under the condition that you stay away from Trish. Do we have a deal?”

Tommy could almost imagine Schnell’s shit-eating grin as he answered.

“You got it.”

Tommy sighed once again.

“I am leaving for New Jersey this afternoon. I will call you when I arrive at my location. We will set up a time to meet in a public place and continue this conversation. Until then, you don’t contact me or my sister. Are we clear?”

“Crystal clear.”

The line went dead and Tommy hung the phone up. He ran his fingers through his hair and spoke out loud to no one.

“What the hell am I getting myself into?”

He went into his bedroom and started throwing clothes into a suitcase. This trip was going to be much more eventful than he had planned. He had no idea how much more but he was soon going to find out.