LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Underground
[Outside Trent Cabin]
The cool night air slapped Arlo's face as they burst out of the cabin, his lungs burning with each breath. Gravel crunched beneath their feet, the sharp sound punctuating the tense silence. Behind them, the cabin's emergency lights flickered weakly, casting long, wavering shadows across the clearing.
Arlo's mind churned through the plan: two groups, two missions. One group would escape to safety; the other would attempt a rescue. Simple in theory, but the stakes were painfully clear.
"Everyone remember the plan?" he asked, his voice steadier than he felt. "Trent's group heads for the van. Clay, Jenna, and I will go for Clay's sister."
The throbbing pain where Jason had struck him earlier flared briefly, but he pushed it aside. His Status window still hovered faintly in his HUD, the 80/100 HP reminder doing little to ease his nerves.
Trent was already rallying his group, guiding them toward the path leading to the van. Chewie and Lawrence stayed close to Chelsea and Nolan, their makeshift weapons clutched tightly. Fear was etched onto their faces, but beneath it lay a flicker of determination.
A hand suddenly grabbed Arlo's arm, pulling him aside. It was Bree. The faint glow from the emergency lights reflected in her eyes, which burned with an intensity that caught him off guard.
Before he could say anything, she pulled him close and kissed him—hard. It wasn't tender or romantic. It was desperate, raw, as if she was trying to etch the moment into her memory.
"Don't die out there, you idiot," Bree whispered, her voice cracking as she pulled back. She tried to force a casual smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "If you survive this, let's… let's go on a date." A soft chime echoed in his mind:
[Relationship Update: Bree - Status: Unrequited Love]
"Real smooth with the timing there," Arlo thought to his status window. Trent approached them, his expression grim.
"Here," Trent said, pressing his handgun into Arlo's hand. "You'll need this more than me. We've got enough numbers to make it to the van."
Arlo's fingers curled around the weapon. It was heavier than he expected, the cold metal biting into his palm.
"Thanks," he said, checking the chamber. 1 magazine left. Not much, but better than nothing.
Trent nodded. "Watch yourself out there, man. That guy... he's not normal."
"I know." Arlo met his gaze, the weight of the situation heavy between them. "Now go. And don't stop for anything."
The sound of splintering wood ripped through the night, freezing everyone in place. Jason had recovered faster than expected. His massive figure loomed in the shattered doorway of the cabin, the faint glow of the emergency lights reflecting off his cracked hockey mask. His machete gleamed menacingly in his hand.
Jason's gaze swept across the clearing, locking onto Trent's group as they began moving toward the van.
"Oh no, you don't," Arlo muttered. He raised the gun and fired twice into the air.
Bang!
Bang!
The deafening cracks echoed through the trees. "Hey, hockey puck! Over here!" he yelled. "What's wrong, big guy? Afraid of someone who can fight back?"
Jason's head snapped toward Arlo with mechanical precision. The predator had found his prey. His posture shifted, radiating an almost palpable aggression that sent every instinct in Arlo's body screaming to run. But it worked Jason was now fully focused on him, ignoring the escaping group.
[Analysis Skill Activated]
[Processing data...]
Arlo's mind raced as his analysis skill put together everything he knew about the legendary killer. Information flashed before his eyes:
[Analysis Complete]
Primary Weapon: Machete (Signature weapon, possibly mystically enhanced)
Known Weaknesses: Strong emotional connection to mother's memory Childhood trauma trigger points
Suggestion: RUN!!!!!!!
"Really? That's the best you've got?" Arlo growled under his breath.Behind him, he could hear the frantic footsteps of Trent's group fading into the forest. Relief flickered through him. At least part of the plan was working.Jason took a deliberate step forward, his machete catching the faint light.
"Clay! Jenna! Move!" Arlo hissed, keeping his eyes locked on the killer.
Jenna hesitated, her mouth opening to protest, but Clay grabbed her arm, urgency cutting through his voice. "He's giving us a head start. Don't waste it."
Jenna's lips tightened, but she nodded. Together, they disappeared into the darkness, heading toward the last place Clay had seen signs of his sister.
Arlo's gaze never wavered from Jason. The killer was fully focused on him now, his massive frame cutting an imposing figure against the backdrop of the cabin.
"9 bullet left," Arlo muttered, his voice low. "Gotta make it count."
Jason moved, his speed far more terrifying than his size suggested. Arlo turned and sprinted into the forest, the branches clawing at his arms as he pushed deeper into the shadows. Behind him, Jason's heavy footsteps pounded the earth, each one methodical and unrelenting.
Arlo's breaths came in ragged gasps as he darted between trees, his mind racing. At least the others have a chance now. I just have to keep him busy long enough to circle back.
"Next time I get isekai'd," he muttered between gulps of air, "I'm demanding a better starting location than Crystal Lake."
The forest closed in around him, and the hunt began
==================================================
[Deep Forest near Camp Crystal Lake]
Arlo sprinted through the dense woods, his breath ragged as branches clawed at his arms. The forest loomed around him, dark and oppressive, every shadow a potential threat. Twigs snapped underfoot, each sound setting his nerves on edge. The only comfort was the fading sound of pursuit behind him, but he knew better than to trust it.
His lungs burned as he finally caught up with Jenna and Clay. They were huddled near a tree, both glancing anxiously into the shadows. Dead leaves crunched beneath Arlo's sneakers as he slowed to a halt.
"You… found her yet?" Arlo panted, trying to catch his breath.
Clay shook his head and pointed toward a cluster of decaying buildings up ahead. "The old campgrounds. Before everything went to hell, we found tracks leading there. She has to be inside."
Jenna shivered, glancing back at the dark forest. "Do you think the others made it? We can't be the only ones trying to survive this."
"They made it to the van," Arlo assured her, hoping the confidence in his voice masked the uncertainty in his gut. "Trent knows what he's doing. But that psycho isn't going to chase shadows forever. We need to move now."
Clay took the lead, guiding them through a maze of old cabins and overgrown paths. The air felt colder here, heavier, as though the camp itself was alive with malice. Arlo's instincts screamed at him to turn back, but he shoved the thought aside.
As the derelict buildings came into view, Arlo activated [Observe]
[Observe Activated]
Location: Camp Crystal Lake
Details: Abandoned summer camp with extensive underground tunnel system.
Remark: Multiple documented disappearances
"Yeah, no kidding," Arlo muttered, his sarcasm a weak defense against the knot forming in his chest.A faint cry echoed from somewhere below, cutting through the stillness.
"Whitney!" Clay yelled, taking a step forward.
"Shut up!" Arlo hissed, clamping a hand over Clay's mouth. His eyes darted around the clearing.
"Underground," he whispered. "There should be… there!"
He spotted the entrance, half-hidden under years of debris. The faint cries grew louder as they approached, their urgency clawing at his nerves. Arlo motioned for them to follow as he began clearing the rubble.
"Help me," he said, shoving aside a rotted plank.
Together, they uncovered a damp, narrow opening leading into the tunnels below. The cries were clearer now frantic, desperate. It had to be Whitney.
They descended carefully, the air growing stale and heavy. The tunnel walls glistened with moisture, the faint smell of mold and rusted metal filling their noses.
"Whitney!" Clay's voice broke as they found her chained to the wall, her wrists raw and bleeding.Her eyes widened in shock and relief as she saw them.
"Clay?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.Clay rushed forward, but Arlo grabbed his shoulder.
"No time for reunions. We need to move. Now." Clay clenched his fists but nodded, understanding the urgency. Jenna worked quickly to free Whitney's chains, and Arlo activated [Analysis] as he scanned the tunnels.
[Analysis Activated]
Warning: High probability of hostile encounter in enclosed space.
Suggestion: Immediate Evacuation
"Brilliant insight, as usual," Arlo growled at the screen.
With the chains undone, Whitney slumped against Clay, who supported her weight as they started toward the exit.
"Which way?" Jenna asked, her voice taut with fear.
Arlo's Analysis flickered again, highlighting potential paths.
[Analysis Activated]
Multiple escape routes detected.
Warning: Only one viable path to surface level.
"This way," Arlo said, motioning for them to follow. He led the group through the twisting maze of tunnels, relying on his knowledge of the movie's layout and the interface's glowing markers.
Ahead, he spotted a trapdoor, barely visible in the dim light.
"This is it," he whispered, crouching to pry it open. The smell of damp earth and decayed wood hit him as he forced the panel upward.
"Clay, get Whitney out first," Arlo instructed, his voice firm.
Clay climbed through with Whitney, his movements quick and steady. Jenna followed, and Arlo reached down to pull her up.
he grabbed her arm, a chilling realization slammed into him. This is it the moment Jenna's supposed to die.
The memory from the movie flashed in his mind, Jason's machete slicing through the trapdoor just as Jenna tried to escape. Arlo's stomach lurched.
"Not this time," he muttered, gripping Jenna's arm tighter. He yanked her forward with every ounce of strength he had.
A shadow fell across the trapdoor. Jason's mask appeared in the opening, his dark eyes locking onto them like a predator sighting prey.
"Move!" Arlo roared, shoving Jenna up and through the narrow space.
The machete burst through the wooden floor inches from Jenna's leg. Without hesitation, Arlo raised the gun Trent had given him and fired point-blank into Jason's mask.
The shot rang out, deafening in the enclosed space.
Jason jerked back, momentarily dazed, but Arlo knew it wouldn't last.
Bang!
Bang!
"Run!" he shouted, shoving Jenna toward Clay and Whitney.
As the others scrambled away, Arlo turned and began piling anything he could find onto the trapdoor rusted tools, rotting crates, chunks of debris.
[Damage Taken: -5 HP: Overexertion]
[HP: 75/100]
"Not now! and let me focus" he snapped at the status window, throwing one final crate onto the pile. He turned and sprinted after the others, his heart pounding as the sound of splintering wood echoed behind him.
He glanced back, half-expecting Jason to burst through the barricade at any moment. It wasn't a matter of if just when.
"Keep moving!" Arlo yelled, his voice echoing through the trees as the group fled into the night.
==================================================
[Camp Crystal Lake: Underground Tunnels]
The crash of splintering wood echoed through the tunnels as Jason tore through Arlo's makeshift barricade. The sharp metallic scrape of debris being flung aside sent shivers down Arlo's spine.
The barrier had bought them seconds. No more.
"Come on, think, think…" Arlo muttered, scanning the dark passageway for an escape.
He activated his [Analysis], a faint glow illuminating a branching path to the right:
[Analysis Skill Activated]
Multiple escape paths detected
Most direct route: Northwest through maintenance tunnels
"Finally, something useful," Arlo muttered, motioning for the others to follow. His heart pounded as they wove through the labyrinthine passages, the crashes behind them growing louder with every turn.
The tunnels twisted like a spider's web, but a strange sense of familiarity settled over Arlo. He'd seen this layout before a half-remembered scene from the movie that might now save their lives.
A deafening crash echoed down the tunnels. Jason had broken through.
"Keep moving!" Clay's voice called from somewhere ahead.
In the chaos, Arlo realized with a jolt that he'd gotten separated from the group. The branching tunnels were disorienting, and their footsteps seemed to come from every direction at once.
[Analysis Skill Activated]
Secondary exit detected: Maintenance shaft, 30 meters east
Arlo sprinted down the indicated path without hesitation, the sound of Jason's pursuit momentarily fading. His breath came in ragged gasps as the passage narrowed. It felt suffocating, the cold, damp air clinging to his skin.
"If I'm right, there should be an old bus near here…" Arlo muttered, mentally replaying scenes from Friday the 13th. If the others had found their way to the surface, there was a good chance they were heading for that area.
After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened into the forest, the night air cool and biting.
[Observe Activated]
Location: Abandoned school bus, 150 meters north.
Detection: Multiple people identified.
Relief flooded Arlo as he jogged toward the bus, but the sight waiting for him was anything but reassuring.The rusted, hulking vehicle loomed in the clearing, its peeling paint blending with the shadows. Clay was sprawled across the roof, blood visible even in the dim moonlight. Whitney and Jenna scrambled near the wheels, desperately trying to help him climb higher.
Arlo's pulse quickened as heavy footsteps sounded behind him. Jason. Without hesitation, Arlo climbed onto the bus, the screech of rusted metal piercing the night.
The gun in his hand felt heavier than ever as he turned to face the oncoming killer.
"Hey, hockey mask!" Arlo shouted, his voice strained but defiant. "What's wrong? Can't keep up?"
Jason's head snapped toward him with that unnerving mechanical precision, his posture stiffening with predatory intent.
[Analysis Activated]
Warning: Target aggression increasing.
Remark: Extreme caution advised.
"Yeah, thanks for the heads-up," Arlo muttered, aiming the gun.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The shot rang out, the sound deafening in the stillness. The bullet struck Jason's mask dead center, momentarily stunning him. But when Jason's head turned back toward Arlo, his murderous intent seemed to radiate like a tangible force.The machete came down in a blur of motion. Arlo tried to dodge, but the blade caught his arm, sending a blinding jolt of pain through his body.
[Damage Taken: -10 HP]
[HP: 65]
The gun slipped from his hand, clattering into the darkness below. Arlo gritted his teeth, his vision blurring. His distraction had worked Whitney and Jenna had managed to pull Clay higher onto the bus.
"Arlo, run!" Jenna's voice cut through the haze, panic and desperation clear in her tone.
Ignoring the searing pain in his arm, Arlo scrambled backward across the roof as Jason's machete struck metal just inches from his leg. He leaped from the bus, landing hard on the ground below. His legs nearly gave out beneath him, but adrenaline kept him moving.
[Status Effect: Minor Blood Loss - 1 HP every 5 minutes]
"Not today," Arlo hissed through gritted teeth, staggering toward the treeline.Ahead, the others were already running, their silhouettes disappearing into the dense forest. Behind him, Jason's footsteps thundered against the ground, each one like a countdown to disaster.
"Arlo!" Jenna's voice called back, thick with worry.
"Go! Don't stop!" Arlo shouted, his voice hoarse.
He didn't look back. His eyes stayed locked on the advancing killer, machete gleaming ominously in the moonlight.With one last glance at the fleeing group, Arlo veered sharply to the right, heading deeper into the woods. His only hope now was to draw Jason's attention long enough for the others to escape.
If this is the price of surviving an isekai, Arlo thought grimly, I'm getting ripped off.