by A. Eggleston
The swarm had been outstretched to the streets. The Evil Dead ran amuck in downtown Springwood. They filled the streets. Some couldn't wait to get to S-Mart to surround Ash, while others kept a walking pace, scouring the area for other fresh souls. Freddy told them to save Ash for him, but he didn't say anything about pedestrians.
The streets, congested with the possessed bodies of Springwood residents, were soon becoming scenes of horrible wrecks. Although it was 2:00 AM at this point, there were still people driving down the streets. They had no knowledge of horrors that were ahead.
One man, who was already nodding off behind the wheel, opened his eyes to a sight beyond his imagination. In the middle of his headlights stood three Deadites staring back at him.
The man opened his eyes wide, and gasped. "Oh, shit!" He turned the wheel as hard as he could.
SQUEAL!!!
It inevitably caused his gray Chevy Malibu to swerve, and flip over in the Deadite-filled street. The car was now upside down.
The windows on each side collapsed from the pressure. Small shards of glass were now lodged in the side of the man's head. The doors were dented and the front and back bumpers were dislodged. Smoke rose from the engine as the air bags deployed.
Although almost every bone in his body had been crushed, the young man was still alive. The side of his head bled, dripping on the roof of the car as he was upside down, barely contained by his seatbelt.
The three Deadites grinned. A fresh soul was brought before them. He couldn't fight them. He couldn't push them away. All he could do was scream as they tore away at his pretty flesh.
They rushed toward him. They pulled the door off of its hinges to get to him easily. The middle Deadite ripped off his seatbelt. The man grunted as he fell to the ground. The demon grabbed him by his shoulders and dragged him out of his car and into the fresh night air.
He was a young man, in his mid-twenties. He had light brown hair and was wearing a yellow, hooded sweatshirt that was now covered in glass and stained with blood. His name was Mark, and he was a male nurse at Westin Hills psychiatric hospital, as noted by the nametag that hung from his lanyard. Mark was barely able to open his eyes, weakly fluttering them as a sign of consciousness.
The trio of Deadites hovered over his body. The middle Deadite shouted in excitement. "How sweet, fresh meat!"
Mark opened his eyes and saw only rotting skin and pale eyes. He wanted to get up and run away, but he couldn't move. The bones in his arms and legs were shattered. The pain was excruciating. All he could do was scream. "Aaah!" The terror in Mark's eyes would bring compassion to anyone, but not to the Deadites. All they wanted was to feed. "Please! No!" he pleaded. "Somebody! Please! Someone help me!"
The Deadite in the middle grabbed him by the neck, while the other two grabbed both of his limp legs. At once, they bit into his flesh, taking hunks of skin and muscle with their teeth. The middle demon tore a chunk of skin from his cheek. The other two rolled his pant legs up and bit into the fatty layer of skin behind his shins.
Mark bled profusely. As if getting into a car crash wasn't enough, now he was getting eaten alive by the Evil Dead. Mark screamed. "AAAAAHH!!!" The pain was unbearable, he just wanted to die so that he would no longer have to feel it.
After what felt like hours, but had actually just been less than a minute, Mark had already started to change. The color in his brown eyes were disappearing. It was as if a swarm of storm clouds were covering his eyes as they began to turn milky white. His skin became paler. The veins under his skin became thicker, and changed from light blue to black. They were visible in his neck and up to his face. Eventually, Mark's screams of terror and turned into a warbled and scratchy howl. Mark was now one of them.
This was not the only instance of chaos and destruction. All throughout the streets of Springwood, there were wrecks, fires, and Deadites taking the lives of ordinary people, recruiting more into their army.
The once peaceful, suburban, paradise that was Springwood was now Hell's gateway. The clean streets were overrun by Kandarian demons. The streetlamps and illuminated the sidewalks with yellow lights were now being tipped over by the filthy bastards, causing more darkness the overcome the area.
When the mongrels weren't causing destruction at every turn, they were feeding. Every block was stained with blood. Some of the Deadites would pause at the corners to drag the limp bodies of their prey, and feast on their flesh and bones until they were one of them.
Empty and wrecked cars, semi-trucks, and motorcycles were strewn in the middle of the streets. The Deadites would simply climb over them in their pursuit to find and capture Ash. Gas fires would erupt as a result of the wrecks. The night air was lighted with the bright orange flames.
It may have been because of the fires and smoke that filled the air, but something had caused the sky to change in appearance. It was no longer black with the subtle glint of the moon hovering above. Above the streets was a sky that was red as blood.
This scene of unimaginable horror stretched out for miles. It was no longer just downtown Springwood that was sullied by the presence of evil. This spread out for miles. Further away, near city limits, were more demons racing to their destination.
Beyond the horizon, there was a hill overlooking the entire town. Since Springwood was a fairly small town, it wasn't the sight of a busy metropolis. But there were a few large buildings, and plenty of lights shining out from the dark, country air.
The smell of burning gasoline and smoke was barely detectable from the distance. But, the howling battle cries of the Deadites were still loud and echoing.
It was the perfect spot to overlook all of the destruction and carnage.
At the very top of the modest hill, the ground began to open up. A three foot long split formed in the dirt and began to spread open. A bright flash of red light came forth from the opening in the ground. The ground moved, crumbling and spreading wider for what was about to emerge from beneath the earth.
From the hole in the ground, flames shot into the night sky. A wall of fire rose about six feet tall from the dirt. Glowing embers swirled around the dancing flames, eventually falling to the ground and causing all plant life that came in contact with it to wither and die.
In the midst of the roaring fire, there was something inside of it. A silhouette was visible in the center. It was in the shape of a man. His head was tilted down, putting emphasis on the fedora on the top of his head. His right shoulder was slumped down, and on his hand was the sight of long, six-inch long, finger knives.
The flames crashed down just as quickly as they had risen. It was revealed that from behind the curtain of flames was Freddy.
A hoard of Deadites came running down the hill, scattered, unorganized, and laughing with maniacal glee. Most of them had no idea where Ash's location was, they were just ready to be free and claim more innocent souls.
Freddy tapped the knife on his index finger against his right leg. He stood at the very top of the hill, watching over all of the Deadites that were so eager to do his bidding. His pale, blue, eyes leered at them, observing as they scattered about aimlessly. Their raving and imbecilic laughs annoyed him, almost as much that hockey puck Jason's blank stare of his.
Glad I don't have to deal with that fucker again. He thought.
He stared at the hundreds of Kandarian demons before him. Freddy clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and shook his head in disapproval. This just won't do. I think they need a little...incentive.
Freddy raised his glove arm in front of him, extending it so that it was completely level and straight. He flicked his index blade up towards the sky.
As soon as he lifted his bladed finger, each and every one of the Deadites ceased to move. They no longer ran, climbed over each other, or spoke. They were completely still. It was as if they were frozen in time. But they were not.
Freddy didn't have to speak, but with that small gesture, the demons mentally heard their master calling them. Telling the
m to stop what they were doing immediately, and listen only to him.
The Deadites planted their feet to the dirt, and all fell silent. At once, they turned around to the opposite direction, so that they were now looking up at their ruler on the hill. They all stared, slack-jawed and salivating with hunger, eager to obey Freddy's commands.
He reveled in the sight of the many Deadites before him. All of them, obeying his every command. Staring at him, waiting to hear the next word from their master. The corners of Freddy's lips curved into a self-satisfied grin. He spoke to himself in that low, graveled voice of his. "I'm beginning to enjoy this."
Freddy scanned the army of Deadites in front of him. His eyes trailed from the front row that was thirty feet away from him, to the very back that stretched just beyond the horizon. Freddy spotted something odd in the middle of the crowd. He squinted his eyes to focus on what he was seeing.
What he saw was one of his Deadite minions, who had already captured someone. The demon was holding the man close. Holding him down. Trying to dig his nails into him, and take a chunk of his flesh to change him. They were far away, so the man's screams were but a faint whisper in the wind. The man had a look of pure terror in his eyes. He flailed his arms and writhed his body in an attempt to escape, but it was not working.
As Freddy examined more closely, he began to notice the police badge on the side of the man's shirt, and the blonde hair below his ears. A light went off in Freddy's head. It was Lt. Moore, Ash's new best friend from the Springwood Police Department. He'll know where Ash is hiding my book. Freddy realized.
Using his bladed hand again, Freddy pointed to the Deadite in the middle of the crowd. He called to him. "You!"
Freddy had stopped the Deadite from sinking his teeth into Lt. Moore's skin. The demon ceased his attack and looked up at Freddy. His mouth was still hanging open as he hissed at Freddy for interrupting his feast.
He ignored the Deadite's disgusting reaction, keeping his eyes locked on Moore's fear-stricken face. He waved his index blade, gesturing them to come forth. "Bring the pig over to me!"
The Deadite grabbed Moore tightly by the back of his shirt collar. He hissed his words as he replied to Freddy. "Yes, my lord!" The demon yanked Moore in Freddy's direction. He pushed him forward, causing the Lieutenant to stumble.
The Deadite restrained his arms as he led Harold to the top of the hill. After the two had reached the top and were a mere ten feet from Freddy, Moore freed himself from the demon's grip. "Let go of me, you ugly son of a bitch!" He could still hear the demon rasping behind him as it backed away.
Moore turned his head away from the Deadite, and saw Freddy's charred face staring right back at him, smiling. Bastard.
The first thing he thought to do was grab his gun from the holster on the side of his belt. He clicked it back, cocking it, and pointed it right in-between Freddy's eyes. His hand remained steady, and aside from the sweat dripping down his face and along his eyelids, so was his gaze. "I'll do it." he said, his voice sounding like that of a crazed murderer. "I swear to God, I'll blow your brains out right now, Krueger."
Freddy half-smiled and, with his left hand, took off the dirty, brown, fedora that usually rests on his head. He opened his arms and gestured his hands in a way to tell Lt. Moore to "go ahead". He spat his words out. "I dare you, pig." he said, putting emphasis on the word "pig". "Shoot me!"
Moore let no time pass when putting two bullets in the sucker. Moore pulled the trigger and shot Freddy twice between the eyes.
BLAM!!!
BLAM!!!
Freddy was knocked back. His head pointed to the sky from the impact of the bullets. Under the moonlight, the sight of blood spraying from his forehead was visible. He screamed in pain. "Aagh!" He then doubled over, dropping his hat to the ground and putting his hands on his bullet wound. His dark red blood spilled from between his fingers and dripped out on the grass. He continued to moan in agony.
Lt. Moore slowly lowered his gun, not sure what had just happened. His face was fixed in an expression of both victory and confusion. He was still high from adrenaline from shooting the bastard, but at the same time, he wondered how it was so easy. This can't be right. Moore debated to himself. He's down, but...why would he have just let me shoot him like that? Unless...
Freddy lifted his head so that his eyes now looked into Moore's. Freddy's blue eyes glinted with pain and agony. His breath was short and erratic.
Freddy wiped the blood from his scarred face with the sleeve of his sweater. Once he lowered his arm, Moore noticed that the small, marble-sized holes in the middle of his face stopped bleeding. Not only that, but Freddy's look of hurt and cringing pain were also gone. A slick smile crossed his lips, slivers of his sharp, rotted teeth showed. He opened his mouth. Moore thought he was about to laugh at him again, but he was wrong.
"You actually fell for that?!" Freddy kept his sly smile as he walked towards Moore. He lowered his voice so that Moore was the only one to hear his words. "How did you ever get promoted to Lieutenant?"
Moore's face had been frozen until now. He exploded in anger and shouted in Freddy's face. "Rot in Hell, you bastard!"
"Been there already." said Freddy. He shortened the distance between himself and Moore. "Now, enough small talk." He was now inches from Moore's face. Freddy grabbed his by the front of his shirt, clenching the fabric with his fist. "Where is Ash?" he sneered.
Moore kept a straight face. He knew that they were all holding themselves up inside S-Mart, but he would be damned if he was going to give that information to Krueger. "I swear I don't know where he is." he said, trying to sound desperate.
Freddy thrashed him around and shouted in his face. "YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHERE HE IS! NOW TELL ME!" Freddy lowered his voice and felt his nostrils flaring, and the corners of his lips moving up. "Or..." Freddy raised his right hand, and let the knives on his fingers dance in front of Lt. Moore's face. "...do you need some motivation, hmm?"
The blades were inches from Moore's face, moving around, shining under the light of the moon. He saw how sharp they were, how they could easily cut through his skin without Freddy having to put much effort into it. There were still speckles of blood on the silver blades. He felt his heart begin to pound against his chest. He looked around, but there was no escape. Moore was surrounded by Deadites.
"Why do you need Ash, anyway?" said Moore in an attempt to deflect the current situation. "You got what you came for."
Freddy's snide expression turned into that of scorn. "That jarhead has my book." he explained. "He could actually do some damage to me..." Freddy laughed quietly to himself. "...if he figures out how to use it. Plus, the soul of the Chosen One would ensure that no one," Freddy emphasized every word that followed. "Ever. Gets. Rid. Of. Me. Again."
Moore spoke again. "So, that's what you're after? His soul?"
Freddy nodded his head "yes". "Mmm hmm." He could picture it now: Ash cowering on the cold ground, broken and sliced, begging for life. Just like so many of his victims before him. And then, when Ash has had every fabric of his dignity torn from him, Freddy sinks his glove into his body. Over. And over. And over. When his intestines have been spilled out of his body, and that last shred of life into his eyes fades away, Ash's soul will escape from his body and become absorbed by Freddy. He will have won. Not just the battle, but dominion over the dream world and the waking world.
The sound of emerging footsteps broke Freddy's bloody fantasy. One of his Deadite followers approached behind him. The demon had been traveling a long way, which explained his shortness of breath as he spoke to him. His voice was raspy and he felt himself catching his breath in between words. "My lord." He addressed Freddy as such.
Freddy didn't bother to turn around to look his minion in the eye. The Deadite had interrupted his interrogation. He scowled, continuing to stare at his knives as he twiddled them under the moonlight. His tone was curt. "What?" he asked, his voice was even lower and more demonic than the Deadite's.
What the demon said next sparked Freddy's interest. "I've come a long way. I know where Ash is keeping your book."
As soon as the demon finished speaking, Freddy ceased to play with his glove. His eyes widened in interest. He shifted his body slightly to the right to look the demon in the eye. His tone was much calmer now. "Go on." he instructed.
The demon did as he was told. "He and the others are hiding inside the S-Mart," the Deadite pointed his finger in the downtown area. "just a few miles north of here. There are already dozens of us there trying to break through."
"Oh." Freddy grinned mischievously as he looked in the direction where the Deadite was pointing. He glanced back at the demon. "Well?" he sneered. "What are you waiting for, huh? Get out back out there, and break the fucking doors down!"
The Deadite kept a calm face. He lowered his head. "Yes, my lord." He then ran back down the hill, disappearing among the crowd of demons.
Freddy turned back to Moore, who was still sweating and still had a look of fear in his eyes. Freddy twitched his face into an evil smile. "I'd do it myself, but uh, without my book, I'm not as powerful as I am in the dream realm." He raised his blade up in front of Moore's face again. "I suppose you're lucky." he said. "In the dream, I could bash your brains in with just a flick of my blade." He traced his knives ever so close by Moore's skin, watching them move.
Despite being in a stranglehold by Krueger, Moore's words managed to come out clearly. "You're gonna kill Ash, and then what? Just keep killing until there's no one left?"
Freddy lifted his gaze to look at Moore. "That's right." he said. "And you know what? I think it's time I get an early start!" Freddy bent his arm and cocked his elbow back. Before he could even execute the kill, he could hear Moore's defiant cries.
"No!" he screamed. "No! Don't!"
