Authors Note – Thanks to those of you who reviewed chapter one! I hope to hear from more of you with this chapter. So click that beautiful review button and let me know what you think! :) (Just to make sure no one is confused, the first six sentences in italics is a conversation Nancy and Quentin had that Quentin is mulling over at his work.)

Oneironaut

Chapter Two

The coffeehouse was almost empty. Small, abstract lights dangled from the ceiling to illuminate the few people that remained in the later hours, most of them staring vacantly at bright laptop screens with weary expressions. Placid music streamed throughout the small building like water, flowing along with the rhythm of rain gently tapping against the steel roof and the drumming of his fingers against the countertop. His icy blue eyes roamed over each table, taking in the few people that still lingered, his feet bouncing impatiently against the tile floor while his gaze constantly flickered over to the clock hanging crookedly on the pastel wall. The sky outside was beginning to darken but the occasional flash of lighting kept the clouds alive. The rumble of thunder rolled over East Liverpool like a tidal wave. He smiled slightly but the look in his eyes still retained a weary sadness. They were the only things that couldn't be covered by his forced façade.

'I had a dream last night.'

'About what?'

The last nine minutes of his shift passed in complete silence; no new customers, none of the remaining desiring anything more than what they had already ordered. He helped himself to a coffee before wiping down some of the equipment quietly, ignoring the fact that his coworker had been staring at him for the past four minutes. His pale blue eyes closed and he listened to the soothing music spilling into the coffeehouse, one hand going up to absently scratch at his shoulder where the faintest beginnings of a scar could be felt beneath the thin fabric of his shirt; four cruel lines extending across his chest. He found no peace in the music and returned to mindlessly wiping down counters. The rain outside worsened.

'You know what I dreamt about, Quentin.'

'I'm not ready to admit it.'

The phone in his jeans pocket buzzed, signifying the end of his shift. He retrieved the small object and turned off the alarm with relief, gathering up his things before trudging towards the pristine glass doors of the coffeehouse. A few people glanced up to watch him leave but most remained mesmerized by their glowing computer screens.

"See you tomorrow, Perry." His coworker grunted in response and he accepted the small gesture, pulling up the hood of his sweater before leaving the small business. The deluge outside poured down around the building but he sighed and jogged into it despite, regretting not parking closer. By the time he was inside the Jeep his hair was dripping and his clothes were completely drenched. The only thing that managed to stay dry were the contents of his bag.

'I dreamt that Freddy sliced into my shoulder.'

'Your shoulder's fine. It was only a dream.'

A flash of lightning illuminated the clouds as he rummaged through the back of the Jeep, searching for any dry clothes in the clutter that was strewn around in the car. He tended to just throw things back there and not acknowledge them until he needed to carry more than one passenger. It was a bad habit Nancy constantly harassed him about. His eyes went to the floor to rest upon a brown and tan striped sweatshirt. Clean and dry. He snatched it and quickly changed, relieved to be in something that wasn't wet. His cell phone began to ring and he leaned back into the driver's seat, pulling the phone from his bag and flipping it open without a second thought.

"Hello?"

"… Hey Quentin, it's Nancy." Her voice was soft, a little tired.

"Hey Nancy. You alright?"

"Yeah... Just tired." She paused for a few beats. "Are you off of work?"

"My shift just ended… Why?"

Silence for a few seconds then – "I was wondering if I could stay the night at your apartment… They found mold at my dorm room so my roommate and I have to stay somewhere else." Quentin thoughtfully fingered the keys in the ignition, his other hand tapping gently against the phone.

"Sure, Nanc'. Dustin and Todd are already at the apartment so they can let you in… … I'll be home in about twenty minutes."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Bye…" She hung up before he had a chance to say it back. He snapped the cell phone shut and let out a sigh, running a hand through his wet hair. She had been growing more and more distant ever since they moved here. Even to him. His fingers turned the key in the ignition and he started the short drive back to his apartment.

Rust and blood painted the rotting walls in a gruesome display of crimson. The floor was replaced by an iron mesh underneath which ran a river of dark liquid that could only be assumed as blood. Every movement caused the mesh to groan and the walls to drip, black oozing from unknown pores to dribble down and join the steady stream. She stood in the middle of the room, facing a long and ominous hallway. Every breath came out as a morphed whimper, her eyes unwilling to close. Something caused the floor to shake, something coming down the long hall. The screech of metal against metal made her yelp and back up, only to realize that another hallway had formed behind her where the sound also echoed. The river beneath the floor began to pick up pace, flecks of red flying up to dot her bare feet.

"I want to wake up…" She muttered.

A laugh.

She knew that laugh.

Never had her legs carried her so fast. She darted down a newly formed hall, footsteps following right behind her. Scattered lamps shone down on her as she ran and she knew that if she looked back they would shine down on his face too. The hall turned and she turned with it, her shoulder brushing against the wall to come away sticky with blood and what seemed like pus. The iron mesh began to widen the further down she ran, morphing into more of a rusted chain-link floor that was even more difficult to keep her footing on. The end of the hallway came all too soon and she found herself denying that there was no escape, her hands roaming the filthy wall for any type of entry or doorknob. She found none. The widened mesh underneath split suddenly and she collapsed through the floor, her fingers barely grabbing onto the steel before she could be completely submerged in the lurid river of blood. The taste of iron filled her mouth and she felt her stomach twist unpleasantly. Her eyes flickered up and a gasp slipped past her lips.

"Hello, little Nancy." The nightmare's blades settled down on her hand, slicing into her fingers and forcing her to let go. Everything turned red.

Quentin was there when she woke up this time. Her eyes opened slowly, her hand curling underneath the pillow as she stared into orbs the same color as her own. Todd and Dustin had let her into the apartment without any questions and she had disappeared into Quentin's room instantly. She must have fallen asleep waiting for him. The roar of thunder almost shook the building, lightning burning up the clouds outside in a powerful display of nature just outside the window. She could hardly see his face but she feel his hand running through her hair gently, just his presence being a comfort after her nightmare. Her legs stretched out as she yawned, her arm coming out from under the pillow to stretch as well. She felt no blood on her hand from where Freddy had cut it.

"You okay?" He asked quietly. Nancy propped herself up on an elbow, swiping away the long tangles of hair from her face. Her hand was shaking.

"Sorry… " She started. "I came in here to wait for you… Must've fallen asleep."

"It's fine, Nancy. You feeling alright?" She stayed silent for a few seconds, breathing softly as she stared at his concerned face, lit only by the storm outside.

"I was dreaming." The sentence was hardly audible. Even though Quentin was the only person she trusted she still found it difficult to talk to him about her continuous dreams. Even if he still had them too. She swung her legs over the bed, keeping her eyes on his.

"About Freddy?" She nodded. "Did he hurt you?" Another nod. "Where?" Nancy brought her hand from her lap, extending it to him. It was still shaking.

"He cut my fingers."

"There's nothing there."

"I know that, Quentin." She snapped. "I know that they're only dreams but that doesn't it can't still feel so fucking real." She drew her hand back, hastily wiping away unshed tears. Quentin seemed a little unsettled but remained silent, standing from his position on the floor and sitting down next to her. His arm wrapped around her shoulders protectively and eventually she leaned into him. Her gaze went to his eyes and she exhaled, her hand going to find his. He entwined his fingers in hers, rubbing a thumb over the skin. She was reminded of when she had done the same thing for him.

"… He can't hurt you, Nancy. Krueger is dead."

"I know…" She leaned her head into the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent of coffee beans. "… But I'm still scared." They stayed like this for what seemed forever, both of them watching the storm outside with tired eyes. They had moved to East Liverpool to get away from their nightmares. Freddy had followed them despite, entering their dreams almost every single night. Even though he couldn't harm them it felt like he was slowly eating away at their sanity. Fred Krueger was dead. But they still dreamt about him.

"Quentin? …"

"Yeah?"

"… There's no mold at my dorm." She felt him shift, his hand clasping tighter around hers.

"I know." Her lips twitched upwards in a weary smile.

"Thanks for letting me stay here."

"No problem, Nancy." They were silent. The clock on the nightstand read 8:19 P.M. By the time she fell asleep again it read 11:48. Rain still drummed rhythmically against the window but the thunderstorm had passed. Quentin gently slipped his arm away from Nancy, laying her down on the bed before going to closet for something to sleep on. He pulled out a few blankets, the first he draped over the sleeping girl and the second he used as his own mattress on the floor, staring up at the roof through the dark. His eyes slowly closed.

At 2:30 A.M both of them were instantly awakened by an earsplitting scream.