Chapter 3 – Truths and Theories

Freddy looked at Cat intently. This is not something I have ever told anyone. Usually it is just hack, slash, your dead, your soul is mine. Something bad happened here in Springwood, OH. Back in '49. My mother, God rest her soul, was a nun who worked at the local Insane Asylum. Back then, the mentally ill were not treated as they are now. They were locked up like animals. Anyway, my mother got accidentally locked in the mental ward with one hundred of the most mentally deranged criminals this country had ever seen. Over the Christmas holidays, those men repeatedly raped, sodomized, and beat her. When the holiday was over, and the warden and other workers came back, they found her. She was practically dead, and she was pregnant. Of course, times being what they were, abortion was not an option, and the church would not let a nun keep a baby, so when she had me, she gave me up for adoption.

Life at the orphanage was horrible. I was constantly teased and made fun of. Finally I was adopted, but my foster father was a child abuser. Not only did he beat me, but the trauma of living with that family led me to be a cutter. I got used to the physical pain, but was always hurting mentally. When I finally was able to move out, I got a job and got married.

I was a managing janitor at the local power plant. I brought home good money, so my wife and I bought a house and started raising a family. It was the early 60's, so there were a lot of kid's doing drugs and other things that shouldn't have been done. We all had heard of the "Springwood Slasher". I warned Loretta everyday to keep a close eye on our daughter Katherine. I didn't want him to get her, so I made it a point to keep her safe. Then the slasher hit next door. There was a couple with beautiful twin teenage daughters. The parents had gone on a trip, a second honeymoon, and when they got back, they found their daughters raped, and hacked to shreds. There was also a note with the children. That note said that the Slasher would not stop, and they would never trace him down. On the note were 2 initials F.K. Well, worse led to worse, and they started suspecting me.

Not a week after that, I was at work and the police came to search the boilers. Little did I know that they had also searched my home. They claimed that they found the evidence that they needed to implicate me in the murders. While they were searching the power plant, they looked in the boiler room. There in the room were skeletons of kids, right in the boiler. They had been cremated. At that they arrested me. No Miranda rights, no search warrant, nothing. Of course Loretta believed me, that I didn't do it. Well, child services stepped in and took Katherine. Loretta ended up running into the Slasher while I was in the jail awaiting trial. They said that I had done it, they just didn't know how.

Finally, I was granted a lawyer. The lawyer spent weeks pouring over the case. He didn't know how he was going to help me, as all of the evidence pointed at me, then one thing showed up. The "search warrant" had not been signed at the right spot. That made all of the "evidence" inadmissible in court. Because of this, the judge granted me my freedom. Freedom to what, I still don't know, but I was free. I went back to my home, determined to set things right. I was planning on moving, as the crime was to be wiped from my records. That is when I heard them coming.

I looked out my window and saw an angry mob. The citizens of Springwood still thought that I had been the one that butchered their children. I did what any sane man would do, I ran. They followed. I ran to a storage building at the power plant that I worked at. Surely they will not find me here, I thought. Yells and screams of Krueger ripped the air. They HAD found me. I tried to defend myself. I didn't do it I shouted. I was framed. Well, the people didn't believe me. They torched the place, with me in it.

As I was burning, I prayed. I prayed to God, I prayed to the devil, I prayed to anyone that would listen. Someone did, but not who you think. The dream daemons, the ones that control bad dreams, they are the ones that heard me. Please, take the pain away! I begged. They agreed, but on one condition. I was to bring them the tortured spirits of people. Make them scream, make them hurt, make them die, they said. I agreed, and not reluctantly. I wanted revenge.

So I started killing the children of those that burned me. Killing them in their sleep. I HAD become the Springwood Slasher. The one of people's nightmares. Once the revenge had been had, I wanted to stop, but the dream daemons didn't let me. So I kept on. Now, everyone in town takes the Hypnocil. It prevents deep REM sleep, so I can't get to them.

Anyhow, the government came in, claimed it all a conspiracy. Said that the Springwood Slasher was gone, and "wiped" Springwood off the face of the map. Now, very few know of this little place, and people call it by another name. That is how I was able to have your tickets booked. There are certain key words you have to say if you actually want to visit Springwood. Most any other time, you are going to get funny looks and be referenced to the movies.

Cat looked at him startled. "You know about the movies?"

"Why shouldn't I. I am the one that wanted them made. The author of "those movies" once visited Springwood. He heard the stories, I took that as my opportunity to invade his dreams. Write the story, let people know about me. I saw it as a way to collect more for the dream demons. Of course he had to go and make it look like I was a child killer. Pissed me off when he did that. But write the stories he did. The rest is history."

"So, how could you come to me. I mean, I was all the way in Tennessee, nowhere near Springwood."

"Funny thing how dreams work. Your dreams, your pain, it called me. I saw what you were going through, and thought I could monopolize on that, but then..Well, let's just say, I am going to keep the rest of the reason to myself". Cat shuddered, what had she gotten herself into?

Freddy continued "It was sweet taking Alex. Actually sweeter than taking a teen or a child to tell you the truth. I like the fighting, and he had lots of power. The dream daemons don't care about the souls they take, and it makes me so strong."

Cat listened intently, this last statement repulsing her somewhat. Suddenly, she found herself a little closer to Freddy that she would like. He had plied her with wine the whole time she had been listening, so she was a little slow on the uptake. "I can be whatever you want me to be Cat. Whomever as well. Alex's soul made me strong. Strong enough to control many thing."

At this, Freddy's scars were gone, he was handsome, her age, well built, nothing like she thought he would be. Her heart fluttered a bit more. He ran his non-gloved hand through her hair, and roughly pulled her closer.

"Now, tell me that you don't like this". His glove clinked as he put his right hand behind her head, slowly sliding it down to embrace the back of her neck, being careful not to cut her. Leaning closer, he whispered, "Tell me you can resist me."

Gently kissing her at first, then becoming more insistent, he leaned Cat down on the couch and took her breath away.

Cat gasped as Freddy pulled away. Never had she been kissed so thoroughly, so resolutely, so gently, but with some of the force she always liked..but never got with Alex. Her body ached for more, but Freddy , looking her in the eyes, said "Not right now love. I have work to do, and you have children to take care of. Go, find you a job, and a home. I will guarantee that any thing you like, you will have. Stay clear of Elm Street, however, you don't want to live there".

Suddenly, Freddy was gone. Cat was left in the room, warm feelings spread from her chest to her nether regions. She wasn't sure what was going on. Was it love, lust, the need to have someone love her? Suddenly, she was torn from the room, and back to reality. The wake up call was ringing, and she had to get up.

She answered the phone, and when she looked around, she saw a note slipped under the door. On the back, it had her name written on it, and on the flap was the seal of FK.