DISCLAIMER
Belongs to Wes Craven, New Line Cinema, and NBC. I only own characters you don't recognize and the plot. I had forgotten that Zack had Dewey's class as well when I wrote the last chap, so this chap fixes that. I don't remember if the uncle was on Screech's mom or dad's side, so I'm just makin' something up. I use the background info on Krueger from NOES 1.
After the discovery, the police were called and the students were released from their classes.
"What happened?" Deke wondered.
"Nerdstrom fell asleep in Dewey's class, and never woke up," Zack answered.
"Was it--" Cheryl made her right hand into a claw and made a swiping motion. Zack pulled Cheryl and Deke aside.
"Yeah. But it was weird. He didn't even make a sound. We didn't even know anything had happened until the end of class," he whispered.
"That means Krueger must've taken his voice," Deke theorized softly.
"Yeah, he really did a number on him. There was so much blood, man," Zack responded.
"I guess this means we have to up the ante. You know, go on the offensive," Cheryl surmised.
"And we don't leave each other alone," Zack added.
"What about Jessie and Screech? Are they gonna help?" Deke queried.
"Jessie's still undecided and Screech said he was gonna go to his uncle's dude ranch," Zack answered.
"That's a good idea. Get out of Elm Street," Cheryl approved.
"Yeah," Zack said even more softly.
"Hey, you all right, Sonic?" Deke questioned, noting the change in his friend's demeanor.
"Yeah. Yeah, you know me, man," Zack answered.
"That's right. We do know you," Deke insisted. "So, what's wrong? You worried about Krueger?" he queried.
"No, not really. It's just--" Zack's voice faltered.
"Yeah, I getcha," Deke said. Zack blew out a breath. He didn't want to admit it, but he was worried. Things weren't making sense. Nerdstrom wasn't one of them. He didn't live where they did. He just--he didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure if he could handle facing Krueger again.
"All right, Sonic. Level," Deke commanded.
"I think he's gotten stronger," Zack stated.
"What?" Deke and Cheryl chorused.
"Nerdstrom didn't live on Elm Street. Krueger shouldn't have been able to get to him," Zack told them.
"He's right. His powers are usually limited to Elm Street," Deke agreed.
"I must've missed something in my patrols," Cheryl realized.
"Hey, Little Sister, this wasn't your fault," Zack assured.
"Yeah, there's no way you could've known he was in some other kid's dream," Deke agreed.
"But it's my job to patrol the dream world--" Cheryl began to say.
"It's our job," Zack corrected. "We all have to survive and fight. We're a team, remember?" he continued.
"Yeah, that's right. No way are we gonna leave you alone," Deke agreed. Before any of them continued, the PA system crackled to life.
"Attention students, due to the horrible incident in Mr. Dewey's math class, I encourage you all to go home. And please…be safe," Principal Richard Belding told them.
"Well, I guess that's that," Zack sighed. "Come on, Little Sister. I'll take you home," he continued.
"And I'll follow you guys," Deke added.
"But my car--" Cheryl began to object.
"I'll hook it up to mine," Deke interrupted. "Now, come on. Let's go," he stated. With that, they walked to the parking lot, and to their cars. Zack helped Cheryl into her car as Deke connected his car and hers. Then, they all headed away. Minutes later, Slater, Jessie, Lisa had decided to meet up at the Max. Screech, meanwhile decided to go home, where he immediately began packing. His parents came in.
"Samuel, what are you doing?" his mother, Roberta Powers, wondered.
"I'm getting out of here. I can't stay," Screech answered.
"What are you talking about, son?" Mark Powers asked.
"I've been having bad dreams…about Fred Krueger," Screech answered. His parents inhaled sharply.
"Krueger?" they chorused.
"Yeah. I think I'll be safer that way," Screech responded.
"Samuel, you're absolutely right," Mrs. Powers agreed. She helped her son pack as her husband called his brother and made arrangements. At the Max, Slater, Jessie, Zack, Kelly, Deke, Lisa, and Cheryl sat at a booth, talking quietly.
"So, what's the deal with this Krueger guy anyway?" Slater wondered.
"He was a freak who murdered a bunch of kids on our street when we were little," Zack answered. "He got, caught arrested, and then released because of some stupid technicality," he continued.
"Our parents didn't like that, so they followed him to his boiler room, lit up, and watched it burn," Jessie added.
"So, he'd dead. What's the big deal?" Slater pressed.
"That's the point, Slater! He's not dead! He's come back for us again. And I don't know if we can stop him this time," Zack exclaimed emotionally.
"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down, Sonic. We can take him," Deke assured.
"Yeah, we're a team," Cheryl agreed, reaching out to take Zack's hand.
"I don't know, you guys. I mean, the fact that he got out of Elm Street--that means he's stronger. Can we really take him?" he questioned. Cheryl and Deke looked at each other. He had a point. Krueger's power was usually restricted to Elm Street.
"He got out of Elm Street?" Jessie questioned.
"Scary thought," Lisa commented. The group stared at each other. Zack continued to hold Cheryl's hand. Deke put his hand on top of theirs and the other two smiled at him. Lisa, Slater, and Jessie stared at each other, feeling better that they had help, but still felt separated by the trio.
