SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

The Master Of Horror (Ch 1): Thanks. Catch ya on the flip side.

Darkness Takes Over (Ch 6): Thanks. I was hopin' I was doin' him right. Yeah, I like him too.

DISCLAIMER

Okay, I just realized I made an inconsistency. I mentioned the Dream Master and the rhyme, and then said I wasn't doin' the gateway angle. However, I do plan on using the rhyme, just in a different way. I apologize for any confusion. I'm not sure about all of Will's personality, but he seemed like the type who'd be a whiz kid. Part of the Dream Master rhyme is the same, but the rest is different.

The next morning, Joey, Kristen, Kincaid, Rick, Alice, Debbie, and Sheila met in class before the bell even rang.

"Where's Dan?" Debbie wondered.

"He's probably just running late," Sheila answered. Joey looked at Alice, who was chewing her bottom lip.

"Hey, you all right?" he questioned.

"It's just--it's a lot," she stammered.

"I don't blame you," he said. "But hey, we've explained how the Dream World works, and you seem to have some knowledge about it. Now all we gotta do is figure out what your dream power is," he continued, giving her a half hug. Alice bit her lip harder to keep from squealing with joy. He was touching her! Joey Crusel was actually touching her! Joey, however, seemed oblivious to efforts, and soon released her. Alice smiled, feeling her heart drop.

"I don't know, you guys. Do you really think we can beat him?" Debbie wondered.

"We have before," Joey answered.

"Yeah, we kicked his ass all over Dreamland," Kincaid bragged.

"Don't get cocky," Kristen cautioned. Rick watched as Kincaid became somewhat sheepish.

"Sorry, Kris," he apologized.

"It's okay," she told him. Rick let out a soft scoff. He couldn't believe how Joey and Kincaid--outsiders to the Springwood High social scene--could actually be friends with Kristen. They were bad news. And yet…they seemed to be willing to help her with that Krueger freak she kept talking about. Then, Debbie noticed what Sheila was holding.

"What is that?" she wondered.

"Well, I know you're afraid of bugs and--" her explanation was cut off by a scream by her friend.

"Ew! How'd that get in here?" Joey questioned. Debbie scrambled onto the desk and stood still. Sheila took the device, pointed it at the cockroach, and pressed a button. The insect scurried off.

"What was that?" Rick wondered.

"Ultrahigh sound waves," Sheila answered as Kincaid helped Debbie down.

"All right," Joey approved. That sounds like something Will would've thought of, he thought to himself.

"Very cool," Kincaid added. Man, Will would've loved to meet her, he thought to himself. As well as being a Wizard Master addict, the kid had been extremely bright.

"Thanks, Sheila," Debbie stated.

"No problem, Deb," Sheila answered. Before they could say anymore, the bell rang and they all sat down as the teacher came in. Then, he began teaching. At first, the kids were disinterested, but when they heard mention of dream walking and a Dream Master, Kristen, Joey, Kincaid, Rick, Alice, and Sheila all leaned forward. Presently, Alice raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Johnson?" the teacher asked.

"Isn't there a rhyme about a Dream Master?" Alice queried.

"That's correct," the teacher confirmed. Kristen, Joey, and Kincaid leaned forward.

"Well, how does it go?" Joey wondered.

"Oh, let's see: 'Now I lay me down to sleep, the Master of my Dreams my soul will keep. From our nightmares, evil thrives, and pleasures itself with taking lives. But one has prepared the way and taught others to keep the nightmares at bay. Out of dreams, a group will rise, and there within our hope lies," the teacher recited.

"What does that mean?" a boy asked.

"Honestly, I've got no clue," the teacher admitted. As he went on, Debbie found herself nodding off. She opened her eyes as the teacher continued talking. She turned to her seatmate.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she chided.

"Why would I do that?" the boy asked.

"So I don't miss anything," Debbie answered.

"Oh, yes. That would be a shame," the boy said. "All you have to do is remember the rhyme: 'From our nightmares, evil thrives, and pleasures itself with taking lives," the boy quoted.

"I don't like that rhyme. It's creepy," Debbie commented. She started to get up, but was trapped in by a small wooden plank. The boy chuckled.

"Really? Well, I love the rhyme!" he grinned. Debbie screamed as the boy turned into a burned man with a brown fedora, a red-and-green sweater, and a gloved razor with four knives. He chuckled.

"Yeah, squirm," Krueger encouraged a struggling Debbie. Debbie whimpered and tried to get away, but to no avail. He laughed and waved her chair forward with a flick of his wrist. Debbie whimpered.

"Please, please," she begged. Krueger just continued laughing. Debbie screamed and sobbed as the chair was telekenetically lifted into the air. Her eyes widened. She flew through the air and out a window. Alice screamed.

"Debbie!" Rick cried. The teacher stammered, and then fainted.

"This is getting out of control! He's getting stronger!" Joey exclaimed fearful, jumping up.

"Joey, calm down," Kristen warned.

"No, you were right. He's coming back for us," Joey stated.

"Joey," Kincaid said.

"Don't--don't you see? He's--he's killing our friends to get to us," Joey pointed out.

"Come on, man. Don't lose it now. We're still a team," Kincaid reminded, also standing up.

"NO! I can't let this happen again!" Joey shouted.

"'Again'?" Kristen echoed, standing up as well. "Joey, what are you talking about?" she questioned.

"It was right before I went to Westin Hills--Mom and Dad, they were making us take sleeping pills, and I didn't want to anymore," Joey told them.

"Joey, what happened?" Alice questioned, walking up to him.

"No, forget it. I--I--" Joey stammered, running his fingers through his hair.

"Joey, we're a team. We need you to be straight with us," Kristen stated.

"Kris, you don't understand. It's all my fault--me, mine!" Joey shouted.

"What? What's your fault, man?" Rick wondered, as he and the others walked up to their friend.

"I--I begged Bobby to take my pill. I begged him. So he did. And then Krueger came," Joey told them.

"Oh, Joey," Alice sympathized, putting a hand on his cheek.

"Don't you see? It was all my fault. I did it. I got my brother killed," Joey revealed.