Woohoo! Tenth chapter! Enjoy. This is dedicated to my sister, whose Birthday is today. Love ya, sis.

Chapter 10: Safety

Returning the sweaty phone as calmly as I could back into my mother's ready palm, I asked her in an unwillingly dead tone to leave my room for a few minutes so that I could dress up properly. The last thing I needed now was an inquiry about the harsh marks on my chest that I'm sure would in turn make her worry about me even more.

Rubbing my eyes to make sure that this all just wasn't a dream, I tiredly reached for the worn wooden drawer next to my bed, the contents of which were an assortment of underwear. Picking out whatever came to my hands first, I slipped the garments on without a second thought and reached for the jeans I previously listlessly threw on my computer chair. Pulling open the organic wooden sliding door to my closet, I took out a simple t-shirt, not bothering to see what it had written on it. Grabbing a pair of plain white ankle socks, I headed downstairs to face reality after slipping the pair on.

Mom was standing next to the cheap coffee machine that the back of my mind noted was going to be replaced by the one I would buy as an expensive upgrade as a Christmas present, pouring a cup of Joe into the ivory mug currently rattling in her left hand.

"I think I'll have one of those," I smiled grimly as I grabbed an empty mug proclaiming 'I love you!' hanging above our kitchen sink, holding it out in front of me expectantly. "Somehow I think I'll need it."

Carefully settling her own steaming cup down, Mom nodded her assent as she gently plied the cup out of my hands, hesitating a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking.

"I know this must be hard for you, Christine. I'm sorry that you have to be going through this. Your Dad told me that he had a few questions for you, and wants you to go to the station. A police car will be here shortly. Do that and try to come back as quickly as possible. I'm worried about you, honey." As she handed my mug back, Mom looked momentarily too old for her true age, forty.

On cue, the distant sound of a police siren was heard. I didn't feel the particular need to respond to her statement, so I brought the cup to my lips and welcomed the scalding liquid down my throat. I suspected Mom wasn't waiting for an answer. Putting the cup down momentarily, I put on my familiar pair of sneakers and coat before grabbing the mug again to warm my cold hands.

You know, sometimes I hated the fact that my Dad was a cop. They could call him in at any time, and he'd have to drop everything and go.

Then there were times that I could pride myself in the fact that my Daddy could protect me. I had a hero as a Dad; I was proud to bring him in for show and tell.

Can Daddy protect me now?

The answer was no. Much as I'd love to comfort myself with lies – no, he can't save me this time.

The true question was whether I could save myself. Whether I would want to.

Wait, was I giving up so easily? Nonono, that wouldn't do. Alyssa would have died in vain.

Taking another long sip from the cup, I winced at the hot coffee.

I didn't have the capacity to kill, though. I was born and raised a Catholic. That would go against its most basic premise – respecting and valuing life.

Even if it was that of a psychopathic child murderer?

Ripped from the increasingly disturbing thoughts, my eyes registered Mom opening the door for the policeman standing at our doorstep. Momentarily halting my musings, I got my act together and together with a forced smile and adieu to my Mom, took the proffered arm of the obviously new recruit. I let myself be coaxed into the front passenger's seat and buckled into place after the gentlemen opened the door for me.

Gee, wasn't he nice. Not sparing a second thought, I looked coyly at him through my lashes before smiling winningly at the young man. "Thank you, officer." Satisfied with the faint blush that courted his cheeks before he nodded and fumbled to close the car door, I wryly internally chuckled. Boys will be boys, whether in uniform or not.

My eyes followed his hasty jog in front of the police vehicle, ending in opening his car door smoothly and swiftly. Sliding into his seat, he immediately revved the vehicle up and automatically went to put on his seatbelt.

My mind let itself be quieted for the short while, taking in the officer's actions with a modicum of interest. When he got to driving in silence, it quickly became bored until I heard his uncertain voice break what I'm sure he thought was awkward silence.

"I'm sorry – I'm sorry about –" I cut him off by clearing my throat.

"It's fine. Well, not really, but what can you or I do now?" With that, the silence crept back between us as he deftly wove through the small amount of traffic in the roads.

It's better for both of us if you keep your eyes on the road, buddy.

Speaking of which… "Hey, can you do me a favor? I know that we're only a few blocks from the police department, but can you make sure I don't nod off in here? I'd hate to be grumpy or groggy when we get there."

The officer looked over at me with a kind smile and I really took in his attractive young features. Beautiful deep blue eyes that just begged for you to trust them, a dignified nose, high cheekbones coupled with a set of full lips and little dimples on each side. Being a police officer suited him, I could tell.

"Sure thing, Ms. Dawson." Quirking my eyebrow at the formality, I allowed myself a chuckle and told him to call me Christine or risk making me feel old.

Sighing as I looked back out the window as we whizzed by a multitude of housing structures, I rested my forehead against the cool plane, immediately feeling the soothing effect it had on my hot forehead. Funny, I didn't notice that I was a bit feverish.

I allowed myself to follow the train of thought that I somehow didn't quite leave behind at home, letting my eyes close briefly. I was near the police station, nothing to worry about here.

Poor Alyssa. I can't believe he killed her. She had numerous years of life ahead of her.

And she was killed because of what? The fleeting fancy of a murderer?

The message scrawled on her body…that puzzled me. Was it meant to scare me? Well, obviously. But something told me that he meant to tease. I couldn't be sure.

But damn, did he have to kill my best friend? One of the only two true friends that I could count on? That was harsh and vindictive. He did it to strike a chord within me, and he succeeded. Who's next? My parents? Mike?

I don't think I could mentally take it if he took either or both away from me.

When I would one day thing back to this exact mental deliberation, I didn't know how true it would eventually ring.

"Christine." A voice sensually whispered my name, and it didn't take me long to figure out that I did in fact slip into slumber. I wonder what kept him from doing anything but sitting there as the policeman as I mused.

Feeling a vague hint of the dig of his claw on my back, I steeled myself before turning around to meet his familiar figure. There he was, eyes on the road, driving with only his left hand and his claw still on my back.

"Freddy." I breathed his name, tiredness overwhelming me more than anything else. It didn't keep the anger from surfacing, however. "Why?"

I saw his lips twitch upwards, morphing the flesh of his burnt face in decidedly interesting ways, my mind distantly noted. It was funny how the burn marks looked so fresh, so long after the punishment was dealt…

Honestly, I knew he was either going to not answer my question or make up a lie. Freddy decided with the former, opting for silence as he trailed his right hand to my shoulder, languidly drawing circles on my pea coat with the tips of his blades.

"Christine?" I felt myself being jolted. My eyes flew open to realize I was still resting against the window. Turning around to face the officer, I noticed that he had a worried look. "I'm sorry that I let you fall asleep. I was distracted by the road until you muttered 'Freddy'."

A wave of dread washed through me; I'm glad the officer woke me up when he did. Who knows what Freddy might've done? Or what I might've said…

"It's alright. I'm not mad." Not terribly, at least. I flashed him an assuring smile and the man visibly relaxed before returning it.

"We're here. Let me get the door for you, and I'll take you to your father. He's waiting for you inside."

Releasing myself from the seatbelt, I let myself be led inside the heavily guarded fortress known as the Springwood Police Station with thoughts of Freddy clouding my mind.