A/N: Ffff- This one is short. But, I really couldn't come up with much to do on this chapter. I promise to try and make the next chapter longer, okay?

Anyway, remember to leave a review, alright? 'Cause, they make you cool!

Yeah!

Forgotten Innocence

[A Nightmare on Elm Street]

Ch. 11

Sweet Dreams

Fire. As far as the eye could see, fire. Maria was scared. How did this happen? Hot flames licked at her skin, heat radiated off her body. "Help!"

A window broke. Looking over, she could see people. "Hey! Over here!" The mob was yelling, throwing Molotov cocktails and cursing. Two voices stood out. Female.

"...burn, you bastard!"
"...in Hell! Burn!"

Maria was frantic. "Wait! Stop! Please!" The two females had ran out of cocktails, and were now just throwing rocks, breaking windows.

"Die!"

"Please, stop!"

Flames got higher, and the yells were blotted out by sounds of fire cracking.

Maria sat up, nearly screaming. She sighed, and looked at her clock. It was five in the morning. Monday. She had promised to return to work. On the table, next to an alarm clock, a lamp, and a Bible, was a half empty bottle of whiskey and a glass. She had drank all weekend, and her head was spinning.

"Work. Got to go to work." Pulling the sheets off her body, Maria got out of bed to prepare for the long day ahead.

Springwood High was as busy as always. Students filed into the halls, laughing, joking. Some were weepy from friend's deaths. Maria sat in her art class, tapping a pen against her desk. The bell rang, and children filed into the room, talking and smiling. Soon, they slowly realized Maria was sitting at the front of the class.

"Ms. Richards?"

"Hello, class. I hope you had a fun while I was away." Maria teased, as she stood from her desk.

"How is - "

"Not now, Joey. Time for class to start. If you finish your projects before class is over, then we can chat about whatever. Now, what did you and the substitute do?"

The day seemed to wizz by. Maria wondered if it had always been like this. She stretched and stood, and a soft knock came to the door.

"Ms. Richards?"

"Oh, Joey." A female stepped from behind him. "And Veronica. Did you forget something?"

"Um, no." The two students stepped into the room. "We wanted to know if you're okay." Veronica twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. Joey stuck his hands in his pocket.

Maria blinked, then smiled. "Of course I'm alright."

"But, we heard your daughter," Joey thought of how to say it. Veronica bit her lip, then spoke.

"We heard your daughter was in the hospital." Maria winced, slightly.

"I'm fine, Veronica. Now, if that's all, you should be going home."

"But," Joey spoke, once more, "well. We just wanted to know if, you know, if we could go visit her."

Maria frowned. "No, it's alright."

"Well, you haven't been at school all week. We just wanted to be sure you're alright."

"No. That's final. Now, go home." The two students looked at each other, and left. Once they were gone, Maria sat down and cried.

No one is going to see Annabel. No one but me.

Veronica sat down next to Joey, and opened her book.

"You think that was a good idea?"

"What do you mean?" Joey started his car's engine and drove off.

"I mean, did she seem... unstable?" Joey laughed.

"Nah, she'll be fine, Roni." she smiled at his nickname for her.

"I guess you're right, Joey." She went on to read her book, but her mind continued to travel to Maria.