Notes: Dun-dun-dun-duuuuuhh!!! Nothing to say cept that I've sat here all night and I finished this damn story! Yay me!

-Riley

Chapter Twenty-Four:

The Darkest Hour

As she fell deeper into the fissure of darkness, Ellie wondered how she should attack Freddy next. The thoughts of watching the people she loved die only built up frustration inside of her. The howls of Freddy faded the farther she fell, she wondered if she would ever hit the bottom. He succeeded in creating a cataclysm of hell for her. Everything was crumbling, she didn't know whether or not she would even survive the ordeal. But she knew she would fight until she was dead, it was the least she could do to avenge her parents and everyone else who had suffered.

The darkness engulfed her small body taking her further into the nightmare realm. She could no longer hear Freddy but instead a new wave of agony spoke through the blackness, they were the lost souls of his victims. She felt arms and hands touch her, grab and yank at her, though she could see nothing but the obscurity. They wanted her, they could sense her mortality and craved to feast on it. Ellie squirmed as she tried to fight them off. The sensation of falling was lost, now she just seemed stuck in a pit of miserable souls. Anxiety began to stride, as she fought off the deprived victims. The shadows were swallowing her, suffocating her, taking her away from any light. She regretted her ploy to lure Freddy into a final brawl, he would soon have her soul too.

Gagging for air, Ellie could no longer tell if these souls were grabbing her independently or if they had formed a monstrous entity that was consuming her. She let out whimpers and moans, but couldn't fight them off. When a jolt of electrocution shocked her and pulled her farther into the pit, she was sure she was forever doomed.

It's about time we met Ellie…

Ellie heard the angelic voice, for the first time she didn't feel scared, she felt safe. Unsure of where she had been taken too, she blinked several times to try to rid of the darkness. Finally a fulsome figure stood before her, a young woman she had never seen before. Despite this, she knew she had reached a safe haven.

"Who are you?" Her voice sounded distant and vague.

The woman stood about the same height as Kate, only she was a lustrous brunette with a bold white streak that resembled some body that was beyond living. Holding out her hand, the woman took a step back, illuminating everything around her as she walked. Ellie stood meekly and followed the light trail she was leaving.

With a soft ricocheting tone the woman stated, "I've been waiting for years to finally stop him. Together you and I can both defeat Freddy. And maybe I'll finally be able to move on."

"Are you a guardian?"

"You could say that. But I am only temporary. Soon though, I'll pass on, and it'll be up to you to continue the duties."

Ellie sighed, "I don't want these powers. I want everything to be normal. Before any of the killings ever happened! Before Danny died, before anyone got hurt!"

The woman stopped, looking down at Ellie with the utmost empathy, "If such a thing was possible. My life would have been completely different too. But there is a reason why you and I are here to fight Freddy. He's a demon of nightmares and we are the angels of dreams."

Ellie contemplated.

The woman continued to drift farther away, Ellie picked up the pace, asking, "Where are you taking me?"

She briefly stopped to give the little girl a quick glance, "You know where we're going."

Ellie's lungs tightened, "I'm ready."

"I know you are."

"Can I just ask what your name is?"

"Nancy."

She hesitated to ask, but the girl insisted, "Nancy, how did you die?"

It didn't take long to find the scent of three fearful humans. The demons trounced around the hellish boiler room in desperation to find the surviving humans. One of them had pulled their prey away, a fury rose within each of the demons. Snarling at the humans' scent, each creature fought to reach the front of the mass just so they could taste the blood first. The humanity that ever existed disappeared the longer they ran, as more alien features sprung from their bodies. Unearthly screams uttered from their mouths, they ran faster than a normal human ever could. They were beyond a zombie, the animation in their movement was fiercely terrifying. As they searched in a horrific shadow gathering, the sounds of the humans were getting closer and more distinct.

Kristen couldn't focus on keeping track of where Ellie might have disappeared too. When she pulled Kate into her dream she recoiled in pain from the influences of Freddy and the Dream Legion. They were searching for her, Kate, and Dr. Gordon, all they could do is run as fast as they could. This proved difficult especially for Kate who was delusional as well as injured, but they couldn't abandon her.

They slowed down, on a grated ramp that looked down into the maze of the boiler room. Dr. Gordon held Kate close, checking her stability. She was losing consciousness again and her breathing sounded incredibly painful. He looked at Kristen and stated, "We can't run anymore."

Kristen caught her own breath, gasping, "Give me a minute…maybe I can find Ellie…"

"We don't have time." Dr. Gordon argued, stewing in thought as to how to find a way out or closer to the girl. As the pair weighed their limited options Kate let out a suppressed cry. She shook, looking outside of where they were into an unseen force.

"Take me to her." She muttered.

Kristen and Dr. Gordon stared at her, wondering what she was looking at. Kate's face was drained of blood yet somehow whatever she was looking at seemed to turn her even paler.

"Kate?"

She shifted, gaining strength to stop leaning against Dr. Gordon and crawl towards the invisible force. Her eyes dilated, losing and gain focus as she tried to reach out to whatever she saw. Finally Kate stated solidly, "I have to help Ellie."

"Do you know where she is?"

She nodded frantically, "Neither of you can come…keep running…wake up…"

"We can't leave you and Ellie by yourselves Kate. You're hurt!" Neil insisted.

This isn't between me and you fucks. I just want her…

The image that Kate had seen suddenly appeared, the walls vibrated violently as a morbid apparition of Freddy's face forced through the concrete. He was scowling at them, sending horrific fear into each of their eyes.

"I want Ellie." Kate whispered, indifferent to Freddy's menacing appearance. Kristen reached out for Kate, "We're going with you!"

Freddy lurched through the wall screaming a full force, "The fuck you are bitch!"

His eyes were bloodshot red filled with hatred and terror. A silver force resembling his razors shot forward wrapping around Kristen's face leaving her no time to let out a scream or reaction. Kate drew closer to Freddy as he struggled to murder Kristen. In a panic Dr. Gordon scrimmaged for a weapon, seizing a broken metal fragment from the floor and taking a stab at the silver substance. Freddy withdrew, absorbing Kate into the wall as Kristen fell to the ground cringing in pain.

Those pretty blues aren't gonna see anything anymore whore.

"Kristen!" Dr. Gordon shouted. She shuddered, weeping and shivering. He knelt beside her and turned her face towards him, the sight shocked him.

"My eyes…I can't see…" She gasped, raising her hands blindly while her eyes cried red streaks.

"I'll get you out of here Kristen."

"Freddy…he-he…"

"We can't intrude anymore, it's up to Ellie."

Kristen let out a painful cry, "Neil…what about the Dream Legion?"

Her question was met with an inhumane shriek that seemed to be erupting right around the corner. They could smell Kristen's blood, it was a matter of time before they were found.

She heard him screaming her name, "E-L-L-I-E! Come face me you fucking brat!"

Never before had Nancy heard anger in Freddy's voice quite like this. She was frozen from just hearing him rant as dangerously as he was. Ellie stopped behind her, afraid to take any steps farther.

"Nancy…"

"We have to kill him now."

They had voyaged into a cavern filled with malicious stalagmites and fire infested pits. They had entered the center of Freddy Krueger's hell, to the sight of corpses and skeletons tossed in piles from left to right. The ceiling trembled every time Freddy shouted, as shadows dropped from the sky, revealing different dream demons that had been searching for the humans. When Freddy began to howl for his minions, they had to retreat. A disappointment as they were about to gorge on the bodies of Kristen and Dr. Gordon. However, they lurked around the cavern, smiling wickedly at Nancy and Ellie, knowing that their main course had just upgraded.

"Ellie, hold my hand." Nancy instructed. The little girl did not disobey as she held the hand of the spirit, immediately enticed by a light force.

"We're here Mr. Krueger." The spirit woman taunted.

Freddy had not seen Nancy in his realm for years, the sight of her surprised him. Though like finding Harry Scader at the end of his blade, this surprise was equally as gratifying. He grinned, "Nancy. It's been too long."

"I'm not here to talk."

"I understand. I'll just take the girl and you can go back into hiding."

Nancy hissed, "Piss off."

"I don't think so." Freddy warned, revealing from the shadows the weakening body of Kate. Ellie yelled in panic, "What did you do to her?"

"She's fine Piglet, but the longer you resist, the faster I rip her intestines out." He said, standing taller than either of them. From the glow of the fire his scowl revealed something worse than a man, he looked evil, a devil in a sweater so to speak. They were facing something definitely worse than anything Freddy had ever offered before.

"Come here Piggy."

Ellie began to walk forward, Nancy insisted, "Don't listen to him Elle. He's going to hurt you."

She stared back at Nancy, shuddering, "I can't…I can't let him kill her. He's killed so many already."

"Ellie no!"

One of the demons took a chance to wrap around Ellie and viciously force her towards Freddy. Nancy stood her ground and yelled, "I won't let you take her Krueger!"

The aura around her expanded, she released her anger causing the light to exploded across the cavern, illuminating the entire grotto. As the light shattered across the room, the demons were caught in midfire, shrieking in agony as they imploded releasing the girl. The light reached Kate and Freddy, knocking both of them over. Kate however seemed to be rejuvenated by the light while it only damaged Freddy.

"Ellie!" Kate screamed, scampering to her feet to reach the girl. Freddy reassembled, letting out a hideous cry as his arms shot forward, expanding to snatch Ellie and Kate.

"Leave them alone!" Nancy shouted, releasing another round of her energy. Ellie only focused on reaching Kate, though her legs felt as though she was running through tar being impossible to ever reach her. As the blast from Nancy's impact and Freddy's rampaging attack, she collided with her adopted mother, the two fell onto the ground as the two forces united.

Hiding in the arms of her mother, Ellie buried herself, trying to find solace in the chaos.

She opened her eyes, looking around. Nancy was gone. Freddy was too. Only Kate was there still embracing her. They both looked at each other than at their surroundings. Once again they found themselves in the Elm Street house. The maze of the boiler room was gone, Freddy's hideaway was gone, the demons were gone, and so was he.

"Nancy did it." Ellie whispered. Kate brushed her face, staring lovingly into her daughter's eyes. She replied, "She did her job. She protected us."

"I guess so." The girl nodded.

Kate held her momentarily, as they both began to cry silently in each other's arms. After a moment, Kate cleared her throat, and quietly said, "Let's go home."

Through the windows the morning lights were calmly lighting the interior of the house. The haunting atmosphere seemed to have perished with Freddy. The pair stood up slowly. Ellie said, "Do you hear that?"

Kate looked down at her, stroking her hair, "What?"

The front door creaked open, the two braced themselves momentarily. When Harry walked through the door, smiling grandly at his family, Ellie felt her knees buckle.

"Harry!" Kate cried, beginning to run towards him. The pair embraced gently, sharing a smooth kiss too. Sweetly he said, "It's over. Freddy's dead."

"So are you." Ellie darkly replied.

Kate released from him, baffled by her comment, "Dead?"

Harry shook his head, "Ellie, I told you I'd be ok. I'm alright, honestly."

Ellie took Kate by the hand, "Get away from him Kate. He's a faker."

"Ellie, what do you mean?"

Harry began to insist, "You're just scared from everything that happened kid. It's me, really."

Ellie stood there for a moment, trying to decide whether or not he was lying. Kate refused to move from where she was. Her mind had been teased and tricked before, she wasn't sure what to believe anymore. Even as Ellie stepped closer to Harry, she didn't seem to ease up. The tension in the house was strong, Kate's nightmare seemed to never end. Harry bent down to hug Ellie, his smile was enduring and gentle. Ellie returned the smile.

Though it changed when she said, "I'm sorry I have to do this Kate."

Ellie clenched her nails into Harry's face and proceeded to tear at him sadistically. Kate let out a scream, ordering Ellie to stop until she realized that Harry's face was in fact coming off like latex.

"Oh my god…"

Harry muttered, "You bitches think it's so easy to kill old Fred."

"Kate run!" Ellie screamed, focusing again on Freddy. She said, "You're a liar! You're a horrible liar!"

"I'm not leaving until you two are dead." Freddy coldly stated. Ellie shook her head, "No. Never again."

Ellie's eyes flicked, suddenly Freddy's blades tore through Harry's flesh revealing his original outfit. Kate let out a cry, "Dammit no!"

"I won't let you hurt anyone else. Never. Again!" Ellie screamed, causing the entire house to shake in tremors, the staircase crumbling to debris as the windows shattered inwards. In a monstrous animation, the house screeched as though it was alive. Freddy stood over Ellie ready to rip her apart. However Ellie gained the element, "Die Freddy. Die! Die! Die!"

The glass rose in layers, suddenly spiking towards her grandfather. In several instances he was impaled as the house began to attack Freddy from the ceilings to the floors. Freddy screamed, shocked at Ellie's wrath and the sudden impact.

"Everyone come play with Freddy!"Ellie cried, as her hands orchestrated his malicious demise. Out of the walls and floorboards the miserable souls of Freddy's victims came shrieking into his body, eating his own miserable soul inside out.

"Never. Again." Ellie repeated watching her grandfather get ripped apart limb by limb. Freddy's screams echoed through the halls. Ellie concentration was strong, her head throbbed terribly as she began to convulse from the intensity of the scene. Blood shivered down her nose as she repeated over and over, "Never again! Never again! NEVER AGAIN!"

The house itself began to shutter. The floorboards began to break around her, the fixtures of the house began to tear from the walls and ceilings, crumbling around her and Freddy. He was dying, horribly and wretchedly. Kate forced herself around the failing house, taking Ellie by the arms and pulling her into the corner. Ellie continued to convulse, but managed to utter, "Get out Kate…I need to go out with him…"

"Never." Kate insisted, "I'll never leave you."

"Ellie!" Freddy cried, reaching his arm out to grab her, however Kate clenched her hand on his. She could feel blood and bones writhing through his sweater, she was sickened by the feeling. But she firmly grabbed, saying, "We'll stop him together Elle. Hold on."

Ellie placed her hands over Kate's, as blood continued to drain from her nose. Kate whispered, "I love you Ellie."

"I love you too Kate." She nodded, feeling the heat seethe through her veins. She could feel Freddy in her system, dying miserably as her love and Kate's boiled through his blood. Freddy screams only lasted for so long. They held on, waiting for him to die, as the house fell around them. Along with Freddy's death, so did the Elm Street house fall. As he died, Ellie's convulsions stopped, leaving her slummed in Kate's arms. Standing up with the girl in her hand, Kate struggled to get out of the house. The morning was here. Staggering to the front yard, Kate's legs gave out as she tumbled to the ground.

The police found both of them lying in the grass sleeping. What was left of the Elm Street house were the numbers of 1428 hanging on the wrecked door. Once an officer took a step up to the front door, the numbers fell down.

Though she was unconscious, Ellie smiled.