A/note:
The chapters are being merged into large chapters.
Chapter 3: Loneliness
Peering around the rim of her room door, Katherine study the corridor. Trying to discern if anyone was approaching the patients' bedrooms. Her head titled to the left as she strained to hear any footsteps. There was nothing but silence. She scurried back towards her bed and knelt down to grab her grip bag. Her right hand squeezed in between the zip to rummage for her purse. Thankfully the nurse who had brought it to Westin Hills has the decency to place it inside. She shook it eagerly and heard the faint clatter of coins jangling against each other.
A smile broke out on her face as she trotted back to the door and with one last vigilant glance she ventured out of her room. The rules weren't really explained to her, were they? She wasn't informed that she wasn't allowed to leave her room or even go to one of the vending machines she had caught a glimpse of near the entrance to the ward. She wanted a something nice and refreshing, maybe some water or a Pepsi.
Coming to a door about thirty feet down past several more rooms she froze. It had the same black security box that Nurse Andrews had swiped opened the previous morning with her security card. She never noticed it when she was being brought to her room last night. Maybe because the door was wide opened and there was no need for the orderly to unlock it. Reaching out with her right hand she grabbed the handled and yanked at it hard. The door rattled within the frame but wouldn't open.
"You trying to escape?"
Katherine twirled around to face Max. He offered her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, if I startled you" he glanced at his watch. "You're up early. It's only 6.30am"
"I wanted something to drink. I'm thirsty" she replied casually, "Do you usually start this early?"
"It depends. My shift varies from week to week. I'm on from 6am to 6pm today" Max walked by her towards the door, then in one swipe with his own card he unlocked the door. "I'm off tomorrow though"
She shifted uneasily on her feet as he pried opened the door for her. "What are you doing?"
"Do you not want a drink? I'll take you down to one of the vending machines. But don't tell anyone, they'll think I'm giving you special treatment because you're new here" he gave a friendly wink in her direction.
Slowly, a warm smile made its way across her face as she let out a light-hearted chuckle. "Thanks. Don't tell Simms"
"Believe me I won't" he began as he closed the door behind them, "I don't want another ass chewing from her"
The smile remained on her face as the meandered down the corridor then took a left into the next one. At the far end was a water dispenser and facing it was a large soda vending machine. She stopped and slid out several quarters into her quivering right hand, then slowly slotted them in the grove. Pressing the button for 'Pepsi' she waited for the machine to dispense the bottle.
Max waited patiently at her side, "So, do you want to talk?"
"Talk?" she unscrewed the top of her beverage. "What about?"
"Anything you want" he gestured for her to follow back down towards the corridor then came from. "You're originally from Springwood, yes?"
"Yeah, I was born here" she nodded sheepishly. Her somnolent gaze lifted glanced at his face as he glanced at her intently. "Do you know who I am?"
He threw her a bemused look. "I'm not sure what you mean"
"Who my father is. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough" she replied dryly. "He wasn't very popular in the town"
He again opened the security door for her. "I know who your father is. What he did" the tone of his voice was of disdain, disgust.
Katherine halted at her room and shied away from him nervously. Maybe this was a bad idea. "I'm not sure why you would want to be anywhere near me. Seeing as I'm the daughter of a paedophile and child murderer. I'm sure you're thinking that I'm just as fucked up as my father-"
"Woah, hold on! I'm not thinking that at all!" he objected. "I just want you to know that if you want to talk about anything, like if you feel upset or angry. Deep down if you feel that you can't talk Dr Simms or any of the other doctors about anything, then I'm here. You can talk to me"
She held back a laugh of disbelief. "What? Why? Do you want to be a counsellor yourself or something?"
The corner of his lips curled up in a grin. "Actually yes. I'm hoping to go to college in the next few years. That's why I've being taking extra work shifts in here. College fees are quite expensive"
"Oh, right. How old are you?"
"Twenty-four" he glanced quickly at his watch. Checking the time. When his gaze went back to her face, he saw that she was staring grimly at her left arm, specifically at her wrist. "They'll disappear soon. The stitches"
"I think…" her voice fizzled out. She wanted to give an explanation why she tried to kill herself. But the reason behind her suicide attempt was unsure, fuzzy. Why would she kill herself?
Chewing her lips musingly she let her thoughts and emotions take over her. There were these deep, intense sensations of loneliness, unhappiness burning inside of her. Hurting her spirit. Could she have done it because she had this sense of abandonment?
No, was it more than that?
It was due to her missing someone…
Missing her father.
As she said to her father in the dream hours before, she had missed him tremendously in the last eight years. It was like part of her soul was missing, she was incomplete. Oh, she had her friends Michael, Lauren….and the others. But the time spent with them was never enough, was it? There were numerous times when she felt depressed throughout the last several years. At the time she believed it was due to what had happened to her as a child, that it was playing on her mind. The emotional and psychological abuse. The way he had touched her as a little girl.
But that was never the case, the true reason why she was crestfallen was because she missed him.
Now that she was back in Springwood and discovering the fact that he was dead, burnt alive, had that depression deepened? Eaten away at her psyche until she finally caved in, snapped and tried to take her life?
Was the real reason why she tried to kill herself was because she wanted to be with her father? That she had missed him? Maybe she wanted to die, to perhaps in some way be with him in that twisted dream world.
If though he had the capability, the power to do that.
Perhaps he did.
When she had first found out she would be coming back to this town back in May, she had considered and pondered deeply about contacting him in whatever jail he was in. That was before the truth was exposed to her.
Was solitude a factor in it all? The need of wanting to be with her father the reason for her drastic course of action that led her to be locked up in here? That was the only rational explanation for her hasty course of action.
"Are you okay?" Max's kind, soft voice cut through her musings like a knife.
Shaking herself she craned her face back to his and gave a weak sombre smile. "Not really. I just feel a little depressed. I'm going to lie down for half an hour"
"No problem" he stepped aside, "Remember, I'm here if you want to talk"
She gave a slow meek nod and entered her room, leaving the door slightly ajar as she dejectedly walked to her bed. Emotions collided and crashed together. Heartache, sadness, anger, frustration.
A stream of tears began to stroll down her flushed red cheeks and with a stifled sob she buried her face into the pillow and let her grief pour out. It wasn't long until she had drifted to sleep…
Darkness slowly washed over the room, as a figure appeared at the left side of her bed. Freddy stared absorbedly down at her as her haggard, soft sobs resonated in the room. The corner of his charred lips curled downwards. This was unexpected. It never crossed his mind that she would fall asleep again this morning and why the fuck was she in this state? Sobbing like a frightened little girl?
Had something happened to her in the waking world?
Leaning his slim body forward the cool tips of his blades glided effortlessly along her locks, pushing them away from her ashen face. Soon she began to stir, sniffling quietly as her eyes fluttered opened to stare at him. As if a surge of energy electrocuted through her body she sprang up to a sitting position, surprised and delighted that he was at her side. Her mouth dropped opened as she tried to muster words together. "I-I…"
He cupped her chin with his blemished hand. "What is it baby girl?"
In one swoop her right hand recoiled around his, entangling her fingers with his. Tightening her grip on his flesh. Not daring to let go. The frown never disappeared on Freddy's face as he crouched down to face her. Delicately his claw slithered around the back of her head, trying to distinguish her thoughts. But they were cluttered and disjointed. What was going on with her? Oh, he could tell from the frantic breathing, the soft weeping that she terrified. But there was something else.
She shivered and took a long, shaky deep breath to compose herself. Her eyes pleaded with him. "Daddy…. would you lie with me? Please?"
A clandestine grin spread across his lips. This certainly was unanticipated. He gently rubbed her chin with the leather thumb of his claw and gave a curt nod.
For a brief moment a pleased smirk played at her lips as she scurried across to the far edge of the single bed, allowing him to sit on the other edge. She discreetly tugged at his hand, as if she was demanding him to lie down. He noticed this and titled his head to the side, studying her closely. Though he never moved an inch. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of annoyance flickering in them at his lack of response, and she yanked at his hand again.
He licked his lips deftly and climbed fully upon the bed, to press his upper body against the headboard. She didn't waste any more time in nestling her head against his chest and wrapped her right arm around his waist tightly. Craning his head down towards her he saw that her fingers were digging into the fabric of his frayed jumper, a little too eagerly than she would normally do.
It was a little possessive in her stance towards him. Something that was unlike her.
A muffled mumbled trembled from her lips as she slowly drifted into a serene sleep. After a few more minutes Freddy found his voice, directing his question to the demon's shadows that were congregated in the corner of the room watching the scene before them. "What's wrong with her?" his blades swathed around the back of her head as he caressed her tresses tenderly. "She never acts this way around me. Not since she's been back in Springwood"
She has been thinking about why she tried to kill herself and she believes she has come up with an explanation behind her actions.
Freddy gave a quiet 'mmm' in response. His attention was drawn to her sleeping visage again as she absently snuggled against his slim body again. Shifting his body on the mattress he entwined his left leg over hers, pinning the lower half of her body against him on the bed and with a sly grin he stooped to kiss her lips quickly. "I'll ask her tonight when she is in a more talkative mood" he paused as he tried in vain to read her emotions. To his disgust it seemed that there was a mental barrier that she was putting up, restraining him from ravaging her mind. "Why can't I sense her emotions? She's blocking me out!"
She's not impeding you. Her mind is in disorder. Even at this very moment she is unable to understand what she is feeling, what her emotions are. Once you regain your power you will easily decipher them.
Another demon spoke up. So, Krueger have you decided what souls you will go after? How will you recuperate your strength?
Freddy only chuckled manically and flashed them a wicked, wolfish grin. His eyes glowed red, of fire and malice. He had a few ideas in mind, a few potential victims whose dreams he would be paying some visits over the next day or so.
Some sweet fresh meat.
10am…
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
The repetitive sounds of a single black stiletto tapping the tiled floor resounded in the large reception area of Westin Hills. Sandra tightened her grip on her bundles of files and notes on Katherine's counselling sessions from two years ago. Along with them were meticulous and quite extensive notes and observations from the young girls' time at the Bernadette Care Home.
Despite being eager to meet Dr Carver, she felt uneasy at being here. There was this sensation that something was going to wrong, that perhaps her meeting wouldn't go as she had hoped to. But nonetheless she was getting somewhere. If she could give a piece of positive news to Michael, then the better.
"Sandra"
Her shot towards the male voice and a warm, congenial smile crossed her face. "David. Thank you for meeting with me" she stood and offered her hand to him. "You are a busy man to get hold of"
His strong right hand curled around her soft one as he shook her head. He was a little taller than her, with dark hair. A friendly deposition to his personality. But she knew from past meetings that didn't mean that he wasn't stern in his dealings with other Doctors. Oh, he was approachable, but he liked his staff to be professional and methodical in their work. He didn't like slackers or anyone who didn't do their job to the best of their ability. "If you would follow me to my office" his eyes averted to her files then back to her. "That's quite a lot of case notes you have there"
"It's to do with Katherine" she replied quickly, then gathered them in her arms along with her briefcase.
Giving a curt nod he gestured for her to follow him down a long corridor, past the reception's desk. She duly obliged and gave a friendly smile at various doctors and nurses who hurried to and fro. It seemed that the hospital was a little hectic this morning.
There was a low creak as the door to her right was opened. Carver stood to the side and smiled politely. "May I get you some coffee?"
She nodded briskly and entered the rather spacious office. "That would be great, thank you"
Carver sat on his side of the large oak table and began to pour out two coffees into two white mugs. There were two trays of paperwork, an A4 lined notebook scattered with various notes. A silver framed photo was at the top right-hand side of the desk, the figures were of him and his wife, plus two children. He handed her the mug as she cleared her throat as she settled in her seat.
"So, how is Katherine?" Sandra planted her own bundle of paperwork on the edge of the desk, "Has she settled in, okay?"
He took a sip at his coffee. "Miss Krueger is doing well. She slept most of the night"
"She slept?" she felt her stomach knot and twist. A nauseating feeling overcame her. Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled, "Did she have any nightmares?"
"No" he considered the nervousness in her voice. "One of the orderlies found her awake around 6.30am. But shortly after this she went back to sleep and was woke up around 9am to be brought to the canteen for breakfast. It's a good sign that she is sleeping well"
She gave a meek nod and took a tentative taste of her hot beverage. If only she could share his positive enthusiasm. Why in god's name would she willingly sleep? Was that fucker manipulating her like he did was a little girl? Even using the threat of violence again? Finding her voice, she enquired. "When does her therapy sessions start?"
"There is one scheduled at 11am. For the next few weeks, she will only be involved in one-to-one sessions with Dr Simms. Then after perhaps three or four weeks we can decided if group therapy is suitable for her"
"Would it be possible if I could speak with Katherine? Even for a few minutes?" it was more of a wish, than a question. Getting to that girl was more imperative than ever.
Unfortunately, his response didn't sooth her anxiety. "No, I'm sorry. There is no contact with any patients by unauthorised therapists. As I have said before to you, I need the appropriate paperwork to be completed and signed off before I allow you to counsel her. But I would need you to have discussion with Elizabeth as well"
There was a sluggish despondent nod as Sandra took this in. Hopefully Simms would be more accommodating and understanding. Perhaps Michael's perspective of her was flawed. "I understand" she held out the Bernadette Care Home treatment notes. Attached to front of the grey file was a small passport photo of Katherine when she was ten years old. Her sullen, blushing face stared grimly at the camera. Scraggily hair was pulled back in a loose hair band. "I managed to get Katherine's case file from the Care Home. Inside are all her sessions since she was eleven years old. For the first year since she was admitted to the Care Home, she didn't speak to anyone. When you read them, you will understand that the life she had with her father was extremely distressing"
He causally flicked through the first few pages.
Sandra continued, her voice was firm and unwavering. "He was very skilled in influencing his control over her. Played some sadistic mind games with her. Twisted her thoughts into his way of thinking! He was nothing, but a vicious monster towards her"
Closing the file, he gave an indebted smile in her direction. "Thank you. I will make sure that Dr Simms get these. You mentioned to me on the phone that you counselled Katherine yourself? Did she require more therapy? When was this?"
"Yes, she was sixteen when she revealed something to me about what her father did to her. It was something that she never told the Care Home" sighing sorrowfully she leaned back in her chair, nursing her mug tightly in her hands. "When she was about nine years old her father began to sexually abuse her. He molested her up until his arrest. He had groomed her from an early age. Maybe since she was six or seven years old" she nodded at her files on the desk. "Everything, all my observations and discussions with her are in those notes. Would you be able to get one of your clerical staff to photocopy them? As I would like them back. I can collect them in the afternoon after 4pm"
He agreed, "Yes. I'll get my PA to photocopy them when we are done. I'm sure Elizabeth will find them useful in diagnosing Katherine's condition"
"Condition?" panic tainted her voice.
"I take it you have heard about her delusions?" he titled his head to the side, studying her facial expression closely.
Her head shook back and forth. It was an expression of surprise that she conveyed. "No, I haven't"
"Well…" he clasped his hands together contemplatively and leaned forward in his seat. "It is quite fascinating from what Dr Simms has told me. Something that I've never seen in people suffering from Schizophrenia"
"You believe that she has Schizophrenia?" her jaw dropped in shock.
"That is the assumption that Dr Simms has from her brief discussion with the young woman" Carver pointed out.
Grabbing her mug of coffee, she down a long gulp and then set it back on the table. "May I speak with Dr Simms before I leave? I want to hear what she has to say. As I have mentioned before I am quite close to Katherine. I find it hard to believe that she would have developed Schizophrenia. Never once has she displayed any kind of symptoms relating to that disorder. Maybe Dr Simms assumption is wrong"
"It can be difficult to diagnose a condition such as Schizophrenia as I'm sure you know it would not generally develop until the patient is in their late teens or early adulthood. But Dr Simms is greatly experienced in mental illnesses, nearly thirty years in the profession. I don't doubt her" he saw the disappointment on her face. "When the time is right you can discuss your own views about Katherine with Dr Simms. But not today"
Sandra held back a irritated growl and discreetly gripped the arms of the chair, her fingernails began to dig into the wood in silent rage. How could he be so dismissive of not allowing her to talk to Dr Simms now? The scraping sound of a chair being dragged across the floor startled her and she swung her head towards Carver as he stood across the way from her.
His face held an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but I have a meeting in the next half an hour. I will show you to the reception area"
She rose to her feet and gathered her briefcase. "Would it be possible if I could have a tour of the Hospital? See the facilities?" In all honesty, she was hoping to bump into Katherine just for a few minutes. She knew how low Michael's mood was over the last day or so, so it was her hope that maybe she would be able to bring him some kind of good news.
"I'm not-"
Before Carver could finish his sentence, the door to his office was sharply rapped and then was opened by Dr Simms. She skidded to a stop in the doorway and glanced enquiringly between him and Sandra. "Oh, I'm sorry I never realised you were in a meeting"
He smiled at her. "It's okay Elizabeth. We're just finished"
Sandra stretched out her hand to Simms, "Hello, I'm Dr Sandra Turner. I take it you are Dr Simms?"
"Yes, are you a new member of staff?" she questioned as her eyes narrowed curiously.
"Well…no" she glanced at Carver expectantly. Hoping that maybe he could sense from their conversation how much it meant to her to counsel Katherine. That he would consider her as a future member of staff. "I'm here in regard to Katherine Krueger"
Interrupting them both Carver quickly explained. "Dr Turner used to be Katherine's counsellor about two years ago as well"
Simms turned towards Sandra. Her astute gaze ran over the woman before her. Suspicion clouded her eyes. "Turner?" the name rolled on her tongue. "Are you by any chance related to Michael Turner?"
"Yes" Sandra stuck her head back slightly, proud to admit that he was her son. "I am. He is my son"
"Mmph!" Simms scoffed quietly and gathered herself. Crossing her arms. "Would it be possible if I could talk to you in private? In my office?"
Nodding once Sandra concurred, "Yes, I was hoping to speak to you too Dr Simms" she held the older woman's intense gaze. Her eyes never flinched, despite the powerful glare that Simms was showing her. If she thought that she would intimidate her, perhaps make her think twice of speaking her mind well she was mistaken. Sandra was determined to play a significant role in Katherine's counselling and hopefully if she had her way, she would take over Katherine's sessions on a full-time basis. She was going to help that poor girl again, even if it was the last thing she ever did.
The deep voice of Carver shattered her thoughts as he spoke. "If you would excuse me. I need to get to me meeting" he twisted around to Simms, "Elizabeth would I be able to speak to you this afternoon, before you leave?"
"Yes, I'll be free around 4.30pm" a amiable smile touched her lips. She stepped back into the corridor and waited for Sandra to come to her side, then with a nod of her head she motioned or her to follow. "My office is down this way. I can't talk for long as a therapy session scheduled for 11am"
"May I ask is it with Katherine?" Sandra questioned intriguingly.
Simms abruptly at her office door and twirled around slowly to face her. The muscles on her aging face constricted, going taut as mistrust crossed her face. "Yes, it is" she grabbed the handle to the door, twisting it sharply to open the door. "Now, it's my turn to ask some questions"
Sandra's eyes knitted together in simmering disdain at the way she was being spoke to. Forcing a fake pleasant smile, she walked by the woman into office. It was more or less the same layout as Carver's. Taking her seat across from Simms she sat up straight, chest out and head titled back with defiance as Simms began her own line of interrogation.
"What is your interest in Katherine? Is it because of your son, Michael?"
"No" Sandra's head swung back and forth in discord. She tried her best not to allow her voice to become brittle with anger. There was definitely something about this woman that she disliked. "It's not just because him. I care deeply for Katherine. I have developed a close relationship with her over the last three years. In a way I see her as my own daughter"
"Mmm" there was a soft nod of the head from Simms. She turned to her right, towards a neat bundle of files - brown, white and grey patients' records. Her slender wrinkled hands rummaged through the bundle until she came across the one, she was looking for. Printed across the top was the words.
'Patient No: 428 - Katherine Krueger'
She grasped it and pulled it from the bundle, "I haven't had much time to talk to Miss Krueger since she's been admitted here. Though, I did have a very remarkable and strange conversation with her at Springwood General Hospital. Just after she was brought in after her suicide attempt. We were discussing her dreams. Or actually she was telling me about them"
Not blinking or showing any emotion Sandra nodded quietly. She had to be completely unaware of the girl's dreams, act the fool. "What exactly did she tell you about her dreams?"
"Miss Krueger is under the impression that her father is dead. That a mob of parents tracked him down to the power plant. They took her away from him and that they burnt him alive. She now believes that he visits her in her dreams" Simms replied simply. Flicking opened the file she averted her eyes down to her notes and sighed, "The discussion that I had with her is all down here. I had taken a recording of our talk and noted down my observations"
Stretching out her right-hand Sandra took the file from her and scanned the neatly written comments. The skin on her arms began to tingle as she shivered spontaneously. A look of forged disbelief crossed her face as she scoured the notes. "I don't believe that Katherine would say something like this"
"I have the recording if you wish to listen to it" Simms rebuked. "I'm not exactly sure where her father is now. But is common knowledge that he has been in jail for the last several years. It is my intention to contact Sheriff Thompson to find out where exactly. I want some evidence to support the fact that he is in jail, that he is indeed alive and when the time is right, I will show this to Katherine"
Sandra stared grimly at the file, her eyes focusing on a single line…
'My daddy visits me in my dreams. He watches me every time I sleep. He stalks me when I dream. It is just like when I was a little girl. He won't leave me alone…'
A tremble shattered her body, making her let out an inaudible gasp. It was like years ago, the obsession that Freddy had with her was still potent as ever. Even in death he wouldn't leave her at peace. "Is that her only delusion? That she is dreaming of him?"
"No" Simms shook her head abruptly. "I'm afraid not. It's rather complex. She believes that her father has the ability to kill people in their dreams. A quite bizarre delusion. One that I have not come across before. A unique symptom for someone suffering from Schizophrenia"
"You assume she is a schizophrenic?"
"Yes, it is a very strong possibility. I am hoping that within a few weeks I will support this" Simms took the file back from her.
"What treatments are you willing to give her? What if she changes her story? Comes to her senses and realises that what she is saying is indeed an hallucination?"
Simms gave a wry smirk. "Dr Turner, I have been involved in cases where patients would continually change or dismiss their stories. Their beliefs and thoughts would become erratic and confusing. If she comes to me and says that her delusions are false, that she made it all up then I would necessarily let her be discharged. It would only be an act on her part to fool myself and the other medical staff. I will only let her back into society when I feel that she recognizes that she is a Schizophrenic and that she agrees to the right course of medication. That a therapeutic plan is in place for her so she can try and lead a normal life"
"You really believe that Katherine would try and twist her story? Change it so that you would let her go?" that feeling of queasiness began to sweep over her as she dread the answer.
"Yes, I believe she will. I will keep her in her as long as I see fit. And if she defies the hospital rules and regulations, if there any unruly outbursts from her or disorderly behaviour then I will not be hesitant to sedate her. Especially if I find out if she is staying awake at night. Sleep deprivation is extremely damaging to the human mind"
Sedation…
Sandra swallowed thickly the feeling of sickness being substituted by trepidation. If Simms and the other doctors began to sedate Katherine each night, then it would only be playing into Freddy's hands. There had to be some way to get in contact with her, before the endless cycle of manipulation and emotional abuse takes hold once more. Taking a short sharp breath Sandra changed the topic. "It is my understanding that there are new patients being sent here from a few hospitals in the neighbouring counties"
With narrowed eyes Simms glared at her, "Yes that is correct"
Thinking that maybe she could persuade Simms to allow her to work alongside her, Sandra offered her assistance. "I know how strenuous it is when there is an influx of patients from other hospitals. That it may put a strain on the current members of staff, then I can offer my services. I am willing to counsel Katherine again. She trusts me, she knows me. I counselled her before when she was sixteen. We developed a connection during her therapy sessions when she was sixteen"
Simms crossed her arms against her chest and considered Sandra's request before replying. But it wasn't the response that Sandra was wishing for. "I'm sure you have a feeling of devotion and care towards Katherine. Even if you have counselled her before, this time it is a completely different set of circumstances. We are dealing with her psychological condition. It is nothing to do with her childhood abuse. I'm not sure of your expertise in psychiatric disorders, but I have quite at least twenty years knowledge of varying types of disorders like the one Katherine has" she scrutinized Sandra's stern, powerful stare. It appeared that she had hit a nerve with her. "Nonetheless, I have sufficient time on my hands to monitor and assess her condition. So, I don't see that your help would be required"
With a clenched jaw, Sandra rose to her feet and snatched her briefcase from the ground. From the tone and mannerisms of Simms, she knew that if the opportunity arose where she did work alongside her that they would indeed clash and come to disagreements. She was too rude, frosty in her approach towards her. The older woman may assume that she had Katherine's best interests at heart. But if she went ahead with her intentions of sedating the girl if she didn't obey the rules and regulations, then she would be putting the girl's sanity in danger.
Who knew how much Katherine's sanity was left intact?
x x x
"So, how did it go?"
Sandra trotted across the car park to her son's car as he stood with Nancy. His hands rubbed together, fingers entwining tightly then loosening quickly in rapid movements. A sign of his apprehension at the outcome of his mother's meeting with Dr Carver.
His mother gave a forbidding shake of her head. "Not as well I as I expected. I'm not allowed to see Katherine yet. Dr Carver said that he will speak to Dr Simms about me working there. I did suggest it to her when I spoke to her"
"You got speaking to her? What did she say?" he asked.
"Well, she said that she doesn't need my help. But Carver will have a word with her this afternoon. I have to say Michael, you are right. She is hard work. Very abrupt. It could be her generation of therapists. They seem to be more strict, very orthodox in their dealings with the patients. To them it is about getting the right diagnosis, the right treatment for each patient. I prefer to listen to the patient, evaluate their thoughts and feelings" Sandra averted her eyes towards Nancy. "Simms said that she would be getting in contact with your father"
"What the hell for?" Nancy demanded.
"For information regarding Freddy. Basically, what jail he is in"
There was a scoff of disbelief from Michael. "Jail? But the fucker isn't in jail!"
"I know" his mother leaned against the side of her son's car. "There are two options I can see. One I'm allowed to counsel Katherine. I can talk some sense into her. The other is…if we get to see her, I can persuade her to ask for a transfer to a hospital in Central City" she raised a hand to silence her son as he began to protest. "I understand that you said that she would still have dreams of her father. But there is a colleague of mine that has vast experience in dreams. Especially dream therapy. They could perhaps help us"
Both Michael and Nancy's lips began to elongate, a brief smile crossing their faces. It was a little bit of positive news that they needed. Any help at all would be greatly welcomed.
The next words that came from Sandra quickly erased the smiles from their faces.
"Dr Carver said that Katherine had went to sleep last night until 6.30am. Then she went to sleep again for another few hours around 7am"
The colour drained from Nancy's as she contemplated this. Katherine was slipping away from them; the situation was deteriorating. "Why would she do that?"
"He must be threatening her" Sandra growled with disgust.
"I'm not so sure Mom" Michael disagreed. "We need to talk to her. Would you be able to speak to Dr Carver later on this evening? Convince him to allow us to visit her tomorrow? Even just for half an hour?"
"I'll try. But I can't guarantee that he will agree Michael" she yawned unexpectedly. "I need some coffee. Are you sure that I can't have a short nap? Even for half an hour and one of you can watch over me?"
Shaking his head Michael closed the gap between them and grabbed her hands tightly. "No, we told you it's too risky!"
Clearing her throat quietly Nancy caught their attention, "I got a phone call this morning from Kincaid and Joey. Joey had stayed over at his. They tried to stay awake last night but drifted off to sleep. But they didn't dream of Freddy. Nothing at all"
"Are you sure?" Michael's voice was marred with incredulity.
"Yes, that is what they told me. I'm meeting them at lunch time. Kirsten and Taryn are meeting us at the mall"
"I'll go with you" he chirped. "Mom, do you want to come with us?"
"Just drop me off at the Police Station. I want to talk more to Donald about what's been going on in the last few weeks. I'm just hoping that Dr Simms doesn't contact him. If she does, then he'll have to lie about Freddy's whereabouts"
The corner of Michael's lips twitched as he was about to reply. But then what was the point? Would there be any purpose in Sheriff Thompson telling Dr Simms the truth about Freddy's death and the mysterious deaths being down to Freddy's new supernatural powers in the dream world? Simms would no doubt question his own sanity. Perhaps query his leadership as Sheriff of the town. Simms had locked away Katherine in Westin Hills, she would have no hesitation in doing the same to anyone else who shared this 'delusion' as she bluntly called it. But there was another factor how Katherine was put into Westin Hills - her suicide attempt.
Their main focus over the next day or so, apart from staying awake, was seeing Katherine. Entice her to stay awake, to defy her father's manipulative ways or else she would be lost to him forever.
x x x
A multi-coloured fashion magazine was thrown onto a side cabinet. Rising from her seat Katherine rolled her head to the side then to the other, groaning jadedly as yet another tedious hour dragged in. Nurse Andrews had left several fashion and celebrity magazines, along with two 'Romance' novels for her to read. Something to pass the time. The romance novels were untouched, while the magazines were flicked through. Nothing of much interest had caught her attention. Andrews had offered to escort her down to the games room, but it was the last place she wanted to be. That girl Mary would be there, chatting and chirping about her 'imaginary' physical illness that she had. It appeared that she was a pathological liar. That she craved attention, conjuring up false illnesses.
If only she had the chance to go outside to the courtyard. Maybe stroll through the gardens for a little while. Instead of being cooped up in her room.
What had astounded her was this anticipation until lights out came around. Mentally she was counting down the hours until bedtime. The urge, no the craving to be near her father was starting to grow and intensify once more. Burn inside of her…
Could it be that coming back to Springwood and being around, in proximity to her father was igniting a fiery passion towards him? Something that she had never considered would arise from her emotions and feelings towards him? Oh, she did love him in some strange way. That compassion and attachment towards him was always there. It never faded away and to be honest with herself, that feeling would never go away. The others would see things differently, they would think she was being manipulated again. How could she get them to see things from her point of view?
Maybe she wouldn't be able to.
"Miss Krueger"
She yelped and jumped around towards the door from her position at the window. Dr Simms stood with a repentant smile adorning her face. "Sorry, if I startled you. But I need you to follow me"
"What? Why?" she grew distrustful.
"It's your first therapy session"
The girl shifted uneasily on her white plimsolls and absently grabbed her navy shirt, again picking up her old habit of twisting and scrunching her clothes. "I don't see why I have to talk to you. You don't believe me!"
"Let me decide that" she gestured towards the corridor behind her. "Now, please come with me"
Holding back an exasperated growl Katherine marched past her into the hallway. They strode side by side down the corridor, with Katherine glimpsing prudently at the nurses and orderlies as they hurried to and fro. She caught a peep of Lorenzo staring at her and threw him a spiteful sneer. What was his problem? Why was he continuously checking her out? Not just now, but even after breakfast he had given her a leering look as she stood in the queue for her food.
After a few more minutes they came to the first therapy room on the left, but Simms continued onto the next room. Katherine followed her into the room and surveyed the décor. There were two seats facing each other, between them was a beech wood table about a foot off the ground. A notepad and a few pens were in the centre of the table. Tucked in the far right of the room near the window was a water dispenser. Her eyes slowly averted towards the ceiling as if she sensed that something was watching her, and she was right. Positioned in each corner of the room were four small black cameras, each of them had a small red circular light. They whirred and rotated on their perches as they followed Simms and Katherine as they settled in their seats.
Simms placed two separate bundles of her therapy files on the table, before placing on her glasses. Katherine's interest was captured as she noticed a thin white lead connected to the right arm of Simms chair and at the top was a small blue button. A frown quickly embellished her face and soon she saw Simms smiling at her. "It's a warning button"
"What?"
"It's a warning button for the Doctors during therapy sessions. In case of an emergency" Simms explained with a friendly smile.
Katherine moved and shifted her position in her seat with apprehension, a mixture of aversion and dismay filled her voice. "You think that I'm going to do something to you?"
"No, I don't think that. All our therapy rooms have this security measure as there has been times when the patients become rather…aggravated in their discussions with their therapists" she folded her hands over each other, the friendly smile never leaving her face.
"Has any of the patients been violent?" Katherine waited eagerly for the reply.
"Yes, that is the main reason why the cameras have been installed. So, we have to precautionary measures - the warning button and the cameras. The orderlies would come and assist the doctor. Anytime there is a disturbance then we would sedate the troublemaker and place them in the quiet room. A secluded area for them to cool down"
Katherine felt a shudder jolt through her body.
"Hopefully that won't happen to you" Simms reassured her. "Now, I'll explain to you some ground rules I have for during my therapy sessions"
Katherine nodded once.
"Firstly, I want you to be completely honest and open with me. Don't keep anything back from me. As if you do, it will hinder my efforts to help you" her tone of voice went harsh. An authoritative gleam sparkled in her eyes. "I will not tolerate foul language in my sessions. I expect your full co-operation and to answer all my questions. Each time we meet, it will be for at least forty-five minutes. For the first few weeks it will be one on one. Then if I feel that you are comfortable, we can move onto group therapy"
"Group therapy?" she gave a bitter laugh. "You really expect me to talk about what's happening to me in front of others?"
"Yes, I do. Collectively we can discuss the signs of your various conditions"
A weary sigh murmured from Katherine as she gave a reluctant nod. What was the point in arguing? Dr Simms has already made her evaluation. In her eyes, she was a fucking nut job. She would be brutally honest with her, tell her as much sordid detail of her dreams, the nightmares. She wanted honesty, then she would get it.
"Our first session today I will go over the discussion we had in the Springwood General hospital a few days ago. I re-read it this morning and it was quite an active imagination you have. Quite creative" Simms bent down to snatch the first bundle of notes and pulled out the discussion from that day.
"It's not my imagination! It's true" she snapped brusquely. "It is happening right now!" Her frenzied eyes looked to Simms then back to the other files on the desk. "What are they?"
"They are your therapy files from your time at the Bernadette Care Home when you left Springwood as a ten-year-old girl" Simms replied firmly. However, she failed to inform the girl that her therapy notes with Dr Turner were amongst them. She would keep Dr Turner's presence a secret from her until the time was convenient to tell her.
"How did you get them so quickly?" Katherine's suspicion began to stir again.
"It doesn't really matter does it?" Simms evaded her question, then asked one of her own. "Did you ever go back to the Care Home? To visit them?"
"Yes, I visited Dr Murray a few times. I wanted to thank her for everything she did for me"
Nodding quietly Simms sat forward. "You said to me when we first met, that you started to have dreams of your father when you arrived back in Springwood?"
"It was actually the 2nd night when I first saw him in my dreams" Katherine sighed jadedly, bored of repeating herself. "I told you all this! It's there…" she pointed with her right hand at the file on Simms lap. "Do I have to tell you again?"
"I think it would be beneficial if we could delve a little more into your sleeping patterns. Your dreams" she grew captivated and grasped the notebook and pen from the table. "Have you ever had any dreams of your father before you arrived back in Springwood? When were you living in Central City?"
Katherine negligently gripped the edge of the chair and groaned inwardly, wishing that this was over. "I had some flashbacks when I was a eleven or so. Memories of what happened to me when I was a little girl. That was it" her eyes grew frosty. "But this time it's' different. He's alive in my dreams. He can interact with me, talk to me. He's done things to me! You should see him now, he's horribly burnt!"
"Well, I had a quick browse through the archives in the library and was unable to find any articles about a fire at the power plant" Simms tapped the tip of the pen on the notebook. Her gaze unwavering as she stared at her intently.
"That's because I ripped the article out of the paper! Did you not see that it was missing?!" the pitch of her voice increased slightly.
"What date was it exactly? The night of the fire?" Simms enquired.
"I don't know, I've forgotten the date! But I'm telling you the truth. Even ask Sheriff Thompson. He was there, he was the one who lit the match that killed my father!" she stifled back a sob.
"How do you know that? Did he tell you?"
"No, I saw it in my dream" she took a calming breath. "You see my father showed me his memory, of how he died. Speak to Sheriff Thompson. He will tell you!"
Simms nodded curtly and picked up the bundle of therapy notes from the Care Home. "There is quite a lot of material here. It will take me some time to read through this. But I had a brief discussion with Dr Murray yesterday and she said that your childhood was very horrendous. That your father was very controlling, he usurped power over every aspect of your life. He emotionally and psychological abused you"
There was barely a response from Katherine whose gaze had fallen to her lap. She heard Simms continue.
"Dr Murray told me that shortly before you left the Care Home, you admitted that you still missed your father. Was that true?"
Katherine lips twitched and pulled downwards into a sullen frown as she thought back to her 13th birthday. It was then that she finally confessed that to Dr Murray, she never comprehended how much she still cared for her father and that she still loved him. Even after everything that he put her through. The scheming, dark words he had embedded in her mind since she was five years old. How he made her isolate herself from everyone she knew. Her best friends, the other adults that she knew from their street. The twisted mind games he played with her, the beating he gave her for speaking to Michael. The constant threat of violence and the times he brought her to his bedroom…
"Miss Krueger, was that true? Did you miss your father when you were in the Care Home?"
"Yes" Katherine's reply was barely above a whisper.
Simms noted this down. "You felt lonely when you were in the Care Home?"
There was a sombre nod from the girl.
"Did the feeling of being lonely and the fact that you missed your father ever fade way? When you were growing up in your new foster home, did those feelings still remain?" Simms questioned, choosing her words wisely.
In a split-second Katherine lowered her head, shying away from her. Simms was the last person she wanted to talk to about her personal life, about her own deep, private feelings. The person that she really needed to talk to about it wasn't here in the waking world. She sneered quietly as she heard Simms speak again.
"Miss Krueger. Please answer the question" she insisted firmly.
Her sneer disappeared as she looked up to her. Soon her brown orbs grew distant as a stray tear rolled down her right cheek. "Yes, I still miss. I always have"
"Perhaps that is a sign of your depression. It could be linked to why you tried to kill yourself" she proposed this as a reason for her action. "When you were a child, did you have a strong attachment with your father?"
"Yes" Katherine stifled back a sob.
Simms fold her hands on her lap. "Mmm…" she mused quietly then questioned her. "Even though he was manipulating you as a child? Abusing you psychologically? You still had a strong relationship with him?"
"He wasn't bad to me all of the time!" a rising bitterness tarnished her voice as she defended her father. "That is what people don't understand. He was good to me!"
"But he physically abused you, isn't that correct? He whipped you with his belt?"
Raising her left hand, she idly wiped away her tears. "That only happened once when I was a little girl…"
"But you said to me at the hospital that your father beat you up because you had developed feelings for Michael?" Simms looked at her with confusion. She delved through her notes and pointed at the paragraph she had written down. "There it is there. You said this happened in your dream"
"Yes, I told you this! Why are you asking me again?" there was a flare of anger in the tone of her voice. She grew frustrated at this stupid questions. All she was doing was repeating herself.
"I just want to clarify some matters on your story" the pen was poised, ready to note down whatever she saw as important. "You said that you father is alive in your dreams? How is he real?"
The corners of Katherine's mouth curled downwards in irritation. If she could only stop with the fucking questions. "He just is real!"
"How did he become this way? I understand that you say that he is burnt, but how did he come back into our dreams?" Simms continued the persistent questioning.
Katherine began to lose it and slammed her right fist against the arm of her chair in annoyance. "I don't fucking know, okay?"
Instinctively Simms snatched the panic button, ready to press it. However, she paused, noticing that the girl before her was taking deep composed breaths. Within a matter of minutes, she had pacified her antagonism, with her head bowed down towards her lap and thick brown waves of her hair shielding her face.
"I understand that these questions are very tedious and repetitive" Simms replied quietly and set down the panic button. "But I need to understand fully what exactly has happened to you. These questions need to be asked again"
Lifting her meditative eyes Katherine allowed them to roam over the file on Simms lap then back to the doctor. Questions, queries, endless interrogation. Would this ever end?
x x x
Katherine slammed the door to her room behind her and groaned out loud, full of dissatisfaction. That was the longest forty-five minutes of her life.
What happened in this dream?
What did he do on this night?
Who did you say he murdered on this night?
Incessant questions. Piercing into her mind. Continuous and boring. Simms reminded her of a woodpecker, never stopping their relentless pecking. Though Simms never ceased with her questions.
On and on…
Question after question.
Rambling on…
She came so close to telling her to 'fuck up'.
Simms has produced some assumptions from the first several dreams that she had. At first, she quizzed her about why she never told Michael about her dreams when she first had them. And why did they - her, Michael, Nancy and Glenn - lie to the police about Rod's apparent suicide? Why did she not tell the truth? But not just her, why would Nancy and the others not disclose what really occurred at the student house?
Katherine had bluntly replied that no one would believe them. Just like Simms didn't believe a single word she was telling her. What Simms riposted was straight to the point and established what Katherine already knew. The view that the doctor had put forward was that it was Katherine who had fabricated these dreams. That in the student house Katherine had hallucinated Rod's throat being slit, that Nancy and the other's accounts were accurate. What they said was correct.
Another few suggestions that Simms had put forward was that this delusion that Katherine had witnessed was down to her loneliness. Her deep sense of solitude of being apart from her father had manifested itself into uncontrollable visions and bizarre dreams of her father. She was letting it take control of her life, effecting her sleeping patterns and her relationship with others. That she had developed a form of Schizophrenia.
No matter what Katherine had tried to rebuke or convey towards Simms, the doctor would brush it aside. Her mind was already made up.
Now, back in her room she was starting to feel drowsy. There was at least an hour or maybe an hour and half before lunch. Enough time to have a short nap. Again, that sudden, voracious urge to be near her father was rousing inside her soul. Was there something changing inside her mind? Towards her father? Under a week ago, perhaps two it demoralized her to be around him. Nevertheless, at this present time this deep uncontrollable compulsion to sleep, to dream wasn't going to be ignored.
A grimace crossed her face, just what would the others think about her rendezvous with her father? Michael would be disappointed in her…
It would be for the best if she kept these nightly visits to herself. But how would know? They hadn't even bothered to check up on her, pay a visit to her.
They were leaving her to rot in here. Like a piece of decaying flesh…
Her fist clenched tightly at her side as she slowly crawled onto her bed and laid flat on her back. Time to pay her father a visit…
A thick blast of immense heat greeted Katherine as she opened her eyes. Her back was pressed against brick wall beside the furnace. Trickles of sweat soaked her skin, saturating her shirt and jeans. She raised her hands and lightly waved them in front of her face, then used the back of them to wipe her brow.
Staggering to her feet she took a few prudent steps into the main boiler room and sighed quietly. There was no sign of him. Her eyes suddenly darted towards the side room where she heard movement. Tiptoeing over she peered inside and saw him sitting in the far corner of the room, in front of a small metal/stone honing device. Yellow vicious sparks flew from the sharp edges of each thin metal blade of his bladed glove. His scarred hands gripped the leather gardening glove as he positioned the tip of the index blade at the circular stone that rotated at an frantic speed.
The back of his scarred head was visible. Various black and red muscles twisted and weaved over each other the back and sides of his head. He leaned forward a little more, unaware that she was watching him with profound curiosity. She was becoming fascinated by the sight of his knives being honed. She took a glance towards a tall black coat stand beside the worktable and saw his fedora hat perched on a small hook at the top.
Freddy hummed and chortled to himself as he focused his attention on perfecting the sharpness of his blades. His fingers ran lightly over the fabric of the glove, mesmerized by the weapon he had created long ago.
There was a soft shuffle of feet and the familiar voice of his daughter.
"Daddy"
He eased his right food off the pedal and twisted around to her. A pleased smile captured his lips. "Paying me another visit?" there was a teasing glint in his eyes. "It seems as though you're stalking me, baby girl"
She felt her face burn with embracement and hurriedly looked away.
Freddy gave a low haughty chortle and watched as she turned back to him. He pulled his glove onto his right hand, adjusting it once or twice. Flexing his blades, he rose to his feet and stealthily approached her. She stood her ground and never let her gaze falter from his.
"Give me your hand" he instructed calmly.
Her eyes contracted slightly in mistrust. "What for?"
"I want to try…" he raised his glove and wagged the blades one by one. "out. See how sharp they are"
"Then why don't you find someone else to cut!" she snapped, catching herself and him off guard.
His left hand slowly curled inwards, but he managed to suppress his anger and began to laugh. Amused by her response. "Mmm, don't worry it will only be a little…scratch. I think you have enough scars on you…"
For now that is.
She move a little uncertainly on her feet, pondering for a few moments and then stretched her right hand out to him. Her palm faces the ground. He smiled triumphantly and lifted his clawed glove. Ever so slowly he tickled the back of her hand, gliding the tips of each blade along her veins on her hand. Then down towards each knuckle, tracing them gracefully.
Katherine grew agitated and was about to speak when a single blade nicked at her skin, below her mass of skin that connected her hand to her arm. Her lips curled into a grimace of pain, and she was taken back as he yanked the back of her hand towards his hot, rancid lips.
Like a serpent his tongue slithered between his blistered lips and in one long degraded lick he lapped away her blood. Again, she felt her cheeks go hot, blushing shamefully as she felt this febrile sensation stirring in her loins. Was this turning her on?
She shook her and wrenched her hand away from his mouth. "Stop. Please"
Laughing at her he took a step to the side as she went by her, pacing back and forth near the coat stand. Her hands pulled and wrestled against each other as she tried to gather her muddled thoughts. She caught a glimpse of his hat and snatched it from the hook into her hands.
"So, what was this morning all about?" her father enquired. He smacked his lips once, savouring the residue of her blood once more.
"What?" she fiddled nervously with the rim of his fedora.
"Falling asleep this morning. Coming to visit me. You literally begged me to lie beside you. You had such a strong, tight grip on me as I lay at your side…" he smiled cannily at her. "Anytime I attempted to move away, you whimpered for me to stay. Not exactly how you act around me, is it?"
Her eyes avoided his to the doorway.
"Now, what is wrong?"
"I…think I know why I tried to kill myself"
The charred skin above his eyes raised upwards in curiosity Did she remember her argument with Michael? Had it resurfaced in her mind without him realising it? "Well, go on princess"
She took a long deep breath. Here goes. "It's because of you. Since the day I was taken away from you, I've never stopped missing you. Even when I was in the Care Home going through my therapy, I would constantly think about you. I told my therapist that I missed you. She said it was normal"
He nodded at her to continue, his eyes were emotionless. Empty.
"I was taken in by Mrs Burroughs. I started making new friends, fitting in with everyone at school. I met Michael, Lauren…all new people in school. They were my friends. But still, you were always on my mind. At least once a day I would think of you. I believed that those sensations of loss, of missing you would go away. Disappear" she studied his impassive gaze. He wasn't giving any indication of how he felt. Not yet anyway. Pushing the feeling of uneasiness to the side she continued. "I was wrong daddy. Those sentiments never died, they're still here…" her finger pointed to her head and then her chest, above her heart.
Freddy took a step closer and took her right hand in his again.
Katherine sniffled and curled her soft fingers around his rough, hard skin. "Now that I'm back home, my thoughts are being consumed by you. There is this yearning to be around you. Maybe the isolation that I felt took its toll on me. I couldn't contain my frustration; my fury and I took it out of myself. I tried to take my life!"
"And what would that have accomplished?"
"I don't know. A part of me wanted to be with you…" she took a momentary pause to ponder her next words. "In some crazy way I thought I could be here…. with you. I know now it was the wrong decision, but it was a chance I was willing to take!"
"You shouldn't have tried to kill yourself Katherine" he growled gutturally. "I wasn't able to heal you. What if you had died, huh?"
"But could you not have brought me here? There is a reason why you are here. Why would it not work for me?" her questions were ones he wasn't prepared for. In time he would enquire her suggestion to the demons. Although he had to be certain that she was on his side. The signs were there though.
Small, significant signs.
Her personality was starting to distort, change and this was down to her conflicting and irregular emotions.
He wasn't stupid though; he could perceive that there was this faint need for companionship for the others. Michael more so than most. That repulsive feeling of love she had for Michael was still vivacious.
But not for long if he had anything to do with it.
"Daddy, please answer me! Would I not be able to live here with you when I die? Please tell me how you became to be like this!" her grip constricted around his hand.
Freddy sneered not pleased with the tone of her voice. It was full of passion, power. "When the time is right, I'll tell you everything"
Not satisfied with his response she opened her mouth to speak, but he placed a cool sharp blade at her soft subtle lips. "Be quiet" his lips brushed her forehead lightly. "I'm glad that you told me how you felt, baby girl. You need to remember, that you are never alone. Anytime you want to be with me, just close those beautiful eyes of yours. You'll know I'll be here"
"I had to tell you" Katherine rubbed her fingers roughly against his hat. "I had to tell you. Dr Simms says that I'm depressed and that my feeling of isolation is making me have delusions of you in my dreams. She doesn't believe you are alive. Stupid bitch"
Freddy chuckled impishly at her use of words. He soon averted his gaze down at her left hand that held his hat. He tapped his blades against the hat and loosened his grip on her hand. She knew what he wanted as he stepped back.
Reaching up she placed the battered fedora on his scarred, blistered head and tugged it down at the front. His eyes were barely visible under the brim, just the way she knew that he liked to wear it.
He stroked her face affectionately with the back of his left hand. "I'm waking you up"
Instantly a wave of disenchantment swarmed over, and her lips recoiled downwards in a sulk "Why? I want to stay here for another while. Please!"
He ignored her plea and passed her, advancing towards the doorway. The recognizable presence of prospective victims had begun to dream yet again. Those souls were quite precious, the power he could gain from them would be exquisite indeed.
Katherine approached him from behind. "What is it?"
With a sickening smirk he turned towards her and sprayed his newly sharpened blades wide. The next words from him made her blood run cold.
"Daddy's got to go to work!"
X x x