Broken Dreams

by Don'tFallAsleep1428

Katherine's mind is starting to break. What will happen to her now that she is locked up in Westin Hills? Though her father, Freddy, has nightmarish plans for her. She slowly starts to develop a personality disorder and grows even closer to him. Soon, she will have to choose a side…

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Tricks

The relentless chatting of the patients and from the canteen staff filled the air as it neared the end of lunch. Sat alone at a far circular table Katherine pushed and prodded at her pieces of fish. Her food had barely been touched. She was tormented with worry, fear of what had happened at the end of her dream. It wasn't what had happened, but what her father had said to her.

Daddy's got to go to work.

Those words he had always mentioned to her as a girl invaded her mind, like a parasite. Special work. That was what he called his killings when she was a child. So, once those words left his vile mouth, she knew that he was going after someone. But who was sleeping at this time in the day?

Was it Nancy, Kristen, Glenn? Or any of the others?

What if it was Michael?

That terrifying contemplation had made her feel nauseated. The love for him was still potent. Losing him could be catastrophic for her. As she said to her father before, she wanted both of them in her life. But she knew that he would want her to choose one of them. When would he make her choose and how could choose one of them?

It was impossible.

The moment that Nurse Andrews had come into her room, the young girl declared that Katherine looked like a 'ghost'. But Katherine had ignored her, too lost in her musings and begrudgingly followed her to the canteen.

Would she know who he had killed? How could she if no one were visiting her? Keeping her informed of their nightmares or what was happening? There had to be a way of finding out. Did they hand out any newspapers during the morning or evening? Maybe she should ask, put in a request. Then she would find out that way. Scour each article to check of any deaths, any suicides…

A shadow crossed over the edge of the table. Casting a dark shade over her. "Are you not hungry?"

She turned her head towards the female voice. It was 'Jane' one of the canteen staff. A very amiable woman, in her early fifties. The first time at the canteen, the woman had made her feel welcomed. Offering her a congenial affection smile as she dished out her meal. Despite the wrinkles that creased her brow and underneath her eyes, she still looked quite youthful for her age. Looking down at her food Katherine idly pushed it away and placed her plastic grey fork down on the white plate. "I'm finished"

"You hardly touched anything" Jane stated the obvious.

Katherine shrugged and took a quick gulp of her plastic cup of water. "I'm not hungry"

"I'll have to take note of this" Jane began to clear away her plate.

"What?" Katherine's eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Jane straightened up as she held the plate in her hands. "The doctors want to be informed on the patients eating habits. If they aren't finishing their meals. Not turning up for breakfast, lunch or dinner"

"Well, if Dr Simms thinks I'm going to starve myself then she's wrong. I'm just not hungry" Katherine snapped brusquely. After those sharp words left her mouth, she sighed and apologised. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I'm just in a shitty mood"

"Did you have a therapy session? Was it your first one?" the older woman asked with a wry smile.

Rising to her feet Katherine nodded, "Yeah that's right"

"It doesn't surprise me you're in a foul mood. Most people are in this place after their first therapy session" Jane placed her right hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't worry it gets better in time. I promise"

There was a feeble nod in response. Her brown chocolate eyes fell to the floor as she walked past her, but she froze and twisted around to ask. "Do you know if you can get newspapers during the evening or in the morning?"

"I think they do. Ask one of the orderlies to show you where you can get them"

Her mood quickly brightened at this news. Though the mere thought of reading and scouring through the articles, searching for any deaths or suicides wasn't much to get excited about. Was it? She sluggishly meandered around the tables towards the large rectangular archway entrance/exit of the canteen. To her right were three orderlies, watching vigilantly as the patients, including the new six ones who had arrived an hour before, left the room.

Lorenzo was amongst the orderlies, his sneering avid smile flashed in her direction causing her to shiver and avert her eyes from his. It wasn't just her that he would exhibit that eager, hungry look to. Basically, it was to the majority of the female patients. Mary had briefly mentioned to her that he had tried it on with her once, tried to grope her in her room. She was so startled it had happened in a blur. However, she didn't report it. As whom would believe her, a Schizophrenic with violent tendencies? To Mary there was no fucking point in explaining to them what had happened.

It didn't give Katherine much comfort, so she knew to keep her distance from him. Keep herself to herself and she would be okay.

Coming to a stop beside the games/TV room Katherine scanned the Nurses/Orderlies station for any sign of a newspaper. A blonde-haired nurse looked up with mistrust at her. "Yes?"

Katherine smiled meekly. "Are the patients allowed to get the Springwood Gazette in the morning or the evening to read?"

"I'm not sure. Not many patients are interested in the local news" she responded confusedly. "Do you want them?"

With a roll of her eyes Katherine retorted quietly, albeit a little too rudely. "Yes, why do you think I'm asking!"

The nurse gulped profusely. "Okay, I'm just asking. I'll put a request in for you"

"Thanks" Katherine smiled falsely and turned on her heel. Marching straight back to her room.

She was slowly becoming accustomed to being alone, isolated from everyone. It gave her time to think, then again letting her thoughts run amok may not be a good idea. As more than often they wandered to her father. Being close to him, even within mere inches of touching him or his hot breath on her skin or hair made her yearn for him in a way that she couldn't understand. Nor did she want to.

In a way it wasn't to do with loneliness or detachment. It was something far more desirous, a craving that was awakening inside of her. A fire that she somehow knew if it burned and festered, that it wouldn't be extinguished.

Even when he had lethargically licked the back of her hand, lapping away her trickle of blood she felt herself grow moist in between her thighs. The evidence was there when she woke after went to the bathroom area, and it repulsed her to think her body could betray her mind like that.

Then again, why did she not jerk her hand away from his? For the split second she had tauten her fingers around his. Could both her body and mind like the perverted, licentious ways he could touch and kiss her?

There would be no way she would give into that temptation of allowing him to touch her like that again. It was wrong. Sick. Degrading. She was better than that….

Climbing onto her bed she saw Indian style and grabbed a plump white pillow, placing it on her knees. Her hands curled around the edge of the fabric and slowly the fingers recoiled tightly, gripping it fiercely. Again, her thoughts began to wander, although this time not to her father.

Just where the fuck was Michael? Was he going to pay a visit to her today? The visiting time was between 2pm-3pm. Would he risk it and come and see her? Despite wanting to form that closeness with her father, she wanted Michael's company as well. Even just to get a hug from him would be nice.

But it would not as soothing as with your father? Isn't that right?

She jerked suddenly, head whipping around violently at the empty room as she evaluated her abrupt thoughts. Was she right in her deliberations? Was her father's touch what she really wanted and not Michael's…? Would these ponderings, these feelings for her father drive a wedge between her and Michael?

It was something that she would not dare contemplate.

Maybe being isolated from Michael was causing her mind to react and think this way. Even if it was only a few days it was the longest they have been apart in months. Back in Central City before coming to Springwood they were in each other's company nearly every day. By going for walks, trips to the cinema, lunch dates. They had spent as much time as they could with each other.

But she knew that her love for Michael was still deep, it wouldn't falter or wither away. She wouldn't betray him. He would come for her; she was certain of it.

x x x

2.10pm…

"You can turn over your test papers now"

Taryn groaned inwardly at these words from her Maths teach, Mr Carson. It wasn't just the fact that she had a surprise exam to do that annoyed her, who liked exams anyway? It was due to her having no sleep for the last two days that was making her irritable too. Despite Michael, Nancy and Kristen admitted that they had woke up with no wounds from her nightmares of Freddy it didn't soothe her anxieties. So, through the consumption of coffee, energy drinks she had managed to stave off the dangerous peril of sleep.

No matter what her friends had said to her, she didn't want to risk her life by falling asleep.

Her mother though was suspicious of her staying awake the last two nights, not that she wasn't wary of her staying awake the other nights over the last few months. Even during dinner her mother asked was she back on GBH, the drug that she was addicted to. Taryn felt disgusted and shocked that her mother would think she would fall back into those dark, disturbing habits. Why would she go back there to that shadowy bleak place in her past?

That was where she wanted it to be kept.

In her past.

Rolling her shoulders, she heard a low crack from one of her bones along her right shoulder blade. Her body was stiff, rigid from leaning over the desk. Her brown eyes contracted slightly as she concentrated her energy, her mind on the questions in the first page of her exam paper. There was at least six of them, a combination of algebra, geometry and trigonometry equations. She knew enough about algebra and the geometry questions to forge answers. As for the trigonometry problems, she had bunked off school the days when her class was being taught them. So, the chances of her answering them correctly were non-existent. Those answers would be left blank, not that she particularly cared about passing this test. Maths was always her worst subject.

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

The dull, repetitive ticking of the clock soon became the only sound in the room. Looking up from her paper Taryn noticed that Mr Carson was hunched over his desk, staring silently at his diary. It was as though his body was suddenly made of stone, solid and unmoving. Even her rustling of papers or the quiet shuffling of her fellow students has they moved in her seats wasn't audible anymore.

Something wasn't right.

Lowering her eyes to her test paper again, she noticed that the black letters and numbers of the questions and equations were swirling and twisting together of their own accord. Merging and morphing into a depiction, a representation of somewhere she had nearly forgot.

There was a long high brick wall, the side of an abandoned building. Clutters of rubbish, soggy cardboard boxes, smashed and cracked liquor bottles and used needles were scattered along the pavement. At the far end of the alleyway was a thick wired fence, which had a gaping hole in the middle. Seemingly cut by a pair of pliers to access a large vacant factory behind. Beyond the fence was various burnt out and disused cars.

A lump of bile formed in Taryn's throat as she saw that there were numerous bodies laying on the ground inside the alleyway. Men, women and teenagers.

It was a place she knew too well…

Her mouth dropped opened as a loud, raspy woman's cackle, followed by frantic coughing that emanated from behind her. Stumbling to her feet she swung around to her old stomping ground where had first meet up with her fellow drug addicts, especially those who were addicted to GBH and heroin. Oh, she had fallen into the wrong crowd at school who got her hooked onto cannibals. But it was during one evening when she got drunk after consuming several bottles of beer, that she bumped into a young man a few years old than her, who brought her to the alleyway in the Parkmount area of the town that she soon found out was called 'Users Alley'.

It was a common knowledge that the Parkmount area of Springwood was well known for its high crime rates. Such as theft, assaults, and the increasing levels of alcohol and drug addictions. It was a part of town that the rest of town disowned, pushed to the back of their minds. There was no financial assistance or local government plan that was going to be implemented to help rejuvenate this side of town. The mayor was leaving it to rot, along with its residents who still lived there in such horrendous and repulsive conditions.

In 'Users Alley' she had found solace during her parents' divorce. Through these addicts that she got hooked on drugs, alcohol. Her choices of sin were namely GBH and cannabis. There are times when she had tried out heroin, but her obsession was GBH. It was lucky that she had survived. It was Kincaid who had saved her, something that would be eternally grateful for.

Now, here she was back again. But she knew it was a dream. That conniving fucker was reaping her memories, taunting her about her past.

Her fingers curled inwards into tight fists, and she took a hesitant step back towards the exit of the alleyway. The familiar female's cackle resounded to her right, beside an old dumpster. Sat against its side was a woman in her early thirties. Her once beautiful face was gaunt, lifeless. Cheeks were sunken into her face, skin ashen coloured. Scabs and abrasions were scattered on her bare arms, and along her neck. Her nimble, frail fingers curled loosely around a half drunken Bacardi bottle. Around her tattered jeans was broken and used needles.

Giving Taryn a toothless smile she took a long swig of her bottle. Pushing herself to her feet she staggered forward towards Taryn. Her voice was low, raspy as she asked. "You want a hit sweetheart? We know that you've missed it!"

Taryn spun around, ready to run. But a figure stood in her way. It was herself. A doppelganger, though her skin and facial features were horrific. She looked as though she was near death's door, that she deep in the peril of addiction. Consumed by the drug and alcohol. Her hair was thinner, lifeless and as though it hadn't been washed in weeks. Her once brown, vivid eyes were blood hocked, speckles of burst blood vessels stretched across the whites of her eyes and her pupils were engorged more so than usual. Her shirt and black slacks hung loosely over her frame. The bones around her collar bone and neck were more visible. A sign of weight loss.

Dotted around both her arms were various yellow and blue bruises, along with needle marks that were bleeding profusely. Stains of red crimson liquid trailed down her pale skin. In between the doppelganger's fingers on her right hand was a long thin syringe filled with clear liquid.

Taryn instinctively scooted back and then felt the hoarse breathing of the other addicts behind her. Congregating like vultures, crowding in on her. She glimpsed anxiously behind her seeing about six or seven of them, their ages ranging between late teens to their early fifties. The stench of alcohol and urine hung in the air. Her throat muscles contracted and flinched as she tried hold back the urge to vomit.

Their faces were more or less like the double in front of her, listless. Soulless eyes, blue coloured lips. Blood vessels in the white of their eyes were ruptured, pupils dilated. Their limbs twitched and jerked involuntary at their sides. It seemed that they too had various needles in their hands, along with broken liquor bottles and half empty bottles of beer.

Turning her body half away around she found herself corner between the ghastly spectre of herself and the mob of drug/alcohol addicts. In amongst them was a gangly man she never noticed before, his cruel blue eyes peering through the crowd towards her and soon he smiled vulgarly in her direction. It didn't take long for her mind to register that it was 'Bob', the local drug deal that would have regularly brought her and the rest of the users their gear.

He was always dressed impeccably in the best of clothes - dark jeans, stylish shirts and black boots, finished off by a slick, cunning smile. Pushing through the mass of people he closed the gap on her. "Taryn…." again there was that sly smirk. His voice was deep, hoarse in pitch. "You've came back. You missed it haven't you?"

She shook her head and whimpered, taking a step back from him. "No"

"Aw, don't lie!" he spat.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied his eyes, they were blue. But they shouldn't be, they should be green. Defensively she backed away. Knowing who well this was before her. It wasn't Bob her old dealer.

Bob continued and brandished a thin syringe in his right hand. "Users never lose that urge to get high" he inched closer to her and poised the tip of the needle up slightly. "C'mon, you bitch…take a hit!"

A surge of rage soared through her veins as she lashed out with her right foot and kicked the needle from his hand. Catching an escape route she ran past him, but the swarm of addicts swooped forward to block her route out of the alleyway. Their scraggy, scabby hands grasped and grappled with her as she pitifully tried to push and kick them out of her way.

"NO!" she screeched.

Their raucous, low, drugged induced laughter echoed in her ears and she saw the flash of bottles and needles as they slashed out at her arms, chest and stomach area. Though she never felt the tips of the glass or needles as they tore through her clothes into her skin, there was no rush of blood from her flesh.

What was going on…?

"Bring her to me!"

Her head cracked over towards Bob/Freddy as he snatched the syringe from the gravely ground. He tauntingly brought the tip of the needle to the right side of his face, below his eye and dug it into his skin. With a depraved grin he dragged it down his flesh, splitting it opened to reveal the burnt, blackish skin beneath. Taryn struggled and thrashed against the arms that hauled her forward towards him. "Wake up, wake up…" she whispered over and over.

Bob/Freddy yanked the syringe from his skin and raised it high above his head, flashing his rotten jagged teeth at her. "C'mon Taryn…one last hit before you die!"

She screamed as he swung the needle down right into her chest, pushing it straight into her heart…

In her classroom Taryn's piercing scream rang out as her head shot up from her desk. Wild frightened eyes darted around as she grasped her top, massaging the area around her heart.

Several soft sniggers and giggles resounded behind her from her fellow classmates, but it was the stern voice of her teacher that broke the silence. "Miss Whyte, are you okay?"

She ignored him and gathered her bag, leaving the room without a word or explanation. Charging into the empty toilet area she hurried into the far cubicle and closed the door. For a moment she stood facing the door, regulating her breathing until she had calmed herself. Lowering her gaze, she quickly pulled off her t-shirt and peered at her chest, particularly around the tender flesh above her heart. It was unblemished, not a prick or stab mark. In fact, there was no cut marks or abrasions on her skin at all.

Was it true? Had Freddy lost his ability to hurt people in the dream…?

x x x

Freddy's lips curled upwards into a fiendish grin. Everything was going according to plan. When his apparitions were attacking that bitch Taryn, he could sense the confusion that emanated from her. She was perplexed at how she wasn't bleeding or injured. He would let her, let the rest of them fuckers believe that he was weak. Powerless. Lull them into a false sense of security. It was all a ruse on his part, a way of fucking with their minds. If any of the other's cunts paid him a visit he would toy with them, attack and maim them. But…not allow them to be harmed or allow them to bleed even if he did acquire more souls, more strength.

He did love to play tricks on his victims. Minds games were his favourite kind of game.

As for the other 'dreamers' he was visiting over the last several hours, he was conjuring up quite an insatiable fear from them. So much more than he anticipated. Soon, he would claim a few of their sweet, delicious souls. It had been too long since he saw blood staining his talons. It may have been several days, but it was far too long for him.

As for Katherine, he had to keep everything a secret from her until the time was right to tell her. Even though her personality was starting to change towards him, such as the clinginess that she was demonstrating towards him, he knew that he couldn't fully trust her yet.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't test how well he could put his trust in her.

If she slept tonight, he would experiment the level of trust he could put in her. Though would she keep her mouth shut? Just like she was a little girl?

That was the question.

Nevertheless, tonight he would test her resistance and try to tempt her. She was illustrating a certain level of intimacy towards her, by constantly wanting to be near him. But he wanted more than that level of intimacy, he wanted to experience more sexual pleasure with her and deep down he knew that Katherine wanted that too.

He just had to light the fuse and set her desire on fire…

x x x

Taryn yanked down her top and stared bemusedly at her friends - Kincaid and Joey. They were astounded by her revelation from her dream an hour before. She had skipped her last class and impatiently waited for them to meet her at their usual meeting place, beside the football pitches at the back of the school grounds.

"Are you sure there are no other wounds on you? Any scratches were you can't see?" Joey asked.

"No, I would notice any pain. Believe me, that fucker never hurt me…" she replied quickly, "But I swear I could feel the broken bottles and needles piercing into my skin! I just can't believe that I'm not hurt!"

Kincaid crossed his arm, his dark brown eyes twinkled as an idea entered his mind. "Maybe we should act on this. Attack the bastard!"

"What?!" Taryn shook her head in discord. "No fucking way, not after what he put me through. I'm not going back to sleep"

"But Taryn, Kincaid is right" Joey gently rubbed her back, "If he's lost his powers, then he can't hurt us. We should use this opportunity"

She jerked out of his grasp and soon her limbs began to shake violently. "I c-can't!"

"You never told us what happened in your dream…" Kincaid's voice softened as he considered her response. "Needles…? You said you were attacked with needles?" it dawned on him why she was so jumpy and hesitant about going back to sleep again. That motherfucker had brought up a dark part of her past, her drug use. "It happened in that alley, didn't it?"

Her lips pursed together as she held back a terrified whimper.

"Look, we have to talk to the others about this. If you don't want to go into the dream, then you don't have to. I'm sure the others would be willing to take the chance to face him" slowly his hand entangled with hers and gave it a tender squeeze. "Remember, we're all in this together"

Her tension began to ease, and she gave a feeble nod and soon they began to meander away from the pitches towards the car park "Okay. Are you guys meeting up with Michael and the others this evening? I really don't feel like heading home, my mom will have another go at me! She thinks I'm using again"

"Why would she say that?" Joey glanced over at her.

"Because of the bags under my eyes. Also, I've lost a little weight. When I'm anxious I can't eat" her free hand slithered into her bag that hung on her hips. With a disappointed look she rummaged inside. "Damn, I need cigarettes. Can we stop at a store so I can get some?"

"You really should quit!" Kincaid continued to hold her hand as they walked across the pitch. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, blocking out the warm glare of the sun as thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Well, it's either me being addicted to smoking or GBH. I much prefer smoking!"

He nodded vigorously and agreed. There was no way he would allow her to go down that dangerous, destructive path again. Before that day he found her in that alley, he had barely spoken to her. There were times when she was still enrolled in school that he had seen her in the corridor, even briefly spoken to her. But that was it. He had a few friends that were acquaintances of her. Actually, there were old friends that had cut ties with her when she had fallen into the 'wrong' crowd outside of school and then eventually her drug dealer Bob. She had separated herself from those who had really cared for her and loved her, pushing them away that she ultimately became nasty towards them when her drug addiction took hold. Then no one wanted to help her.

Except for him.

He was the only person who had tried to reach out whenever he saw her about town. It was by pure luck he came across her laying face down in that alley that Saturday afternoon. Perhaps it was fate that he found her in time. He had promised her when she was in rehabilitation that nothing would stop him from taking care of her, that as long as he was around, she would never slip into the life of drugs or addiction.

Though, the longer that they battled Krueger then he would continue to use Taryn's detrimental past against her, bringing it up time and again in her nightmares. That was unless they stood up against him. If he was in a weakened state, unable to exploit his powers then they had to take this opportunity. He tugged Taryn's hand and again declared, "I still think we should use this chance to make a stand against that fucker" he saw her eyes widened in terror at this, then reassured. "Don't worry, you don't have to go to sleep. I'll volunteer to go into the dream"

Joey glimpsed anxiously at his friend, then at Taryn. She too was disturbed at this. "No, it's too dangerous-"

"You said so yourself that he never hurt you!" Kincaid gave a nervous smile. "Nothing will happen to me"

"What if he finds out what terrifies you the most?" Joey whispered. "You heard what Katherine said the other week, he uses your fear against you"

"I told you before, I'm not afraid of anything" he said with conviction. But was he being totally honest with Joey or even himself? Deep down in the pit of his stomach there was a notion that something wasn't right in his home. His mother had been acting rather reserved, quiet over the last few months. Ever since she began dating her new boyfriend. He had met him a handful of times and he seemed a nice enough guy but call it intuition he felt that there was something more to Carter Peterson that met the eye. Due to this he was starting to suffer from bouts of anxiety over what the possibilities or reasons why his mother was acting so timid and quiet.

x x x

There was an animated conversation in the kitchen on the Thompson residence. Taryn had divulged what had occurred in her nightmare a few hours before, while Kincaid propositioned that they should 'make a planned attack' against Freddy. To him it was evident that the madman was weak, no doubt due to his activities in the dream world over the last few days - possessing Michael's body and then erasing parts of Katherine's memories. Why not take the opportunity to strike back? Possibly weaken him further.

"We have to do this, now!" Kincaid eyes glowed with enthusiasm. "The motherfucker is weak; he's lost his ability to hurt us. We can't let this chance pass us by!" he shifted to the right on the sofa and stared at Michael sternly. "You said so yourself, he never hurt you, Kris or Nancy when you fell asleep the other night"

Michael mused his words over silently and gave a slow nod. He was right, Krueger may had depleted his power. But should they take this chance to fight him? Could they? He may have lost his ability to hurt them, kill them, but it didn't mean that he lost his power to manipulate their dreams. Twist and distort it into his own vicious, nightmarish version. The psychological impact he had on Taryn in her nightmare was evident, the girl was sitting shaking and rocking back and forth facing him. Freddy could still hurt them - psychologically.

Sometimes that kind of pain was harder to heal than scars or bruises.

Would it be worth the risk?

He let out a long deep, thoughtful sigh. "I understand your point but look at the state of Taryn. That fucker has hurt her, psychologically"

Taryn looked up from the carpet and stared grimly at him. "I'll be okay. It was just a shock to be reminded of that…place"

He nodded once; his eyes soon diverted back to Kincaid. As much as he wanted to kill that fucker Freddy too, he had to get through to Kincaid the danger they could all face if they faced Freddy even if he had lost his powers or not, "Look what he's done to Katherine"

"Michael is right in what's he saying"

The started teenagers turned in their seats towards the female voice, Michael's mother. She stood at the entrance to the living room with Donald at her side. "It's what Freddy is good at, he's extremely proficient at it. He's had plenty of practice psychologically abusing Katherine since she was a young girl. But not just that, he was so good at luring the children to him when he kidnapped them"

"But this is different" Kincaid rebuked, not giving in.

"You are right in a way" she sighed forbiddingly. "This time he has access to your thoughts, memories" raising her right hand she pointed at the side of her head, "He's in your mind now. That is quite different from when he was alive and manipulating Katherine. He has the upper hand over all of us. Not just his daughter"

The resolute gleam in the young man's eyes faltered as he absorbed her words. She had more experience with Freddy, had encountered him when she lived here with Michael years before. Perhaps he should take heed of her warning. "I understand. I'm sorry, but I just want that bastard stopped. He's killed too many people over the last few weeks"

Sandra offered a congenial smile in his direction. "It's perfectly understandable. But we will find a way to stop him. Keep positive" she looked at them in turn, "All of you have to be optimistic"

"How's Katherine?" Kristen questioned, changing the subject. "Did you get the opportunity to see her?"

The smile faded from Sandra's lips, and she sadly shook her head. "No, I didn't. I'm not sure when I will be allowed to or even if I will be given permission to help counsel her. Dr Simms is adamant that I won't be allowed near her"

Michael interrupted, "But they are considering it? Aren't they?"

"They will, yes" his mother replied. She saw the optimistic expression on his face. It was as though she was his only source of hope in getting to Katherine. Which was true. If she didn't keep her promise and came to Springwood two days ago, then there would have been no possible way of getting in contact with Katherine. She would try with all her vigour, any resource she could find to get to Katherine. Although, she had to be honest with them. More so to Michael. "All of you have to understand, if I do get the chance to counsel her. It doesn't necessarily mean that all of you can see her. Westin Hills like all psychiatric hospitals have specific rules that both patients and visitors must abide by. Visiting times are time limited each day. Sometimes they can be monitored depending on the mental state of the patient"

"What do you mean monitored? Will someone be listening into our conversations? Would there be someone in the room?" Michael demanded; voice tainted with disgust.

His mother nodded sternly. "Yes. That could happen. I just wanted you all to know that. And…" her voice trailed off as she musingly pondered her next words.

Michael saw the muscles on her jaw tighten slightly with worry. "What is it?"

"As you know Michael, Katherine fell asleep last night. You said that Freddy may not have threatened her to go to sleep. So…" she took a deep breath. "We have to assume that Freddy is back to his old tricks of influencing her mind again. He could be putting on the charm again, luring her in as he did when she was a child"

Nancy groaned, "Just like he did before a few weeks ago, when he forced her to sleep or else, he would kill someone" her head shook in dismay. "Hopefully she won't be as gullible this time"

There was a small nod from Sandra at her statement. She agreed with the young woman, appreciating the statement. But there was another aspect that had to be considered. There could be underlying side effects from Katherine's prolonged psychosomatic abuse that that was inflicted on her mind. From her own studies of child abuse, the side-effects would not appear until the victim was years older, perhaps a teenager or adult.

It could manifest in the person's own relationship with others, family members, friends. Even their actions and reactions to certain circumstances and situations they found themselves in would be erratic, abnormal. In some instances, their lifestyles would be destructive and negative on their mental state of mind, and in turn destroying their relationships with others.

As for disclosing this to Michael and the other Elm Street children, it wouldn't be a wise choice. They would ask questions; would they be confused? Maybe afraid of contacting Katherine? Wary if there could be any change in her attitude towards them?

For the time being she would keep it quiet. Getting to Katherine was her main focus. At all costs.

The high pitched shrill of the phone broke the silence in the room, in turn startling some of them. Donald strode across the living room to the phone and answered it. He chatted quietly into the receiver, a hint of confusion and then distraught flashed across his face. Muscles on his brow and cheeks tightened. After a few more minutes he muttered 'goodbye' and hung up.

Turning back towards the living room he noticed Nancy lingering behind him. "Everything okay?"

"That was your mother. She's up at the Hospital" his voice was tight, slightly apprehensive.

Nancy sprang to her feet, fearing the worse. "What's wrong? Is mom okay?"

He hushed her with this hands. "Yes, she's fine. She was out with Rebecca McKenzie at the Mall. They had to phone an ambulance for Rebecca's baby girl"

"Is the baby, okay?"

"I'm not sure. Your mother never went into detail" the tension of his face never faltered as he crossed the living room. "I'm going up to see what's going on. I'll be back in an hour"

She gave a solemn nod, her thoughts going out to Rebecca and her husband Patrick. They had only recently moved to town in the last six months with their young children. Despite Rebecca and Patrick being in their mid-twenties, Nancy had grown close to them during the summer and found them to be quite amiable, kind and forthcoming.

The door slammed as her father left the house.

Soon, the uneasy silence amongst Nancy and the others, was shattered as the sirens of an ambulance resonated in the quiet street. The vehicle flew pass the window in a flash of red and blue flickering lights, down Elm Street…

x x x

Westin Hills 10.35pm…

Deep brown chocolate eyes stared solemnly out at the barren, darkened gardens. Katherine's slim hands gripped the edge of the windowsill as once more she contemplated on seeping. If she dared to dream, would her father smugly taunt her about who he killed? Perhaps presented to her the body in some sick, twisted display of blood and severed flesh? Like it was some sort of work of art?

It was the last thing she fucking wanted. To see a dead decimated body, especially one that belonged to her new friends or particularly her boyfriend, Michael.

But again, that febrile desire to be close to him would not go away. No matter how she had tried to brush it aside or push it to the back of her mind. Her hands were even shaking with anticipation at the meagre thought of being in close proximity to him.

A sensation that she had never experienced in all her life. When she was young, there was this eccentric clinginess that she exhibited towards him. But that was mainly due to their constant, close bond during her childhood. Also, how she isolated herself form the other children.

This was something completely distinctive and different than she could comprehend. Was everything that she had encountered and endured as a child be making her feel this way towards her father…?

Needy.

Even in a way, possessive towards him?

She rested the crown of her head against the pane glass and sighed, her breath fogging up the glass. Lifting her right hand, she lazily trailed her four fingers through the foggy glass, creating four long streaks. Her lips curled upwards in an amused smirk then it quickly disappeared as a reflection in the window caught her eye.

Swirling around she saw one of the nurses lingering in the doorway, a folded newspaper tucked under her right arm. "Hi, here is the newspaper you requested. Sorry for the wait" she looked at her watch then back towards Katherine. "It's lights out in fifteen minutes. Dr Samson will be making their round to make sure that you are in your bed"

Katherine gave a curt nod and wandered towards the nurse, taking the evening edition of the newspaper from her. "Thanks" she mumbled and without another glance at the girl she slithered onto her bed, folding the paper out neatly in front of her.

The nurse closed the door, leaving Katherine sitting alone in her room. Her brooding, sharp gaze concentrated on the front page of the paper. Trying to discern any indication of any strange deaths or suicides in the last 24 hours. The articles were rather tedious, nothing of major interest or concern.

Basically, the local mayor elections, news of prospective jobs being brought into the Town. Possibility of a second Springwood Mall being created in the next year, the expanding of the High School to assist in the high demand of school places. Nothing of deaths of accidents. Not exactly what she was hoping to see, but then again that was good news? Wasn't it?

But then her father wouldn't say those words for nothing, would he? Maybe he had killed someone, maimed them and the news hadn't filtered through to the local media yet.

What if he was killing someone as she was reading this stupid fucking paper?

Her stomach lurched at the thought, and she swiftly folded away the paper onto the side chest of drawers. She manoeuvred her legs upwards and slide them under the blankets, what else was there to do than sleep and find out exactly what her father was up to…

x x x

The metallic screech of steel upon steel greeted Katherine as her eyes snapped opened. She found herself standing perched high on a catwalk, suspended at least twenty feet above the various, vast rusty, old boilers and furnaces in the dark depths below. Her brown hair was steadily becoming damp with sweat from the immense heat that penetrated her skin. Beads of sweat dribbled from her skin pores, down her brow and arms.

She ignored the unrelenting thought of water and cool air to the back of her mind as she took a small cautious step towards the railing. Her slim fingers curled around the dark metal tightly as she peered down below.

A mass of thick smoke distorted her view. It floated just mere metres below the bottom of the catwalk, swirling and twisting in the air. Her eyes slowly roamed to her right down the darkened passageway. Seconds passed. Nothing happened. Not a scream or cry for help.

Just the unremitting rumblings and groans of the metallic machines that surrounded her. She scowled and averted her eyes back down to the left, leaning over the railing a few more inches…

Screech…

Her body jerked back instinctively, and she looked to her right then left, expecting her father to appear. The catwalk was empty, apart from herself. Again, the irritating metallic screech reverberated from all around her, particularly from the corridor below.

Taking a swift step towards the barrier again her head swooped down towards a shrouded body that was running within the smoke below. From her height and the density of the steam she was uncertain as to who it was, whether they were female or male. Neither mind what they were wearing or their hair colour.

Their frantic, wheezing hovered upwards towards her through the hot air. As the individual cried out another ear-splitting screech echoed from behind the person. Katherine cursed to herself, unable to discern if it was a female or male's voice who was calling for help. Was her father deliberately trying to keep the person's identity from her?

To her right Katherine saw another shadow stalking amongst the barren, metal corridor and could see the faint outline of her father's fedora hat. His right hand was extended to his right, the tips of his claw slithering across the steel walls as he went. Pushing differentiating amounts of pressures on the blades, making short sharp screeches every now and then. In between his sadistic, cruel laughter.

Surprising herself she called out to him. "Dad!"

He fleetingly glanced up to her and gave her a twisted, sly smirk, then soon focused his attention on the matter at hand.

His prey.

Katherine snarled with rage, again disgusted at being ignored by him and without another thought she ran down the walkway to her left. There was a staircase in this direction, it was like all those times he brought her here as a child. Showing her every corridor, every hallway, walkway was invading her unconscious. She knew how to get down to the depths below. But would she make it on time?

Coming to an intersection of catwalks she turned to the right and rushed down towards a small set of steps. She staggered down them and glanced quickly over the edge of the railing, once more unable to distinguish the individual her father was stalking. The steam seemed to become opaquer. It was even beginning to distort her own view ahead. Prudently she slowed her pace and clenched the railing at either side of her. Her hands glided along the metal as she hesitantly moved forward, examining the misty view in front.

Dark shapes moved back and forth of varying sizes. It didn't take long for her to recognise that they were children, running to and fro. Giggling and laughing as they played a light-hearted game of tag. They zigzagged in amongst each other as if they were playing tag in the monstrous metal catwalks.

After a few moments they began to hum, then melodiously sing that disturbing, jump rope song.

'One, two Freddy's coming for you…'

Katherine stared intently at them, letting the song take her. Her mind wandered as she lost herself in the soft, rhythmic lyrics of the song. Her dark brown eyes darkened in colour, as she too began to chant the song to herself ever so quietly as a wild grin spread across her dry lips. It was though she was unable of control herself…

As the jump rope song ended, the children dissipated into thin air as they ran. Katherine shook her head, breaking out of her strange trance, becoming afraid and perplexed as to the reasons why she was singing along with the children? Was she really losing her mind?

She ceased her movements, her muscles along her arms and neck tensing as she sensed a presence. But something else was amiss, gone was the metal grating below her bare feet. In its place was hard, wet concrete. Looking around wildly she discovered herself to be down in the corridor her father was pursuing his victim, whoever they may be.

Did her father reposition herself, move her without her knowing to the corridor below? Nonetheless, it suited her. Springing into a dash she followed the loud insane cackling of her father into the next interconnecting passageway. To her disappointment another copious layer of steam warped her sight in front of her.

She slowed to a nervous stop; her eyes squinted sharply as she scrutinized the soft red glow in the midst of the steam. A lanky figure shifted, in the shadows, then stood in front of was someone. Yet again, she was unable to discern who it was. Her legs suddenly grew rigid as she heard the grunt and snarls of her father as he held his victim against the steel wall.

Her bottom lip dropped opened as she tried to call out, but the words were lodged in her throat. The terror of who it could have caused her to lose her ability to speak. There was one last malevolent laugh she saw him raised his right arm, then struck a deadly blow at his victim.

Katherine jumped back as a blast of hot steam spurted out from a cracked pipe to her left, blocking out whoever had uttered a loud piercing roar of excruciating pain. She herself too screamed out, though in deep frustration. Why was he insisting on keeping his kill from her? Why was he being so secretive? Was it a way of inflicting psychological torment on her? Make her sick with worry as to who he had killed out of the others?

Why was he doing this to her?

Her eyes narrowed, peering at his shadow in the mist that was now dragging a limp body into another corridor. Deep moans and groans of pain echoed down the passageway towards her. Slowly, she began to venture forward though a frown soon graced her face. A wet substance coated her bare feet, making her cringe in repulsion. But that wasn't all. As she tried to lift her foot from the ground it seemed to slack, sluggishly in its movements. She glanced down at the ground seeing dark, reddish liquid on the metal ground.

It surrounded her feet, stretching onwards down the corridor in front of her. She grunted and muttered to herself as she mustered to lift her feet, to move forward.

The skin on her feet were soon encrusted with the gooey red liquid, it pulled her feet back down to the ground. She screamed out in annoyance and yanked her right leg upwards, trying to rip the substance away from her foot. But instead, she only caused herself to fall forward onto her hands. "Fuck!"

A humorous chortle resounded from around the next corner where her father had disappeared to. He was watching her every move and she knew it. Pulling her palms from the ground her eyes widened in horror, then disgust at the thin red remains of human tissue and veins that was smeared in blood.

She shrieked, pushing in pitiful vain at the floor to free herself from her situation. "Damn it!" she hissed and then cursed again. "For fuck's sake!"

"Tut, tut!" came a disappointed growl. "Watch your mouth sweetheart"

Katherine snarled quietly and lethargically began to crawl forward, managing to move forward barely a few inches. Her once pristine white nightdress was marred with the vestiges of the bloodied veins, muscled tissue and blood. After a few more minutes of crawling, she discovered that the gory substance was no longer coating the ground.

She could finally stand and freely move her body without any resistance.

Catching her breath Katherine took a brief moment to compose herself and sprinted down the passageway into the next corridor where her father waited with a cunning grin at an opened furnace. Her eyes scoured the area in and around him, there was no body visible or human remains. But it was apparent that he had killed someone, the blood that stained his claw was evidence.

Freddy licked his lips in a lewd fashion then finally greeted her. "Hi, honey. You missed the show!"

Her hands clenched together at her sides in fury. "Look at the state of me!" she nodded at her stained nightdress. "Why did you do that? Huh? Why did you not want me to see who you killed?

He chuckled naughtily at her. "I don't want to spoil the surprise" his callous blue eyes roamed over he bloodied dress. "And if you aren't happy with the mess on your nightdress, then you can easily take your nightdress off!"

"I don't think so!" she snapped and marched towards him. Her gaze turned towards the furnace, expecting to see the charred remains of this victim. But there was nothing but a frayed, burnt garment laying inside. "So, who did you kill?"

Slowly he brought the tips of his crimson stained blades to his opened mouth and languidly licked them clean. His penetrating gaze never strayed from hers. "I ain't telling baby girl"

Katherine's frowned in disappointment. Her eyes were fixated on his slow deliberate actions. Becoming strangely captivated by it, how easily he could glide his tongue along the smooth blades without cutting his tongue. Though it was something more than that, the image of his tongue gliding out and sliding along something else was invading her mind.

The thought of him gliding his tongue along her skin, her neck, more so the inside of her thigh was starting to become more alluring…

Shaking her head, she pushed those dark, perverse thoughts out of her mind. Why in god's name was she pondering such depraved, sick deliberations?

"I know you're tempted, Katherine" Freddy said with a vicious smirk. He had easily read her mind seconds before, and what he noticed was intriguing. Just like he always knew there was a twisted sick of her persona that had deep, sexual cravings. Just like he did. She wanted him just as much he wanted her.

It was time to tempt her a little.

Looking at her closely, he noticed her eyes had narrowed. The muscles around her lips had constricted as he sneered at him with suspicion. "What do you mean by that?"

"Now, c'mon…" he closed the gap between them, but she defensively moved back. A steel wall now stood behind her, blocking her in. She jumped as her back collided with the steel. Freddy raised his arms and places the palm of his claw and scorched left hand at either side of her head. "I know what you are thinking of. I saw the image that you were thinking of"

She glowered at him and remained calm. Ignoring the burning craving that was stirring within her. Straightening her back she stood her ground. "It means nothing"

A rapturous cackle resounded from him as he leaned forward, tucking a few strands of her brown hair behind her right ear as his lips swiftly brushed by them. "I think it means something, don't you? This temptation will be too strong for you to resist. So, why don't you give in now?"

A lump form in her throat as his mouth slightly parted and he indolently licked the bottom of her earlobe to the top. Katherine let out a stifled moan and whimpered as he began to nip and nibble at the rim of her ear, then with a snarl his lips moved down towards the crook of her throat. Above her collarbone and instantly began to suck, nibble and lick at her tender flesh.

She moaned again, more deeply and loudly then nervously grabbed the rough, tatty red and green material of his sweater. "This isn't r-right…." her voice faltered.

Freddy chuckled against her skin and withdrew his head from the nook of her neck. "Give me one good reason!"

Tears began to dampen her cheeks as she gathered her confused thoughts. "Because you're my father"

He gave a wolfish grin. "That only makes it more special. You've missed me, haven't you? You said so yourself!"

"Yes, I have missed you daddy…" she nodded vigorously. "I want us to be close again, but…not l-like this!"

The grin remained on his face, growing wider into a vicious smile as he said darkly. "Little liar. You want this. You want me to make you feel special"

Snapping her eyes closed she held back a sob. Somehow deep down inside of her, she knew that he was right. It was wrong, immoral and she knew it. Then why did she want it so much? Had her childhood fucked up her mind so much over the last several weeks that she was contemplating on letting him perform sexual acts on her? Was this longing too strong to oppose? To push aside?

There was a high screech of metal upon metal to the left of her face, which made her yelp in fright and jolt her eyes opened. The points of his steel talons tapped lightly on his chest as he waited for her response. "Tell me, do you want me to make you feel special?"

Lazily she dropped her hands to her sides and with a simple, short nod of her head she made her decision. A moment passed before Freddy brought two blades to the top of her stained nightdress and fluently tore down the middle, tearing the fabric in two. The soft red glow from the furnace shed light on her heaving chest that was encased in a simple cotton sports bra. She felt the textile being discarded from her shaking body and she waited for his next course of action. He positioned his right leg in between hers and roughly pushed them part and with a wicked grin he tugged her pants down with his scarred fingers.

Her skin quickly broke out into goosebumps, and she whimpered as the hot air from the corridor washed over her core, then soon a scarred hand was upon her. Massaging her sluggishly, in a circular motion. Her head lulled backwards, resting on the wall behind her. Before long Freddy closed the gap between their mouths, "Like this, don't ya?"

She disregarded his question and tried to look away to the left, but he growled in rage and grabbed her chin, to jerk her back to face him. "Don't look away" his black pupils glowed red in ire. "Answer me. You like…" he inserted a finger into her ever so slowly. "don't you?"

"Mmm…" she moaned loudly at the sudden intrusion. Surprised at how aroused he was making her feel within a matter of seconds. "y-yes"

He chortled mischievously and enthusiastically licked his lips, before locking his mouth onto her in a hungry, ravenous kiss. It took a matter of seconds before she returned the kiss, lost in the passion of what was happening.

It was at this moment she knew that she was losing her mind…

Freddy brought his claw to her left breast, kneading it softly as he slide another digit into her core. He smoothly plunged them in and out, picking up his speed as the seconds passed by. Breaking the heated kiss, she moaned intensely as he drove his fingers into her deeper than before.

Her hands tightly gripped his sweater again as she cried out in fervour as he flicked his thumb over her hardened bud. Averting her passionate gaze towards his, she saw the pleased smirk that graced across his burnt face. It was as though he was enjoying the sight of her acting this way, reacting to his touch.

As though he had this all planned.

Maybe he did, but at this moment she didn't give a fuck.

She just wanted him to continue his ministrations upon her centre.

Unexpectedly she tugged him closer to her and reached down with her right hand to tug at his belt. Trying to unbuckle it. Freddy chuckled lightly, "And what do you think you're doing?"

Her eyes darted from his to his belt with urgency. More than that, with desire. "P-please…."

He pondered silently. Should he give into her demands? As much as he longed to fuck her again, it would be on his terms. Not hers. He would be in control; he would decide when that happened. It would not be tonight. A sly smirk crossed his lips as he leaned forward, knowing that she expecting him to say 'yes'. Seeing her eyes amplify in anticipation he soon shattered her hopes. "No, not tonight"

Katherine's lips curled downwards in disenchantment, then it was soon replaced by rage as she bared her teeth in a sneer. He laughed at her, mocking her as he crashed his lips upon hers once more. Roughly prying her lips parted with his own as his long serpent like tongue slide in to ravage and rape her mouth. She groaned against his mouth and moaned loudly into this mouth as the speed of his thumb against her sensitive bud increased, in line with the plunging of his fingers into her slick, wet core.

Tearing his lips from hers he panted as he heard a longing, immersed moan came from her throat. Her eyes were glazed, lost in the pleasure that was overpowering her. Her fingers curled into his fabric as she felt a deep, tingling sensation from her loins. It spread like wild-fire to every nerve, every sensitive spot in her body. Her eyes fluttered, nearly rolling into the back of her head as she cried out in a fit of ecstasy, as her orgasm overpowered her, and her tight walls clamped around his scarred fingers.

Flashing her a victorious grin she lazily rested her head on his chest, catching her breath as she came down from her sexual high. Raising his clawed glove, he gently stroked her matted, sweaty hair and after what seemed like an eternity to her, he pushed her head back against the wall.

"I told you that I would make you feel special, princess" he said with a twisted smile.

Her eyes focused on his. Noticing the darkness that tainted them. The immorality that clouded them was starting to permeate and stain her soul. And there was nothing she could do about it.

X x x

Dark brown eyes snapped opened as Katherine sat up in her bed. Her hands gripped the edge of her blanket, as she gathered her breath. An involuntary shiver ran over her skin as she thought back to the disturbing, perverse events from her dream. She had lost control of her senses. How could she allow him to do that to her? Pleasure her. It was fucking twisted. Maybe her mind was becoming depraved and corrupt as his.

But perhaps it was the momentary loss of senses, of her moral code that caused her to act that way. Next time she would resist his advances. For the sake of her sanity, she had to.

Her pensive teary eyes glanced down beneath the covers, seeing that the fabric of her night dress was torn down the middle and her pants were tugged down towards her knees. Thankfully, there was none of that bloodied residue coating her torn night-garment.

It may not have been anyone's blood, possibly an idea her father came up with to disrupt her. Keep her at bay from finding out who he was killing. Her father wasn't very forthcoming when she questioned him about who he murdered. He had woken her up mere minutes after her sexual encounter with him, no doubt wanting to keep her on edge and suspicious as to who he had murdered. It had to be one of the others, who else would it be?

Once more her skin broke into goosebumps as more chills slithered across her body. Throwing off her bedclothes she slid the torn nightdress from her figure and folded the two pieces into neat bundles. There had to be a way of discarding the garments. It would be stupid to leave them in the room's bin as the orderlies would question why her nightdress was being thrown out. The staff were quite quizzical and prying.

She stood from the bed and saw the piece of luggage that had contained her clothes. Walking over towards it she shoved the tattered material inside and zipped it up, before pushing it under her bed.

Her eyes surveyed the dimly lit room, the only source of light was the hazy orange glow of the sun rising in the distance outside. It was nearing 5.40am. It was useless going back to sleep as her father would probably push her out of the dream, awakening her again. It was like a funny game to him, keeping her mind on edge and wary of who he had claimed as his latest victim.

Well, it wasn't amusing to her. Not in the slightest.

Turning towards the small chest of drawers next to the bed, she pulled out the top drawer and took out a pair of dark navy jogging bottoms and simple white t-shirt. There wasn't much variety of clothes that the Nurse had packed for her. Perhaps she should request for more of her clothes to be brought to the Hospital. There was no chance of anyone visiting her was there. Not a chance in hell.

As she started to shut the drawer she noticed a silver photo-frame tucked in between a folded shirt. It then occurred to her that the Nurse must have placed a photo of her and Michael in her bag from her dormitory. Perhaps to cheers her up.

She gripped the frame and hauled it from the drawer, turning it over to stare vacantly at her and Michael. It was from their Prom months before, standing in front of the navy backdrop with yellow glitter. Their merry, smiling faces stared at the camera without a care in the world.

Slumping despondently onto the bed, Katherine's shoulders slouched forward as her hands tightened around the frame. Her fingertips on her right hand trailed lightly over the glass, along the edge until it traced the outline of Michael's face. A scowl suddenly formed across her face as she placed the picture on the bed. Why was he not visiting her? Did he not care for her anymore? They were meant to be in love, weren't they?

Could it be that his stance towards her had changed? Was that the reason he wasn't visiting her?

Again, a forlorn frown graced her face as she sat back on the bed, tucking her legs under her arms. Her eyes gloomily stared at the photo. As each hour and each day passed by, the feeling of being abandoned by him and the others was growing more potent. It was becoming more apparent to her that they possibly didn't care for her at all…

9.20am…

The strong, lean frame of Max meandered down the corridor. Smiling and waving at his fellow staff members as he started his shift, another long twelve hours of labour. He peeked into a bedroom to his left, seeing that it was vacant. He knew that most of the patients on the ward would be present in the canteen. Very rarely did the patients missed meals. It was a habit of his to scour each bedroom, to check that everyone had visited the canteen for their morning meal. He was about to turn back the way he came when a blond-haired female nurse trotted up to him, a wary look adorning her face. "Morning Max"

"Morning Pauline. Is everything okay?" he looked at her expectantly.

"I can't seem to persuade that new girl to go to the canteen" she gestured over her shoulder with a nod of her head, down at the far bedroom on the left. "Katherine Krueger, I think that's what you call her. She won't move from her bed. I've been trying to talk to her for the last twenty minutes"

He sighed softly. "Okay, I'll talk to her. I think Dr Simms wants to talk to staff down at the staff room. She wants to keep us updated with the new influx of patients coming in. We've got at least half a dozen new patients coming in this evening. Tell her I'll be down as soon as I can"

"No problem. Thanks" the nurse smiled graciously at him, then went on her way.

Without wasting another second, Max marched down towards Katherine's room and peered around the door frame inside. He found her sitting like a statue on the bed, legs tucked tightly under her arms. Her fingers coiled tightly around her knees, the knuckles turning white at how taut her grip was. Her dark brown eyes stared straight ahead at the far wall. Unblinking, her face emotionless. She looked lost.

Max took a step into the doorway and softly cleared her throat to try and grab her attention.

The girl didn't flinch.

He advanced towards her, slowly and prudently. It was wise to approach patients in this motionless state as calmly and quietly as possible. He ceased two feet from the side of her bed and whispered, "Katherine. Are you okay?"

Again, barely a flicker of movement. Her brown eyes were affixed on the wall facing her. A few seconds went by until he took another prudent step towards her and once more whispered. "Katherine, it's me. It's Max"

Lethargically her head veered to the right, listless eyes glaring at him. A single tear then escaped her right eye, trailing down her pale skin. Her voice was low, barely audible to him. "I need to see the paper"

"What? Why?" he watched as she slowly twisted on the mattress towards him.

"I just need to see it" Katherine begged softly, "Please"

Max took a few last steps towards the bed and sat at her side. "Firstly, promise me you will go down to the canteen. You need some food, keep your strength up. You have a long day ahead of you. Dr Simms has another session with you after 11am"

The air was suddenly pierced by her amused, bitter laughter. "Great!" the young woman sneered; eyes gleaming with contempt at the thought of being in the same room as her again. "This is all I need!"

"It won't take long" he gently placed a warm right hand on her shoulder, "I understand that not many of the patients in here like her. But she does have your best interests at heart"

"I doubt that" she mumbled harshly and averted her gaze towards the floor despondently. There was nothing that would cheer up her sullen mood.

"Listen, I know that you're probably feeling lonely in here. But I'm sure you'll get some visitors today-"

Katherine's head whipped up; the corner of her lips curled into a sneer. "Now that's a load of shit. Visitors? No one has come to visit me in the last few days. Why would they start now?" her voice faltered off as she took a shuddering breath. The next words floated from her mouth in a soft murmur. "They're probably dead"

He leaned forward, not believing his ears. "What did you say?"

"Nothing" her head shook back and forth, dismissing his question. "Can you get me that paper? Please?"

Rising to his feet he gave a quick nod. "But only if you come with me to the canteen"

Letting her feet uncurl from under her legs she placed her feet on the ground and stood up beside him. "Okay, I will. Just get me the Springwood Gazette"

x x x

The crisp pages of the Springwood Gazette were crumpled together in aggravation as Katherine finished browsing the newspaper. To her dismay and annoyance there was no evidence of any deaths, well none that grabbed her attention. Michael's name nor any of the other's names were mentioned. But her father had to have killed someone? Could they be dead, and their bodies have not been discovered yet? There were so many fucking questions she had and no way for them to be answered. Her father was not going to tell her who he killed, was he?

She took a fleeting glance at her empty plate, then pushed it away to the side. Her eyes glimpsed at the clock at the far end of the canteen. It was now 10.30am. Nearly time for another pointless therapy sessions with that cow Dr Simms, who was pretending to care for her. Spouting fake words of kindness. It was false words to her. Meaningless.

No one cared for her.

It was becoming apparent that it was only him who did care for her and who ever would.

As for Michael, if he was alive, he wasn't even bothering to show up at the hospital. Even attempting to get into the hospital. Oh, he did when she was first admitted here. But there wasn't any further effort since then.

Nothing.

Gritting her teeth together she swiftly rose to her feet and with a disgruntled scowl, marched out of the canteen and back towards the corridor where her room was. As she briskly walked by one of the therapy rooms a voice called out, catching her attention.

"Miss Krueger"

She stopped; another infuriated scowl stretched across her lips once again as she turned to face Dr Simms. The older woman stood a few feet behind her, eyes glaring at her sternly. Katherine sighed and returned her unyielding stare. Her voice was simmering with disdain. "Yes?"

Simms took a few steps towards the girl. "Would you please accompany me to the medical room?"

"What for?" she asked suspiciously.

"I want to check your lacerations and check your weight. As I have briefly mentioned to you before, we have to constantly check your wounds. Make sure they are healing well"

Katherine defiantly crossed her arms, "They're fine" she turned to walk, "I'm going to my room"

Dr Simms called out, not at Katherine but towards a nearby male orderly. "David. If you could please stop her"

A tall, brown-haired man quickly stepped in Katherine's way, blocking her path. Her brown eyes narrowed in fury at his actions, and she sneered at him. "Move out of my way"

"No, you have to follow Dr Simms instructions" he gently took her right arm and tugged her back down the corridor.

Her legs were sluggish, barely responsive as she was half-dragged down towards the medical sideward. Dr Simms walked a few feet ahead of them, glancing back at her with a grim, stony stare. Not impressed by Katherine's lack of co-operation. Shaking her head, she advanced towards the second last door on their right and opened it, then stepped aside to allow Katherine to be escorted into the room.

As she passed Katherine threw an irritated glare in her direction.

Dr Simms rolled her eyes in dismay, having seen this kind of behaviour time and time again. Patients that were flippant and stubborn in not obeying the hospital rules was quite common. It wasn't something that she liked or would tolerate.

After thanking the male orderly Dr Simms closed the door as she entered the medical room. Stood at the side counter was a young female nurse, ready for any instructions that would be given her way. Pulling her gaze away from the blond-haired nurse Simms moved towards Katherine as she lingered beside a bed, her head was bowed. Long veil of brown hair shielded her face as she glowered at her feet. Simms knew that the girl was angry at being ushered down the hallway in the manner that she was.

"Miss Krueger, would you please sit on the bed. I'd like to take your blood pressure" she asked softly. "I understand that you were not happy with the way you were brought down to this room. But as I have said to you before, there are rules you must abide by. If I tell you to do something or to go somewhere you must comply with my request"

Slowly, Katherine lifted her head and spun away, to quickly sit on the edge of the bed. Her fingers curled tightly around the edge of the mattress, yet still she did not direct her eyes towards Dr Simms. Her voice was strict, harsh. "Just do what you need to do. I want to back to my room as soon as possible"

"Mmm…" Simms murmured quietly and went about the brief medical check-up. "The Nurses and Orderlies have mentioned that you have been sleeping quite a lot over the last few days since you've been here"

Katherine shrugged casually in response.

Not satisfied with the girl's reply Simms stepped in front of her. "Please answer me. Is there any particular reason why you are sleeping so much? One of the nurses caught you having a nap the other morning"

"I was tired" Katherine answered, her utilitarian eyes burned into hers. "Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"No" Simms slowly rolled up Katherine's left sleeve, then gestured for the nurse to hand her a stethoscope and then the sphygmomanometer. Slowly, she wrapped the navy cuff around the upper area of Katherine's arm tightly over the head of the stethoscope that was placed in the joint of her arm that connected the lower and upper segments. Katherine stared distantly at her arm as Simms began to pump the cuff, easing air into the fabric until it tightened around her flesh. After a few moments Simms released her hand on the pump, then quickly noted down the blood pressure measurements on a clipboard. "Your blood pressure is normal"

The girl lifted her head towards her, though didn't speak.

Sighing disappointedly Simms took her left arm and began to inspect her scars. Her right hand roamed lightly over the lacerations; the redness was starting to fade in colour. "Is there any irritation?"

Katherine's eyes flickered to her arm, where it lingered for a few seconds then watched as Simms gently applied a white creamy residue to each scar. "Katherine, please speak to me. Have your scars been irritating you? Are they itchy or sore?"

Gradually Katherine pulled her vacant, lost gaze from her arm towards Simms aging face. Blinking once her voice was low and bitter as she replied. "No, the only thing that is irritating me is you"

Simms crossed her arms in annoyance. Then she calmly took a deep breath, as usual she had heard this kind of remarks from patients in the past. Though this time the steely, ruthless glare that Katherine was throwing in her direction was unnerving her. Those brown eyes for a few seconds looked like black holes. Complete darkness. Pushing that thought away Simms cleared her throat. "I understand that you are aggravated at being in Westin Hills, but as I have said before it is in your best interests for you to stay here. You are mentally ill, you need help"

Katherine mumbled incoherently and averted her passive gaze towards her lap, not uttering another word as the Doctor finished the brief medical. Checking her weight, her heart rate on an ECG machine and checking her bloods. After placing the small capsule of her blood in a small plastic container labelled with her name, Simms turned towards the girl and gave a warm smile, asking. "Would you please take off your t-shirt? I want to inspect your wounds on your back"

There was a moment when Katherine refrained from responding, her eyes stared blankly at Simms. Dark brown orbs glaring at grey-ish blues ones. As Simms lips began to part to speak again, Katherine gradually began to rise to her feet and discard the t-shirt from her slim frame, then with one last icy glare she turned around so that her back was facing Simms.

The doctor took a step forward and scrutinized the long, jagged pinkish whip marks. They zigzagged and crossed each other. To her satisfaction the abrasions were healing well. Still, it was important to keep the scars clean. "Miss Krueger, I would like you to come to here each morning for the next few days so that one of the nurses can apply anti-sceptic cream to keep your wounds clean. So that there is no risk of infection"

Twisting her head over her left shoulder Katherine simply asked, "Can I see them?"

"I don't think that is a w-"

"I want to see them" the girl snapped abruptly, "I know that there were photos taken of my injuries. Do you have them?"

"Yes, but I don't have them at hand at present" Simms eyes narrowed in bewilderment at the young woman's bizarre request. "Why do you wish to see them?"

"I want to see what's happened to my body" Katherine was telling the truth to a certain degree, she wanted to know what he had done to her. How he had physically changed her body over the last week or two. What scars he had left on her.

"I will get the photos and show them to you at our therapy session" Simms explained. "Firstly, let's get this" she gestured towards a small white tub in her left hand. "on your wounds. Then we can head down to the therapy room. If you wish we can discuss your wounds, what has happened to you over the last few weeks? Is that the reason why you want to see them?"

Her lips remained tightly pursed together, not replying.

Simms sighed softly and without another word gently smeared the cool cream on Katherine's back. A low 'gasp' left her lips at the sudden coldness on her marred flesh.

After a few silent awkward minutes, Simms broke the silence. "Our session today will only last forty-five minutes. Unfortunately, my time with you from now on will be limited. I'm on a tight schedule over the next week or so"

Katherine gave a quiet curt nod. Understanding that Simms meant, there was quite a number of new faces in the canteen that morning. Although she may have kept her head down and focused on the Springwood Gazette, that didn't mean that she never noticed the additional patients that where there. There were whispers among the orderlies that these were the 'patients' from Fairview Hospital. It was apparent that any spare time that Simms had would now be occupied by the new arrivals. Perhaps that was good news for Katherine. The less she saw of Simms the better…

The door slammed behind Simms as her and Katherine entered the therapy room. Katherine sluggishly lowered herself into her seat and began to tuck her knees under her arms. Her brown eyes rested on the table between them. For a brief moment there was silence until the rustle of papers and then several coloured photos were placed on the table.

Katherine sat forward in her seat, her right arm stretching forward to grab one of the photos. It revealed the middle of her back, disfigured by long, jagged lash marks. Deep reddish wounds that were bleeding profusely, judged by the trails of blood that stained her skin.

"These were taken when you were first admitted to Springwood General. At the time you were unconscious" Simms watched as Katherine lifted two more photos, scrutinizing them quickly then set them back down on the table.

"Do you want to talk about it Katherine? Do you remember who attacked you that night?" Simms enquired. Her gaze centred on Katherine's face as the girl buried her face to the side against her knees, her vacant stare set upon the far wall.

For the next few minutes Simms gently endeavoured to question Katherine about the 'attack' at the dormitory, and each time there was no response. Changing the subject Simms noticed that there was a soft, sniffling sound emanating from the girl. She leaned forward in her seat, eyes focusing through the matted brown locks surrounding the left side of Katherine's face. The girl shifted on her seat, twisting her head back straight. Her attention was still not directed at Simms, but the door behind her.

"Katherine, why are you crying?"

Raising her right hand, she wiped idly at her flushed face. Not a word was uttered in reply. Thoughts and emotions crashed and collided in her mind. Each minute that went by, each hour that passed showed that she really was alone. As much as she tried to focus on other things, her mindset was still wandering back towards Michael and the others. They had abandoned her; it was becoming more of a thought but more of a realisation.

To her it was more a fact. They had deserted her.

"I understand that the last few days have been strange, well actually they have been daunting for you" Simms interlinked her hands, giving the girl a soft smile. "But don't worry, you are in the best place. You may feel alone…"

Her voice trailed off as she saw Katherine's lips tremble, moving slightly. "Did you say something?"

Katherine's dark brown eyes pulled towards hers. The normal icy glare was gone, a slight smirk tainted her mouth as she mumbled inaudibly. "I'm not alone…I've got him"

"Him?" Simms attention perked.

"Yes, I've got him…" Katherine murmured once more. Those dark brown eyes of hers rolled downwards to her hands, where they stayed. The words 'I've got him' replayed over and over in her confused mind. Why should she think that she was alone, forsaken? When she really did have someone, her father.

But if her father had killed them over the last few days, then would she be able to forgive him? Allow him back into her life and actually have a relationship with him? She did love him, that would always be. Nevertheless, she despised his murderous, sadistic ways. However, that was who he was. He had always been this way and even as a little girl she knew he was killing the other children, her own friends and her love for him didn't wane or wither away.

Blood was thicker than water, as the saying goes.

Katherine could hear Simms old, gravelly voice chirping away. Asking questions but receiving no reply from her. Why should she waste her breath responding to this vile woman? She was of no concern to her.

A breathless, aggrieved grumble came from Simms as she shook her head. It was futile, the last thirty minutes was squandered, wasted. "I think we should call it a day. I can see you are not in a forthcoming, talkative mood. I hope you will be tomorrow"

Katherine's gaze flicked upwards as she saw Simms rise to her feet, gathering her notes and photos as she did so. "I'll get Max to escort you back to your room"

Sluggishly, Katherine un-tucked her legs from under her arms and staggered to her feet, a little too eagerly and walked briskly towards the door.

The door suddenly opened and there stood Max with a friendly smile, "Woah, hold up girl!"

She flashed him a genuine apologetic smile and pursed him down the hallway. He took a fleeting glance over his shoulder, making sure Simms was out of sight. "So, how was your session?"

"Exciting!" she replied dryly.

He rolled his eyes and laughed at her sarcasm. "Don't worry, you'll get out of here soon enough"

Katherine nodded silently, hoping he was right. And perhaps her father could help her…

Later that afternoon…2pm.

"I've got a surprise for you"

Katherine twisted around in her chair towards the sound of Max's voice. Despite having a good association with him over the last few days, there was still a feeling of vigilance that stemmed from her. Her eyes slithered over his face with prudence, "What do you mean?"

"Come with me" he gesticulated with his hand towards the corridor. "You'll be happy. I know it"

Throwing her magazine on the bed she trudged begrudgingly after him. She had hoped to be left alone for the majority of the day. Isolation was starting to become normal for her. During that day that was. Lifting her wary eyes from the ground she saw Max turn into the abdicant corridor down towards the games room, passing the door until he came to a stop at another door. Was this the visitors room? He had mentioned it briefly to her before. The rapid, thunderous beat of her heart roared in her ears. Had someone finally come to see her?

Her mouth parted in mild shock and soon she found herself picking up an old habit, the twirling and twisting of her t-shirt in her slim hands. The sound of the door creaking opened alerted her senses and she took a few cautious steps into the room.

Sat at the far end of the room a small rectangular table was Michael. He sprang to his feet and ran towards her, a jubilant smile adorning his fatigued face. "Kathy!"

A stifled sob escaped her throat as she threw her arms around his neck, burying her head into the crook of his throat. "Oh Michael, t-thank god…. you're alive" tears matted her face, wetting his own skin.

He hushed her and gently caressed her back. Every muscle of her body jerked and trembled under his touch. "It's okay" the softness of his voice started to soothe her. "There's someone here. I've brought someone to see you"

Katherine stepped back from him; perplexity spread across her crying face. "What? Who?"

He smiled broadly and nodded over her shoulder at a figure looming behind. She spun around, the look of bewilderment remained for a matter of seconds at the woman before her, Sandra Turner.

Sandra gave an affectionate smile as she walked towards her and simply said, "Hello, Katherine"

Katherine felt a surge of fury ascend from the pit of her stomach, swirling and spreading to her muscles, her nerve endings. A little voice in her mind began to whisper to her, remind of what she, Sandra had done. Kept the secret of her father's all these years. Let her pretend that her father was really alive, when in fact her own husband Christopher had helped burn him alive. Her fingers coiled inwards and with a snarl she stepped back. "What are you doing here?"

Nodding mutely Sandra knew that the girl would have been suspicious, wary of talking to her. Especially after learning of what Sandra knew, that she hid the secret of her father's fiery death from her. The young woman had every right to be cynical towards her. "I think it's time we talked Katherine"