Author's Note: I had planned to update this sooner. But due to some personal things and just life in general it took me a little while longer.
I have also decided to focus on this story for the next few chapters. I would like to try and get this story completed in the new year. I have an idea of where the story will lead to. Though the ending is still kind of not fully planned. I am not sure whether to have it be a happy ending or not lol.
There will be some deaths and possibly mature themes in the next few chapters.
Chapter 13: The Painful Truth
The darkened streets of Springwood flew by as Sandra drove through the town. it had been fifteen minutes since she had left Westin Hills, having spoken briefly with Michael to discern if they had contacted everyone. Her son had managed to contact Kristen, Joey and Taryn. They had hoped to meet up with Kincaid. But having contacted his home they discovered that he not returned from the local boxing gym he had regularly attended. It was then that Sandra knew that Krueger may have targeted Kincaid. She had quickly suggested that they met there at the gym. But she had a feeling that were too late.
Her assumptions were correct as she turned her car into a next street. At the far end was the flicker of red and blue lights. The street was cornered off by three polices cars and an ambulance. She pulled her car to stop about fifty yards away and ran towards the scene. A small crowd of bystanders had gathered from a few nearby bars and restaurants, eager to find out what was going on. She pushed by them and saw thick yellow police tape wrapped around two tall lampposts on either side of the road. It blocked the crowd from venturing any further. She pushed her way through them towards the front and then heard a piercing scream from her right. Two policemen were consoling a middle-aged African woman. She knew that was Kincaid's mother.
"Mom!"
Sandra swirled around to her left and saw Michael waving at her. She hurried forward, seeing him being accompanied by Nancy and Glenn. He greeted her in a tight hug. "How did you know something had happened?"
Sandra looked warily to the entrance of the boxing gym where two policemen stood. "Katherine told me. She said something had happened"
"She's awake?" Michael asked.
"Yes. She came out of the coma about half an hour ago"
Nancy glanced wearily at the gym, then back towards Sandra. "But how could this happen? Freddy is meant to have lost his powers"
"He must have got them back" Glenn muttered grimly.
"But how?" Nancy shook her head. "And when?"
Sandra sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure"
"Do you think that Katherine might know something?" Michael asked.
"I'll have to speak to her when I get back to the hospital" she held their pensive gazes, "But you all have to listen to me, she may have developed a personality disorder"
"What do you mean?" Nancy threw the woman a confused look.
"I will explain to you all later. I have mentioned it to your father Nancy. It will be difficult for you all to hear this" she looked intently at her son, "Especially you Michael. Katherine's mindset has changed. It all stems from her abuse as a child. She is not thinking rationally"
Michael nodded slowly, understanding. He knew that his mother was right. She had years of experience dealing with child abuse cases and he too had read some of her books she had kept about various psychological disorders and treatments. He would somehow understand what she would tell them, but as for the others. That was uncertain. How would they react to it? Would they be sympathetic, understanding of the issues Katherine was going through? He was hoping that there would be no fallout between them all or that any of them would feel uneasy or not be able to trust Katherine if she indeed did know something.
His head jerked up as he heard footsteps approach to his right. Through the crowd he saw Kristen, Joey and Taryn. The dark hair girl pushed her way forward, trying to barge through the crime scene tape but was instantly held back by Sandra. "Wait!"
Taryn tried to shrug her hands from her, but Sandra was aided by Nancy who grasped Taryn's other arm and dragged her back. The young woman screamed out a stretcher was carried out. Kincaid's body was encased in a black body bag. Taryn sobbed, "No! Kincaid!"
Sandra tried to console the girl, but Taryn staggered back. Her hands shook as she stared sombrely as the stretcher was loaded into the back of a waiting ambulance. "He got him, didn't he?"
"Yes" Sandra said quietly.
"I can't believe this" Kristen whispered.
Sandra caught Donald's attention as he exited the boxing gym. His eyes held a haunted look as he ducked under the yellow tape and gestured them to the side, "One of the boxing coaches found Kincaid's body in the locker room. He was lying face down. His face was covered in bruises and cuts. There was blood coming from his mouth. He phoned 911 straight away. But there was no chance to save him. He was already dead" he rubbed his eyes. "The coroner will be conducting an autopsy. I have asked to be in attendance. I will let you know what the outcome is. The owner of gym said he will provide any CCTV footage"
"There's no point, is there?" Taryn snapped angrily. "We all know who did it"
He nodded slowly. "Yes, that is true. But how? You all said he was powerless!"
"Not anymore" Sandra sighed. "I will speak to Katherine when I get back to Westin Hills. She is awake form her coma"
Taryn turned to face her; eyes dark with rage. "If she knew something, then she can burn in hell!"
Michael shot his mother a disturbed look, then tried to reassure her. "Taryn just let my mother speak to her first. We can meet in the motel in an hour"
"From now on, no one is to sleep. All of you must stay awake" Sandra looked sternly at each of them. Taryn scoffed and turned away, walking away from the crime scene.
Joey looked over his shoulder, "Look, I'll catch up with her and bring her to your motel"
Kristen nodded and watched as he ran after his friend. She wearily turned towards Sandra, "Do you really think Katherine knew all along?"
"Yes. And I think she may have witnessed Kincaid's death. That bastard must have made her watch it"
Nancy shuddered at the thought.
"Let's get some coffee, then we'll head back to the motel" Glenn wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Michael stepped up beside him as they wandered back to Glenn's car. Sandra watched as they left then spun around to Donald as he finished speaking to Lt Garcia a few yards away. "Sheriff Thompson, can I speak to you quickly please?"
He nodded and walked over to her. "Yes"
"I am going to speak to Michael and the others about Katherine's mental condition. You understood what you read? The notes I shared with you?" she asked.
"Yes" he nodded, and they wandered along the sidewalk, away from the crowd. "I saw how much she had changed as a child. It is happening again. And if she does know anything then it is clearly linked to the condition that she has. Especially regarding keeping secrets for him and trying to appease him. Just like she did when she was a little girl"
She smiled, appreciating his support. "Do you think that Nancy will understand? I know Michael will. He has been part of Katherine's life for the last three years. And he knew what Freddy was like with her as a child. But I am more concerned about Nancy and the others. I do not want them to turn on Katherine"
Donald took a quick glance at the ambulance as it slowly rolled away from the boxing gym. "If you want, I will speak to Nancy and Glenn. I am not sure about the others. I heard Taryn. She is angry"
Sandra swallowed thickly. "But it is understandable. She cared for Kincaid, more so than she was letting on. But they need to understand what is happening to Katherine. If there is any doubt in their mind about trusting Katherine, then they will want to distance themselves from me and Michael because we are so close to her. Which would play into Krueger's hands!"
He gently rubbed her back in a reassuring manner. "I'm sure you will get through to them"
She forced a smile. "I'm just afraid of what Katherine will tell me"
"What are you going to ask her?"
"About everything. If he has done anything to her, hit her or sexually assaulted her. If she has seen anything in her dreams. If she knew about him getting his powers back and how" Sandra tugged her jacket closer to her shivering body. "I hope that she starts to become honest with us. She cannot keep lying for him!"
Donald stared at her sternly. "Do you really think he has done something to her? Abused her?"
"Oh yes. I saw what he was like with her in her dream. The way he was pawing over her. The sick way he suggested that she enjoyed him touching her as a child! The sadistic fucker!" she grounded her teeth in rage. "He even taunted me, licking her neck. It was disgusting!"
Donald eyes darkened in anger at this. "Let me know what happens. I will try and get to the motel to help with explaining things to the kids"
"Thank you, that would be really helpful"
He muttered his goodbye and Sandra spun on her heel, making her way back to her car.
Xxxx
Katherine stared drearily at the ICU doctor and dark-haired nurse as they congregated around her bed. For the last thirty minutes they had changed her bandages on her arms and back, changed her clothes into clean fresh ones, attached a new IV drip and had given her some water to drink. The doctor had explained that due to her attempting suicide she now posed a risk to herself and to others. So, it was standard procedure to restraint her arms. Despite her protests they had wrapped her wrists to the metal bars of the bed with white straps that were bound around her slim wrists. She lowered her watery eyes to them and tugged at them weakly. Her hands moved barely an inch. Katherine sighed and allowed her head to fall back into the plump white pillow. Her eyes roamed over towards the Doctor as he conversed with the nurse. "I would like to get her bandages changed every two days. We can give her a light breakfast in the morning. Also, I would like to schedule a therapist to talk to her about her suicide attempt"
Katherine blinked away her tears and rolled her head to the right. She knew that Kincaid's body would be found. Sandra would be on her way back and would no doubt have questions for her. Should she really tell them everything like her father suggested? If she did not, then she knew that HE would. It terrified her to think of how they would view her, if she told them that she was lying to them all. Would they still trust her, hate her? Would they even think that she was on his side? In some way she was, but she desired their friendship. She wanted both her father and Michael in her life. But how would that work out? What if Michael found out that she had slept with her father twice and allowed him to touch her? She felt sickened at this thought. The thought of him disowning her frightened her. And if he did, then she couldn't really blame him, could she?
Everything was falling apart.
"Do you need anything Miss Krueger?"
She lifted her sombre gaze towards the doctor as he smiled at her. "No"
He nodded and followed the nurse out of the room. Minutes later Sandra appeared and slowly sat in a seat beside her bed. Katherine held her gaze.
"Kincaid was found in the boxing gym" Sandra began.
"I'm sorry" Katherine murmured as fresh tears began to spill down her cheeks.
"Did he make you watch him kill Kincaid?"
She nodded.
The chair scraped along the tiled floor as Sandra dragged it closer to the bed. "Katherine, I want you to be honest with me. No more lying for him. Okay?"
There was another nod from Katherine.
"Firstly, I had a quick chat with the nurse who helped changed your clothes. She said they found bruises on your thighs. But you never told them how you got them. Did he give them to you?"
"Yes, a few nights ago" Katherine took a deep breath.
"A few nights ago? But how?" Sandra grasped the girls restrained left hand. "Your father is not meant to have his powers. We never saw them today when we were examining you. Why?"
"Maybe he was manipulating your minds because of his powers"
"How long has he had them? When did he get them back?"
Katherine lowered her head in shame. "He's had his powers all along"
Sandra's jaw dropped open. "What?"
"He's been tricking everyone" she replied huskily and stifled back a sob. "I am so sorry. I did not know what to do. I knew, I knew all along"
Sandra lifted her hand up to brush away the girl's tears. "Just tell me everything. When did he get his power back? Did he lose them?"
"I am not sure how he lost them. But he got them back as he has been killing others"
"Jesus Christ…" she muttered. "Who? Do you know their names?"
"Jennifer, Zach, Ryan, Timmy and Hayley. He can get into anyone's dreams. That is how he got his powers back. He was entering their dreams for several nights. Getting them to fear him until he killed them" Katherine sniffled and laid her head against the pillow. Her shivering gaze never left Sandra's. "I am not sure when he lost his powers. But a few days after I arrived here, I was asleep, and he said that he had to go to work. Oh god it was like being a child all over again. He would call the killings his special work. I just knew that he was going after someone"
Sandra reached out with her hand to tip the young girl's face towards her. "Take your time, okay?"
Katherine took a wavering deep breath and nodded. "I was petrified. Because I was getting no visitors, I never knew who it was! I keep thinking was it Michael, Nancy? Then I saw him killing someone in the power plant. But I did not know who it was! He was keeping it who it was hidden from me!"
"But when we came to visit you, me and Michael, why did you not tell us?"
"I was afraid" she gulped harshly. "I just thought it could just be a nightmare. Maybe he was playing tricks on me. But deep down inside I knew he was killing people. Michael kept saying that my father had lost his powers, but I knew he was wrong. I knew! My father could still hurt me in my dream. I kept trying to insist that Michael and the others should stay awake"
Sandra withdrew her hand from Katherine's face and slumped back into her seat. "Michael wasn't listening to you. He kept believing that your father had lost his powers"
"Yes" Katherine nodded vehemently. "You must believe me, but I wanted to tell Michael. But I just couldn't!"
"Because of your loyalty to your father" Sandra said simply.
Katherine's eyes widened in realisation. Sandra understood why she was lying. "Yes, then that night when Michael and the others entered the dream to confront my father, I saw them hurting him. I thought just maybe Michael was right. Maybe he had lost his powers. But when Kristen woke everyone up, I was still in the dream. My father kept me there to show me what he was doing. There were no wounds on his body. Nothing! That was then I knew…"
"That he was deceiving my son and the others" Sandra sneered in disgust.
"Yes" she nodded again. "My father said he didn't know whether he could trust me or not. Because you were around and talking to me in my therapy sessions. He believed that I would tell you everything!" her lips curled into a scowl of dismay. "I was devastated. I felt so angry that he didn't believe he could trust me!"
Sandra heaved a soft sigh. "So, you kept everything to yourself"
Katherine sobbed. "Yes. I'm so sorry! I just didn't want him to hurt me! I just wanted my father to be proud of me. To be pleased with me!"
"Like he was when you were a little girl?"
"Yes" she gave a curt nod. "Just like when I was a little girl. I wanted him to be happy with me!"
"What else?"
"It was the next night that I confronted my father. I told him that I kept all my secrets for him, that I kept everything from you all. He eventually said he was proud of me" Katherine let out a little happy delirious laugh. "Oh, I was so pleased that he was proud of me. I wanted to know who he killed, but he never told me. it was the next night that I found their bodies. But I couldn't save little Timmy"
"Timmy?"
"He was only six years old. We were at the nature reserve. My father created this rabid dog to go after us both. I tried so hard to protect Timmy. But my father dragged him into the lake and drowned him, slashed his little body apart. Then after that I found the last body. She was only a little baby"
The colour drained from Sandra's face at this admission. Could this be the reason why Katherine tried to kill herself? "Is that the reason? Was because you couldn't save that little boy that you tried to kill yourself?"
She received a blank stare from Katherine who quickly replied. "I don't know why I tried to kill myself"
"You don't?" Sandra raised her eyebrows sceptically.
"Honestly, I don't know" she mumbled, then thought for a moment. "My father said that I was given tablets in my food"
"How did he know that?"
"I'm not sure. But is it true? Did Simms put tablets in my food?" Katherine voice held a hint of anger.
"Yes, she did. She was giving you anti-psychosis drugs in your food at mealtimes. It could be linked to your suicide attempt. But I doubt it. What happened to your thighs? How did you get bruises on them?" Sandra lowered her voice into a whisper. "Did he rape you?"
Katherine shook her head. "No, he didn't"
"Then what happened? Has he been touching you?" Sandra persisted.
She chewed her lips with trepidation. "You will hate me. Michael will hate me"
Sandra snatched her left hand and squeezed it gently. Reassuring her. "We won't darling. I promise we won't. You need to recognise that you are being manipulated by your father"
Katherine felt her heart thunder against her chest, and she took a sharp intake of breath. Her eyes flickered wildly as she tried to fight the tears. "We have had sex twice. And he has touched me once since I've been in Westin Hills" she watched Sandra's eyes narrow in disdain. A glimmer of fury flashed across her face. Katherine sniffled. "Are you angry at me?"
"No" Sandra dismissed this question. "I'm not. I am angry at your father. What happened? Did that bastard force himself on you?"
She shook her head and choked back a sob. "No, it was consensual. The first time I…" Katherine avoided her gaze as he murmured, "I liked it"
Sandra frowned, the wrinkles of her face furrowing in consternation. This was a bad sign. It was bad enough that the poor girl had a personality disorder and was acting and thinking illogically when it came to her father. But to enjoy having sex with him? It was something that she never occurred would happen. Katherine was close to breaking point. They had to get her out of Westin Hills and as far away from Springwood as they could. She would need to speak to Sheriff Thompson and soon. He could try and help her. If not, then she could try and contact Dr Murray in Central City.
"What about the next time?"
Katherine turned her head back to her. "It was after my father found my diary. He beat me"
"Your diary?"
"I had a diary. Dr Murray said to me when I was in the care home to write down my thoughts and feelings when I started school and was in new social situations. I kept several of them in my bedroom. My father found one and read it. There were a few entries about how I was feeling towards Michael. How I began to realise that I was in love with him. He also found my drawing of my mother" Katherine closed her eyes and cried, the beating her father inflicted on her replaying in her mind. "My father was furious. I tried to explain that I was in another city and that he was not about. But he would not listen! He never does! Oh god, I thought he was going to kill me!"
Sandra shook her head, confusion spreading across her face. "But there were no wounds on you. When did this happen?"
"A few nights ago,"
"Was it the night where the nurse found you in the corridor? Your stitches were bleeding!"
She nodded.
"He ripped your stitches opened. Didn't he?"
Katherine took a shaky breath, "Yes, but I lied to everyone. Like I always do. I said that I had ripped them opened"
Sandra lowered her sombre gaze to Katherine's lower body. "And your…?"
"He changed me"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I told you before that he can heal my wounds. If he creates any wounds on my body, he can heal me. He healed the welts from the belt buckle, the bruises on my face, the cuts…" she coughed lightly and sniffled again. "He touched me down there…" her eyes darted down to her thighs, and she pointed with a shaking finger. "He gave me back my virginity. Just so he could take it away again. To make me know that I belonged to him. I allowed him, there was nothing else I could do. He warned me not to think of Michael in that way again"
"That fucker" Sandra snapped heatedly.
"I'm so sorry…" Katherine's body shook and trembled as she wept softly. "You don't realise how much I wanted to tell you. But I love my father. I know that he does terrible things to me. But all I've ever wanted was to please him, to do what he says. So, he would be proud of me. Then he won't hurt me!"
Sandra heaved a long sigh, "But Katherine, he still does hit you. Doesn't he? Even if you voice your opinion or say something that he doesn't like. He still hits you! I have been chatting to Samantha. One of the nurses. She said you asked for makeup to cover a cut on your lip. You said you had bitten your lip"
Katherine shook her head. "I lied…he hit me. When I fell asleep in the courtyard. He was saying these vulgar things to me. That he loved fucking me. I said he was a sick fucker. And he hit me hard. He demanded that I apologise. He was ready to cut my throat"
"Sweetheart, I have dealt with child abuse cases before. This is how the abuser works. They get the victim to do anything they want. They twist their minds. What you did trying to defy him, shouting back at him. it was brave. Very brave" Sandra smiled then it disappeared, "But your father is trying to make you think that what you say to him, standing up to him is wrong. Which is not true. The last five years since you left the care home, you have become independent and resilient. Something that your father does not like as it shows that he doesn't have control over you"
Katherine's eyes locked with hers as she tried to evaluate her words. She knew that Sandra was right. But still he was her father.
"Listen to me" Sandra encased her hand over hers. "Ever since you were a child, since that day in the garden when he killed your mother, you have been developing a personality disorder. It is why you are acting this way. The secrets you are keeping for him. All the lies you have told. You are trying to protect your father because of the relationship you have with him. It is called traumatic bonding"
Katherine scoffed softly, "I don't have a personality disorder"
"Yes, you do. Ever since being back in Springwood and being around him, it has manifested again. If you were in another town or city away from your father, then would not be thinking the way you are. Because he is around you, talking to you, interacting with you, and influencing your decisions, it has caused you to relapse into the way you thought when you were a little girl. It is where you are allowing him to do whatever he wants with you. You make up excuses for him when he hits you, shouts at you. He is controlling you all over again!"
"I don't understand"
"I am getting you out of this fucking hospital. As far as away from him as I can" Sandra declared.
Katherine's brown eyes widened in surprise. "But you can't, I can't leave this hospital. They won't let me" her eyes scooted down to her restrained wrists. "They think I am a danger to myself and others"
"You're not" she stretched out to stroke Katherine's pale face. "I'm going to get Sheriff Thompson to help me"
"You know I asked my father to stop the killing. I said because I was here in Springwood, he didn't need to kill anyone. But he said he would never stop" Katherine sucked her bottom lip under her top one, apprehension gripping her. "Even if he does kill Michael and the others he will go after the 2other children in town. He won't stop. I know he won't"
"There must be a reason why he is in our dreams. Has he told you anything?"
"No, I swear to you!" Katherine responded sharply, "he hasn't told me anything! Please believe me!"
Sandra bobbed her head slightly, "I believe you" her eyes wandered to her watch. "I am going to go here. I need to speak to Michael and the others"
"Did you see them at the boxing gym?"
"Yes. They are all on edge after what happened to Kincaid" Sandra muttered.
"Taryn probably hates my guts right now. I don't blame her"
"She is just confused and angry. I will talk to her" she offered some reassurance.
"It won't make any difference" Katherine replied bitterly.
"Don't you dare give up Katherine" Sandra warned, "That is what your father wants. You understand?"
The young woman stared back, unflinching and gave a half-hearted nod.
Sandra smiled supportively and rose to her feet. Two figures entered in the doorway, and she followed Katherine's worried face as she stared at the two newcomers. Dr Vickers and a young black haired female nurse. In the nurse's hand was a silver tray with a small clear bottle of liquid and fresh, clean syringe. "What is going on?" Sandra demanded.
"We're just going to sedate Miss Krueger"
Katherine glared at them in alarm, "No, I can't sleep. Not yet!"
"I am sorry Miss Krueger. But this will be standard routine for the next few nights. Getting a good night's sleep will help your body recover from your coma. You have been through a harrowing experience today. Your body needs time to recuperate" Dr Vickers indicated with a firm voice.
Sandra bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew she had no medical authority in the ICU award at the present time. She would need to speak to Dr Carver in the morning to enquire about working on this ward, offering her assistance towards helping Katherine. She took a step towards Katherine and rubbed her shoulders lightly and whispered quietly. "Don't let him do anything to you"
She took a shivering breath and pleaded. "Please tell them I am sorry. I really am"
Sandra kissed her forehead lightly and left the room.
Xxxx
Back across town at the motel, Sandra had finished explaining what Katherine had disclosed to her, to Michael and the rest of the Elm Street kids. She had managed to photocopy her notes about Katherine's condition and had given them each a sheet, insisting that they read it carefully. Sheriff Thompson was in attendance and stood in the corner of the room beside the doorway to the bathroom. The only piece of information that she had not revealed was that Katherine had slept with Freddy. It was only fair that Michael was told this in private. She knew he would be utterly devastated. But he needed to know.
As she was divulging the information that Katherine had revealed, she saw the look of dismay and shock on their faces. But she paid particular attention to Taryn's face. It had contorted into an expression of indignation and disgust. While Joey too shared her sentiments, but as he continued to read the notes, she had shared with them all she saw his face softened slightly. A small glimmer of realisation hitting him.
Taryn scoffed and threw her piece of paper on the bed, "I don't believe any of that"
Sandra stepped closer to the girl. "Taryn, I understand that you are angry-"
"Angry?" Taryn interrupted brusquely. "I am fucking furious! She knew all along and was lying to us!" she swung around to Michael, "She was lying to you, who is meant to be her boyfriend. She allowed Kincaid to die!"
"Taryn, please listen to me. Katherine is NOT thinking straight. She has lost all her sense of logic. Her mind has been messed up ever since she was a little girl. She has never fully recovered from the psychological and emotional abuse her father inflicted on her" Sandra tried to reason with the girl and pointed to the page on the bed. "It has now manifested into his disorder. When she came back to Springwood and began to dream of him, all the rational thought she had begun to crumble away. All the therapy she had when she was in the care home was for nothing. At the start when she was dreaming of her father, she was FIGHTING him. But her father began to slowly twist her mind"
She snatched the page and pointed at a specific bullet point.
Desiring love and affection despite being hurt: Most individuals who are the victims of abuse desire love and affection, sometimes only the love and affection of the abuser. It is almost as if the person desires the love and affection of the abuser so much that they will do anything to achieve it.
Sandra continued. "You need to read this! This is exactly what Katherine is doing. The person who is being abused will do anything to achieve devotion, affection and acceptance from the abuser. That is why she is lying. She is not thinking rationally. This is not who she really is! Me and Michael know this, we know her!"
Taryn snarled and took a step back, "I am sorry, but I don't believe that. She had a choice to tell us. You said that she wanted to tell us. But she DIDN'T! She chose to keep the secret that Freddy had his powers. All of us…" she waved frantically at Michael, Nancy and the rest of the remaining Elm Street kids. "Were sleeping. At anytime that fucker could have come into our dreams and killed us!"
Michael cut in and tried to support his mother. "I know you are doubtful. But my mother knows what she is talking about. She has had years of dealing with child abuse cases. I have known Katherine for the last three years. I know her. She is a good person. Her mind is just fucked up because of her father. It is Freddy you should be angry at. Not Katherine!"
"I'm angry at them both!" Taryn snapped, her voice was harsh and unforgiving. "You don't release how much Kincaid meant to me! He saved me and helped me through so much. Now he's gone!" she glared at the others. "If any of you had fucking sense you would realise that Katherine has made her choice. She has chosen him over us. She is his kid after all"
Kristen and Joey exchanged concerned looks. Was Taryn, right? Had Katherine chosen Freddy's side over them?
Nancy sprang to her feet from the bed. "Listen Taryn, you need to trust Dr Turner. She can help Katherine. We all" she looked at Kristen and Joey, "need to stick together if we are to stop Krueger"
"We can't stop him!" Taryn sobbed, hands shaking. She took a deep breath and brushed away her tears. "I can't' stay here. I'm leaving town"
"What?" Kristen scoffed, "Where will you go?"
Her questions were ignored as Taryn ran from the room and into the night.
"Wait!" Joey called out after her and ran to the doorway chasing after her. "TARYN STOP!"
"Shit!" Kristen muttered, "I've got to go after them"
"What do you think Kristen? I want to know what everyone thinks" Sandra asked the room.
The blond-haired girl turned towards her and sighed, "I remember the first time I met Katherine. I was in her dream. That fucker was attacking her, trying to sexually assault her. She was terrified. From what Michael has said to me and from the short time I've known her I know she is a good person. I trust you Dr Turner. I want to help Katherine"
Sandra smiled.
"I will catch up with Joey. Hopefully he's caught up with her" Kristen grabbed her bag and departed the motel room.
Michael closed the door behind her and heard his mother speak again. "What do you both think?" her attention had turned towards Nancy and Glenn on the bed. "I want to hear your opinions. Do you trust Katherine?"
Glenn mused silently then nodded. "Yes, I do. The last few weeks has been hard on everyone. Especially her. But Nancy is the most important person to me" he entwined his hand with hers.
Nancy tenderly squeezed his hand and looked up to Sandra, "I trust your judgement Dr Turner. I know that she has been manipulated by him over the last few weeks. She needs all our help. I know that you can get through to her"
Sandra smiled graciously. "Thank you. I appreciate it" her gaze turned towards Nancy' father. "Sheriff Thompson, I may need your help with something"
"Of course," he nodded.
"Can I meet with you tomorrow around lunch time?"
He gave another nod.
"I'm sorry, but I would need to speak to Michael in private" he looked over at her son who shifted uneasily on his feet.
Nancy and Glenn rose in unison. "Yes, no problem. We will go to the late-night diner for some food. We'll be back in an hour"
Donald followed his daughter and Glenn out of the motel room, leaving both mother and son alone. Michael wandered to the top of the single bed and sat down nervously. He stared up as his mother as she stood in front of him. "He did something to her, didn't he?"
She slid down onto the bed beside him and nodded. "Yes, he did"
His lips quivered as he asked. "Did they…?"
Sandra knew exactly what he meant to ask. "He slept with her twice. And he has touched her too" she gripped his hands tightly. "Please listen to me Michael. What I have written down is linked to it. As I have said she is not thinking straight. Her sense of judgement is gone. But she still loves you. You know she does!"
His jaw clenched in exasperation, and he let out a low curse. His muscles tensed; a wave of uncontrollable anger gripped him. If that fucker was here, he would kill him. If it was the last thing he would ever do, then so be it. He had to save her from him. After a few minutes he spoke. "I know. But why did she not tell me this?"
"She was afraid. You know how manipulative he can be"
The muscles on his jaw loosened as the tension wavered slightly. "I know mom"
"He beat her up too. She said she nearly died. But he had healed her wounds before she woke up. He found the picture she drew of her mother and a diary where she had written down her feelings about you" she withdrew her hands from his and rubbed her hands through her hair once.
"What diary?"
"When she left the care home, she began to keep diaries to write down her thoughts, her feelings about her life. She may have written about you, how she was feeling towards you. Katherine told me that he beat her up because of that. He was enraged by what he read" Sandra shook her head in revulsion. "He's a sick bastard"
"She should have told me. She should have told you" His eyes furrowed slightly. "But wait, there was no injuries on her!"
"He healed them before he woke her up" she replied. "But he had ripped opened her stitches on her arm and back. He left them like that so she would be reminded of what happened. She kept everything from us to please him. Though, she was trying to warn you. To warn all of us by begging you all to keep awake. Despite you all believing that he was powerless, she was warning everyone. Without giving anything away that he had his powers"
"She was trying to protect us" he whispered, eyes going wide in surprise.
"Yes" she nodded quickly. "She is terribly confused by what I am trying to explain to her. I'm hoping to get her of Westin Hills. But I'll need Sheriff Thompson to help me"
The next question caught her off guard. "Did he rape her?"
Sandra looked him square in his eyes and shook her head. "No, it was consensual"
"Fuck!" Michael cursed and slumped backwards against the headboard. His head rested against the wood. He tried to fight it, but a single tear rolled down his left check. "I can't believe this"
The mattress shifted as Sandra sat closer to him and grabbed his right hand, "Michael, do you love her? Do you love Katherine?"
His head tipped down to look at her. "Yes, I do love her. She knows I do"
"Then that is all that matters. Your love for each other. You can't let Freddy come between you both!" she tried to give him encouragement.
"Everything is fucked up!" he moaned.
"I promise you that we will help her. We just need to find out a way why he has these powers. I'll talk to her in the morning when she wakes up"
"Wakes up? Is she sleeping?!" he sat up with alarm.
"Yes, Dr Vickers sedated her. He believes it will help her body recover from being in the coma. They're strapped her arms to the handrails of the bed. They believe she is a danger to herself and others" Sandra sighed despondently.
"Did she say why she tried to kill herself?"
"She doesn't remember" she stood and wandered toward the small kitchenette area and began to make some coffee.
"Do you think if he had his powers all along that maybe he did something to her and then erased her memory?"
She nodded. "That is a possibility"
He took a hot mug of coffee from her and took a sip. "I need to see her mom. She'll be so nervous about everything now, especially that you've told us what she said to you"
"Michael it may be difficult for you to see her" she sat on a chair facing the bed, then raised her right hand to her lips and nibbled thoughtfully on her thumb. "Let me think about it. I could sneak you in during the night"
"But what's the point mom? I mean you said she would be sedated during the night!" he groaned.
"I'll offer to work during the night. I'm going to speak to Dr Carver in the morning and ask to be put onto her ward. I could pretend to administer her the sedative and when the time is right, I could get Sheriff Thompson to sneak you in through the back of the hospital" she saw the hopeful look that gleamed in his eyes. "Listen, it's an idea that I'll need to speak to Donald about. Okay?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Our priority should be getting Taryn. I need to speak to her. Make her see sense!"
"But what if Taryn is right? I mean, what if we were to leave Springwood? He may not be able to reach us if we leave town. We can get Katherine and get the fuck out of here!"
"I doubt it Michael" she immediately dashed his hopes. "He's in our minds, remember?"
"Shit"
"We'll finish our coffee and then go and find Nancy and Glenn"
He sighed and slipped his hand into his back jean pocket and tugged out his brown wallet. Flipping it opened it revealed a small, coloured photograph of him and Katherine taken in a small photo-booth a few weeks before they arrived in Springwood. She was sat on his knee, with his arms wrapped around his waist as they smiled brightly at the camera. He knew that she had changed drastically since that day. But he would do everything in his power to see her like this again. Happy and free of pain.
xxx
Author's Note: I hope that I have explained or written about Katherine's mental health / the state of her mind correctly. I read a little into the traumatic boding which I could see happening to Katherine as it all stems from the previous two stories from the trilogy.
Please review, thank you.