Chapter 3
Secrets Out

As soon as the final bell rung for the day, Melissa was outside the school waiting. Her nerves were already on end because of the 'daydream' she had in class. She wondered what Andrea would have to say to add to her thoughts. She didn't have to wait too long however because no sooner then she stepped in the shade of a near by tree did Andrea emerge from the doorway. She scanned the yard briefly before spotting Melissa standing there, and made a bee line to her hardly glancing at the other students she past.

"So what is the big secret" She asked.

Andrea looked around to make sure the other students where not looking.

"I'll show you." She said and started to walk down the street. Melissa followed closed behind. Her curiosity taking hold as they walked.

"Here in Springwood, we don't take nightmares lightly. Not after what happened here." Andrea explained

"What?"

"Well as little kids we all know the rhyme. It starts out as a joke, that is until you actually look for the evidence."

"I don't get it." said Melissa still trying to piece things together. However so far not much of what Andrea was saying was making any since.

"Well, years back something happened. A lot of kids just sort of ended up dead. And they all lived around here." She explained motioning to the surrounding neighborhood. "It all steamed from the 'Springwood Slasher' or 'Krueger murders'. Fred Krueger was a psycho who would murder children."

"How do you know all this?" she asked.

"It was in the papers. You can find most of it at the library on film." She explained. "I didn't believe it either at first until I actually found the evidence. The story is, the man was caught and released when the trial went wrong. The cops forgot to sign the search warrant in the right place and their evidence was not allowed in court, meaning he got off Scott free. Well the parents of the murdered kids didn't take this very well. They took the law in there own hands and killed the guy."

Melissa stopped in her tracks. Parts of her memory returning, her nightmares the past few nights were resurfacing.

"If you ask any of them to their faces they would deny it. However we all know it happened."

"How?"

"Well, all of their children are dead. They died for all different reasons, some beyond explanation. However if you look at their parents you can see the truth. They are quite; they don't speak of their kids." She explained. "It is a sad situation but it's all true. And it all started here." Andrea stopped and Melissa looked up, and saw the street sign. "ELM ST"

"Why are we here?" Melissa asked; her fear icing her blood.

"Cause this is where it happened." Melissa followed as Andrea continued down the street.

"All of the kids lived on this street. You'll notice no one at school will dare live here because of this. They are afraid what will happen."

"But if the guy is dead, why are they still scared."

"Even in death he couldn't be silenced." She said. "There has been a time, however that things were quite. But even then, it never lasted. Sure there would be a few months where things were normal and you could sleep, but then the nightmares would come. And always a house.this house."

She stopped and Melissa looked to the house. The house was a tall two leave farm style house with blue roof white slats and red door.

"What is this place?"

"This is house of hell, murder, death and everyone's ultimate destruction."

"Not just the house that Jack built?" Melissa said jokingly hiding her own fear.

"This is the house that fear built; Fred Krueger's house."

"The killers?"

"Yep. It used to look worse then this. Originally the local police lieutenant and his family lived here around the time of the first nightmares. After they moved away the house sort of drained the life from it. The place was condemned. We all thought they would tear it down. But perhaps they are afraid to."

"So what is it still doing here?"

"They repaired it rather then destroy it. New roof, paint, even the yard is being kept up. But as you can see from that weathered sign it's been for sale for a long time. No one from around here will live in it."

"Well of course not with this story you're telling me."

"You don't believe me, then you can find out yourself. Look in the papers. It's all there in black and white if you just look for it."

"When did the last person die?" Melissa asked. Her mind was telling her that if it were far enough behind them then her nightmares were just dreams and everything would be okay.

"Well that was years ago."

"And you're still scared?" she said with relief.

"The renovations on the house were done just a few months ago. We have all been on edge since. Not risking it."

"But surely you sleep."

"Yeah, we have but not peacefully."

"What have you dreamed about?"

"Nothing much really; just being lost. in that house."

"Your own fear is doing this to you. Come on. If you go inside, face your fears, then it won't be so bad." said Melissa walking towards the house

"Are you nuts?" said Andrea pulling her back.

"No, but my mom is a physiatrist."

"Don't you go and try and psycho analyze me. Here!" Andrea lifted her sleeve exposing 4 scars on her arm.

"What happened?"

"I was little when it happened, before the nightmares ended. I was staying at a friend's house, I woke up screaming. She didn't stay long after that."

"Who didn't stay long?"

"Alice Johnson."

"And so this guy is sort of the mad hatter?"

"No, just mad."

"Well, I'm not afraid. I'll go in."

"NO!" She said and grabbed her arm before she could head up the path again. "Do yourself a favor, go home. Do your homework, don't tempt fate."

"But I don't believe in this stuff."

"Alright, then don't believe, but until I get my school notes back, just stay away."

Melissa laughed. "Okay deal." Before she could say anything else, Andrea was walking quickly away. Melissa shrugged and continued to walk home.