Title: A Nightmare in Point Place
Disclaimer: Don't own, ain't getting paid. That 70's show and A Nightmare on Elm Street are not mine I'm just borrowing them momentarily.
Pairing: J/H, D/E
Rating: PG-13
Archive: If you want just ask – I will freely give.
Summary: Jackie is having nightmares – so are other members of the basement gang. Freddy wants them all dead. Who is next?
Credit: Wes Craven –mad props –love the universe I'm borrowing.
KKCP for the beta.
A/N: I have been putting this one off. But Ericanddonna4ever reviewed me –again – to demand I write this chapter. So here you go. (See all I need is encouragement or idle threats) But remember you asked for it. ;)
More A/N: This is the sorta last chapter. There will be one more –kinda epilogue. And those of you who have seen the movie know what that will entail. So what I'm saying really is – go rent the movie. It is almost Halloween. And don't give me this whole I don't like scary movies nonsense. It is just a movie. You can handle it! OH and I hope you can handle this.
The scrawny boy lay on the small bed on his back. He looked stressed, tired -even in sleep- and pale. Across town the only woman he would ever love dozed peacefully. In the house next door, another girl who shared his burden dialed his disconnected phone desperately. Neither one could save him.
With a horrible force, Freddy's arms shoot up beneath the comforter and grab Eric around the waste
His body is pulled into the bed. Eric screamed, and tried to struggle. But can not. Pulling the sheets with him as he goes, he left behind the real world. His body was now in the nightmare. The sound of Freddy laugh echoed in the distance.
The bed suddenly erupts. Blood shoots out of the hole left by Eric's body. Horrible great masses of the stuff begin to cover every available surface. Then the bed smoothes over and no other sign of Eric remained.
Kitty, Red and Hyde round the corner fearful at Eric's screams. Hyde blanched at the scene before him. Red looked dumbstruck and sick. Kitty's scream can be heard all the way down the street.
*
There are moments in life where things are too real. There are moments where things are too sad, too scary and too horrible. Point Place had seen too many of those over the past few weeks. First Pam, then Kelso, and now Eric.
Hyde and Bob sat outside by the useless ambulance. They both were staring at the windows of the house next door. Jackie, looking ashen and impossibly small, stared back at them through the upstairs window.
No one had told her what had happened but she seemed to know. The last 15 minutes was all a blur. No one could comprehend the horror of the situation. The cops and the paramedics had come. Red and Hyde had managed to give statements before Red broke down. Kitty had had to be sedated. No one knew what had happened to Eric to cause –that. And the hows and whys weren't being answered either.
Hyde just knew that he was suddenly very afraid for Jackie. And he wanted to see her. He started to move toward the house but was stopped by Bob. "You are not going over there."
"Why the hell not?" he asked shaking off the restraining hand.
"Because she needs to sleep. And you going over there is just going to keep her up." Bob insisted dumbly. The more stuff that happened the more crazy he seemed.
"Yeah I told Eric he needed to sleep too. Now look at him." Hyde choked out. He couldn't hide his emotions anymore. This had to stop. He couldn't lose any more of his friends. If Jackie had been right to begin with, they were all in danger.
"Come with me to get Donna." Bob demanded.
Giving the older man a sad look he insisted "Bob – I should be with Jackie."
"Look, Donna is going to need her friend's. She is gonna be devastated" at this Bob burst into tears.
Hyde patted him awkwardly on the back. Donna was going to be more than devastated. The truth was he didn't even know if he could handle how Donna was going to be. But it was obvious that Bob couldn't. Eric would have wanted him to help. And as much as he wanted to be with Jackie he knew that she would want him to go to Donna. Donna was her best friend. Making eye contact with Jackie again through the distance he made up his mind. She waved. Fighting back his own tears he nodded, pushing Bob in the direction of his car.
*
The clock on Jackie's nightstand read midnight.
"Okay Krueger. We play on your court."
Grabbing the book that she had shown Eric, she carefully arranged all of her tools. Eric was gone. Just like Michael. And Donna or she would be next. If she didn't stop it.
Stringing off a spool of wire with her shaking hands, she circled the room. She worked determinedly through her tears, following the booby trap directions to the letter. This stuff was a little over her head, but she had to try. If she could get Freddy out of her dreams she would need help catching him. Without Eric….she stopped that thought. She could do it herself. No one else need become involved.
She finished her task and walked dejectedly back to Donna's room. She didn't know if she could pull this off. She prayed she could. She wanted to see Steven again. And be there for Donna. But above all she didn't want Fred Krueger to win. After setting the alarm clock for twenty minutes she kneeled beside the bed. "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take."
*
Freddy's boiler room is as horrifying as ever. Jackie can feel the weight of the air around her. It is dark. In the distance, she can hear the familiar sounds of metal claws. Walking forward she searches.
Somewhere in the darkness is the man she is looking for. The monster. The killer. But he does not want to be found. Not yet. Glancing at her watch, Jackie notices that there was only 5 minutes left before her alarm would wake her. She has to find Freddy.
"Come out and show yourself, you bastard" Jackie screams.
As an answer Fred Krueger jumps out from the shadows. His ruined flesh and hatless façade startles a yelp from Jackie's throat. His blades offer a sadistic wave. He jumps at her, but she is quicker. She avoids the claws but looses her balance. Falling backward, Jackie struggles for purchase. Falling, Falling, Falling into oblivion.
Jackie screams. She suddenly hits something hard, and notices it is a hedge on the outside of the Pinciotti house. She is momentarily stunned, but thanks her lucky stars that she is still alive. Struggling up, she runs for the house knowing time is short. As she reaches the front door Freddy lunges knocking her down. Grabbing him around the waste she pulls him toward the door. The deafening ring of the alarm clock pierces the night.
Jackie gasped as she jerked from the bed to the floor. She looked around the empty room. It hadn't worked. "I guess I'm crazy after all…"
At that very instant Fred Krueger leaped from the far side of the room with a roar. Startled from her false safety Jackie recoiled. The monster is between her and the door. The windows are covered in bars. She was trapped. Freddy rushed her. Reaching out blindly she grabbed the coffee pot. Using all her strength She smashed it over his head. As he stumbled she raced for the door, running into a solid mass beyond it.
Jackie's first thought was that Freddy had somehow rematerialized in front of her. It was an unsettling thought. But once her tears stop she realized that it was Kitty Forman instead. Kitty who she thought was at home and sedated. Before helping the woman up, she turned around to click the newly added dead bolt. "What are you doing Mrs. Forman?"
Kitty tried to get up off the floor. She seemed pretty out of it. The combination of drugs, alcohol and trauma made her blurry eyed and hard to understand. "You know honey. I think maybe I made a mistake."
Jackie could hear Freddy slam into the door behind her. Now was not the time for regrets. Taking Kitty's arm she pulled her into Bob's room. She locked the door there as well.
Outside the door Freddy finally escaped Donna's room. But as he ran down the hall he tripped on the first of Jackie's booby trap wires.
"Who is outside the door? Kitty asked groggily.
Jackie didn't get a chance to answer. The door frame exploded open. Kitty screamed. And Jackie reacted by picking up a tacky modern vase and breaking it over the madman's head. Staggering backwards, he retreated from the room.
While she could Jackie picked up the phone and tried to call next door. The police were still there and so was Red. She couldn't wait for someone to notice Kitty was gone. They needed help now. Finally a random cop answered. "Hello"
"Yes, I need help. I'm next door and I've got him. Get over here and catch him!" she demanded out of breath.
"Excuse me? Is this a prank call?" the dumb cop responded.
"Do I sound like I'm joking?" she screamed. Kitty was crying on the floor, mumbling something about dead men in disbelief. "This is Jackie Burkhart. Do you know who my father is? I'm next door. And I'm in danger. Now GET OVER HERE!"
Before a response could be given Krueger was back. The phone fell to the floor. There was no time to move. Screaming Freddy attacked blades first. Jackie closed her eyes.
Kitty staggered up unnoticed by both victim and killer. Throwing herself in between, she took the force intended for the smaller girl. Knives cut, as the surprised Jackie opened her eyes.
"Nooooo!" Jackie cried thinking yet again this can't be happening this can't be happening.
"Jackie – for god's sake run" Kitty whispered holding her long ago enemy in a death grip.
Blindly she obeyed, hoping that the cop had believed her. She ran down the stairs frantically. She tried to open the door but it was locked from the outside. Bob had taken great pains to prevent her from leaving. "Help me!"
At the top of the stairs Freddy laughed sadistically at her situation.
Jackie knew another wire was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. But she needed to get away. The Pinciotti's had a basement just like the Forman's. Bob kept firewood and his winter wardrobe down there. She ran reaching the door just as Freddy tripped. She heard him scream "I'll get you."
The basement was dusty, moldy and full of junk. Jackie searched quickly for something useful. She wanted to cheer when she saw a tin of lighter fluid and fireplace matches. If no one was coming she would have to make them.
Freddy bloody and unamused at how hard he was having to work smiled as he descended the stairs. He thought he had her trapped.
The lighter fluid shot out as she squeezed. She coated his chest and head. Striking the match she smiled herself. The instant fire caused the man to take a firm step backward.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Little girls shouldn't play with fire."
She didn't want to banter. It was time for action. She tossed the match and watched as it landed on the ground at the bastard's feet. Flames engulfed and she ran for the stairs.
Freddy's arm grabbed but missed as he screamed in familiar agony.
At the top of the stairs smoke was already filling the living room. Jackie knew she had to get her and Mrs. Forman out. She had to hope she was still alive and get her to a hospital. They would both need medical help if they didn't get away from the fire soon. Surely someone would see the smoke and come. She found a broom in the kitchen and knocked out a window. Screaming through the bars "Help me"
Some cops finally heard her and came running. Jackie sighed as she heard the door being battered. 2 minutes later it gave way and several men as well as Red Forman entered. Jackie had never been so happy to see authority figures in her life. She ran into Mr. Forman's arms.
"Jesus –what the hell have you done?" Red asks in dismay.
"I got him. I got him Mr. Forman. I got Fred Krueger. I caught him on fire in the basement." Jackie explained crying in relief. Turning around she pointed toward the door leading downstairs only to feel a cold chill.
Foot prints of singed black ash lead from the other room and up the stairs.
Jackie wanted to pass out. She wanted to hyperventilate. But she struggled to do neither. "Mr. Forman…you have got to…. We have got too… Mrs. Forman is upstairs…and so is he."
They both broke for the stairs.
Reaching the doorway, a new scene of horror played across Jackie's mind. Freddy covered in fire, was straddling Mrs. Forman on the bed. Red ran from the room and returned with a blanket. He tacked his wife and her attacker trying to smother the flames.
"Careful he is under there." Jackie warned only to stop when it became apparent he wasn't.
Red looked down. Underneath him the bed was now empty.
"Nooooo" Jackie screamed again. "Now, now do you believe me?"
A cop entered the room startling Red. He had been staring at the bed ignoring Jackie's question. "We put out the fire. But we can't find anyone. I think you folks need to clear the premises just in case."
Jackie began to cry again stepping away from the men.
Red followed the cop blindly.
Jackie tried to compose herself. She looked at the bed. It was untouched, as if nothing had ever happened. But she knew better. Turning she took a step to leave.
Behind her the comforter of the bed begins to rise. The hump grows until it is taller than Jackie. Freddy's entire shape charred and burned anew raises from the confines.
Jackie stilled. She felt her face become blank and a sense of unreasonable calm come over her. It was like Steven's Zen had taken over. Without turning she spoke in an unaffected tone "I know you're there, Krueger."
"You think you were gonna get away from me?" Freddy mocked.
Jackie shook her head. "I know you too well now Freddy."
Smiling at her back he snickered as he raised his knives "And now you die."
Jackie shook her head in a haughty manner like the old days, back before she knew about fear and loss. "It's too late, Krueger. I know the secret now. This is just a dream too. You're not alive. The whole thing is a dream. So get bent! I want Mrs. Forman back. And my friends."
Incredulous Freddy scoffed "You what?"
"I take back every bit of energy I ever gave you. You're nothing. You're no one."
Ignoring her sudden empowerment he raised his weapon toward her vulnerable exposed back.
Jackie took a defiant step forward placing her hand on the door knob.
Behind her Freddy slices and as Jackie she twists the knob –disappears into thin air.
Gone