Disclaimers, ratings, name, etc can be found in prologue.

Author's Notes: 100!! YEA BABY, YEA!!! Okay, like I'm overly happy but I've never had a story hit over a hundred reviews so I can't help but be thrilled. I'd like to thank God and the Academy…just kidding. Seriously though, thanks a lot guys, without your reviews I would be very sad and uninspired.

More warnings…

WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE

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Chapter 16

"I don't want to meet her!" Lori whined.

"Come on, Lori, she's really nice," Will assured her.

"Yeah and she's a great artist," Paige murmured reassuringly, patting her friend's shoulder comfortingly, "You shoulda seen her ink splatter in th' art room. Gave me the heebie-jeebies! Real good, 'sides she's new. She needs ta make some friends."

"Well she's not making friends with me," Lori snorted and charged off into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Paige sighed and shot Will something of an apologetic look, shrugging, "I tried."

"I know, thank you," he returned quietly, suddenly tired as he let his head fall back in the wheeled computer chair he was currently sitting in.

He had shown up at Lori's dorm, informing her that he had invited Samara over after Art class that day so they could 'meet'. The real reason was naturally Freddy but he couldn't say that in front of Paige so he'd made up some lame excuse.

Paige, who wanted to end the Will-Lori romantic reunion more than anyone, was eager to pump Samara up - thinking Will was interested in her. Which was ridiculous. Wasn't it?

Will shook his head, of course it was, he was just fascinated with her because she was so different. So strange. And she was a damsel in distress, being chased by the newly resurrected Dream Demon. And those eyes…Christ, he couldn't forget those eyes. There was still something about them…

Paige took a seat on her bed and looked at Will in silence for a few moments. It was obvious she was struggling internally with herself over something and eventually caved in, edging forward in his direction, "Can I ask you something?"

His head rose and he sat up straight, "Sure. What?"

"Now I love, Lor, I really do but I jus' gotta know for sure," Paige took a deep breath, "Didja just dump her or was there a reason behind it. An' I mean a good reason, not jus' cause you thought you two'd do well with some time apart."

Will shifted in his seat, "Paige, that's sort of personal."

"Was it over th' pills?"

Will's eyes shot to hers and she immediately knew her answer. Her head lowered, "I thought so. She's been takin' 'em since she got here. Never told me why…said once they help her sleep but," she shook her head sadly, "Momma always said no pill is a good pill. The only reason for takin' 'em is if you're sick with either fever or…you know, sickness."

The way she stressed the last word suggested its hidden meeting and Will shot his baby blues in her direction, "I am sympathetic for what she's going through, I am. I know her better than anyone and I know why she's doing what she's doing but…I just want her to stop. To get better. I thought the shock of me breaking up with her might give her an epiphany of sorts. Motivate her to see what she's doing to herself."

"If it had, would ya have gotten back together wit' her?"

"Yes, of course," Will whispered, "I loved her."

"Ya said that past tense."

"It's…been a long time since we've broken up," he returned, "I still do love her but not the way I did before."

She nodded, "I getcha. Well, your plan didn't work, she's still on the drugs…"

"I know, which is why I'm still by her side. I won't date her but I won't leave her either. I still check up on her now and then, that's why I eye her across the Quad."

"You're not stalking her, are ya?"

"No, just checking up."

Paige nodded then felt a weak smile form, "Ya know, I was all set ta hate ya, Will. Friendship works that way, Lori's mad at ya so I have ta hate ya 'cause you're the ex. But you're not that bad after all."

"Thanks…I think."

Paige chuckled, "This is all for the better anyway. Lori seems to be hitting it off with Tyler; maybe he can help kick her of the habit. And you, you have your eye on the newbie…"

Her hand reached out and grabbed Will's chair, wheeling it closer to her as her eyebrow rose, "So…what is going on between you and Ms. Kotler exactly?"

"Um," Will flushed when suddenly there was a timid knock at the door. Paige released his chair and bolted upright, opening the door. Samara stood there in an outfit very similar to the one she wore yesterday. All dark clothes. All swarthy.

"Howdy there, pardner," Paige drawled and ushered the girl in, "How ya be?"

Samara did not answer, face almost hidden behind her hair. One eye in particular was visible and landed on Will. He felt himself shiver in his seat as he jumped up and held out a hand for her to shake, "How's it going?"

There was no answer, nor a shake as Lori suddenly emerged from the bathroom. The blonde looked slightly put out but tried to muster up a smile, "Hello, I'm Lori Campbell."

Samara looked at her in silence, contemplating her. So this was one of the girls who had defeated Freddy? Part of her wanted to actually laugh aloud. This busty blonde? This young nothing was a force to be reckoned with? This…this curly haired thing, had decapitated the egotistical Nightmare Man?

No wonder he needed her help.

Another laugh almost rolled out of her but died as she said nothing, eyes on Lori who seemed even more agitated. She rested her hands on her arms, shifting from one foot to the other, "So, Becca, Paige tells me you're a really good artist."

"The best in th' class," Paige remarked brightly, "An' she just started yesterday."

"You bring any art with you?" Lori asked kindly enough.

Samara drew out her sketchpad and handed it to Lori. She opened it and flipped through a few pages, immediately growing pale. Will looked over her shoulder and saw the various scratches - all of which resembled Freddy and his twisted nightmare illusions. Paige bounded over too and took a look.

Oblivious she laughed, "Wow, you really got a thing for this guy, huh?"

"He's in my dreams," Samara whispered, "All of them."

"Well I wouldn't call this one a dream boat, more a date from hell, ya know? Total nightmares, he's one creepy lookin' guy," Paige returned, "Becca…"

"Sam," Samara corrected.

Paige shot Will a confused look and he ducked his head, "Nickname."

She nodded and continued, "Sam, that's cool, Sammy, you going to Disher's shindig?"

Samara did not reply and Paige took this for confusion, "I mean, everyone was invited. Will and I were given special passes but just about anyone can go and the whole campus is buzzing about it. You should come. The Foxglove is an awesome club and they'll be a lot of new people ta meet there. Ya'd have lottas fun."

Fun? Samara thought about this then realized the club would probably be filled with students, new minds she could inject with fear. Freddy was all ready starting to grow stronger, soon he'd be able to make his first kill.

She nodded and Paige beamed, "Great! OH! I gotta an idea, I gotta an idea!"

She took a firm hold of Samara's wrist, "Come with me, I got a great idea for you - it's make over time!"

With that said she dragged a confused and unwilling Samara off while Lori turned to Will and tossed the sketchpad at him, "What the fuck is this!"

"Don't you see?" Will said, picking up the pad, "It's happening again, another girl is having nightmares. Freddy is after her and soon he'll be after others. He's back, Lori, and we have to stop him."

Lori shook her head, "No, no…"

"Lori, please," Will begged, "You defeated him once, you can do it again. I know you've been through a lot, so have I but-"

"NO!" Lori screeched, "I WILL NOT FACE HIM EVER AGAIN! I CAN'T!"

"Lori," Will said softly, calmly, "Please keep your voice down…"

"He can't get me," Lori said, shaking her head, "I'm protected, all right? Hypnocil keeps my dreams away. I'm safe."

"Yeah? And what about other people, huh, Lori? Did you ever think of that?" Will asked, his temper rising.

"I have," Lori whispered, "I want you and Paige to start taking the pills too."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, I've all ready talked to dad about it and he's agreed to get me more supplies…"

"No."

"Will…"

"No, Lori, No!" Will shouted, outraged, "I won't do that! I all ready spent years of my life hooked up to that junk against my will, I won't let it happen again! Besides, we have to take a stand. We have to stop him. For good this time! For the sake of all the kids on campus! We can't just save ourselves, there are other people…"

"Who I don't even know!" Lori gasped, "Now be reasonable, Will, I mean, I don't want anyone else getting hurt either but what you're talking about is suicide! We don't even have Jason to help us defeat him this time! I was only able to decapitate him because that Goliath weakened him! This time he'd be at full strength, unstoppable…"

"We'll find a way!" Will reassured her, "Lori, please…"

"NO! I want him dead but goddammit he's all ready taken away everything from me, there's nothing left now but my life and I will not let him have that!" Lori hissed when suddenly her cell phone began glowing and buzzing on her desk.

Will looked at her hopelessly and she sighed, frustrated as she picked up the phone, ending its irritating actions, "Hello?"

He listened in as she spoke, "Oh…hey, Tyler," she looked at Will, "Friday? Oh yes, I'm still interested. Mmmhmm, just like we talked about. A movie? Okay, yeah, that sounds good too, listen, I got company, can I call you back? Okay. Great, See you then. Looking forward to it. Bye."

"So…Tyler," Will's tone was tight.

"He's a nice guy," Lori rationed, her voice then becoming icy, "And Samara, is a nice girl."

"Lori, it's not like that…"

"Please, I saw the way you looked at her," she scoffed, "Besides, it was you who dumped me so-"

"Fuck, I don't want to hear this anymore," Will spit and thundered over to the door, he took hold of the doorknob, remarking snidely over his shoulder, "If you grow a backbone, you give me a call."

He slammed the door behind him and Lori burst into tears, throwing herself on her bed. She sobbed for a while then relaxed, playing once again with the stuffed bunny on her bed. She sniffled, thinking deeply. Maybe she was weak. What had happened to her? She used to have friends. She used to be so compassionate.

Now all she cared about was schoolwork and boys and pills….keeping dreams away at all costs. Maybe Will and Paige were right. Maybe she should just stop taking Hypnoicil. And then her eyes landed on the sketchpad near her bed. It was open, showing clearly a picture of a bloody claw glove.

She shuddered and sat up, grabbing the pad. She shut it, fighting off the urge to rip out each and every picture. She didn't like Samara. She got the nastiest feelings from her but at the same token, could she really allow the girl to be slaughtered by the Dream Stalker? Could she live with herself if that happened? If she sat back and did nothing to stop it?

It had been hours since Paige and Samara disappeared and Will had exited so when the dorm room door shot open, Lori jumped. In the doorway, Paige stood, beaming, "Wait'll you see what we did!"

Samara came around the corner slowly. She still wore the same dark clothes. Still had the same long dark hair hiding her face but now there were bright fire hydrant red streaks placed here and there.

Kia, Lori thought, her breath catching at the hairstyle that had so been a part of the other girl's look. Paige, not noticing, smiled, "She looks real good, huh? With the red streaked in with the black."

Samara did not say a word but instead stared straight at Lori. The blonde swallowed, "It's fine. Look, I'm tried so do you think you guys could…"

"Oh, you're right," Paige laughed, "I get so carried away and it's pretty late. Samara, I know you wanted to meet Lori and spend some time with Will but I sort of stole you away for myself. Maybe next time? Like Friday?"

Samara nodded but first went forward to stand in front of Lori. She looked down at her and Lori felt a chill go through her, "What do you want?"

Samara's hand reached down and took hold of her sketchpad. Lori blushed, "Oh. Yeah. Um…good work by the way. Very…uh…accurate."

Samara turned, practically floating out the door as she left. Paige shut the door behind her and sighed, "Well I'm pooped! I did more talking for the two of us than ya can imagine! I'm gonna take a shower than hop n th' sack."

Lori watched her enter the bathroom then shut the door behind her. Lori thought of Samara with Kia's red hair streaks. Then she thought of Samara and Will. She reached beneath her pillow and drew out a bottle of Hypnocil. She shook out two pills and chugged them down with a glass of water.

As she lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes to sleep she continued to struggle over what to do.