Chapter 11: Another Choice

I only had 2 more sins. Two more kills and then Krueger was mine. Two more kills and I would be a full fledged Dream Demon. I was already dammed, and they say it is better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.

I just held Medusa in my hand as I sat on my little window seat in my bedroom. It was awful. The guilt… the pain. I didn't know if I could keep it up for two more kills.

I saw Jake walk up the walkway. I was expecting him. He wanted to see me after the hunting, all of them now, since I told him the truth.

He had a key, too, so he came on up. I heard him pad up the stairs that lead to my room.

He stood in the doorway and leaned against the door. I looked up to him, but his eyes were on the snake.

"Could you, um… put her up?" he asked.

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you're afraid of this little pretty?"

"Something from before I can remember… snakes everywhere… Angel, please?"

"Yeah, okay." I remembered the images Krueger showed me. One was of a little boy surrounded by snakes. That was Jake. I walked across the room and placed my hand over the cage. Medusa slithered off. She was so full of character for a snake, for any pet I had ever seen.

"So, how are you doing?"

"I… I don't know. Last night… I freaked when she started screaming."

"Human, though."

"But I'm supposed to be a demon now. And Krueger… he trusts me. That's good, I guess…"

"I knew this would come up. There is someone I want you to meet, Angel. You have to see her now, though. Krueger won't be expecting you until later, right?" I nodded, "We'll go to sleep. I'll go into your dream, and we'll go together."

"Okay… but…"

"I do this all the time. Krueger won't find us." He said, taking my hand. I looked down, then to his face. His eyes… I felt so safe.

"Right, then lets do this."

"I thought I'd need these." He pulled out a bottle from his jacket. Sleeping pills, a large bottle.

"One pill will put us under for an hour. Half a pill each?"

"Yeah… don't want to chance Krueger finding us." I said, taking the bottle. I twisted off the top and took one of the large pills out. I broke it with ease and handed him the other half.

"Ready?" he asked. I nodded, and we swallowed our half of the pill.

We both stretched out on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"As I lay me down to sleep… I pray the lord my soul to keep… and if I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take." I looked over Jake, who blushed a bit, "Old habit." He added.

"Amen." I agreed.

Tired… already so tired… these things are strong…

I closed my eyes for only a second, but when I opened my eyes I saw starlight. I sat up, and there was a large tower across the street. I stood up and looked around, but I was alone.

"Jake? Jake?" I called.

"Over here. It took me a sec to cross over here." He said, appearing out of an alley. He dusted off his pants, and looked back to me. He smirked, "Can you get rid of the glove? It might scare her." He said. I didn't even know I had it, but I looked down at it and blinked it away.

"So, who is this we're meeting?" I asked. Jake nodded toward the tower.

"Amanda Krueger. She knows I'm here. She's like… my fairy godmother." I nodded, understanding, "Amanda? Amanda, I'm here! I brought the friend I told you about!"

After a minute nothing happened.

"Jake? Where is she?"

"Call to her. She's shy. It's understandable; she was raped by hundreds of men that resulted in Freddy's birth."

"Damn… poor woman. Amanda? Can we talk?" I called. It was quick, only a mere moment and a nun was standing in front of me.

"Angelina. Nice to finally meet you." She said, bowing. I bowed back to her.

"Amanda… Jake, why did you bring me here?"

Jake looked to Amanda.

"There is another way, child. You don't have to kill and become a demon to stop my… son." She seemed hesitant to say it aloud.

"Then what do I do?"

"Kill one more sinner. That's all. Krueger is trying to make you kill more than you need. Once you kill seven sinners you can choose; demon or guardian."

"Wait, wait, wait! One more? But I have two more!"

"No, that is what he wants you to think. Do you remember that first boy, Mike? Krueger knew… he had a blood disease. He bled to death from the cuts you gave him before he beheaded the boy. He was the sin of violence."

"So… I could kill one more sinner and be done? I could then fight Krueger?"

"Yes, but you have to choose before the kill. Do you want to be a demon or a guardian? It is a choice only you can make."

"What's a guardian?"

"It's… it's like the dream demon, only good. Pure, almost. Killing isn't the only way to go about the duty. Just scaring people in their dreams can change them sometimes."

"So… one more kill… and I can choose. I'll destroy Krueger, no matter what. Demon or guardian, good or bad."

"The pills are wearing off already." Amanda said. She reached over to hug Jake, and she turned to me, "Your choice, and no one else's. As soon as you're done with this next kill, meet him head on."

"I'll do my best, Amanda."

XxX

No stars, only a ceiling. I sat up and held my head from the pill. I felt like I had a mild hangover.

I looked over as Jake's eyes fluttered open. He looked over to me and then stood up.

"So, we'll find out your true colors tonight. Call me when you're ready to face Krueger." He turned to ward the door.

"Jake? I've already decided. And I want you to know… no matter what… you're pretty cool."

"Same to you, Angel." He said, and then he left.