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Chapter 8 – Desperation

"Alicia?"

I blinked, startled. "Huh?"

Katherine gazed at me. "You haven't moved for hours. Are you okay?"

I shrugged.

"Alicia!" Katherine slammed her fist down on her table. "What is your fucking problem?"

I looked at her, confused. "What?"

She threw her hands up. "You're acting like I died or something! God! They didn't even exist, Alicia! Nancy, Clarice, and Lori weren't even real!"

"But-"

"Are you just going to sit here and wallow in grief for people who didn't even exist?" She snapped.

"Look, Katherine-"

"NO!" She screamed. "You are weak! They were right! You can't lead an army! You'll turn to mush every time someone dies!"

I stared at her. "What's wrong with you?" I asked softly.

She shook her head. "Or are you still in love with Freddy? Is that it? Too weak to kill your darling Freddy?"

I got off the bed. "Katherine, now you're pushing it," I warned.

She went up to me and pushed me. "Oh. Am I pushing it?" she hissed. "You were Freddy's slut, weren't you? Guess sluts can't change, can they-"

I slapped her, hard.

Her eyes widened.

"I'm sorry," I said. "But you're not acting like yourself. What's wrong with you?"

She smiled sadly. "You're what's wrong with me. Now, because of you, I'm mixed up in this shit. Well, I quit. I quit your stupid army."

She turned around and left her room slamming the door.

I was speechless.

"What the hell?" I wondered.

I figured I should let everyone know about Katherine's meltdown. I went back to the bed, lay down, and closed my eyes.

I quickly felt a sense of peacefulness, and I opened my eyes.

Everyone was there. Buffy, Maggie, Spike, Jess, Andrew, and Alice were standing in front of me.

But something was wrong. I got to my feet, uneasy. "What's wrong," I asked, uncertainly.

Maggie stepped forward, arms crossed. "I quit." Her voice was strong and clear.

Buffy and Spike came forward as well. "We quit too," Buffy said. Spike looked down. "Sorry, love. The odds just don't seem too good."

Tears pricked at my eyes.

Alice stepped forward. She avoided my eyes. "I'm out too," she said quietly.

I looked at Jess and Andrew. They looked away.

"No," I pleaded. "Don't do this."

"We can't win," Buffy said sharply. "Just give up."

I shook my head. "Don't make me do this alone. Please."

There was no answer.

"First Katherine, then all of you! What happened? I thought we were a team."

Alice spoke. "When Nancy, Clarice, and Lori… well, when they died, or whatever happened to them, we realized something. No matter what, Freddy always comes back. You've seen the movies, and you know I'm right. People die to kill him, and he just comes back. There's no point."

I laughed. "Since when have any of you accepted that? I mean, Buffy, you never gave up, even in the end, when everything seemed hopeless! Maggie, you didn't just give up! You fought until you won. None of you ever gave up! Why now?"

"Why now? Because now someone brought us to life. Now, someone made us real. Someone made us feel, think, smell, taste, and touch. You did that. We don't want to lose that. You brought us to life. There's no way we're losing that and ceasing to be real again," said Maggie sharply.

I opened my mouth, but I had nothing to say.

"Maybe Nancy and Clarice are okay, but Lori isn't. In a second, she wasn't real anymore. But it's worse now. Now, she can't even be brought back. She doesn't exist. There was no Lori in some Freddy movie, who defeated him with the help of her boyfriend. The character doesn't exist. We don't want that to happen. We want to be sent back to a world, even if our world doesn't exist to you."

I closed my eyes, and then opened them. "You're right," I managed to say. "Goodbye."

A white glow surrounded Maggie, and she disappeared. Then Buffy was gone, and then Spike.

Alice smiled sadly. "Bye."

"I smiled back. "Bye. Say hi to Nancy and Clarice for me, if they're there."

She nodded, and disappeared.

Jess walked over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. "We don't want to find out what happens when someone who is already dead is killed," she said sadly. "I'm sorry."

I nodded. "I know." I hugged her. "Bye, Jess. I love you."

She hugged me back. "I love you too, Leesha."

A light purplish light surrounded her, and she disappeared.

I turned to Andrew. "Goodbye," I said awkwardly, offering my hand.

He looked at me. "I'm so sorry," he said. "So sorry." He leaned down and kissed me gently, then disappeared.

I stared at the blank white space all around me. There was no one there.

I tried to push back the tears, but I couldn't. I collapsed in a heap on the ground and began to cry.

No one was going to help me now. I had to defeat Freddy own my own. Either that… or I was going to have to die. For the first time, I seriously considered Jess killing me. Maybe it was for the best.

I sniffed. Besides, Katherine was right. Whenever I thought of Freddy, my stomach felt pleasantly funny.

I couldn't kill him.

No one can kill the one they love.

"Oh, God," I sobbed. I loved him. I loved an evil maniac who would kill me without thinking twice. He used me to kill, he manipulated me, and how did I respond? I fell in love with him.

I sighed, wiping away my tears. I was a far cry from the happy girl I used to be. I was sad, broken, and confused.

And I was completely, utterly alone.

Suddenly, I sensed darkness at the edges of the blank, empty space. I knew it was Freddy, but I didn't care. Why should I try to wake up? He probably knows everyone abandoned me anyway.

I sighed, feeling the darkness grow stronger. Everyone had abandoned me. A few hours ago, I felt invincible. I had a whole army behind me to help me kick Freddy's ass. I wasn't alone. But now, I felt hopeless. How could I defeat someone no one else had managed to? Especially now that I was alone.

I closed my eyes, and then opened them after a few seconds.

I was in Freddy's boiler room.

I remained seated.

My thoughts were whirling. Everything felt unreal. Why had everyone left me so quickly? What had really happened to make them leave?

They didn't want to die, a voice inside hissed. They liked being alive, they liked existing. They didn't want to lose that.

"What about Katherine?" I muttered to myself.

Duh. She didn't want to die! Snapped the voice.

I had stopped crying, but I felt the tears coming on again. "But it's not fair," I whispered. "I don't want to die either, but I didn't just give up and take the easy way out."

That's because you have to kill him, silly, the voice told me.

I stood up, shaking my head. "No, I don't", I said loudly. "I don't have to kill him. I'm not going to die if I don't! I could simply refuse to kill him, and spend my life taking some kind of drug to stop me from dreaming. I could give up, just like everyone else did. But I didn't, because…" I trailed off. Why didn't I give up?

"I didn't give up because I'm not a coward," I announced to myself. "And it's not fair because I don't want to die either! I WANT TO LIVE!" I yelled. "But you don't see me giving up, do you? I'm going to fight till the death, because I'm not AFRAID OF FRED KRUEGER!"

"But you should be."

I turned my head to see Freddy leaning against a wall, tapping his blades together.

"Nice speech, bitch. Too bad it was wasted."

I smiled, despite myself. "Not really."

He spread his arms. "So. Alicia, brave and strong, ready to fight till the death. Abandoned by everyone, even her best friend and her little cousin. All alone against the army from Hell."

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

He laughed. "Aw. Did you really think I would play fair and forget about my army? You don't know me at all, darlin'."

I felt a stab of fear. Sure, I could take on Freddy. But a bunch of other hellish creatures? Shit.

I laughed. "You wouldn't."

He grinned. "Oh. I would."

I stopped laughing.

I decided to go for the sweet, seductress way. "Oh, Freddy," I cooed, feeling sick inside. But maybe, just maybe, it would work. I walked over to him. "You wouldn't really put little old me against a big, tough army, would you?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Little old you?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck. We were so close, our noses were almost touching. "Yes," I whispered. My stomach felt queasy, half from the fact that I was trying to seduce him, and half because I was so close. "Your army is so much stronger than mine could have ever been. It wasn't fair to begin with. How could anyone expect to beat you anyway?"

He lifted his bladed hand and gently traced over the four scars he had given to me earlier.

Shivers ran down my spine. I gulped. "So how 'bout it, big boy? Will you let me little old me go?"

He brought his mouth up to my ear. My body stiffened.

"Nice try, bitch," he hissed. "You sound like an inexperienced slut."

I drew away, breathing heavily and trying not to show it.

He shook his head. "Would you really sink so low?"

He was right. God. I hated myself. But there was no way I could defeat his army. But… I had to try.

I glared at him. "Fuck you. I can take you on, with or without your damn army."

He laughed. "Spoken like a doomed hero. Same thing, actually, Nancy would say."

I stiffened. Nancy was like my hero. Out of Buffy, Clarice, and her, I idolized her the most.

"Great minds think alike."

Freddy laughed again, and waved his blades.

In a flash, his army was there, even Hannibal, Michael, and the Creeper. I gasped. "But they died!"

Freddy laughed. "It's not my fault you can't bring back your precious friends."

My mind spun. How could I kill them all?

Wait! I mean, I was in a dream, right? If I could summon weapons, couldn't I summon power, too?

I closed my eyes, and concentrated. I imagined having Buffy's power, Spike's strength, and Nancy's courage.

I felt it flowing through me; a tingling sensation.

I opened my eyes, smiling.

A long sword appeared in my hand. "Let's do this," I snarled.

They rushed at me while Freddy leaned against the wall, watching.

Hannibal leapt at me, and I swung the sword, slashing his left eye in the process. He snarled and backed away.

Jason swung his machete at me, and I ducked. I back-flipped and landed right on Michael's shoulders.

"Cool!" I cried.

I plunged the sword into Michael's neck. He fell to the ground and disintegrated. I stood up and grabbed my sword.

Creeper hissed and slashed my arm. I yelped and swung at him, but Samara jumped on my back and sunk her teeth into me.

I ran backwards into a wall and banged against it until she fell off. I stabbed her over and over until she disappeared.

When I looked up, Creeper flew at me. Reacting quickly, I jumped up and pushed off the wall, smashing into Creeper. We tumbled around, slashing each other, until I managed to kick him off.

Leatherface and Pinhead came at me. I kicked Leatherface's chainsaw and it fell to the floor.

I grabbed Pinhead's arm and swung him into Leatherface. They both fell. I threw down my sword, and grabbed Leatherface's chainsaw. I cut off both their heads, and the disappeared.

Jason brought his machete down, but I blocked it with the chainsaw. I struggled to push his machete up, but he was pushing it down hard. Pushing off his machete, I slid under his legs, holding the chainsaw up as I went under. I quickly got up.

Jason fell forward, and as soon as he hit the ground, he disappeared.

Creeper, Boogeyman, Chucky, and Hannibal were left.

"Give up, Freddy!" I panted. "You can't win."

Snarling, Hannibal knocked me to the floor. The chainsaw slid out of my grasp.

"Argh!"

Hannibal was trying to get at my neck, and I was desperately trying to keep him away. I closed my hands around his neck, trying to push him off and choke him at the same time.

Boogeyman and Creeper loomed over Lecter. I could hear Chucky cackling in the background.

Grimacing, I brought my head up and bit down hard on Lecter's nose.

He howled angrily and tried to shake me off, but I held fast. The taste was sickening.

I let go of his nose and brought my knees up to his chest. He flew backwards, knocking Chucky over.

I felt like laughing, but instead I lunged for the chainsaw. I had just grabbed it when I felt a tugging at my ankle. I looked back.

Creeper had my ankle, and he was slowly pulling me towards him. I kicked and squirmed but he kept pulling me.

Closing my eyes, I summoned a gun beside me. I opened my eyes and beside my arm was a silver pistol. I let go of the chainsaw and grabbed the gun.

I twisted my head around and aimed for his head. When I thought I had a good shot, I pressed the trigger.

Creeper hissed and let me go. I leapt to my feet. He charged at me, and I pressed the trigger over and over until he stopped, a foot away from me.

He opened his mouth, and I pressed the trigger again.

He disintegrated.

Boogeyman howled. He loomed over me, his grey, misty body swirling.

In my hand, I held the boogeyman doll from the movie. I raised it up, and threw it on the ground. It shattered.

Boogeyman howled again, twisting and turning over me. With a final screech, he disappeared.

Now, only Chucky was left.

I dropped the gun and picked up the chainsaw. I advanced on him, laughing.

He backed away. "C'mon! You don't wanna kill me. Look, I'm cute and cuddly!"

I swung the chainsaw at his head.

He yelped.

I laughed. "Chucky, the killer doll." I shook my head. "Always was a lame idea." I lunged forward and sliced him in half. He too disappeared.

I dropped the chainsaw. I couldn't believe it! I had won!

I turned to Freddy, grinning broadly. "Now it's your turn."

Freddy laughed. "Did you really think it would be that easy?" He waved his bladed hand. Suddenly, his army appeared again, unharmed. In fact…. Now there were more of them!

I gasped. No way could I do that again, with even more than before!

Freddy grinned. "You see? You can't beat me, bitch. I always come back!"

Damn it. I glared at him. What was I supposed to do now?

Leave, whispered my voice.

"Good idea," I thought. "Time to go."

I turned the chainsaw off, and carefully made a small cut on my hand.

I jerked awake, looking around. I was in Katherine's room. I sighed in relief.

Just then, Katherine barged in.

"Still mourning over Freddy?" she spat. I looked at her tiredly. "They all quit, Katherine. Hope you're happy."

She looked confused. "What?"

"Everyone quit. There is no army anymore."

Katherine looked awkward. "Oh."

"Yeah. And I single-handedly defeated Freddy's army, but they came back even stronger," I sighed.

Katherine now looked downright embarrassed. "I didn't mean… for them to quit."

I shrugged. "Whatever. They did. And now I know what I have to do."

She looked surprised. "What?"

I got off the bed and sat down at the computer. I logged on to the Internet and went to www.google.ca. I typed in 'Clarice Starling' in the Images box. Images of Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore popped up. In some pictures, Anthony Hopkins stood beside them. I smiled. "So Clarice still exists," I muttered.

"What?" Katherine persisted. "What do you have to do?" I ignored her.

I deleted Clarice's name and typed in 'Nancy Thompson'. There was mostly pictures of old ladies, but thrown in were some pictures of Heather Langenkamp from scenes from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street.' I grinned.

For Lori, I wasn't sure what to type. So, I typed in 'Freddy vs. Jason' in the Web category. I clicked on the first link I saw and then clicked on 'Cast'. I scrolled down to look for Lori Campbell, but I didn't see her name anywhere. Instead, there was an 'Olivia Harrison' instead. When I clicked on her name, a picture of some red-haired actress came up instead.

I felt sad. What had happened to Lori? Where had she gone? I sighed.

"Alicia!" Katherine's voice penetrated my thoughts. "What are you going to do?"

I turned around, looking at her sadly. "I can't defeat Freddy alone," I said honestly. "And I don't expect anyone to help me," I added at her expression. "I only have one option left."

"What is that?"

I sighed. "I'm his power source, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. So?"

"So… I'm going to have to… well; I'm going to have to die. Jess is going to have to kill me."

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