Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Enjoy.

Chapter 10 – Just another statistic

The days passed by. It felt like fifty years, but it was only a few days.

I didn't sleep.

I tossed and turned all night, dreading my fate. I knew it would happen eventually, but it just seemed so unreal.

I awoke on the fourth morning, exhausted beyond comprehension. I stumbled down the stairs, and was shocked to find my aunt and Katherine standing behind the table, and on the table was a cake.

"Happy 17th Birthday Alicia", it read.

My God, I thought. Today's August 12th. My freaking birthday, and I didn't even remember.

I couldn't believe that everything had happened over a little more than two months.

"Happy Birthday!" cried Katherine, grinning.

I sniffed, trying very hard not to cry. "Aw," I got out, before bursting into tears.

"Group hug!" chirped my aunt, and I was pulled into a huge hug.

For a few seconds, time stopped. I saw myself as if I were standing off to the side. I was laughing and crying, and so was Katherine. We were all happy and safe.

Then time started again.

I pulled out of the hug, smiling gratefully. "Thanks, guys," I sniffed.

Kat grinned. "We got you something."

I gave her a look that said, "I'm going to die, why get me a present?" But she ignored me and pulled out a longish, oval shaped box.

"Happy Birthday, Leesha."

I opened the top and found myself staring at the most beautiful cat I had ever seen.

He was the most brilliant gold colour, and he rivaled the gold of the Egyptian kings. His fur shone in the light, and he had glowing green eyes. He was regal and strong, and immediately placed a paw on my nose and meowed.

I laughed.

"I'm going to name him King Tut," I said, and Katherine laughed.

"What?" I protested. "He reminds me of a gold Egyptian king's tomb".

That made her laugh even harder.

After a nutritious breakfast of cake, Katherine, King Tut and I trooped off to her bedroom.

I lay on the bed, petting King Tut as he purred, while Katherine spun herself in the wheelie chair.

For a few seconds, the only noise was the rumbling purr of King Tut.

"Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"Why'd you get me a cat?"

"Cuz it's your birthday, genius."

"You know what I mean." King Tut batted at my hair.

She cleared her throat. "Maybe, you w-won't die."

I looked at her. "Kat… Don't make this harder than it has to be."

She spun around. "Well, you don't have to do it today."

Silence.

"Alicia?" her voice was high and squeaky.

I didn't answer.

"Oh God, please tell me you're not doing it today! It's your birthday, Leesha! Who wants to die on their birthday?"

I shrugged. "I die today, I die tomorrow, I still die."

Katherine looked down. "Well, you could wait."

"Waiting will just make it harder!" I snapped. Then I sighed. "I'm sorry, Kat."

She smiled sadly. "Don't be sorry. You have a right to be whatever you feel like being."

I sat up. "How about we spend the day together, okay? Then…" I trailed off.

Kat smiled.

I looked over at Kat. She was dozing, but I left her.

Freddy didn't want her, anyways.

I laid back and thought about the day. First, we had gone on a shopping spree. We bought normal stuff, nice stuff, girly stuff, punkish stuff.

Then we went to Clifton Hill, and went in almost every funhouse and haunted house. We got kicked out of Nightmares, because I freaked out a bit when the actor dressed like Freddy grabbed me.

Okay, so I kicked him where it hurt and brought my fists down hard on his back, and ran away.

Then we bought cotton candy and went home, and watched some girly teenage movies.

Now, it was 11:00 pm. It was time.

"Kat," I whispered, nudging her.

"Huh? Oh," she mumbled, awake.

"It's time."

She looked at me, and lay down.

We closed our eyes.

After counting to twenty, I opened my eyes.

As I expected, we were in Freddy's boiler room. But we weren't alone.

Everyone was there.

Nancy was there, smiling sadly again. So was Alice, and Clarice (smiling gratefully), Maggie, Spike, Buffy, Jess, Andrew, Jess's parents, and my parents.

My heart stopped.

"M-mom? D-dad?"

They stepped forward, glowing and smiling. "Darling," my mom whispered.

I rushed forward and hugged them tightly. We were all crying, once again for me.

"I-I'm so sorry, Mommy and Daddy," I sobbed.

"Shh, sweetie, it's okay. You're our little hero."

I drew back and smiled weakly. "I love you."

"We love you too, sweetheart", they said, smiling tearfully.

I turned to Jess's parents awkwardly. "Um… I-I'm sorry."

For a second, their faces were cold. Then they smiled, almost regretfully. "It's okay," said Mrs. Roberts, but she didn't look like it was okay.

I felt horrible and disgusting.

I looked at everyone else and smiled. "Hi."

Suddenly, I was being hugged by everyone. I was surprised and touched, and I hugged them back. "Wow. I didn't know I was so loved."

Spike ruffled my hair. "You're a brave kid, pet," he said affectionately, and I blushed.

"You're a hero," said Buffy, hugging me again.

Alice nodded. "We won't forget you," she said quietly.

Jess hugged me tight, and squeezed my hand. "Be strong, Leesha," she whispered in my ear.

To my surprise, Andrew leaned down and kissed me. I was surprised, and yet pleased. It was nice. He drew back, tears in his eyes. "I love you, Alicia."

I was speechless. "I… love you too."

Maggie sniffed. "I-I'm sorry I was rude, Alicia. You're not a bad kid." I smiled. "Thanks."

Nancy put her hands on my shoulders, and they didn't pass through me. "You've already started to free me," she whispered. "I'll never, ever forget you, Alicia. Be strong." She hugged me one last time.

"Aww, well if it isn't the bitch's last goodbye," snickered a low, growly voice behind me.

I turned around.

Freddy Krueger, dark and menacing, stood in the shadows, his blades glinting.

"So you came." He shook his head. "Stupid whore."

I took a step forward. "I'm here to finish you, Freddy. Once and for all."

He laughed, and it echoed off the walls. "You can't kill me, bitch! I am eternal!"

I smiled. "Okay. Then kill me."

A flicker of doubt passed over his eyes.

"What?"

I spread my legs apart. "Kill me, Krueger. Finish me, right now. I won't stop you."

I heard a gasp behind me.

He flexed his blades. "Fine."

I laughed. "You can't kill me, because the moment I die, you die too. And I know you don't have someone to replace me."

He chuckled. "Oh yes, I do."

I shook my head. "You don't. You didn't expect me to kill myself, and you aren't going to kill me. You think you're home free."

His eyes narrowed. "You're dead wrong, bitch."

My arm shot down to my side, and I flexed my fingers. A bladed glove appeared on my right hand. It was exactly like Freddy's, except it was white (even the blades were a glowing white) and the blades were longer and curved.

"Then come and get me, KRUEGER!" I yelled, and charged towards him, blades raised.

He grunted in surprise, and barely side-stepped as I brought my blades whooshing down. I spun around and slashed his arm.

"Fucking slut!" he snarled, and swung his arm around. His claws grazed the side of my stomach.

I cried out, gritting my teeth. "Son of a bitch," I hissed.

He charged me this time, and he barely missed sticking his blades into my chest. I acted quickly and thrust my blades forward, not looking where they were going.

He stopped, looking down.

My blades were impaled in his lower chest, but not deep.

For a moment, we froze.

Then he leapt backwards and the sudden movement catapulted me forward. I met the pavement hard, feeling stinging pain shoot through my body.

Before I could get up, I felt something push on my back.

Freddy had one foot on my back, keeping me down, and looking triumphant.

I struggled to breathe, pressed hard against the floor.

"Nice try, bitch," he hissed. "But no cigar."

"No," I wheezed. It couldn't end like this!

Katherine's POV

I watched in horror as Freddy pinned Alicia down to the floor. I saw her struggle helplessly.

It definitely looked like Freddy would win.

This called for desperate measures.

I ran forward, throwing myself at Freddy. I caught him off guard and bowled him over.

"Get up, Leesha!" I screamed, trying to dodge Freddy's blades.

"Bitch," he snarled, slashing at me.

I pushed him away and scrambled, half-crawling, away as fast as I could. I could hear him clawing after me, and I whimpered.

Suddenly, I heard him cry in outrage, and crawling backwards, I looked back.

Alicia had her blades stuck deep in Freddy's back. She pushed them in deeper, and they began to glow.

"Nooooo," he cried, twisting and turning.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake and rumble.

Someone grabbed me and dragged me away, as I screamed at Alicia to move. But she stayed still, and our eyes met.

She smiled sadly.

Without warning, the ground opened up, and Freddy was swallowed, still crying out.

Alicia yanked out her blade and fell as well, but she grabbed onto the edge. "Help!" she cried.

I scrambled over to the edge and looked down.

Alicia was hanging on with one hand, trying to shake off her blade and claw at Freddy at the same time. He had his unbladed hand wrapped around her ankle, and she was slipping fast. Beyond Freddy was a mass of fire and screams.

"Alicia!" I screamed. "Give me your hand!"

She reached her bladed hand towards me, and I pulled it off. She slipped a bit and screamed.

I lunged for her hand and grabbed it.

"Hold on!"

Suddenly, Nancy and Alicia's parents appeared. "Alicia!" screamed Nancy. "Don't let go!"

Alicia shook her head. "Kat, let me go."

I shook my head, tears falling. "Never!"

"Let me go, Kat! This is it! If I die, and take him with me, it will all be over. Please."

I looked imploringly at Nancy.

She too was crying. "L-Listen to her, Kat," she sobbed. "It's fucking unfair, but she's right."

I looked at Alicia's parents.

"Mom, Dad, I have to do this," she sobbed.

They nodded, and reached out to touch her face. "We love you!" they cried.

"I love you too!"

Suddenly, everyone was gathered around the edge. Everyone was crying, sobbing their goodbyes, and blowing kisses.

Alicia looked at me for the last time.

"I love you, Kat."

I sobbed. "I love you too, Alicia!"

Crying harder then I've ever cried before, I let go of her hand.

Instinctively, I think, Nancy cried out and reached for her. Alicia's parents screamed and hugged each other.

It was like I was watching it in slow motion.

Alicia fell slowly, her hands still reaching out for us, and yet she wasn't screaming.

She was smiling the saddest smile I've ever seen.

Freddy was roaring, still hanging on to her ankle.

Then, the fire and heat engulfed them, and the ground closed up.

"NO!" I screamed, and lunged forward, pounding on the ground. "ALICIA! NO! YOU CAN'T BE GONE! I'M SORRY I LET YOU GO! COME BACK!"

Nancy reached for me. "Oh, Kat."

I turned around and flung my arms around her, crying hysterically.

I cried because my best friend has died. I cried because Alicia had sacrificed herself for me, and for everyone else.

But mostly, I cried because Alicia's death wouldn't be recognized as it should be. She wouldn't be known as a hero. She wouldn't be shown the respect she deserved.

She would just be another teenager, committing suicide.

She would just be another teen statistic.

So, do you like it? I think I'll add another chapter (the Epilogue) and that's it.