-are you sure that this is the house?—said pearl as they stood outside the little country house in the Middle West (was Montana?-)—it doesn't look like the house that young girl in the photo would have…
-it's the house that Connie found using her name and the name of the town from where she came…then again—answer Garnet as she walked to the door and knocked...
They could hear the noise of some steps being made inside as the door sounded open and there it was a middle aged woman. Her blond hair had begun to grey but it was still its strawberry blond color in totality. She was about pearls height and had a long thin nose.
-good afternoon…wow, are you glam rock singers?—asked the woman a little amused smiling at them.
- No, we are the crystal gems, Garnet and Pearl…are you Lisa Webber?—asked pearl trying to be the most diplomatic possible.
-is now Lisa Walsh—she said showing her hand where a ring sat—then again…I haven't called that name in years…
-Is your…-what was the word?—Husband? Jesse Walsh?—asked again pearl…so far so good.
-yes, he is inside…you were searching for us?—asked her beginning to subtly move inside.
-We need information about Frederick Kru…-but garnet never got to finish the word…
*BAM!*
-they know—Pearl said as a matter of fact—mrs walsh…we need your help—pearl said as she knocked the door again…this time a man answered the call but the door stood close.
-go away—said a tenor voice—we don't want anything to do with it.
-Please we need your help—Pearl said, and garnet found the tone…pleading…what was that rose party?—I need your help, Steven needs your help—she finished.
Garnet could hear the sound of a man and a woman talking, the door proved a good barrier to mumble the sounds of their conversation but eventually she could make the words, "please", "only hope" and "we won't be involve"…after a while the door opened and they entered the house. There was a middle age man. Unlike Greg was, Mr. Walsh was slender and what in her youth probably was blonde hair was now mostly grey…it looked like he got grey a long time ago. He politely asked them to enter and once they had sat in a couch in a nice living room Walsh sat along with his wife in a twin couch…only a table separated the two. Walsh looked like a very troubled and shy…his wife rubbed his shoulder in support as Pearl and Garnet looked in discomfort…what had Freddy done to them to make Mr. Walsh so afraid?
-what do you want to know?—finally said him swallowing a little and looking at them apprehensive.
-how do we kill him?—asked pearl fast and without a second thought.
-you can't—he answered—he can't be killed…maybe stopped or temporally defeated but—he then inclined himself to the front his fingers moving nervous—you can't kill him.
-He is alive so he can be killed—said pearl again…Garnet was now concerned by her friend…why she was so vicious, not even the war had made her that brutal with her enemies.
-He is not alive—said Lisa—he is a dream demon…a undead—she then moved her hand a trying to find the words—he feeds of fear…the more you fear him the easier is for him to hurt you—she finished.
-fear makes everything real—said both in affirmative form Garnet but at the same time like a question—so we could just stop fearing him and it would be over—there was some hope.
-yes…and no—said Lisa passing a hand thru her hair—he digs deep in your mind to find what is what you most fear…once he finds a weak spot…he will use it, he will never stop trying to push your buttons—she was going to keep talking but her husband intervene.
-he can be contained—he said to them—no matter how powerful he is…he can't leave springwood, he is tied to that place, just get away for that town like we did and you will be fine—he said to them.
-could…could he use someone? As a means to escape springwood?—Asked this time Garnet who was beginning to get anxious with this…this being was to out of their comfort zone and she needed to talk to pearl about what happened in the dream…what did Krueger did to her friend?
-oh god…is he possessing your friend?—asked Walsh going pale—did…he kill someone—continued growing distressed.
-I…I don't…-
-we are not sure about possessing…someone is exactly—said garnet looking at pearl.
-He is taking over his body, implanting his soul inside him and forcing him…-Jesse began but stopped...This was taking his toll on him.
-what did he do to you?—asked garnet.
The next hour she heard the story of Jesse Walsh, how his father moved in the cheap house because it had been the scene of a gruesome crime, how every night he will be tormented by Freddy and how he grow more powerful with each kill and finally he crossed into the real world…this was deeply disturbing to both pearl and Garnet. Pearl looked like her whole world was falling apart…souls, demons…not only existed but it mean a lot of her conceptions of life and death were f not wrong horrible out of course. Garnet was horrified by the whole implications of this for Steven. Was he being possessed? Or was simple a host for the filthy soul of Freddy Krueger. At the end they had not a clear answer of how to keep Freddy away, but they knew that at the very least he could be contained somehow.
At the end Walsh and Webber bid them farewell…they told them that they could not get involved in with Freddy again…the memories, not to mention the two kids that were out in college needed them and as they walked garnet asked pearl directly.
-what Freddy did to you?—
-is…-pearl stopped and with a hand over her mouth she silently cried—is not important.
-It is…they said that he will find whatever one truly fears…what disturbs them…what did he show you?—garnet came close to her and put her hands on her shoulders.
-Garnet…do you think that…maybe I wasn't that important to rose?—she said as he turned her head from garnet sight.
-what do you mean?—
-In my dream…he appeared or made appear, Rose, and she said…she told me—she began.
-Pearl whatever that vision told you was a lie…rose loved you as much as she loved me or amethyst—she began.
-but not nearly as much as she loved Greg—pearl said getting out of her grasp and walking towards the portal.
Internally Garnet understood that point that Walsh made…he will find what hurts you the most, and obviously had found what hurt amethyst and pearl the most.
As Garnet stood in front of the door she wondered how she should ask for the information. The small house in the outside of New Hampshire offered her a new problem: how to talk about Freddy if they reacted in the same way? Breathing for comfort but not for genuine necessity, she knocked the door. She heard some steps and in the door there was an old man…must have been early 70s, his once black hair was now complete gray…but he looked friendly enough.
-good afternoon…do you need something young lady?—asked with truly sincerity…at which point garnet doubted what to say…fortunately for her, pearl save her.
-yes…we are searching for Alice Johnson—pearl said trying to return the smile.
-she is at work but she will be back in…half to an hour…would you like to wait inside?—asked signaling them that they could enter the house.
The house was a two floor place. Stairs close to the front door and what it looked like a small living room where there was a big couch which was occupied by pearl and Garnet. Turning to look at their surroundings they saw some photographs. Curios Pearl walked towards them. In the photos she saw a small girl with a blonde reddish hair which as she grown up became blonder. There was a photo of a couple of kids in blue garb, a lanky boy three girls, one of them dark skinned like the pizza twins. A blond athletic looking young man was I the photo holding the girl that must have been Alice; there were other photos of them together. Then there were photos of a baby, black haired baby. Photos of the kid as he grown up…the most recent showed a young adult with a still blonde slender woman as they both smiled. The photos make her remember about Steven and how he must be in that instant. Pearl then walked back to the couch and sat down, her chin supported by her hands and her elbows in her knees. If Steven had fallen that day when they were in the floating mountains…would she have let him fall?
Garnet for her part took a photo that was in the table…it was a photo of a young couple…giving a passing look at pearl she returned her sight at the photo…the woman of the Hathaway house was staring back at her: "Yes is the boy". She heard it and while she did not throw the picture she let it fall as soon as she finished her words…turning fast to see pearl who simply looked at garnet like she was doing something deeply weird.
-what happened?—asked pearl confused.
Lifting the photo, garnet saw that it was again the image of the couple…deciding to not lie, she answer honestly.
-I saw Amanda…I saw her here—pointed at the picture.
-…do you think she followed us?—asked pearl examining the image.
-I am more concern if she is our side—
As pearl was about to answer to her friend they heard the door open to them. There in the front was a middle aged woman in her early 50s. She was still slender and her hair was still blonde but with a few strands having become white which was confused with the blonde hairs. She looked at them amused and said.
-are you glam singers?—as she leave her backpack and some of her supplies.
-no…why they keep asking that?—said pearl the last part mumbling.
-We are the crystal gems. Pearl and Garnet- Garnet told pointing first at pearl and then to herself. Alice just giggled a little more.
-not helping your case—she said sitting in the sofa in front of them—do you want something to drink…my dad said that you have been here for a while.
-we don't…we came here because you know something—Garnet said dry—you used to live in springwood?—
-yeah…why?—asked the woman whose smile had just disappeared and in her place was a expression of calculation iciness.
-we have problem with Krueger—Pearl said…this only make Alice face become harsher but she keep quiet—and we thought that maybe you know one way to get rid of him.
-You stay away from springwood…and never comeback…that is your solution—she said looking at them—he is confined to that dammed town…just stay away from that place.
-I think...he found a way out—Garnet said—and is because of us…-
-what did you do?—asked a now terrified Alice—what did you do?
-what do you mean garnet?—asked now pearl also confused.
-remember the vision that I told? I think…he got out of springwood using Steven—
-who is Steven?—asked our host now worried.
Pearl using her gem projected an image of Steven playing with Connie.
-Steven is him, he is the son of Rose Quartz and…are you sure Garnet?—
-last night confirmed it…as soon as Steven waked up the possession of amethyst stopped—Garnet said
-I think I know what he is trying to do—Alice said as she stood and began to walk in front of them—when he began he was confined at the kids who where the daughters and sons of the people who killed him, that being…the elm street kids—
-if he was confined to those kids how he ended up killing all of the kids of springwood?—asked a very confused pearl.
-he found a loophole…some kids had the ability that make them different in the dream world…like my brother and my friend, Kristie. Kristie had the ability to summon people into her dreams…and Freddy not only feeds on fear…-she stopped turning to look at them.
-what other thing he…-began garnet but she heard a voice in her head: "Souls"—is the souls of his victims?—
-yes, he takes their souls and uses them as fuel…the more he has the more powerful he is…if what you said of springwood then you offer to him no challenge there…that would mean—she began to thought—can Steven hop or summon people like Kristie?
-Yes—Garnet confirmed.
-Then I know what he is trying to do…he hoped in Steven mind, used him as some kind of door to whatever location and is now beginning to build his power again—she then asked—what is the most that he had influenced the real world?—
-he nearly tacked over amethyst—garnet said
-and made the plant and the pizza incident—pearl corroborated.
-what pizza incident?—
After they explained what they suspected was Freddy's doing Alice took a moment to sit down.
-Steven will be safe…that's it, if Freddy keeps needing him…he tried to do the same thing with my son—she said walking to the group of photos and taking one with a black hared kid-but by your words, he had surely kill a lot of people to be able to muster that kind of power—she began to wonder.
-I think…Greg was part of them—Pearl began to say.
-as gunga, onion, Connie classmate—continued Garnet.
-those aren't enough for the power that he has now…how big is beach city…is there a school close to it?—she said sitting back.
-Connie's school…oh dear—Pearl said falling in realization…how many kids had he…
-Connie said that she is sure that after her class on Friday everybody knew of Freddy now—said Garnet catching on.
-how many kids had been reported as death of disappeared?—asked fast Alice—how many goddamn it?
-we don't know, we…we don't talk to a lot of people in town—Said pearl distressed.
-Did you live in an island, how did you not know this?—continued Alice frustrated.
-How do we banish him?—asked garnet know with urgency,
-well, if you grab him while you are in the mist of waking up…you will pull him out of the dream realm and he will be mortal…that's it as soon he dies he will come back in the dream world—Alice began to formulate—you could…no—she said.
-what? What can be done?—asked pearl—said it, whatever help us save our Steven.
-that is why I did not say it—she answered sadly—you could kill the portal—
-NO, Steven…no, there must be other way—but inside of her, garnet could not find other solution as she heard pearl pleads…but still there must be other way.
-I only have stopped him for a couple of times, he always comes back…he always finds a way to come back—Alice said defeated, passing a hand for her face she then said—if you find a way call me, I will help on everything that you need, I have a son…and I know what's like to have that bastard try to use your kid as a paw—she said writing her number in a phone and giving it to garnet—you have a friend here.
As garnet and pearl appeared in the house they walked towards the kitchen…Steven was with Connie and Sadie up in his bedroom watching some movies.
-Pearl, Garnet, did you have luck?—asked his smiling face…this was not going to be easy.
-Steven…are you tired?—asked garnet…it was risky but it had to be done.
-a little, we past the whole night without sleep—he said waning a little.
-Steven…you and me will go to the dream world…I have a plan—
-What is your plan Garnet?—asked pearl…unknown to them amethyst was in the beam listening as an owl.
-Steven and I will go to the dream realm and we will lure Freddy to us, when we had him you wake us up—Garnet said—pearl I need you to have your sword out…you know what you need to do—Garnet said with finality in her voice.
-I will go with Steven…if I fused with him we could defeat him—Connie said, before garnet could answered Sadie added.
-I will go, I hurt him the last time, maybe I could help you this time—she said in a tone that made clear that she will not accept no for answer.
-ok…Connie, Steven, fuse—she said as looked how Sadie put a pillow in the ground and prepared herself to sleep—you are tired, pearl, as soon as you see them fall asleep give me the signal so I could follow them.
Stevonnie closed their eyes and Sadie as well…
Stevonnie found herself walking in a foundry, looking the boilers and the kilometers of pipes in the perpetual red light that illuminated the whole place, they fell dread, the place was completely silent, they could only heard the sound of the few drops of water that fell from some pipes, and the steam that with pressure came out of the tubes, finally they came across a leader. Stopping so Steven could fell if Sadie was in the dream realm they quickly found her…summoning her they found her in front of them in her Sadie Killer Appearance.
-have you see him?—asked Sadie holding her spear close to her uneasy—have you heard him?—asked Sadie as she survey every place.
-No…everything here is silent…do you think he was waiting for us?—answered back Stevonnie holding her shield and sword…this was weird…then them felt Garnet and she summoned her.
-he is here—Garnet said without being ask.
-why is he not attacking us?—asked Sadie looking at garnet—and how do you know he is here?—
-someone told me—Garnet said looking to one side…there she could swear she saw white cloth in the corner of her eye.
Then they heard a laugh…it was not loud like the other times that Freddy had laugh, it was quiet and raspy. They heard steps and intervals of four taps in the pipes follow by a strong screech. He was getting closer…and then nothing. Then it was silent again. Without a word Garnet looked at Sadie and Stevonnie and signaled them to follow her. As they walked thru a corridor stevonnie could not stop when he looked the walls…there was something write there…"Gotcha". With a blast the ground opened while he heard a laught. He found himself sliding in a big water tube…it looked endless until them crashed with a crystal. Coughing and spiting water they stood up and looked at their surroundings. It was some kind of old time dinner. The place looked stuck in the 50s or at least was retro. But it looked like it has seen better days…the window were broken or barren, the natural light just made the whole place look more decadent, the chair had a light cover of dirt and the other three people inside looked not rely noticing that they just crashed thru the roof. Walking to the counter they not even looked at Stevenonnie which made her suspicious of them…sitting in the counter in the last chair so she could see the rest of them she heard a voice…she almost recognized the voice. Turning fast she saw Kiki. But she looked so old, so haggard and tired.
-what would be dear?—she asked as she smiled at her. She honestly did not know what to say to her so she began to mumble but she finally—I come back when you have made up your mind—she said as she walked away…the she heard a voice vesides her.
-pretty lousy pizza but look at that girl ass—turning they saw the charred face of Freddy Krueger, without a second thought they jumped back wielding their sword. He was leisure sitting there smiling while eating a pizza…the other last 2 pieces inside the box.
-You are coming with us—
-why I would do that sweet cheeks?—said him as he took a bite of the pizza—hum…onion sauce, you should taste it…is delicious—he said smiling.
-is that…what are you?—asked him between hate and nausea.
-I am what nightmares are made of—he said was he smiled to him—and you—he said pointing at him—the fatass son of the pink bitch…-
-HEY, that wasn't nice…-they said tightening the grip of the sword—what will you get with all the people that you had kill…the country? The planet?—maybe he wanted to dominate the world like the diamonds.
-are you retarded? I want to have fun hearing you squirm in the ground…I want to be in the deepest place of your nightmares…I want to laugh at your groveling-he stood and walked to them—being death is not a problem….being forgotten now that's a bitch—he then moved his clawed hand and the whole place disappeared. There they stood in a room with fire. At their side they saw a deep pit without end for which only bright red light came out, in one side they saw a wall that suddenly opened revealing a set of stairs. Signaling with her claw to follow them…they waited for moment in guard waiting for something—I won't kill you…yet…I need your boyfriend little slut—he said pecking from the stairs grinning. Carefully they followed him to the stairs, it lead to a door which he opened. On top they saw the dark blue sky of beach city, they were overlooking the whole place from the top of the lighthouse.
-Look at it, my new…playground—he said as he let a laugh to the skies…he then turned and pointed with his gloved hand at them—for years I thought that I was done…but you came…and you freed me boy—he said smiling…then they heard something. In the ground there were clearly sounds of strikes and the ground was opening, a small mount elevating bit by bit, Freddy moved her gloved hand an over the mount, he made appear a cage of sorts—looks like the guest of honor are here—he said smiling leaning in the railing.
-what do you mean that I set you free?—Steven said of stevonnie asked with dread—I did not do anything—did I?
Before Freddy could answer the earth burst…right in a cage that Freddy made appear. Without a word Freddy jumped to the cage where garnet and Sadie were fighting to get out.
-I knew that you would not disappoint—he said smiling at them…behind him the sound of Stevonnie landing made him turn a little, they looked at him fierce holding their sword…
-Let them go—said with ice in her voice.
-or what? I know everything, all here—he said putting one bladed finger in the side of her head—you had never killed someone…and neither your girl—he then heard metal bending and turned to see garnet slowly opening the bars—no cheating—said as the earth beneath Sadie and garnet Collapsed and they were forced to grab the bars to stop from falling…turning again to stevonnie…they were mid air. With a swing they landed with the blade connecting in the shoulder…and going all the way to the waist.
-Remember…believe you hurt him and you will—Screamed the voice of Sadie.
-SHUT UP BITCH—as soon as those words had finished…the bars began getting warm. Thinking fast garnet jumped to Sadie side and grabbed her. Sadie now in the back of Garnet let her do the grabbing…while Sadie could not handle the heat garnet could swim in lava. Freddy looked at stevonnie who looked in shock at what they had done…this where kids…not killers. Grabbing the sword he violently pushed it out of his body healing himself immediately. Walking towards stevonni who was in guard again he then smiled.
-I can't believe you are this stupid—he said and then turned towards garnet who was again bending the bars—did she never told you?—
-WHAT THE HELL ARE BALBERING ABOUT?—asked part frustrated…part disturbed at what Steven's part was thinking—we did nothing—said…but there was no longer security in their voice…then the ground began to shake…from the earth pipes burst, fire from the cracked pieces of earth shout and the laugh of Krueger could be heard in the night. There in the center of the distorted boiler room was Freddy he then violently ripped open his sweater…showing his charred chest and the faces of people in horrible pain.
-remember the night your father died?—he said walking towards stevonnie…they could see the face of Eric moaning in agony—that wasn't a heart attack…I kill him to get inside you—he said smiling—wanna talk to..daddy?—he then extended his left hand…in her palm appeared the face of a suffering Greg—"STEVEN.I AM SO SORRY"—moaned in pain the poor soul—"I TRIED TO STOP HIM…"-Stevonnie grip in their sword loosen it—that old black cunt, that ugly fuck and a lot more that your little slut knows—he finished. Stevonnie began to glow and with a thud there was Steven in one side, knees and hands in the ground…Connie recovered and raised…just to see that Steven was not up yet.
-you are the door boy…as you were wrong…you did something—he said walking towards him…connie then put herself in front of him and steven.
-STAY BACK—Connie said while she could heard Steven sobbing—Steven get up we can—but the minute that she stopped to look at Steven Freddy had run towards her and grabbed her by the throat.
-how cute…why won't you go and dance so it rains would yah?—he said preparing himself to stab her when a spear came out of his chest, with a violent movement he throw Connie to one small island in the middle of the fire—WHO!?—he then turned and saw Sadie getting out of the cell…while small for Garnet it was the right size for her.
-CONNIE, ARE YOU FINE?—asked Sadie appearing other spear.
-yeah—she then looked at horror how Freddy had Steven by his neck.
-to late Blondie—he said caressing his hair—hehe…stev here and I have special work to do…isn't right you little shit?—asked laughing.
-Steven don't listen to him…he is lying—Sadie said…then Steven raised his head…his eyes looked to nowhere; he looked as broken as the day when he returned.
-Do I? Why don't you ask to purple bitch?—he then turned Steven head towards garnet who was getting out of the cell.
-Is it true Garnet? He came here inside my mind?—asked an utterly broken Steven
-Steven…it wasn't your fault—
-WHAT!?—Said Sadie and Connie…who then looked at Steven who was speechless…
-you see…you fucked every single one of them…because you were born—he said—HAHAHA…you see, every single one of them is death because of you—
-STEVEN, DON'T LISENT TO HIM IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT—Garnet said jumping towards Krueger only to see him disappear.
-said goodbye Steven—said the voice of Krueger behind the group as they turned…Steven was limp inside a cage, curled he lifted his head…his eyes were red for sobbing, he looked not at them, he looked thru them. With a final laugh Freddy disappeared.
-Steven…STEVEN—screamed Connie as she disappeared.
-what where is she?—asked Sadie as she began to say as she disappeared.
Garnet stood there knowing that they simply had waked up…then she heard a voice and turned.
-He will not kill him…he needs your kid—turning she saw Amanda Krueger…but she was younger, she could be barely older than the pizza twins.
-for what?—
-You know why he needs him…but you will not kill him…only your kid can do it—she said turning to walk away.
-wait…can't we help him?—
-Of course…as I will do everything that I can to help you-.
As soon as Garnet waked up she saw a distressed pearl that shake Steven trying to wake him. Sadie was along with Connie was freaking out.
-he is not death—Garnet said walking and kneeling in front of pearl taking his glasses off.
-He is not?—
-but he won't wake up—Said Connie.
-Freddy has him…but he won't kill him…he needs him—Garnet said…then she felt a strike in her face.
-what do you mean?—Said amethyst who looked livid—WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT HE WONT KILL HIM?—she exploded.
-the day Greg died…it was because Freddy did it, to weaken Steven mind and hitchhike it…he has been inside his mind all this time, using his ability to summon people in his dreams…as long as he can use Steven…he won't kill him—said garnet rubbing her face—I did not know about this until yesterday—
-But you suspect something!—said Amethyst worked up—now what?
-Only Steven can vanquish him—Garnet said standing up again-.
-Why?—asked Sadie…was as confused and distressed as all of them.
-Because Steven is the portal—she finished—but…that does not mean that we can't help him…I will try.
-as I will—Connie said standing tall.
-and me—Said Sadie putting a hand on Connie shoulder.
-He will not hurt my baby—Pearl said with Steven in her arms.
-like I would do it alone—finally smiled amethyst.
Inside Garnet sighed…interstellar menaces at last had an ethos…for first time; they were facing a deranged psychopath…a supernatural one at that.