SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Windyfontaine: Yep. Very true, yep. Thanks.

Princetongirl: Thanks. Hope this is soon enough.

Chocolatebrownies: Thanks. Hope this is soon enough.

InsaneGiggles: Thanks. Thanks. I will.

DISCLAIMER

Belongs to Wes Craven, New Line Cinema, and Canadian Television. From the few eps I've seen of this season, it doesn't seem like Lassiter likes Casey, hence the attitude. I only own characters you don't recognize.

The next morning, both Casey and Nancy bolted up in a cold sweat. The girls panted shakily and tried to calm themselves down. Feeling a searing pain, Nancy grabbed her arm.

"That freak," she growled.

"Top drawer," Casey said. Nancy reached over to the dresser, opened the top door, and got out some bandages that were quickly wrapped around her arm. Then, they got up and got dressed. In his own room, Joey and Rod each jerked awake.

"Way too close, man," Rod panted.

"Man, tell me about it. Thought he was gonna slice and dice me for a sec," Joey answered in the same breath, rubbing his throat.

"You better wear a turtleneck," Rod advised.

"Yeah, somehow I don't think the explanation of a dream stalker will bode well with the teachers," Joey agreed. The boys chuckled. The two got up and changed from their pajamas to regular clothes. After that, they grabbed their things, went downstairs, filched a couple of granola bars, and then headed out. Once they were both in the car, Joey started the engine and drove off. At school, the boys immediately began searching for their friends.

"Rod! Joey!" Casey gasped.

"Oh, thank God," the boys sighed together.

"You guys okay?" they asked together.

"Us? What about you?" Casey questioned, putting a hand on the side of Joey's neck.

"I'm all right. Looks like my sonic scream's got some use after all," he assured.

"It's always useful," Nancy said. Casey blew out a worried breath.

"What am I gonna tell Max?" she wondered.

"The truth. He knows about Krueger," came the answer.

"I failed. I'm a Dream Master and I failed," she berated herself.

"You're human," was the reminder.

"Krueger got him. He got one of Max's best friends---all because I was too slow," Casey moped.

"Hey, ease up on yourself, Case. This wasn't your fault," Joey told her.

"But if I hadn't gotten distracted---" Casey began. Joey grabbed her shoulders roughly.

"Listen to me! He knew that would get to you! It's why he did it! He loves to mess with our heads, remember?" he reminded her. Casey looked at him and her throat muscles constricted.

"I could've stopped it. I could've saved Shelly. If I had just moved sooner," she said.

"You were in shock. You didn't understand what was going on back then---none of us did," Joey responded. Casey blew out a breath. "I just---I just don't know how I'm gonna tell Max," she said softly. Joey released Casey and put a gentle hand on her cheek. Meanwhile, Max was busy looking for one of his friends.

"Hey, has anyone seen Bobby around?" he questioned.

"No, man. It's weird. I mean, first Greg dies, and now Bobby's missing," another of his friends answered.

"Yeah, weird," Max mused. What's going on around here? he wondered. Maybe he should talk to Casey. She'd probably know. Just then, he noticed a couple of uniformed officers talking to Principal Lassiter. At first, he was confused, but then it clicked. Greg had died a couple of days ago. And if the police were here today…suddenly, Max felt sick. With a retching sound, he dashed towards the restroom.

"Hey! No run---" Principal Lassiter's admonishment died away when he heard the gagging sound. "Never mind," he finished somewhat lamely. Better to have him run to the restroom than puke all over the halls, he thought to himself. Max made it into the bathroom just in time to dump his breakfast into the nearest sink. Several seconds later, he looked up.

"Man, why is this happening?" he wondered. Then, he splashed some water on his face and headed back out.

"Son, are you feeling okay?" an officer asked as he came towards them.

"Yeah, I…just kinda put two and two together when I saw you guys here. Bobby's dead, isn't he?" Max responded.

"You knew the victim?" the officer queried.

"He's---he was---the wide receiver on our football team…and one of my best friends," Max said shakily.

"I'm sorry," the officer said sympathetically. Before he could say more, Casey, Rod, Nancy, and Joey walked up.

"Who are you?" the officer questioned.

"Well, Casey and Joey are students here, but I don't know those two," Principal Lassiter answered.

"We're their friends. We've been visiting them,' Rod stated.

"Can you tell me anything about Johnson boy's death?" the officer questioned.

"Who, Bobby?' Casey repeated.

"Yes, that's right," the officer confirmed.

"You wouldn't believe me," Casey said softly.

"Ms. MacDonald, if you know something, it'd be better for you to work with the police," Mr. Lassiter stated sharply. The officers looked at the man in disapproval. Give the kid a break. She doesn't look like she got any sleep last night, one thought to himself.

"I can tell you how he died---four razors to the chest," Casey declared.

"How did you know that?" the officer gasped. That information hadn't been released to the public, so how could this girl know that? She didn't seem like the killer type, but one could never tell.

"It was his dream---he was so frightened," Casey whispered.

"You saw it? And you didn't stop it?" Max questioned.

"I tried. I just wasn't fast enough," Casey answered.

"This is your fault! My best friend's dead because of you! You brought this freak here!" Max shouted.

"Now, wait a minute," Joey growled, getting in the other boy's face. "You've got no right talkin' like that," he continued.

"If she had just had the guts---" Joey went to shove him, but was intercepted by the officers.

"Easy, son," they told him.

"How could you say something like that? I thought you knew me," Casey said tearfully. Then, she ran off.

"Casey!" Joey exclaimed, breaking out of the officers' hold and running after her.

"Jerk," Nancy added, as she and Rod did the same. Casey stopped at a locker and angrily banged it with a fist. Joey put a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away. He started to pull her close. At first she struggled, but then collapsed into his arms and began to cry.