Once again I don't own a Nightmare on Elm street or any of the characters that belong to it. I do own the story plot for this fan fiction and the OC's put in it. Now sit back, relax and enjoy another chapter of Dream Team!
Chapter Four
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Nancy felt confident at first with obtaining the job as Mr. Ackerman's personal secretary, but as the week progressed from Tuesday to Wednesday and Wednesday to Thursday, she began to feel more and more weight pressing upon her shoulders. She was really going through with this. Was it really a smart thing, to go chasing after a serial killer with a kill record of 5 in the past three months? Thinking such things only made it worse for the young sleep deprived woman (possibly making her white streak even more visible). Freddy noticed as the days progressed she was getting more agitated and anxious, he of course took full advantage of that fact to torment her further the normal… Nancy Thompson was not the happiest or most confident at the time.
The weekend did come though, and she prepared for work like any other day. Luckily Mr. Canning didn't knock his suitcase into her face again but he walked into the building with her chatting a little. The office wasn't as busy during the week but when Mr. Ackerman said she would be crammed full of stuff to do… He meant it. It sucked, Nancy had to admit, but she was sure it would lighten up by the next two weekends. The man had so many things to sign, send, set up, and get to that she didn't understand how he could come day in and day out and not explode in fury! Though in a way he did. She saw that first weekend how terrible Thomas got treated by Mr. Ackerman. Poor man was a bunch of torn wires that were bound to snap one day, but held on miserably together with some black tape to get the job done. She was glad afterwards her job wasn't as hard as his.
She was slightly disappointed when she found out nothing revolving around the case at all. It was just like any other business day in an office. There weren't any strange phone calls(except for a few callers screaming Ackerman would be found guilty and he would pay the price for what he had 'done'.) and there wasn't any strange evidence that Nancy could follow. Her assistant just edged along on the mirrors looking and scanning but he eventually gave up and returning to her dream world bored as hell. There was nothing at all… Well of course not! Why would evidence be easy to find?
All this ran through Nancy's mind about a week later on a chilly Friday night. She had just made it home from Weston Hills and a rather late therapy session with a troublesome kid who would snap and say horrible things to the other kids. The thing that had made Nancy depressed the most was Dr. Audley's slight disappointment with her getting the job. Don't take it wrong! He was happy that Nancy got it, but he was obviously flustered and uneasy about working at a place where a supposed serial killer was… Okay so actually it was kind of sweet that Audley cared enough about her in that sense. She just didn't want to let him down… He was a considerate man who cared for his patients and those around him, he was a little blunt sometimes and would get distracted with work but he only meant well for others-
" Bah." Freddy said reflecting from the Kitchen window. He was wearing an expression of annoyance on that burnt face of his. " I don't even have to ask what you're thinking about…"
" Huh?" Nancy woke up the warm fuzzy recollection of Dr. Audley floating away into her memory. " Look… I'm tired, reeeeaaalllly tired. I don't want to deal with your teasing or snotty remarks right now so please stop talking…" Nancy droned grabbing a glass and filling it with water from the metal kitchen faucet. " Maybe it wasn't a great idea to take that job…" Nancy was thinking about the stack of work she was going to wade through tomorrow. The idea of it was not to enticing. " It's not like evidence is just going to set itself aside and scream 'Look here!' There's already police around, nearby, and in the building obviously they could find it."
Freddy rolled his eyes at her. It's not like she had to do something hard- Wait never mind. " We can find things that those lazy ass officers can't. Look how long it took your dad to figure me out. So we might not find something right away, but if the bastard is really the killer, we will find his slip up some where… Or perhaps someone else's slipup." He was smirking now, with his deadly green eyes, hinting something that Nancy didn't know( though she didn't appreciate the remark about her father). She knew better to ask, he'd rather bite his tongue then give away something that he would keep a secret. " In fact… I have quite the idea… I'm so amazing sometimes I impress myself."
Nancy's eye twitched at that face… That horrible face. Whatever it was running, crawling, squirming in that evil disgusting mind of his was terrible yet ingenious. " What ever the hell it is, I pass." She walked away into the living room but of course he followed, hopping into the reflection of the TV.
" Bitch, I didn't even tell you what it was yet!"
" You get me into enough trouble as it is, so I'm making the plan not you." She flicked the TV off with a click of the remote and he poofed away for a moment. She sighed slumping into the couch, which was feeling mighty wonderful on her aching back. Maybe a short nap would do her some good… I mean she earned it with the hard week she pulled, and the crazy fret consumed afternoon she would be having tomorrow. So Nancy began to close her eyes just a little bit… Just a little bit.
" YOU WHOO! NANCY DARLING!!" Nancy jumped at the loud yelling at her door and nearly had a heart attack with the pounding on it as well. The pounding stopped and she could hear a little chatter of some one outside.
'Good grief who could that be?!' She thought eyes swirling and adrenaline starting to slow down. Freddy had jumped a little as well about to appear from another window and scare Nancy himself. He peeked on the other side of the windows reflection at the two intruders at the door. One was a short tan skinned woman with curly dark hair and a bright flashy white smile. She was dressed like she was ready to go out some where in dark purple and black outfit. The man standing next to her was rather tall and slightly olive with brownish blonde nicely trimmed hair, slight bangs, and stubble on his chin. He was dressed nicely too a light blue dress shirt and black slacks to go with it. They were both dressed appropriately for the cold cool weather that had sunk in during the week.
" Who's out there?" Nancy mumbled to Freddy as he appeared back on the reflection of a the window on the inside.
" How the hell should I know? There's a tall guy and a tan whore standing at your door." He grimly stated as Nancy made her way to the door. She opened it up smiling and about to say hello only to get slammed into a back breaking hug from the slightly shorter woman.
" Oh Nancy it's been a while since I've seen you!" The woman stated hugging Nancy then pulled back leaving Nancy confused and dazed at first. As soon as Nancy saw whom it was face to face, a bright grin came across her own features.
" Oh if it isn't my Carol Darling!" Nancy squeezed Carol this time in a strong hug a smile plastered on her lips. " It has been quite some time since I've last seen you!" The two pulled back still light and happy as Nancy quirked a brow. " I didn't get a call that you would be stopping by and visiting."
" Well 'we' wanted it to be a surprise." At the word we Carol pointed at the gentleman beside her who smiled and waved. " Damien this is Nancy Thompson. Nancy this is-"
" Damien as previously stated." The blonde haired cutie cut in and Carol laughed nudging him slightly.
" When did you reel in this nice looking fellow?" Nancy asked with a playful look on her features. " Let me guess he hasn't found the closet where you keep previous boy leftovers."
" Darn it Nancy! I was keeping that a secret." Carol played along and Damien just gave a slightly amused look at the two. " We started dating about a month and a half ago. You're missing out on so much lately…" Nancy rubbed her wrist and shrugged uncomfortably. Her life turned from chaos to mass anarchy two months ago, she didn't really have a whole lot of time to hang out with her few friends… She didn't feel it was right to do that to them with Freddy trying to ruin every aspect of her life.
" Ah well work's dragging me right now and I'm trying to get a bigger apartment then this little thing." She knocked on the door frame then stepped aside. " Now I'm not being a good host why don't you come in?"
" We'd love to but we can't stay for long." Carol informed her as she Damien strolled in and settled into her little cozy living room. Nancy glanced at the Kitchen window. Good, Freddy was there rolling his eyes at her, but he knew that he would get in trouble big time if he screwed around right now. " Got some big plans tonight, and we're missing the important ingredient. You." Nancy blinked.
" We were heading out to dinner down at the new small Italian restaurant opening on main street. Carol informed me about your new job and I thought you should come with us as a congratulations dinner." Damien spoke after Carol ending the confusion and Nancy smiled.
" That's really nice of you but I've got a big busy day tomorrow. I'm tired I wouldn't want to damper your fun." Wait.. Huh?
" We're paying." Carol sang in a singsong voice. Deal.
" Okay let's head out, I really deserve that dinner." Damien and Carol chuckled a little then Damien snapped his fingers.
" Might want to grab a coat. The winds really bitter tonight, I don't mind Illinois but it can get a little chilly up north here."
" Tell me about it. I nearly got blown over this morning heading into Westin Hills. They don't call it Westin 'Hills' just for a fancy name…" Nancy sarcastically said heading over to her closet next to her front door. " You think this outfit will work fine? I don't want to look sloppy-" She opened the closet and coats fell to her feet in a messy pile along with gloves and other things… That should have been in their boxes. More 'what the hell' under her breath.
" I bet you miss having me around, with my cleaning OCD." Carol nodded with a smug look and Nancy blushed nervously kicking back in some of the clothes.
" It was clean last time I grabbed something from here… Which was quite some time ago…" Like a radar finding it's target it snapped in her head. Who else could have been in her closet? She gritted her teeth grabbing a heavier coat and pulling it on. Freddy felt a pressure at the back of his head and knew that there was… As some nerd would say, a 'disturbance' in the force. He remembered just then that he had totally forgotten to clean up the mess he made that day he was free from her conscious… Oh well she was bound to figure out sooner or later, sooner then he'd like though.
" We can help you clean that up later." Damien said and Nancy turned closing it quickly.
" No, no! It's fine let's just go and enjoy the nice peaceful evening." She smiled heading towards the door but her friends could see from the way she swayed tiredly and ambled out the door that she definitely needed to get out of house more then she was.
Things change a lot over time, old is thrown out and the new consumes everything. For Freddy it had been a very long time, and he was still a little surprised at all the changes happening around the town of Springwood. Sure a little while back he was free, but only in the subconscious and dream state of people not really in the real world. He watched from a corner of the car window as Nancy, Carol and the new man Damien chatted and conversed rapidly, laughter here and there (though Freddy had seen neither of these two ever before). He noticed though that Nancy actually looked… Happy. To him she always seemed to be in a pissed off distant mood, but perhaps that was just the way she acted towards him and their current situation. Hell he was pissed about it to, but he held it differently then she did, right now she almost seemed like any other normal adult. Nothing to do with criminals, weird dark books, or dream demons.
They eventually got to the new restaurant, which Freddy remembered in a flash used to be an old video rental store back when he was fleshy and in the real world. He hung nearby, out of sight though but still in distance where he could hear conversation. All that it was so far was stupid silly small talk that was about to drive him up a fucking wall. The trio had settled down into a corner booth and were scrutinizing their menu's on which specific dish they would have for the evening. It was a cute yet nice looking place, neatly decorated like an Italian dinner. Freddy leaned back in his weird reflection state and pulled his hat down a little over his eyes. Perhaps this was a good time to think up of an excuse to give to Nancy for raiding her closet of a coat and other things he had 'borrowed' that day.
" You're such a sweet guy Damien," She turned her comment to Carol. " How on earth did you hook this angel?" Nancy grinned teasingly as Carol sighed, taking her menu and light fully smacking Nancy on the fore head. Nancy flinched back though afraid she was really going to hit her.
" I wasn't going to really hurt you silly." Carol stated noticing the strange reaction from her friend.
" Oh, I know it's just I had a little accident on the day of my interview…" The cut had healed up and was barely visible at all by now. Sure enough Freddy healed at the same exact pace as she did, another note she would have to jot down in her brain. The waitress came and took their orders and menu's and they went back to talking afterwards. " You see, one of his employee's made an lasting physical impression…" Nancy told them about how the interview went and how she obtained the job. Carol couldn't help but chuckle at the part with the suitcase but she was sympathetic after the giggling.
" It sounds like you don't get a break." Damien said holding back the soft laughter that was clearly wanting to escape his chest.
" Not really… But I don't have it so bad, Mr. Canning has it worse then I do, he's the buildings personal manager, basically a seat bellow Mr. Ackerman." The waitress came back with their orders and placed the plates mounted with delicious Italian cuisine before them. They all dug in but continued to talk through bites of their entrée's.
" What exactly does his corporation do? Is it like UPS?" Carol asked in between spoonfuls of Agnolotti (an excellent piemontese stuffed pasta with a meat based filling). " All I know is it's a shipping industry, hence the Trade-Pass-Inc."
" True it's basic job is the transportation of goods about the country side. It's different from UPS which is more of personal and small business delivery. Trade-Pass-Inc is a large scale for huge corporations, not like Wal-Mart or stores like that, but industry the nation can't live with out… Metal, Chemicals, wood you name it." Damien spoke up catching the two women's attention fairly quickly with the amount of information. He merely happily took another steamy bite of his Badduzzi Arrustuti 'Nte Pampini (Meatballs which are grilled with Lemon Leaves, he noted he had a taste for anything with lemon or was sour).
" Exactly, you know your stuff quite well." Nancy pointed out as Damien smiled softly then looked to Carol.
" Carol doesn't like her acquaintances to know that I'm smarter then most people. She likes to look the smartest out of the relationship, to you know, make up for the height." He teased placing his hand on top of Carols, patting it.
" If I still had that menu I'd smack you with it to, but not as nice. So is your boss a nice guy or one of those older assholes who don't appreciate anything." Both women groaned quietly, they both understood how having a boss like that was…
Nancy sipped her soup in thought(the menu read Stracciatella which is basically a roman version of egg drop soup served with cheese perfect for the cold weather). " Well… He's not to old, he's in his mid forty's, and he's a charmer all right. Though he can be a real ass, and bare little sympathy for others… Especially Mr. Canning, that man has high blood pressure or something and Mr. Ackerman seems to make it worse whenever he can. He's really cold to, like he'll smile at you but if you can see it, you know he's not."
" You would get the creepy boss like that wouldn't you?" Carol mumbled with Nancy and Damien quirked a brow, worried that the two girl's were slowly falling down into a state of sadness.
" Anyone feel like dessert? I heard they make fabulous lemony fritters… Yummy." His eyes were wide and the girls snorted knowing they were not leaving the restaurant with out getting him some. They finished their main courses, obtained an order of said dessert and Carol quickly excused herself to the bath room. Damien munched quietly on his lemon fritters, and sat across from Nancy quietly. Nancy sat their quietly her eyes a little heavy at the sudden departure of Carol… It'd been quite sometime since they last meet and she was still the same there. She'd changed a lot to some better and mainly worst.
Nancy locked her eyes with his but before she even opened her mouth, he did. " I know what she's doing… Don't worry, no need to get anxious over it."
" Did she tell you herself? How often does she still do it though? I thought she was getting help… for it…" She held up her chin with one hand and her eyes glanced to the windows to see if she could spot Krueger, she had forgotten about him most of the evening so far. However he was listening all right, and he was a bit curious as to what they were talking about now.
" I can't say since I'm not around all the time. I work at a small law firm in a large city not to far from here, probably thirty minutes. When we first started going out it was easy and quick to see… The agony that crosses her face day in and day out… I can read people easily, I can see past their facades and what really lurks there…" Nancy sat quietly but sat back as Damien leaned in a neutral look on his intelligent face. " You have yet to ask for my last name yet?"
" Huh? What are you… Wait you never did tell me your last name…" Nancy realized and she felt a Goosebumps rise on her skin. He knew so much about Trade-Pass-Inc, and how did he know about her getting the job, she didn't tell Carol yet at all that she got it… " You're an Ackerman aren't you?"
" I'm Damien Ackerman, only child to Leah and David Ackerman, the man whom you now work for." He stated in that cool calm collected voice of his, and from those blue eyes she could see traces of his father that she could not believe she didn't see before. He was calculating, and observant, maybe not as talkative, but all the more socially deadlier.
' That brat's his kid huh?' Freddy thought now fully interested in the conversation taking place between the two. It was hard enough from him to make out the conversation though. He switched to a mirror near their small booth, though it would make him more likely to be spotted, that didn't matter at the moment. ' He knew her but she had no clue about him, he's purposefully dragged her out I can see that much… What is he up to?'
Nancy began to panic some, after all the things she said, complaining about the work and his dad! " Don't worry. I'm not going to tell my dad about the things said here. In fact this whole conversation and meeting is between us." He sat back and took a sip of his tea, of course a lemon clung to the rim. " Carol has no idea about the court case my father is in right now. I have nothing to do with my father's choices, I'm not saying he murdered those women… I'm just say I have no connection to him anymore."
" Did you just use Carol to meet me here tonight?" Nancy snapped angrily in the conversation eyes furrowed and Freddy knew that same ferocity against him was coming out.
" Of course not!" Damien frowned setting the glass down. " Remember, I meet her a month and a half ago back, it was mere coincidence that you happened to be her friend and employee of my father. I did want to talk to you, but I also wanted to meet the best friend of the woman I adore." He softly stated the last part and Nancy felt bad about the snap before, he honestly looked so humbled and true about it.
" Sorry… Just I didn't want you to use my friend to get to me that's all."
" Okay I'll reach my point then. Leave now, I don't care if you quit, or stop showing up. Just do it." She hadn't froze up like that in a long time, the fear tingled down her whole spinal cord as she looked into his eyes. There are people born with happy eyes, warm and expressive traits, he was one of the few born with eyes that were still and emotionless, animal like eyes. Her mind whirled and jumped to the dark green eyes of Freddy Kruger bearing the same lifeless shine all those years ago… " For your own good, leave my father's corporation. If he's the killer, you're very much likely his next target… He hired you on the spot, even when there was another applicant right after you."
Nancy blinked her mind whirling and whirling. " He said that the other applicant just decided not to show up, didn't want to be involved with him."
" He lied. He simply told the other applicant he'd already picked some one." She gasped softly and Freddy grinned in a excited and anxious smear. They were finally getting on track, now they had to just hang on for the ride! He couldn't wait to start shredding into the murderers soul, it'd been quite some time… " Even if my father's not the murderer, you're still a high target. It's obviously some one who wants him out of the way… Or some one who holds a great grudge against him, a lot of people tend to… I myself do."
Nancy was about to ask what he meant by that. " Hey you guys what's with the serious faces?" Carol's voice caught their attention. Freddy cursed the girl, she'd interrupted the closest clue they were getting at with the case right now. He would have growled and yelled but Nancy had finally caught visual of him… And sent a not so nice glare in return to keep his trap shut.
" Oh just thinking about work tomorrow." Nancy sighed slumping on the table. When did all the lemon fritter's go missing? Damn he worked fast. " I got a really busy day tomorrow… But I need the pay."
" Perhaps we should get you two lovely ladies home." Damien stated lighthearted, unlike Nancy his voice didn't waver at all, like the discussion they just had never occurred.
" All right, shall we be on our way?" Carol grabbed her jacket and Nancy nodded. It was then, that she saw his hands, his fingers crushing the lemon on the rim of his tea, and all the bitter juice dripping down the side of his empty glass.
After thanking them for the dinner, and after being congratulated by Carol demanding to hang together soon again, Nancy finally returned to her small apartment. Silence greeted her and the windows were dark for the evening was strolling in fairly well now. The food was absolutely scrumptious and filling which was making her even more drowsy. Turning to the closet, she opened it to the previous mess and hung her winter coat back up closing it afterwards.
" What exactly… Are you up to Krueger?" However there was no answer in return, which was unusual as he was often bored stuck in her dream world, he was there for the moment now. The burnt bastard knew he was in trouble though… She decided to go about her night and prepare for bed, her feet were sore and ached to be released from the short heels she was wearing. She washed up in the shower and got into her PJ's and all set to hit the hay. The thought of reading some of the strange book which sat on her desk in her room passed her mind for a second then faded quickly away in her tired yawn.
Laying in bed she stared up at the plaster bits on the ceiling trying to form shapes and faces from the little bumps covering it. She could go easily to sleep, in a split second she would be in the dream world, but that was because of him… It meant spending another night locked in his boiler room which was under his control. Worst it meant that she was alone with him… However it wasn't like he could hurt her anymore, though he ruled the world able to shift it and change it at his will, she was in power over him. She merely stared a little while longer up at the ceiling, her mind running through all what she had come to know that night. Her eyes flittered and closed, she instantly fell into the depth of sleep, the black swallowing her up.
" The mystery is starting to open up don't you say so Nancy?" Blue eyes flickered open, she was standing in front of him, where he leaned lazily against the large furnace the one she liked to called the heart of the place. It burned steadily tonight casting dark twisted shadows on the pipes and metal surrounding the area. Freddy smiled his burnt skin twisting up with his features, his razor hand lightly drumming across the metal of the huge steel dragon. She hated it, that look he wore like he was better then her. He was a mindless killer, he was pathetic scum that feed off other people to feel fulfilled… Was she any better at this point though?
" That day you were out in the real world, you left my apartment didn't you?"
" Let me guess you found the mess in the closet? I tried to hurry back but I didn't make it in time to clean it up… I was… Very busy." He oozed with his dark thick voice that seemed to echo in a whisper in beat with the throb of the boilers and furnaces.
" I don't like it when you're hiding something from me, especially when it has to deal with this case."
" There's so much about me you don't know and never will. Your heart is as dark as mine… I know you've got your own demons and secrets lurking in that bitter skull of yours." He had at this time approached her circling around her, like a cat and a battered mouse, playful until it knows when to strike the final blow. " That bitch with you tonight, she's bulimic... It was very obvious, after she came out of the bathroom like that…"
" What were you doing out of my apartment? I told you not leave." Nancy ignored the last part clenching a fist to hold back her urge to strangle him.
" You seem so. Hostile." One razor screeched across metal at the word 'hostile' and pulled back to his side. " But you'll know about it in due time. In fact I think you'll actually appreciate what I'm doing."
" That will be the day hell freezes over." Nancy snorted in rebuff stepping away from him, and the narrowing space he was creating. " What do you think about the case now… Damien claims I'm a target. His father picked me for some reason besides my wonderful résumé."
" Who knows yet, there's still so much we don't know. I want you to meet with that one guy from before… What was that scrawny shit's name again… Markus. Yeah, we need to gather a little more insight on what exactly lead those women to their death's. Check the company records with their delivers with chemicals as well… Everything can be traced on a computer but file records are kept as well, best to check those first when you have the opportunity."
" When is that going to be? I think he'll know I'm up to something if I'm digging around his company folders." Nancy pointed back at the dream demon who rolled his eyes. " Plus I'm so busy that their's no chance for me to even get to those folders. Even in a month or two I'm still going to be jammed full. Not to mention Mr. Canning checks up on me to see if I'm okay like every thirty minutes…"
" That's why you need to listen to my fucking plan." Freddy pointed back with one sharp blade and Nancy sighed crossing her arms in return.
" Fine. Then what's this 'amazing' plan of yours?"
He laughed, no laugh wasn't the right word for it, cackled in a horrible way leaning closer to Nancy's face then what she liked, which really quite creeped her out. " You have to do something for me in order to find out… Fair trade."
" What? No way!" Even more creeped out then before. His laughter hit her face in puffs of waves sinister and plotting. This was bad… Very, very bad…
" This is going to be fun…"
I'm such a tease aren't I? XD Well another chapter for you all, not to exciting still but don't give up on me next chapter the fun's really going to start. What is Freddy going to want Nancy to do? What is this AMAZING plan he has up his sleeve. I smell disaster afoot, or perhaps the stench of acid of flesh… Reviews are appreciated! Thank you guys for all you said, twenty reviews for only three chapters you're to kind!