Chapter Three: Little Lynn's Demon

I had stayed awake all night after the Nancy Thompson dream. Her words had wedged an unwanted second-guessing of my whole life into the foreground, even though it wasn't reality. I've always had a wild imagination, but never like this. Damn those two, robbing me of sleep.

Around three in the morning I could hear the sound of my parents stumbling in through the front door, laughing giddily like a pair of sneaky teenagers. I couldn't help but think I should be the one partying until the darkest hours of the night. Yet here I am, barricaded in my room. The only interesting things in my life right now are nightmares about scary movie characters. Wow, I definitely don't have a life, no wonder my sister avoids me in public.

When five came rolling around, I could feel the weight of sleep setting in on me once more. I did a lot of tricks that I was sure would work in keeping me alert; held my breath, pinched myself, watched TV, and even went downstairs to get some caffeine. These things would work temporarily, but I always came back to square one. I've never been the type of person who could stay awake; I'm the kid who always sleeps first at sleepovers.

Finally, I was out, and I regretted it instantly. Wandering through the menacingly lit boiler room of many children's darkest nightmares, I started to panic. The hissing of steam being released from the web of pipes echoing through the labyrinth of metal was deafening. Each step I took sounded like a giant tramping through a tiny village, and I was sure he would find me simply because of my loudness.

"One-two, Freddy's coming for you…" A familiar voice jeered forebodingly as the most God-awful shriek of metal on metal pierced the drone of boilers.

Without looking behind me, I ran blindly across the dirt-crusted concrete floor streaked with splatters of scarlet blood. Fresh blood. Adrenaline burned feverishly though my veins, consuming my whole being to the point where the only thing I could concentrate on was my unquestionable horror. What scared me even more was the fact I could hear someone else's steps gaining on me from behind.

Daringly, I glanced back to see the appalling face of Freddy only three feet away from me, his gleaming claws reaching out for the back of my nightgown. We were headed directly for a dead end of some sort, and I knew there was no escaping him. Before he could grab hold of me, however, I slipped from the puddles of blood accumulated on the ground. He was just as taken aback as me, because before he could pull back from my falling frame, he tripped clumsily over me. His body went flying into the wall we had been approaching, and he landed with an unearthly thud that would have killed any mortal.

I slid directly into him.

Afraid to move, I remained where I was.

"What took you so long, doll face?" He asked with an amused leer on his face. "Who was with you before me?"

How did he know?

I shrugged.

There was a growl. "Let me remind you that you belong to me. I suggest you tell me now, before I find out later, or I will be forced to punish you."

His eyes looked down upon me warningly through his hat as he twitched his razors as a threat.

"Nancy." I mumbled, but my eyes locked on the polished steel.

He stood so quickly that I stumbled backward.

"Nancy?" He snarled. "That fucking bitch. I wish I had kept her alive because she'd defiantly more of an inconvenience dead."

I was trembling as his ugly temper continued to reveal itself.

He crouched down on his knees, grasping my jaw with his left hand, which was ungloved. "What did little Nancy have to say about me?"

"Nothing much." I whispered, chilled by the touch of his scarred flesh. "The usual."

Krueger smirked. "You know a lot more than you're letting on, don't you? I can see it in your eyes, just as I could see the terror in Grace's as I slit her throat. All while you were with that fucking traitor who kept you from me. Consider that punishment for associating with our enemy. You meet with her again, and you won't like the outcome, Salina."

This blood… was Grace's. I was soaked in it. My hair, my clothes, all of it from one of the few friends I've had for years. He took her away from me, or was he just saying that?

"You fuck!" I screamed while standing to get out of the red as swiftly as I could manage, pointing at him. "YOU are NOT real!"

All of a sudden he disappeared and I felt slightly victorious for banishing away the demon.

"Miss me?" he chuckled from behind me.

I balled my hands into two tight fists.

"I'm real." He mused, bringing his lips to the curve of my neck. "And you will never get rid of me."

Dread consumed me. "I'm sure I can find a way."

There was a pause. "I know what Nancy said to you, my little Lynn."

I froze.

"When I touched your face, I saw everything." There was something woven within his words, was it happiness? "You're just like me."

And there it is.

"You are the wicked one who can restore my glory. You may not accept it, darling, but you better start trying."

I stepped away. "I'm nothing like you, Krueger. Not even close."

He made a pleasured noise deep inside his throat, tracing his knifes on my bare forearm. "Your blood… is most precious to me. The beating of your heart signals me to come closer, to take advantage of the flesh which has been given to me. And the ring's own power has caused me to be drawn in."

"You really did kill Grace." Tears filled my eyes. "Why?"

"Why?" he was appalled by my inquiring. "I'm the only one you need now."

I could feel my legs give out from beneath me, and I crumpled to a sobbing heap on the ground.

"Grace…" I whimpered. "No. No. No. It's my entire fault."

Freddy didn't say anything as I cried out in anguish for my beloved friend. I shuddered violently and my stomach seemed to knot itself up inside of me. The heaving started as I began hyperventilating, and I was sure I would throw up. Yet, it never came.

"Get up, you pathetic piece of shit." He snarled, annoyed by my mourning. "Everyone dies, and being who you are, you should feel no pain. Your blood forbids it."

"I'm human!" I was beside myself. "And so were you!"

"Do you really think I was ever human you stupid girl?" there was a triumphant tone in his voice. "I just used that as a ploy. You see, I possessed the body of Amanda Krueger's newborn son and became trapped there for eternity."

He paced the room. "I've been entering people's bodies uninvited for centuries in their dreams, but as you could tell I've been permanently severed into Freddy Krueger's soul. Never will I become as powerful as I once was, but there is a way to get close."

"I'm guessing that's where I come in." I had finally settled myself down some, pressing my legs to my chest.

"Very good." He congratulated, holding his hand out to me. "You know, I think you're getting really good at understanding the situations around you."

I cautiously accepted his assistance, and he lifted me up.

"Can I ask you something?" I lowered my eyes.

"Knock yourself out kid."

I sighed. "What makes me be considered evil to you and Nancy?"

"Anything but that." He replied flatly.

"What? Why? Don't I have the right to know?" I huffed, losing my patience.

"It's complicated, and I don't have the right to tell you." There was uncertainty in his tone.

"Why can't you just make this simple and tell me, asshole!"

He groaned. "Fuck, Nancy was right, you are like me. And I hate saying that the bitch is right about anything."

My eyes went wide. "I am not like you in any way, shape, or form. So, don't even say things like that."

I just grasped we had been walking and talking at the same time. We were now in a small cut-out room within the pipe work, a ancient, stained bed sat nestled in the corner. Its springs were obviously broken and falling apart, a work desk with many papers scattered across its surface was beside it. An old-fashioned thirties radio played quietly from the opposite side of the room, its dials glowing yellow with life.

"But you are, Salina." He crooned, taking a seat on the soiled bed. "Now come here and let me taste you."

I cringed at the thought of him touching me, especially sexually.

"No thanks, Fred." I was repulsed. "I think I'll pass."

He cackled. "I'm sure you'll come around."

"Doubt it." I retorted.

Before I knew it he was inches away from me, his claws clipping teasingly at the hem of my short gown.

"Your mouth says no." he sneered hungrily, bringing his hand up. "But your body says yes."

I jerked up as a knock sounded at my door.

"Salina, honey, it's almost one in the afternoon." Mom called from behind my door.

I rubbed my eyes to adjust to my TV screen light. "Okay, I'm up."