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Chapter 8: Reconnaissance

As the bus finally lurched to a stop in front of my appointed bus stop, it took a concerted effort for me to peel my eyes away from the window I was staring out of aimlessly, spaced out.

It's actually kind of funny – I space out occasionally, thinking about absolutely nothing, to only get interrupted by my parents or my friends asking what I was thinking about. When I truthfully answer that I was thinking of nothing, they don't believe me.

Heaving my heavy backpack onto my shoulders but carefully making sure that I didn't hit anyone close by, I inched forward towards the door and the fresh air that awaited me.

Smiling a bit as I took in the familiar sight of the slightly downtrodden street that I lived on, I wrapped my right hand around the shoulder strap of my backpack. Tugging the strap away from my shoulder, I stared at my fairly used black sneakers as I marched forward, reveling in the silence that always seemed to reign in this part of town, marred only by the chirping of birds. This part of the city was quiet to the point of eeriness. Everyone minded their own business, from the young to the elderly.

Someone's voice jolted me from my thoughts and I was sorely disappointed to find that the owner's voice was Jack, who followed me yet again.

"Hey Christine! Are you there?"

I didn't try to veil the annoyance in my voice as I replied. "Unfortunately. What do you want?"

I wasn't stupid. I recognized that glint in his eyes, the look of thinly-hidden desire in his coffee-colored eyes. To his disappointment I'm sure, there was no way I could possibly fall for his 'studly man' attitude. A shudder ran down my spine. Please don't do anything stupid. I'm in no mood right now…just let me go home.

"Nothing. Just wanted to talk and walk you home." Jack looked at me with a pompous look that almost made me sick. Does he not recognize that I am just not interested? Not to mention that he was about two years younger than me; I mean seriously, boys my own age were stupid enough.

"I can do that by myself, thank you very much." Unconsciously, I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I continued to walk, looking forward again. I couldn't help but feel miserable when I found that it didn't dissuade him from continuing to follow me. My jaw visibly clenched in anger and I let my arms fall down to my sides, clenching and unclenching my fingers in and out of fists.

To my mortification, Jack slipped his slimy hand into mine. Out of pure astonishment, I looked at him with an astounded look. The gall of that worm! Jack was smiling as if what he did was the most natural thing in the world to do at that moment.

Furious, I hissed at him, "What is your problem?" Nothing was going to wipe off that self-assured smile off his face, I realized. Ripping my hand from his, I continued to walk forward faster. Thank goodness that my house was only a few feet away.

Turning towards Jack, I informed him that I was next to my home and he was 'free to leave me'. He inched too close for my taste and begged me for a kiss on the cheek. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his request.

"Look, Jack. I don't even kiss my friends on the cheek. Why would I do that to you?" I made sure that my tone was anything but friendly. It really wasn't in my nature to be mean and he was just preying on my good nature, which I just hate. Must I be an asshole to just get by?

"Pleeeease, Christine? I'll leave you alone after that, I promise." Hmm, that offer seems tempting. I mean, it is just one kiss on the cheek and then he'll leave me be afterwards. Sounds good. If it means I won't be stalked by that creepy kid anymore, I'll take that offer.

Heaving a sigh, I nodded my assent. Leaning over to kiss his darkly tanned cheek, he suddenly crushed me against his muscular chest and kissed me full on the lips.

Well, this is certainly not what I signed up for. Astonished enough not to react for a few seconds, Jack took full advantage of that to let me go and prance away, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Did he just do that?

Wiping my lips on the sleeve of my pea coat, I realized yes – yes he did.

Numbly walking the few feet left to my house, I cursed the occupants of the houses next to mine. Stupid blind occupants who couldn't help me out in my time of need…

Opening the side door that was left unlocked for me, I was greeted with a cheery hello from Mom. Dad wasn't back yet from his job, as I expected. Mustering up a smile and greeting Mom hastily, I hurriedly went to the bathroom, plunking my book bag to the floor and staring into the cabinet mirror at myself. Making a disgusted face, I turned the left faucet fully on and used the almost steaming hot water to wash and scrub my face.

How the fuck dare he do such a thing!

Anger finally bubbled over and coursed through my body, adrenaline pumping through my veins a bit too late.

Why oh why did I have to be so passive? I just took what he did without a fight. I mean granted, I was stunned, but still.

Looking back into the mirror, I looked into my visage. I wasn't particularly stunning, though admittedly not ugly. Was my vulnerability attractive? Was that it?

Pulling myself out of a round of disgusting self-pity and what-ifs, I planted a believable smile on my face and finally got out of the bathroom to start the trek to my room. I wondered how this day could get any worse.

Finally plopping down onto my uncomfortable leather computer chair, I automatically went to turn the machine on. Feeling a headache coming on, I massaged my temples and took a deep breath, trying to relax and close my eyes. I definitely need to tell Alyssa about this incident once she comes online.

Alyssa. Suddenly my eyes flew frantically open. I just remembered her habit of taking a nap once she gets home from school before she goes to either work or out with friends. Gosh, I hope that she wasn't stupid enough to disregard my warnings. I can't bear to see her torn apart, not right now.

Being the fairly religious type, I got out of my chair to kneel by my bed, steeling my breath as I began to pray. I prayed for myself, for Alyssa and for everyone who had the misfortune to find out about this monstrous Freddy. I even chanced a prayer for Freddy, hoping by some odd miracle that he would stop being a rampaging homicidal maniac.

Not that I really thought that was going to happen.

Making a sign of the cross with a hint of a wry smirk, I went back to my computer screen and immediately signed on to my Instant Messenger, hoping beyond hope that Alyssa would be on. With a sinking sensation, I noted her absence.

I really hope that she's alright.

"Christine, time for dinner!"

Interrupted from my moodiness, I quickly yelled back, "Okay, Mom!" and hurried downstairs. Molding a smile back on my face, I took my usual seat by Mom. I'm glad I had so much acting experience; doing plays and such things really has helped me with controlling what façade I displayed to the world. The façade I chose to let down among my few friends.

"How was school, Christine?" Mom inquired, an affectionate smile on her face as she dug into a bite of homemade pizza. My stomach grumbled in hunger and the fake smile got a bit of a genuine touch.

"Crazy, as always. I just wish it was over," I truthfully answered. Mom mockingly tutted at me in disapproval.

"Honey, if we had opportunities like you have –" I held up a hand for her to stop, which she surprisingly did.

"I know, I know…but I don't necessarily have to love these opportunities." Grabbing a hefty slice, I bit a nice chunk out of the cheesy slice, taking care not to get myself messy.

Mom conceded the point with a small nod and I smirked in triumph.

After munching on our slices of pizza in silence for a short while, I asked Mom about her night at work. She was a nurse and always had a few hilarious stories up her sleeve about her nightly work. People turn crazy during the nighttime, apparently.

I was half listening to her stories after remembering what lurked during my nighttime. A certain Freddy Krueger.

I still had more questions about him, but there was no way of figuring out how he got the power to appear in people's dreams and kill them. Those who found out are probably dead by now.

Finally finishing a second piece of the delicious cheese pizza, I politely excused myself from the table and rushed back to my room, hoping that Alyssa was on.

Crashing into my seat, I was disappointed to find that Alyssa still wasn't online. I'm absolutely sure she wouldn't take that long eating; it wasn't a secret to me that she tried to keep thin by any means possible. This only got me even more worried.

I rolled my chair over to my book bag, rummaging through the front pocket to find my cell phone. It wasn't a particularly new or snazzy phone, but it was functional. With a sense of anxiety, I dialed her number and waited for a response as I rolled myself back in front of my computer.

Beep, beep, beep, beep. Hey, it's your favorite girl, Alyssa! Leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

With a sigh, I clicked the little red disconnect button, not bothering to leave a message. She'd know it was me.

Biting my lip in part frustration, I cursed not being able to check up on her. I wasn't going to ask my Mom either. I mean, how would she react? "Hey Mom, there's this creepy burnt guy who preys on me in my dreams, and somehow when I wake up I have the knife marks that he gave me. I think he'll get to Alyssa too, so can you let me see if she's alright?"

Yeah, it's better if I just stay here. How can I help her, though?

Die for her.

The whispered statement reverberated in my head, and I mulled it over seriously even though part of my brain screamed that I was sincerely nuts.

Am I, though? To want to die for my best friend? It would be the ultimate sacrifice. My life would thus be given meaning, wouldn't it?

Freddy was fucking around with my mind…but I won't let him have the satisfaction of screwing up my values and morals.

I won't let him kill my best friend!

Resolutely, I turned off the screen of my computer off along with the lights and closed the curtains to the sole window of my room. Before stripping down completely, I paused to kneel next to my bed for the second time today. A prayer came to my lips that seemed appropriate.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Lying comfortably down on my side, I curled up and willed my thoughts to hush. Amazingly, after a little effort, they did. It was easier to slip into slumber then I thought it would be.

Opening my eyes rapidly and regretting it instantly, I found myself in a strikingly white hallway. It took a few moments and blinks of my eyes in order for them to adjust, but once they did, I noticed that the hallway stretched almost infinitely with a door at the end. Quirking my head questioningly, I figured that I would have to get there to find Freddy.

Starting at a fast-paced walk, I was jolted into a jog when I heard the faint sound of screaming.

Please don't let it be who I think it is…

As I kept running, the hallway elongated to match my pace, and as I turned back, I was met with utter blackness. Apparently I wasn't supposed to go back, but forward. Then…why?

Of course. So that I come too late.

Running as fast as I could, I knew I was getting closer due to the louder sound of the screams. My heart jolted when I recognized who it came from. It was definitely Alyssa.

My lungs protested the lack of oxygen by giving me a burning sensation but I paid them no heed as I got closer and closer to the white door. I reached my hand out, straining to just touch the handle…

Just when I thought I'd never reach the end of the hallway and would just collapse out of sheer exhaustion, I pulled open the door handle and ran in without a second thought.

I ran into an absolute black abyss and was immediately plunged in utter darkness, starting to fall deeper and deeper into the unknown. I flailed my arms about, hoping to find something to hold on to, seriously freaked out as my heart rate was off the charts.

"Christine, wake up!"

I shot into an upright position, gasping for air and covered in sweat. I whipped my head to the left to see Mom next to my bed, all the blood drained out of her face with a phone in her hand.

"It's for you. Your father." I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I inched my hand forward slowly, not wanting to hear the words I knew for sure were coming. Finally grasping the receiver, I brought it to my ear, a tremor shaking my hand visibly.

"Christine? Alyssa…Alyssa's dead. And what's more, there was. Ahem, there was a message scrawled on her body. Knife marks. It said, 'Hey Christine!'."