Would like to apologise for how long it took me to write this next chapter. I have literally been swamped with school work like you wouldn't believe. But just 3 more weeks until i finished school and then this will hopefully be a lot more frequent.
I would like to thank LVCEBREROS for the help she has been giving me throughout the story. I have always been in such a rush to upload a new chapter i never thanked her but thank you my dear little fear bug ;)
Anyway, please enjoy!
"I can't believe it's the first day of school. And of senior year. We're officially seniors." Carly said excitedly as she and Sam walked into school, both going over to their lockers that they both managed to get back and Sam groaned.
"You are way too excited about this year. It's really not so amazing. It's just the beginning of another year that I will spend sleeping through." Sam said.
"Sam, you have to try this year. It's our last year of school before college. Don't you want to make something out of yourself?" Carly asked and Sam rolled her eyes.
"Don't you start. Freddie already started that up last night." Sam said.
"How is it going between you two anyway? Has it been fun in love land?" Carly asked with a grin as the girls opened their lockers.
"It's going great. His mum was definitely not all that happy with it, but other than that it's been alright for the week we've been together." Sam replied and Carly smiled.
"You love him." Carly said and Sam's cheeks went slightly pink, a scowl on her face.
"Shut up Shay." She snapped and Carly giggled as Wendy and Brad walked over to them.
"Hey guys. How has it been? Where's Freddie? Did you enjoy your summer vacation?" Brad asked and Carly smirked.
"Did you hear the amazing news? Sam and Freddie are dating again." Carly said in a sing song voice and Brad and Wendy turned to Sam who was turning a light shade of red.
"Oh my god. That's amazing news. Congratulations. How is he going after the whole thing with his dad?" Wendy asked.
"He's definitely doing much better. Pretty much normal." Sam said and Wendy nodded.
"That's good. Where is he anyway?" Wendy asked, but before Sam could answer, the school doors opened and Freddie walked in, Millie and Gabe walking either side of him and all three talking and laughing.
"They were crying, like actually crying. It was so hilarious." Carly, Sam, Wendy and Brad heard Gabe say, watching as Millie and Freddie laughed, both seeming to be struggling to walk straight.
"What's so funny?" Carly asked as they reached the small group, Freddie and Millie still laughing slightly.
"Nothing you need to worry about." Gabe said in a way that made Freddie and Millie laugh more, Freddie leaning against the wall and burying his face in his hands, his body shaking.
"Who are your new friends?" Brad asked when Freddie and Millie had calmed down and Millie giggled again.
"Wendy, Brad, these are my friends Gabe and Millie. Gabe, Millie, this is Brad and Wendy, 2 other friends of mine." Freddie said as he went and stood next to Sam, taking her hand in his as Gabe and Millie waved slightly at Wendy and Brad.
"Morning." Sam said to Freddie who grinned and leant down to kiss her, pulling away a few seconds later before wrapping an arm around her, Sam smiling up and him and leaning slightly into him.
"You two are so cute together." Carly said and Sam rolled her eyes.
"You guys are going to love it here. Except if you have classes with Ms Briggs or Mr Howard." Wendy said and Sam groaned.
"I wish they would just disappear." Sam said.
"At least it's only one more year." Carly said.
"Come on. They can't be that bad." Millie said, but as she spoke, Mr Howard walked into the hallway, running into a small junior with glasses and braces, her hair up in 2 braids.
"Move along or I'll send you to detention." Mr Howard barked and the girl dropped her jaw open.
"But sir, that's not fair. I didn't even do anything." The girl said.
"Detention for back chatting. Now get to class." Mr Howard growled before walking off, knocking the girls books to the floor, Freddie sighing before splitting from Sam and going over to help the girl pick up her books.
"Here. Let me help." He said as he bent down to pick up a few of her books and she gave him a small smile.
"What's your name? Mine's Freddie." Freddie asked.
"I know. I watch ICarly. My names Bianca." Bianca said and Freddie smiled as he handed her the books, the two standing up.
"Well it's nice to meet you Bianca. I'm guessing you're new here right?" Freddie asked and Bianca nodded.
"My first year of high school. I don't know anyone here." She said.
"I know how scary that can be so don't worry okay? You'll be alright. Mr Howard is just a grumpy old man so be careful and try your best to stay out of his way okay?" Freddie said and Bianca nodded.
"If you need anything come and find me okay? I'll see you around." Freddie said with a big smile before turning around and walking back to the group, Bianca walking past with a smile on her face before she hurried up the stairs to class.
"That was so sweet." Millie said and Freddie smiled again.
"I know how it feels to be her so I figured I might as well help. The only difference was my tormentor was Sam, not Mr Howard." Freddie said.
"That's because you were a huge nerd." Sam replied and Freddie rolled his eyes as he wrapped his arm around her again.
"We should probably go to the office and get checked in." Millie said and the others nodded. Before Millie could ask someone to show her where to go however, the speaker system made a noise of a mic turning on and Principal Ted Franklin's filled the halls.
"Could Freddie Benson please make his way to my office? Thank you." Ted said before the speakers turned off and the group turned to Freddie who looked confused.
"Sam, what did you do?" Carly asked.
"Nothing. I haven't had a chance to yet. Want me to come with you?" Sam asked Freddie who just shook his head.
"No. You get to class and I'll meet you there. I'll show you two where to go on my way to the principal's office. The registration office is right next door to it." Freddie said and Gabe and Millie nodded, Freddie giving Sam a quick kiss before the three split off and walked down the hall.
"Do you think someone might have seen us last night?" Millie asked as they walked.
"They couldn't have. We had our faces hidden the entire time and were in a part of town that no one I know lives." Freddie said.
"But what about someone you don't know that goes here?" Millie asked.
"Millie, don't panic. If someone saw anything I'll figure something out so don't worry. And it's probably just Principal Franklin wanting to talk to me about my schedule this semester." Freddie said and Millie sighed.
"I guess that's true." She said and Freddie gave a weak smile before slowly down, stopping in front of a door and turning to Gabe and Millie.
"Here's the registration office. I'll catch you guys either in class or at lunch." Freddie said and the two nodded.
"Shout if you need anything." Gabe said before he and Millie walked into the office and Freddie took a deep breath before walking into the next door, nodding at the assistant before knocking on Ted's door.
"Come in." He called and Freddie walked in, closing the door behind him and then sitting down on one of the chairs.
"Good morning Freddie. How were your holidays?" Ted asked.
"They were alright. Good to be back. How were yours?" Freddie asked.
"They were wonderful thank you. Now, I bet you're wondering why you're here." Ted said and Freddie nodded.
"First off, how have things been since your father passed away?" Ted asked and Freddie shrugged.
"It was hard at first but it's getting better." Freddie said and Ted nodded.
"That's good. Now onto why I called you here, last night I happened to come into the office to make sure that everything was alright for today and I found these." Ted said, getting up and opening his cupboard to reveal several large sacks full of stuff.
"Large sacks?" Freddie asked, raising an eyebrow and making Ted smile.
"Yes, but it's what's in them. It's a lot of letters and small gifts from ICarly fans. I happened to look at one of the teddy's in there and it was a condolence over your fathers passing. There's 6 large bags full of letters and candy and teddies and I believe there are still more coming." Ted said and Freddie's jaw dropped.
"Oh my god. I only told people like 2 days ago." Freddie said.
"Apparently lots of people love you. Actually, my daughter asked me to give you something." Ted said, going over to his desk and opening a draw before pulling out a smallish box and a card, handing them to Freddie who sat the box in his lap and opened the letter.
Dear Freddie,
I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what happened to your father. I know that this can't bring him back, but I hope it can start to make you feel better. I'm starting at Ridgeway this year so maybe we'll run into each other in the hallway or something which would make my day. But while I feel for you, I guess I don't know how you feel. It must be hard to know that you won't see them again. Unless you count dreams.
I really hope you do feel better soon. Just know that we're all thinking of you.
Tayla Franklin
Smiling slightly, Freddie put the letter down and opened the box to reveal a silver chain with a cross pendant on it, making him smile slightly wider.
"Since this is a more personal task, I am giving you permission to go home and go through most of this." Ted said and Freddie looked up at him.
"But it's the first day of school; senior year at that." Freddie said and Ted smiled.
"Don't worry about it. I'll send your homework home with Carly Shay if you get any and I'll cover for you." Ted said and Freddie smiled at his headmaster.
"Thank you sir." Freddie said as he stood up, putting the box and letter carefully in his bag.
"No worries. I'll help you carry these sacks out and then you can head home." Ted said and Freddie nodded, the two going over to the cupboard and getting the sacks out, each dragging 3 out and getting them to Freddie's car, putting 2 in the boot and 4 in the back seat.
Sitting in the driver's seat of his car in front of the school, Freddie was typing a message on his phone to Sam.
Freddie: Hey. Just wanted to let you know that I wasn't feeling too well and I'm heading home.
It was almost a minute later when Sam's reply came through and Freddie sighed.
Sam: Okay. Want me to come with you? And what'd Franklin want?
Freddie: He just wanted to see how I was going with my dad. And I'll be okay. :)
Sam: Okay. If you decide otherwise you know where I am.
Freddie: I know baby :). See you later.
Putting his phone on the passenger seat, Freddie turned the engine on and then drove out of the car park and onto the street, driving to Bushwell and going into the parking garage before taking the sacks up to his apartment 2 at a time.
Sitting on his bedroom floor, Freddie pulled out the first small box and, letting out a long breath, he used a pocket knife he had gotten from Sam for his last birthday and cut the tape. Inside of the box sat a snow globe with a castle with the word 'LOVE' written on the ground in front of the castle, a letter folded up inside.
Dear Freddie
I know how it feels to lose someone you love and I just want you to know that it will get easier over time. I know that it hurts and that there's a hole where they belonged but remember that you can always find them again, even if it's just in your dreams. He'll always be there to watch over you and just know you aren't alone. Just remember that.
I love you and I'm glad that this tragedy hasn't stopped you from living your life. Don't let it pull you down because your father is still with you, in you. I hope that you feel better about this soon.
Clara Maborough
Smiling slightly, Freddie shook the snow globe and watched the snow fall in the globe before setting it to the side, the letter sitting underneath it.
For the next 3 hours Freddie sat and opened gifts and letters, everything sorted into piles. There was a pile of teddies, one of a bunch of bracelets and necklaces and chains, one of snow globes and one of letters that had questions that Freddie intended to answer, some letters asking for advice on things.
At that moment, Freddie was reading through a young boys letter and tears were rolling down his cheeks as he read the problems that the boy had and had told him about. Just as he was finishing reading, his phone went off and he took a moment to wipe the tears away before he answered the phone.
"Hey Sammy." Freddie said.
"Hey baby. How you feeling?" Sam asked and Freddie sighed.
"Alright I guess. I'm going through letters and gifts that fans sent me. That's why I really came home. Franklin let me leave early with six sacks full of letters." Freddie said.
"Six sacks? You must be drowning. You doing alright?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Some letters are actually not just condolence letters and are serious issues that people want advice on. Some are making me sort of upset because of how bad they are but I'm going to be alright and power through." Freddie said.
"If it gets too much don't force yourself to read anymore alright?" Sam said and Freddie smiled.
"I won't. I promise. What are you up to?" Freddie asked and Sam groaned.
"Trying to find an excuse to get out of our next class. It's Mrs Briggs." Sam said.
"Sam, it's one period. I'm sure you can handle it. You know you have to start trying this year." Freddie said.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't you start on that one again. I have to go now, but I'll see you later." Sam said.
"Okay. Bye. Love you." Freddie said.
"Love you too." Sam said and Freddie smiled before he hung up and sighed.
"This is gonna be a long, long day."
A little bit later in the bedroom in the cabin, Cassie and Danny were laying there with nothing but a sheet covering them, both laying their sides facing each other.
"Imagine if Pete walked into the room right now?" Cassie asked and Danny smiled.
"Then he would be in for a massive shock wouldn't he? Don't worry. I can blackmail him to stay quiet." Danny said and Cassie sighed, resting her head on her hand.
"I was wondering, why do you never mention your sister? I mean, I know you two were close and have now lost touch, but why don't you ever talk about her?" Cassie asked and Danny looked down at her arm, his fingers lightly running up and down the skin.
"On my tenth birthday, my sister and I went to the lake and, even though she was only 9, she gave me a glass dolphin that she had gotten for me out of her own pocket money. I had gotten a bad lashing the night before and it hurt to breath, but she just told me that out there I could let my spirit free and let it all go and let God show me where to go. When I said that it was impossible she told me to close my eyes and pretend I was somewhere that I really wanted to be so I did. What I conjured up was a green hill that overlooked this beautiful view of fields and a lake. It was a picnic and my sister was there. It took me a minute to realise that my mother was there too and when I opened my eyes and realised she wasn't there I cried. My sister just told me that I could always find her again as long as I have a happy place. It's always been the same and I'm always with my mum and sometimes still my sister. I just wish I knew what happened to her." Danny said and Cassie frowned.
"You don't know what happened to her?" Cassie asked.
"When I was 18 she just stopped coming to visit me and it's been over a year since I last spoke to her so I have no idea what she looks like now. She cut off all contact one day and I haven't heard from her since." Danny replied and Cassie looked down for a moment.
"I don't know what it feels like to not know what happened to someone, but don't let it eat you away. If you want to find her, ask Freddie and see if he'll help. I mean, he got Pete back in touch with his family when he barely knew him." Cassie said.
"All I want to know is if she's alive and then I won't be so bothered anymore." Danny said and Cassie ran her fingers over his cheek and then through his soft hair, his eyes closing as she did this.
"You're tense." Cassie noted a minute later and Danny sighed.
"I always get tense when I talk about family. I don't have the best history with them." Danny replied and Cassie sighed before leaning down and softly kissing over a scar across his bicep, her lips trailing over it before she kissed his lips, her fingers getting tangled in his hair as it got deeper and deeper.
As the day progressed and the stacks of letters and gifts got more and more, Freddie got more tired and by the time the others had gotten back to the Shay's, he had fallen asleep on his bedroom floor, exhausted from all the reading and crying he had done in the last few hours.
However, instead of peaceful happy dreams that he wished he could have, Freddie only got the nightmare. Only this time was more intense.
The young woman screamed loudly as the figure pinned her to floor. She tried to fight him off but was so overpowered that she didn't stand a chance at getting free.
"Please." The woman pleaded "Please, let me go."
With one swift and fluid motion, the figure bite down on the woman's neck and started to suck the blood out of her. She lets out a gasp as her blood was draining from the bite and tries to push him off, slowly losing consciousness from the blood loss.
Right as her blood is about to be completely drained, a security guard rushes into the room with his flash light in hand.
"Hey! Who's in here?" The guard called out in the dark room.
The figure turns to face him and the guard sees the eyes hidden behind the mask that covered the top half of his face, a hood over his head. His eyes glowed bright red and fresh blood stained his lips and ran down his chin.
The guard saw that the figure had the woman's limp body in his arms. "Oh god, no."
The figure drops the woman and rises to his feet. Like a lion stalking its prey, he advances on the guard with an animalistic instinct.
The guard pulls out his gun and points it at him. "Stay back! I'm warning you! I will shoot you!"
The hood let out a low snarl and continued to make his way to the man.
"I mean it, I will drop your sorry-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Hooded Mask leapt towards the man. The guard opens fire, shooting at him five times, all five shots missing their target due to uncanny speed and agility.
Hooded Mask jumps on top of the guard who manages to barely get away and run out of the room for dear life.
The guard continued running until out of nowhere he was jumped by Hooded Mask. The guard tried to fight him off but Hooded Mask just grabbed his fists and crushed both of them in his hands.
The guard lets out a bloodcurdling scream as his hands throbbed in extreme pain, all bones completely crushed.
Hooded Mask shoved him against the wall and punched a picture frame by his head, picking up a long shard of broken glass, stabbing the man repeatedly until he stops struggling. He then grabbed the man by his left leg and dragged him back into the room where the woman was lying.
Despite his injuries, the guard was still alive and he looked up at the monster who just violently brutalized him. He could only watch in horror as Hooded Mask bent down and viciously bit the man in the neck, quickly draining him of his blood and forgetting about the woman lying half alive on the ground nearby.
"Freddie. Freddie." Sam's voice sounded in his head and Freddie quickly opened his eyes, breathing heavily at the dream that had just filled his head.
"Are you alright? You look a little pale." Sam said as she helped him sit up and he nodded, trying to calm his racing heart down.
"I… I just had a bad dream." Freddie replied.
"The same one of the woman in the museum?" Sam asked and Freddie nodded.
"Except there was more. A man. A security guard. He tried to get help but the figure chased him and stabbed him with glass and then dragged him to the room where the woman was and killed him." Freddie said.
"You were mumbling about some Hooded Mask thing. Was he the figure?" Sam asked and he nodded.
"I think so. I'm not exactly a hundred percent sure. Anyway, what are you doing here?" Freddie asked, wanting nothing more than to change the subject.
"I was just coming to see how you were going. You look like you've been busy." Sam said, looking around the room at all of the things piled up.
"Yeah. I think I have enough teddies to give one to every person in the school." Freddie said and Sam smiled.
"Looks like it. Oh. Franklin told Carly who told me to tell you that we have an excursion thing to the museum in 2 weeks for history or something. He's going to have the permission slips written up by tomorrow apparently." Sam said and Freddie nodded, Sam helping him to stand up.
"You sure that you're alright? You look quite pale." Sam said and Freddie nodded, a sudden sharp pain in his back where the mysterious tattoo had appeared.
"Yeah. It's just the effects of the nightmare. I'll be okay soon. All I need to do now is find my bed and then I'll be good." Freddie said and Sam smiled, leaning up and kissing him, her arms going around his neck, Freddie smiling as she pulled away.
"What was that for?" Freddie asked and Sam smiled.
"Just cause." She replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling a little. Smiling widely, Freddie leant down and kissed her again before pushing her back until they hit the bed, both laughing as they fell into the mountain of teddies that surrounded them.