Chapter 4: Up in Smoke
Dude tossed his phone aside after texting Jett. He didn't want to interrupt their date night. He had spent too much time trying to get those two to admit their feelings for each other. Now all they had left was to seal the deal.
Dude laid back on the couch and turned on his TV. He started channel surfing. That always helped when he couldn't sleep. He had woken up after a nightmare, and texted Jett. He had thought he heard someone outside his apartment, but maybe the paranoia was left over from the weird dream he had. He was sure Jett thought he was smoking, but it had been hours since his last joint.
He shook his head, mindless late night TV would take his mind off things. He settled on a late night talk show that was featuring Jett, of all people. This must be a rerun from his last movie that had released a few weeks back. He remembered watching this with Dak already.
He laid back with his phone in hand as he started scrolling, the TV was background noise. He was so lost in his phone he nearly jumped out of his skin when a knock at the door came.
He stood, confused as to who would be here late at night. Was it Jett coming to check on him? He told him he was fine.
He opened the door and came face to face with a delivery boy. He had bad scarring on his face, and wore a red and green striped shirt. Dude had no idea which pizza place he was from.
"Pizza." He said, holding up the pizza.
"Oh, thanks," Dude said while taking it. He gave him some cash and closed the door.
He turned to return to his spot on the couch. He paused as he looked at the pizza. He hadn't ordered anything. He opened the door once more to tell the kid, but he was gone.
With a shrug, Dude returned to the couch. He tossed the pizza on his coffee table. He grabbed the half smoked joint from the table. He wasn't gonna start again, but he was bored and he needed to sleep.
He looked up at the TV as he heard Jett mention him. He didn't remember that from before. He had sworn he had seen this interview.
"Oh yeah, I've got all kinds of friends who mooch off me, Dude as we call him is the worst," Jett said.
"You don't say," the host said, his voice now deep and gravelly.
Dude squinted as he looked at the TV. He didn't recognize the host Jett was talking to. He looked like he had been badly burned. He was wearing a ratty old hat and a ugly striped red and green sweater.
Dude wasn't really focused on Jett talking anymore. He was staring at the host who was now looking at the camera. It was almost like he was looking directly at him.
The host then jumped up and grabbed Jett by the throat. He raised his other hand which now had a glove with what looked like knives attached to it.
"Jett-" Dude gasped, dropping his joint from his mouth. Was this a publicity stunt? It looked dangerous.
"Listen here little piggy," the host growled.
"Stop!" Dude hollered at the TV as if they could hear him.
The man stopped and turned to look at Dude. He dropped Jett.
"You talking to me?" The man growled as he walked towards the camera. Dude's jaw dropped.
"Me?" He asked.
"Yeah you, pothead."
"I need to stop smoking before I go to sleep," Dude mumbled.
Suddenly the man started to crawl out of the TV. Dude stumbled back falling onto the couch. The man stood towering over him.
"Don't you know drugs are bad for you?" He asked as he picked up Dude's joint. He took a hit and groaned. "That's some good shit."
"This isn't real," Dude said.
"You should really be careful about where you leave these," the man said looking at the joint. He flicked his wrist and the joint lit on fire. "You could brim the place down."
He then flicked the joint at the couch next to Dude. The flames caught the polyester and it started in flames.
"What the-" Dude yelped as he tried to jump up, but he found he couldn't move. He looked down at the couch, it looked as if it was melting. It clung to him and pulled him back down as he struggled to get up. He reached a hand down to touch it and his hand became stuck. He gasped as he used his other hand to try and pull his arm free. The flames started advancing towards him.
"This is what happens when you are careless," the man barked. "Kids these days, all they wanna do is smoke and drink. You make my job so much easier."
"Hey help," Dude said.
The man just laughed manically. Dude flailed and his leg hit the coffee table launching the pizza up into the air. The box popped open and the pizza flew out landing on Dude. It was scorching hot and burned on contact. Dude screamed in pain as the sauce slid down his skin.
"Oh man, I forgot how much fun this was," the man cackled.
—Nightmare at the Palm Woods—
Kendall yawned as he entered his bedroom. Logan was asleep across the room on his bed. Kendall had woken up from a crazy dream and gone to get some water. He sat down at the desk he and Logan shared. He glanced over at his boyfriend.
Logan had been babbling about Freddy Krueger again. Kendall had looked up information on him after Logan shared his story back in Springwood. It was basically the same thing Logan had told him. Except Logan forgot to mention the attacks that periodically happened over the years starting when his original victims' classmates were teenagers. A copycat killer came after them. A few years later a new batch of kids were attacked and so on. It seems like every few years someone wanted to scare the residents of Springwood and remind them of Freddy. No killer was actually ever caught, and it all stopped about 30 years ago. There were no other reports of copycat killings.
Kendall sighed as he looked down at the desk. It was littered with Logan's textbooks and notecards. He was always busy trying to learn something. That was one of the things he adored about the nerdy boy.
Kendall opened a drawer on his side of the desk. He pulled out one of his sketchbooks. He hadn't been into drawing as much lately, but from time to time when he needed to clear his head it was an escape he used. Maybe if he drew his nightmare it would help him get it out of his head so he could sleep.
He started sketching the house that had been haunting his dreams lately. He wasn't sure what was so special about this house. It was a big white house with a red door. It was nothing special. It wasn't any house he remembered from his childhood either. Other times in the next ghtmare the house was run down and falling apart. He knew it was the same house too, that red door remained the same.
He heard a whimper behind him. He turned to see Logan was tangled in his sheets. He had been having lore nightmares too. Ever since the murders started. Kendall didn't blame him, having had that reminder over the summer, but his babbling about Freddy was a little concerning. Of all people for Logan to talk like that, when he was strictly science. It was weird. It didn't seem like this would be something he would believe in. It was strange.
Logan started getting more restless and mumbling in his sleep. Kendall closed his sketchbook and walked over to the other boy's bed. He sat down on the edge. He gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Logan sat up abruptly. He looked around relaxing when he saw Kendall. His breathing was labored and his eyes looked far off. Kendall pulled the shorter boy into his arms.
"It's ok, it's just a dream," Kendall said.
Logan's fist curled into his shirt as he pressed himself into Kendall. He felt his shirt start to soak with tears. He shook with sobs. Kendall rubbed his back soothingly.
"I'm sorry," Logan said.
"It's ok," Kendall said, unsure what to say. He just held the brunette tighter.
"It felt so real," Logan mumbled into his shirt.
"It was just a dream," Kendall said hugging him tighter.
He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that. Eventually he laid back with Logan. He held him close, rubbing his back soothingly. Words weren't needed, just each other.
—Nightmare at the Palm Woods—
Jett gasped as he sat upright in his bed, covered in a layer of sweat. He looked around wildly, panting. He relaxed as he realized he was in his bed with Dak and not that boiler room. He took a few breaths to calm himself.
'It's just a nightmare. It's not real' He told himself.
He had been teasing Guitar Dude about having them, but he was having them too. He just didn't want to admit the dreams were connected to the murders. It was stupid really. There was no way that the nightmares were related; it was just a coincidence. Nightmares couldn't kill.
He relaxed a little as he looked around the room. He tried to shake off that eerie feeling. He closed his eyes as he took a few deep breaths.
"Jett," Dak said groggily.
"Yeah?" Jett turned to look at Dak who was looking up at him with sleepy eyes.
"Lay back down and go to sleep," Dak said, trying to snuggle closer to the other actor. "Too early to be up."
"It's morning Dak," Jett said looking down at Dak.
"Too early," Dak said again, letting his eyes slip shut.
"Come on, we should probably get up, it's almost seven," Jett said glancing at his alarm clock. As much as he wanted to stay here in bed with Dak all day and have a repeat of last night, they both had places to be.
"No, I cleared my schedule," Dak said pulling Jett back down next to him. He pressed a kiss to temple. "Sleep."
"I can't," Jett said shaking his head. He sat up once more. He didn't want to go back to sleep. He knew he would have another nightmare.
"Why are you up so early?" Dak asked giving up on going back to sleep. He sat up slightly looking up at Jett confused. He tried to blink the tiredness from his eyes.
"My dream woke me up," Jett said simply.
"Dream?" Dak asked leaning closer to Jett, "what kind of dream," he asked, smiling seductively.
"A nightmare," Jett said, "and it's all Dude's fault," he said.
"You're blaming Guitar Dude for your overactive imagination?" Dak asked, arching a brow at his boyfriend. Jett nodded his head and got dressed. He started for the door when he heard Dak getting dressed as well.
"What are you going to do," Dak asked.
"I am just gonna wake up Dude," Jett said as he walked out of his apartment.
"Leave him be," Dak said as he chased after him.
"No, it's only fair, I mean he gave me a nightmare so I'll wake him up early," Jett said laughing.
"How are you going to get into his apartment," Dak asked.
"I've got a key," Jett said, holding up his keys.
"Why do you have a key to Guitar Dude's place?" Dak asked slowly.
Jett saw the flash of insecurity flash across his face. "When he trips out he gets super paranoid and locks his door, and he sometimes needs someone to look after him. He gave me a key so I could help him on those times."
"Sorry if I don't trust you, but you do have a history of dumping people without them knowing their dumped until you turn up at an event with someone new on your arm," Dak said.
"It's not like that," Jett said, stopping and turning to face Dak. Dak stopped walking as well. "Dude is just a friend. We get high together sometimes but I am not attracted to him. He's also straight."
"I really like you Jett, I just…I don't…I-" Dak said unsure of what to say.
"I won't hurt you," Jett said. He took Dak's face in his hands and kissed the other brunette. Dak melted into the kiss. Jett let go of him. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a friend to harass," Jett said grinning.
"Jett no," Dak said, reaching out for him.
"Too late we're here," Jett said.
He pulled his keys out and opened the door, only for smoke to billow out. Dak pulled Jett back a few steps. Jett brought an arm up to his face, coughing as the smoke over took them.
"Dude!" Jett called into the smoke.
The two looked at one another. Jett looked at Dak, who shook his head. Jett knew he had to go in there. He needed to make sure that Dude was ok.
"Call 911," Jett said. He then ran into the apartment, covering his mouth with his shirt as best he could.
"Jett!" Dak called out.
"Dude!"
Jett did his best to look around the apartment for the source of the smoke. The haze made it hard to see anything. He saw the open bedroom door as the source.
He paused a moment before he ran into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the bed on fire and a badly burned body covered in flames. He watched in horror as the flames grew over taking the entire bed.
Suddenly the body sat up. It turned to look at him. Jett gasped as he backed into the wall. His jaw floundered as no words came. There was no way Dude was still alive with that fire.
"What's the matter, Jett?" a deep gravely voice asked.
He looked back to the bed as the body rose up, still on fire. Jett started to inch towards the door. Glancing to his side, he saw the door was further away than he remembered. How did that happen? He had barely walked into the room.
"You're finally mine," the figure said in that same gravelly voice. It sounded so familiar, yet he couldn't place where he had heard it before.
"Wh-who?" Jett managed to get out as he kept trying to get to the door. It seemed like it was moving further and further away.
"You don't remember, do you, little piggy," the flaming body said.
Jett looked at this man carefully. It obviously wasn't Dude. How was he still up and talking if he was on fire? There was no way that anyone could be this badly burnt and still be alive. This was impossible, it wasn't real. There was no way this was real. The man reached out with a clawed hand.
No, he didn't have claws, but a glove.
A glove.
That glove.
"No!" Jett gasped as he realized who this was.
The man started laughing maniacally. Jett turned and tried to run to the door. He felt a hand grab him. He swung his arm back elbowing the man in the stomach knocking him off. That flames were gone and he could now see the man behind the flames, Freddy Krueger. Jett thrashed and fought tooth and nail to get away.
He stumbled free from his grasp falling forward. The air was knocked out of him as he hit the floor with a thud. Pain radiated from his knee and elbow to the rest of his body.
"Jett?"
Jett opened his eyes and saw Dak looking over at the edge of the bed at him. The air finally came rushing back to him. He slowly sat up looking around. He was in his bedroom again.
"Wha-?" Jett asked, dazed. He looked around confused,
"Are you ok?" Dak asked slipping out of the bed pulling the sheet with him to cover himself.
It was then that Jett realized just how naked he was too. Jett looked around the room again trying to figure out what had just happened.
"Jett," Dak said again, placing a hand on his cheek making Jett look at him. He saw the concern etched across his face. "You were thrashing in your sleep and I tried to wake you and you fell."
"I-I don't know…nightmare," Jett said, finally finding his voice.
Then he remembered the nightmare. The man in his dream. He knew that man from a long time ago. That could only mean one thing.
"Dude," Jett said. He scrambled to his feet searching for clothes. "I gotta go, I'll be back."
He needed to check on Dude. That nightmare wasn't a coincidence. He had shown Jett what he was doing to play with him.
"Where are you going?" Dak asked as he started getting dressed.
"I gotta go check on Dude, he was tripping last night and I've got a bad feeling about this," Jett said, grabbing his jeans from last night. He dug his phone out of his pocket and saw he had no new messages or phone calls from Dude.
He quickly left the room and ran out the door being sure to grab his keys from the hook. If Dude was still tripping he wasn't gonna open the door. He had to go talk to him and make sure that he was ok. The last time he didn't follow through with a dream like this, with that man something bad happened. He had to make sure that Dude was ok.
He reached Dude's floor, with Dak trailing behind him. The hallway was full of people and firemen and paramedics. They were gathered at Dude's apartment. Jett's heart started racing as he ran down the hall towards the crowd. He pushed his way to the front as paramedics called for the crowd to disperse as they pushed a gurney with Dude on it. He wore an oxygen mask and his left side was badly burned from the neck down. He was grunting and groaning in pain. Jett's jaw dropped as he watched him pass. Dak grabbed his hand, reminding him of his presence. He turned to the other boy who was watching Dude being wheeled away.
He was alive. That was a relief, but Jett realized with terror that, Freddy was back. How had he followed him here? It had been years since he had encountered the dream demon. There was no way this was real. It wasn't happening again. This was another nightmare and he was going to wake up again, any second.
"Jett, come on," Dak said tugging on his hand. He led Jett away from the crowd.
"I should have come to check on him last night," Jett said as they entered the elevator. He hit a button without thinking about it.
"You didn't know this was going to happen," Dak said, stepping up to him.
"He was tripping and paranoid. He…I should have gone to check on him," Jett said, slamming his fist into the wall. "Instead I…you distracted me."
"It takes two to tango, you could have said no, I didn't force you to sleep with me," Dak said, his eyes hardening as he glared at the other boy.
"No, but you made it pretty hard to say no," Jett snapped.
"Look, I get it, you're upset, but don't take it out on me," Dak said, taking a step back, glaring at him.
"My best friend is hurt, I should have gone to check on him last night when he texted me," Jett snapped. He looked away from Dak.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Logan fought back a yawn as he followed the guys through the lobby. The guys had just returned from a meeting that Gustavo had called about the murders. He wanted his dogs out of the Palm Woods. Kendall managed to calm him down and assured him that they were safe. They were taking extra precautions and not going anywhere alone.
Kendall fell into step beside him as they walked up to the elevator. The door slid open and Dak stormed out of the elevator running right into Logan.
"I am so sorry," Dak said looking up at him.
"No harm, no foul," Kendall said as he steadied Logan. Logan nodded his head.
"You ok?" James asked, sensing the actors unease.
"Yeah, just…Stetson's an idiot," Dak grumbled.
"I could have told you that," Kendall joked. He winced as Logan elbowed him. "What?"
"Knock it off," Logan reprimanded him, "what did he do?"
"He's blaming me for what happened to Dude," Dak replied with a frown.
"What happened to Dude?" Carlos asked, confused.
"We were at a meeting at Rocque Records," Kendall said to the confused look Dak gave them.
"Is he…?" Carlos asked slowly.
"No, it was an accident. He must've fallen asleep with a joint lit," Dak said, "he was texting Jett last night when he was tripping but assured Jett he was fine."
"Ok, so why is he blaming you for what happened?" Carlos asked, confused.
"Because I distracted him last night," Dak replied.
"Distracted him?" Carlos asked, confused. James leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Oh."
The guys looked up as the elevator door opened and Jett stepped off. He saw the guys, but his eyes landed on Dak. Dak met his look with a challenge. Jett sighed.
"I'm sorry, you were right," Jett said.
"What kind of witchcraft is this?" Kendall asked turning to Dak. Dak laughed at as Jett glared at the blonde.
"It's called being in love," James quipped.
"I'm leaving," Jett said.
"Wait," Dak said grabbing his arm. "I accept your apology, but you're still as asshat."
"I'll take it, now will you come back, I-" Jett paused.
"Yeah, let's go," Dak said taking his hand and sparing him anymore embarrassment.
"Come on let's get back to the apartment," Kendall said looking to the guys.
Logan followed them up to the apartment. Mrs. Knight was sitting at the table with Katie. They stopped talking once the door opened. Mrs. Knight looked relived that it was just the boys.
"Hey mom, we're back," Kendall said.
"Did you hear about Dude?" Katie asked jumping up.
"Katie," Mrs. Knight said.
"We heard," Kendall said taking a seat next to Jennifer. The guys joined as well. "Mom that was an accident. It has nothing to do with the other murders."
"I know, but the timing.." Jennifer trailed off.
"Mrs. Knight, we are sticking together, no one goes anywhere alone," James assured him.
"Yeah, and Mr. Bitters has beefed up security," Carlos said.
"There are police swarming this place. No one is getting this hotel without them knowing. There hasn't been an attack since," Kendall said.
"Yeah, mom, whoever it is was scared off by the police," Katie said.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Lucy yawned as she sat back in Jennifer's embrace. They hadn't really left her apartment in days. Lucy was more than happy to have her over. She wanted to keep her safe. Whoever was out there, she was worried for her girlfriend.
Jennifer ran a hand through Lucy's hair twirling in her hands. Lucy watched as she fidigeted with the end of her hair. They had spent the last two days holed up. Lucy had used every tactic in the book to distract her. They mostly avoided the topic of the murders.
"Like, am I next?" Jennifer asked quietly.
"No, I won't let anyone hurt you," Lucy replied. She grabbed Jennifer's hand and brought it up to her lips. She kissed is gently. "I love you, and no one is going to get past me."
"Love?" Jennfier asked.
Lucy swallowed thickly. She sat up and turned to face the other girl. Had she read the room wrong. These last two day they shared. Feelings were there. They were real. Lucy had never felt this close to someone. To have someone here to made her so happy. She could see that despite everything Jennifer had been happy here too.
Before all this, she had been too scared to take that leap. What they had was comfortable. It was fun. It was ok. She had held herself back from taking that step further. Could she bare her soul to this girl? Was she worth it? Would she reject her?
If there was one thing she had learned in the last few days, it was that life was short. It could be taken from you in an instant. Nothing was guaranteed.
"Yeah, love," Lucy nodded her head. It was now or never. This could make or break them. "I know this was just supposed to be a casual thing we had, but I don't know when but feelings came. These last two days have made me sure of how I feel."
"Luce," Jennifer said, her eyes watering.
"You can't tell me that you don't feel the same way," Lucy said. She scooted back. She had just bared his self to this girl. Was she about to get rejected.
"Oh Lucy," Jennfier pulled her close. Their lips met in a frenzy. "I love you too."
Lucy climbed over the other girls lap. She settled herself against her as they kissed. It was like pure heaven. Having everything laid out before them. Knowing that the other felt the same. It was like a weight was lifted. It was still overshadowed with a cloud of fear.
"Luce, I want to get out of here," she said.
"Where to? I'll take you anywhere," Lucy said.
"Anywhere but here, all I can think about is them," Jennifer said tears coming again. "They were my best friends. We did everything together and now without them, I don't feel whole. I feel…like I'm missing a piece of myself, and you are helping to fill that in, but still."
"No I get it, I will never take their place and I will never try. I was ready to be a part of the squad," Lucy said with a shudder. "Don't tell anyone I said that. In have a rep to protect."
"You're secret is safe with me Stone," Jennifer laughed.
"Ok, so then my producer has been nagging me to get back on the road and promote my music as I work on my next album," Lucy said, "Wanna come with me?"
"And me your muse?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, I can write stories about your body," Lucy said taking her hand again. She kissed it softly. She kissed up her arm. "I can make music about the sounds you make." She kissed along her shoulder and up her neck. Jennifer gasped, her head dropping to the side to give Lucy more room. "Or about how you make me feel like I'm on top of the fucking world."
"Let's do it," Jennifer said.
"Sex or touring?" Lucy chuckled into her neck.
"Both," Jennifer replied.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Jett made his way up to Dude's hospital room. He had gotten a call from the hospital as Dude's emergency contact. Dude had no other family in the area. He had made Jett his contact.
After a quick stop at the nurses station he was led to Dude's room. When he entered he saw Dude was attached to several machines. He had half his face bandaged and most of his left side was covered as well. He was awake and talking with another nurse.
"Mr. Gibson, you have a visitor," the nurse who had led Jett here said.
Dude flinched at the name, "Most people just call me Guitar Dude, Mr. Gibson was my dad."
"Sorry," the nurse said, "I'll try and keep that in mind."
"Should just change it legally, first name Guitar last name Dude," Jett joked as he entered the room.
"Too much of a process," Dude replied.
"It's not that hard," Jett said, "how are you though?"
"I've been better," Dude said, "gonna have some gnarly scarring."
"It adds character," Jett replied, "I'm just glad you're ok. I knew I should have come and checked on you last night."
"Nah man, you were busy with your man," Dude replied, waving his good hand.
"I know, but you texted me and I could tell…I just knew," Jett said.
"It's ok man, how were you supposed to know," Dude said, he started hacking and coughing. It took a moment for it to calm down. "Sorry, smoke inhalation."
"Your apartment is toast by the way," Jett said, "you can stay with me. I've got the extra bedroom."
"Thanks man, I knew I could count on you," Dude replied. He sighed as he laid back looking up at the ceiling. "That dream though. It was so weird." He said.
"Huh?" Jett asked.
"Nightmare actually," Dude replied. "That guy, he's been in my dreams for days now. That striped sweater and the hat man. It's always the same."
"What?" Jett asked, shocked. Was he talking about Freddy?
"It's stupid probably some low budget horror movie I saw while I was high. Like some kind of burnt psycho," Dude said.
"With the glove?" Jett asked.
"Oh yeah, that thing was cool looking, until it gets close," Dude said.
"Dude," Jett said.
"It was like finger knives," Dude said.
"Dude," Jett said.
"I know it's stupid. Just a nightmare," Dude said.
"Dude," Jett said louder. Dude looked up at him.
"Sorry, just rambling," Dude apologized.
"Dude I have to go, you just focus on healing up and getting better," Jett said.
"Go? You just got here," Dude said confused.
"I have to take care of something," Jett said, "I'll be back later I promise."
Jett ran from the room. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. He needed to do some research, before he jumped to conclusions.
—Nightmare at the Palm Woods—
James yawned as he made his way out to the kitchen. Carlos was already up at the table. He was picking at some toast.
"Morning," James said, "what are you doing up this early?" He made his way to the coffee pot, seeing it was full already. "Did you make this?" He asked as he poured himself a cup.
"Couldn't sleep," Carlos shrugged, with a nod.
James frowned as he walked over to the Latino. He then noticed the mug in front of Carlos. That was odd, he wasn't much of a coffee drinker. Carlos had boundless energy, and coffee was never a good idea with him. James looked the Latino over. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink. Judging by the fact that he could sip the coffee already, he could tell it was made awhile ago.
"Carlos, bud, you ok?" He asked walking over to him.
"Yeah, I just couldn't sleep," Carlos said, "I'm…it's nothing." He seemed to change his mind.
"Having nightmares too?" James asked as he sat down beside him.
"Yeah, it's all Logan's fault. It's all he talks about now," Carlos grumbled.
"I know, he's been having lot of them," James said. Carlos arched a brow at him. "Kendall told me."
The two lapsed into silence. It was early and most of the other occupants of 2J were still asleep. The guys didn't have anything to do today. Tour had just finished, so they were taking some time off. Besides Mrs. Knight hardly let them leave the apartment even though they were all over eighteen, minus Katie.
James looked towards the balcony doors. The sun was barely up. It was just starting to get light outside. He knew he was only up because he had a nightmare too. Logan talking about Freddy and his nightmares had triggered nightmares for him too. The murders didn't help either. Now everyone was paranoid about being next. He knew that Jennifer hadn't left Lucy's apartment in two days.
He glanced back to Carlos, who was looking down at his coffee mug and toast. Up close he could see the bags under his eyes. Carlos hadn't slept last night, or only got a few hours. Jame knew he was no better. He had gotten about four hours by his estimatuion.
A bedroom door closing caught their attention. They looked to the hallway as Mrs. Knight entered the room. She was dressed for the day and probably ready to start breakfast.
"Oh boys," she said shocked to see them.
"Hey Mrs. Knight, couldn't sleep," James murmured.
"Worried about the murders," she said her face falling.
"Yeah, it's just…so sad," Carlos said. He glanced up at James. They both silently agreed to keep quiet about the nightmares. She would tell them they were too old for nightmares anyways. The less she knew the better.
"Well you hungry?" she asked slipping into mom mode.
"Yeah, we can go get the others up and moving," James offered.
"That would be great," Mrs. Knight said smiling softly at him.
He could tell she was trying to plaster it on for them. She was worried too, even if the police assured them that they hotel was safe. None of them felt safe, everyone was on edge. Between the murders and the fire yesterday. Safety felt so far away.