Authors Note: In response to a review left by Guest on another story, i apologize for not responding. To clarify, the story I Won't Tell among others...etc I took them down last year due to negative messages I received.

There might be at least two chapters left of this. I want to try and complete this, before i get back to Dark Dreams. I also might try and start a new story. I have a poll on my page.

Also, hopefully the email notifications are now working!

Chapter 4

Katherine shrieked and wildly tugged at the hands that wrapped around her shoulders. Her tear streamed eyes were clamped shut as she sobbed. She tried to tug herself free again.

"It's okay baby"

Though her mouth frowned downwards at the sound of that voice. Was it….?

She felt two strong arms curl around her trembling waist and hoist her up into the air. The familiar cologne of her father invaded her senses, filling her nostrils. In an instance her arms whipped around his neck as she whimpered and sobbed against his shoulder. Her voice choked out a word, "D-daddy…"

Freddy soothingly rubbed his right hand along the arch of her quivering spine. "It's okay baby girl. I got you. Daddys got you"

He swirled on his heel and marched along the grass past Susan Lantz and her husband Walter as they played with their son Glenn. The woman looked up at the commotion, the unrelenting sobbing coming from Katherine. Quickly her motherly instincts kicked in. "Fred, is everything okay?"

Freddy's eyes narrowed in slight disdain in her direction. Nosy fucking bitch. "Yes, everything is fine" He strode across the pathway towards the back of the park where the car park was and once at his car, he swiftly climbed into the driver seat.

Katherine snuggled against his chest; her arms still tightly curled around his neck. Her sobbing intensified slightly until she felt his palms lightly push her backwards into a sitting position on his lap. Her eyes were still closed, cheeks continuing to be saturated with her tears. Freddy's lips curled downwards in a frown seeing her bottom lip quivering frantically. She was traumatized. His right hand curled into his front jean pocket, and he pulled out a new packet of handkerchiefs, pulling one out to dab at her cheeks. "Baby girl, open your eyes" He cooed softly.

She sniffled and pouted as her eyes opened. Her left hand futilely wiped at her flushed face as she tried to compose herself. Her voice shook. "W-where were you daddy? You weren't at the picnic table! I thought you l-left m-me!"

Freddy lightly cupped her shaking chin and brushed the soft tissue against her skin. "I was following you. I was standing behind the tree where that man was. I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to frighten you"

"I d-didn't do anything, daddy. I swear. I never talked to me" Her thoughts ran amok at the mere thought of him not believing her. She had this terrifying notion that he would take her home and whip her with his belt. "Please, you've got to b-believe me!"

He lightly rubbed the back of his knuckles along the side of her left cheek. "I know sweetheart. Daddy was watching you"

She sucked in a deep breath then exhaled slowly, "You're not angry? I'm not going to get the belt when we get home, am I?"

"Oh no, I'm not going to whip you" He frowned slightly. A little disappointed that she would think that. But another part of him, the sadistic part was elated that she was fearful of the belt. Of his anger. The threat of violence was making her more submissive and under his control. More so than he ever had over Loretta when that bitch was alive. Again, he stroked her chin, easing her anxiety. "You've been a very good girl for me today. I'm so proud of you"

He saw the faintest of smiles tugging at her trembling lips and he kissed them lightly.

"Now, tell me what happened?"

She hesitantly cleared her throat then began to scrunch the edge of her cardigan. But he grabbed her hands squeezing them once. "Don't do that baby. Now, take a deep breath and tell me what happened"

Katherine sniffled and then inhaled sharply, "I saw these kids gathering around the guy when I was on that jungle gym. That's when I looked over to you"

"Yes, and I gestured for you to go over" He nodded.

"I walked over, but I kept my distance from him. I stood at the corner of the fence and watched him. He was kneeling in front of these kids. They were laughing and talking to him. Some of the girls were petting his puppy. It was a golden Labrador"

His lips pursed tightly together. That fucker was cunning. Using a dog. He would kill that damn mutt spurred too. "Go ahead" he egged her on.

"I just watched them for a few minutes. The girls were laughing at him. One of them were called by their parents" Her muscles tensed as she murmured, "Then he looked up and saw me"

Freddy felt a vein in his neck pulsate as a surge of rage gripped him. "What did he do?"

"He was just staring at me. I saw his lips twitching like he was about to smile. His eyes were vacant, blank…." She whispered softly and an involuntary shiver shot through her body. "Then his eyes changed. The way he was looking at me was like…"

"Like what princess?" Freddy gripped her chin, steadying her face before she could look away. The glimmer of fear shone in her brown eyes. He could tell she was considering her words as her brown eyes darted to the left then right, avoiding his penetrating gaze. He knew somehow what she was going to say to him.

"It's the way…." Her eyes finally landed on his. "You would look whenever you would bring me to your room for our playtime. Before you would…"

Freddy stroked his thumb along her jawline as he finished for her. "Touch you"

Her chin nodded against his hand.

He let out a low snarl of rage. He knew the look that fucker had given her. It was the same intense look of hunger and perversion that would consume him whenever his own depraved desires took over him. Not just when he was with her, but when he was with the other little girls down in the boiler room. Before he would touch and rape them, then he would brutally take their lives. The fact that she understood that this fucking cunt apparently wanted her in the same way that he did, was riling him up. He had to act quickly to get this fucker out of the way, before he could dare try and lure her away. A low whoosh of air escaped him, and he shook his head lightly. "What else happened, baby?"

"He asked me if I wanted to pet the dog. So, I walked over…" Her mouth snapped shut and she conscientiously studied his face, particularly his eyes and jaw. She knew the little subtle changes to his eyes and muscles along his face whenever he became angry. But there wasn't a flinch or twitch of his muscles, while his eyes were passive. But the doubt that clouded her mind caused her to shift uneasily on his lap. "But I did what you told me to daddy. Isn't that, right? You said I could go over to him!"

He nodded quickly. "That's right. Don't worry I'm not angry. So, what happened when you walked over to him?"

"He let his dog come over to me. He was crouching before me. I just petted his dog" she shakily took a deep breath. "I kept glancing up to him. He was staring at me. Looking at my dress, my b-body and he was smiling at me. I got a good look at him daddy! He has haze eyes, a beard and moustache. His hair is black. He's older than you. A-and he asked me my name, but I didn't reply. Honest!"

"I know baby" Freddy offered her a reassuring smile. He had to keep an eye for this bastard at work on Monday morning before he clocked in. He had to try and strike up a conversation with him. His attention was soon drawn back to Katherine as she choked back a sob before continuing.

"I saw him lift his right hand. He was trying to touch my arm" She sniffled abruptly, and her bottom lip stuck out sadly. "But I turned and ran. I was frightened daddy. I thought he was g-going to take me away from you!"

Freddy hushed her, but his soothing voice didn't ease her fears as she erupted into tears. He curled his right arm around her waist and gently tugged her against his chest. She gripped his sweater and snuggled her face against the rough fabric. He slowly rocked her from side to side. A sigh of frustration escaped his lips as he muttered to himself. Her body quivered hard under his arms. She was terrified. Oh, it wasn't the same level of fear that consumed her whenever he had whipped her, but she was distressed, nonetheless. He only wanted her to be fearful of him, whenever he was angry with her. It was the hold that he had over her. The way he controlled her. He didn't want her to succumb to her fears when she was around this fucker Bob Stevens. The only person she had to fear was him, her father, whenever she disobeyed him. She squirmed under his arms, and he allowed her to sit up as she muttered through her sobs "I ran daddy. I ran so fast! But you weren't about!"

"I was behind you sweetheart" His lips convoluted into a warm supportive smile, "You know that daddy wouldn't have let anything happen to you, don't you?"

Katherine nodded.

"You were going back to the car, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was" Katherine laid her head against his chest. "I thought you might be there"

Freddy lightly ran his hands up and down her back. Instantly soothing her as her erratic breathing began to even out into a steady, slow rhythm. "I saw him reaching for you" His lips twisted into a leer at the image. "If he was alone, I would have snapped his fucking arm in half. No one is allowed to touch you. You need to remember that"

She compliantly nodded against his chest. "What's going to happen now daddy? You're going to do something to him, aren't you?"

A sickening grin spread across Freddy's face. "Yes, but not yet"

Her head twisted to the right, and she stared at him in surprise, "Not yet?"

"No. I need to think" Freddy responded with a smirk. He saw her confused, uneasy stare. It was apparent that she would be upset for the rest of the day. Though, there was plenty of time left to cheer her up. By the end of the day, he wanted to see that beautiful smile of hers. "How about we go to the mall? Would you like a new dress or maybe a new toy?"

Her dull brown eyes brightened at this. "Really?"

He smirked, "Yes and how about we go to the cinema too this evening"

Her lips suddenly broke into a happy smile, and she nodded with enthusiasm and hugged him tightly. He chuckled lightly. He could always make his little girl smile.

As Krueger drove out past the main entrance to the park, his steely cold gaze diverted briefly over to the left as he saw a man strolling around the fountain with a small Labrador pup trotting at its owner side. Freddy's eyes narrowed in distaste. It was Bob Stevens. Striding along, his back straight. Chest pushed out. Cocky fucker. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he took a quick glance at his daughter as she pensively stared out her window. He knew that Bob had his sights set on Katherine from what she had told him. The way she described the way he looked at her was the exact same way he would study his own victims. With hunger and dark need. It was going to be a risk and he knew that his daughter would immediately reject the idea, but he wanted to observe Steven's interactions around her when they were in proximity. But under his watchful eyes.

But what way could he get them together?

….

Monday morning….

7.30am.

The remainder of the weekend had been uneventful. Despite their quick trip to the park the following morning, there was no sign of Bob Stevens. This had made Freddy irritable, but he shook this off when he arrived home. He knew that on Monday morning he would have the opportunity to finally meet him. Like every Monday morning she would be taking the school bus. He had though informed her that she had to walk home on Tuesday and Wednesday. Regardless of her protests, they were immediately silenced by the harsh glare he gave her. The way his eyes would constrict, giving her that warning look. Not to defy him. It took a few more stern words before she agreed. Although half-heartedly.

Freddy had his own little plan to set in motion starting this morning. If he could bump into Bob Stevens even for a few minutes, chat to him he could try and build up a rapport between them both. A few minutes may not be enough. But it was a starting point.

He strode briskly through the small doorway beside the large delivery gateway into the warehouse. His eyes flicked to the left then right. Trying to discern any sign of Bob Stevens. He clearly had a good idea what the fucker looked like. Passing by the loading areas and one of the vast storage areas he turned left down towards the staff room. He gave a thinly lipped smile and nodded politely at a few of his colleagues who walked by with various clipboards and papers in their hands. As he came to the staff room he peered inside and saw a man starting to pull on a heavy brown leather coat. He stood at 6'feet and in front of a locker a few doors down from his, right in front of the locker that spelt out.

B. Stevens.

Krueger gave a little smirk. It was Bob Stevens.

He took a quick look behind him and then marched forward. Time to reel the fucker in.

"Hi, you're Bob Stevens?" Freddy stepped up to his locker and began to discard his trench coat.

Bob slowly twisted around to him and gave him a prudent once over. "Yeah, and you are?"

"Fred Krueger" Freddy stretched out his hand in a handshake. "Welcome to Springwood"

Freddy's gaze roved over the man before him. Katherine was very perceptive in her description of the man. His frame was bulker, a little more muscular in stature. It could cause a problem whenever the time came to restrain the fucker, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

The uncertainty that was etched onto Bob Steven's face faded as Krueger gave him a friendly smile. The man extended his own hand and firmly shook the hand that was offered to him. Freddy tightly held onto the hand that was rough and course. His smile remained in place as they retracted their hands. Finally, Bob replied, "Thanks"

"How are you settling into the town?" Freddy asked.

"It's been good. Everyone has been very friendly"

"Good. Did you move here with your wife? Kids?" Freddy lifted out his timesheet, along with a pen and scribbled down the date and starting time.

"Oh, no family. Just myself" Bob said with a smirk, "I prefer the single life"

Freddy let out a fake chuckle. "I'm the same"

"You lived in Springwood long?"

"All my life" Freddy shut his locker closed. "It's not a bad little town. Where have you moved to?"

"I'm just renting a little house on Sycamore Drive. 16 Sycamore Drive. I like it though. The peace and quiet"

Freddy nodded and took a mental note of the address. Soon they struck up an affable conversation. Chatting about their interests – watching football games, fishing, how Bob was settling into his job and the town, with Freddy suggesting a few good bars and restaurants for Bob to visit. Freddy scrutinized Bob's body language that at the start was stiff and alert, muscles tense. But as their conversation progressed with a few jokes sharing between them both, Freddy detected Bob's tension was melting as he lazily leaned against his locker. This was fucking perfect. The man was coming around to him.

They shared another joke, a rather crude joke that Freddy had shared and then a voice echoed from the doorway.

"Fred"

Krueger cracked his head towards his boss Larry. The man lightly tapped his watch. Signalling that it was time for him to start his shift. Freddy gave a half-hearted nod. Silently enraged that he was interrupted in chatting to this cunt. But he would find another opportunity. He turned back to Bob and flashed him another friendly smile. "Nice to meet you"

"Thanks. You too" Bob smiled back and left the room.

The cordial gleam that shone in Krueger's faded as a look of disdain spread over this face. He mumbled incoherently to himself as he made his way out to the warehouse floor and began to work. As he busied himself with the work assigned to him, he found himself in luck again as two of his work colleagues, Kevin Cosgrove and George Evans had begun to discuss the newcomer with him. Freddy knew these two co-workers from the last two years. They were the same age as him. And both were sociable and made him feel welcomed when he started in the warehouse. They were both single, too busy working or even going out to the bars at weekends. Indulging in drink and on one-night stands that they would brag about whenever they chatted to him. On a few occasions they had invited him out to the bar and even to their houses for a poker night. But Krueger had declined their invitations each time. It was before Loretta had died that he last visited a bar. Since her death he rarely drank. Perhaps once a month. Whenever Loretta was alive and he was drinking in the house, he found himself in a few situations where he had become very frisky. A sudden sexual impulse would overpower him whenever he had consumed a certain level of alcohol, and he had forcefully had sex with his wife. It wasn't rape in his eyes as she had albeit nervously reciprocated his advances.

So, he knew that drinking around Katherine had to be a rare occurrence. He didn't want to force himself on her.

"He was at the bar on Saturday night" George muttered and dragged a white tissue across his shaved head, wiping off a few beads of sweat. "Bob seems like a nice guy. He was saying that he likes to play poker"

Freddy nodded and lifted a heavy steel box from the second shelf. "It's been a while since I've played poker. What about we have a few games in my house this Saturday night? I'll invite the new guy Bob, or you can if you see him before I do"

"That sounds good" Kevin lifted the end of the steel box and assisted Freddy in carrying it over to a small steel platform trolley. They left it on top of another container. His stubble on his chin twitched and scrunched as he frowned slightly, "But don't you have a kid?"

"Yeah" Freddy held back his sneer. "And?"

"You don't mind us drinking around her? Will she be there?"

"Yes, she'll be about. Don't worry. I drink around her. She's used to it" Freddy remarked quickly.

Kevin scratched his dirty blond hair lightly. "Uh, you see me and George. We like to have a little smoke of…you know"

Freddy eyes widened briefly as he considered this. He knew what they meant. They liked to indulge in a little weed. He had heard Larry reprimanding them once a few months ago after finding them smoking some of their stash on their break. Fuck it, they would have to smoke their weed outside in the back yard. He didn't want them smoking that shit around his little girl. "You can smoke cigarettes inside. But anything else you want to smoke you need to smoke out the back yard. Got it?"

"That suits us" George broke out into a crooked grin. Delighted at this news. "We're off on Wednesday, and we've arranged to meet Bob at the Doyen Bar at 3pm for a few beers. We'll chat to him then and let you know what he says"

Freddy nodded and spun around back to the shelf as a dark smile crept over his face. Things were falling into place. It was going to be strange for him and Katherine having people in their home. It had always been them two since Loretta was killed. And they both preferred it that way. It was their place of solitude and safety. But for one night, she would have to suppress her fear and intermingle with a few other adults. More importantly she would have to interact with Bob Stevens, and he would be watching the fuckers every move.

….

Later that afternoon, 2.10pm…

"Where are we going?" Katherine looked curiously out the passenger window. Her father's car steered right into Oak Drive. This wasn't the direction they normally drove home. She whirled her gaze to the left seeing her father chuckling quietly. "What is it daddy? Are we not going home?"

"Not yet" Freddy grinned slyly.

Her gaze flew out the window again as they drove across the intersection into the start of Sycamore Drive and slowly the car pulled to a stop. "Why are we here?"

Freddy switched off the engine and contemplated the houses to their left. He mentally remembered the house number that Bob Stevens naively mentioned to him. Number 16. His eyes raked to the first house with a black van parked in the driveway. That was number 2. Then he counted down the houses until his eyes landed on the house in question. Number 16.

There was a small three feet white picket fence surrounding the neatly kept lawn. Between the gaps in the fence something small and furry scuttled about. It was that fucking dog. Freddy glimpsed at his daughter and motioned her onto his lap. "Come here, have a look"

She scurried over onto his lap and curiously stared in the direction he was looking. A small single story grey stoned house loomed halfway down the street, a small white wooden fence encircling the garden. Her lips curled down into a scowl of confusion. It was just a house, someone's house….

Freddy watched her lips twitch as they fell opened in surprise. He glanced towards the porch of the house as man stepped down the wooden steps onto the lawn with a dog silver dog bowl in his hands. Katheirne gasped and twisted around to her father. "That's the guy from the park"

"Yes, that house is where Bob Stevens lives" Freddy lightly tapped his fingers from his left hand on the edge of the steering wheel. "I found that he lives here. His house is literally behind our house. You see the water tower?"

She followed his finger as he pointed over the wooden tiled roofs of the house where the top of the water tower structure stuck out over a few tall elm and oak trees. Her head bobbed quickly. There was a small area enclosed off between the alleyway and the garden fences from the row of houses behind. "Why are we here?"

"I just wanted to see what house he lives in. I wanted you to see too" Freddy cupped her chin and yanked her face towards his. "Because you are walking home tomorrow, I want you to walk down this street. On the side of the street where his house is. I'll be following you in the car. If he sees you walking on your own, I want to find out if he tries to talk to you again"

Katherine shivered on his lap and anxiously grabbed the edge of her red raincoat. "W-what?"

"Remember, you promised me that you will walk home tomorrow and Wednesday. I swear baby, nothing will happen to you" Freddy entwined his hands with hers and tugged her towards his chest. "All you do is walk past his house. If he isn't there then just walk on down towards the end of the street. I will stop and pick you up"

"B-but what if he is there and he wants to talk to me?" She gulped hard eyes widening in terror.

"You do exactly what you did in the park"

She exhaled softly as his fingertips stroked back and forth along the back of her hands. Soothing her as he nodded briskly. "Okay, daddy"

A malicious grin twisted on his face. He knew that she would protest and object whenever he told her about his plans for Saturday night. But he would ignore her remonstrations and if she dared to continue her dissent, then he would threaten her with the idea of giving her a little 'talk' and she knew what that would entail.

….

Tuesday, 2.20pm…

The street sign that displayed the name – Sycamore Drive – towered above her in the distance as Katherine approached the street. The walk from the Elementary felt like she had been walking forever. The moment she had meandered down the sidewalk past the parked school buses she had heard a few teachers calling after her. She knew that they were afraid of her walking on her own and she had scurried off into a light jog when she heard them approaching her. She knew her father was following her, and that she would be safe. Every few minutes she had thrown a quick glance over shoulder and couldn't help but grin seeing his car in the distance. She had to remember though the new signal her father had informed her that morning. If he wanted her to come back to the car, he would flash his headlights once. A simple and easy instruction to understand.

A gust of wind fluttered around the navy pleated skirt, and she tugged her raincoat closer to her small frame. Her eyes looked up at the overcast sky. Hopefully, the rain wouldn't start until she was safely in her home. She sighed and slowly craned her face over her left shoulder glaring at her father's car as it parked along the street about thirty yards behind her. She shifted on her left foot as her eyes narrowed to scrutinize his hand as it lazily hung out the opened window. A faint plume of smoke filtered from the tip of his cigarette. He slowly flicked a dash of ash onto the ground and then discreetly flicked his fingers in a forward motion. Signalling her to move.

"Go on, baby" Freddy whispered quietly. He quickly smirked as she subserviently spun on the heels of her baby janes and jogged forward into Sycamore Drive right across towards the row where Bob Stevens lived. "That's my little girl"

He eased his foot on the gas and the car drove slowly forward…

Katherine's twitchy fingers tightened on the straps of her brown satchel bag as she strolled prudently down the sidewalk. She noticed the house numbers were now 10, then 12, then 14….

Her wide eyes averted towards the next garden and there he was. Sitting on the porch reading the Springwood Gazette. As she sluggishly moved forward, she felt her knees begin to buckle, but she took a wavering deep breath as she attempted to compose herself. Her father was watching her. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. She trusted him. He never broke any of his promises. Ever.

Katherine subtly lowered her gaze following her black shoes as she moved forward. She heard movement from her left and the creak of wood as someone climbed down the steps from the porch. A sharp bark also resonated form within the garden, and she keenly peered over the edge of the fence as the Labrador pup came trotting over with his tail wagging madly.

Bob Stevens strode compellingly across his lawn to where she stood and smiled genially as the little girl looked up at him then back down towards his pup. "Hello"

Katherine knuckles turned white as her grip on her schoolbag intensified. She just had to do what her father ordered her.

Just pet the dog. Don't talk to him.

She nervously withdrew her left hand from the strap of her bag and began to reach over the fence as the dog perched itself on his hind-legs to reach for her. But she froze and glanced up worryingly at him.

He leaned against the fence and gesticulated with a nod of his head towards his pup. "Go ahead sweetheart, you can pet him"

Katherine scowled inwardly. Why was he calling her sweetheart? No one was allowed to call her sweetheart, only her father was allowed to give her sweet pet names. It was part of their special bond that they shared. She gnawed her lips for a moment then reached down to lightly pet the dog and smiled pleasantly as it zealously lapped and licked at her fingers.

Bob saw her smile and felt a tingle of excitement shoot through his spine. She was gorgeous. "I'm sorry if I scared you at the park. What's your name?"

She threw him a nervy glance. His eyes were roving again over her face, particularly lingering at her lips. Her eyes darted back down towards the dog as she blushed, a blaze of heat washing over her cheeks.

Bob sighed quietly. This was going to be more strenuous than he expected. He never encountered a child so introverted as this little girl. Why was she acting this way? But he was persistent. He never gave up on what he wanted. And he wanted this little girl in front of him. He thought of another question to try and entice her to talk, "Do you want to know his name?"

Katherine nodded.

"Jasper. His name is Jasper. He's only sixteen weeks old…" Bob replied with a coy smile. He straightened up and took two quick steps back towards the gate and unlocked it. "Do you want to come in and play with him?"

The blood that pumped through her limbs froze in her veins as her legs locked in place. Was he really going to invite her into his garden? Would he even be as bold as to lure her inside his home? Her lip quivered and she threw a frightened glimpse over her shoulder in the direction of her father's car. She heard movement from in front of her and saw a shadow crossing over her. Bob towered above her and reached his hand towards her. Did he really think she was that naïve?

Katherine took a quick step backwards and ran past him across the road.

Bob cursed out loud. "Fuck"

He had lost his opportunity. His hands constricted into tight fists as he huffily stormed back into the garden.

Katherine panted hard as she rushed down the sidewalk. As she approached the last house, she heard the rev of the engine of a car behind her. She skidded to a halt and spun around seeing her father's car driving up to a stop beside her. She frantically climbed into the front passenger seat and calmly took a few deep breaths as she flung herself into his arms.

"You did great baby" He grinned proudly and squeezed her tightly.

"He tried to get me into the garden" Katherine whispered into his ear. "He asked me my name again. But I never told him. I just petted his dog. I did what you told me"

He felt her chest constricting inwards then expanding as she took another palliative deep breath. "Daddy, do I have to walk home again tomorrow?"

Freddy pushed her backwards and saw the bottom of her lip beginning to quiver. She sucked the lip inwards, and he noticed the tears starting to overflow from her ears. He slowly shook his head. He had put her through too much over the last few days. She was going to have a full-blown panic attack if he dared pressurise her to go walk home on her own again. "No, baby. You've done enough"

But she was unaware of the plans he had for them both for this weekend.

Next day….

6pm….

"It's nearly time to get ready for bed Katherine"

Katherine glanced up from the kitchen table as her father approached from the hallway. Spread in front of her was one of her puzzle magazines. Even though she had finished her homework just under half an hour before, she was hoping to complete a few more of her word searches. She found them as a great way to distract herself. And she needed distracted from what had happened over the last few days. The way that the guy Bob Stevens had tried to lure her into his garden petrified her. All day in school she couldn't get the image of him looming over her out of her mind. Why was he so interested in her?

She closed her magazine and handed it over to her father. As she followed him out of the kitchen, her frantic mind began to roam back to the discussion she overheard in the playground from lunch. It wasn't that she was specifically listening in on the teacher's conversation. But what they had said had intrigued her and she had to know exactly what they were talking about.

"Daddy, can I ask you a question please?"

He paused at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face her. "Yes?"

"Um, what's a child molester?"

Freddy's eyes narrowed sharply. His muscles twitched and pulsed along his neck. Had he heard that right? "What did you say?"

Katherine shuffled uneasily on her feet. He was getting annoyed. "What's a child molester?"

He took a step forward and crouched down slightly and lightly cupped her chin. Holding her face tightly and glared at her in surprise. "Where did you hear that from?"

Her face shook in his grasp. As much as she tried to turn her face to the right. To avoid his piercing gaze, his grip remained taut on her skin. "I uh, heard it today in school. At lunchtime in the playground"

Freddy snarled softly to himself and cursed. His words inaudible. His back straightened and he nudged her around, pushing her firmly into the living room. She whimpered quietly feeling his right-hand squeeze tightly on her shoulder. Had she made him angry? When they arrived at the couch he sat down and pulled her rapidly onto his lap. He brought his right hand to her chin again and tugged her gaze towards his. She swallowed hard. The fervent look of anger was starting to manifest on his face. Oh yes, her father was furious.

Freddy breathed fast and hard through his nose. The all too familiar feeling of fury soaring through his mind, through every muscle in his body. What fucker had said that around her? Were they talking about him? Discussing his crimes about him and did she hear them say that the Springwood Slasher was a child molester? Oh, he was one.

He heard her whimper and her breathing becoming ragged. His eyes blinked a few times, "Who said that to you?"

Katherine shivered at the tone of his voice. "Not to me daddy. I heard Mrs Carter and Mr Jenkins talking beside the bench I sit at. They were talking about Bob Stevens"

The fury that enveloped him began to dissolve at these words. It wasn't him they were conferring about. Good. He didn't want her to know that he was touching the other girls before he gutted the little bitches. It would tarnish her view of him, and she would be terrified of him. The way he had been subtly grooming her over the last year was to warp her mind to believe that what they did to each other was special, nothing more. It wasn't dirty or evil. He had framed her fragile mind to believe that the other boys in her school would use her in that way. But he, her father wouldn't. And he had planned to keep her mindset that way. If the fuckers in town were to take her away, they would finally reveal what he was doing to the other children. And they would turn her against him. Make her hate him. It was something that could NEVER happen. He had to approach this conversation tactfully.

"What did they say about him?" Freddy finally whispered.

"I heard Mrs Carter say that she was worried about the girls in her class. That she heard Bob Stevens had molested a little girl in Lancaster. She said to Mr Jenkins that Bob Stevens is a child molester. What does that mean?"

"It means that he hurts little girls" he said simply.

Katherine scrunched her face, pondering this and then opened her mouth to speak. But quickly slammed her lips together.

Freddy's forefinger and thumb lightly pressed against her chin. Making her wince. "Go on Katherine. If you have something to say or ask. Then say it"

She shakily took a deep breath, then asked. "If he h-hurts little girls. It is the same way you hurt the children?"

Freddy raised his free hand and delicately drummed it along her waist. He had to consider his response, word it in a way that would protect his image to her. But to taint Bob Stevens as cruel, evil predator. "It's different. It's not very nice. Do you remember how I told you that the boys would use you when you grow up?"

"Yes" Her head bobbed up and down against his palm.

"You see Bob Stevens is like that. He is using the little girls" He saw her eyes widen in horror. But her eyes darted away, again avoiding his. He knew her too well. The hesitation that was swarming around her mind. The uncertainty about what he was doing to her. Just like last summer he had to explain to her again that he would never use her. The lingering doubt was still there. He had to destroy it and ensure that her mind remained twisted and distorted. The way he had shaped it to be. "Now, baby, you know that I love you. And you love me, don't you?"

"Yes daddy, I love you so much" She sniffled, and he wiped at her damp cheeks.

He smirked, "What we do is because we love each other. There is nothing wrong with it"

"So, you're not a child molester?"

His thumb and finger along her jawline twitched slightly and for a moment the pressure he had on her chin increased, then faltered. "No, I'm not. But Bob Stevens is. That's why he is a danger to you. That's why I'm going to kill him"

Katherine shivered. "When?"

"Soon. I just need to meet him again. Then I'll make my plans" Freddy grinned viciously.

"You met him?" Katherine's jaw dropped opened as he finally loosened his grip on her face. "When did you meet him daddy?"

"Yesterday morning in work"

Ring…

Katherine shrieked at the sudden shrill sound of the phone. Freddy hushed her and pushed her from his lap. He was waiting for this phone call. Those two fuckers Kevin and George better had good news for him. He crossed the room to the window where the phone sat on a small circular table. Lifting the receiver, he turned away from his daughter as she inquisitively tried to listen to his conversation.

A few minutes passed before he hung up and strode back towards the couch. Katherine titled her head to the side as she quietly scrutinized his face. The shrewdest grin grew across his lips, and he chortled softy. Freddy couldn't fucking wait to the weekend. This was fucking perfect. He enthusiastically pulled her back onto his lap. "I've got some new my little kitten. We're going to have some company this Saturday night"

"Company?" Katherine's body froze on his lap. "W-who?"

"Bob Stevens" He grinned maliciously.

She wildly shook her head in dismay. "No! Why?"

"It'll be okay. He won't be on his own. I have two work colleagues coming over too. People I know from work" Freddy felt her body break out into feverish tremors. He lightly rocked her back and forth, stroking her cheek with the back of his right hand. "Ssh, it'll be okay. I'll be here baby. Nothing will happen"

Katherine sobbed softly at his words. How could be it okay? The thought of people in their home petrified her. It was always them both, her and her father since her mother died. It was their sanctuary. Their special place for them both. And now it some outsiders were coming here. She felt his fingers brush against her cheeks.

"I want you to be downstairs with me when they are here"

She choked out a sob and vehemently shook her head. Disgusted that he would even dare say that. "No, please! Can I not stay upstairs in my room? Please daddy!"

He sighed knowing how he was putting her in a horrible position. But he had to do this. He wanted to observe Bob's behavior's around Katherine. The way he would stare at her, how he would speak to her. Any subtle touches he would try to give her. He would tease the bastard too. Use her to taunt him. "Katherine, I need you to do this, and you will do this"

Katherine wept. "Why?"

Freddy pulled her gaze towards his as a malevolent grin spread over his face. "Because we're going to play a little game on Bob Stevens"