Nancy tried to pretend that she didn't dream about Freddy again for the rest of the morning. She didn't want to give her mother any cause for worrying. That was the last thing that she wanted. Actually that was the second last thing that she wanted. The absolute last thing that Nancy wanted or needed was for her dad to get involved. Even though her parents are divorced they still talk to one another every now and then. Nancy wouldn't put it past her mother to call her father if she felt like there was something wrong with her.

Nancy's father's warning was still fresh in her mind. Anything like the incident at the pre-school and he wouldn't be able to help her. They'd probably have her tossed inside of some sort of mental institution trying to convince her that Fred Krueger is dead and that no one can attack people in their dreams. So instead Nancy acted like nothing happened as she quietly ate her breakfast. It was a tad difficult eating with the use of only one of her arms as the other was still in a sling, but she eventually managed.

"So are you feeling any better?" Her mother asked.

"Of course; never felt better," Nancy said not looking up from her plate.

"Is this about the dream you had last night?" Her mother, Gwen, asked noticing her daughter's lack of eye contact.

"It's nothing mom," Nancy lied; gaze focused on the knife by her mother's plate. She kept thinking back to that dream. Nancy had never felt so scared in her life when Freddy attacked her mother.

"If you'd like to stay home from school today," Gwen started to offer.

"That's ok mom. I think school's what I need to get my mind off of recent events," Nancy said finishing her breakfast.

"Alright," Gwen said picking up Nancy's plate. "But if you need to talk to anyone about this, I'm always here for you Nancy."

"Thanks mom," Nancy said. After breakfast, Gwen drove Nancy to school. When Nancy got to school one of her few living friends, Jessica, helped her out with her books in light of her arm's injury. Nancy found out from Jessica that news of her and Quentin setting fire to the old pre-school had traveled exceedingly fast. One of her classmates had a dad on the police force and she found out everything from him and naturally spread it around school. Nancy ignored most of the comments thrown at her and any questions asked and just tried to get through the day. Nancy tried her best to stay fully awake through all her classes, which she managed to do until her final period of the day.

When her teacher spotted her dozing off, he woke her by dragging his nails across the chalk board. The shrill sound of it woke Nancy up screaming and on her guard. Only after she realized that she was in class and not being attacked by Freddy did she calm down. The rest of the class gave her weird looks.

"Nancy? Is there something wrong? You were on edge practically all day," Jessica said as Nancy put her books in her locker.

"I just haven't got a lot of sleep lately. That's all," Nancy responded. "No big deal." Jessica didn't look like she believed Nancy for a second, but decided to let the matter drop. Once the final bell rang Nancy waited for her mother to pick her up and then asked her to take her to the hospital so she could visit Quentin.

Spring Wood Hospital

Quentin had been in bad shape when Nancy last saw him. Freddy had broken his nose and also cut into his chest. Nancy actually believed that he was going to die when she was pulled back into the real world and saw him in that state. But through the grace of God he was able to cling to life until the police and ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. Nancy reached his hospital room and cracked the door open to see if Quentin was asleep or awake. She was hoping it was the latter because if Freddy truly wasn't gone that meant Quentin was in danger. She stepped inside his room and was relieved to see him awake.

"Hey beautiful," Quentin said making Nancy smile and blush a little. She pulled up a chair and sat beside his bed.

"How are you feeling?" She asked taking his hand.

"I'm feeling glad to be alive," Quentin answered. "The doctors said if I had been brought in here any later and I wouldn't have made it. Still it was worth it to take down that son of a bitch," Quentin said, which made Nancy's smile disappear from her face.

"Something wrong?" He asked her.

"It's just that… last night," Nancy began then the door to Quentin's room opened up and a little girl who looked no older than ten ran into the room and went under Quentin's bed. Quentin looked at Nancy, who only shrugged and looked under the bed.

"Can I help you little girl?" Nancy asked her.

"If anyone asks you didn't see me," the young girl replied.

"Um," Nancy thought when she heard the door starting to open making her spring up.

"Excuse me," one of the nurses said, "But have either of you happened to see a 10 year old girl run in here?"

"Can't say I have," Nancy said. "Why?"

"Girl's parents brought her in to get a shot today. We turned our backs on her for one measly minute and then bam; she's gone."

"We'll be sure to let you know if we see her," Nancy said.

"Thank you," the nurse said and exited the room.

"She's gone. You can come out now," Nancy said. The girl crawled out from under Quentin's bed and looked at Nancy.

"Thanks," she said giving Nancy a smile.

"You're welcome. Just why exactly are you hiding anyway?" Nancy asked her.

"I don't like shots," she answered.

"I don't either," Quentin said. "The best method for when you're getting a shot is to close your eyes, count to five, and it'll be over before you know it."

"I still don't like them," she said.

"What's your name?" Nancy decided to ask.

"Kristen."

"That's a nice name," Nancy said. "I'm Nancy."

"I'm Quentin," he introduced. The second the introductions were over the door swung open once more.

"Aha!" The nurse shouted spotting Kristen. I had a feeling I should come back here and looks like it paid off. You're coming with me Ms. Parker," the nurse said and picked up Kristen so she couldn't run away from her.

"Nice meeting you Kristen," Nancy said giving her a wave.

"Nice to meet you too," Kristen responded giving Nancy a smile then went back to struggling with the nurse's grip.

"Nice kid," Quentin said. "Good thing Freddy isn't around anymore. I'd bet you anything he'd probably go after her next."

"Freddy," Nancy remembered. Any good feelings she had were sent down the drain.

"Nancy? Are you alright?" Quentin asked her. He almost thought he saw some of the color drain from her face.

"Freddy," she repeated. "That's what I was going to talk to you about," Nancy said. She swallowed and continued. "Last night… I saw Freddy again."

Quentin almost thought his heart stopped for a second at hearing Nancy say that. It even showed on his heart monitor before returning to normal. "That's impossible. We killed him," Quentin said, but it was more so to convince himself than it was to convince Nancy.

"Did we?" Nancy asked.

"You cut off his arm and you slit the dude's throat. Not to mention you burned his remains so yeah. I can safely assume he's dead."

"He's been dead before though. Who's to say he didn't cheat death… sort of… like he did when our parents originally did him in?" Nancy suggested.

"Nancy that's impossible. How could he come back that quickly?"

"I have no idea, but I know what I saw," Nancy said to him. In reality the real reason Nancy was so adamant about the return of Freddy is because she didn't want to start doubting her own sanity. She'd gone for days without sleep. Who knows what that sort of time without falling asleep can do to a person's mind?

And if Freddy is back, that begs the question of how does one kill him. She could always drag his ass out of the dream world again, but killing him doesn't seem to make any difference. Nancy would just be right back where she started again. Could he really be killed or was this all a losing battle?

Kristen took Quentin's advice and counted to five when the doctor's prepared to give her a shot. It worked for the most part. The pain was there and then it was gone. Kristen now sat on her bedroom floor absentmindedly drawing a picture that she had been working on since she got back from the hospital. Kristen may only be ten, but she was a very good artist. Night had since fallen and it was almost her bed time, but she didn't feel like sleeping.

"Lights out Kristen," her father said stepping into her bed room.

"But I don't want to go to sleep," Kristen said even as her dad picked her up and put her in bed.

"Who's this?" He asked picking up the picture Kristen had been drawing.

"Nancy," Kristen answered pulling the covers up.

"Who's Nancy?"

"Someone I met at the hospital. She tried to help hide me," Kristen said as her dad put the picture down on the night stand. It was an almost perfect replication of Nancy's face.

"Your shot wasn't that bad was it?"

"No. I just counted to five and it was over."

"I told you there was nothing to worry about," her father said. "Now get some rest," he said kissing Kristen's forehead and walked towards the light switch.

"Don't turn out the lights!" Kristen quickly said.

"Come on Kristen. It's like I keep telling you. There isn't anything in the dark that can hurt you. You're safe. I promise."

"Promise?" Kristen asked as she lowered her covers slightly.

"I'll tell you what Kristen. If anything attacks you, just call for me and I'll come running. Remember; I'm always with you. Even in your dreams." He gave Kristen another kiss then turned out the lights.

"Love you daddy," Kristen said.

"Love you too Kristen," he said back to her and shut the door to her room. Kristen lay back in her bed and closed her eyes; drifting off into sleep. After what could have been several hours or only a few minutes Kristen heard someone tapping on her nightstand making her jump awake. Kristen turned on the light at her night stand, but saw no one. She heard another noise; this one sounding like something scratching against her wall. Kristen's head jerked around, but the noise stopped and there was no one at her wall. Then music started playing. It sounded soft and innocent at first. Like something being played from a children's toy. Kristen reached over to her nightstand and grabbed a small paper mache house she had made, pulled it close to her, and started to rock back and forth.

"There isn't anything in your room Kristen," she whispered to herself. "There isn't anything in your room," she repeated even as the sound of another girl's humming penetrated her room. Kristen closed her eyes trying to block it all out. The girl's voice stopped humming and began to say something that sounded like a nursery rhyme.

One, Two Freddy's coming for you

Three, Four better lock your door

Five, Six grab your crucifix

Seven, Eight gonna stay up late

Nine, Ten

A clawed hand shot out of the roof of Kristen's house followed by Freddy's horrid sounding voice shouting, "Never sleep again!"

A/N: Kristen's entire dream sequence was based off the theatrical trailer for 'A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3' FYI. Hope the chapter was good and I'll hopefully see you soon.