The next day at school I searched for Nancy. I heard people whispering spreading
rumors as usual. "Did you hear? Jasmine died last night. They said that she committed suicide."

"Oh how awful. Her parents must be devastated." One of the other students replied.

It was then that I spotted Nancy and her friends sitting at a table nearby. "Excuse me, But would you mind if I joined you?" I asked and Nancy frowned I could tell that she wasn't happy that I joined them.

"Suit yourself." Quinton replied shrugging his shoulders.

"I'm telling you she didn't commit suicide. She was murdered. We all know by who." Nancy replied .

"Freddy." Quinton replied with a sigh.

"This Freddy, does he look like he's been a victim of a fire and wear a red and green Christmas sweater and a brown fedora? I don't understand why everyone's so afraid of him. He didn't seem that scary to me."

Quinn was about to reply when Nancy stepped on his foot. "He's a monster!"

"Why?"

"Are you slow or something? He's the one murdering all of our classmates in their sleep. Of course he is a monster and if you think otherwise then you're a freak! Come on guys let's go." Nancy replied standing up.

"Don't call me that."

"Or what? What are you going to do about it Freak?" I clenched my fist but did not reply. "That's what I thought. You talk a lot but your nothing but a big baby and a freak with no friends."

Nancy laughed. That was the last straw. Unable to control my anger any longer I pulled back my fist and smashed it directly into her face. She stared at me in shock. "You hit me?"

"Your point?"

"Your going to regret this freak!"

"Whatever."

"Catrina Robbinso to the office. Catrina Robbinso to the office."

"Sorry" Quinton mouthed as he was dragged away.

I frowned what was Nancy's problem? I closed my eyes trying remember if there was anything I had done in the past that would make Nancy hate me. I unintentionally drifted off to sleep momentarily.

I heard a quiet chuckle coming from behind me and I turned to see an amused Freddy. "I see little Nancy is still treating you badly. She always was jealous of you."

"You killed her didn't you?"

Freddy pretended to have no clue to whom I was referring. "Who?"

"Jasmine. That was who I saw on the catwalk last night wasn't? It was her blood on your glove."

Freddy shrugged his shoulders and smiled at me. "You always were a very smart little girl. Yes, I killed that little piglet. I'd do it all over again. That's one less spoiled brat to go around bullying my sweet little Princess. It's been nice chatting with you but I have to go."

"Wait who else are you planning on killing?"

At this, Freddy just laughed. "Why don't we make a game out of it. You try to figure out who my intended next victim will be and I will give you the chance to save their wretched lives when you fall asleep tonight. How about it Princess? Do we have a deal?"

Freddy asked with an evil smile. "Oh and one more thing a deal with me is eternally binding." Freddy replied holding out his hand for me to shake. "Tic tock your time is running out. Make your choice."

"We have a deal."

Freddy smiled and whispered seductively "see you tonight Princess. Oh and Princess, Don't keep me waiting. You won't like the consequences." With that Freddy disappeared chuckling making me shiver. What had I just gotten myself into?

"Catrina wake up. I am extremely disappointed in you young lady. Is it true that you punched Mrs Thompson?"

"Yes."

"Would you care to explain why? I know that you've been under a lot of stress with the death of your father. Having your mother re-marry but we can't allow you to be taking your frustrations out on fellow students. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to suspend you."

"Please don't suspend me. "I tried befriending her and her friends but all she does is make fun of me. I know that I shouldn't have hit her but she provoked me. She said that I was a slow, retarded freak."

"I know what you're going to ask. I have tried telling multiple teachers about her behavior but they refuse to believe me. They scolded me for making up stories about my fellow student and threatened to punish me should I insist on repeating such quote on quote nonsense."

"Ignoring her comments wasn't working. Those around her tended to agree with her assessment of me. What other options did I have?"

The Principal sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Alright. Considering this is a first offense I will let you off with a warning. However, we need to discuss your teachers complaints that you are still falling asleep in class. Are you having problems at home?"

"No. Everything is fine at home. I just have a lot on my mind lately and haven't been sleeping as well as I should. I will try to get better sleep."

"Perhaps you should speak with the nurse. Maybe there is something that he can do to help."

"I doubt it." I mutter but reluctantly agree to speak to the nurse.

"The principal tells me that your not sleeping well. Do you have a set sleep schedule?"

"Yes. I've just been having a lot of nightmares lately."

"Tell me child, what are these dreams about?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

"Try me."

"Fine. A man keeps toying with me like a cat sometimes does with a mouse. I know he wants to kill me but for some reason he keeps me alive while he forces me to try and rescue someone else. In each dream I fail to rescue them."

"Then I find out the next day that they have died. I know that he killed them but no one will believe me. Except the other teens. He's haunting their dreams too."

"I see. How often do these dreams occur?"

"Whenever I fall asleep."

"I know I'm not supposed to prescribe medications but it sounds like you need to be taking hypnocil."

"What does it do?"

"It is supposed to suppress nightmares."

"But I'll still be able to dream?"

"I can't promise that. It is different for everyone. Just try it out and see if it helps. You take two right before bed and you should sleep through the night."

"I'll think about it. I should go. I don't want to be late for the bus."

"Catrina your not leaving this office until you promise me that you will consider giving hypnocil a try."

"Alright. It's worth a shot. I mean what harm could it possibly do to try them."

"How was school dear?" My mother asked not really interested in my answer.

"We found out that one of my classmates died last night."

"So, do you have a lot of homework? Why don't you get started on it while I make dinner. I'll call you when it's ready." Mom replied ignoring my last comment.

"Didn't you hear what I said mom? One of my classmates died last night."

"Was she a friend of yours?" Mom asked not even turning around to face me.

"Well no...." I replied hesitantly.

"Then we don't need to discuss her death now do we? As for your comment about school, I know that you got yourself into trouble today. You hit Nancy Thomson and you fell asleep in your classes again."

"If you do as your told and don't argue with me then I won't mention it to your father. Now go upstairs and do your homework dinner will be ready shortly." My mom replied.

It didn't take long for dinner to be ready. We sat at the table silently. No one saying anything for the longest time. "How was your day at school little one?" My step father asked. I caught my mother rolling her eyes.

"I received a phone call from the school saying that she was being disruptive in class as she is continually falling asleep and having to be woken up. She also got into an argument with a fellow classmate."

"In fact, she almost got suspended because she assaulted her classmate without provocation." My mom replied and I groaned. This was not the kind of thing that daddy liked to hear.

I sighed. So much for not saying anything to daddy. "Catrina is this true?" Daddy asked with a frown. I looked down at the floor not wanting to reply. "Catrina look at me. I asked you a question and I expect and answer. Is what your mother saying true? Did you get into a fight with a fellow classmate?"

I sighed "Yes, but Nancy was being rude and disrespectful to me for no reason at all. She's a bully and I'm tired of her getting away with it."

"Nancy as in Nancy Thomson?" My step father asked and I nodded. "She's alway has been a spoiled little brat. I'm glad that you stood up for yourself."

"Arthur don't encourage her. She needs to learn that fighting is unacceptable behavior."

"Normally I would agree but standing up to a bully is completely different. As for your falling asleep in class if your not getting enough sleep then I guess you need an earlier bedtime."

"It's not that. I've been having a lot of nightmares lately. The nurse at the school suggested that I should take hypnocil. They gave me this bottle and told me to take two pills directly before I go to bed." At this, daddy frowned and I could tell that he wasn't happy.

"May I see the bottle? I've never heard of this drug. I don't appreciate your school nurse giving you these. Only a real doctor should be giving you a prescription."

"Supposedly, it's not out for distribution yet. It's a trial type. I promise I wasn't planning on taking them daddy. I only took them because the school nurse wouldn't let me leave until I agreed too."

"I see. Why don't you go upstairs and get ready for bed and I'll be up shortly."

"Honey isn't it a little early to be sending her off to bed? After all, it's only 7:30."

"No I didn't think it's too early for my little one to be in bed. She's had a long day and she needs her sleep."

I could see my mother rolling her eyes in irritation. She hated it when my step father speaking about as if I was a toddler. "She's not a child anymore honey. She should be able to decide when she wants to go to bed."

"Do NOT undermine my authority in front of my little one!" My step father growled at my mother who shrunk back the fear in her eyes clearly evident.

"Yes dear." My mother squeaked.