"Not too?"

"What else did I say would happen if I heard you whimper or beg me to stop?" My mother replied looking down at me in what seemed to be disappointment and somewhat excited.

"That you'd start to use Maurice's belt."

"Yes. Well, I'm a reasonable woman so I'm going to let that whimper slip this once as you weren't prepared for me to hit you with the belt. Know this though, I don't give second chances. Do you understand?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Good. So, are you starting to remember what it is you did wrong the day this picture was taken?" I'm pretty sure you already know the answer. It's not that complicated and it's a rule every child is taught from an early age."'

"I'm not sure." My mother raised the belt in the air. "Wait! I know the answer!" I replied and she paused.

"Well what are you waiting for? What did you do wrong?"

"I talked to Freddy."

"And this was wrong because??!"

"We had just moved to town and He was someone I didn't not know. I wasn't supposed to tell a person my name or where we lived. In fact, I wasn't supposed to talk to strangers at all and if a stranger approached me I was supposed to call for you or Father."

"Very good. There was something else you did that week that was extremely stupid on your part. Do you remember what it was that you did that was extremely dangerous?"

"No." I replied and she smiled.

"I was hoping you'd say that." My mom replied
bring the belt down upon my back multiple times until I could no longer stand the pain and let out a loud scream. Then she gave a satisfied sigh. "Have you thought of an answer?"

"No." I replied before thinking.

"How many times must I tell you answer me properly?" She growled bring the belt once more down upon my back. This time using the metal part of the belt.

Freddy paced the boiler room in anger. "That's it! I'm going to kill her!" He growled and the dream demons just smiled.

"I'm afraid there is nothing you can do. Unless she pulls you into the real world you're powerless to help her." One of the dream demon's replied.

"Now tell me what you did that was so stupid."

"Me not know."!"

"I told you stop talking like a baby!" As for the question let me refresh your memory!" My mother replied bringing the belt buckle back down upon my back and legs. "We told you to stay away from Freddy. We told you that we didn't trust him."

"Yet, numerous times you disobeyed us and went places with him without our permission. He hurt you because you let him! You were so very naïve back then and your still naive now. Still so trusting of everyone. Still always wanting to see the good in everyone even where there isn't any." My mother growled.

"I'm sorry. Your right. I don't think things through and I am stupid. Please forgive me. I promise I'll try to do better."

My mother smiled and sighed in satisfaction. paused and then placed the belt on the nearby chair. My eyes went wide as I realized that I had done it again. I had whined after being warned to keep my mouth shut except to answer questions. "You just don't learn do you girl? I asked you a question!" She growled. "You will answer me!"

"Yes. Me am a stupid little girl. Me not leawn. Me am sowwy."

"I am so sick of your childish behavior. I'll be back in a moment." A few seconds later I found myself standing in the boiler room in only my bra. Embarrassed I quickly looked for something to cover myself. As if someone had read my mind I suddenly felt clothes wrap themselves around me.

"You look so beautiful Princess. You really should wear dresses more often but hay, don't take my word for it." He whispered in my ear and as if to prove his point a mirror appeared before me and I stared at my reflection shocked at what I saw. I was in the dress he had shown me before and my hair was in pigtails. I looked as I had when was five years old. Suddenly, I felt a searing pain shoot through my body. I awoke with start. Were was I? Why was I in so much pain? I asked myself as my eyes fluttered open.

"I'm sorry but it's not time for you to rest. At least not yet." My mother said with an evil smile.

"You can't keep me here. Daddy is going to come looking for me."

"I highly doubt that. You see, I gave him a little something to help ease his stress. He will be knocked out for quite sometime. When he comes to he won't remember anything."'

"What did you do to him?"

"The same thing Brandy did to you."

"But that's illegal."

At this, my mother laughed "do I look like I care? No one is going to question me about some lost drugs. After all, I am the chief's wife. Now are you ready for round two?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"I was being sarcastic." My mother replied seemingly amused by my reply.

"So was I." I replied with a frown.

"I know and it will cost you dearly." My mother replied. "I was considering releasing you but now we are going to play a far more painful game. Every wrong answer will result in ten hits with the belt."

"If you answer correctly then I will only hit you once or twice to deter you from misbehaving in the future. So I suggest if you don't want to be in severe pain that you answer the questions right the first time. Question number one: what was the first thing that you did wrong today?"

"I brought up a question that I knew would upset you." I replied.

"Very good. This is for upsetting me with a subject that is painful for me. Oh there's one more thing I forgot to mention if you so much as whimper when I am punishing you your punishment for that question will start all over again. Understand?"

I nodded and tears streamed down my face. I knew that she wasn't going to stop until my entire body was filled with bruises. I winced as
the belt came down upon my lower back and I couldn't help but plead "I'm sorry I won't run away  again. Please mom."

"Shhh. I don't want to hear anything out of that mouth of yours unless I'm asking you a question."

I closed my eyes for moment blacking out from
the pain. I once again found myself in his boiler room but he was no where to be seen. I heard Freddy's voice ring out through the darkness "call my name."'

"Uncle Fweddy please help me. Make the pain stop. Please don't let her huwt me anymowa. Please pwotect me like you use to. Please Uncle Fweddy Me need you." I replied barley above a whisper.'

"That's not my name, call my name." Freddy replied once more.

"Me can't. She will kill me if Me do." I replied with a slight whimper.

"If you will not call my name then I can not help you. Besides, if your mother keeps beating you the way she is, then you'll be dead soon enough and you won't need my help anymore." Freddy replied as he started walking away.

"Wait! Daddy, please, wait!" I called after him. He smiled and instantly whirled around to face me once more.

"What did you just call me?"

"Daddy." I whispered and he smiled.

"Then you admit that your mother lied to you!" Freddy asked with a smile. "You admit that I told you the truth. That your mother never loved you."

"Yes." I replied tears streaming down my face. "Why else would she beat me like this?"

"Awe why are you crying Princess? Aren't you happy to finally get to know your daddy?"

"I..I..." Before  I could answer I was pulled out of the dream world by my mother who had waved smelling salts under my nose.

"Who said you could fall asleep? We are far from done! It's time for question number two. What was the most dangerous thing you have done today?"

"I made you angry." I replied with a whimper.

"Wrong!" My mother replied. "What did I tell you would happen if you answered incorrectly?"

"You'd hit me with the belt ten times."

"Exactly. I want you to count each lash for me." By the time I had reached ten I was sobbing and I screamed out in pain. Causing my mother to smile. "Looks like this is going to be a long night."

What the two of us didn't realize at first, was that because Freddy had been holding my arm when I was awoken he had been pulled out of the dream world and into reality. As my mother raised the belt to strike me once more Freddy grabbed ahold of her arm. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" He demanded whirling my mother around so that she was face to face with him.

"What the devil?"

"Not quite but I am your worst nightmare." Freddy replied. Then turning to me he smiled and winked. "Thanks for brining me back Princess." He said returning his attention to my mother.

"Who the he🏒🏒 are you? How did you get in here?" My mother replied.

"I'm Catrina's real father and you Crystal, are a dead woman! I'm going to make you pay for every mark upon my daughter. It is only fair. After all, the Bible does say an eye for an eye right Princess?" I nodded.

"Yes it does daddy." I replied with a smile.  

"You don't scare me!" My mother replied with a growl grabbing my step father's nearby gun and firing it at Freddy. The bullet went clear through Freddy and embedded itself in the wall. "Mary Mother of God someone help me. Your not human."

At this, Freddy laughed and took in a deep breath. "Your fear is intoxicating. I'm going to enjoy this."

"That's is enough Fredric!" Came the voice of Sister Mary Helena.

"Just who do you think you are to tell me what to do women?" Freddy replied with a snarl.

"I am your mother."

"You are not, nor have you ever been my mother. You were just my means of entering the world. You mean nothing to me and you don't scare me. Why don't you go run along. Don't have to be in confession or something?" Freddy replied with a sneer.

"Your reign of terror is at at an end. I am going to put and end to this once and for all Fredric." Sister Mary Helena replied.

"The name is Freddy and your welcome to try Witch but you and I both know that you don't stand a chance. Not as long as Catrina wants me here." Freddy replied.

Sister Mary Helena frowned and sighed "Catrina don't be afraid. I want to help you. Take my hand and I will take you away from all of this. I'll make sure you receive a good home."

"Like you did when I was a child? Don't believe her Catrina. She allowed me to be in a home where she knew I was being abused. If she didn't protect me her own son, what makes you think that she will protect and provide you with a good home?" Freddy replied.

"I admit that I made several mistakes when you were a child Fredric and I am trying my hardest to make things right. I wasn't there for you when you needed me but I most certainly will be there whenever my granddaughter needs my guidance. Just like how I looked out for your older sister by having her sent away from this horrible town. To a place where they could protect her from your abusive father." Sister Mary Helena replied.

At this, Freddy let out an angry snarl. "So your the reason my little Katherine was taken out of Springwood."

"It was for her own safety. I knew you'd return but I wasn't going to let you use her for your evil. I won't let you warp this child's mind either. I claim this child's soul for God." Sister Mary Helena replied taking me by the hand and saying a prayer over my head.

"Get your hands off my daughter
Witch!" Freddy snarled.

"I am no witch. I am a servant of the most High and I claim this child's soul for God. I am giving you one last chance. Leave this house and never darken it's doorway again!"

At this, Freddy started to chuckle his laughter ringing through the basement. "As I said before women You don't have the authority to banish me from this house and you can't kill me. Only the one who brought me out of the dream world has that power and I have a feeling that's not going to happen anytime soon."

Sister Mary Helena looked down at me sadly and sighed. "Catrina do you want the demons in this house to leave? The demons who feed off of your fear?"

"If your talking about my daddy then no."

"He's not your father child, he's a monster. An abomination in the sight of God. He's pure evil." Sister Mary Helena replied.

"He's not evil you are!" At this Freddy eyes sparkled in delight. "You the weason he turned out the way he did. You saw him as nothing but ebil fwom the day he was bown. You neba lobed him. You evil! It's like Jesus said in Matthew 23:27  Woe to you you teachas of the law and Phaeisses you hypocwites! You awe like white washed tombs which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside youwa full of dead bones and evewything unclean. In the same way on the outside you appea to people as wightous but on the inside you awe full of hypocwisy and wickedness. If you twuly is a followa of Jesus then you would habe neba seen my daddy as a cuwse on humanity."

"You seemed to fowget that ebewy child is a gift fwom God? You tweat him as if he was a sin to be tossed into the abyss. You wonda why he tuwned out the way he did? No wonda he hated chuwch and God and ebewything to do with Him. You was his only example and you was a poor one at that. When you found out the things that had done did you pway for him?"

"Did you pway fowa his soul? No because you decided that he was doomed to the pits of hell fwom the day he was bown. You neba lobed him! You neba lobed him like he desewbed to be lobed. Well Me do! Me do lobe him and You Sister Mawy Helena owa should I say Amanda Kwuga? You is not welcome in my house. Take you beads and you pwayas and get out! Me don't want you heya!" I growled pushing away from her.

"Come to daddy." Freddy said with a smile kneeling down and opening his arms offering to embrace her. I rushed over to him and whimpered as I buried my faced into his chest.
Freddy chuckled and his eyes sparkled in delight. "There, there Princess, everything is going to be alright. Daddy's here."

"Daddy?"

"Yes Princess?"

"Can you stay with me fowebas? Me lobe you and Me don't want to loose you again."

"Of course Princess. You see Mother, Catrina belongs to me. She's a part of me and I'm a part of her. There is no room for the likes of you in her life." Freddy replied pulling me into a hug and kisses the top of my forehead.

However, Sister Mary Helena wasn't about to loose to the evil that was her son. "In the name of the Almighty I banish you from this house Demon! I banish you back to the hell you came from."

Suddenly a light engulfed the room and both Freddy and Sister Mary Helena disappeared. "No! Daddy! Come back! Please come back!"

My mother smiled "he is never coming back girl. I'll make sure of that. I believe you've heard of the drug hypnocil."

"No." I moaned.

Meanwhile, upstairs the effects of the date rape
drug wore off and my step father awoke just in time to see the blinding light banishing Freddy, his mother and the dream demons back from whence they came. He could hear my sobs and he couldn't help but wonder for the millionth time just what was going on down in that basement behind those closed doors?

"What on Earth is going on down here?"  My step father demanded as he started down the steps however, half way down he froze as he saw my bruised body. "What the hell do you think your doing?" He demanded grabbing the belt from her hand.