The Final Girl

Chapter 7: Dreamescape

   "I'm sorry, what happened?" Bailey seemed more confused than concerned.
   "They just came out of no where! There was two of them! One killed Andrew and the other tried to kill me, but I -"
   "OK, OK, catch your breath."
   Morgan didn't even realize she was struggling to breath. After some heavy breaths, she tried to continue but was stopped by Bailey.
   "Look, I...were you..you did take your medication, right?"
   "What?" Morgan said, eyes wide, "What do you mean? Don't you believe me?"
   Bailey's feet shifted, "I...don't know. I mean, it is kinda hard to believe. A zombie - guy killed Andrew?"
   Morgan was genuinely offended, "Yes, Bailey! Yes! I wouldn't make that up!"
   "Alright, alright. Um, what did you say about escaping?"
   Morgan's throat closed. She couldn't tell her how exactly how she escaped, her mother would kill her.
   She swallowed, then said, "I - I ran away. They couldn't catch up. I - " her eyes watered, "I left him behind."
   Morgan felt everything shatter. Then reality came and crushed her like a bug under a semi truck.
   I left him. I was a coward who left him.
   "Or maybe it was...it just, um.." Bailey struggled to think of a possibility.
   "I - I know what I saw. If we don't do something, they might come back."
   The two were silent for a moment.
   "Look, um, how about you get some rest, ok? I'll go get Parker and we can figure this out, together."
   Bailey gripped Morgan's hand reassuringly. Morgan smiled weakly as her face heated.
   Morgan gave her a small nod, then proceeded to trudge back home. Bailey turned and jogged straight to Parker's, hoping to see Andrew safe and sound when she got there.

   When Morgan closed the door, her mother was there waiting.
   "Now do you want to explain to me why you just ran off without telling me where you were going?" Her foot tapped rapidly.
   Morgan swallowed, "I - I just went to the park, I didn't think it was a big deal - "
   "Whenever you go out," her mom interrupted, "you tell me! That's how it's always been and always will be!"
   Morgan didn't remember having to notify her mother about where she went to when she was a kid. When she was just seven, she could play in that old park whenever she wanted. That is, till her father dissapeared.
   "There are no exceptions! Either you let me know where you're going, or don't. Go. At. All!"
   Morgan looked away and nodded.
   Her mother sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Just go to your room."
   I'm not a fucking kid! Morgan's mind hissed.
   Instead, she whirled around and marched upstairs. When she got to her room, she slammed the door behind her then slumped onto her bed. Her eyes grew heavy.
   Shit!
   She flew off of her bed then grabbed her backpack, dumping out its contents. She rummaged through the binders and papers till she found the two pill bottles.
   She instantly downed a Hypnocil pill, then reached for the other bottle. Her hand froze.
   She remembered how she had survived last night. If she hadn't used her powers, she would've gotten killed too. What if?
   She slowly put the bottles back in her bag, then zipped it shut while her hands shook.
   I can't believe I'm doing this.
   What if she faced the man in her dreams? What if she could get rid of him for good?
   She rushed to the bathroom then knelt above the toilet. She took a deep breath, then shoved her fingers down her throat. It was too rough, her fingernails jabbed the roof of her mouth. She did it though. Soon, she flushed down the remains of her Hypnocil.
   She discreetly went back to her room and flopped onto the bed. She swallowed the lump before it could form. She layed on top of her hands to keep them from shaking.
   This is it. I'm not turning back. I need to take charge of at least one thing in my life.

   The boiler room was exactly like how she remembered it. Same hellish red glow, hissing steam and maddening twists and turns.
   She steadied her breathing, then began to walk. It was only a matter of time till he showed up.
   Her bare feet pressed against the
hot - cold metal floor as she trekked aimlessly. She avoided the fiery pipes that made up every wall. No sign of him anywhere surprisingly.
   When she turned a corner, a plume of steam shot right in her face. She coughed and fanned it away, then opened her eyes.
   "One, two, Freddy's coming for you..."
   "Oh shit."
   Morgan backed away from the three little girls as they continued their demented nursery rhyme, "Three, four, better lock your door..."
   She looked back and forth. He wasn't there. Usually he shows up by now.
   "Five, six, grab your crucifix..." The little girl that was jumping rope in the middle of the three looked up at Morgan. She smiled.
   "Seven, eight, stay up late..."
   "WHERE ARE YOU?! WHERE ARE YOU ASSHOLE?!"
   "Nine, ten -"
   "Where is he?!" Morgan scooped the middle girl up into the air. "Do you know where he is?! Answer me!!"
   She shook the little girl till the other two dissapeared. As for the third, she looked right up at Morgan and replied, "You'll never sleep again, BITCH!"
   Morgan screamed and dropped the girl right as she swiped at her with a clawed glove. When she landed on the ground, she let out a gnarly, wicked laugh. Then she began to transform.
   She grew taller and taller till she towered over Morgan. Her face grew older and scarred. Her clothes changed from a white gown to worn brown pants, a red and green striped sweater and a brown fedora.
   Lastly was the single leather glove he wore on his right hand that was adorned with long, razor sharp, metal claws.
   "I'm right here Morgan!" He growled, inching towards her, "You seemed pretty eager to see me. So what? Now you want to die?" He flashed his outstretched finger knives, "Happy to oblige!"
   Morgan stood her ground as he charged. She focused on his hand that was coming toward her. She focused. Focused. Her head buzzed.
   Before they could slice her open, his knives flew back, nearly knocking him off balance.
   "The fuck?!" He shouted.
   It happened again, this time to his torso. He flew back into a wall.
   "What the -" Before he could utter another swear, he was flung up into the ceiling, then dropped down with a nasty thud.
   Morgan snapped out of it, her mind already tired and throbbing. She turned on her heel and ran before he could get back up.
   "Get back here, slut!!"
    His voice was far down the hall, but she could hear the pure rage and venom mixed seamlessly together. She had to find a way out fast.
    She turned some more corners, hoping to lose him. She heard his disgusting deep voice echo everywhere, "You can't run this time, bitch! I control this place!"
   Suddenly, her feet slipped into the ground below her as it faded away. She fell till she landed in front of a pair of old shoes.
   "Gotcha!"
   She was lifted up by an unnaturally long arm and dangled high up in the air. She tried to focus again, despite the thundering pain.
   "Don't know what'chya did back there, but now you can't do it anymore, can you?!"
   She focused some more. More. More.
   "Well good for me then! As for you..."
   The ground stretched wide open like a mouth preparing to devour her. At the very bottom, was hard stone floor.
   "Don't hit your head on the way down!"
   Morgan screamed. She screamed so loud and powerful that the walls and floor shook. Her mind buzzed at a high frequency.
   Another shockwave blasted through the air, knocking the man back once again, making him drop Morgan.
   Morgan's body fell. Then it soared. Morgan had lunged herself forward, propelling her toward the man on the ground.
   She managed to grab him by the front of his sweater and lift him off the ground and fly him up into the air with her.
   "GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, BITCH!!"
   When she shouted this, she threw him down as hard as she could, ripping off some of his sweater. Finally, the buzzing went away. Replacing it was the worst head pain she had ever experienced.

    Morgan awoke with a start, then a whimper. She put her hand to her aching head, then gasped.
   She was still holding the ripped shred of fabric she had got from her dream.