"Springwood, Ohio. 1991. The end of a 7-year horror in the small, US town. The exact number of casualties remains unknown with as many as 100 strange, unsolved, or related deaths reported in the case. All suffering their fate at the hands of one Freddy Krueger. But how could this possibly be? as Freddy Krueger was officially pronounced dead in 1974? Tune in next week for another bone-chilling episode of Mysterious Murderers."

As the images on the screen changed to an anti-drug PSA*, I grabbed the remote and clicked the set off. Letting out a groan, I sunk back into my raggedy couch and threw the remote onto the floor. I pulled out my phone to quickly glance at the time. 10:50 pm.

I missed my DAA* meeting again, but I had watched every episode of Mysterious Murderers religiously for the entire two seasons it had aired and I wasn't going to choose listening to a bunch of recovering druggies drone on instead of seeing the latest episode. It had been a good one too. In the early 2000s, there had been a string of people found decapitated along Chile's coast...one for every year until 2009 when they suddenly stopped.

But something about this Fred Krueger story really sparked my interest. Maybe it was just the fact that I lived in Ohio. Either way, I really wanted to learn more and looking down at my arm...I wondered if I would still be here after another week...

I had worked a couple hours longer than my scheduled shift that day and when I made it home, I plopped onto the couch and fell asleep, still in my uniform. I woke up just before my show and during it, my hands found the box-cutter in my pocket and began fiddling with it. One thing led to another and...well, now my arm looked like I had stuck it into a box with an angry cat inside.

I had kicked the drugs, but then the self-harm got worse...

Sighing, I stood up and went to the bathroom to wash my wounds. They weren't really deep and they weren't even bleeding anymore, but I knew from experience that they still needed to be sanitized to stave off any infection.

1991... Hm...it was 2020 now so...this Krueger stuff happened like 30 years ago. I wonder if my family knew anything about all of it. I laughed out loud as soon as my mind finished the thought. Like that even mattered! My only living relatives were my deranged father and a half-brother that might not even exist. But 30 years, even though older than me, isn't really that long ago. Surely there are still people around who were there.

I turned the water off and dried my arms on the towel sitting on the counter beside the sink. I threw it back down when I was done, eagerly making my way to the computer in my bedroom. I reached to the keyboard and started typing 'Freddy Krueger Springwood, Ohio' before I even sat down. I went straight to images and there were only a few actual photos. Besides a mug shot, they were all from newspaper articles.

I clicked back over to 'web' and Google Maps immediately popped up in the results, suggesting directions. Click. Huh. It was only forty-five minutes northeast of here. I'm surprised that I never heard of it before...not that I'm particularly well-versed in the geographical arena.

I sighed again, even louder than before. Whatever, I growled, kicking the ground and spinning my chair to the side. Yeah, I was curious; I was interested, but what was the point in going to Springwoood or anything? I could just save my effort and wait to watch the episode next week. It's not like the trip was going to make me feel less pathetic.

I slowly turned back to the screen...

Directions to Springwood, Ohio- Quickest Route: 45 minutes.

Hmph. My weekend was starting soon... I could use the change of scenery. Besides, going on the trip wouldn't hurt me. And even if it did, oh well! I laughed out loud at my own morbid humor. Ok then, I'll go.

What? Where am I?

I awoke laying on my back in what appeared to be a dark forest. Jolting upward into a seated position, I quickly looked all around me.

"Hello?" I called.

There was no answer, but as I reached my feet, my ears picked up the sound of water flowing in the distance. I went looking for the source. After all, when lost in the wilderness, you're supposed to stay near the water.

I found my way in the darkness, walking under some strange looking trees, then through a cluster of prickly bushes before finding a river beyond. I could make out the silhouette of a person sitting on the shore. Moving closer, I began to feel very uneasy...something was wrong.

The figure didn't move as I neared it. My arm was outstretched, ready to tap them on the shoulder. Just as my hand reached its target, the person's head fell off its body, rolling toward my feet on the ground, an eerie smile on its face, eyes wide open.

I spun around quickly to start running, only to come face to face with Freddy Krueger.

I let out a blood-curdling scream as his jaw dropped an impossible amount, the darkness from within him enveloping me.

"AHHH!" I woke up screaming and drenched in sweat. A nightmare? I hadn't had one of those since detox a few years ago...