I didn't sleep the rest of the night. I was too worried about Devin so I kept an eye on him until he finally woke at about nine the next morning. At the time, I had been on my computer which I had moved from my bedroom to the small table in the kitchen area so I could do some research and still be close by. He immediately started sitting up on the couch and rubbing his eyes, apparently forgetting about the damage to his face.

"Ouch!" he hissed.

"Careful," I reminded as I made my way around the sofa and sat on the coffee table.

"Shit, I forgot about all this," he said, making a waving motion over his face.

"Yeah...how are you feeling?" I asked.

"Well," Devin looked at me with a solemn expression, "I need to pee."

As I blinked dumbly, he erupted into laughter. I, too, gradually chuckled, but any joviality was swept from me when I began observing the lacerations across him. Realizing that my work was pretty shoddy, I scowled, wishing that he would have seen a doctor. He must have seen the concern because he lifted his hand and snapped in front of my face to make me set my vision on him instead of his wounds.

"Injuries always look bad the first day," he smiled. "So what are we doing?"

"Um," my mind hadn't quite moved on from last night's fight and his resulting gashes.

"Well, we know you have the capability of killing Krueger if we can just get to him," Devin continued. "Maybe practicing your skills isn't necessary and we should just focus on finding him."

"The longer I wait around, the more damage he will do and the greater chance of him getting too powerful," I mused, "I think you're right. I just need to put all my attention on getting to him."

"Hey Mark," he spoke softly.

"Hm?"

"You're saying I now...you're not cutting me out, are you?" the man sitting in front of me seemed hurt.

"No, it's just," my eyes caught on his scars again, "I just don't want a repeat of last night."

I saw then the hint of a smile brush his lips as he gazed downward, "You don't have to worry about me. I've gotten into my fair share of scuffles."

"Yeah, but not with a demon," I pointed matter-of-factly.

Devin's sweet demeanor suddenly shifted to that of anger which showed in his eyes when he looked back up at me. His tone became colder though he never actually raised his voice, "I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. I don't need anyone to worry about me. If I die, I die. Everyone fucking dies in the end."

I sat awkwardly in my spot and stared at him. It was my first taste of that temper he had talked about. Granted it wasn't much, I felt that if I said or did the wrong thing, I would just agitate him further. So, I simply sat with a dumb look on my face and waited for his next move. It didn't take long to happen either as it appeared he quickly realized that he had snapped at me.

"Sorry," he mumbled, eyes down again as he scratched his head.

"It's ok," I assured, "I didn't mean to insult you. I never doubted you could take care of yourself or anything it's just-"

"I know," he was smiling at me, softness completely returned, "I understand."

My lips curled to match his and I added, "I am known for worrying too much."

"That's funny seeing as they say the opposite about me," he laughed before turning to a gently pleading voice, "But in all seriousness, let me be part of this..."

I nodded slowly. Honestly, it was his decision. He knew the dangers and even though I technically could keep him out of it if I wanted to, I wasn't able to find it in me to deny him... Maybe it was just me being selfish, but I really did want him with me. He was the first real friend I had had in far too many years and I needed his support. Did it make me a horrible person to allow this despite being able to ensure his safety by saying no?

"He goes after kids, right?" Devin continued our previous topic, "And he's in this town...so then we should start by getting information on the children that live here. That way you can try to jump into their dreams and find him that way."

"That is...a really good idea," I admitted.

"Heh, thanks," my friend grinned. "Guess go check out the high school first?"

I hesitated, "I just realized how creepy this is going to seem."

"What do you mean?" Devin tilted his head.

"Two men, adults, hanging around a school when they don't have any kids," I explained.

"Why do you always clarify that we're male in these things?" he asked.

"Well, it's different if you're a woman. It doesn't come off as inappropriate," I answered.

"That's fucking stupid," Devin spat, leaving me sitting there staring once more and wondering if I'd unintentionally pissed him off like before, but he quickly added, "I mean it's true, but it's stupid. I thought men and women were supposed to be equal and all, ya know?"

My brow furrowed, "Good point."

"Alright, let's-" he began speaking, abruptly cut off by a knock on the door.

"What the fuck?" I complained as I rose, "Nobody knows where I live besides my boss and my landlord. Rent isn't due and my boss has no reason to show up since he's never been here."

Devin shrugged and I did the same before finishing my walk to the apartment's entrance. Unlocking it, I took a breath and then carefully pulled it open. Holy shit. On the other side of the door was Maggie, wearing an uncertain expression until she laid eyes on me...then it changed to critical.

"Maggie?" I asked nervously, "W-what are you doing here?"

"I used to work with cops, Mark," she answered with a raised eyebrow. "I heard about the kids that have been killed here and went to a friend with your name. They pulled your address for me."

Shit. "Oh, ok, but...why-" I tried.

"Can I come in or...?" her voice was both serious and demeaning...she definitely wasn't here out of friendly concern.

"Um, of course," I turned to the side to let her in the door, "I have company..." I said oddly, but she was already coming in.

I watched as she stopped in front and to the side of the couch, vision on Devin who did nothing except smile politely. Then she turned around and looked at me where I stood still holding the door open. "Is it alright if I sit here?" she inquired, taking a seat in the single chair beside my sofa.

"Uh, yeah," I replied as I finally shut the door. "Um," I swallowed as I set sights on the living room and gestured at the man sitting there, "This is my friend, Devin. Devin, this is Maggie."

"Pleasure to meet you," Devin kept his smile, leaning back comfortably and patting on the cushion next to him as he turned his head to me.

Inhaling deeply, I left my spot at the door and slid by to sit beside him. He lifted his hand from the spot and threw his arm around the back of the couch behind me. I had barely registered that Maggie had also said something to the same effect of what he had and I wasn't sure if she was really aware that she had said it either because she was just staring at Devin. Furrowing my brow in confusion, I twisted my neck to glance back at him. Shit. It was the cuts on his face that had her attention.

"So you read about the murders too, then?" I prompted, eager for the tension to ease.

The woman slowly tore her focus from the man beside me, making no attempt at hiding the scrutiny I was under, "Yes, I did. I thought the similarities between them and Freddy's killings were unsettling," she stated plainly before cutting her eyes back to Devin, "What happened to your face?"

"Well, that's rude," Devin scoffed.

The normal thing at that point would have been for Maggie to apologize, but she didn't. Her hard gaze didn't even lessen though she did finally begin making shifting her eyes between the two of us obvious as she continued to wait for an answer. Devin never gave one to her even though I knew he didn't care so I got the feeling that he was leaving it up to me to reveal it or not.

"So, you assumed this had something to do with me?" I counter-inquired.

"Like I said, I've worked with cops...I've also worked at stopping Krueger...I can tell when something is going on," she glared.

I glanced nervously at my friend, hoping he'd offer some solution to the problem. He gave me a reassuring smile, yet said nothing. I turned my sight back to Maggie, trying to sound kind, "Look, I can tell you're upset and we don't really know each other...but I wish you'd just tell me what is on your mind."

"What's going on, Mark?" she returned flatly.

"Look, I know you were really nice to Mark when he was curious about your dad and all," Devin jumped to my defense then, his tone stern, "But you have no right to come into his home and demand things like this, basically threatening him and saying he's some kind of murderer and for the record," he leaned forward, pointing a finger at the woman, "You're not a cop."

Maggie kept her position, clearly not intimidated, "I'm not accusing him of anything and I'd much prefer talking to him and not you."

I felt Devin shift in his position, easing even closer to her, "Well you could have fooled me," he mocked, his voice becoming angry, "And he's already asked you to say what's on your mind. You're the one being a dick here, not me and certainly not him."

"Devin," I spoke softly, appreciating him helping me out, but not wanting him to get too worked up.

He responded by putting a hand on my knee. My eyes fell to it briefly before looking back up at Maggie who took notice of the gesture as well, "Ok, fine," she relented somewhat agitated, "I know Freddy is back and I know you had something to do with it. If the fact that the murders have happened in your town hadn't been enough," she pointed at Devin, "The claw marks on your friend's face confirmed it."

I felt my hands sweating. I really didn't like confrontation and I had had no warning, no preparation before having to deal with her, "You're right," I answered, hanging my head in defeat, "I'm sorry. It was an acci-" for some reason, I couldn't make the blatant lie so I changed my words mid-sentence, "This wasn't meant to happen... We've been trying to fix it."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" she retorted.

"Same way you did," Devin was speaking again, "Except unlike you, Mark is exceptionally gifted in spiritual matters," he squinted at her as he said it, making it clear he was insulting her while reiterating my capability.

Maggie seemed to soften a minuscule amount then, enough to let me start relaxing, "How so?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but Devin beat me to it, sounding as if he was bragging about me, "Mark is adept at astral travel. He also learned within one dream how to properly create and draw a powerful weapon and he can always change the setting of his dreams and knows how to get to others' dreams too." As nice as it felt to have someone act proud of me like that, I couldn't help but grimace a little at the exaggerations.

"So what's been keeping you from destroying him so far?" the woman's mind worked fast.

"Freddy won't come near me again," I sighed. "He tried to get me to work with him, basically saying he knew I could defeat him. So we've been trying to find him without him knowing."

"Which starts with us learning about the city kids," Devin added.

There was a pause during which Maggie's gaze moved between the two of us as if studying us and no doubt contemplating what we had told her. She had been leaned forward with her hands forming a triangle in her lap, but finally, she sat straight and crossed her arms, "I may be able to help with that."