Mom refused to explain what she had meant by saying I had a rough childhood. She refused to tell me my father's name and now she wouldn't answer my questions about the person she'd mentioned. Who was this Springwood Slasher? Why didn't mom want to talk about him? Why did she seem afraid of him?

Since she refused to answer these questions I decided to go down to the local library and search for information concerning the Springwood Slasher there. "Mom, dad, can I go  to the Library to study?" I called out as I grabbed my backpack and headed towards the door.

"Sure Sweetheart just be home in time for dinner." Arthur replied.

"Thanks daddy." I replied giving him a kiss on the cheek before heading out the door.

Once at the Library I went straight to the newspaper section. "Can I help you find anything dear?" An elderly lady asked as I searched through the data base.

"Yes I'm looking for any information about the Springwood Slasher. Do you know anything about him?" I asked.

"Yes. I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a very dark time for our little community. Several children had gone missing without any trace. Then after several weeks of searching the bodies would be found. The parents were devastated. The children were so badly disfigured that you almost couldn't even recognize them."

"The librarian replied with a sigh. "Such a terrible time filled with continuous fear. The parents were terrified of allowing their children to leave their houses. Never knowing when the Slasher would strike next and who his next victim would be."

"What was his name? The man accused of being the Springwood Slasher?"

"Kruger. Freddy Kruger. It came as quite a shock. Mr. Kruger seemed like such a wonderful man. He even had a wife and daughter. It was horrifying to think that their neighbor and friend was the one responsible."

"However, after his daughter told the police that she had witnessed him murdering her mother they searched the house and found all sorts of incriminating evidence. His daughter was immediately removed from his custody and was brought to the local orphanage." The Librarian replied.

"Was he found guilty?"

"No." The Librarian replied with a sigh.

"Even with all the evidence against him?"

"Unfortunately, the judge who had been in charge of signing the search warrant for Mr. Kruger's house did not sign the warrant in the correct places." The Librarian replied shaking her head in sadness. "It was such a shame."

"How could a judge make such an egregious mistake?"

The Librarian sighed and frowned. "The judge loved his alcohol. He was under the influence when he signed the warrants and didn't sign them in the proper place. Eger to arrest the Springwood Slasher the officers in charge of the investigation didn't verify that everything was in order before they placed Mr Kurger under arrest. With the warrants being invalid all evidence collected during Mr. Kruger's arrest had to be thrown out due to the exclusionary rule."

"The evidence at his house was the only thing linking him to being the Springwood Slasher. Evidently he was also not read his Miranda rights at the time of his arrest. Due to this and the evidence being thrown out reluctantly the Judge had no choice but to release Mr. Kruger from custody."

"What happened to him after his release? Did he get his daughter back? Is he still alive?"

The Librarian frowned why was I so interested in knowing what had happened to Mr. Kruger?" This isn't a subject that I should be discussing with you. The town is trying to forget that those events ever happened and move on."

"Please I need to know. What happened to his daughter?"

"Certain that he would be found guilty and given the death sentence or life in prison the orphanage allowed his daughter to be adopted by a family from a different town and as with all adoptions the records were sealed. No one really knows what became of Mr. Kruger after his release."

"I just need to know one more thing. Have their ever been any large fires in the towns history?"

"Yes. Almost ten years ago a huge fire broke out in the old abandoned power plant."

"Was the power plant ever rebuilt or the cause of the fire discovered?"

"No. The power plant is still their at the edge of town. Yes the fire was caused because one of the old boilers exploded. If you'll excuse me I have some business to attend to else where." The Librarian replied.

Meanwhile, I closed my eyes trying to focus on the information now swarming in my head. I soon found myself in the boiler room and I could hear the clinking of knives on metal. "Back so soon Princess?" I looked in the direction the sound had been coming from but didn't see anything. I could hear his breathing but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Where are you?" I called into the darkness and then I heard a chuckle coming from directly behind me. I whirled around and met the man face to face. We were so close that his lips almost touched mine. I slowly backed away  from him and he smiled seemingly amused.

"Awe what's the matter Princess? Your not afraid of me are you?"  Freddy said with a smile.

I averted my gaze looking down at the floor. "I.... I don't know. I don't think so.." I replied my face filled with confusion.

Freddy's face went dark and he snarled "you will be." I jumped backwards and he smiled at me and chuckled. "You see, you are afraid of me and with good reason little piglet." He lunged at me as if he was going to attack me but right before he could I found myself being  jostled awake.

"I'm sorry to have to wake you, you were sleeping so peacefully but it's almost time for the Library to close." The Librarian said quietly.

"What time is it?" I asked glancing down my watch I groaned. "Oh no. My step father's going to kill me."  I moaned running my hands through my hair nervously. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door. It was already dark and I pulled my sweater around me nervously and glanced around as I walked. I hated walking alone at night. Too many criminals were out at this time of the day. It didn't take me long to reach home and I sighed in relief as I headed up my walkway.

Before I could put my key into the lock the door opened and I was greeted by an angry glare from my mother. "Where have you been? You were supposed to be home in time for dinner."

"I'm sorry. I was doing some research at the library and I lost track of time. I accidentally fell asleep."

"What have we told you about lying?" My mother replied slapping me across the face and pointed a finger at me in warning as she grabbed my arm and pulled me into the house. "I want the truth where were you?"

"I already told you, I fell asleep at the Library while doing some research for a project."

"Your lying. There is no way you were at the Library all this time. Admit it, you weren't at the Library at all were you? You probably met up with some boy instead. So who is he? I want his name Catrina and I want it now!" She replied slapping me across the face once more.

"There is no boy." I replied trying to move past her.

"Catrina if you continue to lie to me I'll have no choice but to inform your father and you know he won't be pleased. Do you want to be punished is that it?"

"No." I replied quietly.

"Then tell me the truth." My mom replied placing her hands on her hips and tapping her toe which indicated that she was irritated.

"I already have."

"Then you leave me no choice. Arthur could you come in here for a moment."

"Of course honey what is it? Catrina your home. We were staring to get worried."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to loose track of time." I muttered and my mother frowned. Then rushing past them I ran into my room
in tears and slammed the door.

After my door slammed shut my step father turned to my mother and frowned. What did you say to her that upset her? Why is she crying?"

"Nothing." My mom replied shrugging her shoulders in an I don't know and I don't care motion.

"You know I don't like being lied to Crystal. Now tell me why Catrina was crying."

"She's just being dramatic. I have a feeling that she hasn't been truthful about her whereabouts. I doubt that she even went to the library. She probably met up with some boy doing who knows what." My mother replied and Arthur nodded in understanding.

"I'll talk to her. You and I both know that she won't lie to me." Arthur replied heading up the stairs.