Surreality

The sun was setting low in the sky near the edge of town. It gleamed especially strong through the leaves of a nearby elm tree, casting an eerie red light that resembled blood over the massive structure before her. Carrie whistled long and low as she took in the sight.

The huge building was nothing but a dark, whithered shell of its former self. Empty and lifeless, even though there hadn't been much life there to begin with. The place appeared to have been through a fire and Carrie swore she could even smell the aroma of charred wood and blistering metal. She looked over its massive form again, taking in the eerie glow of the setting sun cast about it and simply said...

"Nice place."

"Enough theatrics, get movin' already." grumbled the burly quarterback, Warren Jenkins, as he pushed Carrie forward.

"Don't push me, jerkwad!" Carrie growled.

"Hey! What are ya doing, Warren? This isn't one of those juniors you're used to pushing around. She's my friend, and you know what happens to people who mess with my friends, don't you Warren?" Allison rumbled, glaring at Warren.

"Right. Sorry, Allie. I didn't mean it, I just got impatient. 'Kay, babe?"

"Yeah, fine. And don't call me 'babe'." Allie replied. "Except when we're alone." she added under her breath so only he could hear. Warren grinned knowingly.

"Gotcha, babe. Whoops, sorry."

Warren smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist. Carrie had only found out a short while ago that this was Allie's 'sweet and gentle new boyfriend' whom she had heard all about. It was hard to believe her friend was dating the star quarterback. Oh well, everything was different in small towns.

"Can we get on with this, already?" sighed Carrie. She just wanted to get this over with. She wasn't too excited about spending the night alone in a dirty old power plant. It wasn't that she was scared; she'd do it, but that didn't mean she had to enjoy it.

"Okay, you got everything, Carrie?" Allie asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Got my flashlight, a sleeping bag, couple of pillows, some food, in case I get the munchies, a walkie-talkie... I'm pretty sure you don't do this with the others, Allie, and....my cross. For good luck and to keep the old vamps away." Carrie smirked. "I'm all set, now can we get this thing over with?"

"Yeah, go ahead, Carrie. And remember, if you anything goes wrong, just call me and we'll get you outta there, okay?"

"Gotcha, Allie. G'night."

"Goodnight, Carrie. See ya tomorrow!" Allie shouted as she, Warren and a few others who had come along piled into Warren's jeep.

"Hopefully!" Carrie shouted back, laughing.

As the jeep pulled out of sight, Carrie turned around to look at her 'bedroom' for the night. It certainly was a lot more eerie out there when you were all alone. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Carrie walked towards the building. Squeezing through the boarded up entryway, she began making her way to the heart of the boiler system; the main furnace. This was where they had agreed she would stay. It would be easier to find her if they knew where she would be, should she need a rescue.

The building was eerily quiet; too quiet. She couldn't even hear the crickets anymore. Well, duh. Obviously she wouldn't hear them inside, she told herself. Slowly navigating her way through the maze of pipes, she soon found the central boiler. After she had finished setting up her bed, she crawled inside her sleeping bag and closed her eyes. Less than five minutes had passed when a sudden, eerie feeling of familiarity washed over her.

She sat up to look at the boiler and immediately knew why. She had seen this place before. She had been here, in this exact place... in her dream. She suddenly felt a lot more unsure about this whole deal as her confidence slipped and fear filled its place.

"I really don't wanna be here right now." she whispered to herself as an orange glow grew within the hearth and the crackling of flames grew in her ears.

She flattened herself to floor with a shriek as an eruption of flames burst out and sucked the oxygen from the air around her, replacing it with intense heat. She covered her head with her arms and waited for the flames to die away, hoping that they would like they had in her dreams. When they didn't, she chanced a glance at the fire, only to see a figure emerging from the ravaging heat. A figure who terrified her now more than any other thing in her entire life. With striped arms outstretched, the figure growled with malicious delight two simple words:

"Freddy's back!"