CHAPTER X:
ghosts, wizards, and shit

( March 1986 )

      "HER BODY JUST, LIKE, LIFTED INTO THE AIR AND, UH..." Eddie shakily spoke as the group of five listened closely to him. Cleodora's face had been one of sympathy but also confusion while he spoke about the events of the past day. She was new to the whole Upside Down thing with inter-dimensional monsters and things, but after pitching in to take down the flesh monster in July, she was definitely sure this was something new to Hawkins.

      "And she just, like, hung there. In the air," his voice broke slightly as he continued. "And her bones, uh, she," he winced at the thought of the way Chrissy Cunningham had died, "her bones started to snap. Her eyes, man. It... it was like there was something, like, inside her head, pulling." Cleo grimaced and cursed herself for having such an imaginative mind. "I...I didn't know what to do so I- I ran away. I left her there." Eddie took a moment to look at the group in front of him, "you all think I'm crazy, don't you?" He put his head in his hand while turning away.

      "No, we don't think you're crazy," Dustin promised.

      "Don't bullshit me, man! I know how this sounds," Eddie raised his voice.

      "We're not bullshitting you," Max said.

      "We believe you," Robin chimed in.

      "We promise," Cleo added. Eddie looked up at the sound of her voice and just furrowed his brows slightly inky wondering how she ever could've gotten involved in all of what was going on with him.

      "Look," Dustin spoke softly, "What I'm about to tell you might be a little... difficult to take in." That was one word for it.

      "Okay..." Eddie mumbled.

      "You know how people say Hawkins is...cursed? They're not way off," Dustin continued. "There's another world. A world hidden beneath Hawkins and sometimes it bleeds into ours." While Dustin explained the Upside Down, Cleo also made it a point to listen closely. Back in July, she wasn't properly filled in on all of the information revolving around the end of the Starcourt Mall, but she never asked any questions after it had happened.

      "Like ghosts and shit?" Eddie attempted.

      "There are some things worse than ghosts," Max answered.

      "These monsters from this other world, we thought they were gone. But they've come back before. That's why we needed to find you," Dustin continued to say.

      "If they're back again, we need to know," Max added again.

      "That night, did you see anything?" Robin asked.

      "Dark particles maybe?" Max said. Eddie shook his head.

"It would almost look like dust, swirling dust," Dustin pushed.

"No, man, there was nothing you could see or, uh... or touch," Eddie finalized. Cleo shared a silent look with Steve, both confused in their own ways. "You know I tried to wake her, man. She couldn't move. It was like she- she was in a trance or something."

"Or under a spell," Dustin added.

      Eddie's eyes went from the floor to Dustin. "A curse," he said.

      "Vecna's curse."

      Those in the shed who didn't play Dungeons and Dragons all looked at each other confused. Cleodora could only think about the fact that all things related to the Upside Down became linked somehow to the odd fantasy game.

      "Care to fill us in on who Vecna is? Y'know, get us in the loop?" Cleo said from behind Dustin.

      "He's an undead creature with great power," Dustin said frightened.

      "A spell caster," Eddie added.

      "A dark wizard."

NOTE. ok i know cleos like lowkey been irrelevant for the last 2 chapters with barely talking and probably making this a bit boring but i swear she'll get more attention later on and have actual interactions with eddie 🙏🏽