~*****~

Robin grumbled irritably and collapsed into Juliet as she tried to right herself from stumbling. "I can't breathe in this thing, and I'm itchy! I'm itching all over!" Robin whined.

"It's not all about comfort," Nancy retorted as she grasped at Robin's other arm to steady her. "Okay? We're academics."

"Who are evidently coming straight from Easter Brunch." Robin snapped.

"Anyone's bra pinching the shit out of their boobs?" Juliet asked, wiggling her torso and tugging at her bra to try and dispel the uncomfortable feeling in her body.

"Yes," Robin whined.

"Okay, if you two could just let me do the talking? If that's even possible?" Nancy snapped.

"It's not only possible, it's inevitable." Robin hummed. "Because shortly, I'll be dead from strangulation."

Sitting in front of the old dude watching over Pennhurst was kind of suffocating. Of perhaps it was Nancy's smaller bra that definitely should not be on Juliet's body. "Three point nine GPA's. All three of you. Impressive." Director Hatch hummed.

"And this is a recommendation from Professor Brantley." Nancy mentioned as she set out a piece of paper.

"Yeah, I know Larry. Quite well, actually," Director Hatch commented. "Well, you know what they say, those who can't do, teach."

"Uh, yes, yes. That's why we're here." Nancy hums. "I mean, we can only learn so much in a classroom." Nancy expresses.

"And I'm sympathetic to your struggle, truly. But there is a protocol to visiting a patient like Victor. You have to put in a request, and then you have to undergo a screening process, at which point the board will make a decision." Director Hatch hums. "I can see your disappointed. But I'm more than happy to give you a tour of our facility. Perhaps you can even speak to some patients in our low-security wing."

"And we'd... we would love that." Nancy hums. "It's just that, um... Our thesis is due next month."

"And you're out of time," Director Hutch retorts. "Whose fault is that?"

"Ours absolutely," Nancy expressed. "And I do apologize-"

"Don't apologize, Ruth," Robin snapped. "Screw that. The fact is, we did put in a request months ago and were denied. And then we reapplied and we're denied, again. And coming here was our last-ditch effort to save our thesis. And I really... I can't breathe in this thing."

"Uh, well, Rose, maybe you'd like to go outside and get some air," Nancy chirped nervously.

"Maybe I should! With Ruby!" Robin exclaimed. "Because I'm starting to think this whole thing is a colossal mistake. I'm breaking out in a rash. My boobs hurt. And I'll tell you the truth, Anthony. May I call you Anthony? These aren't my clothes. I borrowed them because I wanted you to take us seriously. Because nobody takes girls seriously in this field. They just don't. We don't look the part or whatever. But can I tell you a story? Nineteen-seventy-eight, I was at summer camp. And my counselor Drew told me and everyone in Cabin C the true story of the Victor Creel Massacre. And little Petey McHew... You know Petey, right, Ruby?"

"O-Of course?" Juliet stammered.

"Yeah. Little Petey McHew started sobbing right there on the spot. Full-on hyperventilating. And all the other campers couldn't sleep for weeks. And I couldn't either, but not because I was scared. Because I was obsessed with the question, what would drive a human being to commit such unimaginable acts? Other kids, they wanted to be astronauts, basketball players, rock stars. But I wanted to be you." Robin declared. "I wanted to be you! So, forgive me if I'll now try anything in my power, including wearing this ridiculous outfit, if I might get to speak with the man that ignited my passion and learn a little more about how his twisted, but lets face it, totally fascinating mind works." Juliet couldn't help but stare in awe at Robin. She didn't know if it were working, but damn, was it a good speech. "So, yes, we don't have the official paperwork, but don't tell me that cry-baby Petey McHew wouldn't have gotten an audience with Victor in moments if he'd asked politely, because you and I both know that he would." Robin stated. "So... ten minutes with Victor. That's all I ask." It was a surprise, to say the least, when Director Hatch agreed.

~*****~

"These are our gardens," Director Hatch hummed as he lead the group through the facility, on the way to the high-security cells. "Beautiful, aren't they? We allow them two hours of outside time a day."

"Can't they just escape?" Robin asked.

"They could. But the vast majority choose to be here. They like it here." Director Hatch led the girls into a room that had soft music playing in the background. "This is one of our more popular areas. The listening room. We found that music has a particular calming effect on the broken mind. The right song, particularly one which holds some personal meaning, can prove a salient stimulus. But, these are those who are beyond a cure."

"Uh, doctor Hatch, do you think it might be possible for us to speak to Victor alone?" Nancy asked.

Director Hatch turned back to us, a skeptical look in his eye. "Alone?" He clarified.

"We would just love the challenge of speaking with Victor without the safety net of such an expert as yourself." Juliet hummed.

"Yeah, then we could really rub it in Professor Bradley's face." Robin chirped. "And we could get back to camp-"

"Professor Bradley? I don't believe I know a Professor Bradley." Director Hatch mentioned.

"She does that," Juliet reassured him. "She once called me Ruth and called Ruth, Ruby. It's just one of her little quirks that we've come to adore." Juliet expressed. "We shared a high school teacher by the name of Bradley, so it's pretty common for her to make that mistake."

"You should hear her try to make the distinction between Ruby and her little sister, Max." Nancy put in.

"I just get so excited that my words just jumble together sometimes and switch around," Robin exclaimed.

"So, preferably, as Ruthie said, alone?" Juliet pressed in a sweet tone.

Director Hatch smiled after a moment before nodding. "Yes. Why not? You've caught me in a rebellious mood. And there's something rather urgent I need to check on anyway, so... Sure." Juliet swallowed the lump in her throat. Taking account his reaction to Robin's little slip up, they probably only had a few minutes to get answers out of Victor. "Keep a close eye on them." The girls thanked the director as he ambled up the stairs.

The guard led them inwards, citing out rules that needed to be followed. Juliet rubbed at her arms as they strode after him. It was dark, and dreary down there. Bars upon bars lined the halls, inside, ominous looking individuals stood or paced in their cells, taking little to no notice to the girls. "Do not startle him. Do not touch him. Do not pass him anything. Stand five feet away from the bars at all times. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Juliet hummed.

"Yes, sir," Nancy hummed.

"Yes, sir," Robin stammered.

The guard ran his billy club along the bars, sneering out at the man inside. "Victor." A man sat at the end of his cell at a lone desk, enveloped in darkness. "Today's your lucky day! You got visitors. Real pretty ones." Juliet felt shivers run up her back from the awful scratching noise echoing out from Victor's cell. "Must be in one of his moods." The guard shrugged. "Have fun."

The girls watched as the guard hobbled off before turning their attention on the man in the cell. "Victor?" Nancy called out softly. "My name is Nancy. Nancy Wheeler. And this is..."

"Juliet Henderson," Juliet introduced herself.

"Robin Buckley," Robin hummed nervously.

"We, uh, we have some questions," Juliet started calmly.

"I don't talk to reporters," Victor snapped. "Hatch knows that."

"We're not reporters," Juliet retorted as she stepped closer to the bars. "We're here because... we believe you. And because... we need your help. Whatever killed your family... we think it's back." Victor stopped scraping his nails across the table before slowly turning in his chair. His eyes were mangled beyond recognition, causing a jolt of revolt to shake through Juliet's body. "When he attacks, our friend described it as a trance. Like a waking nightmare. That's why we think he's coming for her next. Does any of this, anything we've told you, sound like what happened to your family?" Victor cupped his hands together like he was praying. He began to breathe shakily, as if something spooked him, bad. "Victor?" I call out softly. "I know this is-"

"You don't know, anything!" Victor suddenly bellowed, causing a horrible echo through the hall.

"You're right. We don't know. That's why we're here," Juliet expressed calmly. "To learn, to understand."

"We need to know how you survived that night." Robin expressed, causing Victor to give a cackled old laugh.

"Survived?" He asked in disbelief. He stood up, stumbling just a bit. "Is that what you call this?" Victor asks. "Did I survive? No, I assure you, I am still very much in hell. I had been back from the war some fourteen years. Her great-uncle had died, leaving us a small fortune. Enough to buy a new home, a new life." Victor explained slowly. "It was a magnificent home. Alice said it looked like it was from a fairy tale."

"Alice," Nancy echoed. "Was this your daughter?"

Victor nodded, a fond smile on his face. "Yeah... But Henry, my... my boy, he was a sensitive child... and I could see he felt something was wrong. We had one month of peace in that house. And then it began." Victor explained. "Dead animals. Mutilated, tortured, began to appear near our home. Rabbits, squirrels, chickens, even dogs. The police chief blamed the attacks on a wildcat. This..." Victor gave a disbelieving laugh. "This was no wildcat. This was an evil. An evil neither animal nor human. This was..." Victor trailed out as he scuttled to the bars. "A spawn of Satan. A demon. And it was even closer than I realized. My family began to have encounters, conjured by this demon. Nightmares. Waking, living nightmares. This demon, it seemed to take pleasure in tormenting us. Even poor, innocent Alice. It wasn't long before I began to have encounters of my own. I suppose all evil must have a home." Victor sighed, angling his head up at the ceiling. "And though I had not a rational explanation for it, I... I could sense this demon, always close. I became convinced it was hiding, nesting, somewhere within the shadows of our home. It had cursed our town. It had cursed our home. It had cursed us." Victor collapsed onto his bed, unseeing eyes staring into the abyss. "It took Virginia first." A look of anguish covered Victor's face. "I tried to get the children out, to save them. But, I was back in France, back in the war." Victor prodded on his head. "It... It was a memory. I had thought German soldiers were inside. I ordered its shelling. I was wrong." Victor sobbed, cupping his head tightly. "This demon, it was taunting me. And I was sure it would take me. Just as he'd taken my Virginia. But then... I heard... another voice. At first, I believed it was an angel. And I... I followed her. Only to find myself... in a nightmare far worse. While I was away, the demon took my children. Henry slipped into a coma shortly after that. A week later, he died." Victor sucked in a shuddering breath. "I tried to join them. I tried." He threw his fists to his eyes, shaking in his bed. "Hatch stopped the bleeding. He wouldn't let me join them." Victor sobbed as he slumped onto his bed.

"The angel you followed," Juliet asked softly. "Who was she?" He begins humming familiar tune.

The door banged open. "Is he everything you hoped he would be?" Director Hatch's voice suddenly rang out. "I just had a very interesting conversation with Professor Brantley. Perhaps we should discuss in my office while we wait for the police."

The girls looked at one another nervously before following after him. The girls tried to explain what was going on, but to no avail, Hatch didn't want to hear it. "You're not listening!" Nancy urged. "Our friend is in real danger."

"Do you really expect me to believe anything you have to say at this point?" Hatch snapped.

"It's the truth!" Nancy shouted.

"You are free to tell your sob story to the police." Hatch retorted firmly.

Juliet peered at a passing radio, tapping Robin on the shoulder for a moment. "Move along." The guard snapped, grasping onto Juliet's arm.

"Watch it, lard ass," Juliet snapped, snatching her arm away. "Touch me again, and it'll be your balls."

Once outside, Juliet grasped onto Nancy's arm as Robin grasped onto the other. "Victor said the night of the attack, everything went on in the house, but he made specific mention of music," Juliet hummed quietly into Nancy's ear. "He said music was playing. And then, when we asked him about the angel, he started to hum."

"Say nighty-night and kiss me, hold me tight," Robin recited softly.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me," Juliet hummed. "Ella Fitzgerald."

"The voice of an angel," Nancy gasped.

"Yeah," Robin nodded. "Hatch said that music can reach parts of the brain that words can't. So, maybe that's the key, a lifeline."

"A lifeline back to reality," Nancy nodded.

"It's worth a shot," Robin beamed.

Juliet peered over her shoulder. "I think we can outrun 'em." Juliet hummed to the girls.

"What?" Robin squeaked.

"To the car." Nancy urged.

"Okay, I'm warning you right now, I have terrible coordination," Robin mentioned. She began to ramble before Juliet tapped her on the butt and the three girls took off. The three ran through the court yard, kicking off shoes as they went. A patient called out to Cinderella, which caused a chuckle slip through Juliet's lips as she pushed herself to run harder.

Juliet slid over the hood of Nancy's car and unlocked it, allowing entry for the girls. Starting it up, the guards hadn't even gotten close before Juliet peeled out of the parking lot, screaming out in excitement.

"You really are a weird runner," Nancy giggled as she peered over the back of her seat.

"Julie, where the hell are you? This is a code red, I repeat, code red!" Dustin's voice screamed out of the walkie.

"What's going on back there, Robin!" Juliet shouted, casting a glance to the rearview mirror.

"Dustin, it's Robin, we copy!" Robin urged into the phone.

"Holy shit, finally!" Dustin gasped. "Please, please tell me you guys have this figured out!"

Juliet snatched the radio, jamming her finger onto the button. "Music, play music she likes!" Juliet roared into the walkie. There's no answer and Juliet tossed the radio into the seat.

~*****~

Juliet was understandably upset when they regrouped with the others, doting over Max like the mother hen she'd given herself up to be. And while Max did not appreciate the smothering, she appreciated that Juliet was so concerned about her.

Juliet peered at Max sadly as she slept soundly on the couch with her headphones on, the faint sound of Kate Bush's voice echoing quietly from them. "Hey, why don't you get some sleep?" Steve asked as he grasped onto her hand tenderly.

Juliet shook her head and began to pace tiredly, staring at Max as if something was going to snatch her right up. "I'll sleep when this is over." Juliet murmured.

Steve gave her a smile that made her belly quiver. It was soft and loving, even though the circumstances were awful. With Vecna after Max, Jason Carver after Dustin, it felt as if everything was wrong in the world, but when Steve smiled up at her, it made the worries disappear, if only for a moment. He patted his lap gingerly and spread himself out, giving her room to curl up neatly into his chest. Juliet wanted to sigh in relief. The warmth and comfort was something she didn't know she'd been craving. "She'll be okay," Steve reassured her, rubbing at the mess of curls on her head.

"How do you know?" Juliet murmured, idly running her fingers over his chest.

"Someone's gotta be the optimistic one, right?" Steve mentioned. Juliet huffed and tilted her head up to Steve, rolling her eyes at his response. "Hey, about earlier. I'm sorry if you thought I was being weird about wanting to go off with Nancy. It wasn't about anything other than keeping her safe. I just... If something happened to her while she was alone, well, I don't think I can take seeing your face when we find out." Steve admitted softly. "She's my friend, too, but I'd hate to see you upset again. Like... when Will went missing."

Juliet hummed thoughtfully, still idly running her fingers over his chest. "You were too busy trying to invite me to a dumb party, when did you have time to actually see my expression?" Juliet asked.

Steve chuckled. "I think I've had a thing for you ever since you broke my nose in middle school." Steve mentioned softly, resting his head on hers. "I've always had my eyes on you." Juliet snorted and began to doze off, yawning tiredly into her palm. "Get some sleep. I'll keep an eye on Max." Steve offered, his hand moving to rub at her back. It worked like a charm, lulling her to sleep.

Juliet woke with a start what felt like minutes later. Max was gone, and so was Nancy and Dustin, but that didn't concern her. She gave a startled yelp and tumbled off of Steve's lap, kicking at his side in retaliation when she'd seen he was asleep. "Julie!" Steve complained as she scrambled for the stairs, calling out for Max. The door to the basement opened and Nancy came into view.

"I figured out a clue from Max's drawings," Nancy chirped. "Come on." She urged once a tired looking Steve and Lucas came into view. Juliet gave a sigh of relief before bounding up the stairs.

"Max," Juliet hummed, curling a hand around her head.

"Julie-" Max complained as she pressed kisses to her head and enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Don't 'Julie' me," Juliet retorted sternly.

Dustin patted at Max's shoulder. "Don't worry, she eases up after a couple of hours." Dustin hummed.

"Shut it, meatloaf." Juliet snapped as she swatted at his head.