Chapter Twelve
Cursed

Betty returned to the boathouse early the next morning.

She pulled up alongside a BMW parked across the drive. The presence of another vehicle made her a little apprehensive.

Betty wasn't informed of anybody else knowing the location of Eddie's whereabouts. That being said, she didn't recognise the car; probably a good sign – it was unlikely to belong to anyone she knew.

She stepped out, opened the trunk and scooped several paper bags of groceries into her arms. Admittedly, she had gone slightly overboard with the food, but she didn't know how long Eddie would have to hide out, and she didn't want him to starve or anything.

She followed the path to the rickety shack. Eddie's raspy voice sounded from inside.

At least he was still alive.

She leaned her shoulder against the door and pressed her weight against it, attempting to nudge it open. Betty massively underestimated how sturdy it was. Because she practically fell inside.

"Ouch, motherfu–"

Betty stumbled into the doorway, grocery bags almost tumbling from her arms.

Shit, the chocolate milk!

The paper crumpled as she frantically clutched everything closer to her chest. She swayed, regained her balance, planting both feet firmly on the ground again.

When she looked back up, Steve Harrington and Lydia Wu were standing directly in front of her. They weren't alone either.

Betty recoiled back in surprise. "Oh. Hi." She set the crumpled bags at her feet and straightened back up, hands raising in surrender. "What's up nerds? I, uh, come in peace."

Her stare swept across the remarkably tense group. Upon realising she wasn't a threat, Steve and Lydia's stances significantly relaxed. Stood further back was Robin Buckley, awkwardly placed between the ginger girl from the trailer park and a curly haired boy.

But Eddie was–

Wait.

Where was Eddie?

A mop of untamed black hair emerged from underneath a blanket of blue tarp.

Ah. There he was.

"Betty?" He asked, gentle brown eyes peering up at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I just..." Betty trailed, stare drifting over the others. Robin waved, wiggling her fingers sheepishly. "I wasn't expecting other people to be here. What's going on?"

"It's a long story," Steve answered.

Honestly, Betty couldn't quite believe her eyes. She had no explanation for what any of them were doing there, but the King of Hawkins himself?

"Harrington?"

"Yeah, yeah," he dismissed. "Trust me, I'm way more surprised to see you."

The curly haired kid interjected, eagerly bounding towards her. "Hi! I'm Dustin!"

Betty's eyes lowered to his outstretched arm. She didn't particularly want to shake hands with a teenage boy – god knows what germs they carried around – but she also didn't want to be a dick about it.

She reached out and shook his hand. "I'm B–"

"Betty," Dustin finished with a grin. "I know. Heard so much about you."

He gestured loosely towards Eddie, who glared in response.

Betty's eyebrows arched as they locked eyes.  "Oh, really?"

Eddie held her stare. She teased him with an innocent, lop-sided smile.

Swiftly, his gaze shifted back to Dustin. "Uh, so the bad news," he prompted.

Betty almost smiled to herself.

To disguise it, she reached down and scooped up the shopping bags. As the conversation resumed, Betty meandered towards a table, which had been set up with groceries the others had brought. She set hers down alongside them.

"Oh, right. The bad news." Dustin's attention returned to Eddie.

Betty rifled through the grocery bags for a cereal bar – she'd skipped breakfast to sneak out the house before her parents woke up and she was starving.

"We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they're definitely looking for you," Dustin explained. "Also, they're, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy."

Betty ravenously peeled back the cereal bar wrapping. She took a bite and hummed quietly. Yeah. That hit the spot.

"Like, 100% kind of convinced," the ginger girl added on.

"Oh, shit. Yeah, you're totally fucked," Betty told Eddie through her mouthful. Everybody whirled around, looking varying degrees of unimpressed. "Sorry, skipped breakfast." Betty swallowed quickly. "But, yeah, Marnie and Jason have, like, formed some sort of alliance apparently. Whole basketball team's looking for you."

Eddie blinked. "And the good news?"

"Your name hasn't gone public yet," Robin offered some optimism. "But if we found out about you, it's a matter of time before others do. And once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning for you."

His expression dropped. "Hunt the freak, right?"

"Exactly."

"Shit."

Betty stopped chewing.

The sad look on his sweet, little face, the hurt in his precious doe eyes. The fact that it was her friends making this all the more difficult for him. It physically pained Betty to see.

"So, before that happens," Dustin swooped in. "We find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence."

Eddie stared at him incredulously. "That's all, Dustin? That's all?"

Betty folded her arms and frowned. Vecna?

"Yeah, no, that's pretty much it."

Eddie ran a hand over his face, sucking in a deep breath. His attention gradually wandered towards Betty. She had hovered closer to him, feeling almost compelled to be nearer. Not just for his comfort, hers too.

"Listen, Eddie," Robin began. "I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we've actually been through this before. I mean, they have a few times, and Lydia and I have once." Robin exchanged a glance with her best friend, who nodded in encouragement. "Ours was more human-flesh-based, theirs was more smoke-related."

"Don't forget the Russians," Lydia added.

Robin pointed back at her. "Yes, the Russians."

Eddie's brows drew together. Betty was relieved she wasn't the only one completely lost.

She crept closer to the boat. Eddie was sat cross-legged inside. He shared a passing look with her. She offered him a small smile.

"Bottom line is," Robin continued. "Collectively, I really feel we got this."

"We usually rely on this girl who has super powers," Steve spoke up, scratching the side of his face. "But, uh, those went bye-bye, so."

Superpowers? Betty was intrigued.

"So we're technically in more of the..." Robin trailed.

"Kinda..." Lydia attempted to fill in, casting a sideways glance at the others.

"Brainstorming phase," the ginger finished for them.

Steve snapped his fingers. "Brainstorming."

Dustin took a step forwards. "The main thing is, there's nothing to worry about."

Eddie and Betty exchanged an entirely unconvinced look. She, personally, felt like there was plenty to worry about. Not just whoever this Vecna dude was, but her retribution-fuelled friends and whatever they planned to do.

Steve also scoffed at the comment, prompting Lydia to dig an elbow into his ribs. He glanced at her in betrayal, but their attention was soon stolen by sirens wailing in the distance.

Fuck.

"Shit!"

"Tarp!" Dustin ordered. "Tarp. Tarp."

Betty and Robin reacted the fastest, each grabbing a corner of the blue plastic and throwing it over Eddie. He slumped down to the floor of the boat, pulling the tarp entirely over his head until he couldn't be seen.

They raced to join the others at the window, huddling around for a clear view of the road.

But instead of approaching the boathouse, the blue and red flashing lights hurtled straight past.

Which meant...

...Another body?

"Do you think it's happened again?" Lydia asked quietly.

Steve placed a hand on her lower back. "Guess there's only one way to find out."

He carefully guided his girlfriend away from the window, Robin and the younger teenagers following their lead.

Betty peered outside for a moment longer. She almost wasn't convinced that the police could've driven straight past Eddie's hideout. Betty was worried they were going to turn around and come right back, but the others didn't seem so concerned.

"It's safe," Steve called out.

Eddie immediately threw back the tarp, panting heavily. His cheeks were flushed, disheveled strays of curls sticking up.

Cute.

Oh no, Betty. No.

"We should go," Dustin urged. "If there's another body, Vecna's struck again."

"Oh, um, I have a question." Betty raised her hand.

Harrington quirked an eyebrow in response. "Yes, lady in the pink."

"Yeah, uh, who the hell is Vecna?"

"Vecna? He's a dark wizard," Dustin answered vaguely.

"A dar– a dark wizard?" Betty questioned. "Is he magic? Does he have magic powers?"

Dustin let out an exasperated sigh. "Eddie?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I'll explain everything."

"Great." Dustin turned to the others. "We gotta go. Steve, keys–" He held out the palm of his hand expectantly. Even Betty almost laughed at the audacity. She had to respect the kid.

Steve scoffed. "Yeah right, Henderson."

Eddie hopped out the boat and ambled towards the grocery table, curiously rooting through. Betty joined him there.

When he picked out the Sherbet Fountain she'd brought him, an adorably annoying sound of glee escaped his lips. His entire face lit up as he turned to her excitedly.

She had a funny feeling she was going to regret buying that.

"Hey, you guys gonna be okay here?" Lydia approached them.

Eddie nodded enthusiastically, preoccupied with the sweets.

"They'll be fine," Dustin answered for the pair.

"Mhm," Eddie hummed in agreement, looking up at them. "Yeah, we'll be okay."

"You've got each other, right?" Dustin wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Eddie, who glowered in response. 

Betty pretended she didn't notice. "We'll be okay," she assured Lydia. "Thank you."

"You've got the channel if you need anything," Dustin reminded, patting his walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, man," Eddie replied. "All good."

And so, the group left, seeking out the next potential dead body.

God, that was a horrifying thought.

Eddie had snagged a bottle of chocolate milk, the Sherbet Fountain and a–

"Pain ow chocolate?" he asked, squinting unsurely at the plastic wrapping.

"It's pronounced more like pan," Betty corrected. "Pain au chocolat."

"Ohhhh." He stared at her for a short while, (no doubt because she'd just spoken with the husky French accent that drove him crazy) then tilted his head and re-read it. His brows pinched together. "I mean, it looks delicious."

"It is."

"Wanna share?"

Betty smiled. "I'd like that."

The pair traipsed back to the old boat. She could understand why Eddie had chosen it as his safe place. With the tarp, and general darkness of the boathouse, it was pretty easy for him to hide under there.

Betty had also presumed it reminded him of when he was younger; fishing trips with Wayne. Eddie loved nothing if not comfort.

He climbed over the side of the boat, set the snacks down on the floor, and then held out a hand for Betty. "Welcome to my humble abode."

She stepped onto the thin ledge and placed a hand on his head to steady herself instead. "You've downsized a little," Betty remarked.

She jumped down into a free space amidst the clutter, then took a seat opposite him. There was already an empty chocolate milk bottle and ripped box of honey comb cereal on the floor. Eddie set the rest of the groceries between them and immediately dug in.

He picked up his pain au chocolat. The plastic crinkled as he unwrapped it hurriedly. Before Betty could warn him way would happen, Eddie had slid the croissant out and broke it apart in the middle.

"Oh shit."

The gooey chocolate dribbled onto his jeans. Eddie quickly passed the other side of the croissant over, keeping it wrapped in the packaging for her, and then dealt with his own mess. He held the pastry up to his mouth, stuck out his tongue and licked the chocolate dribbling over the side.

Betty could not stop watching.

His eyes met hers.

The corner of his mouth curved.

Fuck.

Something warm and sticky dropped onto Betty's leg.

Fuck!

She watched the chocolate from her own croissant slide down her ankle.

Betty rushed to bite into it, preventing any more from oozing out. She set it down on the packaging in her lap and then leaned over, muttering in irritation under her breath. Stupid croissant.

She used her finger to wipe along the trail staining her leg. And like, obviously, Betty didn't want to waste chocolate, especially not at such a desperate time like this. However, she couldn't deny being aware of her audience.

So, she put the tip of her finger in her mouth and sucked it clean.

Eddie watched, eyes fixated, lips parted slightly.

Betty bit back a smirk. Got him back.

"Something on my face, Munson?"

He cleared his throat, snapping out of his daze. "Yeah, actually. Just..." Eddie wet his thumb and leaned forwards, brushing it against the corner of her mouth. "Right there."

"Oh."

Oh.

He drew back, still holding her gaze, and licked the tiny smudge of chocolate from his thumb.

Fuck. He was insane.

Eddie tilted his head to the side. "You okay?" He asked innocently.

"Fine."

"You sure?"

Betty crossed her legs. "Yes."

A crooked smile crossed his lips. "All right."

Goddammit. She should never have bought those stupid croissants.

"All right."

They ate in silence, stealing the occasional glance at one another.

Betty needed a distraction. Fast.

"Who's Vecna?" she blurted.

Eddie swallowed his food, brushing the crumbs off his jeans. "Oh, yeah. He's, um, he's named after a D&D character, but he's the person– well, not exactly a person. But we think he...he killed Chrissy."

Betty felt like she was being punched in the gut every time somebody even mentioned Chrissy's name.

"Not exactly a person?"

"More of a, uh...supernatural being."

Supernatural being? Betty nearly got up and stormed out.

"You're saying a supernatural being killed my best friend? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Woah, woah, just stay with me a sec. Hey, hear me out," Eddie pleaded, looking at her with those stupid, soft eyes. "Please. I'm sorry, Betts. I know how this sounds. Today is the first I've heard about it too but it...it kinda makes sense. I mean, you ever think about the shady shit that goes on in this town? Things that can't really be explained."

Okay, yeah.

Betty nodded. "I guess."

"And you know how people say Hawkins is cursed? Well, apparently it kinda is," Eddie carried on. "They, uh, call it the upside down. It's another world, like, beneath ours and with other beings. And sometimes these creatures cross into our world."

Betty's frown deepened. "Like, ghosts?"

"More like monsters."

"And dark wizards?" Betty prompted. "That's what Dustin said, right?"

"Vecna," he affirmed. "We think he used some sort of curse on Chrissy."

"She was cursed?" Betty queried. "How?"

"That's what the others are trying to find out," Eddie told her. Betty's eyes became downcast as she soaked in the information. A curse. "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to take in."

"I just..." Betty hesitated. "I don't know what to believe." Eddie's expression dropped. She quickly realised why. "Hey, no, I didn't mean you. I know you didn't do this. But monsters in another world underneath us? You realise how crazy that sounds, right?"

"Yeah, no, it's insane."

"And why Chrissy?" Betty wondered. "I don't get it."

"Been asking myself that all night," Eddie said sombrely. "Wish it could've been different. I swear, if I could've swapped places–"

"Don't," she whispered. Betty couldn't fathom the thought of losing him. Not now, not ever. "Please just...don't say that," her voice quivered. "This wasn't your fault."

"I just...I ran. I left her there." He shook his head in disgust. "She didn't deserve that."

Betty hated thinking about it. The situation was horrible enough already. Her best friend was dead. But to have Eddie tangled up in it too, knowing that he was hurting. His guilt. Trauma.

"Can we–" Betty started, swallowing heavily. "Can talk about something else? It's just a lot right now."

"I'm sorry," Eddie apologised, automatically reaching for her hand. "Didn't mean to upset you."

He only realised his action after he'd done it. But when Betty didn't flinch or pull away, he committed to it. His thumb grazed over her skin in gentle, comforting circles.

"It's okay," she whispered, relaxing into his touch.

"Did you, uh, see your family?" Eddie asked. "How are they?"

"Yeah," Betty answered. "They..."

Shit. What was she was supposed to tell him? 'Yeah, my mom thinks you murdered my best friend. My dad's a little on the fence but reckons something's up with Hawkins, and my sister is absolutely devastated. Oh, by the way, my brother is AWOL, assumed to be with the guys that wanna kill you, aka my friends. All in all, great.'

"They okay?"

"Mhm."

Eddie's face fell. "Do they...do they believe what people are saying about me?" He asked. Betty hesitated half a second too long. "Shit."

"No, no," Betty rushed out in attempt to rectify it. Eddie's head dropped into his hands. "They don't. They're just...confused, that's all."

"You're a terrible liar."

"I'm not!" Betty's voice raised a little in pitch. "In fact, Bonnie told me to give you a hug from her."

"She did?"

"Yeah."

His knee nudged against hers. "Could really do with one, you know"

"Yeah, me too."

He held out his arms. "Come here."

She got to her feet, stepping over the pile of food in between them. Eddie shifted across the seat, making room for her. She sat down beside him, leaned closer, and just looked at him for a while, taking him in; the dark circles underneath his eyes, drooping lids, chapped lips, sunken expression. He looked shattered.

Eddie shuffled closer. She leaned over, arms draping around his shoulders. He held her tightly around the back, face burrowing into her neck, warm breath tickling her skin.

The moment was nice. Really nice. Betty kind of wanted to cry.

In fact, it was so tender, so heartfelt, so familiar, that she couldn't stop herself from ruining it.

"You smell terrible."

His laughter vibrated against her neck. "Wow," Eddie said sarcastically. "And there I was, thinking we were having a nice moment."

Betty pulled back, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry."

Out of habit, she reached out and brushed a few stray hairs from his eyes. Eddie relaxed at the gesture; jaw unclenching, gaze softening as it locked with hers.

The room fell into silence for a short while, just their slow breaths mingling in the air.

Betty lowered her hand, grazing his on the way. He swallowed nervously at her touch, eyes flickering down at the ground.

"You tired?" She asked him.

"Uh, yeah, haven't really slept since the night before," Eddie admitted. "Every time I close my eyes I just...I see her."

Betty sat forwards, placing a hand on his shoulder. Slowly, she trailed her hand down his arm, then back up again. "You should try get some rest."

He shook his head. "What if someone–"

"I'm gonna be here," she reminded him. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"I don't know," Eddie deliberated. "What if Vecna–"

"Eds," Betty interrupted. "It's gonna be okay. Here–" She leaned back, shoulder blades digging into the wooden ridge of the boat. It was uncomfortable, but she wasn't thinking about herself. Betty patted her thighs. "You can use me as a pillow."

He blinked up at her. "Really?"

"You need to get some rest," she told him. "You look exhausted."

"I'm okay. Honest."

Betty had one final card up her sleeve. Something she was certain he couldn't say no to.

"I'll play with your hair the way you like."

Eddie immediately readjusted his position.

Betty held back a fond smile.

So predictable.  

He curled up onto his side, laying in her lap. Betty placed a hand on his head whilst he wiggled around in attempt to get comfortable.

When Eddie eventually stilled, she ran her fingers through the tangled mass of curls, prompting him to let out a satisfied sigh.

"That nice?"

He hummed. "Yeah."

"Get some rest, okay?" Betty's voice lowered to a gentle whisper. She applied a little more pressure, massaging his scalp the way he liked. "I'll still be here when you wake up."

His eyelids fluttered shut. The softest of tired groans escaped his lips. "M'kay."

Worked like a charm. Every damn time.

Eddie must have fallen asleep relatively quickly, because it didn't seem as if much time had passed before Betty heard his light snores.

She continued stroking his hair, watching the small rise and fall of his shoulders.

He looked so peaceful.

Betty, on the other hand, did not know peace.

The sharp edges of the boat were digging into her spine, but she didn't dare move a muscle. Her thoughts were keeping her awake too, mind descending to the darkest thoughts; Chrissy. Vecna. And the so-called upside down beneath Hawkins.

She still wasn't sure what to make of the whole dark wizard, supernatural underworld shit – but a curse? Now that was starting to make sense.

Chrissy had been acting strange in the days leading up to her death. And going to Eddie for drugs? That was so unlike her. She must have been desperate.

But did she know she was cursed?

If she did, why didn't she say anything to them?

Fuck.

Maybe they could've helped her. Figured out what it was. Found a way to stop it before she–

Before she...

Fucks sake. Betty thought she'd have ran out of tears by now. But they came again. Maybe forever unrelenting.

She'd never experienced anything like this before. A loss so fucking colossal it felt as if it had taken a huge chunk of her heart with it.

There was a part of her gone now, and it couldn't be replaced. Or even replicated. It was as if she had a missing limb.

Sometimes, there were these fleeting moments, where her mind was occupied enough to almost forget it happened. To revert back to everything being normal, even just for a second. Like this morning, she'd woken up and, for the briefest instance, everything was okay. Until she'd snapped back into reality, realised that Chrissy was gone.

It wasn't fair.

Why Chrissy? She had the most beautiful soul. An entire life ahead of her. One that she deserved to see.

It sounded terrible, but there were literally so many people in Hawkins that Betty would've sacrificed ahead of Chrissy. Including herself.

Sniffling quietly, she peered down at Eddie, who slept soundly.

Betty was worried about him. Not just because he had witnessed something insanely traumatic, or that he was on the run from the law and her revenge-seeking friends, but she was also concerned that the curse had...passed on somehow.

What if, after Chrissy had been killed, the curse had latched onto the next living being; Eddie. What if he was going to be the next victim Vecna claimed?

That was it. Betty wasn't risking leaving him until the others had figured more out.

It would mean she'd have to stay the night in the dingy old boathouse, of course. But she could make a quick stop at home, bring some comfy pillows and blankets.

Or maybe they could break into Reefer Rick's house – though she couldn't imagine his actual home being in much better condition.

Either way, it didn't matter.

Betty used the quiet time to conjure up some plans and foolproof excuses to feed her friends and family about her whereabouts. Her parents would be aware of who she was with, that ship had already sailed. Betty just had to make sure they didn't find out where.

The biggest problem was going to be Marnie. And potentially Jason, depending to what extent of vengeance fuelled madness he'd descended into. Betty was really hoping to avoid both of them for as long as possible. But they would start getting suspicious soon.

At some point, in the midst of her thoughts, she must have drifted off. Because a sudden gasp for air, and Eddie abruptly bolting upright, startled the absolute shit out of her.

Shaken from her slumber, Betty was awake and reaching for him within seconds. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, mind raced. She was absolutely terrified her worries about the curse had become reality.

Eddie was hunched over, panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

Betty set a hand on his upper arm. "Eds? Hey, you okay?"

"Betty?" He breathed out, fumbling for her in the dark. His fingers latched around her wrist, nails accidentally digging into the skin. "You're– you're here?"

"I'm here," she reassured, gently tracing patterns on his back. "I'm right here. You're okay. Everything's okay. Just breathe."

Eddie broke down.

Full on heaving cries, whole body trembling. Betty had never seen him like that before. She didn't know what to do.

So she pulled him close to her chest and held him there. "It's okay," Betty soothed. "I'm right here. You're safe."

Eddie clung to her, face pressed into the crook of her neck. Her name left his mouth in a muffled whisper between cries. She stroked his hair, squeezed his hand, doodled against his skin with her fingernails.

Betty waited until his breathing started to settle. "Did you have a bad dream?" She asked tentatively. Eddie sniffed, nodding. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I don't wanna–" His voice cracked. "I don't wanna say it. Make it come real."

"Sweetheart–" God, she hadn't called him that in forever. "It must have upset you."

Eddie went quiet for a while. Then he pulled back, big, glassy eyes staring up at her.

Betty's heart fucking broke.

"It was you."

"What do you mean?"

"Vecna, he– he had you," Eddie explained, emotion choking his voice. "I couldn't– I couldn't do anything."

"Eddie." Betty used her thumb to brush a few stray tears from his cheeks. "Hey, it's okay. It was just a bad dream."

"What if– what if it's not? What if someone's next and–" He didn't finish his sentence.

What if it's you.

Betty had been worrying about him, but he was terrified for her.

Not that she hadn't considered it too, being cursed. She was close to Chrissy, it was conceivable.

Betty wasn't entirely sure what Vecna's curse actually entailed, or how he chose his victims, but she was pretty certain she was okay, you know, all things considered.

Still, Eddie seemed genuinely troubled by his nightmare. And she wasn't planning to make it a reality any time soon.

"I'm not going anywhere," she assured, soft hand cupping the side of his face. "I promise."

Problem was, Betty had made that promise before.

And broken it.

A/N

I will say this is potentially the most vulnerably softest Betty and Eddie chapter you'll ever get.

As my gift to you for all the future trauma I'll be putting you through, here is an extended and modernised DIYA playlist with a badly made manip by moi for yous to enjoy <33