Once we made it to the school we raced inside immediately. Hopefully we could find them. And once we did. We found Max with the others. Panicked. She told us what she'd seen. "It was here. Right here." She said, she was scared. I could tell. I would be as well.

"A grandfather clock?" Nancy asked her, if there was. It wasn't here now.

"It was so real. And then, when I got closer, suddenly I just...I woke up." She said to us and maybe this was Vecna's doing.

"It was like she was in a trance or something. Exactly what Eddie said happened to Chrissy." Dustin said and that's when Max turned around to look at us.

"That's not even the bad part." She said before she took us into Miss. Kelley's office. "Fred and Chrissy, they both came to Miss Kelley for help. Uh, they both were having headaches, bad headaches that wouldn't go away. And then...the the nightmares. Trouble sleeping. They'd wake up in a cold sweat. Then they started seeing things. Bad things. From their pasts. These visions, they just...they kept on getting worse and worse, until eventually...everything ended." She said to us, this would mean Max would be next. We couldn't let that happen.

"Vecna's curse." Robin said to us all.

"Chrissy's headache started a week ago. Fred's, six days ago. I've been having them for five days. I don't know how long I have. All I know is that, to Fred and Chrissy, they both died less than 24 hours after their first vision. And I just saw that goddamn clock, so...looks like I'm gonna die tomorrow." She said to us and I felt tears starting to well in my eyes. She wouldn't. We wouldn't let that happen. There was then a flash in the distance and I look behind. Someone was here.

"Stay here." Steve said as he started to leave. Picking up a lamp first.

"Max, we will not let that happen." I said to her as we started leaving the room behind Steve. There was more clattering before I heard footsteps approach us. Steve then yelled along with Dustin and the person who'd appeared. It was Lucas.

"It's me!" Lucas shouted at us.

"Lucas?" Nancy and I asked him.

"It's me." He said again as Steve put the lamp down.

"Jesus, what's wrong with you Sinclair?" Steve shouted at him.

"Im sorry." He said apologizing to Steve.

"I could've taken you out with this lamp!" Steve shouted at him. Well at least Steve would've attacked if it was Lucas.

"Sorry, guys. Sorry. I was...I was biking for eight miles. Give me a second. Shit. We've got a code red." Lucas said to us and now I needed to know why and how.

"What?" Steve asked him.

"Dustin. I've been with Jason, Patrick, and Andy, and they've gone totally off the rails. They're trying to capture Eddie, and the think you know where he is. You're in terrible danger." Lucas said to him and this was worse than the Russians knowing.

"All right. Yeah, that definitely sucks. But we've got bigger problems than Jason now." Dustin said and that's when he looked at Max. She was top priority. The one who needed us the most. Of course there was no way we then went to the Wheeler's that's where we'd be. Thankfully I could sleep at my house. Steve was staying with me there was no way I was staying alone with my mom working nights. Hunger was staying next door. In the morning Nance, Robin and I were doing more investigating whilst the others were down in the basement. We then went down there to sat our new findings.

"Okay, so...we have a plan." Nancy said to them and that's when we gave Steve the records.

"Thanks to Nancy's newspaper minions, we are new rock-star psychology students at the University of Norte Dame." Robin said to them.

"I'm now Ruth." Nancy said, we all had R names for some reason.

"I'm now Regina." I said to them all.

"And I'm Rose." Robin said to them all. You see, all R names.

"Ruth? Regina?" Steve asked as us.

"Nice GPA." Dustin said to Nancy. And I looked at her. Her minions did well.

"Thanks. So we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Victor Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics- -" Nancy started before Robin cut her off.

"To which they said no." Robin said to everyone.

"But we landed a three o'clock with the director." Nancy said to us.

"Which won't be what you think it is. Because we've got something we're going to do." I said to them all. I could see that Lucas was looking now.

"Now all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor." Robin said to them, we wanted Max's curse gone.

"The maybe we can rid Max of this curse." Nancy said to them all.

"About that. We've been doing our homework Victor Creel homework, and, uh...we got some questions." Steve said to us as he took all the files back.

"Lots of questions." Lucas said to us.

"So do we. Hopefully, Victor has the answers." Nancy said to us and we'd get them answered.

"Wait...wait...wait a second. Uh...Where's mine?" He asked and that's when I took him upstairs.

"Let's talk." I said to him as went into the kitchen.

"Y/n, you're outta your mind if you think I'm babysitting again." He said to me and I looked at him.

"Steve, they aren't babies anymore. They're teenagers nearly adults. Besides Max is in danger, she needs you to be with her." I said to him as I leaned on the counter.

"I know. But why does it always have to be me? I can't anything here, Y/n. Maybe I can be helpful with this asylum director Dude. I don't know. I could turn on my...my charm." He said to me and I looked at him and tilted my head to the side.

"That charm only works on me. I doubt it'll work on him.' I said to him and he looked at me with a bit hurt.

"Ouch." He said and looked away.

"It's not that, it's just...Nance did a little digging last night, and it turns out this Dr. Hatch is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Harvard visiting scholar. This is Nancy's chance. But we have to show him that we are academic scholars so we need to the look the part for it and dress that way." I said to him. And I still didn't understand.

"Y/n! Are you coming!" Nancy shouted and I looked at the stairs.

"Coming!" I shouted to her. And that's when I left head upstairs. Nancy gave me some of her frilly clothing and we then made our way to the asylum. Robin was struggling in the heels but I was fine.

"I can't breathe in this thing, and I'm itching. I'm itching all over." Robin said to us but it was for our appearance. Our act.

"It's not all about comforts. Okay? We're academics." Nancy said to her and I looked at Robin.

"It's all do with our act." I said to her. That was the important thing at hand.

"Who are evidently coming straight from Easter brunch. Also, this bra that you gave me is really pinching my boobs." Robin said and I could tell she wanted out of this.

"Okay. Could you just let me or Y/n do the talking? If that's even possible?" Nancy asked her and I didn't even know where to start. Especially with the whole talking part.

"It's not only possible, it's inevitable. Because shortly, I'll be dead from strangulation." Robin said and I looked at her.

"You have to survive a couple hours. You can do it." I said to her with a smile. I didn't exactly know how to explain to the others that Robin died from a collar strangulation. We didn't need another enemy on the loose. We then entered into the office of Dr. Hatch.

"3.9 GPAs. The three of you. Impressive." He said to us as he put our files back down.

"And this is a recommendation from Professor Brantley." Nancy said as she handed it across the table.

"Yeah, I know Larry. Quite well, actually. Eh, you know what the say. 'Those who can't do, teach'." He said and we started nervously laughing. This was going to back fire. And badly as well.

"Uh, yes, yes, that's actually why we're here. I mean, we can only learn so much in a classroom." Nancy said getting a hum in response from Hatch.

"And I'm sympathetic to your struggle, truly. But there is a protocol to visiting a patient like Victor. You put in a request and then undergo a screening process, at which point the board will make a decision. I can see you're 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." He said to us but that's not going to help us at all.

"And we'd...we would love that. It's just that, um...our thesis is due next month." Nancy said to him, I knew he'd tell us it was a no chance of happening.

"And your out of time. Whose fault is that?" He said to us, we didn't have time to way so I guess we were out of time.

"Ours. Absolutely. And I do apologize- -" Nancy started and I cut her off.

"We apologize profusely because- -" I started and that's when Robin cut me off.

"Don't apologize, Ruth and Regina. 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." Robin said to and hopefully that lie would win us over.

"Well, Roses maybe you'd like to go outside and get some air." Nance said to her and maybe she did need some.

"It might help you out a bit." I said to her and she looked at the two of us.

"Maybe I should, Ruth, Regina." She said to us both. And we both hummed in response. "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? 1978, 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 Peter McHew...You know Petey, right, Ruth and Regina?" She said and I looked at her.

"Yeah, I know him. Same English class." I said to her with a smile trying to make this seem believable.

"Of...of course." Nancy said to her.

"Yeah. Little Petey McHew started sobbing right there on the spot. Full-on hyperventilating. And all the other campers couldn't sleep for weeks. I couldn't either but not 'cause I was scared. Because I was obsessed with the question, 'what would drive a human being to commit such unimaginable acts?' Other kids wanted to be astronauts, basketball players, rock stars. But I wanted to be you. 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 to the man that ignited my passion and learn a little more about how his twisted, but let's face it, totally fascinating mind works. 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. So...ten minutes with Victor. That's all I ask." She said to him and even I started believing her and that this Petey guy was real. He agree after all of that.

"I'm back in 30." Hatch told his secretary and she hummed. As we passed her. The three of us all shared our moment of secret celebration. We did it. Really did it. "These are our gardens. Beautiful, aren't they? We allow them two hours of outside time a day." Hatch told us as he was giving us a tour of the place.

"Can't they just escape?" Robin asked him. She was at the back of us all.

"They could. But the vast majority choose to be here. They like it here." He said to us before we entered into a room. "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 there are those who are beyond a cure." He said before we started going down a set of stairs.

"Uh, Dr. Hatch, do you think it might be possible for us to speak to Victor alone?" Nancy asked and I knew that we'd get denied that.

"Alone?" He asked yes.

"Yeah, alone. It might help with everything." I said to him, I didn't quite know what to say.

"I...I think that we would just love the challenge of speaking with Victor without the safety net of an expert such as yourself. Then we could really rub it in Professor Bradley's face. When we get back to campus." Robin said and that's when she messed up. She said Bradley.

"Professor Bradley? I don't believe I know a Professor Bradley." He said and I thought all this was blown.

"Brantley. She...she meant to say Brantley." Nancy said to him and I looked at her.

"She's always confusing names." I said to them.

"Didn't I say Brantley? What did I say? Sorry, silly me. Words, letters. Guess I'm just nervous. I mean, excited. So excited to speak with Victor. Preferably, as she said, alone?" Robin said to him and he thought about it.

"Yes. Why not? You've caught me in a rebellious mood." He said making us all chuckle. I didn't like this guy. "And there's something rather urgent I need to check on anyway, so...sure. Keep a close on them." He said and that's when he walked away. I didn't trust him at all.

"Thank you ever so much." I said to him as he started going upstairs.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Hatch." Robin said to him.

"Thank you." Nancy said to him and Robin sighed. The guard unlocked the doors and started walking down the halls.

"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?" The officer said to us and I started nodding.

"Yes, sir." We all said to him. He then rattled the bars with his baton.

"Victor. Todays your lucky day! You got visitors. Real pretty ones." The officer says and we heard a scratching noise. That was eerie. "Must be in one of his moods. Have fun." He said before he left us. That's were there was a growling sound. This guy was messed up.

"Victor? My name is Nancy. Nancy Wheeler. And this is..." Nancy said and she then looked at us.

"Y/n Solace." I said to him with a nod.

"Robin Buckley." Robin said and there was more scratching. "Um, we have some questions." Robin said to him.

"I don't talk to reporters. Hatch knows that." He said to us. He spoke.

"We're not reporters. We're here because...we believe you. And because we need your help." Nancy said to him.

"There's someone that we know that's in complete danger." I said to him and I then looked at Robin.

"Whatever killed your family, we think it's back." Robin said to him and it went silent. That's when he turned around. His eyes were scarred. He didn't have any.

"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?" Nancy asked him and hopefully it did. "Victor. I know this is hard- -" Nancy started but he cut her off.

"You don't know anything!" He shouted which is why we wanted to learn.

"You're right. We don't know. That's why we're here. To learn, to understand." She said to him.

"We need to learn about this thing, so we can take it down." I said to him and I was hoping he could open up.

"We need to know how you survived that night." Robin said and that's when Victor laughed.

"Survived? Is that what you call this? Did I survive? No, I assure you, I am still very much in hell. I had been back from the war some 14 years. Her great-uncle died, leaving us a small fortune. Enough to buy a new home, a new life. It was a magnificent home. Alice said it looked like it was from a fairy tale." Victor told us and I looked at him.

"Alice. Was this your daughter?" Nancy asked him.

"Mmm. 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. Dead animals, mutilated, tortured, began to appear near our home. Rabbits, squirrels, chickens, even dogs. The police chief blames the attacks on a wildcat. This...this was no wildcat. This was an evil. And evil neither animal nor human. This was 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. 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 has cursed our town. It has cursed our home. It has cursed us. It took Virginia first. I tried to get the children out, to save them. But I was back to France, back in the war. It...it was a memory. I had though German Soldiers were inside. I ordered its shelling. I was wrong. 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 fund 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. I tried to join them. I tried. Hatch stopped the bleeding. He wouldn't let me join them." He said before crying. This was awful. Vecna left him to suffer with all of this.

"The Angel you followed, who was she?" Nancy asked him and he started humming a song. Dream a little dream of me to be exact. That was the voice. "Victor? Victor." Nancy said but nothing. He kept humming. The door opened behind us.

"Is he everything you hoped he would be? I just had a very interesting conversation with Professor Brantley. Perhaps we should discuss in my office while we wait for the police." Hatch said but we couldn't. We had to get out of here. To run. We then started our walk to the office. We had to get out of here.

"You're not listening. Our friend is in danger." Nancy said to him. We'd be trying to plead but we weren't getting anywhere.

"Do you really expect me to believe anything you have to say at this point?" He asked us and he had to. Who knew what was happening to Max.

"It's the truth." She said to him.

"You are free to tell your sob story to the police." He said to us and we needed to get out of here.

"Move along." I heard the officer say, I look behind and saw him grab Robin.

"Leave her alone." I said to him.

"Don't touch me!" She said to him. When we made it outside. Robin came over to me and Nance.

"Victor said the night of the attack, everything went on in the house, but he made specific mention of music. 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...Dream a Little Dream of Me." Robin said to us, music was what kept him in line with reality.

"Ella Fitzgerald." Robin and I said at the same time.

"The voice of an angel." Nancy said to us.

"Yeah. Hatch said that music can reach parts of the brain that words can't. So maybe that's the key, a lifeline." Robin said to us. We had to get this information back to the others.

"A lifeline back to reality." Nancy said to us.

"It's worth a shot." Robin said to us.

"We need to tell the others but we need the radio." I said to them. Who knew what was happening with them currently. Nancy then looked behind.

"I think we can beat him." She said to us and I looked back before looking at the two of them.

"We definitely can." I said to her and I saw that Robin was looking a bit confused. We were planning our escape.

"What?" She asked us.

"To the car." Nancy said to her.

"Okay. I'm warning you right now, I have terrible coordination. Took me six months longer to walk than all the other babies." Robin said and I grabbed her arm.

"Just follow our lead." Nancy said to her.

"You've got this." I said to her with a smile.

"No, my God!" Robin shouted as we all took off running. We had a good chance of beating the guards.

"Hey! Get back here!" The guards shouted but I ignored them along with the others.

"Cinderella, you dropped your shoe!" One of the patients shouted and it wasn't to me. I still had my shoe.

"Stop right there!" The guards shouted again and that's when we hopped down a wall. Another patient was laughing at us. But we escaped. We were out of here. We the. Made it to the car and got in. There was a guard at the window.

"Hey!" He shouted at us.

"Go, go, go, go, go." Robin and I shouted at Nancy.

"Stop! Get out of the car. Get out of the car." He shouted. But it was too late the engine had been revved and we were gone.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" Robin shouted and I looked at them both.

"We escaped from them. We did it." I said with a smile. Nancy then looked at Robin.

"You really are a weird runner." Nancy said but she got out that was all that mattered.

"Robin, Y/n, where the hell are you? This is a code red. I repeat, a code red!" Dustin said over the radio and I handed it to Robin.

"Dustin, it's Robin. We copy." She said to him.

"Holy shit. Finally! Please, please tell me you guys have this figured out." He shouted and not quite but we had a bit of an idea. Robin then handed it to me.

"Dustin, it's Y/n. You need to get her to listen to music. If she's got her Walkman find a tape to put in it. That's the thing that can save her. It has to be her favorite song." I said to him and it went silent. He was probably trying to find it. But no one knew it. I know that if I was in this scenario I'd want Steve to put Uptown Girl on or even an ABBA song. That would help me. Maybe even Paint It Black. But for now we had to wait to see whether Max would be okay. She needed to be okay. We needed her to be okay. There was no more losing friends.