❁ཻུ۪۪♡ ͎. ｡˚
• BLUE •
CHAPTER FIVE —
Tick

———

SERENA leaned against the car door for a moment, her hair catching in the dim light, and smirked at Dustin's impatient tapping.

"You got the snacks?" Dustin asked, arms crossed like he was her boss.

"Chill. I didn't forget." Serena reached into the backseat and pulled out two plastic bags with a flourish. "Reese's, honeycomb cereal... and some Pop Rocks for flair."

"Pop Rocks?" Dustin asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"You gotta keep it fun, Henderson." Serena winked before slinging the bags over her shoulder.

Steve shut the driver's side door with a groan. "I don't get why I have to keep being the chauffeur."

"Because we like your car," Serena said casually, tossing him a crooked grin over her shoulder as she walked toward the shack.

Serena opened the door without hesitation, the creak of the hinges cutting through the silence.

Inside, Eddie nearly jumped out of his skin, his eyes wild as he reached for something nearby.

"Jesus!" Eddie shouted, his breath coming fast.

"Relax, delivery service." Serena raised the bags and gave him an easy smile.

Eddie's shoulders sagged, and he ran a hand through his tangled hair. "You're gonna give me a heart attack."

"Good thing I brought snacks, then," Serena quipped, setting the bags down beside him.

Eddie nodded, his hands already tearing into the honeycomb cereal as the rest of the group settled around him.

Dustin clasped his hands together like he was presenting a high-stakes plan. "Okay, so we've got, uh, some good news and some bad news," he started.

Eddie paused mid-bite, eyeing him warily. "How do you prefer?"

"Bad news first. Always," Eddie said, crunching loudly on the cereal.

Dustin nodded. "All right. Bad news. We tapped into Hawkins PD dispatch with Cerebro, and, uh... yeah, they're definitely looking for you."

Eddie's chewing slowed, his eyes narrowing. "Fantastic," he muttered.

"Also, they're, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy," Dustin added hesitantly.

"Like, 100% convinced," Max chimed in, crossing her arms.

Eddie's jaw tightened, the color draining from his face. "And the good news?"

Serena leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. "Your name hasn't gone public yet. But if we figured out where you are, it's only a matter of time before someone else does." She let the weight of her words hang in the air for a moment before finishing, "And when that happens, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be coming for you."

"Hunt the freak, right?" Eddie said bitterly, his voice low and resigned.

"Exactly," Robin said with a dry nod.

"Shit," Eddie muttered, dragging his hands through his hair.

Dustin clapped his hands again, trying to bring some energy back into the room. "So. Before that happens, we find Vecna, kill him, and prove you're innocent. Simple, right?"

Eddie's head snapped toward Dustin, his face incredulous. "That's all? Dustin, That's all?"

"Yeah, no, that's pretty much it," Dustin said with a shrug.

Eddie laughed, but it was humorless, his hands gesturing wildly. "You people are insane."

"Listen," Serena said, leaning forward, her voice steady. "I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional. Trust me, I thought the same thing when I first got dragged into this."

Robin jumped in, gesturing animatedly. "I mean, they've been through it a few times, and I've been through it once. Mine was more, like, human-flesh-based, and theirs was... smoke-monster-related."

At the mention of last summer, Serena shifted uncomfortably, her jaw tightening as the memory flickered in her mind.

Robin noticed but quickly continued, trying to keep the mood light. "But yeah, bottom line is—I really feel like we got this."

Eddie looked around, his gaze skeptical but tinged with a flicker of hope.

"We usually rely on this girl who has superpowers," Steve added. "But, uh, those went bye-bye, so..."

"So we're more or less brainstorming now," Serena said, raising her eyebrows as she met Steve's glance.

"Brainstorming," Steve echoed, pointing at her in mock agreement.

"There's... there's nothing to worry about," Dustin added, his voice a little too quick, a little too high.

Steve scoffed, letting out a nervous laugh. "Yeah. Sure."

And then they heard it—sirens.

The group froze, their bodies tense. The distant wail of police cars cut through the stillness, growing louder.

"Tarp," Serena said immediately, her voice sharp.

Eddie didn't hesitate, yanking the tarp over himself and curling into the shadows of the boat. The rest of the group scrambled toward the window, peering out cautiously.

Red and blue lights flashed across the road outside, casting streaks of color through the cracks in the shack's wooden walls.

The cars sped by without stopping, their sirens fading into the distance.

The group exhaled collectively, the tension in the room easing slightly.

"Close one," Max muttered.

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The group sat around a bench near the trailer park, the air thick with the weight of the recent deaths. They had just learned that Fred, just like Chrissy, had died in the same mysterious, violent way, and the unease was palpable.

"So, you're saying this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?" Nancy asked, her voice filled with skepticism as she tried to make sense of it all.

"If the shoe fits," Steve replied with a grim nod, leaning back and crossing his arms.

"One working theory is that he attacks with a spell," Dustin added, his eyes scanning the others. "Or a curse."

"Whatever it is, it's different," Max said, her tone somber.

"Something new," Serena muttered, her voice calm, but there was an edge to it—sharp and composed. She looked out toward the trailer park, her eyes distant, like she was already thinking two steps ahead.

Nancy wasn't convinced. "Doesn't make sense."

"It's just a theory," Serena said, finally meeting her sister's gaze. Her tone was matter-of-fact, like she was trying to ground Nancy in the reality of their situation.

"No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. Why them?" Nancy asked, her frustration clear.

"Maybe they were just in the wrong place," Dustin said, but his voice lacked conviction.

"Near the trailer park," Max added.

"We're at the trailer park," Steve reminded them, his unease beginning to show.

Nancy's eyes narrowed, scanning the area. "There's something off about this place. Fred started acting weird the second we got here."

"Acting weird how?" Serena asked, leaning in slightly, her gaze sharp. There was something in her posture—slightly more relaxed than the rest of them, but alert.

"Scared. On edge. Upset," Nancy explained, rubbing her temples. "Like something was wrong but he couldn't put it into words."

"Yeah, Chrissy was on edge too," Dustin added, glancing toward Serena for confirmation.

"But not here," Serena replied coolly. "She looked nervous when I saw her, but it was different—like she was carrying something inside her, but not this place. It was in the locker room, not around here."

Robin, who had been eerily quiet up until now, spoke up with a half-smirk. "Serial killers stalk their prey, right? Maybe Fred and Chrissy saw Vecna before he struck."

"I saw Chrissy leave Ms. Kelley's office," Max continued. "She was shaken up. She was probably looking for answers—answers that no one else could give her."

Serena looked at her sister thoughtfully. "And maybe she went to a therapist," she added, her voice flat but serious. "Someone who wouldn't immediately dismiss her or call her crazy. Someone who might actually believe her."

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The group headed towards the car, but Nancy suddenly veered off, walking in the opposite direction.

"Nance, where are you going?" Serena called out, raising an eyebrow, her tone laced with playful suspicion.

"Yeah, what's up?" Steve chimed in, clearly not pleased with her going off alone.

"Oh, just something I wanna check on first," Nancy replied, her voice a little too casual for Serena's liking.

"Something you wanna share with us?" Serena asked, crossing her arms, the usual air of confidence in her tone.

Nancy looked back at them, shaking her head. "I don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the dark."

Serena rolled her eyes, her sharp gaze never leaving Nancy's retreating figure. "Yeah, okay. Are you out of your mind?" she called out. "Flying solo with Vecna still running around? No way."

Nancy ignored the warning and continued on, but Steve wasn't about to let it go. He turned to Serena and tossed her the car keys. "Take the car. Check out the shrink."

Serena caught them, smirking as she glanced up at Steve. "Uh, I don't think you want me driving your car."

Steve raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed. "Why not?"

"Because," Serena said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "I don't have a license?"

Steve froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. "What do you mean you don't have a license?"

Serena shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm currently learning." She shot him a playful grin. "But hey, if you insist, I'll drive."

Steve groaned, running a hand through his hair. "God, fine."

Robin, looking at the back and forth, sighed. "This is stupid."

"I'll go with Nancy," Robin chimed in, rolling her eyes. "You guys can check out the shrink."

Serena flashed Robin a smirk before turning to Nancy. "Be careful, okay?"

Nancy gave her a small nod before continuing down the street, while Serena turned her attention back to Steve. "So, you're gonna stand there and gawk at my sister, or...?"

Steve snapped, "Shut up."

Serena grinned, raising her eyebrow. "Why don't we go already?"

"Shut up and get in the car," Steve said, shaking his head as he started to walk toward the car.

"Wipe your feet," Steve said, now clearly trying to take control of the situation.

Serena walked over to the car, and as she climbed in, she absentmindedly wiped her feet inside the car.

"On the outside, not on the other inside!" Steve groaned, slapping his hand to his forehead.

Serena grinned, knowing exactly how to push his buttons. "Always the babysitter," she muttered, slinging her seatbelt on.

Steve sighed heavily.  "Let's just go," he muttered, pulling out of the parking lot.

"You're the one who gave me the keys," she said, her voice playful.

"Yeah, yeah," Steve grumbled, his eyes focused on the road, but Serena could see the corner of his mouth twitch upward.

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The car rolled slowly down the quiet street, Steve's focus half on the road, half on Max, who was heading toward Mrs. Kelly's house.

"Okay, she's in," Steve muttered, his grip tightening on the wheel.

Dustin leaned against the window, looking out but clearly not letting go of the situation. "I'm missing collarbones, not eyes," he commented. "So, are we gonna talk about... it?"

Steve blinked at him. "Sorry? Talk about what?"

"You know," Dustin said, his voice thick with teasing, "your little moment of temporary insanity earlier today."

Serena's lips curled into a small smile as she leaned back in her seat, her gaze narrowing at Steve. "You mean when you basically threw yourself at my sister?"

Steve sighed, rolling his eyes. "Okay, first of all, that's not what happened."

"Pretty sure that's exactly what happened," Dustin added, crossing his arms with a smirk.

Serena looked between them, clearly enjoying Steve's discomfort. "Yeah, it was public, Steve. There were a lot of witnesses. Including me," she said, her voice carrying that usual sharp edge.

Steve groaned, letting his head fall back against the headrest. "Are you both implying I still have a thing for Nance?"

Serena smirked, leaning forward slightly, her voice dropping a bit lower. "No, we're not implying. We're just stating the obvious. And honestly, your whole 'I don't date Robin' thing? Makes it pretty clear." She didn't even try to hide her amusement.

Steve looked like he was about to explode. "That's not the only reason, alright?"

"Mm-hmm," Serena hummed. "Okay, so what is the reason then, Steve?"

Steve rubbed the back of his neck, now completely embarrassed. "And as for Nancy... I was just trying to protect a friend."

Serena leaned back in her seat, the air between them suddenly feeling a little colder. "A friend. Right," she said, her tone making it sound like she didn't buy it for a second. "I'm sure you just want to protect your 'friend' from Vecna and... whatever else. Nothing to do with how you're still hung up on her, right?"

Steve's face was redder than ever as he tried to shake off her words. "I just... don't want to see her hurt, okay?"

Serena raised an eyebrow, eyes sparkling with that knowing look she always gave. "Number one, I'd hate that too, because she's my sister and I actually care about her. And number two, you're bright red right now, Steve."

"No I'm not," Steve snapped, desperately trying to play it off.

Serena tilted her head, a grin tugging at her lips. "Sure you're not," she said sweetly, "Totally not."

Dustin leaned in, nudging Steve with a grin. "Okay, King Steve."

Steve's face flushed deeper, and he gripped the wheel even tighter, his voice coming out in a low growl. "I'll punch you so hard your teeth will fall back out."

"Whoa, too far," Dustin said, raising his hands in mock defense, but the teasing smile still remained.

"Not cool. Sorry," Steve muttered, slumping slightly.

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Steve sat in the driver's seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. Dustin was slouched in the passenger seat, leaning his head back with a deep sigh, his fingers fiddling with the straps of his backpack.

Serena sat in the backseat, her arms folded across her chest. Her gaze was unfocused, eyes tracing the silhouettes of the houses in the distance, the world around them seeming to fade away. The silence between them felt heavy, but her thoughts were far away—dragged back to last summer.

She couldn't shake the image from her mind.

"Serena?" Dustin's voice broke through the haze in her head, and she blinked, finally noticing the others were looking at her.

"What?"

"You okay back there?"

Serena just nodded absently, her lips pressing into a tight line. But deep inside, she felt something stirring. Something was wrong. Her skin tingled with a strange energy, an itch that she couldn't scratch.

She didn't know how to explain it, but it felt as if the air was thickening around them.

A sudden pressure rose in her chest, and the temperature in the car dropped ever so slightly. She tried to breathe through it, but it felt like the atmosphere was bending—warping. She reached for the door handle to open it, but just before she could, the car's radio—sitting dormant—flicked on.

Click.

The static filled the car first, and then, without warning, an old rock song began to play.

Steve cursed and slapped the dashboard, his frustration clear. "Ugh, this stupid thing!" He tugged at the radio dial, but the static didn't go away. The music continued to play, louder this time, as if the radio had a life of its own.

Dustin's eyes widened. "Did that just happen?"

Serena felt her heart race.

"It's the car," Steve muttered, clearly annoyed. "This thing's been broken for years. Should've gotten rid of it a long time ago."

But Serena didn't think it was just the car. Not this time.

Her fingers twitched at her side, and without thinking, she instinctively reached out to the radio. As if on cue, the song skipped, changing to another one, but this time, the static had a sharper bite to it.

Dustin noticed her movements. "Serena?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.

Serena pulled her hand back, staring at the radio, unsure of what had just happened. She hadn't meant to do that.

"Uh..." Steve's eyes were fixed on the radio now, his brow furrowed. "That's... not normal."

"Yeah..not normal." Serena said, looking at her hand for a second and then leaning back.

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Max ran back to the car, her breath shallow as she quickly opened the door and jumped inside, slamming it shut behind her.

"You got information?" Serena asked, glancing at Max as she slid into the seat.

Max nodded, her face pale but determined. "Just drive," she said, her voice low and urgent.

"You alright though?" Steve asked, looking over at her with concern.

Max exhaled sharply, her hands gripping the edge of the seat. "Yeah. Steve, drive!" she snapped, her impatience and anxiety making her tone sharper than usual.

Steve hesitated for a second, exchanging a glance with Serena, but then started the car, pulling out of the parking lot quickly.

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The car hummed softly as the group sat in tense silence, Max fidgeting with the walkie in her hands. Suddenly, it crackled to life.

"Dustin, do you copy?" Lucas's voice broke through, urgent and strained.

Dustin snatched the walkie from the dashboard. "Lucas? Where the hell have you been?"

"Just listen," Lucas cut in quickly. "Are you looking for Eddie?"

"We found him, no thanks to you," Dustin shot back, his tone sharp.

"You found him?" Lucas asked, sounding startled.

"A boathouse on Coal Mill Road," Dustin said. "Don't worry. He's safe."

There was a pause before Lucas's voice came back, quieter but firm. "You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?"

"That's bullshit," Dustin snapped, his voice rising.

"Eddie tried to save Chrissy," Serena chimed in, her voice calm but laced with irritation. "He didn't kill her."

"Wait—why is Serena with you?" Lucas asked, confusion seeping through the static. "And why do all the cops say he did it?"

Max grabbed the walkie from Dustin, her voice dripping with frustration. "Lucas, you're so behind it's ridiculous, okay? Just meet us at school. We'll explain later."

"I can't," Lucas said hurriedly, cutting off any response. "I think some real bad shit is about to go down."

"What are you talking about? What bad shit?" Max demanded, leaning forward, her knuckles tight on the walkie.

Static suddenly filled the car, drowning out Lucas's voice.

"Lucas? Lucas?" Max repeated, her voice rising with each attempt.

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Serena, Dustin, and Steve moving cautiously down the dimly lit school hallway, their footsteps echoing on the linoleum floor. Dustin clutches a flashlight that casts a flickering beam across the lockers, while Serena holds a crackling walkie-talkie to her mouth. On the other end, Robin's voice buzzes with skeptical disbelief.

"What are you doing?" Robin's tone carries a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Breaking and entering school," Serena says matter-of-factly, her voice steady but tinged with nerves.

"To retrieve confidential and extremely personal files," Dustin adds with a smug grin, clearly proud of their plan.

There's a pause before Robin's incredulous voice crackles back, "Can you repeat that?"

"Just get your ass over here, stat," Dustin says, snatching the walkie from Serena, his tone clipped and urgent.

The group reaches their destination, and Max steps forward. With a quick glance around, she pulls out a pilfered key and slots it into the door of the school's therapist's office. The lock clicks open, and the group quietly files in, their breaths barely audible in the stifling silence.

Once inside, Max sweeps her flashlight across the room, landing on a filing cabinet in the corner. The torchlight reflects off the metal drawer marked Student Files.

"It's like a mini Watergate or something," Dustin whispers, his voice cutting through the darkness.

"Hawkinsgate," he adds, grinning at his own joke.

"Didn't those guys get caught?" Steve mutters, clearly not impressed.

Suddenly, Max's voice pierces the quiet: "Holy shit."

The group spins toward her, anticipation thick in the air.

"You found it?" Serena asks, stepping closer.

"Yeah," Max replies, rifling through the files. "And not just Chrissy's file. Look at this—Fred was seeing Ms. Kelley too." She pauses, holding up another folder. Her expression shifts as her eyes flicker toward Serena.

"And..." Max trails off.

"What?" Serena asks, stepping forward. Her heart sinks as Max holds up another file.

It's hers.

Her hands tremble as she takes the folder, opening it carefully. The pages are filled with notes, observations scribbled in the therapist's handwriting. She flips through, the words blurring as her mind reels.

"Can I see Fred's file?" Max asks softly, breaking the tension.

"Yeah, sure," Serena replies automatically, tucking her own file into her bag and handing over Fred's.

The room feels smaller now, the air thick and heavy. Serena casts one last glance at her file as an uneasy sensation washes over her.

That's when she hears it.

A soft, metallic chime.

Her head snaps up. The sound is faint, yet hauntingly familiar, like something plucked from the edges of a nightmare.

"Guys?" Serena's voice wavers, her eyes darting around the room.

The flashlight in her hand begins to flicker, casting erratic shadows on the walls. Her heart races as she scans the room, but nothing appears out of place.

Another chime—low and resonant—followed by a faint ticking.

Serena stumbled backward, her heart pounding as the dark hallway twisted and distorted around her. The chimes of the grandfather clock grew louder, reverberating in her skull like a sinister metronome. She shined her flashlight desperately down the hall, her breaths sharp and shallow, until the beam landed on the clock.

It was embedded in the wall, ancient and foreboding, its surface covered in cracks that seeped a faint, pulsing red light.

"What the hell," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.

The hallway felt colder, the air heavy and suffocating.

"Serena."

The voice came low and guttural, dripping with malice, echoing from all directions.

She spun around, her flashlight shaking as it scanned the warped shadows.

"Who's there?" she demanded, though her voice faltered.

The voice ignored her, growing louder and closer. "I know what happened. I know what happened to your best friend. The one that you let die."

Serena froze, her stomach lurching. "No," she whispered, shaking her head as if to clear the words. "That's not what happened."

"Oh, but it is," the voice hissed, thick with venom. "And it awakened something within you. Something that will interfere with my plans."

A chill ran through Serena as the hallway began to transform. Dark, fleshy tentacles slithered out from cracks in the walls, their slimy surfaces glistening in the faint light. They coiled and writhed, spreading across the floor and ceiling, reaching toward her.

"Get out of my head!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she stumbled back.

"This is no illusion," the voice taunted, its tone unnervingly calm. "This is all real, Serena. Your head, your trauma, your guilt—they are mine."

Serena's throat tightened as the tentacles advanced, twisting closer, their movements relentless and hungry. She stepped back, her foot catching on the edge of the wall, and she fell to the ground.

Panic surged through her veins as she scrambled to her feet, her flashlight clattering to the floor. In the faint light, she saw a door at the end of the hallway. Salvation.

She bolted toward it, her sneakers skidding on the slick, distorted floor.

"Get out of my head!" she screamed again, her voice raw and desperate.

The tentacles lashed out, faster and more aggressive, closing the distance behind her. She could feel their icy presence just inches from her back, their movements quick and unnatural.

Her hand reached for the doorknob, but before she could grasp it, something inside her snapped.

A surge of heat exploded in her chest, and she instinctively thrust her hand out behind her. A blinding beam of energy erupted from her palm, illuminating the hallway in a brilliant flash of light.

The tentacles hissed and recoiled as the energy burned through them, reducing them to ash-like particles that dissolved into the air.

Serena's eyes fluttered open, her body trembling as she became aware of her surroundings. She was standing in the middle of the hallway, her chest heaving like she'd just run a marathon. A cold sweat clung to her skin, and she felt unsteady, like she might collapse at any second.

Around her, the faint glow of flashlights illuminated the shattered remnants of lightbulbs that had burst from every fixture above them. Jagged glass shards glinted on the floor, and the hallway was bathed in an eerie, flickering darkness.

"Serena!"

The urgent voice cut through the haze in her mind, and she turned her head sharply to see Steve, his face etched with worry. He was gripping her shoulders, gently shaking her to bring her back to the present.

Her breath hitched as she took in his expression, then glanced around. Dustin stood nearby, his flashlight trembling in his hand as he stared at her, wide-eyed. Behind him, Max hovered cautiously, her face pale but determined, holding the torch steady.

"What..." Serena's voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. "What just happened?"

"You tell us!" Steve said, his voice teetering between fear and frustration. "One second, you're fine, and the next—bam! You zone out, the lights blow up, and you're just standing there like... like..." He struggled for the words, waving his arms in the air.

"Like some creepy statue," Dustin finished for him, his tone nervous but tinged with an edge of awe.

"I..." Serena trailed off, her mind racing as fragments of what she'd just experienced crashed into her. The grandfather clock. The voice. The tentacles. The light that exploded from her hand. It all felt so vivid, so real. But now, standing in the middle of the hallway, it felt like a fading dream—or a nightmare.

"You okay?" Max asked, stepping closer, though her cautious posture suggested she wasn't entirely sure what "okay" meant anymore.

Serena's lips parted, but no words came. She glanced down at her hands, half-expecting to see them glowing again, but they were just her hands—normal, trembling hands.

"What the hell happened, Serena?" Dustin pressed, his voice rising slightly as the tension in the room grew. "One second, we're going through files, and the next, you're out here in some... trance, and then boom! Glass everywhere!"

"I..." Serena shook her head, clutching her forehead as if trying to steady her spinning thoughts. "I don't know. I—I heard something. And then I was just... somewhere else. There was this clock, and..."

"Clock?" Steve cut in, his brow furrowing.

"A clock," Serena repeated, her voice steadier now but laced with dread. "A grandfather clock, stuck in the wall. And there was this... voice. It was taunting me, saying things about my past, about..." She faltered, unable to say the words out loud.

Steve exchanged a wary glance with Dustin, who looked equally unsettled.

"And the lights?" Max asked carefully, pointing to the broken bulbs overhead. "Did you—"

"I don't know!" Serena snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't know how that happened!"

The hallway fell silent, the only sound the faint crackling of glass beneath their feet as they shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm fine," she said finally, though her voice lacked conviction. She looked at the broken glass around them, then back at her friends. "Let's just... let's get out of here."

Her words hung heavy in the air, but no one argued.

As the group started moving again, Serena glanced back at the darkened hallway one last time. Somewhere in the distance, she swore she could still hear faint chimes.

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The group moved quietly down the hallway, their footsteps muffled but tense against the tiled floor. Serena led the way, her flashlight sweeping the dim corridor, her heart still racing from the events earlier. Max, trailing behind, suddenly stopped in her tracks, her body frozen as if she had been hit by an invisible wall.

Serena noticed and turned, her light catching Max's pale face. "Max, you okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Max didn't respond, her eyes wide and unfocused, locked on something only she could see.

"Max?" Serena said again, louder this time.

The rest of the group stopped. Dustin glanced at her, dread pooling in his stomach. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

Without hesitation, Serena ran to Max's side, gripping her shoulders firmly. "Max!" she shouted, shaking her gently.

Max gasped, snapping back to reality as she staggered slightly, clutching Serena's arm. Her breaths came fast and shallow, and her eyes darted around as if still searching for something.

"There... there," Max panted, struggling to get the words out.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Serena said gently, keeping her voice calm. "Take a breath. Just focus on me."

Max nodded shakily, following Serena's lead as her breathing slowed. "Tell me what you saw," Serena asked, her voice steady but tense.

"There was a... a grandfather clock," Max said, locking eyes with Serena, her voice barely above a whisper.

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The words sent a chill through Serena, but she said nothing, simply nodding as the group collectively realized the gravity of what was happening.

Back in Ms. Kelley's office, the group huddled together as Max explained everything.

"Fred and Chrissy," Max began, her voice low and uneven, "they both came to Ms. Kelley for help. They were having headaches. Bad ones. Ones that wouldn't go away. Then... then came the nightmares. Trouble sleeping. They'd wake up in a cold sweat."

The room grew quieter with each word, the weight of her story pressing down on everyone.

"They started seeing things. Bad things. From their past," Max continued, her gaze distant. "It kept getting worse and worse, until eventually..."

Her voice broke slightly, but she forced herself to continue. "It kept getting worse and worse until... everything ended."

A tense silence filled the room as Robin and Nancy burst in, their hurried footsteps breaking the spell.

"Vecna's curse," Serena said, her voice barely audible, the words chilling everyone to the bone.

Max hesitated before speaking again, her hands trembling at her sides. "I started getting headaches a week ago," she admitted, her voice trembling.

Dustin's face twisted in fear. "Fred had six days," he said softly.

Max's eyes turned to Serena. "What about you?"

"No," Serena said quickly, shaking her head. "No, I haven't had headaches—"

Max sighed deeply, her eyes glassy with fear. "I don't know how long I have," she admitted, her voice cracking. "But all I know is that, for Fred and Chrissy, they both died less than 24 hours after their first vision."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

"And I just saw that goddamn clock," Max whispered, her voice raw. "So... looks like I'm gonna die tomorrow."

Before anyone could respond, a metallic clang echoed in the distance, startling the entire group. They instinctively stiffened, their eyes darting toward the door.

"Stay here," Steve said, grabbing a desk lamp, the cord dangling from it like a makeshift weapon. Serena grabbed a heavy candlestick from a nearby table, gripping it tightly.

"What?" Steve glanced at her incredulously.

"It was the first thing I saw," Serena shot back, glaring at him.

The two moved cautiously toward the hallway, Serena's heart hammering in her chest as her flashlight barely cut through the darkness. The others followed, sticking close behind but keeping quiet.

Suddenly, a figure rounded the corner at full speed, startling the group into a frenzy of shouts.

"It's me!" Lucas yelled, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Lucas?" Nancy said, her voice filled with relief and confusion.

"Jesus, what's wrong with you?" Steve shouted, lowering the lamp but still tense.

"I'm sorry!" Lucas said, panting heavily. "I didn't know it was you!"

Steve shook his head. "Didn't know it was me? I almost took you out with this lamp!"

"And her—what the hell is that?" Steve gestured to the candlestick in Serena's hand.

"What? It's solid," Serena snapped. "It's better than nothing."

Lucas doubled over, trying to catch his breath. "I was biking for eight miles. Just give me a second, okay?" He stood upright, looking around the group with urgency. "We've got a code red."

"A what?" Steve asked, still clearly on edge.

"Dustin, listen to me," Lucas said, his tone grave. "I've been with Jason, Patrick, and Andy. They've gone completely off the rails. They're trying to capture Eddie, and they think you know where he is."

Dustin's face fell, a wave of anxiety crashing over him. "Shit."

"All right," Steve said, sighing. "Yeah, that definitely sucks. But..." He turned to Lucas. "We've got way bigger problems than Jason right now."

Lucas frowned, glancing at the shattered lightbulbs and the tension in everyone's faces. "What happened?"

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