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𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓿𝓮:
"𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗,
𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

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THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Mackenzie had managed to escape the house followed by the stares of her mother. After the events of yesterday, Mackenzie had unfortunately not slept that much. The news about how Chrissy had died and how it actually was something from the Upside Down had plagued her mind. And she definitely did not want to talk to her mother, especially after the argument they had in the kitchen.

She hadn't put much effort into her appearance. Mackenzie had just put on a pair of dark jeans that were cuffed at the bottom, her green Converse, and a gray sweatshirt that had the green and yellow Hawkins High tiger on it, something she wore to honor Chrissy. She had now tied back her hair into two braids as well.

Steve had picked her up outside of her house, along with Robin, Dustin, and Max. Mackenzie noticed that Lucas was still gone, which kind of worried her, but she assumed he was fine. They had made a quick trip to the store to get food and drinks so Eddie could survive in his little boathouse.

They then drove back to Reefer Rick's boathouse. Mackenzie sighed a little as she got out of the car, looking up at the sky. It was a cloudy and dreary day, which sort of reflected the mood for Hawkins . . . well, basically all the time.

The group of five walked up to the boathouse and Dustin immediately swung the door open. They walked inside, and Mackenzie looked to see that Eddie was standing by the window, still holding his broken beer bottle and looking quite panicked.

"Delivery service," Dustin said, holding up the two plastic bags full of groceries.

Eddie exhaled upon noticing that it was just them. Dustin handed him the two bags, and Eddie immediately started eating a box of Honey Combs and drinking a bottle of Yoohoo. Mackenzie leaned against the wall of the boathouse by the window, crossing her arms across her chest.

"So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news," Dustin revealed. "How do you prefer it?"

"Bad news first, always," Eddie answered.

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

"Like, one-hundred-percent kind of convinced," Max added.

"And the good news?" Eddie asked.

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

Eddie looked like he was about to be sick. "Hunt the freak, right?"

"Exactly."

"Shit."

"So, before that happens, we find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence," Dustin explained.

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

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

Robin stepped towards the boat that Eddie was sitting in. "Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we've actually been through this kind of thing before. I mean, they have a — a few times, and — and I have once. Mine was more human-flesh-based, and theirs was more smoke-related, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel like we got this."

Mackenzie finally looked up from the floor. Eddie looked totally confused. She remembered being just as confused when Will got possessed, wondering what the hell was happening to her best friend. Mackenzie never wanted anyone else to get caught up in this mess, but she guesses that the universe, or rather the Upside Down, likes to screw everything up.

"Yeah, see, we usually rely on this girl who has super powers, but, uh, those went bye-bye, so, uh—" Steve trailed off.

Robin moved her hands in a circle. "So we're technically in — in — in more of the—"

"Kinda—"

"Brainstorming phase," Max finished.

Steve pointed at her. "Brainstorming."

"There — there's — there's nothing to worry about," Dustin told Eddie, but Mackenzie rolled her eyes at that, because there was everything to worry about.

Mackenzie nodded unconvincingly. "Uh-huh."

Suddenly, there were sirens wailing in the distance. Mackenzie immediately straightened up and her eyes widened.

"Shit," Steve whispered.

"Tarp," Robin stated. "Tarp. Tarp."

Eddie immediately covered himself and the boat in the blue tarp. Mackenzie pushed herself off of the wall and ran to the small window. She saw the red and blue flashing lights of police cars. However, instead of pulling into the house, they just continued on down the street.

"Something's wrong," Mackenzie voiced. "Well, I mean, duh. But that many police cars . . ."

Max looked at her. "Vecna took another victim."

Mackenzie sighed. "Oh my God, this thing is never-ending." She the noticed the way Dustin smirked and opened his mouth, but Mackenzie quickly held up her hand to stop him. "If you start singing again, I'm going to kill you."

Dustin sighed and saluted her. "Yes, ma'am."

They left Eddie behind with a promise to come back and bring him more food later. Mackenzie, Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Max climbed into Steve's car, and Steve immediately began to follow the police cars and ambulances. When Steve reached the scene, he pulled up and parked behind another car.

Mackenzie got out of the car after Max, since she had been sitting in the middle seat. There were barricades, and when Mackenzie looked past it, there was something covered in a white sheet. With horrible clarity, she knew it was another body. She swallowed her disgust.

However, there was also another familiar figure on the scene. None other than Nancy Wheeler stood there, talking to Chief Powell and Officer Callahan. She looked sad and panicked, but once her eyes set on Steve's car and all of them standing outside, she seemed to visibly relax. A small smile appeared on her face and she gave them a tiny wave.

Once Nancy was able to get away from the officers, she walked up to them, saying that Fred Benson had been killed, also known as one of her friends that she had worked with for the school newspaper. Mackenzie felt her heart drop for Nancy. She understood exactly how Nancy was feeling. Sadness, anger, heartbreak — it was everything she felt when she heard Chrissy had died.

They all squeezed into Steve's car (Mackenzie practically sitting on top of Dustin) and drove back to Forest Hills Trailer Park, where Max and Eddie lived. It was also where Chrissy had died and where Fred went missing. They found a shaded picnic bench near Eddie's crime scene trailer and all sat down to discuss. Mackenzie, Max, Dustin, Steve, and Robin all took turns telling Nancy the information that had found out about the killings.

"So you're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?" Nancy questioned.

"If the shoe fits," Steve responded.

"Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or a curse," Dustin stated. "Now, whether or not he's doing the bidding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens, we don't know."

"But we do know that this is something different," Mackenzie said. "This is something totally new than what we've dealt with before."

"Doesn't make sense," Nancy insisted.

"It's only a theory," Dustin replied.

"No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. I mean, why them?"

"Maybe they were just in the wrong place. They were both at the game."

"And near the trailer park," Max added.

"We're at the trailer park," Steve announced. "Uh, should we maybe not be here?"

Mackenzie looked around. She honestly did get the creeps being around her. A shiver ran up her spine and she slightly shuddered.

"There is something about this place," Nancy admitted. "Fred started acting weird the second we got here."

"Acting weird as in—?" Robin inquired.

"Scared, on edge, upset."

"Max said Chrissy was upset too," Dustin voiced.

"Yeah, but not here," Max responded. "She was crying in the bathroom at school."

"Wait, after we saw her in the hallway by the guidance counselor?" Mackenzie asked. When Max nodded, she put her face in her hands. "I should've known something was wrong."

"Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right?" Robin cut in. "So maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecman—"

"Vecna," Dustin corrected.

"I don't know about you guys, but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone," Steve admitted.

Mackenzie immediately sat up straighter, her hands dropping onto the table. "What if they did?" She looked at Max. "We both saw Chrissy leaving Ms. Kelly's office. She looked really upset. I asked her if she was okay and she said yes, but she clearly wasn't." Mackenzie let out a deep breath for a moment. "If you saw a monster, you probably wouldn't go to the police because they would never believe you. We've seen it with Joyce and the Demogorgon three years ago. But you might go to—"

"A shrink," Robin finished.

All of them looked at each other. They all knew what had to be done. Ms. Kelly had to have information on Fred and Chrissy since guidance counselors always kept files on their students.

They got up from the picnic table and started to walk towards Steve's car. Mackenzie shoved her hands into the pocket of her sweatshirt and headed towards the backseat. However, there was one person who didn't join them — Nancy. She just continued to walk past Steve's car.

"Woah, woah, Nance," Steve protested. "Nance! Nance, where're you going?"

Nancy turned around. "Oh, there's just something I wanna check on first."

"Something you maybe wanna share with the rest of us?" Dustin questioned.

"I don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the dark."

"Yeah, okay, are you out of your mind?" Steve demanded. "Flying solo with this Vecna creep on the loose? No, it's too dangerous. You need — you need someone to—"

Mackenzie raised an eyebrow. "Someone to protect her? Steve, you're being quite delusional right now."

Steve gave her a look before throwing his car keys to Robin. "Here. I'll stick with Nance, all right? You guys take the car, check out the shrink."

"I don't think you want me driving your car," Robin responded.

"Why?"

"I don't have a license."

Steve stared at her. "Why don't you have a license?"

Robin shrugged. "I'm poor."

"I can drive," Max offered.

"No, no, never again," Steve protested. "Please. Anybody but you. No."

Dustin grinned.

"No chance."

"Come on," Dustin insisted.

Mackenzie then gave Steve an innocent smile.

Steve pointed to her. "Do not even think about it."

Mackenzie frowned. "You're no fun."

"All right, okay," Robin interrupted. "This is stupid." She grabbed a flashlight from Dustin's backpack and gave Steve's keys back to him. "Us ladies will stick together. Unless you think we need you to protect us."

Mackenzie let out a small laugh and nodded in approval as Robin and Nancy started to walk away.

"Be careful!" Steve called after them.

"You just gonna stand there and gawk, Harrington?" Dustin teased.

"Shut up."

"Why don't we go, okay?"

Steve walked towards the drivers side. "Shut up and get in the car."

Mackenzie shook her head in amusement and got into the back seat with Max. She put on her seatbelt and clasped her hands in her lap.

"Wipe your feet," Steve instructed to Dustin, in which he started to wipe his feet on the floor of the car. "On the outside, not the inside! Always the babysitter." Steve put his key in the ignition and turned his car on. "Always the God damn babysitter!"

Mackenzie leaned forwards in her seat as Steve started to drive off. "But you're the best babysitter, Steve."

Steve reached back and placed his hand on her forehead, pushing her back into the seat. "Shut up, Kenzie."

"Truly a single mom who works too hard to protect her kids."

"I said shut up."

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can't believe that icarly and stranger things had a crossover and freddie benson died. rip freddie 😔🕊