❝𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐆𝐎𝐃❞

You shuffled in your sleep, feeling cold and uncomfortable. Letting out a soft groan, you pried your eyes open, rubbing them as you slowly sat up. You looked around, noticing you were still in the boathouse, inside of the boat. "Eddie?" You quietly mumbled, looking around and noticing he was sleeping, hunched over in the corner with the broken bottle in his hand. Moving the blue tarp off of your feet, you steadily stepped out of the boat, approaching him slowly. "Hey!" You yelled in a whisper, kicking his leg. "Eddie!" You kicked him again.

"Huh? Hm?" He jumped awake, looking around him, his grip on the bottle tightening. "Put that thing down!" You said in annoyance, looking down at him. "Shit, you're awake," He sighed, slowly standing to his feet with a low groan. "My back." He sighed. Truth be told, you fell asleep on Eddie's arm last night, nearly falling back into the boat before he caught you. He gently helped you into the boat, making sure you were as comfortable as you could be. He watched you all night, making sure that nothing happened to you.

"Sorry I fell asleep on you last night." You said, embarrassed. "You should be. You took my very comfortable bed." Eddie looked at the boat. "You just slept in that corner the whole night?" You asked, folding your arms across your chest. "Well, there isn't exactly room for two in the boat. Plus, other stuff." Eddie chuckled, looking at you. "Right," You nodded, looking away from him with a smile. "Well, thank you for letting me borrow your very comfortable bed, Munson." You smiled at him. "Of course, your majesty." Eddie bowed.

You let out a laugh, playfully pushing his shoulder, "stop!" Eddie laughed at your reaction, standing up straight in the process. His eyes caught yours once again. "How are you feeling?" He asked, his tone more serious. "Um," you rubbed the back of your neck, "this is the first time I've actually got a full night's sleep over the last few days so..." You shrugged. "Improvement. Right?" Eddie raised his brows. "If you say so." You looked over your shoulder, noticing the walkie on the stool, remembering how the others went out looking for you last night.

A pit formed in your stomach. They must be worried out of their minds. Reaching for the walkie, Eddie stopped you, his hands grabbing your wrist, "don't worry, I let them know this morning you were here." Eddie let go of your wrist. "This morning? How long were you up last night?" You asked, letting out a scoff. "Like," Eddie avoided your gaze, looking at everything else in the boathouse but you, "all night." He admitted. "All night?" You asked, surprised. Eddie nodded, walking past you to look out the window. "All night," Eddie looked back at you. "The others said they should be here soon to come and get you."

"Great. I can't wait to hear all of them screaming at me at the same time." You plopped down on the stool, trying to mentally prepare yourself for the number of lectures you were gonna be given by everyone. "Are you gonna tell them what you heard last night?" Eddie asked, leaning against the wall. Looking up at Eddie you shrugged, "yeah, I guess. I told you so why wouldn't I tell the others." Eddie nodded his head at your statement, poking his tongue in his left cheek. "Maybe it like," Eddie squinted, "if you can hear his voice that means he's closer than you think. Or like, your death is closer than you think. No offense!" Eddie threw his hands up in defense.

"None was taken, Munson." You laughed, shaking your head. The sound of a car engine revved in front of the house causing you to run to the window, peeking through the foliage around the boathouse. "Is it Steve?" Eddie asked, hiding in the corner. "I can't see." You whispered, squinting your eyes. Though, you could hear footsteps, multiple of them. "Y/n!" Dustin busted through the door. You let out a loud scream, causing Dustin to jump back. "It's just us!" Steve shouted. "You can't do that!" You ordered them, your hand over your heart.

"No, no! You don't get to lecture us about anything when you ran off last night without saying a goddamn thing! Are you crazy!?" Dustin looked at you, his brows raised. "We heard screaming!" Max came running in, someone else by her side. "Lucas?!" You asked, a look of surprise on your face. "Wait, you know Sinclair?" Eddie looked at you. "Yeah, you know Lucas?" Dustin asked. "Hey." Lucas gave you a small wave. "I used to babysit his little sister, Erica a few years back." You looked at Eddie. "Oh, the one I played D and D with that night." Eddie confirmed. "Wait, you played D and D with Erica?" You scrunched your face up in confusion.

"It's a long story," Dustin interrupted. "Look, what the hell were you thinking running off like that?" Dustin walked up to you. "I got scared, okay? I just needed time alone," You looked at him, sitting back down on the stool. "But," you paused, "when I was alone I heard someone whisper my name. It was like a very twisted and deep voice. It sounded like it was right in my ear. And everywhere I went, it felt like eyes were on me." You admitted, looking at the others. "That's the same type of voice I heard when I saw the clock." Max spoke. "So, both Max and y/n are under Vecna's curse, right?" Lucas asked, trying to confirm. "Yeah, sadly," You said in an annoyed tone. "Where have you been this entire time anyway?" You asked Lucas. "With Jason."

"Jason? The captain of the basketball team Jason and Chrissy's boyfriend?" You blinked. "They're hunting Eddie. They think he killed Chrissy. And they're like," Lucas widened his eyes, "dead set on trying to find you." Lucas looked at Eddie. "Oh, man." Eddie slouched, sitting down on the floor. "And where are Robin and Nancy?" Your eyes landing on Steve. "They're at Pennhurst Asylum trying to talk with Victor Creel. They even have fake names and GPAs and all that shit." Steve knew he sounded crazy, but that was Nancy's plan. "Now, I know I was acting a little crazy yesterday, but I overheard that Victor said a demon killed his family. Am I correct?"

"Yeah. Eyes ripped out of their sockets and their bones snapped. But the catch is, that was back in the fifties. So, we have no idea how Vecna even existed back then." Steve shrugged. "For all we know, the upside-down, the other dimension, could have existed for years before Eleven opened the gate and Will went missing." Dustin tried to come up with possible theories. "Wait who is Eleven?" Eddie asked. "The girl with the powers, you know, the ones that went bye-bye." Steve tried to remind Eddie. "Oh." Eddie nodded his head, starting to remember. "But how did he get through then? And how is he getting through now if there is no gate?" Lucas asked.

"And why now?" Steve asked. "He just kills one family in the fifties and then is like okay I'm good. Then, poof disappears and is just gone? And then returns thirty years later to kill some random teenagers? It doesn't make sense." Steve shook his head as he looked at Dustin. "It doesn't make any sense. I mean, what is the reason for all of this? There has to be a bigger meaning, right?" You questioned. "Hopefully Nancy and Robin will be able to figure that out. But, we have to get going, Max has some...things to take care of." Steve pulled out his car keys from his pocket, walking out the front door. "Alright, I'll be out there in a second." You said to the others as they walked out of the boathouse.

Standing up, you looked at Eddie, noticing he looked nervous, "you okay?" You walked up to him. Eddie looked up at you from his position on the floor, "never been better." He smiled, holding his hand out to you. You immediately grabbed it, helping him up off of the floor. He let out a sigh, dusting his hands off on his ripped black jeans. "You'll be okay here by yourself, right?" You raised a brow at him. "Of course." He gave you a quick, cheeky smile. Looking around you, you quickly grabbed the walkie, turning it on. Your eyes met with Eddies before looking away from him and grabbing his wrist, "here," you placed the walkie in his hand. "Just in case you start to miss me." You chuckled.

A smile slowly crept on Eddie's face as you let go of his hand. "I'll be back later tonight. Hold out until then." You gave him a reassuring smile before walking off, following the others. Stepping out of the boathouse, the sun blinded you causing you to squint your eyes. You closed the boathouse door behind you, looking over your shoulder every now and then to make sure no one saw you. Turning away, you jogged your way over to Steve's car, noticing Max, Lucas and Dustin sat in the back, huddled together. "Hurry." Steve ushered you to come in. Opening the door, you sat down, shutting the door quickly.

"Finally," Dustin rolled his eyes. "What was taking you so long? Did you and Eddie give each other a goodbye kiss?" Dustin teased, letting out a snort. Your head whipped around, your eyes sharpening as you stared at Dustin, "excuse me?" You cocked your head to the side. "Nothing, nothing, I didn't say anything." Dustin shook his head, putting his hands up in defense. "Hm, sure you didn't." You slowly sat back down in your seat. "A bunch of children. I'm babysitting a bunch of children. Why am I always the one stuck babysitting?" Steve asked, his hand clutching the steering wheel. "First of all, I am not a child. Two, from what I heard, you're pretty good with kids." You shrugged.

"Who said that?" Steve glanced at you before looking back at the road. "Robin," You cheekily smiled, letting out a small laugh. "Anyway, what are Nancy and Robin doing again?" Your brows furrowed. "They went to Pennhurst asylum to talk with Victor Creel." Dustin spoke. "But, wouldn't it be super hard to speak with him? I mean, he's a criminal. Well, others think he's a criminal." You corrected yourself. "Exactly, which is why they have come up with a plan. A plan involving them being college students who are working on some sort of essay or whatever. They even have a fake file, fake names, and fake GPAs." Steve scoffed. "Robin pretending to be a college student writing an essay? Oh no." You sulked in your seat.

"I would've been a better candidate, but that's just my opinion." Steve pointed at himself. "Are you sure about that Steve? What were you gonna do? Talk to them about your hair?" Dustin rolled his eyes. "You're on thin ice, Henderson." Steve looked at Dustin through the rearview mirror. "Can you guys stop bickering already?" Max asked, her tone low. The others looked at her, noticing how she barely paid any mind to the conversation, staring out the window. Looking back at her, you could tell she was afraid too, trying to hide it. She was scared of Vecna. Scared that'll she'll end up like the others. You had zero clue as to what she's been through, but whatever it was, it scarred her. Badly.

━━━━━

Steve pulled into the trailer park, the same trailer park Eddie lived in. As the car came to a stop, everyone got out of the car, leaning against it. Slinging her backpack over her shoulder before shutting the door behind her, Max walked into her trailer by herself. Observing the area, you looked back at Eddie's trailer, the same trailer you would do your projects in while Eddie played his guitar or did anything else that didn't involve helping you. Though this time, it felt eerie being here. With the caution tape wrapped around his trailer and the sudden quietness, it felt like something or someone was watching you from the inside.

A cold chill went up your spine causing you to snap out of your thoughts. "You alright?" Steve placed his hand on your arm. You nodded, looking away from the trailer, "I'm fine." Clearing your throat, you decided to change the subject, "so, why did Max need to come here?" You shared glances with the others. Steve sighed, "don't tell her I told you this, but this morning, she wrote all of us letters. Goodbye letters." Steve pursed his lips, pulling out the letter from his pocket. It was in a light brown envelope, his name written on it. "She said it was a fail-safe just in case things went wrong." Steve looked at you.

Your expression softened at his words, "have you read it?" You asked. "She doesn't want us to," Lucas chimed in. "She said to read it after." He clenched his jaw. "She stayed up all night writing letters for nearly everyone important to her. Including Billy." Dustin added. "Billy? Billy Hargrove? The one who died in the mall fire?" You asked Dustin. "Billy was her step-brother. And he didn't die in a mall fire," Dustin paused, "he sacrificed himself to save Max and everyone else from a creature that came from the upside-down." Dustin informed you. "Shit," you sighed, "I didn't know that he was her step-brother. I guess that explains a lot now." You adjusted in your spot. "Yeah..." Lucas agreed.

About two minutes passed before Max came walking out of the trailer, her pace fast as she made her way to the car. She looked panicked and extremely pale. Your brows furrowed as she approached. "Max, you okay?" Steve asked. "I'm fine." She dismissed him. "Was it your mom?" Steve pried. "I said I'm fine! Just drive!" Max spoke in an annoyed tone, slamming the car door. Steve shrugged, stepping inside the car, "fine."

"Y/n..."

You quickly looked behind you, hearing the same deep and twisted voice in your ear again. Your eyes landed on Eddie's trailer, a chill sending straight up your spine. With your breath caught in your throat, you just stood there, fixated on the trailer. "Y/n!" Steve yelled, clapping his hands. "Huh?" You looked at him. "Let's go!" He raised his brows. "Sorry." You mumbled, stepping into the car and shutting the door behind you. Max looked at you, watching you silently as Steve began to drive. She noticed how unnerved you looked, fidgeting in your seat.

━━━━━

Steve took the key out of the ignition as silence filled the air. "I'll be quick." Max said, grabbing her bag. You all were at the cemetery. Most likely for Max to visit Billy one last time before something happened to her. It was heartbreaking knowing that someone like her, someone just starting her life, has already been through so much. Though you weren't much older than her, you still felt like you had some sort of responsibility when it came to her. Having met her just a few days ago, it didn't matter to you how close you were with her, you just knew she needed someone to rely on.

Everyone else stepped out of the car, Lucas running after Max. "Max, wait up!" Lucas jogged over to her, far enough to where you couldn't hear their conversation. "How are you holding up?" Steve looked away from the two kids, his eyes locking onto you. "Could be better if I didn't know my life was most likely coming to an end soon." You looked back at him, folding your arms across your chest. "Hey, we'll figure out a way to defeat Vecna." Dustin said with confidence. You let out a small laugh, "you guys did defeat all those other monsters so I have no reason to believe you." You smirked.

Looking back over at Lucas and Max, you noticed Lucas looked concerned before he pulled out the letter from his back pocket. "What's he doing?" You asked. Dustin came walking over to your side, squinting his eyes from the sun, "looks pretty serious." Dustin sighed. Max walked away from Lucas, leaving him alone in the field. Lucas shook his head, slowly walking back over to the rest of you, the letter still in his hand. "What was that about?" Dustin looked down at Lucas's letter, glancing up at him. "Nothing," Lucas placed the letter back in his pocket. "Just give her a few."

Max walked up the small hill, placing her things on the grass, sitting in front of the tombstone. You felt like you were invading her privacy by staring. "Has Nancy or Robin said anything yet?" You asked, trying to change the subject. "Mmm, no. Nothing yet." Dustin shook his head. "I hope they didn't get in trouble. Then we're really screwed." You spoke, looking back over at Max. The sun shined on her red hair and pale skin as she held the letter in her hand, looking up at the tombstone from time to time.

Everyone just watched her. Not because you were barging into her business, but because everyone was worried for her. Lucas let out a small sigh, rubbing his hands together as he looked away from Max, finding other things to focus on. As you stood there next to Steve and Dustin, you wondered about your demise. You haven't told them about the voice you heard at the trailer park. But, you haven't seen the clock yet either. There was only so little time you had before things went to absolute shit for you. Hopefully, you'll defeat Vecna before that time comes.

"Alright, I think she's had enough time." Steve spoke, breaking you away from her thoughts. "Just give her some time, Steve." Lucas looked at him. "I have! Alright, Sinclair?" Steve began walking away from the car. You looked back at Dustin and Lucas, "stay here." You followed after Steve, walking beside him. "Alright, Max, time to go." Steve and you walked up to her. "Max! Come on!" Steve raised his voice a bit. You looked down at Max, noticing she wasn't even looking at the letter. "Max?" You kneeled down to her level. Your eyes widened at the sight. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, stuck in a trance. "Max!" Steve yelled. "Max! Hey!" You shouted, shaking her.

"Max! Wake up-guys!" You screamed, looking at Dustin and Lucas. Both of them looked at each other before running up the small hill. "Max!" You yelled. She wouldn't move. It was like she was petrified. Your heart was beating out of your chest. "What the hell is wrong with her?!" Lucas yelled, trying to shake her awake. "Vecna's curse..." Dustin muttered in complete shock. "Go! Go, call Nancy and Robin!" You yelled at Dustin, pointing at the car. Dustin stumbled over his own feet, tripping onto the grass before recovering, and running towards the car. "Max, come on! Wake up!" Steve shook her. "Max!" Lucas grabbed her face gently.

"Robin, where the hell are you?! This a code red!" You could hear Dustin scream in terror from down the hill. "Max..." You muttered, your eyes quickly scanning her figure. Dustin came running back up the hill, his breathing labored. "What's her favorite song?!" Dustin asked in a panic, looking at Lucas. "What?! Why?!" Lucas shrugged his shoulder. "Robin said if she listens-it's too much to explain right now! What's her favorite song?!" Dustin asked, nearly screaming at the top of his lungs. Max began twitching.

"Her bag!" You yelled, snatching it from the ground. You unzipped it, pouring out all of its contents. Her walkman and cassettes fell out onto the grass. Lucas rummaged through the cassettes, breathing heavily as he tried to look. "Hurry!" Steve yelled. "I'm trying!" Lucas picked up each of the tapes. "It's right here! I got it!" His hands were shaking as he opened the cassette. You grabbed her Walkman, opening it up as Lucas placed the tape inside. Slamming the walkman shut, Dustin placed the headphones over her ears. "Now!" He shouted at you. Your finger passed the play button, the cassette rolling.

"Max! Wake up!" You looked at her. "Max!" Dustin shouted. "Max! Max!" Lucas shook her again. "Shit! Max!" You screamed, watching as her body still twitched. "Come on! Come on, Max!" Steve leaned in, grabbing her by her shoulders, shaking her. Suddenly, her body began lifting into the air. You fell back onto the grass, everyone watching in shock and fear as she rose up to the sky. Your eyes widened, your breath caught in your throat. "Max!" You screamed, standing to your feet quickly. You tried to reach for her, but it was too late, your hand slipped off of her ankle. "Max!" Dustin jumped to his feet.

Her body stayed in the air, hovering, floating. Her eyes were looking to the sky. "No! No!" Lucas shouted. She was floating just like how Eddie described Chrissy right before she died. "We have to get her! We have to wake her up!" You looked at Steve. "Max! Please! Please! Wake up!" Lucas shouted. "Max!" Steve looked up at her. "Wake up! Wake! Up!" You screamed. "Max!" You all shouted in unison. Within a split second, Max dropped from the sky, letting out a scream as she fell onto the floor. Lucas rushed by her side, holding her tightly. Her breathing was heavy and a look of horror was written across her face.

Everyone rushed to her side as she clutched onto Lucas. "I thought we lost you." Lucas said on the brink of tears, laying his head in the crook of her neck. She clenched her eyes shut, breathing heavily, "I'm still here! I'm still here!" She said still out of breath. Tears fell from her eyes as she looked at everyone, holding onto Lucas tightly. "Oh, shit." Lucas sighed. You let out a sigh as well, your hand over your heart while your other hand was on Max's arm, comforting her. "Fucks sake." You swallowed, trying to calm down your heart rate.

"I'm still here." She spoke, looking at everyone.

𝑨𝑼𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬:
Chapter 5 is here! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! It makes me happy to see the positive comments. Thank you for reading.