Andrea woke up in the early hours of the morning due to the feeling of movement around her, the sunlight beaming in through the room through the curtains. Her eye's barely fluttered open as sleep held her down. She barely caught sight of the man who laid awake beside of her, his hand rubbing up and down her side.

A soft hum left her lips as she tried to pry her own eyes open. The sound alerting the man that she had begun to wake up. It was no earlier than eight in the morning, and to Andrea that was early, but it was awfully quiet for once.

Usually, there were the sounds of wind or just the sounds of the environment outside of the homes. For once, there was nothing. And in her tired state, Andrea could not help but think, even the trees are scared...It was a silly thing to think, but she truly believed it.

"We've got to go soon," Steve spoke as he looked at the girl, "We've got to go and help the others."

Andrea left out a sigh as she buried her head further into the pillows, "I know," Her voice was muffled but Steve still understood what she was saying. 

She wanted nothing more than for this all to just disappear. For everything to be normal for once. Out of the entire time that Andrea had been out of the Lab, she had never had a normal year. Saying she had a normal few months was even pushing it with everything.

It was honestly really sad. Andrea had believed that by leaving the lab that she would be able to be normal. That she would be able to live a life. She had lived her life, but in the chaos that ensued. The town never had a stopping point. Everything was constant.

"Are you going to get up?" Steve's hand continued to run over her back, settling down on her spine causing her to let out a small laugh.

No, Andrea thought in her mind. Not wanting to get up in all honesty. Her head was still pounding, though it wasn't as bad as the night prior, and she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and go back to sleep. Hoping that sleep would save her battery and mind.

But she knew that was unlikely to happen. Her friends needed her, despite how they treated her in the recent events. To them, she was just a weapon, a weapon that had been failing at its job recently. No matter how hard she fought or how hard she pushed herself, it was never enough. 

Andrea lifted herself up as she swatted his hand away, "I guess I am now," She pouted before sliding away from him, "I'm pretty sure I've still got some clothes here." 

"Yeah, sitting over in my closet," Steve nodded as he made his way up as well.

The two moved on their way to get dressed. Andrea walked into Steve's closet as she found a jean skirt with one of her older belts as well as one of her button-up short-sleeved shirts. She quickly slid the clothes on before walking out and letting her curls lose while her scrunchie rested on her wrist.

Steve changed into a yellow long-sleeved shirt and a pair of comfortable pants. He nodded as Andrea put her shoes on before going to make the call for Nancy to come to pick the two up. Knowing that they were going to find Eddie and as packed as one vehicle was, it was easier. 

Steve walked back into his kitchen while Andrea walked down the stairs. Her shoes caused a small bit of noise as they hit against the floor before she let out a soft sigh.

"So, what is your guess with the whole... Creel thing?" Steve called out after a moment, hearing her movements pause as she stood in front of the door.

The Creel thing? Do you mean the fact that Henry Creel is also 001 who is also Peter Ballard who also happens to be Vecna? Does someone actually want to hear me?  She felt bad for even retorting that in her mind at Steve, after all, he had just asked her a question. 

It was just that recently no matter how much she tried to be heard, everyone shut her down. No one wanted to listen to what she had to say on the matter and it was truly annoying. If only they had listened to her from the beginning, maybe things would be different. 

Andrea turned and walked back into the kitchen as she watched Steve move a few things around before he turned to face her, "What I think?"

Steve nodded as he ran a hand through his hair, "I mean... yeah, that's what I asked."

The look on Steve's face made Andrea's thoughts run wild. What exactly did she want to tell him? She didn't want to hold anything back from him so she could explain as much as she could in the given time but what if they were interrupted? 

Andrea shrugged her shoulders as she played with her fingers, "Uh... it's a long story."

That was the answer that Andrea had settled on trying to evade the conversation in case the others showed up. She didn't want to give some half-assed story which caused even more questions from Steve. She just wanted him to understand what she did, but it would take quite a bit of time before he did and she knew that. 

"One you can tell me before they come," Steve gave her a soft look, "You talk like you've known Vecna, even before all of this happened, and the way you react about the Creels..."

"It's cause I have, Steve," Andrea noticed the way he turned to her with a look of complete confusion, "I've known him since I was a child. I thought he died - I watched it happen, but... he's not."

"He was in the Lab?" Steve questioned as his eyes narrowed in confusion, "Why haven't you said anything?"

"I've tried, Steve," Andrea shot as she placed her hands on her hips, "No one lets me talk. I've just been shoved around till someone needs me."

Steve sighed, "I told them to stop."

"Well they didn't," Andrea quipped, "And Nancy won't and there's nothing I hate more than hiding things but now I look more and more like a bad person because I don't have the freedom to say anything!"

"Well you can tell me," Steve gave her a look of determination, "I'll always listen to you."

"He worked as an orderly," Andrea explained as Steve placed a hand on her cheek, "He was meant to keep us all on task. But something was always different when he was around me. He never left me alone for lessons and he always taught me basic tasks - like getting around my stutter."

"Jeez," Steve made a face, "So is he...."

Andrea sighed, "I can't confirm it yet, but I saw what he looked like when he was normal. His eyes were the exact same as Henry's. There isn't a doubt in my mind that they are the same person."

Steve's finger ran over her cheekbone, "I can see why this is hard on you."

Andrea looked down before forcing her eyes to meet Steve, "He's taunting me in my memories. The card game we play is what determines who wins or dies and I can't remember what he played that he always won from. Each card turns into a person but the final card? He said it was something else."

Steve's eyes flashed with concern before the doorbell rang, "STEVE! ANDREA! COME ON!" Dustin yelled through the door.

"We've got to go," Andrea pulled away from Steve before making her way to the door, "Come on, pretty boy."

"Pretty boy?" Steve questioned as Andrea turned the doorknob before pulling the door open, "That's a new one."

"One we can worry about later - let's go people!" Dustin rushed the two back to the car, "We've got to supply Eddie."

"Ah! We've got to help ole Munson," Andrea made a fake cheery tone as they walked down the sidewalk of the Harrington home, making their way to Nancy's vehicle. 

Andrea sat with Steve and Dustin in the back of the Wheeler vehicle as they made their runs. They went to a few stores as they collected food for the Musnon man. The trio in the back ended up eating a few snacks while music played.

"Not to be a wimp but could I maybe sit in the car for this visit 'cause this is gonna totally and royally suck," Robin looked over at Nancy who got annoyed.

"It'll be fine," Nancy snapped as she grew annoyed.

Robin sighed as she looked at the other woman, "I can't stand to see those dull eyes of Eddie's break again. I really, really can't," Robin turned back to face forward.

"At least he can drink himself into feeling better," Steve called through his bites of pringles as he held up a six-pack. 

"That's what my mom does," Max spoke as she sat listening to the music within her headphones.

"Why don't we give it a trial run?" Robin questioned before adding, "Hey, Eddie. Uh, good news first this time. We got you some Dustin-approved junk food and that six-pack you requested!" Robin's hand rested against the side of her head as she spoke, "Oh yeah and we found Vecna! Bad news is that he's in that other, darker, much scarier dimension..."

"She's not going to cool," Andrea placed another chip in her mouth as she managed to lay weirdly in the back.

"That we told you about and the gate's closed, so we have no way of getting to him besides a girl who fights him in her mind that happens to be his daughter and loses every time. He's entirely shut off to us, so basically we are screwed... no offense Andrea."

Andrea let out a huff of air as she placed another chip in her mouth, "Just continue to talk as if I'm not here, okay? Make it a little easier on yourself."

Andrea ignored the looks she received as she placed her hands over her eyes as her mind began to race, her head starting to pound just a tad bit more causing a small groan to leave her lips. Her head rested against Steve's leg as the can of chips sat near her shoulders. 

Robin kept going on, "And, no, I know you were already screwed, but now you're like doubly, triply screwed!"

"Wait. Wait. Wait, maybe we don't put it like that," Lucas stopped Robin as he held up his hand.

Nancy had a look that was to be rivaled as she spoke, "We are one step closer to finding Vecna," She nodded her head before shaking it, "That's what we say. That's what's important."

Andrea scoffed, "Sure. Keep lying to the guy. When everyone's dead we just apologize, sorry! We lied."

"Andrea," Steve sighed as he handed Dustin another chip, "Can we go back to the false positivity? See, Robin? A positive spin can make all the difference," He had a mouthful of chips. 

"Uh, huh," Robin scoffed while Andrea tried to put pressure on her head.

"Oh shit," Nancy spoke causing everyone to sigh, they passed another car as well as news reporters all around the home. "Come on, this way," Nancy spoke once again.

Andrea made sure that no one else noticed them as she warped their perceptions despite the killer headache that had formed. Blood dripped down her nose as they got near the police tape.

"A little after midnight... reporting a homicide here on the lake," The Chief began to explain as he looked at the cameras while chatter ensued behind him, "Officer Callahan here and myself arrived first on the scene. We made our way to the shore of Lover's Lake, about ten yards from that house you see behind me."

"It's here," Andrea looked worried as she moved closer to the tape despite the comments from her friends.

"It was there we found the body, an eighteen-year-old senior from Hawkins High, Patrick McKinney. His limbs... and his body it was disfigured. There was an eyewitness on the scene... we have also identified a person of interest. Eddie Munson," The police continued to speak.

"Oh man, this is not good. Really not good," Steve muttered to Dustin as they listened to the clamor of the reporters as they spoke. 

Andrea's eyes fell down to the ground as thoughts ran through her head. So far, he had targeted the main people of their school. The different corners. The jocks and athletes and then the newspaper people. Max was the next victim but it just did not make sense. 

"You've got a lot of questions, and I'm going to answer as many as I can," Andrea's headache only got worse causing her to move back, having to stop using her abilities as her hands flew to her temple.

Andrea barely registered the look on Lucas' face after finding out about the death of his friend.

"Dustin? Can you hear me? Wheeler?" Eddie's voice came over the radio causing a bit of panic from the group.

"Eddie, holy shit, are you okay?" Dustin spoke into the radio while Andrea huffed.

"Nah, man. Pretty... pretty goddamn far from okay," Andrea could hear the range of emotions behind Eddie's voice, this was clearly messing with him.

"Where is he?" Robin questioned as she moved closer to Dustin.

"Where are you?" Dustin then questioned Eddie.

"Skull Rock. Do you know it?" Eddie questioned through the radio to the younger boy.

"Uh, yeah," Dustin confirmed as he began to speak, "That's near Cornwallis and"

"Garrett, yeah. I know where that is," Steve patted Dustin's arm before he grabbed Andrea and took off running. 

"Hold tight, we're coming. We're coming," Dustin repeated so that Eddie got the memo before he put the device up.

Steve took the keys as he got into the driver's seat after making sure Andrea got in the passenger's seat much to Robin and Nancy's dismay. They ended up in the back with Dustin. 

"How do you know where it is?" Nancy questioned as she sat with her arms crossed over her chest like an upset child. 

"I've taken Andrea there before," was Steve's simple response as he drove off.

Then everyone went quiet. Listening to the radio for the rest of the drive while they tried their best to get to Skull Rock. Steve taking quite a few turns and roads that not many people knew. 

They ended up parking outside of the woods. Steve tossed Nancy's keys back into her hands before he grabbed ahold of Andrea and a compass as they look the lead. Andrea's headache lightened up ever so slightly.

they walked for nearly ten minutes before the conversation started up yet again once Dustin took over the compass. 

"Dude, I'm telling you, you're taking us the wrong way," Steve spoke as they followed after the younger Henderson.

"It's north. I'm positive. I checked the map," Dustin looked at the compass before looking at the map before waving it over in Steve's direction.

"You do realize Skull Rock, it's a super popular make-out spot?" Steve retorted as the three walked through the woods on their own.

"Yeah. So?" Dustin questioned as he began to grow annoyed.

"Yeah, well, it wasn't popular until I made it popular," Steve spoke causing Andrea's eyes to roll, "All right? I practically invented it. We're heading in the wrong direction," Steve began to walk off as he tugged Andrea along.

"Steve, where are you going? Steve!" Dustin called after the two as he watched the two continue to walk away till Steve turned back.

"Stop whining! Let's go. Trust me," Dustin waved his hand for the boy to follow.

"STEEVE!" Dustin yelled before the others followed after them from a distance.

Andrea continued to walk as the ground crunched under her feet. It took them a bit but they reached the spot not long after that.

"Bada bing, bada boom!" Steve pushed away a few branches before letting Andrea go under his arms, "There she is, Henderson. Skull Rock! In your face, man. In your stupid, cocky little face," Steve retorted as he followed after Andrea.

They continued to walk closer to the rock while Dustin looked confused. His compass had been telling him wrong almost the entire time. Andrea had not known for compasses to ever really be wrong. 

"Doesn't make sense," Dustin looked confused as he looked up from under his blue and white hat.

"Yeah, yeah. Even with it staring you in the face, you can't admit it," Steve made a motion with his hands as he played with a few locks of Andrea's hair.

"His compass was wrong," Andrea muttered.

"Can't admit you are wrong, you butthead," Steve continued to go on despite Andrea hitting his side.

"I concur!" Eddie jumped out of a tree causing the three to turn, Andrea nearly having to grab Steve as he jumped into the air not expecting it.

Andrea blinked as Steve was nearly in bridal style in her arms, the only thing not in her arms were one of his legs as he held onto her. A weird look on Andrea's face as she continued to hold him up.

"You, Dustin Henderson, are a total butthead," Eddie placed his hands on his hips before nodding at Andrea, "Nice muscles, scarface."

"Jesus! We thought you were a goner," Dustin pulled Eddie into his arms for a hug while Eddie wrapped his arms around him in return.

Steve dropped out of Andrea's arms as he adjusted himself, "That did not happen."

"Oh, it did," Andrea placed her hands on her hips as she stared at him.

"Yeah, me too, man," Eddie patted Dustin's back as he looked over the boy's shoulder at the two others, "Me too."

And then the others reached the group. Everyone was now passing around Eddie's much-needed food as they placed things down. Trying to figure out how they were going to explain the latest events to him without him freaking out. That was the last thing they needed at the present moment, especially since Eddie Munson was a wanted man by the law.