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Upbeat music plays on the radio as Nancy drives, Robin at her side. Lucas and Max sit in the back seat while Dustin, Steve, and Ethan sit in the trunk. Ethan silently listens as the group talks about the current situation, explaining how Eddie is essentially screwed.
"See, Robin? Positive spin can make all the difference!" Steve says, dropping chip crumbs onto his yellow sweater.
Ethan cringes, thinking, 'No wonder you don't have a girlfriend, Steve, you eat like a pig' before listening to Nancy up front.
"Oh, shit," Nancy mumbles, slowly pressing on the brake pedal.
Ethan quietly groans, wanting to just go to bed at this point. He still needed to call his mom, and get in touch with Jaeden and Hallow, he worried for all three of them, especially with Vecna roaming around.
They all spill out of the car and follow Nancy, trying to listen in to Chief Powell talking to the news station reporters. After Hopper... y'know, Powell was nominated as Chief, and Callahan as his lead deputy. Must've been another killing.
"As many of you may know, the Roane County line received a call a little after midnight... reporting a homicide here on the lake,"
Ethan shares a look with Dustin, Lucas, and Max, one of worry yet anger at the same time. He listens intently, seeing Lucas' face of absolute shock and numbness hit like a brick after hearing Patrick McKinney's name drop. Ethan lays a soft hand on Lucas' shoulder, trying to show some comfort and empathy. He isn't sure of who Patrick is, or was, but his death clearly seemed to have an effect on Luke, that's what mattered.
"His limbs... his body, was disfigured. There was an eyewitness on the scene, and we have also identified a person of interest."
Chief Powell holds up a picture of Eddie Munson for the news cameras to capture, causing Ethan's mind to now run a million miles an hour. He wished he could run up there and make them all believe the truth, that the demon-killing spree wasn't caused by Eddie. If anything, he felt it was his fault for not making sure the Upside Down was closed off one hundred percent for good, he felt it was his fault for not saying something about Vecna sooner. Eddie had nothing to do with this other than witness Chrissy's death. He didn't deserve to have his face broadcasted on the local news stations for something he didn't do, now hunted like he was on the FBI Most Wanted List like Ethan and El were.
"Oh, man," Steve whispers, "This isn't good. Really not good," he mutters, looking down at Dustin, who clearly doesn't know what to think at the moment.
Lucas, Robin, and Max share a glance, trying to read each other. Chief Powell walks away after announcing his presence at the Town Hall at two o'clock to answer any questions for the community. Suddenly, the walkie-talkie that Dustin had in his pocket starts blaring Eddie's familiar voice, looking for Dustin.
