not the freak ~ eddie munson

we believe you

after school.

"no he stood me up" i tell steve from the counter of the family video store

"what an asshole" steve says pissed "he lives at the trailer park right? with his uncle?" i ask and robin nods her head.

i throw my flannel back on "i'll be back guys and if i'm not i'm at home" i say to robin as i start making my way to the trailer park. it was almost dark when i got to his house, i saw max outside feeding her puppy.

i wave and she waves back. i hear eddie shouting from his house and the lights are flickering all around "eddie?! eddie!" i pound on the door but nothing

i brace myself and open the door to see chrissy cunningham on the floor and eddie mortified "no! don't look out out out let's go!" he says pulling my by the hand as we get in his car and drive off "what the hell happened?!" i ask raising my voice

"no.. i don't know what the hell that was, oh my god" he says running a hand over his face as he keeps driving "eddie stop" i put a hand on his arm as he pulls over

we were just a few miles out from the lake "what the hell was that?" i ask as he leans against the vehicle "i- i don't know she came to me for some weed, asked for some stronger shit a- and i came back from my room and she was in this- this trance and she wouldn't wake up" he says erratically

"then she was floating and then her bones- and her eyes.. oh god.." he whispers to himself. he looks up and me and scratches his head a bit "you probably think i'm crazy right?" he laughs under his breath "eddie. stop." i put my hands on his upper arms

"you're not crazy alright.. this isn't the first time i've seen something like this" i tell him as i step back "what do you mean?" he asks crossing his arms.

i think to myself... robin, dustin, and steve "where's your walkie?" i ask him hopeful. he hurries and grabs it from the front of his car "dustin?" i ask and nothing "dustin come on-" "mollie? are you with eddie? he's in deep shit-"

"yeah i know! henderson" eddie snatches the walkie from my hands "look, we found your hideout spot we are on our way alright? just hang tight" dustin says leaving the signal "let's go" eddie tells me, we get in his car and drive some more.

apparently eddie's hidden here before. his drug supplier, reefer ricks place. we see some lights shine through the windows of the boat shed me and eddie duck down "hello?" i hear a voice call out, i couldn't place who it was.

a few more people walk into the shed "maybe he got spooked and ran" the voice says again "don't worry steve will get him with his oar" i hear.. dustin say.

eddie jumps up from his spot "no eddie!" he holds a broken beer bottle to steve's neck. we all start freaking out "woah woah woah eddie! stop!" dustin says panicking "eddie it's us! it's me! dustin!" he tries calming eddie down

"eddie... it's steve he's not gonna hurt you okay? so.." i put my hand over eddie's and move the beer bottle "put the bottle down" i say but eddie resists "steve put the oar down, you're not gonna hurt him right steve?" dustin says trying to do anything to make eddie step away "right right" steve says quickly under his breath.

the oar falls and eddie puts the beer bottle closer "eddie he's cool he's cool-" "i'm cool man" steve says putting his hands up "eddie it's dustin okay? a- and you know my sister robin from band! and that's max, remember? billy's sister? they are here to help" eddie looks at me then to dustin the back to me

"i promise, give me the bottle" i say softly and hold my hand out. eddie steps back and hands over the bottle "jesus.." i hear dustin whisper and he goes to comfort eddie.

i go over to robin and steve "are you okay?" steve says looking over for any bruises or cuts "no i'm fine, it's just him... the sight was horrible, steve, i've never seen anything like it" i tell him and he nods his head "i know"

robin goes over to eddie as he starts telling them what he saw "-then mollie showed up and i didn't know what to do so i took her with me" eddie tells everyone.

they all look at me then back to him "they think i'm crazy-" "no eddie we don't think you're crazy" dustin says softly

"don't bullshit me man! i know how this sounds" he tells dustin as his voice cracks a bit "we aren't bullshitting you man" steve speaks up "we believe you" robin joins in.

dustin starts to explain everything with hawkins and the upside down to eddie "like ghosts and shit?" eddie asks "there are some things worst that ghosts" max tells him

"that's why they're here eddie, we need to know if it's happening again" i tell him and everyone agrees with me.

"it's like she was in a trance or something" eddie tells us "or under a spell" i say looking at eddie.

he looks at me then dustin "a curse" it goes quiet a few moments "guys" dustin and eddie look my way "vecnas curse" dustin's face falls "who's vecna?" steve asks lost "a spell caster.." eddie says looking deep in thought about the whole situation.

later.

me, robin, steve, max and dustin walk out and start talking next to the car "he's scared shitless we can't just leave him here" max says

"well he needs food too" dustin says look at me then steve "i've been with him this long, i'll stay while you guys go back into town eddie has his walkie i'll signal in if we need anything"

i tell the group and they all agree except for steve "he held a beer bottle to my neck i'm not leaving you here with him!" he puts a hand on his hip

"she's the only one who's been getting through to him" dustin proves a point "i'll be fine, i'll see you guys later" i start to walk back "wear a condom!" robin shouts max and dustin nag her for saying that.

i flip her the bird and go back to the boat shed.