Hell & Back

Chapter One

"I found it." Eddie came out of the back bedroom. He was looking down at the small box in his hand waiting on a reply but nothing came. For a minute he thought that Chrissy had turned heel and left, he wouldn't have blamed her. A girl like her wasn't use to standing in a disgusting trailer. When he looked up though he found her standing in the spot her left her but completely unresponsive. 

"Chrissy!" He yelled shaking her. "Chrissy, wake up." He let go of her and tried to calm down enough to think. He had to get through to her. If she was overdosing, they would kill him if she died. He looked around and seen the record player, his uncle had been entertaining a young girl the other night so there had to be something Chrissy would know in it. Eddie crossed his fingers and let it play, making sure to turn it up as loud as it could go. 

A pop song that he didn't know but had heard playing at the school pep rally's played. The whole trailer shook from the vibration, he went over and placed both hands on Chrissy's shoulders to steady her. He kept saying her name but knew she couldn't hear him over the music. 

It seemed to take hours but he knew it could only be moments. The song stopped playing with know effect, another started but he felt Chrissy move. He looked down realizing that her feet were off the floor, she was floating the only thing stopping her was his grasp. "I don't like this." He finally yelled and than he heard a small voice and his hands fell back down. 

"I'm sorry." It had said. Eddie looked down and seen that she was back. Her eyes looked shaken and like a scared deer. Eddie let go of her shoulders and started to walk over to the radio when she caught his hand. He looked back and seen that she was crying and shaking. "Hey, hey it's okay. You're okay." Eddie said walking back over to her. He put a hand on her cheek but the tears kept flowing. 

Chrissy didn't let go of his hand as he walked over to the radio and shut it off. Once he did, they heard a knock at the door. He felt Chrissy tense up and she wrapped her other hand around his arm. She was so close to him that he could smell the rose perfume she wore and the salty tears that flowed down her cheeks. Under normal circumstances having her clinging to him would make him blush but these weren't normal circumstances, he knew she was only scared and he was the closest thing to comfort she had. 

Eddie opened the door to see one of the neighbors standing there. "Do you know what time it is?" The heavyset woman asked. Her face was red and her black hair in rollers. She wore a long pink robe and slippers to match. "No?" Eddie replied honestly. The woman was no longer looking at him but at Chrissy. "Are you okay, sweetie?" The woman said reaching for her "Did this .. boy, hurt you?" Eddie was shocked by this but it was Chrissy who replied "No, no, just an argument with my mom." She said with a smile. "Sorry about the music, we were just leaving." Chrissy continued. 

Eddie wasn't sure where they were going but he obliged opening the car door for her. She finally released his arm as she climbed in. He quickly walked around the car and got in the drivers side. Realizing he had no idea where she wanted him to take her, he looked over towards her. "Umm, so do you want me to take you home? Or to that party?" Eddie said starting the car. "No!" She almost scared "Can I maybe just stay with you?" She looked down at this blushing. 

"Yeah. Sure. I know somewhere we can go." He said and stared driving. She took his hand again while they were driving. He lit a cigarette and tried to focus on the road. He wanted to know happened to her but he wasn't sure how to ask her. She still seemed to be upset. Why didn't she want to go home or to her friends? 

They drove in silence for awhile just letting the radio play, Chrissy was humming along starting out the window. "You don't have to tell me, but why don't you want to go party with your friends?" Eddie said tossing out the cigarette butt. For a minute he didn't think she heard him and was grateful. "They would think I'm crazy." She said still looking out the window. He was beginning to think he was the crazy one. 

The silence fell again as the continued driving. Eddie had a friend who lived out by the lake and he crashed there when his uncle became to much. He wasn't sure how long Chrissy intended on staying with him but he also wasn't pushing her to go home either. He understood better than most not wanting to be home. 

They got out of the car and walked into the house. The door was always unlocked and the house wasn't much of a step up from the trailer the just left. Rick had been picked up on drug chargers a few days ago and wouldn't be home for a few months. His parents paid the bills so there was no fear of anything being shut off. 

Chrissy looked around but didn't leave his side. The house was cold which made her shiver. Realizing that a cheerleading uniform wasn't the warmest thing to be wearing on an early spring night he released her hand and took of his coat, wrapping it around her. She smiled and put her arms through. 

"You could almost pass for a freak." He said with a half laugh to himself. "Does it  bother you, being called a freak." She asked looking at him. He stood leaning against the door frame, lost in thought. Chrissy almost regretted asking the question when suddenly he answered "No. I like who I am. They think I'm a freak because I play a fantasy game like what they enjoy is any better." She nodded and walked over to the couch. 

"If I tell you what happened, will you promise not to think I'm crazy?" She asked looking down. Eddie walked over to the couch and took her hand, she looked up at him as he gave her a reassuring smile "I promise." Chrissy smiled back and took a deep breath looking back down at the floor. 

"It was like a nightmare. I was standing in your living room when I started to hear something, I called out for you but you didn't answer so I went looking for you. Instead I found my mother but her face looked like a demon. She was taking out a skirt so it would fit me. I ran out of the room and was in my house. I went and found my dad sitting in his chair but his mouth was sewn shut. I heard my mom coming so I ran upstairs, she turned into a full demon and it told me it was time my suffering was over. He grabbed me but than I heard the music and your voice. You brought me back." She was looking at him again, no fear just thankfulness. 

"Your right they would think your crazy." Eddie said and she snatched her hand away. "When you were gone you started floating." He hurried up and said. "What?" She looked shocked. "Yeah, so I believe you, but why your mother?" Eddie asked more to himself than to her. "She wants me to be perfect but I'm not thin enough. I eat to much, I'm a pig." She said in a whispered voice. 

Eddie didn't know what to say now. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. She looked up and he met her gaze. "Your beautiful, Chrissy. Like the prettiest girl at Hawkins." Her smile grew bigger but he seen the doubt in her eyes. She was use to people telling her she was pretty. 

The spent the next couple hours just getting to know each other better. He found out that Chrissy enjoyed reading, loved music, worked out constantly for cheer and hated basketball. He told her about his band, his uncle, and a little about Dungeon and Dragons. He knew she wouldn't be interested but that was apart of him.

"I'm exhausted." Chrissy said shyly. Eddie didn't even think about sleeping arguments. He normally slept on the floor or couch depending on who was her. "You can take the couch, I'll take the floor." He said and grabbed some blankets from behind the chair. Eddie made himself a bed and Chrissy laid down on the couch. He didn't risk any light so he was fumbling around in the moonlight. 

When he finally laid down he heard the faint sound of crying. "Hey, are you okay?" He said rolling on his stomach and looking up at her. She looked like a doll in the moonlight. She had let her hair down and it spilled like red waves around her. Chrissy didn't answer. "You can come down here if you want." Eddie said without realizing what he said "I won't try anything." He continued. 

Eddie put his head back down out of embarrassment when he didn't get an answer, he knew his entire face was hot. A few minutes later he heard her get up and figured she was leaving or going to call a ride when he felt the blanket lift up and she climbed in beside him. He didn't rollover but felt her cuddle up close to him and soon after she was asleep. He closed off all the improper thoughts and drifted off to sleep himself.