𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 ; ᴹᶦᵏᵉ ᵂʰᵉᵉˡᵉʳ

The Piggyback

As night falls, the group of four in the Creel House travel around the home, using lanterns to try and track Vecna on the other side. Lucas and Max were upstairs while Erica and Ian took the main floor. After Erica found Vecna, she tracked Lucas down to tell him through a notepad.

The four silently make their way to the living room, seeing Erica's lantern pulsing with energy. Max and Ian both listen to their favorite song as they approach, attempting to avoid unwanted casualties. Ian hangs back with the Sinclair siblings as Max approaches, her lantern beginning to buzz loudly, she must've been right on top of him. 

The redhead looks back at the trio, and Erica looks up at her brother to confirm suspicions, using the notepad to voice her words. 

"Phase one?"

Lucas nodded, sending Erica and Ian outside as they now knew that Vecna was home.

The two run outside and across the street, needing to act fast. 

They climb into the rocketship shaped playset, unknowing of a middle-aged man walking his dog watching them. Ian turns back to look at the house but notices the man. The man looks between Ian and the house, a blue light illuminating through the windows downstairs. Ian gives him a look to walk away, and he does so, giving the four teens the peace and silence they needed. 

Erica holds the flashlight up and shines it toward the window where Max and Lucas sit, trying to get a flash back. 

"C'mon, c'mon..."

Finally, they see the light reply to them, giving them the go-ahead. 

Erica clicks the walkie, speaking into it. "The lovebirds have copied, Max is moving into phase two: distracting Vecna,"

The two sit in silence for a while, waiting and pondering, hoping they're okay inside. The silence doesn't last long, however, seeing as Jason and his goons had found him. Erica and Ian attempt to make a run for it, but the one guy after them tackles Erica as Ian hides in the brush. He doesn't know how to act but is now aware of Lucas' light in the attic window.

"Let me go, meathead!" Erica shouts.

"Shut your mouth, or I'll break your arms!" The jock shouts, "Hear me? You little shit"

Erica grunts as she attempts to fight back, trying to wriggle her way out. Ian needed to warn Lucas of Jason and help Erica, but he couldn't do anything.

He was too weak.

"What did I tell you about feeling weak?" Robin asks, hands on the younger boy's shoulders.

He's only thirteen, being mostly taken care of by Robin Buckley in the trailer park. He vents to her about his issues and how he doesn't feel worthy enough. She doesn't know anything about the Upside Down, which makes it worse.

"I'm not weak, I'm stronger than I think," Ian mumbles in response.

"And?" She asks.

Ian continues, "Even if I don't think I'm strong enough, try anyways. Dying trying is better than not trying at all."

Ian is quick to take action, using the flashlight that he'd for some reason taken with him as a weapon. He makes sure his music is still on, not needing a Vecna intervention at this hour.

He runs out from the brush, yelling as he holds the flashlight up. Erica looks up, desperate for help.

Ian lands a good blow on the jock's head, knocking him to the ground just long enough so Erica could get up. The jock grabs her ankle, pulling her back down.