broken | a byler story

chapter 3: the eye of the hurricane.

"How is that possible?" Mike said

"It works for anyone," Max said, "Your favorite song and a shit-ton of running can get you away from Vecna, but if you start seeing any clocks, TELL US."

El who had been standing quietly in the back, spoke up, "I knew Vecna before he was a monster."

"WHAT" Everyone but Mike collectively shouted.

She told them the story of Peter Ballard, the orderly who was 001, the chip, the massacre, and the gate that made Hawkins a war-zone.

"Holy shit" said Max, "So he won't stop-"

"Until every human is dead." Will said darkly.

"UM YOU GUYS!" Steve yelled, "NANCY'S LEVITATING!"

"Are you sure that's her favorite song?" Max said hurriedly

"No!" Steve said, "Maybe she's not Running Up That Hill if you know what I mean"

"This isn't a time for jokes. Nancy could get Vecna'd at any second" Max said seriously.

And it was at that moment that Nancy's bones started cracking, "NANCY, NO!!" yelled Mike before Nancy's eyes popped out of her head and she crumpled to the ground in the Upside Down.

"It seems..." Max said gravely, "Vecna has claimed his fourth victim"

"We need to stop this madness. Before more people fall victim to Vecna's curse" Will said

"Agreed" said Mike

"Then we have to go to the roots of his power" El said,

"Creel House," Max said solemnly

____________________________________________________________CREEL HOUSE

"So... since we're probably headed towards imminent doom, can we talk?" Mike said to Will

"You have 3 minutes" Will said back

"Look, we were assholes, you promised not to join another party, and then we did. I've been horrible for 2 years and it stops now. I'll never do this to you again. I promise. Friends don't lie, and so if I break this, I'll personally let you murder me" Mike said as an apology

"I accept your apology," Will said, "But no more lies, no more hiding. We do everything as a team."

"Deal" Mike said

"Then there's something I need to tell you" Will said, "I've been seeing clocks since we got to Hawkins. Like, the bad kind that Max told us to tell her if we saw"

"Will..." Mike cried, "I can't lose you"

"Anything you want to share with the class?" Robin asked inquisitively

"Yeah seriously," Max said, "You've been talking for like 10 minutes"

"I've been seeing those clocks you warned me about, and I've seen them since we entered 6 hours ago" Will said worriedly

"Will..." Max said as she started crying, "Everyone who saw that clock died within the day they saw it. Except for me."

"So that means..." Will said
"Yes" Max said, "You are most likely dying today. Lets head up to the attic, we can see if there's a gate there."

"Let me get this straight" Lucas said, "You want to take the boy who's going to be killed by Vecna to the place he attacks from?"

"That's a horrible idea" said El

"He attacks from the attic in the Upside Down," says Max, "We're going to the attic in Hawkins"

"So basically the most dangerous place in Hawkins?" said Will