Not Just Another Number

Splitting Up

Sarah's POV

Steve groans as he paces back and forth in the Wheeler's basement, looking down at the article in his hand as if it were a complicated math problem. I look back down at mine, trying to figure it out as well.

"Okay, be honest. Uh..." Steve says, looking at Lucas, Dustin, and I. "You guys understand any of this?"

"No."

"Not really."

"Pretty straight forward." Dustin says, making us all look at him. I raise an eyebrow and put my paper down. How in the hell does he understand any of this? Steve rolls his eyes and continues pacing. "Straightforward, really?"

"What's confusing to you? So far, everyone Vecna has cursed has died, except for this old Victor Creel dude Nancy found. He's the only known survivor. If anyone knows how to beat this curse, it's him." Dustin explains, and it surprisingly helps. Steve, though, isn't convinced.

"That's assuming he was cursed, which we don't even know. How can Vecna have existed in the '50s? It doesn't make sense."

I lean forward on the chair that I'm sitting on, trying to figure out an answer. "Well, as far as we know, Eleven didn't create the Upside Down. We know the monsters predate her because my mom made them when I wasn't even a year old. Instead, she must have opened a gate to it." Dustin nods along with what I'm saying, adding on to it. "The Upside Down has probably been around for thousands of years. Millions. I wouldn't be surprised if it predated the dinosaurs."

"Dinosaurs?" Steve repeats, shaking his head. Before Steve could argue with Dustin, Lucas interrupts him. "But if a gate didn't exist in the '50s, how did Vecna get through?"

Steve nods, adding on, "How's he getting through now?"

"And why now?"

"And why then? Just pops out in the '50s, kills one family, and he's like, 'I'm good'. And poof, he just disappears. Just...gone? Only to return 30 years later and start killing random teens? No, I don't buy it." Steve sighs and walks over to the chair I'm sitting in. He shakes his head and glares down at the article in his hand. "Straightforward, my ass." He looks back up at Dustin, pointing at him as he sits on the arm of my chair. "Honestly, Henderson, a little humility now and then, it wouldn't hurt you."

"Sorry." Dustin mutters and rolls his eyes. I shake my head and look back down at my paper. I feel a hand fall on my shoulder, making me look up. I see Steve staring down at his article, all while holding my shoulder in a comforting grip. He's been doing this since last night... Holding my hand and not really leaving my side. Is he okay?

I rest my hand on his, making him look down at me. I try to convey my worry through my eyes, not wanting to ask while the kids are around, but I'm greeted with a matching look of concern. I furrow my brows, growing more worried the longer I stare at him.

"Any idea what she's writing?" Dustin's voice catches my attention. I look away from Steve and back at Max, who's sitting at a small desk, furiously writing something. "Did she sleep?" He asks.

"I mean, would you?" Lucas asks, making me look away. I look down at my lap, a uneasy feeling growing in my gut. Suddenly, the door to the basement slams open. I look up at the stairs as Nancy, Robin, and Christine race down.

The three of them have huge smiles on their faces. "Okay, so...we have a plan." Nancy says, a little out of breath. They all have a folder in their hands.

The walk over to the empty chairs and sit, each handing us a folder. Christine hands me her's. It's a college portfolio. I look up at Christine, confused. She just sends me a smile back. She looks over at Robin, listening as she begins to explain. "Thanks to Nancy's newspaper minions, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame."