Freaks

Chapter 8

A rustling in the forest caused us both to look up, Eddie quit throwing rocks and instead peered out into the forest.

He pointed to the top of the rock, "Climb up!" He whispered.

We hurried round to the back of the rock, Eddie cupped his hand giving me a leg up. I lay out flat on my stomach as I clambered to the top, reaching my hand down and pulling Eddie with all my weight.

We both stayed lying flat, heads swivelling into the greenery, until we recognised the few people that were coming to a stop below us.

"Can't admit that you're wrong you little butthead." Steve's voice floated through the forest.

Eddie jumped off, making both Dustin and Steve jump, "I concur, " He spoke, "You, Dustin Henderson, are a...total butthead."

I slid down the rock, landing on my hunkers behind Eddie, "I'd like to third that."

"Jesus, we thought you two were goner's." Dustin pulled Eddie into a hug and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around Steve, I needed to touch another live human being that wasn't Eddie.

"Try living it." I scoffed. I grabbed Dustin, giving him a quick tight hug too, before Nancy, Robin, Max and Lucas rounded the corner.

"Max!" I grabbed her, pulling a third person into a hug.

"Yeah, hi." She patted my back awkwardly.

"Sorry, sorry." I pulled away sheepishly, "I just, it's just..." I couldn't bring myself to tell her what I'd seen in her head, not yet, "I'm glad you're okay."

"Hey!" Robin groaned, "Where's my safety hug?"

I laughed a little, squeezing her too.

"You want one too, Sinclair?" I asked, jokingly.

He shook his head quickly, "Sorry Ari, but uh..." He gestured at my muddied clothing.

"Understandable." I stepped back in surrender.

"What the hell happened?" Dustin's tone was serious.

Eddie gestured to me, "Take it away."

"I...um, I don't want to relive it...again" I paused, staring at the ground, "So I'll just tell it quick." I took a deep breath, "The basketballers came to the house, with weapons...they came to hurt us, or maybe worse I don't know. We set the boat off into the water to try and get away but two of them came in after us. Patrick...he..." I trailed off.

"We know." Dustin smiled sadly.

"When... when it happened, I felt something," I bit my lip, "Like I was attached to Patrick and when he...he died, I got all the energy he had left."

Everyone looked at me like I had sixteen heads, everyone except Eddie who was downing whatever Dustin had brought in a silver flask.

"I was in Max's head!" I burst out quickly.

"What?!"

"Why were you-"

"Did you even think about..."

Everyone spoke over one another, voices jumbled. Their panic just confirmed that Vecna had been after her.

"I saw Vecna." Everyone silenced, "In her head. I think, I think he gatewayed from her to me. I think that's how I knew what was happening to Patrick."

"Then how come you're not dead?" Steve asked, "No offence."

"Because I think I'm like him." My voice broke.

"Hey," Eddie grabbed my hand, "You're not a killer, you're not like Vecna."

"Woah." Dustin interrupted, "What is this? When did this?" He gestured at our intertwined hands.