𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘛𝘐𝘔𝘌 - 𝘌𝘋𝘋𝘐𝘌 𝘔𝘜𝘕𝘚𝘖𝘕

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂

Before Eddie could respond, Dustin's voice was heard through the Walkie. 

"We have something, guys." Dustin spoke quickly, causing Amanda to drop the rag and run towards the Walkie.

"Jesus Christ, Dustin, you going to keep me waiting for half a damn century or are you going to tell me?" Amanda responded, causing Eddie to chuckle. 

"Geez, Amanda. Being nice wont hurt you, y'know. But anyways, after a visit to some mental institution, talking with Victor Creel, Nancy found out that the easy fix is music. It provides sort of an opening for anyone who's cursed to free themselves. You see, the music reaches a part of the brain Vecna can't, providing some sort of safety if you find yourself cursed by him. It worked with Max, all we need is another walkman. Do you have one on you? If not I need to know your favorite song asap." Dustin explained, causing Amanda's eyebrows to furrow. The solution was not something she expected, but nonetheless she was grateful there was one to begin with. 

"I don't have one on me. There's one at my house. There's a cassette next to it, make sure it says And She Was. Should be on my desk in my room." Amanda explained, before earning a laugh from Eddie.

"Okay, just tell us the address and we're there." 

As Amanda told them her address, Steve was quick to take over, speaking directly to Amanda in a panicked tone. 

"Please tell me there's some sort of music over there. Last night after we left we went to the school, we found out some information on those who died. They each had the same symptoms Max had, so please just tell me you haven't experienced any of those. Headaches, waking up in a cold sweat, nosebleeds. Anything, Amanda." Steve spoke frantically, the sound of passing cars being heard through the walkie. 

"I have, but you have the solution, right? So you'll just have to get me my walkman and I'll be fine, right?" Amanda spoke hopefully, looking to Eddie whose amused face turned serious. 

"It's a band-aid." Steve sighed, his tone pessimistic.

"Yeah, well it'll work for now, right? What happened to optimistic Steve? You know, badass babysitter Steve? I mean, I'm the one dying and you're being pessimistic?" Amanda joked, though she could tell it wasn't one anyone was fond of. 

"I'll be optimistic when we have a better solution. Until then you'd better get used to hearing And She Was." Steve concluded, before the conversation went silent. Amanda looked to Eddie, who had been frowning at the conversation they had just held. 

"What did I tell you? You're going to be fine." Eddie spoke confidently, as if he'd been the one to figure out the solution. 

"Like he said, band-aid." Amanda responded coldly, tearing away at Eddie's heart. 

"It wouldn't kill you to at least try to be optimistic." Eddie retorted, sending her a glare. 

"Yeah, well there's not much to be optimistic about now, is there? I mean, Steve is practically made of optimism, or at least I like to think he is." Amanda sighed, walking back over to Eddie. 

"He isn't, actually. He's pretty pessimistic." Eddie corrected her, his tone unamused with her. 

As Amanda sat alone, she could feel darkness wrap around her, clutching her body with it's dark fist, holding her from safety. It seemed as if the more she struggled the harder the grip became, crushing her inside and out. At this moment, she thought back to her mother, thinking of all the torment she watched her mother endure as she grew up. Loving a man who could not reciprocate his feelings back to her, watching the emotional torment tear her in half each time he opened a new can of beer. 

Amanda felt a pain in her heart knowing she may leave her mother alone with him, a man who single-handedly crushed both her mother and her own self esteem. At times Amanda would resent her mother for letting him into their lives, for letting him continue to verbally abuse her. At some point in her life, she learned to stop fighting back. To simply smile and nod as her step father spewed insults and painful words towards her. 

All she knew in this moment was that she was determined to live, if not for herself for her mother, someone who desperately needed her. 

"Amanda, they're here." Eddie slid open the door, sending her a soft smile. 

"Alright." Amanda stood herself up, walking towards the living room as she noticed Max with headphones on, blaring a song she'd heard once before. Amanda sent her a nod, to which Max reciprocated instantly. 

"You and Jonathan would really get along." Nancy smiled, handing her the walkman. 

"Who's Jonathan?" Amanda inquired, looking to Nancy whose face turned sour. 

"My boyfriend." She said in an upset tone, as if it were a touchy subject. 

"Why, does he listen to the Talking Heads too?" Amanda questioned. 

"Yeah, he does." Nancy concluded. Amanda looked towards the crowd, noticing a new face emerge. He stood himself next to Max, as if he was somehow trying to protect her subconsciously. Amanda tilted her head and furrowed her brows, causing him to extend his arm. 

"Hi, sorry. I'm Lucas." He spoke shyly, to which Amanda shook his hand. 

"How many damn kids in this town have been fighting monsters, Harrington?" Amanda looked to the boy, who shrugged his shoulders innocently. 

"More than you think, that's for sure." He mumbled, walking towards the kitchen with a plastic bag full of what Amanda assumed to be food. Amanda pulled her headphones over her head, clicking the button on the walkman as she followed Steve, the lyrics nearly drowning out the conversation Steve held with Eddie. 

"Can I talk to you?" Max pulled on Amanda's arm, motioning to the bedroom Amanda had spent most of her time in.

"Yeah." Amanda nodded, following the girl into the room. 

"Listen, I don't know if you see what I do, but when Vecna almost killed me it was like the Upside Down was crumbling. Things fell from the sky, some door with a flower on it... I just, I want to know what you see." Max paced the room, obviously shaken by her last encounter with Vecna. 

"Earlier today he cursed me, and if I tell you this you cannot tell a soul, okay?" Amanda's tone turned serious, her eyes widening at the girl to prove it. 

"I promise." Max nodded, her eyes widened. As Amanda explained the flashback of her mother, Max stood in shock. Yet, somehow, it seemed as if Max did not fear her, instead better understood her. 

"And when he spoke to me, he said he was going to kill all of you. And me." Amanda concluded, struggling to fight against the tears that were forming. 

"I'm just confused about one thing, though," Max pointed out as she began to pace once more. "It's taken longer for him to try and kill you. Each person had twenty four hours after their first vision, you had more. I don't understand why." 

"Maybe it has something to do with my powers?" Amanda theorized, though both of them had a hard time believing it. 

"I think we should tell the group, Amanda. Eleven has killed people and they don't see her any differently, I hardly doubt it'll be any different for you." Max explained, leading her out of the room.