𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴 ~ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five
boathouse

Ramona shut the car door behind her, wrapping her arms around herself as her eyes trailed over the darkened house, one that had seemingly been abandoned for weeks, with no sign of life.

An unusually chilly breeze blew through the air. A shiver shot down Ramona's spine, causing her to shudder.

Something didn't feel right.

Ramona inhaled sharply, following Dustin and Max up the stairs of the house.

Dustin had already made it to the door, repeatedly ringing the doorbell as she stood beside Steve.

"So, you don't lay off the bell for anyone?" She tried to lighten the mood, clearing her throat when the only response she received was another doorbell ring. She moved around Steve to stand in front of the window.

"Well, clearly, someone's not home." Steve said, crossing his arms and looking back towards the car. "Maybe we should-"

"Eddie!" Ramona shouted, heel of her hand pressed against a window, in a frivolous attempt to see into he living room. "Eddie! Eddie. It's Ramona-"

"And Dustin!" The younger boy shouted,  pushing past Steve to stand next to her.

"Great." Steve muttered, tossing his arms up in annoyance.

"Eddie. It's just us, okay? Steve is here too! You know Steve! And Max. Max, too! And Robin." Ramona's voice began to quiet, realizing that a bigger group of people may frighten Eddie, especially now.

"Look, we just wanna talk, okay? No cops! Just us. We just wanna help!"

"Rick! Reefer Rick!" Dustin shouted, pounding on the door. "Reefer Rick! Rick!"

"Don't scream that!" Steve scolded, "He's not here."

"He could just be really high!" Dustin suggested.

"You're a child, you don't know what that is."  Ramona shook her head. Dustin narrowed her eyes at her, opening his mouth to argue with her before Steve cut him off.

"Is that a foot?"

"No, that's a shoe."

Ramona gently pushed him to the side, crouching down to be eye level with the lock. "Hey, Red?"

Max hummed, turning her head to her. "Yeah?"

"Do you have a bobby-pin?"

"Ramona, now is not the time to fix your hair!" Dustin snapped, resting his hand against the wall beside the door. "Eddie is missing!"

"Not fixing my hair." Ramona said, pointedly as she turned back to Max. "Max. Do you have one?"

"Uh.." Max patted around her head, pulling something out from that back and handing it to her.

"Bingo." Ramona murmured, pulling it open and sticking in the lock.

"Woah. woah, woah, woah! What are you doing?" Steve grabbed Ramona by the shoulder, forcing her to look at him.