Not Just Another Number

Heading To Lover's Lake

Sarah's POV

I sit in the back of my car with Dustin and Steve as Nancy drives us all to Reefer Rick's. I would normally be driving, but Nancy offered. They're scared that I might faint at the wheel. Can't really blame them. Steve offers me a chip, but I shake my head with a smile. Instead, I dig through some of the bags filled with food and pull out a chocolate bar.

"Not to be a wimp and all, but can I maybe just sit in the car for this visit? Cause this is gonna totally and royally suck." Robin asks from the front. Nancy shakes her head, focusing on the road. "It'll be fine." She tries to reassure her. Robin sighs, looking out the window. "I just can't stand to see those doe eyes of Eddie's break again. I really, really can't."

"At least he can drink himself into feeling better," Steve suggests with a mouth full of chips. My nose wrinkles at the sight. Max sighs from right in front of me, shrugging. "That's what my mom does." Christine gives her a sad look, reaching over and rubbing her shoulder gently. She looks back up at Robin, trying to find some way to make her feel better. "Why don't we give it a trial run? Something like, 'Hey Eddie, good news first this time! We got you some Dustin-approved junk food and that six pack you requested. But, um...'"

Robin finishes for her. "'Oh yeah, we found Vecna. Bad news is that he's in that, darker, much scarier dimension that we told you about and the gate's closed, so we have no way of getting to him. Like, he's entirely shut off to us, so basically, you're screwed. And I know you were already screwed, but now you're doubly, triply screwed.'" Robin huffs as she stops talking. Silence hangs heavy in the car as we all realize that he really have no good news. Christine frowns, looking down at her lap. "Maybe we don't put it like that? We're one step closer to finding Vecna. We tell him the important stuff."

Steve smiles next to me, holding up a chip in thought. "See Robin? Positive spin can make all the difference." He leans against me before eating the chip. I rest my head on top of his, taking another bite of my chocolate bar. There has to be a way to get Vecna. Maybe we're just not looking in the right place?

From the front of the car, I hear Nancy curse under her breath. I raise a brow, straightening myself to look out the window. Oh shit.

There's a crowd forming on the road close to Reefer Rick's house. Press and cops fill the area. Nancy slows the car to a stop, letting us all get out. I climb out of the back first, getting closer to the crowd. In the center of the crowd is Chief Powell. He's speaking to the press. What could this be about? Slowly, I walk around the crowd and behind a new van, trying to get closer. Behind me, the others follow.

"The Roane County police received a call last night late after midnight reporting a homicide here on the lake." I gasp at the news. "Officer Callahan and I arrived first on the scene. We made our way to the shore of Lover's Lake, about ten yards from that house you see behind me," he points to Rick's house, "It was there we found the victim, an 18-year old senior from Hawkin's High, Patrick McKinney."

I take a step back, moving around the others. This has to be Vecna's work. The lights flashing and the vision I got have to be related to this. There's no way it's a coincidence. Powell's voice fades into the background as I try to wrap my head around everything, but one thing he says knocks me out of it.

"We have identified the person of interest. Eddie Munson."

"Oh man, this is really not good." Steve mutters beside me, shaking his head. He looks back at me, his face screwed up in worry. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to warm myself up and think of a plan to fix everything. A little heat grows in my palms, but not enough to warm me completely. Suddenly, the sound of a radio coming to life grabs all of our attention.