The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

4

We were on our way back to Hawkins and I was sweating out of nervousness for myself and Eddie. This RV was probably already called in as stolen so we really needed to watch our tails.

"I'm going to park this thing deep in the woods in the next town over because I'm sure the cops are on the look for it. I'm going to give you guys 24 hours max. Sound good?" Steve asks all of us.

"Yeah, sounds good." I reply. Smart thinking. But we still needed to be fast. "Cops are patrolling this city, holy shit." I say as I breathe out of the window."

"Yeah, it's insane." Eddie says.

I breathe on the window and start to create doodles with my finger. Eddie intently watched besides me, copying the same thing. I look over and chuckle. I wipe the window with my sleeve and breathe on the window again to create a fresh easel. It was cold enough outside to stay long enough for me to draw.

I take my index finger and draw a circle. I draw swirls and coils around the top of the circle, and create a stick body. One finger down, two diagonal lines, two more diagonal lines. I put a face in the circle, two dots and a smile line. I attempt to the best of my ability to draw an electric guitar in the right hand.

"Voila!" I say looking at Eddie.

He looks over and starts laughing. "Is that supposed to be me? If so, that's very spot on." He stands up and gestures his self from head to toe. I look over to where he was drawing on the window and the drawing started to fade. I saw two stick figures. As soon as I look over a little more, Eddie wipes it sigh his palm and puts his hand against the window, and gives me a light laugh. He points at the road.

"We're here, Sparky." I glare at him in response and get up, tucking my pocket knife back into my shirt. The trailer comes to a harsh stop, just in time for his excuse.

"Dustin, Robin, Clary, and Eddie. You guys are going to go with me. Dustin- you have the walkie. Your job is to call into Nancy when we are ready to come back. Nancy, Max, Erica, and Lucus you're staying here and making sure things don't go south. Nancy make sure Max keeps her headphones on." Nancy nods and so do the rest. Eddie, Steve, Robin, Dustin, and I all head off of the RV and into the woods.

"Do I look like a kid to you?" Erica stands as she crosses her arms.

"You're 11!" Eddie yells.

"12, smartass!" She returns. I snicker at their small dispute and so does everyone else.

In front of us stood the road that Fred had died on. It was blocked off by both sides and we had to go through the caution tape to get in. I hear the RV revv and Nancy drives off, leaving smoke. Right in the middle of the road was the same portal that was under water.

"There," I point. Everyone looks at me.

"I don't see.. anything?" Robin says. Weird.

"Like I said. Something in the Upside Down connected with Clary. She can see things we can't." Dustin says.

"Well, I see it. If I see it then it has to be there." I urge. I look at everyone and they nod at me, following my lead. I slowly approach the breathing glowing lump and take a deep breath. My body and mind have been through too much for one day and it was about to go through some more.

"Take it easy," Eddie assures.

"Careful Gregerson." Steve says. As I get closer I slightly poke the surface. It bounces back and almost retaliated at my touch. I look back and nod.

"It's definitely here. I can feel it." I put my legs over the edge and look over my shoulder. "Well, you guys coming?"

"Clary wait–" I hear Eddie try and contest but I already push myself in from the concrete with my hands. My hands come to a new familiar feeling surface, and I look up. It was the same road, just.. upside down. Red lightning flashes in a murky sky and the eerie sounds of night creep in. Looked about right. I hoist myself up with my arms and stand up, waiting for the others. Dustin comes in next, then Steve, Robin, then lastly Eddie.