Hell & Back

Chapter Twenty One

Dustin wrote 'Play' on the pick in marker that would come off per Chrissy's request, she did want it back after all this was over. "He has others." Dustin argued. "Than go find one of them." Chrissy said annoyed "He wore this one and gave it to me and I want it back." She said for the hundredth time. The same conversation they had for the last two days.

Chrissy hadn't wanted to wait and Steve was on her side but they had to wait for Eleven to recharge from closing the gate. Chrissy was getting anxious about everything, she just wanted it to be over and to know that he was okay. She watched as Max put the pick in her pocket. It was time.

The plan was for Steve to drop her off down the road and than she would skate down. She than would go to the porch stairs and throw the necklace at the door followed by a few pebbles causing enough noise to get Eddie's attention before she skated back, hopefully without being seen. After they would watch until Eddie picked up the necklace and than radio to Mike who would be waiting with Eleven and she would travel to find him.

Chrissy was sitting next to Steve behind a bush across the street at the park. They could see the front door perfectly. She seen a figure past in front of the window but she could tell it wasn't Eddie just by the way he stood. She watched as Max did her part and skate off quickly coming the long way around the park. Within minutes of her leaving the door opened and Eddie looked out

"There is no one here. In to many peoples minds? Got you hearing things, dude." Eddie said looking down at his cigarettes as he pulled one out. He bent down and picked up the necklace, shoving it in his pocket and looking around  a second "Yeah, yeah I'm coming." He yelled back into the house before walking inside. He cast one more look out before closing the door.  Chrissy wanted so badly to run into his arms, to bust through the door and beg him to come with her. Steve must have sensed it, he laid a hand on her arm keeping her in place. "Call Mike." Steve said and she obeyed. 

Eddie was sitting on the floor, leaning against the dusty old couch with his guitar in his lap. The guitar pick said play, he started strumming and playing a song he had been working on. Whatever the plan was apparently they didn't want Vecna in his mind to hear it, maybe Chrissy was breaking up with him and that's why she gave him his necklace back. The thought shocked him but than again what were truly his own thoughts anymore? All he new was that he had to play.

He was lost in so many thoughts but kept his mind on the music, he knew if he let himself wonder to far, Vecna would jump in. "Eddie.." He heard a female voice but not one he readily recognized. He let himself focus a little more on it and seen it was the girl, the one with powers, what was her name? "Don't get to distracted, keep playing, it sounds beautiful." She said sitting beside him. "How are you here?" Eddie asked her, he kept his head down and kept playing. 

"I closed one of the doors. Will is trying to find the other one but he is having trouble, this one is small and hidden..." She broke off looking around "The door...the door is in you." She said shocked. "Your connected because the door is in your head." She was about to say more but Eddie had stopped playing and he could feel Vecna coming in, he looked up at the girl "Run." He said and she disappeared. 

He dropped the guitar into his lap and shut his eyes. The door was in his head? How? Vecna had been watching him this whole time. "Visitors?" Vecna said coming into the room "I knew someone was here." He walked over and took hold of Eddie's shirt pulling him up to his feet. "You can't kill me. I'm your doorway." Eddie said with a smirk. He wasn't sure if he was right but if he was than he had leverage. 

"Stevie would have been less annoying." Vecna said and let him go. "You couldn't use him. He never gave up that we would get back." Eddie said with his head down. "You chose me because I accepted that we were fucked, like I normally am." The monster didn't turn back around to face him "We are very much alike, my friend." Vecna said and walked out of the door, leaving Eddie standing alone looking at the floor. He dropped to his knees and tried to hold himself together.

Chrissy watched as El came back from inside Eddie's mind. She was out of breath and fell into the tub of ice water. Mike grab ahold of her while Will got a towel. She wrapped it around herself and went to sit on the side of the tub. "Is he okay?" Steve asked before she could. "He seemed fine" she said "I found the door Henry is using to get through." 

Mike put an arm around here and encouraged her to go on. Nancy and Johnathan were standing in the hallway while Steve, Chrissy, Will and Mike were inside the bathroom with Eleven. "The last door is inside Eddie's head." Eleven finally said looking down and not meeting any of their eyes. Chrissy felt her legs go out from under here, Steve caught her lowering her to the ground with him. "How can we close the door?" Nancy asked leaning inside. "I can do it, I just have to get back." Eleven said looking at the water. "I need Vecna away long enough for me to close it." 

Chrissy was barely hearing what was being said, she was trying and failing. Steve kept one arm around her which was honestly the only thing keeping her from falling face first into the ground. "Eddie, will Eddie be okay when you close it?" Chrissy asked her voice shaking. "I won't lose him." Eleven said "I can save him, I know it."

Chrissy chose to ride her bike home tonight, Steve had offered to drive her but she didn't want to be around anyone. Eleven seemed sure that she could fix everything but Chrissy wasn't. If Vecna opened a door in his head when he sent them back then closing it should be easy enough but it didn't feel like that would be the case. 

She took the long way, she new she shouldn't but she rode to the park and threw her bike down. She walked to the other side and hid behind the same bush they had earlier. The house was dark now but the curtains were open just enough to let the moonlight inside. 

She watched as the blonde hair boy paved back and forth, he was talking she could tell by his head movements. Suddenly his eyes turned towards where she had been hiding and he crossed the room to the window. She was about to turn and run away when she seen a hand come over the boys shoulder and Eddie's dark curly hair came into view. She couldn't see his face but the blonde boy nodded and turned away from the window. 

Eddie came to the window and her breath caught. He was wearing the same clothes he had left in, his necklace was back around his neck. His hair was wild and more untamed than usual, probably from sleeping on the floor. His eyes were what made her stop breathing for a moment, those eyes that normally always held a laugh were somber and serious. "Oh, Eddie. Please hold on." She said closing her eyes and turning away heading back across the park. 

Eddie thought he seen her sitting across the road. He could have sworn he seen her hair shining in the moonlight and eyes staring at him. He stood there and waited for even a hint of movement but instead he seen a squirrel come into view. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before closing the curtain.