My Year ~ E.Munson

\14/

PENNY-

Venca is standing next to me when I look over at him. My heart stops for a second as my eyes lock with his, sending chills down my spine. I back up away from him before standing to my feet. I look around the field to only see it's not the field anymore.

It's the StarCourt.

I back up and look back at Vecna, only to see Billy standing and staring at me. He's in blue jeans and a white wife beater. The same thing he wore the day he died.

"Penny help me," He says to me worried. "Please, I don't want to be here, this isn't who I am," I watch him as he walks close to me. His mouth is now filled with blood as it drips down the sides of his lips. The StarCourt begins to crumble slowly around me.

"Penny, please," Billy pleads. I shake my head as I begin to cry. "You're not really here," I say as my voice trembles. Billy walks closer to me.

Something then pushes itself through Billy and he falls to his knees. I scream as I watch his shirt fill with blood. Behind him is the mindflayer. I tremble with fear as I watch it move its head and look at me. I turn and start to run.

The StarCourt now falling to pieces around me slowly. As I run, I hear bells tolling. I frown as I stop and look around.

I hear them again, followed by a guitar riff.

Is that... Metallica?

"Penelope," I look and see Billy standing in front of me once again, bloody and angry. "You left me to die," I look at him as he's now inches from me. He then wraps his hands around my neck.

"You bitch! You cheating bitch!" He yells as he pushes me to the ground with his weight. His hands were still around my neck.

For Whom the Bell Tolls plays loudly through the StarCourt.

"Penny! Run to the light! We're on the other side!" Max's voice echos. I gasp for air as Billy chokes me, his eyes filled with rage.

I grab his arms, trying to pull them off of me, but his hold gets tighter. I shut my eyes and put my feet on him, trying to push him off of me.

His weight is heavier than before, and his fingers are longer than they once were. I feel his nails digging into my neck.

I open my eye to see Vecna in Billy's place. Behind him, I can see a light.

Everyone is there in the field looking up at me.

"I let Max slip away. This time, you're not going anywhere," Vecna growls as he lifts me, his hands still around my neck. I kick my legs as I try to wiggle out of his grasp.

"Pull his vein or bite his hand! Do anything that can hurt him and get him away from you!"

"You can't escape me," Vecna slams my body back into the ground, letting go of my neck. I gasp for air as I roll onto my hands. The music gets louder as it now echoes.

Vecna puts his foot on my back, pushing me to the ground. "It's time. Time for your suffering to end," I try to crawl out of his grasp on my back, but he puts more weight on me.

He lifts his foot off of me and I crawl away. Not before something grabs ahold of my ankle and drags me across the floor. I lift up and am bound by a vine-like tentacle as Vecna stands in front of me.

"Your friends can't save you now Penelope," Vecna is inches from my face as he puts his hand to my face. He tilts his head back slightly and growls. I feel a rush of overwhelming fear wash over me as I watch my life flash before my eyes.