Hell & Back

Chapter Twenty Six

Billy walked a step behind him as they went through memories of getting trapped in the Upside Down, thinking Chrissy was going to die, being bullied at home and his father but still they found no door. "Damn man, you haven't decked half these people yet?" Billy asked after yet another memory of him getting thrown to the ground and kicked by a group of boys older than him. "Eventually, landed me in lockdown but the beatings stopped." Eddie said smirking at him.

Another memory sprang up as they walked through the school doors. This one he almost turned away from, he didn't want Billy to see this one and he didn't want to relive it either. He was in school, he had just started growing his hair out and wearing darker clothes. Ninth grade. His brand mates and friends were sitting with him around a cafeteria table. He sat there playing with his rings while the others by talked about band practice.

"What are you staring at, freak?" He turned and seen one of the older boys behind him. It was Steve Harringtons friend. "Trying to figure that out." Eddie said unfazed by the remarks. "Well let me help you out." His girlfriend said taking the carton off of her boyfriends tray and poured it overtop of him. Eddie angrily jumped out of his seat and took the girl by the arm. Everyone in the place at stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the scene before them. "Let go of me." He heard her say and forced his hand to free her. He turned and grabbed his bag before heading out of the room, the laughter erupted through the cafeteria.

The memory followed him into the bathroom, desperately trying to wash himself off but it was pointless. He tried to wash his hair in the sink but it only got more and more unruly. He would not risk going to the gym where more of those bastards were sure to be, even if it promised a shower. His leather jacket was soaked and so was his Led Zeppelin shirt. He had tears running down his face, he slid down the wall and sat on the floor allowing his self to cry out all the humiliation he felt.

Eddie wasn't watching, Billy was intently. Eddie knew what happened next. The guy from the cafeteria came in and took a handful of his shirt, pulling Eddie up with it. "Should have picked a better hiding spot, freak." He said and punched Eddie in the stomach. His younger self was kicked while he laid on the ground over and over until finally he snapped. The kicking at stopped and the boys back was towards him, Eddie jumped up and hit him in the lower back with all his force. The boys knees buckled, he turned back to look at Eddie with only hatred in his eyes. Eddie didn't stop though he punch the boys face and kicked him when he fell down, years and years of bullying came out. Finally he stopped and looked down to see one of his bullies begging him to stop, blood coming from his lip and nose while tears streaked his face. "Stop? Why? It's fun right? We're just playing." Eddie said looking down at him and left the bathroom.

"About damn time." Billy said clapping his hands together. "I don't get why this is a bad memory though." Eddie started walking towards the door following his younger self. "It made me feel worse to hurt him. I looked in the mirror and for days just saw a monster. I swore I wouldn't be my father but in that moment I was his son." Eddie explained still not looking at him. "They believe I'm the monster, I don't have to actually be the monster." He said finally stopping and turning to look at Billy.

Chrissy woke up in a chair next to the bed. Eddie's monitors beeped continually, she wasn't feeling very well today but she also didn't want to leave his side. She sat in the chair pulling her legs up to chest while still holding onto Eddie's hand. Steve had left to take Nancy and Johnathan home since they had all rode together. Chrissy told him to stay home and get some sleep that should would call if anything happened to change. 

She looked over at Eddie's sleeping body once more and put her legs back down on the floor. She leaned over and laid her head down on his arm. She wanted so bad for him to absently play with her hair while humming or excitedly jump up almost knocking her off the bed because he was so into what he was telling her. She started crying again, it never seemed to stop. "Come on babe, please wake up. You have too. For me, just wake up for me." She said through sobs. 

"I always thought I was better than my shitty father since I never hit my sister. When I was under that things control I was basically doing this, reliving memories, and it made me realize that I was just as much of an asshole to her as he was to me. I tried to keep her safe man, I took beating for her that she never knew about." Billy said as they walked through the blackness again. A door appeared up ahead, different from the others. Eddie could hear Chrissy's voice telling him to wake up. "That's your ticket out of here." Billy said.

Eddie started walking towards the door. Billy followed him smoking a cigarette. He didn't even know what to say to the boy who had helped him and kept him company through this. "Ahh, I thought you had finally died." He heard Vecna's voice come from behind them. "Sorry to disappoint." Billy said flicking his cigarette. "Your whole existence is a disappointment." The monster said getting closer. "Run." Billy said not looking towards Eddie. 

Eddie didn't even have time to make a choice before Vecna lashed out and Billy caught the vine meant for Eddie. It wrapped around his muscled arm making it bleed. The boy only laughed and turned back towards him with a wild smile. "Tell my sister, I heard her. Tell her I tried and I'm sorry. Tell her I love her." He said and turned back to the monster. "I'm not gonna let you die alone." Eddie said defiantly. "He can't kill me. I can't die until he does." Billy said without looking at him "So kill the son of a bitch." 

Chrissy was still crying when she felt Eddie's arm move, for a moment she though she had imagined it but than she heard him cough and looked up to meet his dark eyes. "Morning beautiful." He said giving her a little smile. "Your back." Chrissy said in a low voice. "Your really back." She said and wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tightly.

"I need to find someone." Eddie said remembering what Billy had said to him. "Who has a brother named Billy?" He asked Chrissy who only shook her head. "Damn." He said and laid back against the bed frame. He had to find Billy's sister but he didn't have a clue who that could even be. Steve. Steve would know. 

His head suddenly felt like something was trying to come through it. He screamed against the pain. Billy. Billy and Vecna were still fighting. He could feel them. "Play music." He said through his clenched teeth. "Hurry. They are tearing me apart." He said, it felt like hours before Chrissy was finally able to find a television station playing music. He concentrated on it and finally the pain started to lift. 

Chrissy was sitting next to him looking worryingly at him. "I'm okay, babe. I promise." He said as he reached out an arm and she climbed up beside him. She laid with her back towards him as he wrapped an arm around her and ran his fingers through her hair. "I've missed you." She said sounding like she was crying. He leaned down and kissed her hair. "It's okay babe, everything will be fine." He said. Chrissy put a hand on her stomach and cried silently.