ʰᵉˡˡᶠⁱʳᵉ ᶜˡᵘᵇ

𝟐𝟏

"Help! You yell, still trying to break free from the vines. Their soft grip was tight, intentionally. I kept trying. Yet nothing. They would not let go. Then, how could I help El and Max? I was so stupid to do this. 

Putting my regrets aside, I watched her happy memory change since Vecna must've found her. "Max! Get out of there! I yell, the grip getting less tight, giving me more hope I could break free. 

The atmosphere changed completely. He found her. Was he going to kill her? In the other vision, It was Lucas. Shit, Jason found out. He was pissed off. But was being dumb thinking this was the right thing to do.

Why not talk it out instead? I thought,  But I guess from his perspective, I understood his intentions. Any other person wouldn't believe Vecna existed, or the upside down. His intentions just got too for. He went too far into the deep end.

It could get him killed.

It hurt to just watch. When i know i can do something. Every second, the grip grew lighter. Quickly, they let go. I knew it was on purpose. I'm only living because he wants me to. I sighed of relief, but unsure how to get to Max. I wipe my bloody nose. It was bleeding because i was here. One of my powers.

I run towards the vision of Max. I kept voiding the rocks and vines who were trying to stop me. But i wasn't letting them this time.  I ran even faster. Somehow, I got into the vision. She looked surprised to see me.

"(y/n), where were you before? She asks. "Trapped, I reply. "I'm going to help you. Or try to." Max sighs of relief, hugging me. I hug back. But we weren't safe for too long. Something tells me he'll try to kill her.

The booming voice proved my worst fear.   

"You can't hide from me, Max, Vecna says, coming into view. He let me escape. He knows I'm here. But why is he still pissed? I can feel it. She tries thinking of some new positive memory. But it doesn't work.

"You think I don't see what you're doing?"

I could hear him say that to her. I couldn't just stand here and let him kill her. No, We would kill him tonight. 

"You think I don't see everything?"

His voice boomed in both of our minds now. 

"You thought you could trick me? You thought your friends could stop me? I see them.  I see your friends."

Seeing them struggle made me want to cry. He was tormenting us both with those visions. He could see everything. 

"Just as clearly as I......see you."i can feel them. I can feel them dying. It's time, Max, It's time." He said it so clearly even I heard him. Vecna got closer while I looked for him. I try to help, but I'm stuck. Frozen there. Like before.

He must've knew i would try to stop him from murdering Max. But I wasn't giving up. I try even more, before breaking free. He was so close to killing her, when I harshly moved him back far with my powers. I heard him hit the wall. 

"Max! I exclaim, rushing over to her, helping her up. I turn around, seeing El. My eyes widen with surprise. She smiles, hugging me and Max. But the happy moment didn't last long. She turns to Vecna, lifting him in the air, turning him to see us.

"You, He growls. His voice filled with rage. It felt weird seeing his true form. He always came to me in his 001 form. "Hi, She tells him,  Moving him into the bleachers. We both helped each other. 

"Are you real? Di... Did I make you?"

"I'm real."

"How?"

"I piggybacked from a pizza dough freezer."

"what?"

Before either of us could explain, He comes from the bleachers. He is even more pissed than ever. I could feel it, plus you could just tell.  I stick by El,  walking closer to Vecna. "If you touch them again, El threatens." I will kill you again."

He looks over to me, before I knew it, once more I was back to his stupid world. I could see he regretted letting me go. He said in my mind,

"Just watch. I won't kill you, but you can't leave."

The most terrifying part was, I didn't know his intentions. He warned me in my nightmares but it was nothing compared to this. The grip on me was tighter, even more now. The grip was possessive, not wanting to let me go.

I felt even more helpless. I needed to help them! He just wouldn't let me go! I saw El and Max yell my name. Then Vecna replies, "Is that what you did? I am so glad  you are here, Eleven. This...  is going to be beautiful.  So beautiful. And it's all thanks to you. And it's all thanks to you.

"No! El!"

He kept fighting her, I could be helping. The grip only grew tighter. I kept squirming, trying to get out. But no use. This time, I was close to giving in. 

"Before I kill you, I want you to watch, He tells El. I felt so horrible, for just witnessing it, rather than helping her. He knew my guilt. He was doing this for some reason. I didn't know what. But it couldn't be good. 

Soon, El was beside me. She too, tied up. I begin sobbing. "I'm sorry, El. I should've helped." "(y/n), it isn't your... fault, She weakly said. I saw him bring Max over. Her fate was sealed.  I didn't know how to feel, but my vulnerability was showing. I was giving up. This was it, wasn't it? He was winning. "Papa is dead.I know what he did to you! El tells him. I just keep my mouth shut. I'd rather be quiet right now. 

"You were different. Like me."And he hurt you. He made you...into this. He is the monster, Henry. Not you." We both were sobbing, while He got closer. I whimpered out of just fear.

"You're right. You and I, we are different, Vecna says. I knew this might be the beginning of the end.

It had to be.