The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

3

The van eventually halts at an abandoned impound yard. My thighs felt the burning traces of Eddie's fingers and grip. I wanted to immediately just jump out of this and never come back. I felt so confused with what we were at with our.. relationship? Or was there even one to call that?

I exit the van, slamming the creaking door as I look at our options.

"We probably need something durable. Like an RV." Steve says coming up next to me.

"Yeah. I think if anything we should find another one. It'll be our best best bet." Robin says nodding to all of us.

"You're not wrong there." Dustin says. "We just have to make sure it's durable and has no other major problems that will screw us over."

"How are we going to do that? Do we look like mechanics?" Nancy asks.

"I can." Eddie steps forward and looks at all of us. "My uncle worked at the plants with a lot of car parts. Along the way I kind of picked up a few things from him." We all exchange glances. I mean, it explained how he was so good at hot wiring a car.

"Works for me, Munson." Robin says as she starts walking with Nancy and Dustin. Eddie, Steve, and I start to walk behind them scoping out the place. There were a lot of rusted cars, minivans, big vans, old trucks.. parts were scattered everywhere and big cranes with magnets were parked on the side.

"There!" Dustin exclaims. He points to a nice RV, at least from the late seventies judging on the color and style.

"Nice job, buddy!" Eddie says slapping his back. We all walk over to the almost pristine RV. Eddie pulls the handle, but it jams. "Gotta find another way in.." he taps his chins and looks around. "Ah! Here." He goes to the back of the RV and climbs up the latter, opening the sun roof. He disappears inside and within moments, the trailer door opens.

We walk inside and I look around.

"Woah. Luxury." Steve sighs with relief. And he wasn't wrong. The RV was spacious. It had almost the exact same layout as the others except it had bigger couches and more walking room.

"Alright let's start this bad boy up." He pats the dash. He looks in the visors for keys, and twists his lips to the side trying to think. He then goes to the small compartment under the wheel, digging inside while making eye contact with me. His smile grows as he pulls out a set of keys, wiggling them in our faces. "Papa's gotter. Now let's hope she has enough gas until we get to a station." He puts the keys in and turns the ignition over. The RV roars up perfectly with a few sputters. "No lights, no nothing. Let me go outside and check the under the hood."

I look over Eddie's shoulder. "About a quarter of a tank. Think we will be good?" I look back at the rest and they all nod.

"I think we should be fine. There's a gas station about twenty miles out east." Nancy says.

Eddie looks at me over his shoulder and starts to put on his signature cheeky smile. "Making yourself at home, Sparky?" I feel my cheeks go warm and I immediately step back. I was not going to give him that satisfaction. Not today. He pops the hood, gets up, and steps out of the RV swiftly. The hood lifts up and I hear rattling.

I look back at everyone who's exploring the rest of the RV, pointing out everything. Within moments, Eddie was back into the RV. "Alright, people. Hoses are tight, no loose liquids, everything seems to be in check." He walks past me and puts a hand on top of my head, messing up my hair once again. I mat it back and look over to him, rolling my eyes.

Steve hops into the drivers side, and we pull out of the lot. I took place on the couch in between Robin and Nancy while Dustin and Eddie sat in the back looking in the cupboards.

"So.. what's up with you and Munson?" Nancy looks over to me. Was it that obvious?

"Yeah, please do tell. Because I'm confused as well." Robin whispers. I look over to Eddie who's shaking something in front of Dustin's face, teasing him with whatever it is.

"Nothing is going on with us. I just think our friendship grew.. closer. Since he's been there every day to wait for me to wake up. And I know you guys were there too, so thank you. It's just been difficult since I've been.. back. Trying to adjust to the real world again after that shit show. I'm not sure. Everything just feels so different." I lean back into the couch and look outside of the window. "And then we have Hawkins looking like.. this." I point out the window using my head.

"Yeah, I think we can all say we're still adjusting to things." Nancy sighs.

"Definitely. I hate to say this, but sometimes I wish I could just go back to my innocent 9-5 job and flirt with girls.." Robin looks at the ground.

"You and Vickie.." I say slowly. "Is she okay?"

She looks up at me, almost alarmed. "Uh- yeah, yeah she is. We uh.. we talked. At Hawkins High.. when we went to help out right after the earthquake incident."

"Well? Did you ask her out?" I ask leaning forward. Nancy seemed engaged as well as she was doing the same.

"Me?" She puts a finger to her chest. "No, no.. not me. Have you seen me? I'm literally a walking time bomb. And on top of that, I'm a certified freak." He shakes her head. "It would be nice but I kind of accepted a while ago that things won't be different anytime soon."

"Well then I guess we have to find you a badass Upside Down monster fighting chick." I say nudging her shoulder. She shakes her head and laughs.

"Hey guys!" Eddie screams out. We all look over and he and Dustin are holding up a board game. A Dungeons and Dragons one at that. I roll my eyes. "These people got some taste! I feel like I haven't seen this baby for ages." He flips the board back and forth, the pieces rattling inside.

"Knock yourself out," I say.

"Come on, Gregerson. Let me teach you something for once!" He pouts.

I sigh and rub my eyes with my hands. "Fine, fine." I walk over and he beams at me gesturing for me to sit down.

"Come here my fair maiden, let me show you the ropes."