Hell & Back

Chapter Twenty Eight

Eddie and Chrissy were laying down in the dark hospital room. They hadn't really spoken since everyone had left. Dinner had been brought and the nurses had came to check his vitals and things. Chrissy didn't pull away from him but she also didn't necessarily feel comforted by him either. Her mind was racing with thoughts and as much as she wanted to ask him about what was going to happen, she didn't want to know either. She had her back turned to him while he laid on his back looking up at the ceiling.

"Annie." Eddie said out loud startling Chrissy from her thought. "What?" She said turning over and looking at him annoyed. "Her name should be Annie." He said still looking at the ceiling "Annie Munson." The annoyance disappeared from her completely, she smiled and rolled over laying her head down on his chest. "You haven't said anything in hours and your just throwing out baby names?" Chrissy said with a laugh. "Was trying to see if Billy was still in my head. I wanted to make sure he heard me tell Max." Eddie said absently running his fingers up and down her back. "Did you hear him?" Chrissy asked fighting back a yawn. Eddie shook his head and kissed the top of her head.

He had been trying to hear Billy but he kept seeing the little girl from his dream. Her curly dark hair and big eyes. The way she looked like a perfect blend of both Chrissy and himself. Annie, yes. The name of his favorite female singer. As he laid there though seeing her face in his mind, he couldn't help but remember walking into the kitchen and seeing her small body broken. He looked down at Chrissy beside him and had to fight back tears. He couldn't let her or their daughter become like Billy, trapped.

Steve had picked them up from the hospital and Eddie had asked him to take them over to his uncles trailer. It occurred to Eddie last night that his uncle wouldn't get rid of the house, not unless he knew Eddie wasn't coming back. That and he wanted to see his uncle again or at least hear his voice. When they pulled up to it, he half expected his uncle to open the door and ask where he had been but of course he didn't. Eddie took a deep breath and looked over at Chrissy who was playing with her hair "You can wait here." He said squeezing her hand. "No, no. I can do it." She said without looking at him.

The three of them walked into the trailer, it was completely empty on the inside. Eddie hadn't seen it this clean in years, it looked like a completely different place. He walked throw and sighed, his uncle hadn't been here. He walked back out to the living room where Chrissy and Steve were waiting for him. Memories flooded his mind of his childhood. The town may have hated him but this was is safe place, where no matter what he did his uncle encouraged his weird interest.

"Hey man, we found this." Steve said holding out a piece of paper. Eddie took it and started to read the shaky printed words.
Got yourself into some trouble and decided to run away, did you? Well, I finally got that promotion at the plant and have to move closer, I can't drive that far in the dark anymore. I know you will come home. I told you when you were younger you would always have a home with me, I won't take that away. I left my number on the back. Call me. Let me know you are okay. If your reading this at least you remembered your damn key.
Wayne.
Eddie turned the paper over and without saying a word walked over to the phone. He knew that the other two were watching him but he couldn't think of that. He heard the ringing of the phone and had to remind himself to breath. "Hello." Said his uncles rough voice, he had been sleeping. "Uncle Wayne, it's me." Eddie said shacking off the shock of hearing him answer. "Eddie. Eddie, your alive! What happened? Where did you go? Why did you go? Forget how to use a fucking phone?" His uncle said causing Eddie to let out a laugh. "Hey man, slow down. It's a lot and I will tell you everything. For now I'm okay." Eddie said "I missed you." He felt Chrissy take his hand as he said the words. "I missed you too, nephew." His uncle said after a moment "I can come get you." Chrissy's hand tightened around his, he looked over at Steve and remembered Max "I want to see you and soon but I can't come out there. I think I'm going to stay here. This is my home." Eddie said looking around the trailer. "Behave you slob and eat something that counts as food. Don't forget your damn house key." His uncle said causing Eddie to smile. "I love you too." He said and hung up the phone.

"House, check." Eddie said wrapping an arm around Chrissy and kissing the top of her hair "Gotta start somewhere." Chrissy looked around and couldn't help but smile. She had never seen herself living in a trailer park but than again she didn't think she would finish her last year off pregnant either. They hadn't told anyone in the group, with Vecna still lose it was better to keep it a secret. "Might wanna get some furniture." Steve observed "Actually I may be able to help with that." Eddie smiled over at Steve which made Chrissy smile more, he was honestly so perfect. "Thanks, dude." Eddie said causing Chrissy to realize she had been staring at him. She nuzzled into him, hiding the fact that she had been blushing.

Steve had taken Chrissy to her house so she could get his stuff together while Eddie chose to stay and enjoy his home. His uncle had left his bed and dressers. Other than being cleaned out, his room looked the same. Eddie smiled to himself as he walked inside, dropping his bag on the floor. "I've missed you." Eddie said to the bed as he fell on top of it. Don't worry we are still right here. He heard Vecnas voice say. I will always be right here, until the end. Eddie looked up half expecting Vecna to be standing before him but no one was there. He walked over and put a tape in the cassette player and turned it up before laying on the bed and going to sleep.

When Chrissy got home she raced upstairs and started packing all of Eddie's things. She wasn't sure if he was going to ask her to stay with him but she threw some of her clothes in to, if he didn't she could always say they got mixed in. Chrissy smiled at the thought of them living together. It felt almost wrong to be happy while the world was falling apart but as she laid a hand on her stomach she felt like her world had just started and she couldn't help but close her eyes and sigh contently.

When she opened her eyes again she was in a kitchen. Everything was white besides the accent of black, which consisted of the countertops, chairs and sink. The two little girls sat eating cereal. She looked at them but when the oldest held up her hand it broke. Chrissy heard the snapping of bones as she races over to the girls, both of them screamed and cried of her but she couldn't do anything but watch. "Mommy, help." The youngest cried causing Chrissy to fall to her knees with tears falling. Than she heard the laugh from behind her You will never have this life, little Annie will never have this life. You are mine. Vecna said with a laugh.