Raising Hel | a Stranger Things fanfiction

Chapter 8

Timeline check: sets during ST4 episode 3, on Sunday 23rd of March 1986

Eddie sighs as he sits back in the boat.

Alone.

Again.

He's grateful for Dustin to come back this morning with some food. Of all his problems, hunger might not be the most important but eating gave Eddie an ounce of relief and some energy to deal with another day of waiting. He wasn't expecting the 3 others to come along too. They are the strangest assemble – in what world does Steve Harrington hangs out with Robin Buckley? – but their presence made him feel slightly better. Even if they didn't stay long. Even if what they had to tell Eddie wasn't exactly reassuring. Even if he still can't remember that redhead girl's name.

Dustin promised to keep him updated when they left to follow the police convoy that drove past Eddie's hideout. If the fact that the cars didn't stop here was a relief, Eddie is now worried Vecna has struck again.

– You might be next, whispers the ghost of Chrissy.

He shakes his head and opens the bag from which Dustin's walkie-talkie sticks out. There's also an old math notebook in it, with some pens. He smiles. That kid is a genius. Hellen would adore him. He hopes they get to meet each other one day. Preferably not for his trial. Or his funerals.

He opens the notebook on his knees. They are few people on this planet to whom he wants a chance to explain what happened, tell them he's innocent. Since he still hopes he'll get the opportunity to do it in person to his uncle and he trusts Dustin to spread the word within Hellfire, there's only Hellen left. And if this is the last letter he gets to send her, there are other things that need to be said.

The pen glides on the empty pages effortlessly and Eddie has filled 3 of them when the walkie-talkie crackles to life. Dustin confirms his guess: another student was killed last night. Broken bones, empty eye sockets, there's little doubt it was Vecna.

– We are meeting up with Nancy at the trailer park to fill her in.

– Nancy Wheeler?

– Yeah, she knows about the Upside Down and all. She actually went into it.

– Wait, what?

The concept of that alternate dimension is new to Eddie and he is still struggling to wrap his head around it. But the idea of Nancy Wheeler being involved in this madness is too big of a stretch for his mind.

– I'll explain later. Gotta go, Dustin out.

– Wait wait wait!

But the walkie stays silent, the boy isn't listening anymore. Eddie sighs. If they're going to the trailer park, he would have liked for Dustin to pass a message to his uncle. And maybe pick up his guitar. He's going mental staying on his own without music! He glances at his watch. It's almost time for Corroded Coffin's rehearsal and for the first time he won't make it. He imagines the band playing without him, Jeff trying a few solos instead of sticking to the rhythmic guitar track. He knows they'd be good even without him and it breaks his heart as much as it fills it with pride.