To The End || EDDIE MUNSON x READER||

The Watergate

The sun had barely set when Nancy and Robin returned, breathless but triumphant.
They'd found what we needed — a plan, a direction, a reason to keep going.

By the time we moved out, the air had turned cold and still. We followed Dustin's compass through the woods until the needle began to spin like crazy, pointing straight toward Lover's Lake.

The water looked almost black under the moonlight. Eddie's boat creaked as he dragged it from the brush and into the shallows.

"Alright, ladies first," he said, offering a hand to Robin, Nancy, and me. Once we were in, he and Steve climbed aboard, the small boat rocking under our combined weight.

"This thing is definitely not built for six people," Steve muttered.

"Well, deal with it, my friend," I said with a smirk.

Dustin tried to step in next, but we all stopped him immediately.

"Absolutely not," I warned. "You stay here with Max. Keep watch."

"Fine," he sighed, holding the walkie close. "But if you guys die, I'm telling Mom."

We paddled out until the compass went wild — the needle jerking and spinning uncontrollably.

"You guys, what's happening?" Dustin's voice crackled through the static.

"Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital AHH!" Robin shrieked.
That was... honestly a perfect description.

Then Steve started stripping off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Nancy asked, eyes wide.

"Someone's gotta check it out," he said simply, kicking off his shoes.

Robin and I exchanged a knowing glance when we caught Nancy staring just a little too long.
"Something's definitely going on there," I whispered.

"Yup," Robin agreed.

Eddie pulled a small bag from his jacket, dumped it out, and used it to cover the flashlight so it wouldn't short out underwater. "Good luck, Harrington."

Steve flashed a grin, then dove into the lake.

"Closing in on a minute," Nancy said quietly, watching the surface.

"I can't even hold my breath for twenty seconds," I muttered.

"Same," Eddie whispered back, bumping his knee against mine.

Thirty more seconds passed before Steve erupted from the water, gasping. "Found it!"

Before any of us could react, something yanked him down — fast.

"STEVE!" Nancy screamed, nearly tipping the boat.

"What the hell was that?!" Eddie shouted, voice pitching high with panic.

"Jesus Christ!" he yelled again as bubbles broke the surface — then silence.

"Nancy, wait—!" Robin tried to stop her, but Nancy dove in after him, disappearing into the dark.
Seconds later, Robin followed.

"Oh, hell no," I said, standing up. "I'm not just sitting here!"

"Y/N, wait!" Eddie grabbed my wrist. "She said to—"

"Are you coming or not, Eddie?" I snapped, eyes locked on him.

He hesitated for half a second. "Goddammit! This is so stupid—shit, shit, shit!" Then he jumped in after me.

We dove deep, following a faint red glow that shimmered beneath us. When we reached it, the world twisted — like swimming through fire — and suddenly, we weren't in Lover's Lake anymore.