cursed (2022)

chapter thirty: busted

It's been a while since Robin, Nancy, Steve, and Eddie got on the boat to find the gate. Dustin's just been complaining the whole time about how he should've gotten to go with them while he and Lucas take turns looking at them from the binoculars. I'm quiet but Lucas glances at me every ten seconds or so to make sure I'm okay. I guess he's as paranoid as I am.

"Wait, wait wait," Lucas grabs Dustin's shoulder. "They're stopping. What are they stopping for?"

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin says into his walkie. "Come on, guys, talk to me, what's going on?"

"Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital ahhh!"

It doesn't take a genius to tell that was Robin talking. She's always had a way with words.

Dustin doesn't reply, he looks stunned.

"What the hell is Steve doing?" Dustin questions. I squint my eyes and I can see him preparing to get off the boat.

"I don't know," Lucas shakes his head.

I'm struggling to figure out Vecna's motive here. He's only killing people who are struggling, like me. It's almost like he doesn't want them to suffer anymore, in a way. He did say he was there to "end my suffering". But I don't want that- not from him, anyway.

Steve starts to take off his shirt and I assume he's going to jump in because the gate is underwater.

"Ugh," Lucas groans in disgust. "When'd Steve get so hairy?"

"Right?" Dustin agrees. "I keep telling him he needs to tame that jungle, but he claims the ladies dig it."

"Let me see," I come forward as Lucas puts the binoculars back up to his eyes. I grab them from him and get a look for myself. Not because I find it attractive or anything, but to annoy Dustin and Lucas. If I did find it attractive, that'd be weird, Steve is almost twenty. Nobody says anything out of confusion, so I guess my job is done.

I watch as Steve jumps into the water and lower the binoculars. My face immediately falls but I don't take my eyes off the boat.

"You guys do realize if there's a gate down there, it's technically a water gate?" Dustin says. "Watergate!"

Lucas and I both give him annoyed looks before we turn away, leaving Dustin to laugh at his own lame joke. I put the binoculars over my eyes again. Steve still hasn't come up. I don't know how long it's been, but it's felt like forever.

"Max, let me see those," Dustin takes the binoculars from me and puts them up to his eyes. "Come on, Steve. Come on."

I hear radio static in the distance and turn around, as do Lucas and Dustin.

"Down by the water!" we hear someone say.

"Shit, down!" Lucas demands as he grabs my shoulder, pulling me down with him. "Shit. Shit."

We hide behind a log and watch as the police shine their flashlights in our direction. Robin starts to talk through the walkie to tell us she found the gate, but Dustin quickly turns it off.

"Cops," I whisper.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Dustin whispers back.