cursed (2022)

chapter thirty-one: running out of time

Dustin explains that Nancy, Robin, Steve, and Eddie are stuck in the Upside Down. While I was being questioned, Dustin, Lucas, and Erica found a way to communicate with them. Since there's supposedly a gate at every murder site, we're meeting at Eddie's trailer to help them out-just on the other side.

We quickly rush into the trailer and Dustin directs Erica to bring him all the bed sheets he can find while Lucas and I go find a mattress. The one we found has weird stains, but then again, it's Eddie. Lucas and I carry it and put it down under the gate, which is on the roof.

Dustin walks in with a rope made out of bed sheets, "Not quite sure how these physics are gonna work...But, uh...here goes nothing."

He throws the rope of sheets up into the gate, and it actually stays.

"There we go," he smiles. "And if my theory is correct..."

He lets go and the rope stays.

"Abracadabra," he says.

"Holy shit," I smile before looking back up at the gate.

"Alright, pull on it!" Dustin screams. "See if it holds!"

Robin pulls on the rope and it stays.

"This is the craziest shit I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen some crazy shit," Erica says with a smile going ear to ear.

We all watch as they come down one by one. First is Robin. She climbs the rope and falls down onto the mattress. Eddie goes next. He says it was fun, but I don't think I'd ever willingly do that if given the option. Now it's just Nancy and Steve. Steve tells Nancy to go next, but she doesn't say anything- or move.

"Nancy, wake up! Nancy!" Steve yells.

"Vecna," I say.

"Guys!" Steve panics.

"Music," I snap my fingers.

"Eddie, do you have any cassettes?" Robin asks with urgency.

"I might have some somewhere in my room," he says before running down the hall. The rest of us follow him into his room while Erica stays to watch Nancy and Steve.

We start tearing up Eddie's room looking for tapes. We can't find have anything. He has to have something. How could someone possibly live without music?

Robin then finds a bunch of cassettes in Eddie's drawer. She and I start going through it, but there's nothing Nancy would like.

"Anything?" Eddie asks.

"No!" everyone says in unison.

Erica then comes running down the hall, "Steve says you need to hurry!"

"Yeah? No shit!" Dustin yells.

"We're trying, we can't find anything!" I say.

"Seriously, what is all this shit!" Robin turns to Eddie.

"What are you even looking for?" he asks.

"Madonna, Blondie, Bowie, Beatles? Music! We need music!" Robin retorts.

Eddie grabs one of the tapes, "This is music!"

"We don't have time!" I yell.

I shake my head before grabbing it and taking my Kate Bush cassette and putting it in my pocket, replacing it with Eddie's. I remove my headphones from around my neck and run to the gate, everyone following behind me.

By the time we get there, Nancy is awake and in Steve's arms. She's hyperventilating really fast. All of us exchange looks before looking back at them. Nancy doesn't waste much more time before climbing up the rope and landing. Steve does the same.