Never Let Go

chapter 7

Max's POV
The wind howled around me and the rest of the upside down. Something has changed. Shifted almost. Vines had started to re grow and I'm deffinately feeling his presence more again.
"Come on Munson where are you?" I'm waiting by the crack between worlds waiting for Eddie I knew where he'd gone it was only a matter of time before he went back to her. As dangerous as it was for both of them there's no stopping love when it's as strong as that.
It reminds me of Lucas and I, I'm an idiot I shouldn't of pushed him away then maybe I wouldn't be in this mess.
I know he's with me. My body at least I don't need to feel him to know that.
I just wish there was a way through the blackness and back to him but every time I try it's like somethings blocking me I can't break free.
In the meantime I've been keeping Eddie safe. Waking him when everybody thought he was dead. He's a half breed now the bats had done a number on him. But Vecna didn't get his way not entirely. Eddie still has a firm grip on the world and in that grip is Mandy.
I've got a horrible feeling Vecna knows how weak she can potentially make Eddie she needs to be very careful.
The ground shakes beneath my feet as fresh vines shoot out of the ground. Eddie comes into the upside down just in time to catch me from falling.
"You ok Red?" He says concern in his eyes as he looks at the changed landscape.
"Yeah... we need to move." Eddie nods in agreement as we make our way towards school.
A swarm of bats follow Eddie as we make our way to school.
"Sorry Red... I needed to be with her." Eddie says knowing he's probably just spent far too much time in freedom.
"I know... how is everyone?" I ask missing everybody not just Lucas.
"They're ok... trying to recharge El's powers again"... Eddie looked at Max.
"He's fine Mayfeild."
"Thanks." I say and give him a small smile.
Eddie opens the door and we head to the upside down version of the room he and the Hellfire club use.
It's his safe space for now. Makes perfect sense it's where him and Mandy first kissed but I of all people know memories like that don't always keep you safe.
"It's Mandy I'm worried about... she's having headaches it's getting worse." Eddie looks down.
"Hey Eddie... you know you can't let him know or feel you thinking like that!" I tap him on the back trying to remind him to keep those walls up.
"One things for sure though he's getting stronger I can feel him again. The vines are making a comeback and there's more red on the horizon.
"Did anything happen up there?" I ask him.
"No... nothing." Eddie said.
"What's that on you're neck?" I ask pointing at the obvious love bite on his neck.
"Oh... Mandy leave her mark did she?" He smirked pleased at the fact that she'd somehow managed to stay with him in some form.
"Fuck Munson! Did you bite her??!!" I shout at his potential stupidity.
"No... I didn't!..."
I look him and know instantly more had happened up there than just a love bite.
"Ew!"
"Listen Red... when a mommy and daddy love each other..." Eddie laughed.
"Ok... ok... god!" I put my hands to my ears.
"You'll find out once you two get older." Eddie said with a wink.
"Ok jeez Eddie enough of the safe sex lecture."
Then suddenly Eddie's laugh faded and he put his hands to his head...
"Fuck!" He yelled obviously in pain.
"Eddie are you ok?? What's happening?" I run to his side.
"Stay away Red!... it's Vecna!... He's in my head... Shit!"
"Eddie... what can I do??"
"Go to them Red... find a way.... I don't think I can fight him much longer!"
As Eddie said that last word his bats came to life and swallowed him up into a portal. I was left alone in the empty room.

Eddie's POV
Christ I've got to get his voice out of my head... and the visions. The visions.. Dustin, Steve... everyone dead lying bloody around me. Her body bloody and still... teeth marks my fang marks in her neck. I hadn't just turned her I'd killed her.
"FUCK!!!!" I yell and thankfully the vision faded.
I open my eyes I don't know where I am... red just red everywhere the broken remains of a house...
Vines holding bodies up... Chrissy, Fred... and Patrick's bodies all deformed and tied up.
A feeling of dread came over me am I in Vecna's fortress?
I look and there's one more body I can see but the identity still a mystery.
I get closer and my heart knows who it is before my eyes believe it. Her beautiful brown slightly curly hair a mess... Her blue eyes now grey.... Her jaw broken along with the rest of her body.
Vecna had won.
I fall at her corpses feet.
"No!.... no.... no!.... how? How did he get to you my sweet sweet queen?" I cry out loud almost an inhuman howl.
I sob completely lost in grief.
Then laughter evil laughter...
"What's the matter Freak?" I look up and where her body was is now half of Jason's corpse laughing at me.
"He's found you!" His laugh sends shivers through me... it was a trap!
"Kas... it's time you joined me fully." Vecna commanded.
I look to my right and the monster is slowly walking towards me.
"Never!" I spit. I'm so done with this shit!
"Not so fast... think about it before you try to fight me! I'll keep her safe... I'll keep your baby girl safe."
What! Mandy's pregnant. Oh no! I didn't know what to do keep them safe or keep running and hope to god we can figure something out because I didn't want to lose a chance of a normal life with them.... I had to think
Fast.
I raised my arms... my Bats ready at my command my eyes fired red and hundreds of bats attacked Vecna... I did what I do best I ran... ran to try and get to Mandy.

Max's POV.
I'd made my way to the hospital and I could hear everybody's echoes I'd somehow managed to focus hard enough to cause my eyes to have rapid movements while my body slept which was enough for Lucas to get some of the gang together.
Mandy was there... come on girl you're connected to Eddie... sense it! Please he needs help. I beg her in my head. I suddenly see lights flicker my frustration must of powered me somehow.

Mandy's POV
"Woah... Max! Honey?... we're here honey talk to us."
I don't know how but an idea.
"Lucas... hook her up with a bit of Kate Bush please."
Lucas hurried and set her up running up the hill playing into her ears.
I changed The Bangles over to Bon Jovi and you give love a bad name started to play I placed my headphones on took her hand and closed my eyes. Worried eyes from every one keeping watch as slowly I fell into the darkness of Max's head.
"Max... Max!!! I called out.
Faintly I could hear running.
Getting closer...closer...
"Mandy!" I felt the young girl grip me tightly.
"Max sweetie are you ok?" I ask noticing she's crying. Holding her against me.
"He's in trouble... he needs you!"
I wake with a gasp knowing Max only had enough strength left to tell me that one sentence.
"Mandy... what's going on?" Lucas asks urgently.
"Kid stay with her and watch her! Mike stay with him!"
"Steve we gotta go now!" 
There's one place I knew Eddie would try to get to if he was in trouble... my bedroom.