Ashes & Embers (Stranger Things)

Chapter Five: The Monster Squad

They sat in the small living area of the cabin as Madi explained her dream, no one interrupted, no one even dare say a word. "It was like your bodies weren't yours anymore, like you were all puppets to that demon thing. And you were there." She pointed to the girl with the shaved head. "You looked like you were dying, there was blood coming out of your eyes and ears. And he had you. He had you right where he wanted you."

They all looked at the girl with the shaved head but she had her eyes on Madi the entire time.

"Before I saw anything else that spider monster screeched and these demon bat things came towards me and that's when I woke up."

Dustin looked towards Eddie in that moment, but Eddie had this hard distant look on his face.

"It's bullshit!" Mike Wheeler said aloud. "There's no way she's telling the truth."

"It's just like Nancy." Dustin said, "When Vecna showed her his plan."

"But why would he show her. Why now? If she's psychic why didn't she say anything when Will first went missing that night?"

"He has a point." Nancy began. "Why would Vecna show her. It just doesn't make sense."

"Nanc, does any of this really make any sense?" Steve said. "I mean really. If we'd have told this to anyone we would've been locked up by now."

"I know it sounds crazy but I don't know why?" Madi said looking at all of them. "You don't have to believe me, but if you don't, what I saw will happen."

"She knew about Eleven." Dustin said pointing at the girl with the shaved head. "She knew about Hopper."

"You're Carole's daughter, aren't you?" Hopper asked but she knew he knew the answer. "Didn't she try to-"

"When I was thirteen." She cut him off before he could say anything more.

"Well if she really is psychic, there's only one way to find out." Robin announced. "Let's put it to the test."

"Test?" Madi asked.

Robin walked over to her and sat down in front of her. Her blue eyes were wide and she pursed her lips before saying "What am I thinking about?"

"That's not how it works." Madi said.

"Well how does it work?" She asked.

"I can't read minds," she stated. "I just can guess things sometimes."

Dustin's eyes grew wide and he stood up walking over to his bag grabbing a pen and paper. He scribbled something on the notebook quickly before placing it against his chest so no one could see it. "What's on the notebook?"

Suddenly the pressure was on, Madi could feel all eyes on her but she concentrated on the green notebook in Dustin's arms. Silence consumed the cabin and the words came to her.

Sheep.

"It's a sheep?"

Dustin smiled turning the notebook around revealing a very badly drawn sheep.

"That's a sheep?" Will scoffed.

"Well we can't all draw like you but yes it's a sheep!" Dustin chuckled. "See she's the real deal."

Madi looked over to Chief Hopper and he has this perplexed look on his face, she couldn't tell what he was thinking but she heard the words clearly before he said them. "Well kid, welcome to the monster squad."

***

Madi sat on the porch just outside the cabin, she was trying to focus on her dreams, trying to remember every detail but it wasn't any use. She sighed putting her hands to her face as if it would make it all go away.

"Are you okay?"

She turned to see Steve shutting the cabin door, it was getting dark and she knew she'd be in big trouble once she got home. "Yeah... just a headache."

Steve looked worried.

"Not in a possessed kind of way." She said quickly and she could see his body relax.

"Well just in case, what's your favorite song?" He sighed taking as seat next to her. "It's the one way we figured out to get around Vecna's curse."

"I ran..."

"You know I took you for more of a Madonna fan than A Flock of Seagulls." He chuckled.

"Shut up." She said pushing him slightly.

"No don't get me wrong it's a solid choice." He smiled at her and she felt warm despite the temperature still dropping.

"What's yours? You know in case of the curse." She said leaning in slightly.

"Oh easy, Call Me by Blondie." She laughed and he smiled "What it's a great song, especially the chorus. Call me, on the line, call me, call me any anytime..." Steve surprisingly had a great voice and she could feel her cheeks starting to go red.

"I'll have to listen to it more." She smiled.

He smiled looking forward before clearing his throat and changing the subject. "Eddie didn't do anything to you, did he?"

She thought back to when she and Eddie were in the cabin alone, the feeling of his cool breath on her lips. "No. We were just talking."

He nodded and looked at his feet, "Try not to be alone with him, make sure someone is always there." He stated. "I just don't want him to hurt you."

"Why would he hurt me?" She asked trying to catch his eye.

"He's-"

"I'm what?" They turned to see Eddie leaning against  a wooden beam. She hadn't noticed how long he'd been standing there. "If you have something to say Harrington, better come out and say it."

She and Steve stood up quickly and he looked at Eddie, his eyes were that red color again and this time she was sure they were red. "Eddie?"

"You know what I mean Munson." Steve didn't look angry or by any means upset, but cautious.

"Why don't you go on and say it." Eddie inches forward, and for a second she thought he might hurt Steve. "Go on, it's better she knows right?"

Madi was confused as to what they were referencing, and she was scared they might start swinging.

"I didn't say anything." Steve said through clenched teeth.

"But you wanted to, so go ahead. Tell her."

"Tell me what?" She said and for a moment it seemed they realized she was still standing there. "What's going on?"

Suddenly Dustin came out of the cabin with everyone behind him. He stepped in between Steve and Eddie, putting a hand on their shoulders pushing them away from each other.

Steve looked at Eddie before looking down at Madi, "Eddie's a vampire." The words caused her to stagger back and Robin and Nancy were there to steady her.

"Nice, Steve, real nice." Nancy spat.

"Bet you didn't see that one coming." Robin whispered into her ear.

Madi looked at Eddie who then looked like a dog with his tail between his legs. He couldn't look her in the eye and she didn't understand. "Wait, what?"