KAS The Bloody Handed

Hunted

Eddie's POV

Vecna was staring straight down at Eddie. Shit. Everyone stayed deadly silent. Eddie could feel Kali and El pushing out more power, covering themselves and Eddie. Was this going to work? Eddie had the sword in his hand and he was crouched down low. He started backing up slowly.. ever so slowly. Vecnas eyes did not follow him. He managed to crawl back towards Kali and El without being noticed. They watched as Vecnas tentacles started retracting; they made sloppy wet noises as they slithered into his back and disappeared. He lowered himself to the floor and started pacing around the room - he seemed on edge.
Eddie, Kali and El were pushed right up against the door, but just as they started to leave Vecna did something that made them stop in their tracks. He lifted his clawed hand and started twisting and turning it towards the far wall. Vines started distorting to reveal a face behind the wall. Vecna walked over and started whispering to it. Eddie, with his vampire abilities could hear what he was saying.
"Soooon Maxxx, your frieendsss will joinn you heree, and you wooon't be so alooneee".
Shit!! It was Max. Vecna really did keep their souls. Eddie made sure to cover El's vision so she couldn't see.. he couldn't have her endangering their lives or the mission. They would come back for Max when they came for Vecna. Eddie made a 'back up' signal with his hand, motioning for them to leave. The girls got the hint and slowly started retreating. They had the sword.. this is all they needed for now. They had to get the hell out of there!
As they made their way down the stairs ever so carefully, Eddie mistook a step, and went tumbling. He landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs and just stared up at El and Kali in terror.
"Kaaass, you have arriiivedd. Briiing me the giiirl" Vecnas voices vibrated throughout the house.
"RUN!!" Screamed El. Eddie shot up off the floor and all three started running as fast as they could. They ran out of the Creels house and headed straight for the cluster of trees opposite.
"You have betraaayed me againnn. I willl come for youuu" Vecnas voice once again boomed throughout Eddie's skull.
"He's coming for us!" Shouted Eddie. He could tell that Kali and El's powers were dimming; they had to reserve some energy. Eddie grabbed a hold of them both to transport them out of the Upside Down.. but.. nothing. They didn't go anywhere. It didn't work. Eddie tried to force the 'hand of Vecna' out of his arm but to no avail.
"He's taken my power! He's taken it back! I don't have access to the gate!!" He screamed. This was it. They were done for.
They ran and ran and ran. They stayed under the cover of the trees... not that it would be of any use.. this was Vecna's world. In the distance they could hear the growling... of what they could only assume was Demo dogs.  They were being hunted.

Your POV

"Hey! You look... messed up!" Laughed Dustin as you entered the basement.
"Thanks... way to make a girl feel good" you laughed back, but it hurt your nose, "no luck on the guys?".
It was obvious that they weren't back yet... it had been around eight hours now. Well, no more physical distractions.. that didn't work out well for you. You all decided to play a couple of board games to pass the time. Just as you were setting up a game of trivial pursuit, Will told you to stop.
"What is it? What's wrong?" You ask him.
"Somethings... not right. I think something has gone wrong.. I can feel... HIM" he whispered, the terror clear in his eyes.
"What?! What do you mean?!" Mike shouted.
"I-I th-think he's coming... I can feel gates.. but not like Eddie's gate.. this is like... before.." he stated.
Dustin headed straight for the compass. He held it out for everyone to see, and true enough, it seemed broken; it was whizzing all over the place. You knew what this meant.
Everyone around you suddenly jumped into action. They grabbed all the make shift weapons and backpacks.. looking ready for battle. You all made your way upstairs and outside, Dustin and Steve leading the way. You headed towards the forest, following the direction the compass was showing.
"Are we going to find this gate? Are we going in to help them?" Robin asked, but to who you weren't sure.
"Yes. I know we said we would wait 24 hours but Will thinks something's gone wrong.. so we're going in now" Dustin confidently replied.
The compass seemed like it was leading them towards the old warehouse. As you reached the gates leading in, Steve made everyone stop.
"Guys... do you hear that?" He asked. You all stopped to listen. Growling... howling.. shit. Demo dogs.
"We normally fight these off with El!! We don't stand a chance!" You exclaimed.
"Good thing I was following you then." Came a commanding voice from behind. You all turned to see Hopper standing there, with gun in hand. You'd never been so happy to see him.
"So, El's at the soup kitchen huh?" He pointed his question at Robin, "I checked in with them, and they haven't seen her at all... so where is she?"
Steve and Mike took the reigns on that one. You all realised just how serious this had gotten and it was better to have Hopper on your side. They quickly explained what had happened in the last week... right down to the Eddie/Kas situation.
"She's in that place?!" Hopper yelled, "why the hell didn't you say something sooner!!" Oh.. he was MAD mad. You all looked at your feet, feeling stupid and sheepish.
"Go home guys... you're not getting involved in this.. none of you are going to die today" Hopper said calmly, "I'm gonna go in there, get to the gate and get my girl home".
You and your friends gave each other a look that said 'absolutely not' and followed after Hopper anyway. He kept shouting at you, telling you all to go away, but no one listened. He wasn't gonna win this. You enter the warehouse just behind Hopper. He had his gun at the ready.
A loud screeching sound came from the left of you... you didn't even get a chance to glance that way before Hopper had already put a bullet in its head. Yep. Demo dogs. Almost instantly another screech came from the right.. this time there was two of them. Hopper managed to shoot one down but the other leapt in the air and came tumbling down on top of Mike. You all screamed.
Steve swung his bat at the dog, hitting it over and over again. The nails embedded in the bat sliced through the creature's skin and after four hits it stopped moving.
You all made your way slowly through the warehouse, letting Steve and Hopper lead the way. You came across at least a dozen more Demo dogs before you entered the wide open room that you'd been in last week. They were taken care of... Hopper was drenched in blood and the rest of you didn't look too great either.
There was the gate. Smack bang in the middle of the room. It spread across the floor like a disease. It looked just like every other gate you had come across... a wide gaping hole that was pulsing and oozing... gross. Guarding the gate was three more Demo dogs. Hopper took two down with one shot and Steve and Dustin took care of the other one.
Hopper instantly started barking commands at everyone.
"Get whatever you can use and board up these doors! NOW!" He yelled. Everyone jumped into action. You saw Steve breaking up old chairs and wedging them into the doors handles. There were old mattresses, poles, random bits of wood. Once the doors were all barred Hopper beckoned you all over.
"Now listen to me and listen good. Not a single one of you is going into the Upside Down. You are going to stay here and guard this gate. I'm going to look for my daughter. Do you understand me?" He said so calmly... it was a bit scary. We all mumbled and nodded.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" He boomed.
"Yes Sir!" Some of you shouted back. Shit... this man meant business.
You all watched as Hopper knelt down to inspect the gate. He must've been ok with what he saw because he shot one last angry look at you all before jumping straight in.
The fear was overwhelming... and for once, you wasn't alone. One look around at all of your friends showed you that they were just as scared as you. You prayed that nothing happened to your friends, Hopper and the rest of the gang. You wonder if your prayers will be heard.