Hard Rock and Heartache

Redemption

     "We have to go back inside, now." I declared once I had the strength to stand up and speak again.

     "That's a no," Steve snapped, not even giving me the chance to explain myself while Eddie looked at me with complete disbelief as I suggested going back, using the term we.

      "Uh, yes, Steve. He was caught off guard when you guys helped me. He will be recalculating now and resting. Now is when we strike!" I walked over to one of the bags they'd dropped beneath the portal and pulled it onto my shoulders. "I'm not asking!" I pressed them, exasperated with their constant need to protect me even if I'm not the only one at risk. "You all saw what happened last time I stayed here by myself. Who knows what's happening with Max and them at the Creel Manor right now? We have to get back in there. We have to go now!"

     Like clockwork, the radio beside Dustin sounded and we could hear Lucas through the static on the other side. "What's going on? We haven't seen any sign from you guys that you've made it! We're waiting!" I looked at them all, motioning toward Lucas' message, raising my brows, and challenging them to argue with me now.

     "Fine." Steve huffed and everyone's gaze darted toward him, watching him walking closer and pointing his finger at me, "But you are not coming inside the Creel Manor. We will face Vecna and you can be... a distraction, like Max. He won't know which way to look with you both around... I suppose, but I want you far enough away that you can run if you need to."

     I stared him down, glaring softly before rolling my eyes and puffing out my cheeks in defeat, "Fine."

     Eddie groaned, clearly unhappy with that plan, but he didn't argue with me as the room turned to look at him and Dustin now.

     "You guys down for one more diversion? The first one... almost worked. But we need more." Steve eyed Dustin and Eddie and the pair of them had an instant attitude change, smiling mischievously at one another before nodding.

     "Oh, we can give you more." Eddie almost purred with excitement before looking at me and nodding before the entire group headed back to the upside down, once more, for what would hopefully be, the final battle.

↴

     After a solid amount of arguing, I got them to agree to at least allow me to go sit across from the Creel Manor. The closer I was to his base of operation, maybe the more flustered he would be with Max also lingering around on the other side.

     Eddie was anything but happy about me being so far out of reach, but he was needed here, and I was needed there, so with a longing look, I kissed him tenderly for all to see before speaking softly, for his ears only, "This isn't goodbye, so stop looking at me like that..." I demanded and he let a weak smile form. "Don't be a hero..." He told me and I chuckled, "Likewise." And with that, I turned away to follow the others.

     The walk to the mansion had been anything but a walk in the park. I discovered I had to be careful where I stepped because the vines were a hive mind and if we disturbed one, we disturbed the whole thing, including Vecna, and that would give away our location. Then around every corner, I swore I saw shadows watching us or heard a whisper or screech of a monster looking to skin us alive. I was on edge the entire time, and now the idea of being left alone outside was becoming less and less appealing.

     Yet, once we made it to the manor, I was placed as safely as I could be beneath a playground playset where I was instructed to touch the buzzing ball of sparkles nearby because it was apparently a lantern that Erica was holding on the other side and by touching it, I would illuminate the light and indicate to them that we had arrived. Which was actually kind of cool, I'm not going to lie. But then it was back to business. There was no time to admire the way the energy tingled around my hand like warm electricity.