Hawkins Bites || A Vampire Eddie Fanfic

Epilogue | The Beginning of the End

Two Days Later...

The drive into Hawkins was heavy, the radio playing a mindless news report as the Surfer Boy Pizza van came to the slow speed of 25mph. El looked out the window, a saddened expression drawn on her face as Mike did the same. Will, however, was growing anxious. He felt the connection to this place creep over him as if it were a spider crawling on his arm. Jonathan sat in the drivers seat, Argyle next to him as the two listened to the reporter on the radio.

"This is only the latest tragedy to befall this once safe town. Most recently, a string of high school students were killed in a series of ritualistic murders which have been linked to a local satanic cult known as...Hellfire. Eddie Munson, the leader of this cult and prime suspect in the murders, has been missing since the earthquake and is presumed dead. But this provides little comfort to the people of Hawkins. Who are scared, angry and searching for answ-"

Mike leaned forward, turning the radio off after hearing about Eddie. He was confused. He knew Eddie was harmless but why was he linked to the killings? "Eddie couldn't have done this. There's no way!" He spoke to no one in particular, Will looking over at him with a confused and concerned look.

"Who's Eddie?" Will asked, genuinely wondering who this Eddie Munson was.

"Hellfire's DM. He's harmless..." Mike went on, praising the metalhead as Wills cheeks flushed with both admiration and a bit of jealousy. "...Eddie didn't do any of this. Vecna did. Why is he to blame!? I-I-I don't understand any of this..."

Jonathan pulled into the Wheelers driveway, seeing the gang all standing there, packing boxes and putting them in the back of Steve's car to haul to the High School. Mike and Will hopped out of the car and ran over to hug Dustin, Jonathan doing the same with Nancy as El walked up to join Will and Mike, "we vaguely heard about what happened..." Mike spoke calmly, Dustin nodding as he sniffled a bit and tried to focus.

Dustin tried to smile, but the brightness it usually had was so dim it was barely noticeable. Will hugged Dustin, patience in his embrace as he let the other take as much time as he needed. El joined the hug, Will letting her have her time with Dustin as he asked, "where's Lucas?"

Dustin stood back, eyes threatening to well up with tears as he pulled a fake strength mask on and spoke, "oh god- you don't know?"

×××××××××

Lucas sat at the side of Max's bed, reading The Talisman by Stephen King out loud. He felt kind of silly reading a book to Max right now, seeing as she was in a coma. Lucas didn't care though, it kept him sane enough to not breakdown in tears at the very sight of his girlfriend laying so deathly still.

He went to read the next paragraph, getting interrupted by the door opening as El, Mike and Will stepped into the hospital room. "El-" Lucas went to stand up, El motioning for him to sit back down, "-you're here!" Lucas stood up fully, embracing Eleven in his arms. El hugged him back, a small tear falling down her cheek.

"How is she?" El asked, breaking the hug to step over to the side of the bed as Lucas explained what Eleven couldn't see. While Lucas explained everything, El took Max's hand in hers and reached out to her. Trying to find her in the void, she saw nothing but the empty darkness. She couldn't reach her. "Do you know..." She sighed, "...when she will wake?"

"Her heart stopped for over a minute..." Lucas swallowed down the lump in his throat, eyes burning as he continued, "...she died, clinically...and then she came back and-" he inhaled deeply, trying to centre himself, "the doctors don't know how- they say it's a miracle"

Mike and Will shared a knowing gaze, El steady stared at Max with a monotone glance. They knew why Max came back, but no one had the heart to tell Lucas that reason. Taking her hand again, El whispered, "I'm here, Max..." Closing her eyes once more, she tried reaching out to her in the void to see if she was okay. Nothing. Max was seemingly gone.