𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏

[Monday, March 24th, 1986. NOW.]

"You'll die," Steve said.

"Yeah," Eddie breathed, "Probably. Go. Be ready to get her out of here."

And he didn't wait a second longer – because there was not a single second left to waste.

Amidst the rising flames, fierce determination flooding him, Eddie flung the warlock's strap over himself, his gaze lifting to you, levitating above the ground, higher and higher towards the ceiling, an eerie vision in the growing inferno eating away the creepers, the furniture, devouring the dark mirror of his trailer like they'd devoured the boathouse.

Eddie ripped the guitar pick necklace from his neck, the snap of the chain drowned out by the hissing and shrieks of the burning creepers, the roar of the growing flames as his eyes locked on your ghostly white ones.

"Kick this son of a bitch's ass and come back to me, sweetheart," Eddie breathed.

And he began to play.

***

Loss.

Grief.

You'd felt it all before. How could you not?

Barb would always be the first person you'd failed to save, her death the first one to mourn.

And that November night last year had broken you in a way you'd never thought you could break, after everything you'd been through the summer of '85 and the winters before.

But nothing compared to this agony spreading through you at the sight of Eddie, his lifeless body dangling from the vines wrapped around the pillar, the beautiful umber color of his eyes stolen like Vecna had stolen his life, tears of blood drying on his pale cheeks.

The sound of Eddie's neck snapping echoed like a thunderclap in your mind.

No matter the horrors you'd faced, fought, been forced to commit those past three years – none of them had been able to break you. There had always been enough left to fight for, to keep you from giving up even in your darkest hours.

Nancy and Steve and Robin, the weird kids which suddenly belonged to this family of monster hunters you'd found, constellations of stars amidst the dark.

But Eddie...in those two months you'd gotten to know him, Eddie Munson had become the sun to chase away the darkness you'd found yourself plunged into, a supernova to light up the darkest hours, keep the horrors at bay – and put a warmth in your heart you'd never felt there before.

Eddie Munson with his unapologetic weirdness, his humor and kindness, the gentlest soul beneath the rough and menacing exterior...he'd shown you that there was good, so much good, even in the darkest of nights. And despite all the ways it had destroyed you to do what you'd done that night in November, Eddie had still been there. Alive.

And now he wasn't anymore.

This time, there would be no getting back up, collecting the pieces and making the best of it.

You only wanted it to stop.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, on the sliver of a chance that Eddie would be able to hear the words wherever he'd gone. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."

Make it end. Make it stop. Make it all stop.

There was no fear in your heart when Vecna's spidery fingers folded over your face.

Only relief.

Vecna's pointed nails, claws, dug into your temples, piercing the skin, a stray droplet of blood slowly rolling down the side of your face.