𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚

Vecna's Curse

A FEW MONTHS EARLIER
I sat on my bed, fidgeting with the necklace Steve had got for me many years ago. It started to get dark which was strange since it was the middle of the day. There was a knock on my door and I reluctantly got up and opened it. Standing before me was a strange... tall skeleton full of flesh but no skin. "Who are you?" I asked. "I'm Vecna. I sensed that you were feeling down so I came to ask if you'd like to join me?" He said in a deep, monotone voice. "It depends what I'd do." I smiled, sitting back down on my bed. "Give me four names and I'll make their life much better than it is." He walked into my room and stood in front of me. "Okay... Chrissy. I noticed she's being going to the shrink and she was really sweet to me. Fred, he ranted to me about killing this guy in a car crash and I felt bad for him. Patrick is the sweetest guy I know, love him. And the fourth... Can I take some time to think?" I blurted out. Vecna nodded and disappeared. I looked around and I was sat back on my bed, the necklace in my hand. "Strange..."

We got out of my car with some food and drinks we got for Eddie. We headed towards the boat house and Dustin slammed open the door. "Jesus!" Eddie screamed. "Delivery service." He replied with a smile. I peaked my head around the door and waved to him. He shook his head and sighed. "You guys scared the shit out of me." He scoffed, sitting down.

Eddie started shoving his face with food. "So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news." Dustin sighed. "How do you prefer it?"
ED: "Bad news first, always."
D: "All right. Bad news. We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they're definitely looking for you. Also, they're, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy."
M: "Like, 100% kind of convinced."
ED: "But I didn't-"
EH: "We know, we know."
H: "Evelyn could've done it. Wouldn't be her first time."
EH: "Oh, put a sock in it."
ED: "And the good news?"
R: "Your name hasn't gone public yet. But if we found out about you, it's a matter of time before others do too and once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning for you."
ED: "Hunt the freak, right?"
R: "Exactly."
ED: "Shit."
EH: "So, before that happens, we find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence!"
H: "Bet it was easy for you, right?"
EH: "What is your problem with me? I have done nothing to you!"
H: "I just prefer to not be in a room with a murderer or my boyfriend's ex."
EH: "Deal with it and stop being so insecure. I don't want him."
R: "Can we stay on track?"
EH: "Right. So, yeah, proving your innocence."
ED: "That's all, Ev? That's all?"
EH: "Yeah, no, that's pretty much it."
R: "Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we've actually been through this before. I mean, they have a... a few times, and... and I have once. Mine was more human-flesh-based, theirs was more smoke-related, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel we got this."
S: "We usually rely on this girl who has super powers. But, uh, those went bye-bye, so..."
EH: "Who's 'we'? I've never relied on her because she's a kid. We did most the shit by ourselves. Especially with the Russians."
H: "Okay, stop trying to be different! Hide your crush for both of the boys, k? You're getting kinda annoying."
I glared at her and grabbed the bucket close to me, throwing it over her head and storming out. I noticed Steve's slight smile before I slammed the door shut behind me.
H: "YOU BITCH!"
R: "Okay- So we're technically in more of the—"
I got in my car and sighed. "Asshole." I whispered to myself. I heard sirens go off and quickly drove my car behind the boat house. They all piled into my car (except Eddie). I glared at Harlow in the mirror and drove off, following the police cars.
I pulled up and saw Nancy talking to a cop. We got out the car and waved at her. She sighed calmly and waved back, smiling.

We were sat at a picnic bench, discussing what we had learnt. "So you're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?" Nancy furrowed her eyebrows. Chrissy and now Fred.... Fuck. What have I done? I bounced my leg and fidgeted with my ring. "If the shoe fits." Steve replied to her. He looked over at me (I was sat next to him) and noticed. He put his hand on my thigh and gave it a slight squeeze to stop my leg from bouncing. I smiled slightly and continued to fiddle with my ring.
D: "Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or a curse. Now, whether or not he's doing the bidding of the Mind Flayer or just killing teens, we don't know."
M: "All we know is that this is something different. Something new."
N: "It doesn't make sense."
D: "It's only a theory."
N: "No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. I mean, why them?"
D: "Maybe they were just in the wrong place. They were both at the game."
M: "And near the trailer park."
S: "We're at the trailer park. Uh, should we maybe not be here?"
N: "There is something about this place. Fred started acting weird the second we got here."
H: "So has Ev. Is she going to die next? Because I'm all in for that."
R: "Just shut up! Get over your hatred for her."
M: "Acting weird as in?"
N: "Scared, on edge, upset."
D: "Max said Chrissy was upset too."
M: "Yeah, but not here. She was crying in the bathroom at school."
EH: "That was her?"
M: "You were there?"
EH: "Yeah... I heard you arguing with someone and presumed I was the last face you'd want to see so I hid."
R: "Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right? So, maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecman-"
D: "Vecna."
S: "Dunno about you guys, but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone."
M: "Maybe they did. I saw Chrissy leaving Ms. Kelley's office. If you saw a monster, you... you wouldn't go to the police. They'd never believe you. But you might go to your-"
R: "Your shrink."
We all stood up and headed towards the car. Nancy wandered off. "Woah, woah! Nance!" Steve shouted. She turned around, walking backwards. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Oh, there's just something I wanna check on first."
D: "Something you wanna share with us?"
N: "I don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the dark."
S: "Yeah, okay, are you out of your mind? Flying solo with Vecna on the loose? No, it's too dangerous. You need someone with you. Harlow, Robin, go with Nance. We'll take Ev's car and check out the shrink."
H: "You want me to go with people I don't know?"
S: "Well, you can't go with us because you'll end up fighting with Ev and it's her car so-"
H: "And you can't come with us because?"
S: "Because... Ev has anxiety."
H: "Excuses!"
Nance, Robin and Harlow walked towards Nancy's car whilst the rest of us got in mine. "Steve, can you drive?" I whispered to him. He nodded and got in the driver's seat, I sat next to him.